Review: “The Ticket”
I downloaded a free copy of this via a newsletter promotion.
The Premise
When Pete’s girlfriend dumps him suddenly, he’s left holding two non-refundable tickets for an amazing trip around the world. He decides to offer it to any woman with the same name, and many applicants throw themselves at the chance of a lifetime — and at him, as he’s a hot, eligible bachelor. The “Allie James” who wins the gig turns out to be a jaded divorcee who’s in no mood for love. Of course, that soon changes as the two of them embark on the trip of a lifetime — unfortunately, with some baggage and drama in tow.
The Pros
This was a great romp of a read with believable, lovable characters. It’s light and fluffy with just enough of a dark, shocking twist to drop your jaw and swoon at the same time! I flew through the book in a couple of days, eager to read on and see where this epic journey would take them. From hilarious scenes to friendship betrayals to steamy sex scenes, it’s a thrill of a ride from beginning to end and sweeps you off your feet. I like sassy heroines but hate when they go over the top, and thankfully our Allie has a nice balance. Their friends and families made great secondary characters, and of course there were the pets — nice touch!
The Cons
I really enjoyed the story, but I must admit that there were a few things that let me down. The age of her daughters made their behaviour seem strange — they are practically adults, but acted like much younger children! I also found the couple’s “big wow” of an argument to be a bit out of left field — like, they went from barely being friends and then somehow it jumped to expecting the world of each other a couple of weeks later… I just wish that the premise could have been something else, or it could have been written somehow differently — I’m not even sure what I want, I just knew it wasn’t that! Their communication just seemed to dip off-kilter and unrealistic, which was a shame because up to that point the dialogue was amazing.
Conclusion
Notwithstanding those minor disappointments, this was a fabulous read that I would highly recommend, particularly for mature readers. Later-in-life love stories can sometimes be dreary, but this one keeps your soul buoyant, and the twist at the end, along with the lasting message to follow your dreams and your heart — all of this totally makes it worth your while. I look forward to reading more by this author.
