When hiding behind the scenes is no longer an option…As an introverted party planner, Emma Toplin’s superpower is to blend behind the scenes. Except on her birthday when she tries to flee the worst public humiliation of her life, but can’t—because someone stole her Parte’ van. Struggling to shun the media spotlight, prank callers, and her sister, she’s also got a delicious detective on her case … she’s also got a delicious detective on her case who’s a party-favour she doesn’t need.
Newly promoted detective, Ryan Lewis, always follow orders, and it’s his job to catch the Parte’ van. Yet, working with Emma blurs his lines of professionalism, stirring the battle between his heart and his badge.
But when an uninvited guest threatens to wrench them apart, past secrets are revealed at a party that could be Emma’s last…
Unplanned Party is a fun fling, celebrating lives filled with flaws, cocktails, and gallons of glitter.
It’s the perfect blend of drama, romance, friendship, and love; where its characters (and pets) are flawed and funny, making them perfectly relatable to readers who enjoy their heartfelt romance combined within today’s women’s fiction.
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Full of fun, wit, courage, love and desires, this book is one of the few that I feel will connect with everyone at some level. The fears, insecurities, dreams, strength, courage, helplessness that Emma feels in this book, is something that each one of us can relate to, to some extent or the other.
Emma’s story has amazing & startling depth that I loved. Her metamorphosis from the shy introvert doormat to a strong outspoken girl is beautifully described. One of the best things about Emma was that no matter what happened this girl found something good in it.
A must read for all.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the 1st book I’ve read written by Mel A. Rowe; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I will definitely be reading more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
Emma is a party planner who hates to celebrate, not even her birthday. She just plans amazing functions and then disappears for others to enjoy. She has the most horrific birthday when her Parte Van is stolen on her birthday at a restaurant where her family and friends tried to do a birthday celebration for her that went so wrong. The waitress tripped and poured seafood all over Emma and on returning to the parking lot she discovers her work van is gone, the day goes downhill from there. A yummy detective Ryan is assigned to her case, he find her sitting on the curb with seafood smell drinking directly from a bottle. A series of crimes are conducted in Emma’s van. Suddenly everybody knows about her, her phone number is on the van and she’s getting loads of prank calls, the van is all over media. She hates the attention. We are also let into the psyche of the thieves, they are just good boys who did bad things. They were repressed young men who are breaking out of their shell and having an unplanned great time. Everyone is shocked that they are the ones doing the horrible robberies, intimidation and even murder. Meanwhile, Emma and the hunky detective are fighting their attraction with no luck. In the end they live happily ever after after one thief gives Ryan grey hairs! He broke into Emma’s very secluded home to return the van. Beautiful book, some LOL moments. Mel A ROWE did not disappoint. Loved unplanned party.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked the concept and the romance between Emma and Ryan, but I don’t think the book blurb is an accurate indication of the tone of the story. There’s a black, violent side thanks to Jae, the van thief, and much of the plot focuses more on Emma’s relationship with her family than the romance.
That’s not to say it’s not a good, well-written story with a crew of well-drawn characters, just not the quirky, fun romance I was expecting. Maybe I should have known when the book starts out with heroine Emma having a VERY BAD DAY rife with humiliation. How she stays so positive despite life’s wrong turns and roadblocks is beyond me! No wonder her upbeat attitude and dazzling smile hook more than a passing interest from the dreamboat cop assigned to her case.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Unplanned Party by Mel A Rowe is Rom-com that touches the heart. This story took us to a whole new level and into places we have not really completely traveled too and she did it with her amazing ability of storytelling that we have all come to love and wait for as each new story comes out and to life within our minds. The words seem to jump off the page and you can’t read them fast enough but you don’t want to miss anything either.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked this book.
Even though I like my heroines a bit more self-confident and my heroes a bit more on the alpha side I liked these characters and the story they told. What I felt here was more important than characters’ flaws or imperfections was that there was something to learn from the story.
I liked both characters’ development. I loved it when Emma finally told off her sister. I really hated how her family treated her. Ryan changed too. I liked how he learned to trust himself to be a good detective.
I also liked how the story running in the background counterpointed the romance. The secondary storyline sent a pretty strong message about family dynamics and acceptance, just to name a few.
A little bit of everything going on in this read. Very interesting and good humor/ rom-com aspect. Enjoyable story and characters!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a great story and I enjoyed it very much. I could relate to the characters and it was filled with real life situations and the right amount of humor
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you are looking for something light hearted and laugh out loud funny, this is your book
Emma seemed to find the good in just about every situation – an ability to laugh at herself, and the calamities of life.
She was a party planner – but no weddings. Obviously a story there, but not the one I expected.
Her sister and mum were prepared to treat her as the help, rather than family, excluding her from photos at their events.
Someone stole her work van – with Parte and her logo with champagne bubbles on the side.
She met the most amazing officer – who turned out to be the new detective of her van theft the next day, as a joy riding pair of boys made off with the van, and used it in their escapades. And their adventures quickly take a dark turn, though at heart they pair seem to be more misguided boys without proper guidance or support.
With life comes pain – even when you find the good in things.
Emma manages to survive the lack of a work van, despite hire van break downs, sisterly snobbishness, and general chaos – and her friends do try to help her out with the loan of their vehicles – though none was quite appropriate.
The pain in the past for Ryan had to do with an ex with more than a bit of a mean streak. Ditto for Emma – though some darker things lurk under the surface with her family.
If anyone can help Emma find a smile to hold onto, Ryan is the man for the job.
Poignant, touching, and painful – an amazing life/road trip.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story line was a lot of fun to read but a LOT of real-life issues in the book. The characters made me think about my life and how I could be a better person but there was a lightness to the book that made it very difficult to put the book down. I loved it! I am looking forward to reading more from Mel Rowe.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read with a bit of everything. The fun starts when Emma’s ‘parte’ van cum work vehicle is stolen. To top it off it’s her birthday, where as usual for her, it’s full of disasters. This is when she meets the hunky detective Ryan. So the story is told in their pov’s as well as those of the ‘parte van kidnappers’ Jae & Stu who set off a trail of very notorious events.
While packed with humour there is also a sad side to this which involves bullying, self esteem & racism. Bit by bit the lives of our characters are broken down to reveal their pasts some of which aren’t pretty & perhaps reasons for their actions.
Any Aussie would appreciate the lingo but perhaps someone who isn’t into our quirk may question our sanity. Lol.
This is a very entertaining story packed with a lot that would appeal to most readers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. 4.5*
Let’s go Parte!
I enjoyed travelling with Emma as she found her true self. Emma doesn’t plan weddings and doesn’t date. She finds joy in simple things, like her kettle, and looks for silver linings. Her life is wrapped up in her business and two best friends. Safe. When her van is stolen, everything is turned upside down as she tries to keep her business commitments. There is an additional story line that follows the van thieves that eventually merges with Emma’s.
Mel used humour to bring up some difficult themes from our current times and lay them out for us to think on. But she did it without preaching. It was seamlessly woven into the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A very entertaining and upbeat crime solving love story from down under. I enjoyed the use of the local lingo, even learned a thing or two. The understanding and empathy for all the characters, and the very good descriptions of those characters, made for very easy reading of a complicated situation. The danger and ugliness of the crimes were not understated while keeping the overall tone of the story clean and light.
Emma is a party planner and things just don’t always go right for her. Her family treats her more like hired help than family, her party planning business van is stolen, she meets someone who just happens to be the detective working the case of her stolen van. Among all the chaos will Emma find romance?There were times in the book where I had a hard time getting in to the story and staying interested in it. There are some parts that make you laugh while thinking how can all this happen to one person.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
So Authentic
This is story of Emma who is a party planner and Ryan a detective. It’s a funny, clean romance but also touches on the uglier side of family life. I enjoyed this one. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review
This book was given to me by booksprout. I am leaving this review freely. A fun loving lady that always seems to have bad luck. Can you relate is some way? She meets the man of her life the hard way. This book will show you another way to look at life even through the hard times and more. Wit all come together or not that is always the question we ask ourselves. Read the book to find out. I enjoyed this book very much and suggest that you give it a try. It is really cute and interesting.
She is a party planner but she hates being in the limelight so she hides in the background. Now it is her birthday and she is about to be pushed into the limelight. Her van is stolen and a detective is given the case. Now things are going to become interesting
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have such conflicting emotions about this book. It starts off feeling light almost like a rom-com. After a few chapters there are events that give it darker feel, then it goes back to light. That rollercoaster continues throughout the book, towards the end, everyone’s tragic back story comes out in a strange bonding session between the h and the (for lack of a better word) villian. The book is centered around one event that brings three people together, there a two very different story lines (one funny, one dark, hence the rollercoaster). This review is all over the place, because that’s how the book made me feel. It wasn’t bad, just not what I was expecting.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.