Book Review: Baby One More Time by Camilla Isley

I’m so happy to be welcoming Camila Isley back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, Baby, One More Time. 

Driven and smart, Marissa Mayer has worked her way to COO at a major Fintech startup as well as launching her own successful app on the side. Now what she wants more than anything is a baby. And having given up on love after her heart was broken by the boy next door, she’s prepared to do it alone.

Recently returning to New York from LA, Dr John Raikes is an expert in his field of neonatal medicine. But when John introduces himself as Marissa’s doctor, sparks fly, and not in a good way. Because Dr John Raikes is no stranger: he’s her teenage sweetheart all grown up.

Marissa knows she should keep John at arm’s length, lest she have her heart broken again… But there’s something about a man in a white coat. And with John determined to show Marissa he’s changed, can she keep saying no when her heart is saying yes?

A gorgeously funny enemies-to-lovers, second-chance rom com, perfect for fans of Sarah Adams, Lynn Painter and Jo Watson.

*****

Marissa has decided that she wants to become a mother and so embarks on IVF alone. What she doesn’t count on is a Doctor at the clinic being the man who broke her heart when she was 18.

When they are brought together in more ways than one, can Marissa let John back into her life?

I’m such a fan of Camilla Isley’s novels that I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour for her latest novel, Baby One More Time. I had read the previous novel, Not in a Billion Years and loved it. If you haven’t the first book, don’t worry. You can read this one first. It was nice to catch up with Blake, Gabriel and Latte again though.

Marissa is a wonderful character. She’s strong, self assured and likeable. She is a little frustrating when t comes to love and I wanted to reach in and give her a little push. John is tall, dark and handsome. I feel his backstory is a book all on its own and I wanted him and Marissa together so badly.

The plot moved well and I raced through it but at the same time, I didn’t want it to end. There are some laugh out loud moments along with sweet and poignant ones. It’s the kind of novel that just makes you feel happy at the end.

Baby One More Time is a funny, beautiful love story. It’s about having faith and letting yourself take the next step.

I hope we see these characters again. It’s one of my favourite book series.

About Camilla Isley –

Camilla Isley is an engineer who left science behind to write bestselling contemporary rom-coms set all around the world.

She lives in Italy and her first title for Boldwood, The Love Theorem, a Hollywood-meets-STEM romance, will be published in June 2023.

Her latest novel, Baby One More Time was released by Boldwood Books on 20th January 2024. It’s book two in the True Love series. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones. 

Say hello to Camilla on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to Camilla’s newsletter. 

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.