Portia MacIntosh Books In Order
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One Way or Another / Between a Rockstar and a Hard Place | (2012) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
If We Ever Meet Again / How Not To Be Starstruck | (2014) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas
One Wild Night | (2024) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author with over a dozen published novels. Her romantic comedy stories make a perfect gateway for her to escape from the reality of everyday life. Before switching to a career in writing, Portia worked as a journalist in the city. She sacrificed city life for the Moors and lives in Yorkshire with her husband and their pet dog. Portia Macintosh also wrote briefly under the penname Frankie Collins.
First published in 2020, Portia MacIntosh’s British romantic comedy, “The Plus One Pact,” is an absolute delight that keeps you hooked from start to finish, offering a heartwarming love story with sitcom-level humor.
The story is narrated by twenty-nine-year-old Cara Brooks, an escape room designer who proudly identifies as a self-proclaimed dork. For those unfamiliar with escape rooms, they involve being locked in a group room and solving intricate puzzles and clues to free yourselves within a set time frame.
Since her breakup over a year ago, Cara has tried and failed in online dating. With her high school reunion and her cousin’s upcoming wedding looming, she feels pressured to find a date for these dreaded events. However, her luck turns when a kind stranger named Joe Mills, aka Millsy, rescues her from the embarrassment of being stood up at a bar. Millsy, a super cool, confident, and fun-loving guy, confesses that he needs a date for a series of social gatherings after his penchant for wild party girls led to him losing his plus-one privileges with friends and family. Cara proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement: they become each other’s plus ones.
While this might sound like a fake dating plot, it’s not quite that. There are a few moments of pretending to be a couple, but Millsy and Cara repeatedly emphasize to everyone that their relationship is purely platonic. Yet, as they navigate party mishaps and family gatherings, they discover that love often sneaks up when you least expect it.
The Plus One Pact offers a simple yet well-constructed plot filled with humorous conflicts, surprising twists, a compelling revelation about Millsy’s mysterious job, and an entertaining subplot involving Cara’s rivalry with her diva-like cousin and her demanding “Momzilla” aunt.
Cara is a likable protagonist, and her wry humor and candid insights make her highly endearing. Her quest for love, intertwined with her journey of self-discovery, will resonate with many readers. Despite Cara’s self-perception as uncool, she possesses a hidden confidence that she’s reluctant to unleash. Her character growth in this aspect is truly inspiring.
The Plus One Pact is the ideal and perfect addition to your summer reading list; it’s a must-read rom-com that will warm your heart and keep a smile on your face. It’s a story you won’t be able to put down, providing deep satisfaction and pure entertainment.
Published in 2019, Honeymoon for One by Portia MacIntosh is the story of Lila Rose. A romance author, Lila Rose experiences a wedding day drama that even her novels couldn’t concoct. After catching her fiancé, Daniel, in the act of cheating, she quickly exits the wedding venue without uttering a word and is highly heartbroken. But Lila isn’t the type of woman to stay down for long. With her honeymoon plans already in place and no reason to let them go to waste, she embarks on a journey to a secluded resort in Italy.
It seems like the perfect escape and cools down from her heartbreak; she intends to lay low, work on her next novel, which she feels would be a bestseller, seek a fresh start, and heal her broken heart. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when Daniel arrives at the same resort with his new partner. To make him jealous and distract herself, Lila enters into a “showmance” with her villa neighbor, the actor Freddie Bianchi. Little does she know that what was supposed to be a game will start feeling all too real, and before they realize it, it’s already too late for them.
San Valentino, the romantic getaway destination, appears to be the most idyllic place for couples. Its abundance of date night amenities makes it almost saccharine in its romantic offerings. Yet beneath the veneer of this paradise, author Frankie Collins (who also writes under the pseudonym Portia MacIntosh) weaves a compelling web of tension and drama.
Lila Rose takes center stage in this whirlwind of emotions. Genuine and relatable, she initially approaches her wedding day with a mix of reservations and wistful practicality. However, discovering Daniel’s infidelity shatters her illusions, and she impulsively flees. Her decision to jet off to Italy hints at her adventurous spirit and sets the stage for daring escapades.
Collins expertly adds twists and turns to the plot, like Daniel and his brazen mistress unexpectedly showing up. These surprises are not blatant but natural, driving the story in captivating directions. Just when it seems like everything could wrap up perfectly in Italy, new revelations emerge, leading to a satisfying and resilient conclusion.
Despite the focus on Lila’s cheating ex, the story is far from lacking in romance and humor. At its core, it’s delightfully funny. While Lila’s initial goal is to find peace and meet the deadline for her upcoming novel, she becomes entangled in a charming charade with her villa neighbor, Freddie. Their connection begins with a cute misunderstanding and becomes a whirlwind of charm. Although their relationship starts from spite, Freddie’s sweet, unwavering devotion to Lila creates a unique and compelling bond.
Honeymoon for One by Portia MacIntosh is an engaging read with a touch of bite, offering an engaging blend of humor and romance. To better the reading experience, tag along with Lila’s lead and pair it with a martini on the beach.
The story’s setting is breathtaking, with vivid descriptions that bring the island to life. The writing style flows smoothly and is characterized by warmth, casualness, and sarcasm. The banter between the characters adds depth and flavor to the narrative, creating a story filled with unexpected twists and turns.
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