BOOK REVIEW: Don't Tell the Boss by Anna Bell

Following on from 2013 novel Don't Tell the Groom is Anna Bell's sequel Don't Tell the Boss, in which Penny Robinson is back for more wedding planning - though this time, not hers.

Don't Tell the Groom saw Penny plan the wedding of her dreams on a strict budget after a gambling habit wiped out the majority of her savings, leaving her to arrange the happiest day of her life under the elaborate guise of a TV-inspired 'surprise'.

Now Penny's back, happily married to husband Mark and, after successfully planning a wedding for pal Lara, lands herself the opportunity to plan the budget wedding of Henri Scott. Despite vowing not to plan anymore weddings, Henri refuses to back down until Penny agrees, and pretty soon Penny finds herself tasked with the nuptials of a potential bridezilla who thinks 'budget' is a dirty word.

But there's a reason why the seemingly affluent Henri Scott is having to plan her wedding so cheaply - and it's a reason, Penny soon discovers when she meets husband-to-be Nick,  that's particularly close to home...

Meanwhile, Penny's day job in HR is looking up when new boss Giles announces the possibility of promotion. The downside? Penny must compete for the position with 'frenemy' Shelly. But with her great organisation skills, and her new assignment - plan the army-themed company team-building event - Penny's set on success. That is, until she discovers her new boss's view on secondary jobs. And when Henri becomes more demanding, it's only a matter of time before Penny's two jobs collide...

Juggling the team-building weekend and a fight for promotion, reluctantly embarking on a second job as a wedding planner and being the budget-bride guru on popular blog 'Princess on a Shoestring', things are soon proving to be tough for Penny, especially with husband Mark and their plans for a baby.

Can Penny successfully send Henri down the aisle of her dream wedding, bag the promotion and keep it all from her stern new boss?

Don't Tell the Groom is a wonderfully-written novel that I was unable to put down. Granted, having loved Anna Bell's previous book Don't Tell the Groom, I had already expected a fantastic read. I loved Penny and her busy life (I could definitely relate!), and the story was so well-paced and made me continue reading. Anna writes in a such a funny way that you instantly fall in love with the characters - well, maybe not Henri (not first of all, anyway!), and the comedy moments make this novel perfect. I'm hoping there's more from Penny in future! If you enjoy books by Sophie Kinsella, Kirsty Greenwood and Tracy Bloom, then I would definitely recommend Anna Bell.

Rating: 5/5