Jera's Jamboree

I haven’t read any novels from author Paige Toon and had seen all the excitement on Twitter so was really looking forward to reading Baby be Mine.

Even though Baby be Mine continues the story of Meg Stiles from ‘Johnny be Good’ it can also be read as a stand alone story. There is enough information as the story unfolds for us to get a clear picture of Meg and Johnny’s history together.

When I first started reading, I wondered where we would be led as in the first part we find Meg living on the edge waiting for Christian to find out that Barney is not his son. I found this really emotional and wanted to move on from the sadness……… in fact, it’s not too long before we’re whisked away into a whirlwind of emotions!

From living in France at the beginning, we go on a journey to Barcelona (when Meg is on a weekend with best friend Bess – and of course son Barney), LA and in Henley in the UK. In France we experience the break down of Meg’s relationship, in LA we witness the spark between Meg and Johnny and the enmity between Meg and Johnny’s girlfriend Dana ……………. And get to see what life is like in the world of a famous rockstar. In Henley, Meg finds herself and experiences for the first time in a long time, what a home really is.

I loved Meg’s character. She is protective of son Barney and comes across as very grounded. The way she interacts with Johnny despite being hurt by him (or rather because of being hurt by him!) is sassy. I loved the eye contact! We can see glimpses of what Johnny is capable of being through their interaction.

Written in the first person with lots of dialogue is the style that takes us on this journey of love. There is some descriptive writing but it’s the dialogue that is the backbone.

Baby be Mine is not just a love story, it’s also about finding yourself once you’ve been lost. Barney is a key character for making the characters re-evaluate their lives and the directions they go in.

I found I had to be careful when I picked this up because the time just flew by and I was surprised when I looked at the clock! I’ve laughed and I’ve cried. All the things you want for a summer read.

I would like to thank Simon & Schuster UK for sending me a copy to review.