Review: Mixed Signals by Diane Barnes

Getting dumped is never easy, but there’s a special bonus sting if your ex-fiancé is a producer for a popular morning radio show. Jillian Atwood’s breakup with Nico has become the hosts’ number-one topic. They’re even running a competition to find him a new girlfriend. The entire population of Boston, it seems, is tuning in with an opinion about who Nico should date next—and what Jillian should do to get over him.

Jillian’s co-worker, Ben, has his own ideas on that score. He hates seeing Jill depressed over a guy as unworthy as her ex. While he’s providing a friendly ear, he's also realizing how much more he’d like to offer. And if Jill could just get over the man who broke her heart, she might find the one who’s perfectly equipped to heal it..

ebook, 320 pages

Expected publication: September 27th 2016 by Lyrical Shine

Terri's thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is September 27th, 2016.

This is the second story I have read by Barnes, having enjoyed her previous work I thught I would give this one a chance.

I will start with my constructive criticism first to get it out of the way.  This comes down to personal opinion however there were times throughout this story that I struggled with it being written in the first person.  It made some parts a little awkward, such as when Jillian was describing her, and I may misquote it, her super tones legs and arms.  It came of egotistical because she was describing herself.  This was my biggest struggle, the rest was good.

While reading this story, I can see how one would want to shake Jillian and tell her to stop being so stupid.  I felt that way also.  That was until I started to think about it.  A lot of woman in the face of a break-up have done the exact same thing or worse.  We can't judge because we have all been there in some shape or form.  There are things we have said and done that we wish we could take back but the damage is done.  It was not different for Jillian.

Nico on the other hand I had an instant dislike for.  I think that is the way the reader is supposed to feel so Barnes did a good job with this character.  Could you imagine hanging out with this guy in real life?  It would be a major snooze-fest.  I doubt someone like him would make it to the 2nd date with me let alone the six years with Jillian.

Then there is Ben.  The Bradley Cooper look alike who is onboard with people watching and making up stories about their lives.  It was love at first read with him!  Not to mention that he was honorable and kind and funny.  It was clear from the get go what his feelings for Jillian were.

This is a story about what happens when things don't turn out the way you thought you wanted or planned and you travel down the road of the unknown.  Sometimes things be be a heck of a lot more entertaining, just as this book was.

About the Author

Though she always dreamed about being the shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, Diane Barnes is a marketing writer in Massachusetts. She participates in two monthly writing groups and regularly attends novel writing workshops in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts. She started “Waiting for Ethan” as a challenge to participate in National Novel Writing Month. The original story was about a character who dated a string of freshly divorced men who all had issues with their ex-wives. She won’t say if it was autobiographical.
In 2012, Diane was one of eight writers who attended the Boston Writers’ Studio, an exclusive four-day intense writing workshop taught by bestselling author Elizabeth Berg. Diane says having her idol read her work was a moment she’ll never forget.
When not crafting novels, Diane spends her time playing tennis, going to the beach or watching her beloved Red Sox. She completed her first half marathon last year (to combat her love of chocolate) and lives in central Massachusetts with her husband Steve; they often fantasize about moving to Turks and Caicos – for the winter months at least.

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