Somebody to Love

by Sheryl Browne

Sigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep.
Dumped by her husband for a blindingly blonde twig, single mum Donna is getting on with her life, albeit not very confidently. In her dreams, she’ll meet a drop dead delicious hero who will love her and her three-legged dog without question. Alas, in reality, they don’t exist. Dashing policeman Mark does what men do: hides his hurt well. Mark has a lot riding on any sort of relationship he might enter into. He has a special needs son. But should he tell Donna, the quirky, sassy, caring woman he’s fallen in love with? Or will he scare her away?
Could Mark be the hunk Donna needs? Could Donna be the rock Mark can lean on? If they look hard enough, can they find Somebody to Love?

“Fabulous, funny, heart-breaking. If you are a fan of Jill Mansell you will love SOMEBODY TO LOVE!” – Brook Cottage Books
“I was blown away by Sheryl’s beautiful writing.” – Reviewed The Book.
“Somebody to Love is a fearless and humorous spin on a topic that everyone can identify with.” – Cosmochicklitan

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 24, 2012

About the author

Hi, I’m Sheryl Browne writing psychological thriller. My latest psychological thriller MY LOVING HUSBAND is published by fabulous BOOKOUTURE. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, I have several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where I completed my MA in Creative Writing. I live in Worcestershire with my partner and a variety of disabled dogs. According to readers of my thrillers, I also apparently make an excellent psychopath. ;) Follow my @Bookouture Mailing List and grab a FREE short: https://t.co/bIigwwALCs
𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡…
MY LOVING HUSBAND – Can I really trust the man I married?
Do I Really Know You? – She's the friend you trust with your life. But can she trust you with hers?
The Invite – Kaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare…
The Liar's Child – I’ll do anything to protect my daughter…
My Husband's Girlfriend – She told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone…
The Second Wife – SHE MADE HER BED. YOU'LL LIE IN IT.
The Affair – You trusted her. You shouldn't have.
The Babysitter – She's perfect. Too Perfect.
After She's Gone – He's killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do?
Sins of the Father - What if you’d been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable?
Deadly Intent - Tormented to the edge of sanity …
The Rest of My Life - “You can’t run away from commitment forever … “ Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to bring Adam and Sienna together?
Learning to Love – Sometimes help comes from the most unlikely places …
Somebody to Love – Sigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep.
Warrant for Love - Blackmail, lies, adultery, heartache. Three love stories wrapped up in one sexiliciously hilarious package.
A Little Bit of Madness – White Knight in Blue rescues The Harbour Rest Home.

Reviews

[J.B (Debbie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were more than 5 stars for this review because it is such a fantastic book! It has it all!!!

Donna is a single mum, getting on with life albeit not very confidently. The three greatest loves of her life are her son Matt, her rabbit Findus and her three legged dog Sade. Donna has had her heart broken, her confidence shattered and every ounce of self-worth drained from her body. Does Donna really need a man in her life? Cue the dashing policeman Mark, also having been hurt in the past, Mark falls head over heels for Donna. But, he has a lot riding on any sort of relationship he might enter into. He has a special needs son. But should he tell Donna? Would this frighten her off?
This fabulous book is a Rom Com with a difference. It’s funny, its heart-breaking, and it will either make you sigh with contentment or scream with frustration. At times it made me weep. The special needs thread running through this book will tug at your heartstrings and give you a greater understanding of what it’s like trying to find love when your life is full of complications.
Through this book, Sheryl Browne has captured the essence of love, life, family and the fear of giving away your heart. She has also perfectly captured the highs and lows of parenting a special needs child. But, this is a story focusing on the highs of life too and there are plenty of laughs throughout the book too and I did get caught out unawares sometimes by the comedic element of the book and found myself chuckling away, much to the amusement of those around me.
If you are a fan of Jill Mansell you will love this book. The characters jump of the page at you and make you instantly care about them – whether you want to or not! They are interesting, funny and are as vital to the book as the main characters. Each one offers something valuable to the story and you just can’t stop yourself liking them. There’s a villain and heartbreaker there too and by the end of the book I was baying for his blood!
Sheryl Browne is without doubt a very talented writer and I could imagine her being offered a movie deal for this book at some point in the future. It’s just crying out to be made into a good rom-com movie. Yes, it’s that good! One of the best books I’ve read this year. I’ll certainly be reading more of her work.

[Wendy Janes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donna and Mark have both been hurt before. Donna’s husband has run off with a younger, thinner model, and although she knows she’s loved by her teenage son and their three-legged dog, she wants a man in her life. Mark’s wife left him when the demands of looking after their autistic son grew too much, and although working as a policeman and bringing up Karl alone are more than full-time occupations, he needs a woman in his life. Will they find their special somebody to love?

The strength and vulnerability of these two characters makes them both extremely likeable, and you’re rooting for this lovely couple to get together right from the start. Initially their misunderstandings, mistakes and hiccups really sparkle and make you want to read on to see if/how they can possibly work things out. However, I think the charm and intrigue wear off a little bit when some elements of their on/off relationship become a smidge repetitive.

Donna and Mark’s families form an entertaining backdrop to the central love story, and provide a lot of the humour that runs through the book. My favourite secondary character is Donna’s teenage son. Her conversations with him ring so true, and I love how he and Mark relate to each other.

If you’re familiar with autism, then you’ll recognise that the author writes sensitively and knowledgeably about the subject. If you’re new to autism, then you’ll learn a lot about this complex condition without feeling you’re being preached to. The scenes with Donna and Karl are beautifully written and very moving.

In the interests of disclosure I’d like to say that I won this book in a competition.

[Sara HarlequinJunkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewd: HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews

This book is a laugh a minute from the beginning to the end!

Somebody to Love is a truly heartfelt and emotional read! The budding romance between Donna and Mark (and yes ladies he is a man in uniform so you get my drift when I say YUMMY) was so sweet and tender.

I love how the author shows that it is easy to get caught up in a tangle of lies and when it comes crashing down you wish that you had not started with lie number one to begin with. The book had depth, romance, life lessons and tons of laughter.

The author exceeded my expectations on the incorporation of autism, and just how a child with it can grow. I fell in love with the three legged dog so sad and at the same time so cute. The author perfectly captured how two people can find love again and be happy no matter the obstacles.

If you need to just relax and escape from it all this is the perfect little pick me up!

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an ok book. There is alot of drama between the main characters with all the misunderstandings but the interactions wiyh his son where touching. Overall a good read.

[Lorraine.Hates.Cliffhanger.Endings! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny with an interesting story of assistance dogs.

[Midge Lightbody · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absurd....

I really enjoyed the Second Wife, but this book was ridiculous… I’m really not sure why I finished it - How to people could “misinterpret” words and actions time after time after time is just silly… I wouldn’t waste your time with this one!

[Mary Geraghty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amen!!!

Laughed, cried and found a book to love. What a lovely feel good story. This is what is so needed in the world. Fantastic. 😃😂🐕

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Laugh,' he said....You do it beautifully.'

Donna O'Connor is a single mum to teenager Matt, and wonderful three-legged dog Sadie and little houserabbit Findus. She works in an office but would ideally like to get involved in working directly with children with difficulties, at a respite home, helping them learn. Her first marriage ended, her ex-husband Jeremy now having taken up with someone new, and being less than helpful with his fathering duties to Matt.

Mark is a policeman and single father to his autistic son, Karl. He would love to find a lasting relationship with someone who can accept him and Karl as they are, but fears that this will ever happen. So when he meets Donna, and feels an instant attraction, he hesitates before telling her the full facts about his life, despite sensing she is a kind-hearted lady. And for her part, Donna wonders if Mark would 'really want to be embroiled in the life of a single mum and all the problems that went with it?' Not telling the truth initially to each other, though, means that lies and misunderstandings abound, and any chance of love is in jeapody.

This author shows a true understanding and appreciation of how rewarding relationships between humans and animals can be. She writes about relationships convincingly, and has created warm, likeable, but flawed and therefore very human characters in Donna and Mark. Equally, Sheryl Browne writes with sensitivity and understanding regarding Karl, and with authority and insight as to the possibilities an autism assistance dog can offer a child's life; 'Assistance dogs can vastly improve the quality of an autistic child's life, and thereby that of the parents and carers. As well as allowing them some independence, they provide companionship, unconditional love, a source of comfort and consistency when environments change and anxiety might be high.' This is illustrated through Karl's encouragingly positive steps with his new canine companion Starbuck by his side; 'Karl studied the dog for a second, his hair plastered to his head, his chest heaving, that familiar furrow in his brow that had Mark constantly wondering what he was thinking. What went on in a six-year-old mind where abstract ideas made no sense? Mark is thrilled when, immediately subsequent to this, Karl runs alongside with his dog and they play together, slowly developing Karl's behaviour.

I liked both Donna and Mark, and wished they had had more confidence at times, and less doubt about themselves and each other, but this is often the case in real life - we can't find the confidence to believe we are deserving. Yet they are two lovely people, and the misunderstandings and complications are frustrating because I felt that I knew they should be together, and I wanted them to have just one moment together alone, uninterupted by children, parents or animals to be able to set things straight!

Despite their shared nervousness, there are glimpses and moments of tenderness early on which show how much they actually like each other. When Mark tells Donna he would always want to make her laugh and smile it means so much to her. 'It was such a small thing he'd said, but so poetic in its simplicity, her disorientated heart felt full to overflowing. He hadn't been gushing, full of false compliment designed to impress. He'd picked on the one thing she quite liked about herself: her smile, which she hadn't had a reason g to use much lately.'

The supporting cast of characters, including Donna's mum Evelyn and sister Alicia, and Mark's father Robert, as well as Evelyn's friend Dot, and Agnes from the park, all add to the narrative. I thought the dialogue between Donna and her son Matt was particularly well-written and fitting.

I feel that this story has been written with real warmth and heart, with a wry humour at the ups and downs that life throws at people. It was lovely to read a story where companion animals feature prominently, as they so often provide us with much needed company and unconditional love. In particular rabbits and dogs, which are both close to my own heart.

I have to finish by saying that this is the cutest book cover ever! The absolutely adorable Findus the rabbit featuring so sweetly with his adoring human friend means I will never get tired of looking at it!

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted originally http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2014...

Somebody to Love on first judgment (the cover) looks like a light, adorable story and whilst it was a really sweet novel, I was blown away by Sheryl’s beautiful writing. This book is much more than meets the eye – funny at times and at others more touching. Alongside the romance between Donna and Mark, Sheryl’s writing takes us on a journey which shows us, with Sadie, Findus and Starbuck, how pets can impact on our lives and with Karl, Mark’s son, we learn about autism and the effect that has on a life too.

We’re brought the attraction between Mark and Donna very early on and from there, I wasn’t sure which way this book would go. I loved a lot of the dialogue when both characters were talking or thinking about the other one – the wit which Sheryl is so good at writing never got lost in Somebody to Love. Both Donna and Mark were lacking in confidence and so this was never going to be a straightforward romance but I loved seeing how it progressed.

Somebody to Love didn’t just focus on the relationship between Donna and Mark – outside of the romance, my favourite part of the book was definitely the relationship between Mark’s autistic son Karl and his assistance dog Starbuck. This was written stunningly and it was so moving. Sheryl doesn’t force the autism aspect of this book on us and it isn’t about teaching us everything about the condition either. More, she perfectly involves this is the story and shows us the real impact autism can have on Karl and his family’s life. No exaggerations, just beautiful, sensitive writing and seeing Karl’s progression throughout this book was a joy to read.

Another relationship I loved seeing develop in Somebody to Love was the relationship between Donna and her teenage son Matt. Matt was his own person and he wasn’t completely rebellious nor was he completely hanging off Donna’s every word. He just felt like the average teenage boy, one that’s capable and willing to do anything to help when it’s really needed or appreciated. I think I warmed to their relationship because so often in books, teens are portrayed to be fully rebellious and rude all the time whereas in Somebody to Love, everything felt more real.

I’ve come to learn from the books I’ve read by Sheryl Browne so far that I’ll rarely have a bad word to say about them but Somebody to Love felt like something a bit more special. I was surprised by how much I loved it but it had a lot more to it than a typical romance novel and was simply a wonderful read.

[Kate’s Book Spot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this eBook when it was available as a free download from Amazon (its current price at the time of writing this review is £1.98).

I was quickly absorbed by the story and ended up staying awake until past midnight with the old ‘just one more chapter’ routine. This meant that I finished the book in less than a day – I was just so engrossed in the characters lives that I had to know what would happen next for them.

When Donna and Mark met for the first time they got very friendly very quickly and I was a bit surprised when they began blurting out their feelings for one another – at that point I thought the story would be over before it had started! Things soon cooled down and actually appeared to move backwards instead of forwards, this was one of the things that kept my interest so fully because I was wondering if or when they would get together.

The characters were all interesting, with the only exception being Donna’s ex-husband who was definitely the villain of the story. There were also lots of pets in the story and this always gets a few extra points from me because I’m such an animal lover, Sadie the three-legged dog was a particular favourite.

Now to mention Mark, lovely lovely Mark, he was adorable and I have to confess to falling a little bit in love with him. He was kind and caring but tough and gorgeous as well, I loved him and Donna as a couple because they were so much fun together. His son Karl had autism spectrum disorder, something I didn’t really know much about so this side of the story I found incredibly interesting. The story showed how the disorder affected the family as well as the child and Karl, the child in question, quickly became my favourite character. I loved his interaction with Starbuck the dog, it was really touching to read, I had tears in my eyes and a big smile on my face many times whilst reading about Karl’s progression.

This book had funny and sad times, many misunderstandings, heart-warming moments and towards the end things even took a sinister turn. All this combined made Somebody To Love a fantastic page-turner that I would definitely recommend.

[Tricia Drammeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Review: I love romance novels, so I was eager to read this book. I expected a nice, light-hearted story and was not disappointed. What I did not expect was a story of such substance and beauty. This story came as a wonderful surprise and I've been recommending it to friends, romance and non-romance lovers alike.

As an animal lover, I appreciate the important role animals play in this book. Donna's relationship with her dog (Sade) and bunny (Findus) created an immediate bond between me and the main character. Anyone who cherishes their animal companions the way Donna does is a friend of mine. As a parent, I was immediately drawn in by the relationships, not just between Mark and his son, Karl, or between Donna and her teenage son, but also the relationships with the older generations. By the third chapter, I felt like I'd known all these characters (including the secondary ones) all my life and was fully invested in them.

I was fascinated by Karl's journey and so touched by his relationship with his assistance dog. Karl's autism with sensitivity and it was obvious the author did a fair amount of research before crafting her novel. There were many times during this novel, I was brought to tears. I absolutely fell in love with Karl.

As Karl undergoes a tremendous amount of growth, so does Mark and Donna. And, this growth does not come easily. Both Karl and Donna struggle with trust issues, and a series of misunderstandings put a strain on their emerging relationship. Despite arguments and disappointments between them, true strength of character emerges, and both Donna and Mark display kindness and compassion in spite of their differences. (I wish I could say more about this, but then I'd spoil the story line for those who haven't read this yet.)

Overall, this was an excellent novel, one I would recommend to everyone. Believe me, you don't have to be a romance reader to appreciate this book. If I could award this book more than five stars, I would surely do so.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donna O’Connor has divorced her cheating, controlling husband and lives with her beloved teenage son Matt, her 3 legged dog Sadie and a lovable hungry rabbit, Findus - who seems to spend most of his life under the kitchen table looking for food.

Whilst out shopping one day, instead of getting a parking ticket she gets a date with a hunky policeman, Mark Evans. However the course of true love never does run smooth and both Donna and Mark face misunderstandings galore in their quest for true love.

Mark has an autistic 6 year old son, Karl. Mark is a single dad and is trying to juggle looking after Karl with the help of a carer when an assistance dog, Starbuck, comes into their lives and what follows is a genuine heartwarming story about how much of a difference the unconditional love of an animal can make to a boy like Karl.

This was a warm and funny, if sometimes frustrating story about two people trying to find genuine love, both having been hurt in the past. Can they both trust each other enough to overcome their fears?

This was the first book that I had read by Sheryl Browne but I’m pleased to say it was a very enjoyable read. From the cover picture, I was expecting a light-hearted and fluffy read but the story has more depth to it in the way it deals with issues that could affect any of us such as increasingly forgetful parents and children that require special attention and care. The characters were well written and believable and so very human with their fears and worries. I felt both sympathy and frustration with Donna, when her feelings of inadequacy and her stubbornness threatened to sabotage her chance of happiness. There were times when I thought the storyline seemed a little far fetched but that certainly didn’t matter to me. If you’re looking for a deeper romantic read with some laughs along the way, then I would recommend that you give this a try. I would certainly read further books by this author.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna is a single mother of a teenage son called Matt. His father is a horrible man who bullied his mother and he's unfortunately also not very good at keeping his promises towards his son. Fortunately Matt is nothing like him, he's more like his mother who is a kind and gentle person. When Donna meets policeman Mark she likes him immediately and the feeling is mutual. They want to go out together, but things aren't so easy for either of them and a lot of issues are standing in their way. Mark is also a single dad. His autistic son Karl doesn't understand the world around him very well and Mark tries to help him as much as possible. He loves his son so much and does everything for him. Unfortunately there are several misunderstandings between Mark and Donna. Will they be able to get over them and fix things?

Sometimes when I read a book I fall in love straight away. That's exactly what happened with Somebody to Love. I really liked this warm and unique story. It is funny, awkward, sweet, complicated, messy and adorable. Donna has been damaged because her first husband was a horrible man and Mark has been hurt by several women and is extra careful because of his son. Karl is such a special boy and it was amazing to see him grown and learn things. Animals are playing an important part in this book as well. Sheryl Browne has written a beautiful and sensitive story. I can't praise this book enough. It's moving, kind, caring and wonderful, it's absolutely perfect!

[Shona Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first picked this book up I wasn't supposed to be reading at all, I was supposed to be doing housework. I figured a cheeky look at the first chapter wouldn't hurt, but at the end of the chapter I didn't want to put the book down, and we all know what happens then... this book was devoured and my housework went undone.

By the end of that first chapter I felt quite sorry for Donna, she really did come across as very naive with low self esteem, mind you her scumbag ex didn't help matters. Mark however, came across as quite the cheeky chap and I wanted to read more of him, even when I knew he was hiding something from Donna I knew I liked him. Watching the two of them stumble into and out of their almost relationship was almost painful at times, I wanted to reach in and shake them both for being so silly... but through it, even when things weren't going great, their fondness and compassion for each other remained.

Browne has done a fabulous job of writing a tale of family, life love and the fear that comes with all of that. This book is more than just a romance though, you need to know that going in, because I didn't. And then I was blind-sided by one little boy who stole my heart. Karl is such an integral part in this book and he will have you laughing and crying in equal measure.

I looked forward to reading this book and I loved every minute of it.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna O' Connor, raising a teenage son whose father tends to ignore him, and reeling from a tumultuous marriage to same, returns to find her car illegally parked and Officer Mark Evans, a blue-eyed hunk in uniform, coming out of the post office aimed directly for her vehicle. Instead of a ticket, they agree to have coffee.

Because he's afraid he'll scare her off, Mark won't tell her he has a young, autistic son. She won't tell him about her miserable marriage and her hopes and dreams of leaving her grueling office job and oppressive manager.

Donna's life includes a three legged dog, a rabbit named Fundus, and a wonderful son who understands his mother is doing her best for him. Mark is torn between getting the right care for his son and doing what is right for Donna.

Through a multitude of miscommunications, intrusion from Donna's well meaning mother and Mark's senile father, and hilariously funny star-crossed scenarios Donna and Mark finally connect when she lands a day care position where Mark's son, Jack, is in care.

In this wonderful story of love and redemption the animals play a large part including Jack's service dog, Starbuck.

Well done, once again, Sheryl!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donna and Mark are in very similar positions. Both are single and are looking to find “the one” they can trust and share the rest of their lives with. To add a few complications, Mark is a single dad to his autistic son Karl. He doesn’t enter easily into new relationships (and often doesn’t mention Karl from the beginning), but will Donna be the perfect partner for him?

I love the very cleverly chosen title of this book. In the end, isn’t this what everyone wants – Somebody to Love? I’ve read a few of Sheryl’s other book and couldn’t wait to delve into this one.

Mark and Donna are both such brilliant characters! Each of them is extremely lovable in their own way. In this book, Sheryl explores the ups and downs of new relationships. Phew! Luckily there are more ups than downs :-). I love Sheryl’s sense of humour. There were so many paragraphs that had me laughing out loud.

The fact that Karl has an autistic son I found really interesting and informative. I don’t know much about autism, but I feel that Sheryl dealt with this sensitive subject matter brilliantly without it being too much in your face.

Somebody to Love is a fearless and humorous spin on a topic that (pretty much) everyone can identify with. I am looking forward to reading more of Sheryl’s writing.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book I was fooled into thinking this is a sweet and gentle read. And it is – for a while. Straight away I was won over by Donna, a single mother with her adorable pets and a pain in the rear ex-husband. This is where the gentle begins, where the author adds humour into a very real character who you would want to be your friend.

Though there’s a strong attraction between Donna and Mark – who seems to arrive at both the wrong and right times in equal measure – there are other issues sensitively threaded into this wonderfully written story that turns gentle into engrossing and subtly draws out the emotion to make this a moving read. Both Donna and Mark have insecurities that impact on their relationship as they both fear rejection for very different reasons. Thankfully, chance encounters, a three legged dog, and not least, Mark’s autistic son, Karl (also adorable!), bring the two together on several occasions until they are forced to embrace honesty and acceptance of the hand life has dealt them.

Expect plenty of ‘aaahh’ moments and possibly a tear or two. ‘Somebody to Love’ is a sweet and emotional read that I really enjoyed!

*Copy received in return for honest review

[P. Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somebody to love is a story which can capture you from the start to the end. It can be frustrating for a moment but nevetheless enjoyable.

As Mark, the main male charatcter, is a single dad who raise only six years old son with Autism - and no, this time his wife is not dead as usual in stories where the main character is a single dad - his world is shaken from the top to the bottom. So as single dad with a son who has Autism, he makes several mistakes, so many parents with children with Autism do (knowing this well as I'm one of them) and this leads to chaos.

Donna - the main female charatcher has flaws of herself... she is just too presumptios and convinced she got it right in her presumptions...

What I loved in this book are - again - strong suport characters, from the egocentric ex husband, somehow not so 'blond & botoxed' new ex-husband's girlfried, to the Donna's teenager son, her so much (and sometimes for Donna's taste too much)overprotective mom and sister, and a little too lost in his old life Mark's father... all very strong and nice contribution to the main love story...

Defenitely worth to read.

[Carol W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donna is a single working mum to Matt, Findus and Sadie, but beneath that strong exterior is a woman that is still reeling from what her ex-husband did to her.

Mark, is a hard working police officer and single dad to Karl. This is a dad who goes the extra mile both in his job and at home with his autistic son. Add into the mix a father that is becoming more dependent, though trying to be fiercely independent.

This must be quite a small community as the two main character paths do cross quite often, even after their disastrous attempt at dating should see them go their separate ways. Several misunderstandings and some explosive situations follow, making this novel a real page-turner.

The author has written into this on/off romance some very moving scences, not only for the main characters but those around them. She explores the subjects of getting old and losing independence, and autism with empathy, making this not just a romance.

This is one fiery read

9 out of 10 for me!

Thank you to the author for a review copy. This did not influence my review.

[Helen Leecy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, this was disappointingly awful!
I thought I would give Browne’s chick-lit genre a go after loving her psychological thriller ‘The Babysitter’ a few weeks back, but this was just terrible. The style of writing was awful; the storyline and flow of the story were disjointed. It was just all over the place and so hard to read. If I put it down for a few hours after a chapter and came back to it, I honestly had no clue what was going on when I picked it back up. I had to continually keep getting my bearings again.
The protagonist was pathetic, and the fact that she kept referring to Mark as her ex when they had been on barely-there two dates that she hadn’t even wanted to go on was just strange. Then he kept referring to himself as her boyfriend, and she didn’t mind that but then wondered whether he liked her, errr what???
It was just awful!!! So all of her back catalogue of chick-lit books have been swiftly deleted from my TBR list!

Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book it really covered well the affects of divorce, disability, Alzheimer's & the problems faced by gay people. Sheryl really covered prejudices well in this book. She has shown the feelings of stepping back into dating after a divorce & how scary it can be, as well as the problems faced by people like Matt who has a son who has autism & his fears of how getting back into a relationship can be even more scary for somebody with a disabled child who doesn't react well to change.

I really enjoyed this book & loved the way it showed the general ups & downs of everyday life & how problems can be overcome if you sit down & talk.

If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, at points want to cry with frustration & at other times cry because you have been where they are in starting a new relationship & one that shows you what you can overcome if you take the time then this is definitely the book you want to read.

[Danielle-Claude Mba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark and Donna, a series of unfortunate events!
5 hopping stars!!!
Hotness factor: Will they...won't they?

This book is a movie. A good old fashioned rom-com... and who doesn't like a good rom-com :)
From the opening credits (Queen playing the background) to the fade out where you can still hear Donna's mum talking, you can't help but falling in love with Mark and Donna. Now if they could just finish their sentences once in a while... they could have avoided a lot of quiproquos...
That being said what makes it a different and better rom-com than the others are Karl, Starbuck, Sadie, Findus and all the animals and great children that were not harmed during the filming of this movies. A very nice movie indeed...sequel?

Disclaimers: I received an advanced review copy but this in no way affected my review.

[LAKristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and edited stand-alone book, with no cliffhanger. As an American, I sometimes find British authors a challenging read because of the slang, but that wasn't the case with this author. There is slang, but its context was always clear.

This story has two insecure, but likeable main characters, surrounded by interesting, believable people with a variety of challenging problems. The couple needs to work through a series of misunderstandings, while managing their own complex lives. It's an entertaining, frustrating and sweet story -- in the end, I think my favorite character is the female lead's 17-year-old son.

The romance is G-rated, and there's very little cursing. In addition, there's a very well done sub-plot about an autistic child and a service dog that was a touching and inspiring addition to the story.

Recommended to fans of dogs, cheeky kids and HEAs.

[BestChickLit.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Sheryl Browne has succeeded in creating a world that will make you believe in love again and that sometimes two people really are perfect for each other, even if they get their wires crossed every now and then. Her recipe of real world situations mixed with laugh out loud humour, adorable animals and undeniable sexual chemistry never fails to delight her readers and Somebody to Love is a perfect example of this!

As funny as Sheryl’s writing is, there is no denying that she has tackled autism in the most sensitive and understanding manner. She understands what it means to be a mother and a father and her writing demonstrates this perfectly. Be prepared to laugh and cry and get lost in a world safe in the knowledge that everything is going to work out okay.

[Natasha Jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the heroine was very childish. The Jody situation went on too long. When the truth finally came out I had to stop reading. The hero should have told the truth from the beginning. I understand he wants a life of his own but he shouldn't want to start something with anyone that might not accept his son. I guess this book wasn't for me since it has got so many 5 stars.

[Brian Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the combination of a serious subject in a rom com context which worked really well and made for a very poignant and entertaining read. Not a book a man would normally pick up but I am really glad I did so.

[Michelle]

Couldn't get into this. Made it 25%.