Rachel, Out of Office

Mommy Wars #1

by Christina Hovland

Single mom Rachel Gibson seriously needs a break. Between an absent ex-husband, rowdy twin boys, and running her own work-from-home business, her candle isn't just burning at both ends, it's a full-blown puddle of wax. She's the go-to girl for other entrepreneurs, handling all the tasks they dread. Social media posts? She's got it. Website updates? She's on it. Light bookkeeping? She loves it.

Thank goodness Rachel’s about to get a reprieve, as her former in-laws plan to whisk her boys away for a summer of fun at the family lake house. But when her ex backs out at the last minute, she finds herself in a pickle. Even though she's drowning in to-dos, she's horrible at saying no—especially when it comes to providing some stability for her kids.

Once Rachel arrives at the lake house, she struggles to keep up with work and balance the demands of family, all the while fending off pesky new feelings for her ex-brother-in-law. Which makes her wonder...is falling for her ex-husband's brother just one more messy complication added to the dumpster fire of her life? Or is anything possible when she's out of office…?

Don't miss these other laugh-out-loud rom-coms from Christina
* There's Something About Molly
* April May Fall

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Fiction, Rom Com, Family

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2021

About the author

Christina Hovland lives her own version of a fairy tale: an artisan chocolatier by day and romance writer by night. Born in Colorado, Christina received a degree in journalism from Colorado State University. Before opening her chocolate company, Christina’s career spanned from the television newsroom to managing an award-winning public relations firm. She’s a recovering overachiever and perfectionist with a love of cupcakes and dinner she doesn’t have to cook herself. A 2017 Golden Heart® finalist, she lives in Colorado with her first-boyfriend-turned-husband, four children, the sweetest dog around, and now Chloe, the wonder pup.

Reviews

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 For Real Stars- LIMITED TIME ONLY 99 CENTS!!!
* * * * Spoiler Free- A Quick Review
This is a quick love letter to Christina Hovland. She happens to have the ability to take readers on a journey that can feel personal. It doesn't matter I haven't had a set of twins or been divorced and have to deal with inlaws and a sexy ex-brother-in-law. I will still be able to relate to some of the issues these people are experiencing and love the journey I am taking with them.

Rachel, Out of Office is an ode to all Mothers who attempt to do it all. Our lives are not always of our making and it is our job to figure out everything not only for us but for those who depend on us. We do this every single day and with all of the current issues we are juggling, it has never been more of an issue.

Bravo to Ms. Hovland for looking hard at this and giving us a giggle, swoon, or two.

Rachel, Out of Office
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
There's Something About Molly
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April May Fall
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
December 10, 2020
Rachel Couldn't Put Her Finger...
On When It Happened...

It Might Have Been...
When Her Ex-Husband...
Seemed To Vanish...
Whenever He Was Needed...
To Help With Their Twin Boys...

But When It Happened
Really Doesn't Matter Now...
For Rachel Has Become
That Go To Gal...

From The Work From Home Business...
To Never Saying No...
To All Of The Requests...

Rachel Is At Her...
Stick-A-Fork-In-Me...
I'm Done Point...

Her Only Saving Grace...
The Twins Are Going...
To The Grandparent's Lake House...
For The Entire Summer...

Perfect...

And Yet, Her Ex Vanishes Once More...
So Now Rachel Will Step Up Again...
She Never Would Let Her Boys Down...

So Here Rachel Is...
Juggling Her Twins, Work, And Her Ex's Parents...
Oh, And If It Couldn't Get Worse...

Her Ex Brother-In-Law Is Front And Center...
Rachel Can't Seem To Catch A Break...
Because Feelings and Tingles...
Are Happening Around Him...

The Only Question She Has...
Are These Feelings Real...
Or Due To Her Being...

Rachel, Out of Office-January 25, 2021

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book of firsts for me: my first by this author and my first romantic momedy - and I am absolutely hooked on both!

As a mom (albeit not a single one) of an 8 year old boy (thankfully just the one), this book resonated with me on so many levels. The pressure and the panic and the constantly trying to make things work. I felt Rachel in a way that immediately made her relatable, sympathetic, and downright likable to me. I will forever be a sucker for a strong heroine.

So that made it easier to fall head over heels for her unconventional romance. Can I just tell you how much I adored that there was so little angst in the romance? Because Rachel was dealing with enough already and the fact that Travis was an unexpected source of balance and peace for her is what made the romance so dreamy for me. Add in some seriously steamy chemistry, and an adorable connection that was just the right amount of banter and heat and -- man, I just really really loved them.

I also loved how the greater family dynamic was written. The formidable mama-bear who met her match with Rachel (no slouch in the mama-bear department herself). I loved how Rachel worked things out with her ex, and how honestly that relationship was written. All the relationships, really. This story had an authenticity to it that made it utterly unputdownable to me. It tugged at my heartstrings, coaxed out countless smiles, and I loved - literally - every minute spent with these flawed, but wonderful characters.

If you're looking for something sweet, sexy, and satisfying in a way that feels both relatable and fairytale-ish all at the same time, definitely give Rachel, Out of Office a try. ~ Shelly, 5 Stars

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining, well-written, fast paced, steamy, hilarious, contemporary romantic comedy. It has likable, engaging characters, puppies, family drama, a heart-warming romance, many laugh out loud moments, and a happily ever after ending. The mom quotes at the beginning of each chapter are a great touch. I am looking forward to reading Ms. Hovland's next entry in this series with great anticipation.
I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story, crazy life, great ending.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The author manages to capture a single mom’s drama and her over compulsion to be the perfect mother and perfect business owner. While trying to manage at all, saying no obviously is not in her vocabulary.

There were a few situations that made me just say who in the hell would run their business this way. But the overall feel of the book with the fun humorous situations and her heart-melting brothers-in-law made this book an exciting read.

The author managed to capture the sexual tension perfectly in the story. Rachel always thought she didn’t care for her ex brother-in-law but in reality, he was freaking hot, and once again she couldn’t say no.

Fire up that passion and the sexy situations and you’ve got a story that is tough to put down. In fact, I read it all in one sitting!

The author grabs us with her mom moments perfectly scattered throughout. With family relationships such as they are, and the delicate balancing act of trying to manage a romance with two 8-year-olds, it’s a story you can completely understand and you will find yourself cheering them on.

A sweet, sexy, and steamy story with a crazy lifestyle and a wonderful ending!

* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/rachel-out-o...

[Corinne [hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Perfection is not measured by degrees. It is created by degrees." This is Rachel Gibson's mantra.
Rachel is a single mom to twin boys, who does what a lot of moms do: she takes on too much and tries to save the day all by herself. Rachel is not very good at asking or accepting help. And she is really bad at setting boundaries and saying NO, at work and in relation with her boys' dad, thus being constantly overworked and very tired.
The twins' dad, Gavin, is not really involved in their lives and he is often replaced at family events by either of his brothers, Dave or Travis.
Travis and Rachel don't have the best relationship. There is a bit of hate/love going on between them. But when Rachel agrees to go to a summer vacation with the extended family, they get to explore their relationship and discover there is something more there.

I liked this book a whole lot. Being a mom myself, I could totally understand where Rachel is coming from and the mistakes she is making, although with the best of intentions. Her internal musings are hilarious and I was glad to be there, by her side, on her journey to happiness. I found her character very realistic and relatable.
And Travis... he is an amazing book boyfriend. He treats her right, he is there for her and he teaches her about boundaries and asking for help.
And the ending is so romantic. It made me so happy and emotional.
Overall, this book is entertaining, fun, easy to read and relatable. It is a must read for moms! 😊

***ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review***

[Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina Hovland is an author who is new to me, but I was drawn to the adorable cover and then the synopsis hooked me. I love it when I take a gamble on an unfamiliar author and it pays off. Rachel, Out of Office is a witty and supremely satisfying contemporary romance.

Rachel is one of those supermoms who makes other moms jealous. She’s a single mom to twin 8-year-old boys and although her ex-husband is mostly absent, she manages to seamlessly juggle all aspects of parenting on her own — from discipline and stomach bugs to Pinterest-worthy birthday parties and housekeeping. She also owns a demanding business that keeps her working around the clock. She makes it look easy, but in reality she’s barely holding it together.

Most of the book focuses on the challenges of parenting, so I suspect it won’t resonate as well with readers who aren’t moms. Personally, I really identified with Rachel. Although my kids are almost grown, I remember what it’s like to put your needs last. Some of the antics with her boys had me laughing out loud. As a fellow control freak, I also recognized Rachel’s need to do everything herself because, of course, nobody else can do it as well.

I admired Rachel’s strength and her ability to stay calm in the midst of crisis. I didn’t expect to love her hot former brother-in-law Travis as much as I did, but I really enjoyed their chemistry and the way he’s always supportive of her. I didn’t quite understand Rachel’s ex husband, Gavin. I couldn’t decide if he was selfish, clueless, or just weak. Although Rachel’s meddling former mother-in-law is a bit over-the-top, she’s a good source of entertainment. I also liked the clever quotes from other moms at the beginning of each chapter.

All in all, Rachel, Out of Office is a feel-good humorous read about the ups and downs of parenthood and the illusion of perfection.

Recommended for fans of:
Single parent romances
Business women
Margaritas
Pop Tarts

*I received an early copy of this book to voluntarily read.*

[Jenn (burlingtonbiblio) · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW

Love Love Love!

Each Chapter starts off with a quote. I went crazy highlighting my favourites
Chapter 2
“You know your a good mom when you sacrifice your vibrator batteries for your kids toy”
Epic... because its true!!!

Rachel is a prime example of career moms everywhere. Struggling to hold it all together and be a superwoman for her kids, her friends, her business...everyone. But realistically, you cant be everything to everyone.
Hovland effectively uses humour, sarcasm, and great dialogue, putting the reader in Rachel’s shoes. You can hear the exhaustion and frustration as Rachel deals with her twin boys, and it is oh so relatable.

Hovlands characters sound like people I know and love (for the most part) . Her mother in law that doesn’t understand the concept of boundaries, her ex that flakes out on his kids, the ex brother in law that drives her nuts but makes her smile....they all jump of the page because the reader knows someone just like them.

This book was a perfect light romance. Its a feel good book. You find yourself laughing at the quotes, smiling at the twins antics, and rooting for Rachel. Can she do it all? Of course she can... we are all super women after all.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, REALLY loved this second chance at love story about divorced single mother of twin boys Rachel who is trying to make everything work and feeling exhausted. When her ex surprises her with two golden retriever puppies and the news that he's not taking the boys to his family's summer vacation Rachel has to choose between being the bad guy or going along too.

Enter Travis, her brother-in-law who was the sweetest, most helpful guy and just wanted to take some of the burden off Rachel. The chemistry between these two was off the charts and there are some steamy open door scenes. Things get complicated when Rachel starts falling for Travis, not knowing if she can take the chance on trying to make a real relationship with him.

The first in a series, I can't recommend this one enough, especially if you enjoy realistic stories about mothers juggling work and parenthood. There are fun mom quotes at the start of each chapter too that I found equally funny and oh so relatable! If you haven't read anything by Christina Hovland you are missing out!!

[Katy O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this mommy romance ❤️ That’s the genre I created for those single mom romances that focus just as much on the momming as the kissing 😉 This was one unique and I finished it in less than a day ~ moving right on to #2 in the series!

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much fun! Rachel is a single mom with twin boys. Her ex mother-in-law is sure that Rachel and her son will get back together. Her ex brother-in-laws are a part of her everyday life. Her ex husband is planning to get married again. Then things start to change and Rachel's planned and organized life is swinging out of control. Drama, laughter, tears and lots of humour. I couldn't put it down.

[Jodie | GeauxGetLit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so happy to have found this series. I actually received an arc of book 3 (before I knew it was a series); however, I’m a bit ocd about reading series in order.

The MC Rachel is a single mom of twin 8yo boys and she hasn’t had time to think about romance.
On her ex-in-laws yearly Summer vacation, she finds more than she bargained in an unlikely man.

Love the writing, completely relatable and the perfect amount of steam. I can’t wait to binge the rest of the series now.

[Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think if you are a parent this is the book to read. I could relate to Rachel in so many ways and I found myself going through so many emotions.

Rachel is trying to be a super mom. After getting pregnant with her twins she and the baby daddy decided to get married, but soon realized it wasn’t for them. Now they just co-parent. Rachel has a job as a virtual assistant and runs her house and her twin boys. (and as mother knows, one kid is hectic, two.. I take my hat off to you)

When her ex bails out on the family vacation that should have given her some rest, she has no choice but to go in his place. Now she has her job, demanding clients, her boys, her unreliable ex and his demanding fiancé and her meddling mother in law and a brother in law who she can’t help being attracted to… Seriously is she ready for this?

Yep you guessed it, lots of hilarious moments, frustrations, amazing chemistry and definitely moments that will have you seeing this happening in your own life somehow. This was my first book by this author and I have to say she wrote a story that will have every mother agreeing with the whole thing. This is a book that you can sit back and take a moment and just relax while getting lost in someone else’s life. But totally rooting for Rachel, because of course she can do it all… She is a women after all 😊 ♥

Read on behalf of
Fay’s Corner

[Jeeves Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This didn't play out like I expected it to, but I liked it. I've been a fan of this author's laugh out loud rom coms for awhile now, and this is a completely different vibe from her. There's still some understated humor and lighthearted moments, but they're toned down in this story. The chaotic, overwhelmed mom storyline was definitely a bit much at times (and took away from the romance), but both characters are easy to like and empathize with. The real draw here is the sweet, loving hero - who 100% seems too good to be true. Their connection was easily the best part of the book, and I would've loved more focus on it. The pacing felt off, with a slow (almost tedious) start, a SUPER fast-paced middle, and a tidily wrapped up ending. So, this falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me - I liked it, but there are plenty of things that bugged me.

The story follows Rachel, a divorced mom of twins. After a lackluster one night stand resulted in pregnancy, she tried to make things work with the father - until it became glaringly obvious that they weren't meant to be. Once their brief marriage ended, Rachel was left to take on the bulk of the responsibility for raising their kids, and she's inherited a family that makes that even more complicated. Among them is her ex's brother, the loyal yet lazy (and exceedingly sexy) Travis. Rachel has heard enough about Travis over the years to know that he's a carefree playboy - and is completely off-limits - so she's quick to shut down any crush she may have on him. But when a family vacation brings them closer than ever, it becomes impossible to ignore the attraction between them.

In case you're wondering, the forbidden dynamic here is actually not all that angsty. I think of it more as having met the wrong brother first - a little awkward, but Rachel and Travis are clearly a much better fit. It's easy to feel the chemistry between them, and once they commit to moving forward, it's full steam ahead. I guess that's what really threw me off with this one - the pacing. The first third is almost entirely focused on Rachel's overwhelming life, with only small hints of romance. Then BOOM, it's a go. It's almost like these two were already in love when the book started, and they were just waiting for the right opportunity to acknowledge that. Which made me feel kinda cheated, in a way. I loved Travis a whole lot, and I would've loved more time spent on the actual process of falling. There was so much potential in the story and some great moments, but it wasn't fully developed. Still a sweet and sexy read, just not a completely satisfying one. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this forbidden romance.

[Pelusa Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can Rachel puuuhhhhleeease get a break, I mean she needs one or she is about to break, but that is ok she is getting one. So Rachel is the jack of all trades, she works from home with her own business, she has two twin boys and really after that comment should I have to explain myself right after saying twin boys, yeah no you get the drift, has an ex husband that disappears whenever its his turn or she needs him you know the type, but no sirree even though is juggling all the balls at the same time she will have time for herself or so she thought because Her ex is not going to be around. I respected and understood Rachel, as a mother myself you try your best in trying to do everything you can to keep them same and happy, you really want the best for them best especially when you know that you brought that happiness to them, so I rooting for her and when you get eye candy along the way so much better.

rcvd an arc at no cost to author..(netgalley)..voltuntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.

[Chantal Côté · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel is a perfectionist.

Usually, she can easily manage all aspects of her life.

But all of a sudden, she has to deal with her 8 year old twin boys, 2 puppies, her business and demanding clients, her not very reliable ex-husband, his controlling fiancee, her meddling mother-in-law and one brother-in-law getting sexier by. the minute.

Furthermore, ex-husband is bailing out on yearly family summer retreat at the lake. How will she cope?

This was a very believable contemporary romance with great cast of characters. I felt right there with them.

An easy rom/com we can all relate to!

Let’s bring out the margaritas and keep looking for toothbrushes...

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that the main character has twins is about all we have in common. Rachel is burning the candle at both ends and needs a break.

This story features a strong heroine, a likeable cast a supporting characters and a completely endearing love story.

I was engrossed from start to finish. This will definitely be a re-read for me.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enternaining reading, in which Rachel, single mum of 8 year old twins, has to accept that she is not perfect and learn to let others help her. I loved the relationship with her in-laws. And the quotes in the beginning of each chapter are truly hilarious!!

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. **

[keira · Rating 4 out of 5]

YOOO i did not expect to love this much as as i did but holy cow i absolutely devoured it in a few hours and i am obsessed with travis and this book deserves ALL the recognition i just-

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was charming.

She’s a busy, single mom of twins and has a surprisingly solid coparenting relationship considering how flaky he is. You know who isn’t flaky and always shows up for her boys though? The hot ex-brother in law. Whoopsie.

Ok so the remix where she took another brother out for a spin was grand. He helped her set boundaries, thought she was awesome, and has a whole slew of abs considering he works for the family pop tart business.

God I love romances.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading and LOVING April May Fall, I went and purchased this book. I was eager to see where it all started, as well as learn more about Rachel and Travis. I am happy to say, my positive streak with Hovland continues.

Although my moming years are far behind me, I can still relate to all those struggles. I remember being a single mom and trying to be the sun, the moon, and the stars to my kid. I remember the tiny lies I told, so that my daughter wouldn’t be disappointed in her father. I remember making my choices based on what was best for my child. So, yes, I greatly related to Rachel’s life.

Am I making this sound awful? I hope not, because this story was told with so much humor and heart. I laughed out loud quite a bit and had a great time seeing Rachel get her groove back.

When I met Rachel and Travis in Mommy Wars #3, I had no idea that Travis was her ex-brother-in-law. Awkward. At first, I was a little put off by this, but Hovland built a solid case for why this was okay. After that, I was happy to simply enjoy the banter, the chemistry, and the heat between these two. I was cheering them on as they acted on their mutual attraction, but I was also hoping for so much more.

Travis was the type of hero I never tire of – the unicorn man. You know, the type that seems too good to be true, but I am perfectly alright with that because a girl can dream, right? And to see a single mom with two kids score such an amazing man really is the stuff of dreams.

Overall: It was fantastic getting to be part of Rachel’s crazy life and watching her get the HEA she deserved.

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[Em__Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Are you really that good of a guy, Travis Frank?’

That is the big question in Rachel, Out of Office by Christina Hovland. Rachel Gibson concedes her ex brother-in-law is one good looker. But he’s also immature and irresponsible. As a single mum to twin boys, a woman trying to keep a business running, plus having an ex husband who is not pulling his weight in the parenting stakes, any attraction she feels for Travis is way, way down the list of things to think about.

I think Hovland has done a great job in portraying life as a single parent. Rachel’s family turned their back on her when she became pregnant, so it’s just her, her ex and his family. And while the Frank family offer help, it’s not something Rachel can regularly rely on; it’s not their responsibility and Rachel dislikes feeling obligated. Is it any wonder her way of coping involves trying to control as much as she can?

A romance between Rachel and Travis does develop. They are certainly hot together, and I like how both Rachel and Travis grew as individuals and certainly as a couple as they began to navigate what a relationship between them might look like. I often found myself nodding my head and laughing at some of the interruptions they experience.

I would categorise this book more as women’s fiction than a straight-up romance. There is plenty of time spent learning about Rachel’s life, her relationship with her friends, and her relationship with all members of the Frank family.

April’s story is up next, and I am looking forward to learning more about this ‘Calm Mom’.

[Anissa Telle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel, Out of Office by Christina Hovland was the perfect balance of steamy, sweet, and satisfying. The heroine, Rachel, is trying to do everything, and she is for the most part a true single supermom to her twin boys while managing a demanding entrepreneur career. Her perfectionist tendencies were a little hard to read, as I find also myself pushing others away because I do not trust them to do things as well as I would do on my own. But, I have hope as Rachel did find a way to balance everything in the end.

This book is told from two perspectives, Rachel and Travis. Travis is her ex-brother-in-law, and his perspective is refreshing and provides great insights. Rachel and Travis have significant obstacles in place to finding their own happily ever after which makes this book highly entertaining. The book has an enjoyable cast of characters who add to the family dynamics in an amusing way,

I did mention above that the book was steamy, so you have been warned. My husband benefited from some of the more descriptive passages!

The chapter headings were a fun touch, different quotes were shared that were hilarious. A particular favorite was “Motherhood should come with a warning that you’ll be forced to take a crash course in Bodily Fluids 101 from the School of Life.”

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Entangled Publishing, LLC in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

[Fraz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing - ⭐⭐⭐
The story - ⭐⭐⭐
Overall - ⭐⭐⭐

This is some feel good, semi steamy, light hearted romance. Honest with the post pregnancy body issues (mega plus points for that) and an honestly distressing depiction of a single mum trying to do it all and burning out. Thankfully the (not so) bad boy ex brother in law drops on the scene and starts gently showing Rachel that sometimes supermums need to put themselves first, and to accept a bit of help.

Fave Quote - 'You know you're a good mom when you sacrifice your vibrator batteries for your kids toy.'

Fave Moment - There's a moment when the twin boys start fighting with one another and 'This, this right here? This is why twins were hard on a single mom. Sometimes you needed two full adults - or more - to deal with the conflict.' as I have twin boys myself I can concur that this is accurate, and not just for single mums. Parenting twins is incredibly difficult, and it's not the same as other siblings, finally having the family swoop in and actually HELP Rachel was a relief.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Leith Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Mommy Wars series. I actually read the second one then went back. Christina Hovland writes entertaining books, they’re easy to read and the characters are very relatable.
In this back, Rachel is a single mom with twins, and she works out of her home. She thought her former in-laws were taking the twins without her for the summer, but she ends up going with them.
She has to deal with work, the kids, and her growing attraction to her ex brother-in-law.
This book was funny and touching, I really liked it. 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[KM · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, and it had some good potential. There are some funny moments but that did not redeem the overall plot for me. I appreciated that Rachel and her Ex try to work things out civilly versus the negative drama that often accompanies relationship splits. I thought the best characters were the 8-year old twins, whom I liked most of the time but not always. But Rachel falling for the too-sexy and not-good-for-her brother was predictable and not particularly well-written. Some of the "steamy" scenes were painfully awkward at times. The only part where I sort of cheered was when the overbearing "mother-in-law" got put in her place.

[Addie Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good friend recommended Rachel, Out of Office and said she knew I would be able to relate and connect. She was not kidding. I loved Rachel and watching her take control of her life. I cheered for her so hard as she navigated advocating for herself and finding happiness and not feeling like she was letting people down. The enemies to lovers/brother in law trope was so great for creating tension and emotional connection between Travis and Rachel. I am probably adding this to books I am pressing on my friends. lol. Thank you so much for letting me read!

[Sascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps because of the amount of time writer-mothers have been spending time with their off-spring lately, we seem to have a proliferation of single mother, chaos romances. Of the two “romances” I’ve read this year, both have followed this trend. At least, however, Christina Hovland’s Rachel, Out of Office has some actual romance amidst the chaos and some genuine laugh-out-loud moments.

Rachel is trying to do it all: run a business at home as a virtual executive assistant (who knew there was such a thing?!) and raise two rowdy twin boys and mostly she’s achieving it by working at all hours and finding an hour or two of sleep where she can. Her ex-husband, Gavin, is rarely in evidence buts sends his brothers Travis and Dave to stand in for him for sports events, etc. And, while Rachel gets along just fine with Dave, it’s Travis that’s the issue. Gavin told her all about worthless Travis, but despite that she finds herself thinking about him far too much.

All-in-all, I enjoyed Rachel, Out of Office. At the beginning though, I had a little whiplash as the narrator moved from the use overly cutesy-cutesy words, which had me pulling a face, to dropping sh*t and the f-bomb randomly. Fortunately, both vocabulary choices drifted away and a normal voice took over (mostly). I very much appreciated that.

The romance moved very quickly, which made me wish that it had stayed in the slow burn realm a little while longer. Anticipation’s half the thing. But I did like Rachel and Travis together. I liked Travis who seemed like he was finally deciding who he wanted to be in his life, perhaps because of his feelings for Rachel.

The Frank family was a hoot and it would have been fun to spend a little more time with those family dynamics. While matriarch Evelyn could have come off as a real–shall we go with– unpleasant woman, I liked that Hovland created her as a real person, which made her much more relatable.

A fun funny romance, Rachel, Out of Office would be very appreciated by young mothers who might see themselves in Rachel’s position; for others, your mileage may vary.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lyn♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for a honest review.

Oh dear God, I can't process what I've just read.

•• What's this about? ••

Rachel is a single mom of two lovely eight-year-old twins. Her ex-husband Gavin is so absent and barely in their lives. Her work form home is so exhausting and stressful.
So, basically, she needs a break from life.

She expected her kids expended the summer with her former in-laws but when Gavin out at the last minute, she has to take his place and go with the kids to the family lake house.

Even with a large list of to-dos and two new dogs to deal with, she goes with the Frank family for trip that will changes her life.

What will happen when she starts watching at Gavin's brother with other eyes? What will happen when they expend more time together?

•• What do I think about it? ••

I don't have words to describe this amazing book.

This is the story about a single mom and her journey finding love while she has to be there for her children all the time.

Rachel is the most amazing character I've read in a really long time.
She is the description of motherhood. She is not perfect, because no mother is perfect. They make mistakes but they always find an answer for their problems.
And Rachel always does that during the book. Finds a solution for every situation that involves her children.

Then, we have Travis. The best book-boyfriend I've read. Oh boy, Travis is so funny, handsome, thoughtful, sweet and very very lovely.
I loved every scene of him. And how he managed his situation with Rachel in every moment.

Another thing I loved about the book is the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
I'm not a mom, but I felt like my mother was saying those quotes.
They are so true and represent what motherhood is.

I really enjoyed this reading. All the characters were amazing. Specially the twins. Those kids are so cute and adorable. The have really good moments and scenes.

If you want to read a book with a good heroine, a good romance, food characters and a ver good story then you can't miss this book.

Hundred percent recommend. One of my bestest readings.

[Jackie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Christina Hovland but it certainly won’t be the last because I was captivated by single mum Rachel Gibson, her twin sons and her ex brother in-law Travis’s story.
Rachel’s ex is planning on getting married again and really is not invested or that interested in her twin boys so she has come to rely on her ex brother in law Travis to pick up the slack and be the best uncle and man in their lives. Rachel’s ex mother in law is convinced the divorce should never have happened and spends her time meddling and plotting for Rachel and her ex to get back together, problem is Rachel suddenly realises she has feelings for Travis and she can’t believe he feels the same but what happens when the ex try’s to come back into the picture.......
I couldn’t put this book down and I’m obsessed with this family. I fell hook, line and sinker for this couple but I also loved seeing Gavin (the ex) grow and start to share parenting with Rachel. This is a story about an unconventional relationship that turns into a love story, its a entertaining read and I highly recommend you one click this gem of a read.

[Angela D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel,Out of Office is a story about a single mom of twin 8 year old boys. The dad, Gavin is in the picture, but only when wants to be, making Rachel pretty much the sole parent, with some help from her ex husbands family, especially his brother Travis.
Rachel is trying to run her own company ( which she unfortunately doesn't set any ground rules for so she's essentially available 24/7 for her clients) while trying to be a mom of 2 very active boys and thanks to her ex, now 2 just as active puppies!
She ends up going on the family summer retreat to their lake house with her boys, a job usually done by their father, but Travis promises to help with the boys, puppies and to let Rachel have an area to work, plus be able to spend time with her boys.
Rachel starts the book with a strong dislike for Travis, but over time she grows to appreciate him, how he is with her boys and starts to fall for him.

This was my first book by Christina Hovland. I loved it, a great romantic comedy. I will definitely be reading more of her books!!

Thank you to the author Christina Hovland & Greys Promotion for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.