Camera Shy: a grumpy sunshine romance about learning to take risks (The Photographers Trilogy)

WINNER - ROMANTIC NOVELISTS' AWARDS 2025

Two strangers in pain. One chance at love…

Heartbroken after her almost-engagement was called off, Jess goes on a mini-break to Paris seeking closure and meets a hot French stranger called Gabriel.

As sparks fly, Jess, fearing she was dumped because she was boring, vows to be more spontaneous, and she and Gabriel have mind-blowing, earth-shattering sex.

With his troubled past and soulful eyes, Jess quickly realises there’s more to Gabriel than a great shag and, when he whisks her away to his fixer-upper chateau in the country, Jess thinks she might be falling for him—even though they’ve only known each other a few days.

But is this what she wants? She was all for taking risks, but risking her heart so soon after a break-up was not in the cards, especially when Gabriel's troubled past arrives in the present.

Can they both heal their emotional wounds and let love back into their lives before it's too late?

If you enjoy Beth O'Leary, Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez books, you’ll love Camera Shy.

Originally from New Jersey, Julia moved to London in her early twenties. She worked as an advertising copywriter until discovering her love of photography on a 6-month trip around South America. She started a wedding photography business which received some great PR when her own Dirty Dancing-themed wedding dance went viral on YouTube. She appeared on Richard & Judy and The Oprah Winfrey Show, where she danced with Patrick Swayze. In 2009 she opened a luxury portrait studio and has photographed everyone from the Queen to Queen, the band. After 15 years as a photographer, she returned to her first love: writing. Julia lives in Wimbledon with her Welsh husband, two children, and an oddly possessive cat.