Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  The Making of Jonty Bloom

AUTHOR:  Barbara Elsborg

SERIES:  Unfinished Business

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  241 pages

RELEASE DATE:  July 1, 2020

BLURB:

Finding his fiancé in bed with his brother was bad enough, finding out they’re getting married is the final blow.

Devan Smith needs to cool his anger. He needs to forget the lies and betrayals and work on resetting his life. When his boss orders him to scope out a remote hotel for a possible buyout, Devan’s only interested in getting the job done and getting out. What he’s not interested in is the guy with the piercings, bleached hair, and the smart, kissable mouth behind the reception desk.

Working the hotel reception is the only thing that’s stable in Jonty Bloom’s unstable life. His best friend has had a terrible accident, his ex refuses to move on, and his eight-year-old self is still waiting for his mother to collect him from school. Jonty needs his job. What he doesn’t need is the rude, arrogant, and hot as they come guy who’s rocked up demanding he be let into his room right now.

Thrown together by a freak accident, Devan and Jonty’s lives entwine, and neither wants to loosen the knot. Can the irrepressible Jonty be the reset Devan needs? Can Devan be the making of Jonty Bloom, or will secrets drive them apart?

REVIEW:

The Making of Jonty Bloom is an amusing, feel-good novel about two lost souls finding each other just when they’re needed most. 

Jonty is the adorable night manager, aka dogsbody, at an old, dilapidated hotel on the coast of Northumberland, England, that Devan’s firm is looking to purchase. Devan is still struggling with anger at having found his fiancé in bed with Devan’s brother the day before the wedding was to take place five months ago. Now Devan is enraged to discover they are getting married. Devan’s boss orders him to go check out the possible buyout and take some much-needed personal time off. When the irascible Devan arrives at the hotel, everything the delightfully impish Jonty does angers and annoys him, especially his snarky retorts. Devan, on Jonty’s absentee guest service skills: 

“Am I checking into Fawlty Towers?”
“Oh, you wanted Fawlty Towers? It’s down the road. I can cancel your booking and give you directions.” Off a cliff. 

But with the more time they spend together, Jonty’s sunny disposition wins over sad Devan who can’t help being beguiled by the sarcastic, big-hearted younger man. He realizes he’s no longer sad when Jonty’s around.  

Jonty and Devan are both winsome characters. Devan’s grouchiness doesn’t last long and adds to the overall humor. The inner dialogue in the book is hilarious, as is Jonty’s dialogue with his friend Tay inside his head. He talks to Tay because he doesn’t have anyone else to talk to. 

The pace of the story is lively with at least three storylines interwoven: the hotel buyout; Devan’s ex Ravi; and Jonty being stalked by an ex-boyfriend. The overarching theme, however, is that Jonty has never known love from anyone, and Devan is committed to being the one to give him love and protect him.  

I’ve been hiding all my life, protecting myself any way I could. Keeping quiet. Curling up in small places. When I learned that humor worked as a deflection, I used that. If I could laugh when I was hurt at school then it made me the powerful one. But I have places inside me that barely need to be touched before I’m in pain. Sometimes when it gets too much, I have panic attacks. 

Since Jonty’s not a serious guy, the nature of their developing love isn’t whispered sweet nothings and emotional pronouncements. Rather, it’s lovely affection and caring with a huge dose of fun. This is an insta-love story; I very much dislike insta-love because if usually feels unrealistic. However, even though they fall in love over a period of a week, the time frame feels much longer. It honestly didn’t occur to me until writing this review that Barbara Elsborg snuck insta-love right past me without my noticing or minding.  

There are numerous serious off-page subjects touched upon, including child abandonment, neglect and abuse, and adult sexual assault. Despite the heavy topics, the story remains mostly lighthearted. 

Ms. Elsborg’s writing skill can be seen in her world building. I long to visit Northumberland with its beautiful windswept beaches. The sense of place is strong everywhere, from the worn hotel lobby to the sand dunes to the rental home on the beach. Whether it’s walking Dottie the dachshund or surfing with Jonty, I feel like I’m part of the story. 

These men with their beautiful souls are so deserving of the HEA they receive. Unlikely partners become perfect soul mates. I highly recommend The Making Of Monty Bloom, and look forward to Jonty’s Christmas, due out December 1, 2020.  

RATING: 

BUY LINK:

Amazon