Jo Lovett

Two single thirty-year-olds. One marriage pact. And a night in Vegas that’s about to change everything… On Christmas Eve eight years ago Evie and Dan made a pact: if they weren’t married by thirty, they were going to marry each other. Of course, neither of them took it seriously, even if Dan has always been mesmerised by Evie’s beautiful smile, and Evie has always fancied Dan, her best-friend’s brother. But then “it” happens. They wake up on Christmas Eve, the night before Evie’s thirtieth birthday in Vegas… married. In a honeymoon suite filled with hundreds of heart-shaped pillows, they realise too late what they’ve done – just like Ross and Rachel. Surely if they just get a quickie divorce, they can go back to the way things used to be, right? If it wasn’t for the alcohol and Susan-with-the-huge-beehive-hairdo who just wouldn’t take no for an answer, none of this would have happened. They can just go back to being friends. Except moving on is easier said than done when you've secretly loved each other forever… but if one of them doesn’t admit that, what happens to their friendship? If they don’t get together this time, what happens to the pact? Are they really ready to let it go for good? Fall in love this Christmas with this feel-good story about love and second chances. Fans of One Day in December, This Time Next Year and Beth O’Leary will adore The Mistletoe Pact. What readers are saying about Jo Lovett: ‘WHAT. A. STORY… Ever had to take a book chapter by chapter because you couldn’t see through your tears? Funny, light-hearted, but absolutely gut-wrenching at times. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be completely engulfed… A perfect cozy up in a blanket and read on your front porch story.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Oh this book!! I've laughed and cried! This really has given me all the feels. I loved this book… I devoured this gorgeous read in just one sitting. A love story which will completely stay with you.’ Little Miss Book Lover 86 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘There were points when I felt unable to breathe because of how much I loved this… I laughed so much… it was the best combination of insta love and a slow burn romance I've ever read… It made my day. Just a perfect heart-warming romance.’ Hawthorn Book Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This novel’s pretty perfect… Really great characters, dialogue that hits perfectly, well written and very twisty, this was a fantastic read. I’ll definitely be looking out for more by this author.’ Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If you enjoy romantic comedies with heart between an American and a Brit, snap this one up… Bonus points for making me tear up.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A totally perfect Christmas romantic comedy

The Mistletoe Pact

Island house off coast of Maine, with private beach, sea views and the occasional farmyard animal, seeks super swanky Central London penthouse overlooking Holland Park, complete with concierge service and spurned ex-lovers… When thirty-somethings Cassie and James find each other on a home swap website, it feels meant to be. City hotshot James needs a bolthole after a relationship goes sour and Cassie needs to leave the comfort of her little island to research her new book. Soon, James is living in Cassie’s cute but ramshackle beachside cottage, and Cassie’s living in James’s luxurious London apartment. It’s the perfect solution. Except James didn’t imagine he’d be sharing his home with eleven chickens and three alpacas, not to mention the unusually friendly neighbours, who seem to find any excuse to drop by. And Cassie is less than impressed when James’s ex-girlfriend turns up at his door, demanding to know where he’s gone. The more Cassie and James talk, the more the tension between them mounts. But as the insults fly so do the sparks, and when the time finally comes to swap back, Cassie and James find they aren’t quite ready to give each other up. But there’s more than just distance between them – and when Cassie makes a surprising discovery, the pair are forced to confront their feelings and decide what kind of life they really want. An utterly heart-warming love story that will make you laugh and cry, fans of The Flatshare, The Hating Game and movies like The Holiday will fall head over heels for The House Swap. The House Swap. What readers are saying about The House Swap: ‘I really loved this book. It's funny, endearing, sweet, and just makes you feel good. It's the kind of book you can read and smile… isn't that what we all need right now? Something comforting and fun. I can't wait to read more by Jo Lovett!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘I loved this book. I read it all in one sitting, I could not put it down… The characters are so relatable and lovable. I felt everything they were feeling… The writing was so amazing you really do feel everything. Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘This was a super cute book!… incredibly fun… kept me hooked the entire time!’ Brinns Books ‘I absolutely adored The House Swap… A delightful, warm hug of a book. I loved it... Perfect comfort reading.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars ‘Such an adorable read… I loved every second… you can't help but smile while you read this book.’ NetGalley reviewer ‘A fun Rom-com with heart. Fun and sexy… had me hanging on every word!’ Goodreads reviewer ‘An unexpected delight. I smiled my whole way through reading it.’ @EricasLittleLibrary ‘I absolutely loved this… A definite to add to your reading list.’ NetGalley reviewer ‘A light breezy read that is a welcome relief from the heavy atmosphere of reality.’ Book Reads by Prairie Girl ‘Just loved it!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘The whole time I was reading this book, I was thinking “I wish I had an extra copy to give to my mum to read too”. It was just so cute!’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Hilarious!’ Goodreads reviewer ‘I absolutely loved this… A definite to add to your reading list.’ Goodreads reviewer

An absolutely hilarious feel-good romance

The House Swap

Island house off coast of Maine, with private beach, sea views and the occasional farmyard animal, seeks super swanky Central London penthouse overlooking Holland Park, complete with concierge service and spurned ex-lovers... When thirty-somethings Cassie and James find each other on a home swap website, it feels meant to be. City hotshot James needs a bolthole after a relationship goes sour and Cassie needs to leave the comfort of her little island to research her new book. Soon, James is living in Cassie's cute but ramshackle beachside cottage, and Cassie's living in James's luxurious London apartment. It's the perfect solution. Except James didn't imagine he'd be sharing his home with eleven chickens and three alpacas, not to mention the unusually friendly neighbours, who seem to find any excuse to drop by. And Cassie is less than impressed when James's ex-girlfriend turns up at his door (more than once), demanding to know where he's gone. The more Cassie and James talk, the more the tension between them mounts. But as the insults fly so do the sparks, and when the time finally comes to swap back, Cassie and James find they aren't quite ready to give each other up. But there's more than just distance between them - and when Cassie makes a surprising discovery, the pair are forced to confront their feelings and decide what kind of life they really want. An utterly heart-warming love story that will make you laugh and cry, fans of One Day in December, The Hating Game and The Flatshare will fall head over heels for The House Swap. What readers are saying about The House Swap: 'I really loved this book. It's funny, endearing, sweet, and just makes you feel good. It's the kind of book you can read and smile... isn't that what we all need right now? Something comforting and fun. I can't wait to read more by Jo Lovett!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I loved this book. I read it all in one sitting, I could not put it down... The characters are so relatable and lovable. I felt everything they were feeling... The writing was so amazing you really do feel everything. Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This was a super cute book!... incredibly fun... kept me hooked the entire time!' Brinns Books 'I absolutely adored The House Swap... A delightful, warm hug of a book. I loved it... Perfect comfort reading.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars 'Such an adorable read... I loved every second... you can't help but smile while you read this book.' NetGalley reviewer 'A fun Rom-com with heart. Fun and sexy... had me hanging on every word!' Goodreads reviewer 'An unexpected delight. I smiled my whole way through reading it.' @EricasLittleLibrary 'I absolutely loved this... A definite to add to your reading list.' NetGalley reviewer 'A light breezy read that is a welcome relief from the heavy atmosphere of reality.' Book Reads by Prairie Girl 'Just loved it!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'The whole time I was reading this book, I was thinking "I wish I had an extra copy to give to my mum to read too". It was just so cute!' Goodreads reviewer 'Hilarious!' Goodrea

The House Swap: A Funny and Utterly Gorgeous Feel-good Romance

‘Wow! I have been blown away… I am struggling to express in words how much I enjoyed this, which I devoured in less than a day. Perfect for fans of Mary Jayne Baker, Portia Macintosh and Holly Martin.’ Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What if you met The One on his wedding day? Izzy doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but when Sam walks into the cafe where she works one cold December morning, she knows without a doubt that he’s The One. Too bad Sam’s getting married. Today. Nearly a year later, Izzy still can’t stop thinking about Sam, the one that got away, but she knows it’s time to move on: he’s a married man and probably wouldn’t recognise her if he passed her on the street. But Sam has never forgotten Izzy, the funny, gorgeous woman who asked him out on his wedding day. If the timing had only been better, he knows they could have had something wonderful. When Izzy and Sam’s paths finally cross again, everything has changed. But with the Atlantic Ocean and decades of baggage between them, they are about to find out whether some obstacles are too big for even true love to overcome. An unforgettable love story about what happens when the stars finally align. Fans of One Day in December, The Day We Met and Jojo Moyes will fall head over heels for The First Time We Met. Readers are loving The First Time We Met: ‘WHAT. A. STORY… Ever had to take a book chapter by chapter because you couldn’t see through your tears? Funny, light-hearted, but absolutely gut-wrenching at times. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be completely engulfed in Sam and Izzy’s story! A perfect cozy up in a blanket and read on your front porch story.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Oh this book!! I've laughed and cried! This really has given me all the feels. I loved this book… I devoured this gorgeous read in just one sitting. A love story which will completely stay with you.’ Little Miss Book Lover 87 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘There were points when I felt unable to breathe because of how much I loved this… I loved Izzy… At times it felt like I was reading my own thoughts. Sam was perfection… I laughed so much… it was the best combination of insta love and a slow burn romance I've ever read… It made my day. Just a perfect heart-warming romance.’ Hawthorn Book Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Keep the tissues handy for this one as it will make you cry buckets… This will break your heart but is a beautiful read with a pair who I really invested in and will miss now I have finished the book.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Oh my god!! No I am not crying, you are. This is a wonderfully romantic story… perfect characters.’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘This story was gorgeous. I found myself holding my breath… I loved how the reader knew how both characters felt about each other, and I was willing them to overcome the obstacle preventing them being together.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I. Freaking. Loved. It… Reading this was like watching Sleepless in Seattle or Serendipity… comfort food in book form…I gobbled this book up and didn't want to leave these characters behind.’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘A cosy, gorgeous, “One Day in December” vibe love story to lose yourself in… this one is sure to capture your heart… Snuggle down and lose yourself to the festive feeling with this tear jerking, heart-warming love story.’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘This novel’s pretty perfect… Really great characters, dialogue that hits perfectly, well written and very twisty, this was a fantastic read. I’ll definitely be looking out for more by this author.’ Netgalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If you enjoy romantic comedies with heart between an American and a Brit, snap this one up… Bonus points for making me tear up.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An utterly heart-warming and unforgettable love story

The First Time We Met

Lily took a deep breath. She wasn’t going to pass out from her now-galloping heart. She was thirty-three years old and way beyond having issues seeing an ex. Even the ex. She was going to just ignore Matt and enjoy her best friend’s wedding… Lily is fine. Really, truly, she’s ok. She might have to attend her best friend’s wedding with the ex-boyfriend she never got over, on a gorgeous Greek island that’s so small it’s impossible to avoid him, but she is determined to be friendly. And Matt, too, is completely and utterly fine. Lily may have broken his heart, but he moved on. And surely they can be amicable, as this week is about his best friend’s wedding too? So he will be civil, stay out of her way as much as he can, and get on with the celebrations. But then the wedding comes under threat, and Matt and Lily are thrown together in the efforts to save the day and – yet again – sparks fly. What happens when you try to repeat the past though? Can a holiday romance turn into a lasting love, for the second time? Or are Lily and Matt destined to remain just friends, forever? A totally gorgeous, escapist holiday will-they-won’t-they romantic comedy for fans of One Day in December, This Time Next Year and Paige Toon. Readers love Jo Lovett: ‘What a gorgeous book… WoW! WoW! WoW! What an absolute mind-spinning, beautiful story this was! Top marks.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Omg, I really loved this book!… Fast-paced and engaging, exactly how I like it… Will recommend it especially to slow-burn romance lovers.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Reading this book was like a huge hug complete with all the warm fuzzy feelings, it also kept you wanting more… Excellent and thoroughly enjoyable.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I couldn’t resist this one!… Hits all the right romantic notes – highly recommended!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I really loved this book. It’s funny, endearing, sweet, and just makes you feel good. It’s the kind of book you can read and smile… isn’t that what we all need right now?… I can’t wait to read more by Jo Lovett!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book. I read it all in one sitting, I could not put it down… The characters are so relatable and lovable. I felt everything they were feeling… So amazing.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Such an adorable read… I loved every second… you can’t help but smile while you read this book.’ NetGalley reviewer ‘A fun rom-com with heart. Fun and sexy… Had me hanging on every word!’ Goodreads reviewer

A heart-warming, feel-good and funny romantic comedy

Just Friends

Maybe this Time

Georgie James has a secret - something BIG she's been keeping from her friends. When the group meets for their annual New Year's get-together, as a way to ensure they keep their resolutions, they decide to share their secrets, writing them down and sealing them in envelopes for next year. Maybe it was the drink, maybe it's because she knows she needs to deal with this soon. But why did Georgie choose that secret to write down? There are plenty innocent things she could have said - like how she thinks newcomer to their group Raf could charm the pants off anyone... All she knows is she needs to get that envelope, and the keeper of secrets just so happens to be Raf the charmer. What a lovely excuse to spend more time in his company...!

Can You Keep A Secret?

'The love story was gorgeous - such brilliant energy and chemistry' Kristen Bailey The best people in life are worth the wait... When Liv finds herself locked in a shed with handsome stranger Ben (after they try to rescue a cat together), the instant connection they make feels like fate had a hand in it. Has Liv finally found her perfect match? But everything about the timing means there’s no way they can be together. Not least because Ben has a girlfriend and Liv is moving from London to Paris the next day. Over the coming years their paths weave in and out of each other’s lives – together, but always fleetingly. If only they could stop missing each other, who knows what fate may have in store for them... - 'Clever and funny with a sparkling and heartfelt love story, Jo proves once again why she's the queen of page-turning, feel-good romance' Catherine Walsh, author of The Matchmaker 'I LOVED Another Time, Another Place. I raced through it, desperate to find out what happens between Liv and Ben as though they were friends of mine. It was pacy and funny and romantic... Every single character leapt off the page, and it sparkled with wit and warmth. A triumph of a rom com.' Clare Swatman, author of The World Outside my Window 'Such a warm, witty book ... The love story was gorgeous - such brilliant energy and chemistry between Liv and Ben - you really rooted for them...' Kristen Bailey, author of Sex Ed ‘I absolutely loved it! Such a wonderful, emotional read’ five-star netgalley review ‘I was obsessed with Liv and Ben’s near-misses’ five-star netgalley review ‘An adorable rom-com ... the connection and chemistry is electrifying’ five-star netgalley review ‘A proper 'feel good' story ... I couldn't put it down’ five-star netgalley review ‘A very clever love story ... I loved it’ five-star netgalley review

A BRAND NEW page-turning, feel-good romantic comedy from Jo Lovett for summer 2023

Another Time, Another Place

The first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) was established in Manchester in 1986 to address serious shortcomings in the medico-legal response to recent rape. SARCs have been highlighted as good practice in several reports, but minimal evaluation has been undertaken to date. This study focuses upon determining what effect the establishment of SARCs have had on the experiences of reporting rape, dealing with its immediate aftermath and whether Criminal Justice System responses were improved.

Developing Good Practice and Maximising Potentials

Sexual Assault Referral Centres

Linda Regan

Liz Kelly

Home Office figures show an ongoing decline in the conviction rate for reported rape cases, with the conviction rate in 2002 being 5.6 per cent. This report draws on material from two evaluation projects funded by the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme Violence Against Women Initiative in an attempt to explain the high attrition rate in rape cases. It presents findings from the evaluation of two Sexual Assault Referral Centres, one non-centre based support service and three comparison areas where there was no specialist service for victims. Researchers tracked 3,500 rape cases through the courts and interviewed 228 rape victims. The authors identify six points at which attrition is likely to occur, and make recommendations for targeted interventions to reduce the attrition rate in these cases.

Jo Lovett

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