TO: The guy who dumped me because of my careerFROM: The woman hired to save yoursRE: I am 150,000% over you. Alastair,I’m on the 11:14 train out of London, so I’ll be there by 3:00. To make this as painless as possible, I thought it would help to establish key ground rules: 1. No rehashing our past relationship. Yes, we were engaged, but it’s been twelve years and I’m over you. 2. I’m very good … it’s been twelve years and I’m over you.
2. I’m very good at my job and that job is to help you shed the “reclusive” part of the whole “reclusive rock star” vibe you’ve got going on. Brace yourself.
3. My plan is to have this wrapped up by Friday, so save your smoldering looks until I’m gone, please. (I assume you still smolder?) I’m immune now. See item #1.
4. My cousin is getting married and guess who’s a bridesmaid? Funny, huh? Almost as funny as the fiancée you dumped because you thought she was married to her job now saving yours.
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Except almost. That one time.
Remi
P.S. Have I mentioned I’m totally, completely 150,000% over you?
MAID IN ENGLAND is a standalone second-chance romance that’s a little lighter on the heat, but heavy on the swoons.
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Heartwarming, truly contemporary read
That was a good read. Second chances in relationships not always work out and we shouldn’t take the decisions if to try again lightly. I like stories with this kind of trope but lately I’m seeking ones that have angst on lower level and not too much drama. And this one was exactly it. A little bit a shame it is only from one point of view because it doesn’t give much chance to fully connect with hero but still it immersed me. It gave me some things to think about. I really enjoy reading books that move me and make me self reflect. Very down to earth plot and for those who like the stories as realistic as possible this could be the book to read.
I love everything by Brenda St. John Brown. I especially love when she writes about England and brings in the perspective of an American heroine who is now living there. And I especially adore second change romances, as in Maid in England. Add great writing and a slow burn, and you’ve got a wonderful story.
Alastair and Remi are so much fun!
This couple made me laugh and cry with their banter and heartbreaking past. These two made me smile with their second chance love story. Remi is career driven and Alastair is somewhat of a recluse. This is until their roles are switched.
I enjoyed the way the writer creates a strong, independent woman and a strong, supportive hero. He has a heart of gold and shows it in those around him. The setting and mention of food has me ready to plan a trip to London. Great job with the writing and storyline.
I love rom-com. This is such a cute book about a lady who once was dumped several years back by a guy that is now in need of her help. Why was she dumped? Because he believed she was married to her job, and now he needs that same quality he dumped to come save him.
Talk about a fun cute and adorable story. There is amazing characters that will entertain you like no other. Witty adventure and easy to read this page turner is a delight to read. If you are looking for a wonderful romantic comedy this is the one to grab.
This is a story of second chances. Remi Cooper, 34, is one serious workaholic PR publicist from America who moved to London for her job. Alastair Wells, 32, is a songwriter and is also on the verge of music stardom as a budding rocker in the UK. These two used to be lovers and almost married. Something occurred years prior which broke them apart. Now Remi is back in Alastair’s orbit, for her PR firm is hired to work with Alastair which means Remi is assigned to him. Spending time with her ex-fiancé isn’t at all high on her to do list but she’s a professional and she’ll do what is needed to be done. Her work has been her life up until it isn’t anymore.
This is a very slow burn romance with low impact steam appeal read. I’
admit I was disappointed that it wasn’t at all steamer or sexier as it could have been for it would have definitely helped enhance the main characters chemistry and connection. I will say i do appreciate that it avoided the other romance genres which would have sent this story tumbling into a deeper freefall. The writing is good, and the plot had good potential. It just needed more pizzazz and steam to make this story go from good to amazing for the story to pop otherwise this is just a solid meh in my opinion.
My Rating: 3.5 stars *****
Maid in England is the first book I’ve read from author Brenda St John Brown. It’s a simple, easy to read story, a typical classic romance. Alistar and Remi were very likeable characters. It’s a single POV story, though, so we only get Remi’s view. I like dual better personally, so that I can get inside both main characters heads, but that’s my preference, so I tried not to let it affect my enjoyment of the book. It’s a slow burner but without much heat which was a shame. I’m used to reading hotter stories, lol.
A second chance love story with heat, banter, and humor. Revisit Castle Calder through the relationship of Bea’s cousin, Remi – a workaholic who has committed herself to a job that ensured it was all she had. When that job forces her to cross paths with her ex-fiancé, Alastair, Remi’s world reopens in ways she never imagined! A great story complete with HEA. Brenda St. John Brown delivers another masterful chapter in her Castle Calder series!
If the title isn’t enough to get you interested, the story should be. A true romance with totally lovable characters, this story is high on character and low on unnecessary drama. This entire series of books written by this author has been angst filled and completely down to earth clean romance.
We have Remi and Alastair (totally British, right?), older woman, younger man. Publicist and rock star, old flames and a second chance romance. This is a true winner and the story just hit the spot for me.
Absolutely fabulous!
Great writing?
Fantastic, well-considered, beautifully developed characters?
A deliciously fun romantic storyline?
Humour, sass, and some of those wonderful “all the feels” moments?
Some unexpected surprises?
This book ticks all the boxes and then some. Thoroughly enjoyed this perfect, slow-burning romance.
This book was interesting.. I like it but it could have been more.. Does that even make sense? Who knows?lol
Anyway, i really liked Remi. She was determined and dedicated,maybe a bit to dedicated at times. She has a mission and it involves her ex fiance. There’s a past that neither one has healed from. Feelings are still there. Alastair was a good character. He knew what he wanted to do and did. His life got thrown a loop but he keep going. Having Remi in his life has brought up feelings he buried. These two are sweet. They push each other to be better and get better in life. It was great to see them both grow and decide what they really wanted in life. This was a very real book with characters facing everyday life. I enjoyed this book and loved that it wasn’t an easy love. These two knew they needed to hash it out in order to move on. The author did an amazing job on this book!
Remi is a soon-to-be 35 year old successful publicist in London. She is given the task of making talented area singer/songwriter Alistair Wells visible, in order for his agent to secure a high profile gig as opening act on a more famous singer’s tour. She hesitates, since she and Alistair were engaged once upon a time, but he broke up with her 12 years ago for putting her job above everything else.
He doesn’t seem happy about working with her, although he comes around to the idea. As his career is taking off, though, Remi is having an epiphany about her own life and career and reevaluating everything.
These two have a lot to work through, though. With his musical career exploding and taking him away, can they make things work a second time?
It was so nice getting little glimpses of characters from the Castle Calder series, although this is completely a standalone and you definitely don’t feel like you are missing information if you haven’t read those books first. (Although I highly recommend reading them, they are fantastic.) I did really like Remi and Alistair both. Remi’s assistant Vera and Alistair’s friend Amy are both wonderful characters as well.
I can’t think of one thing I didn’t like about this book. I admit I was confused about the title at first, because there is no maid in the story. But then it dawned on me… Remi is a bridesmaid in her cousin’s wedding. *lightbulb moment*
Overall: Get this book! It was an engaging, lovely read.
I really enjoyed this book. This is a spin off from the Castle Calder series, which I loved though you don’t have to read it to read this book. It is a second chance romance. Remi and Alister met in college when Alister was forced to tutor Remi in math. Alister is younger then Remi so when she graduates she heads to New York City to start her career, leaving Alister still in university. Remi’s drive to excel in her career drives a wedge between them and they break up. Fast forward 12 years and they see each other again for the first time when Remi’s company is hired to boost Alister’s publicity. Let’s just say it’s not a happy reunion. I love these characters. They are flawed, human and relatable. They eventually acknowledge their mistake, but can they learn from them and move forward? Great read!
Crazy Good Romcom
Maid in England, a romcom written by author Brenda St John Brown was definitely a delicious read. I was infatuated with Remi, the thirty-five year old publicist and singer/ex-fiancé, Alastair. Oh, and Ziggy the one eyed dog whose tail wagging spoke volumes and emitted tones of emotions.
I felt for Remi when she came to the realization that she was a workaholic and all that it cost her, as she looks at her ex of twelve years. But, she takes steps to evaluate her priorities while she has just launched Alastair’s music career and possibly even further away from hers.
While this may seem heavy, the author approaches this storyline with humor when needed with the right supporting characters be they two legged or four legged, or food…doughnuts! Maturity seems to be the key here for these two to have their HEA.
This was such a well written story that I’m recommending it for your reading enjoyment. I am also leaving this review for your consideration.
What a great plot and array of characters to this second chance romance! The tentative reunion and subsequent interaction after years apart for Remi the heroine and Alistair the musician hero were great, romantic with a tinge of heat, but I really identified with heroine Remi’s work woes and her lonely lifestyle as she focused on building her career. Her colleagues Jeb and Rex’s attitude towards her position in the firm — I suspect it’s just as influenced by her being a woman and expecting her to be accommodating because of it(!) as it is because of her lack of a social life. That it so typical and relatable and I became her fan when I read how Remi handled it.
From videographer/barmaid Amy to Alistair’s canine companion to Vera the PA and Paula the charity worker, the author created some great secondary characters for Remi. I also appreciated the real life flavor of the hitches in their relationship, from competing schedules and career priorities to working with a potentially hostile daughter.
The story’s also well-written and properly edited. I only mention this because with a host of romances out there with sketchy editing, this book was a welcome exception!
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Loved this! Remi is an American publicist working in London. She is all work and never any play and has worked her butt off to get where she is today…alone and dateless for her cousins wedding. Her perfectly controlled world begins to spin out of control when her latest assignment/client is the reclusive rock start Alastair. He also happens to be the man who broke her heart 12 years ago. It will take every bit of her nerve to face him and the feelings that rush back. As much as they have changed, deep down their feelings haven’t. This is a great story of rediscovery, forgiveness, understanding and at heart a sweet love story!!
There’s a reason Brenda St John Brown is on my auto-buy list and it’s because of books like Maid in England. I know I can count on her for smart, funny, sexy stories with complex, relatable characters.
Remi and Alistair were both such great characters. While I loved the romance – learning about their history and seeing them reconnect in the present was so much fun – and I rooted for this pair easily, it was actually Remi I loved most. I loved that she really came into her own throughout the course of the book and didn’t need anyone else to do it. I admired her for taking chances and also for taking the time to figure out what she really wanted. Those are my favourite type of books. I was really rooting for her, and I was all ‘hell yeah!’ every time she triumphed. I also enjoyed watching her make friends, because as someone who’s the exact same age, I know how hard it is to make new friends.
Looking for a smart, funny, fresh second-chance romance that’s low on the angst meter but still packs an emotional punch? Maid in England is a must read!
ONE CAPTIVATING TREAT!!!
OMG! Talk about simmering. If you like living on the edge with a plethora of events, emotions and intense desires, congrats my friends you’ve found it. Twisted, twinned and put through the wringer as you watch so deeply immersed and frozen to your seat, holding your breath waiting for the other shoe to drop. Drop it did. One exciting, well paced, heart pounding, pulse racing, page turning delight that demands your full undivided attention and you follow willingly. All the drama, uncertainty, fear and mistrust, throw in a little suspense and tension step back mesmerized as this bad boy comes roaring to life beautifully. Twists and turns, ups and downs, along with a few glitches, bumps and bruises that rock this read with every word. Following the characters along, witnessing their personalities transform and blend as their past and present collide with a slow simmering chemistry that grows as sparks start to fly. The characters were so realistic, intriguing and complex with a undeniable attraction between the two main characters. The scenes were so vividly detailed and descriptive it gives the illusion you were right there in ground zero with them. Brenda didn’t skip a beat bringing this bad boy together perfectly. Remarkable job Brenda, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
This is a new author to me, and I will certainly be looking out for her work in the future. Remi is a feisty hard working publicist who is hired to advance the career of Alastair, who is a songwriter and musician, and the only problem being is that she is his ex fiancée. No spoilers; this is a must read, you will not be disappointed. This is a well written story about characters that are relatable and a second chance romance. The only down side, in my opinion anyway, is that this was a too slow burn romance. However I look forward to reading more of this authors’ work.
I absolutely adored this sweet and sexy second chance romance. Remi and Alistair met and fell in love in college, but they were both young and unprepared for the work it took to keep a love alive when starting a new career. Remi was ambitious and driven when Alistair broke off their engagement, leaving them both heartbroken. Now the tables are turned on Remi and Alistair 12 years after they gave up on their relationship. This time Remi is the one helping Alistair soar, and the sexy, reclusive rockstar, with new complications, has her re-evaluating all her life’s choices. This sweet and sexy romance captivated me right from the start. St. John Brown creates fun and moving stories with honest and relatable characters I want to be friends with. Alistair was so swoony, and is the best book boyfriend. Remi is so strong yet vulnerable, her growth was inspiring. Remi and Alistair are so cute together and their sexual tension and chemistry is off the charts. It was fun catching up with the Calder characters as well. I loved the epilogue, it was so sweet and perfect, but left me wanting more! I had so much fun reading this charming, heartfelt, and steamy story. It’s a wonderful start to the new ‘The I Do Crew’ series.
MAID IN ENGLAND is the first Brenda St John Brown book I have read, and I enjoyed her writing. The writing flows easily and I felt the pacing was consistent. Admittedly I was somewhat confused by the title and book blurb; I don’t think they accurately reflect the story told, but don’t let that put you off. The book is more serious that I expected but it was a pleasant read.
I enjoyed Remi’s story and thought her character development was realistic throughout. I particularly liked that the author had Remi “save” herself when she was experiencing her work/life crisis.
I enjoyed Remi and Alastair’s relationship but I wanted more of it. It felt like we got the bare bones. As a result, it was hard to feel fully invested in their relationship.
One of the sweetest relationships in the book was between Remi and Ziggy, the dog. Their “conversations” were fun to read.
MAID IN ENGLAND is an entertaining, undemanding read that’s just the thing when you want to escape into a book for a few hours.