My grandma is trying to hook me up. To be painfully specific, my seventy-five-year-old grandmother thinks a little hanky-panky would cheer me up. Direct quote. Since I’m currently living with her, I can’t escape the endless line of grandchildren of friends who keep ‘dropping by’ for dinner. Literally, I can’t escape. I can barely manage the trek to the dining room at this point. While Grandma’s …
While Grandma’s determined to find me a husband, I’m determined to learn how to walk again so I can walk away from her matchmaking skills. Spoiler alert: She has no matchmaking skills.
But then I get a brilliant idea. I can fake date my physical therapist. Only he wants a real date. Gulp. A real date with me? Is he for real? I’m no longer the stylish girl with the glamorous job. Now, I’m a woman with a shattered leg and a scarred face.
If I’m going to learn to live with my new reality and give love a chance, my attitude needs to do an about-face. Easier said than done.
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ABOUT FACE (Love in the Suburbs Book 1) by D.E. Haggerty is a new romantic comedy/contemporary romance by a new to me author that is also the start of a new series. I love all the characters in this book and cannot wait for more!
Francis “Frankie” McMillan is living it up in the big city. At 35, she is the top event planner in the firm she works for. Life is long hours of work, checking out hip venues while dancing and drinking with her three girlfriends. She is beautiful with designer clothes, stiletto heels and a third floor walk-up.
And then…. she wakes up in the hospital after a horrible car accident with a leg that was barely saved and a two inch scar on her cheek. Upon release, she moves in with her Grandpa and Grandma in the suburbs. Now, she is facing physical therapy and going out in public. She does not want to do either, but she has to learn to walk again to get her job back. Facing the world with her scars has her terrified, but she can hide the scars on her leg with clothes and she always wears a bandage on her face.
She is surprised when her physical therapist is a burly Viking with a beard named Brodie. She also cannot believe that she is very interested in him, but what man wants to be with someone as ugly and scarred as she is now? With laugh-out-loud help from her Grandma, her new best-friend Shelby and Brodie, Frankie learns things about her old life and self she is not very happy with and maybe with the help of some real friends, she just may live happily-ever-after after all.
This is a laugh-out-loud entertaining romance that also has some very poignant scenes. Frankie is on a very sharp learning curve, not just physically but also emotionally. Brodie has his job cut out for him trying to convince this “city girl” that she is still beautiful inside and out. The sex scenes are appropriate to the story and realistic. Shelby, who Frankie meets in physical therapy is a true friend and I love her snark. Almost every time I laughed-out-loud while reading this book is when Grandma makes an appearance. She is “THE BEST”!
I highly recommend this romantic comedy/contemporary romance! You will laugh-out-loud and be cheering Frankie on throughout. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
In this first book in the ‘Love In The Suburbs’ series, About Face (Love in the Suburbs Book 1) Frankie is a high-end event planner who has spent years focusing on her career. She has a designer wardrobe, a great apartment in the city, and a circle of like-minded friends who love a great party as much as she does. She has all anyone could want, that is until a serious car accident leaves her badly injured.
Unable to navigate the stairs to her apartment, she finds it necessary to live with her grandparents, in the suburbs, during her recuperation. Her grandmother seeing how desperately unhappy Franky is, figures if 50 years of marriage kept her happy then the right man just might bring Frankie a little bit of happiness. Armed with the grandsons of her friends and earthy advice that only a grandma can get away with giving, she sets Frankie up on blind dates to varying degrees of hilarity.
In sheer desperation, Frankie conceives of the idea to distract Grandma by fake dating her gorgeous physical therapist. There are only a couple of complications. He doesn’t go in for fake and he may actually be just what Frankie needs.
As always the relationships between the characters are the strength of Haggerty’s storytelling. Sure the story is romantic and it is comedy, but at the heart, it is a journey of self-discovery. Armed with a new life view and new friends Frankie takes a hard look at both the best and worst of the life she has spent her adulthood building and inside herself to find a way forward after a life-changing event.
About Face, (Love in the Suburbs #1)by D.E. Haggerty is a wonderful little romance featuring Francis McMillan, a lovely 35 year old woman who is staying with her grandparents because she was in a horrendous car wreck that left her with a scar on her face and an almost unusable leg. She is an event planner in the city and lives in a third floor walkup, which obviously she can’t use right now as she can’t walk. Her grandmother is taking this opportunity to lavish on her all the affection (food) that she has missed since Francis left home, and to find her a husband, in the form of one of her friend’s grandsons, of which there appear to be an unending supply. The potential husbands go from bad to worse, but that doesn’t deter Grandma. And she’s gained at least twenty pounds since she’s been there, but that doesn’t really matter because she can’t wear any clothing that would expose her leg, just as she can’t leave her room without a bandage on her face. This is a laugh-out-loud funny book in spots. I know it sounds unreasonable to laugh at someone in this situation, but the reader can’t help it.
About Face is a novel describing Francis becoming the person she was meant to be. She discovers that she has been selfish and self-centered, just like her mother. Something she had never intended. She also discovers that her friends are not really her friends, but that she does, in fact, have friends she never anticipated. She is charming, self-deprecating, talented, and unassuming; all the things that make a fabulous heroine, which she is. This book is totally character driven, and revolves around Francis, but not to the exclusion of her friends, Brodie, Jackson, and Shelby, primarily. Of course, Grandma is a driving force as well, and always good for a laugh. I don’t usually laugh while reading a book, but I did this one so most people will probably laugh more and more often. I recommend About Face.
I received a free ARC of About Face from the Cozy Mystery Crew. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own.
After suffering a horrific accident, Frankie leaves the big city and moves in with her grandparents to rehab. With a scar on her face and a brace on her leg, she thinks everyone will judge her. Just her luck, Frankie’s physical therapist is the sexiest man she’s ever met. To get her grandmother from setting her up on blind dates, she asks Brodie, her physical therapist, to go out with her. He says yes but what she doesn’t realize is he really wants to date her. It must be out of pity, she assumes but she’s be wrong. As one date turns to several, Frankie must take a good hard look at her life, her friends and her career. Can she turn about face and change her life for the better or will she let her scars dictate her life?
About Face is more than a romance/romantic comedy. It’s a heartfelt journey dealing with issues such as scars, self esteem, taking leaps of faith and true beauty. Frankie starts out as very shallow but the more she’s around Brodie and her new best friend, the more she develops into a caring woman. She overcomes a lot of obstacles, the biggest is her own self-image. D. E. Haggerty’s humorous banter balances the dramatic angst nicely.
Why is this a five-star book? The characters leap off the page with their own laugh-tracks. I don’t know how the author comes up with all these funny lines but it’s hysterical. Frankie’s interactions with her grandmother is worth reading again and again. The pacing of the plot is fairly fast-moving, and the ending is so sweet. The romance between Brodie and Frankie is realistic with its fair share of drama.
If you’re looking for a small-town romance with dashes of women’s fiction, pick up About Face. I loved it and can’t wait for book two.
My Rating: 5 stars
I really enjoyed this one. I loved the humor. It had me laughing quite often. I just loved Frankie’s grandma. She’s a hoot. Her shenanigans were hilarious. The one thing I wished was I could have gotten into Brodie’s head. Otherwise this book had me hooked right from the beginning. Frankie has a lot of recovering to do, but she also needs some soul searching. She has a chance to find her happy place. Frankie’s friends in the city are less than to be desired except for one. I wanted to shake some sense into them. The secondary characters were just as great. I loved Shelby and I’m glad she’s getting a book. This book is one the makes you laugh a ton, but also one that brings the feels. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.
When life needs an ‘about face’
About Face (Love in the Suburbs Book 1) by D.E. Haggerty is a wonderful romcom with relatable characters and an emotional journey worthy plot. Frankie takes the reader through her recovery after a devastating accident. The title is perfectly apt for her story. It truly is a personal journey and Frankie not only heals, she transforms through some self reflection as well.
The gem of this book is the comedy. It’s often laugh out loud funny and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Frankie’s Grandma. She is an absolute delight with plenty of antics that drive Frankie crazy (though I think she secretly loved all the attention)! And Frankie’s inner dialogue is snark perfection. This book wouldn’t have been as fun to read without it. Shelby is also integral to Frankie’s recovery.
I enjoyed this author’s deep dive into the development of Frankie with the romantic relationship with Brodie a close second as he was absolutely a key component to her healing both physically, mentally and emotionally.
Overall, About Face is an wonderful start of this romcom series. The suburbs begin with a bad rap, and just as Frankie makes an about face in how she lead and lived her life, the suburbs become a place of safety, healing, growth, opportunity, love and a HEA.
Roller coaster ride of a romcom by Ms. Haggerty,I enjoyed it very much. Great secondary characters particularly Grandma and Shelby.
3.5*
I can’t imagine how hard it would be to suffer a life-altering accident that caused your world to turn upside down. That’s exactly what happened to our heroine Frankie- she was in a devastating car accident (which I wish we had learned more about), causing her to move in with her grandparents during her rehabilitation. Now imagine, as a thirty-something woman, on top of basically having to learn to walk again and accept that you’ll be scarred for life, having your GRANDMOTHER trying to set you up on dates with the grandsons of her friends. Lord help her!
Life really has thrown Frankie for a loop and she’s trying to sort through it all- a new love interest, coming to some harsh realizations about people she thought were friends, developing new friendships, and reevaluating what she wants out of life. Yeah, our gal Frankie had a lot to deal with! What ensued was a story that was at times funny, sweet, frustrating, and when it came to Frankie, slightly exasperating!
While I could empathize with her, I did find Frankie to be just a little irritating when it came to how she was coping with her injuries, especially the scar on her face. She placed a lot of value on her looks, which was understandable to a point. But even at the end she was putting so much emphasis on her scars, it made her seem very shallow and more than a little vain.
Luckily for Frankie she had a sweetheart of PT who was more than happy to show her that, no matter the scars she bore, she was still beautiful and worthy, inside and out. Brodie was a doll- at times I wasn’t sure Frankie was really deserving of him!
A meddling grandma, mean girls who were old enough to know, and be, better, a hunky love interest, and a couple of really good friends, made About Face an enjoyable read, even with my issues with Frankie. I’m so used to reading Ms. Haggerty’s cozy mysteries, this was a bit of a sexier change of pace!
This is the first book that I have read by D. E. Haggerty and I liked her writing style and the characters. Frankie is a wonderful, realistic main character and her grandma is so funny! Frankie is a city girl with a fast paced career, but was in a car accident and is living with her grandparents in the suburbs. While she is recovering she must not only work to get herself back physically, but she will have to reevaluate her career and her life as well. This book had me cheering for Frankie, laughing out loud at grandma’s antics and hoping for a happy ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the The Review Crew. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Book one in the Love in the Suburbs series, this is the first book by this Author that I have read. I hope there is more in this series to come. A well written story about Frankie who gets in to a serious accident and has to go for physical therapy. Her therapist is Brodie and because of her Grandmother’s matchmaking she asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend, but Brodie wants more. I enjoyed reading how these two get their happy ending. I received an ARC copy from Hidden Gems and I am voluntarily reviewing.
A new author for me and I’ve really enjoyed the characters, the storyline, the chemistry and connection between Frankie and Brodie and the personal development that Frankie went through! This was an incredible read!
Frankie believes she knows what she wants out of her life until life throws her a major curve ball. She got into an accident that she doesn’t know how she will fit back into her old life. Her grandmother keeps trying to find her a boyfriend with scary results. I loved her grandmother so much that I wish I had just one like her. She keeps on bringing her friend’s grandson to match-make with Frankie. When Frankie decides to ask her physical therapist, Brodie, to fake date her, she never dreams he wanted a real date. This is where it gets really sweet and romantic. The way Brodie treat her was just everything and you’ll be jealous of her!
Living with her grandmother, everything she had and tried to achieve in the city seem so irrelevant and unimportant. She truly find what life really means, not just in terms of love and family, but also friendship.
Everything about this book was just perfect! 5 stars and more!
This book had me laughing hysterically!
Frankie is a mid-thirties city girl that is recovering from a serious accident and then necessary surgeries. She’s in the ‘burbs with her grandparents since there’s no way she can hobble up three flights of stairs to her apartment in the city. She has major scarring on one leg and a scar on her face that she can’t seem to get over.
Frankie’s grandma is absolutely priceless! She thinks Frankie’s depressed and thinks setting her up with her friends’ grandsons might lead her to some fun *wink, wink* and subsequent happiness. The shenanigans that happen during these dinners with potential suitors are ridiculous and hilarious!
What happens when her delicious physical therapist tells her she’s beautiful? Get this book and devour it like I did to find out!
I loved this book! There were parts that were funny (huge understatement), sad, infuriating, and hopeful. This book definitely gave me “THE FEELS”. There was a great message in this story about how we view ourselves and others, and about what’s really important. The only thing that I would have liked was more info regarding the accident.
I’m really hoping, begging even, for a book with Jackson & Shelby! Major tension there!
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review, which is my honest opinion.
Frankie believes she knows what she wants out of her life until life throws her a major curve ball. Now she is relearning to walk after an intense accident and is fearful of the scar on her face, she doesn’t know how she will fit back into her old life. As she faces these new challenges, her grandmother keeps trying to find her a boyfriend with scary results. When she decides to ask her physical therapist, Brodie, to fake date her, she never dreams he wants a real date. I was pulled into Frankie’s journey as she faces the changes that have happened in her life. It allowed her to look at where and who she was before the accident to decide if that was the right path for her. She had to face some hard truths all while her grandmother kept meddling in her life. Add in Shelby, Brodie and Jackson as great supporting characters that were willing to give her the hard and honest truth when needed to help her find her way. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
About Face is the first book I have read from D.E. Haggerty, and I got to say I got new author to read. Frankie’s life is all about her job, but now it’s all changed due to an accident. She’s had to move in with her grandparents, she can’t work, her grandma is trying to play her matchmaker, and she’s starting physical therapy, and the thearapist is the hottest guy, who knows how to make her hurt. Get your mind out of the gutter ;). I got to say that some of Grandma and Shelby’s one liners made me laugh out loud, and Brodie is so swoon worthy. Sometimes life will make you have to take a step back, and see things differently.
The characters were well done and the dialog was spot on.
Well done!
Wow what an incredible read this was. I loved how Frankie was THE city girl, yah you know the one, high maintenance, workaholic, and self absorbed. Not saying anyone deserves an accident to scar them for life, but maybe fate stepped in there. She did however meet someone, so out of her norm, but perfect for her in many ways. This book was so damn funny, so many times I caught myself laughing out loud, and giggling. This is my first read from this author and I can’t wait for more.
A little slow starting out but loved the ending.
This is my first read by D E Haggerty and About Face was utterly funny to read and beautifully written.
Frankie is an event planner and may not look like she used to but to the people who really know her, still think she is beautiful. A serious car accident has left Frankie with scarring and needs to learn how to walk again. It is time for her to start physical therapy and her new therapist is quite the looker who is very tall, dark and handsome…
Brodie has rules… No dating clients, no out of town girls and certainly won’t beg a woman to take him back until he meets Frankie.
Frankie’s Grandma is desperate to set her granddaughter up and her matchmaking skills are a bit to be desired… Frankie mentions this to Brodie and asks him to pretend date her but Brodie wants a real date.
Frankie thinks Brodie feels sorry for her but starts to slowly realise that he may actually find her beautiful. With massive changes going on in Frankie’s life, she realises who her true friends are, meets new people, who bring out the best in her and get’s her really starting to think about the future with the people who think she is still beautiful.
Cannot forget Frankie’s grandma who is quite the character and will bring out all the stops just to make Frankie’s life that much enjoyable.
You received this ARC provided by the author/ publisher in exchange for an unbiased opinion. No type of compensation was made. There is no relationship/affiliation between the reviewer and the author/publisher
When an accident happens and leaves your future on shaky ground, a girl quickly figures out who her real friends are and where her priorities lie especially when a hunky fellow decides that you are a part of his future! A fun romance with a bit of a “moral of the story” depth to it that is not only entertaining, but a bit enlightening as well. Interesting characters, especially grandma, that connect well with the plot and will enhance your reading pleasure! This is my first read by this author and I can say that I am definitely intrigued as I quite enjoyed the author’s voice and am now looking forward to other books by this author and hopefully a sequel to this book as I am quite interested to see what happens in the lives of the supporting characters.
About Face is the first book in the Love in the Suburbs series by D.E. Haggerty. Being a fan of this author, it came as no surprise that I loved this book. But what did surprise me is HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK!
Frankie was happy with her life in the city. As a top event planner, she had everything she wanted. She got to check out the best venues in town, had three girlfriends she went dancing and drinking with and dressed in designer clothes. All that was wonderful until she had a horrible accident where she barely saved her leg and got a scar on her face. After her hospital release, she moved in with her grandparents in the suburbs. She was a city girl and did not like the remote suburbs but she had no choice but to stay with them. Grandma wanted to help Frankie find a man so she asked all her girlfriends (remember she’s 75) to arrange for their grandsons to date Frankie. Those dates were hilarious. Grandma tried, but a matchmaker she was not. I loved her! She thought a little hanky-panky made everybody feel better.
Frankie took physical therapy but it was not easy. How could her therapist be so easy on the eyes but inflict so much pain? And he wanted to date her! She thought the scar on her face made her ugly but he thought she was beautiful. Frankie couldn’t have had a better friend than Shelby. She was always telling Frankie the truth whether she wanted to hear it or not.
Don’t you just love a romance that sneaks up on you between highly laughable scenes, as well as some of the most heart-wrenching truths? About Face is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I would one hundred percent recommend it!
I was given this book in consideration of my honest thoughts. Seriously, this was a great book. You won’t want to miss it.