Category: General Fiction

I Heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk (I Heart #6)

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My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: Angela’s planning her very own fairytale of New York…

• Enormous Christmas tree

• Eggnog

• Eccentric British traditions

• Gorgeous man

But Santa’s throwing her a few curveballs – new job (as if it’s not mental enough already), new baby-craze from her best friend Jenny, and Alex determined they should grow up and settle down. Once friends start turning up uninvited on her doorstep (and leading her astray), can Angela really have a merry little Christmas? So much for happy holidays – something’s got to give…

My Review: I am a huge fan of the Angela Clark series and was looking forward to reading the next instalment. For those that are up to date, the last time we saw Angela was in London, and her getting married to Alex. Now she is back at home in New York and is just dying for her perfect Christmas. This involves lots of garish decorations, a huge Christmas tree and lots of one on one time with Alex. As usual in her life things don’t go quite to plan. When her parents drop the bombshell that they are visiting she realises her one on one time may well be something that doesn’t happen at all.

With the addition of the usual suspects returning such as Jenny, Alex, James, Craig, Angela’s parents and her friend Louisa it feels like everyone is in attendance. Once again (as I seem to do with all Kelk books) there are some real one liners that had me laughing out loud. I also loved the fact that things get tough on the work front for Angela and it made a change from just reading about her relationship. The return of Cici is something I found hilarious and the storylines around her and Angela had me crying with laughter.

I managed to finish the book in just over a day and a half and was gutted that I one again I have to wait for the next instalment. The only thing that I can say about why I didn’t make this a 5 star read, was that I almost felt that this instalment of the series wasn’t quite a complete story (if that makes sense) but is absolutely critical for us to see Angela moving to the next phase of her life. It didn’t have the same oomph as the last book (which was my all time favourite) but I still loved it. I feel like the next one may well be even better than the last and I can’t wait to see what happens next. If you haven’t read any of the I Heart Series…where have you been? You would be an absolute fool to pass them up and if you want a book to make you cry with laughter and escape for a few hours then this series is the way to do it. 

Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley

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My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: Meet Sophie Stone, a thirty-something serial procrastinator. Tesco knickers, Take That and tea with two sugars is about as exciting as it gets. Sophie’s life is safe and predictable, which is just the way she likes it, thank you very much. But when her boyfriend dumps her on Valentine’s Day and a mysterious benefactor leaves her an inheritance, even Sophie has to accept that change is afoot. There is a catch: in order to inherit, Sophie must agree to meet the father she has never seen.

Not a fan of surprises, Sophie would rather not; why not let sleeping dads lie? Besides, her mother would kill her. With interference from an evil boss, bickering flat mates, warring parents and a sexy ex-boyfriend, Sophie has plenty to contend with without an architect who puts his foot in it every time he opens his mouth. But it soon becomes clear that she will have to face the past and learn some uncomfortable home truths before she can finally build a future on her own terms.

My Review: This book is Cathy Bramley’s debut novel, yep that’s right her DEBUT. I am flabbergasted (a word I love and that isn’t used enough). Cathy’s debut had the feel of a seasoned pro and I found myself engrossed from the very beginning. Sophie is at first a little bit pathetic, but likeable if you know what I mean. She is the girl who has her head in the clouds, but actually seems to roll over for her vile boyfriend.

The boyfriend I spent the most part despising and wondering when somebody was going to give him a slap! I liked the architect character who is at first just as socially inept as Sophie. But as a character I couldn’t help feeling for him, and wondering why he found himself in such awkward positions half the time. I also rather liked the two flatmates that lives with Sophie as they give another layer to the story, as well as the added drama that comes with two polar opposites (the two are sisters)! As soon as Sophie is given the choice of meeting her absent father in order to gain her aunts house things get so complicated for her. Not only does she have to answer to her mother, but her flatmates as well. In addition to this she has to try and work out if her own opinions matter?!?

The story, although not original, kept me interested from the beginning right through to the very end. Although the idea and storyline may not be original, the way Cathy Bramley tells the story, and brings the characters to life certainly is. If I had read this knowing nothing of her background, I would have made the assumption that she had written numerous books. IF you are a fan of Milly Johnson and the like, then Cathy Bramley will definitely be up your street. I for one, will definitely look forward to her next book, and wouldn’t be altogether surprised to see a big publishing house sign her in the coming months. If they don’t, then it’s their loss and Cathy’s gain, a debut that most definitely wasn’t like a debut!

CHRISTMAS AT ROSIE HOPKINS SWEETSHOP OF DREAMS

My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: Curl up with Rosie her friends and her family as they prepare for a very special Christmas . . .

Rosie Hopkins is looking forward to Christmas in the little Derbyshire village of Lipton buried under a thick blanket of snow. Her sweetshop is festooned with striped candy canes large tempting piles of Turkish delight crinkling selection boxes and happy sticky children. She’s going to be spending it with her boyfriend Stephen and her family flying in from Australia. She can’t wait.

But when a tragedy strikes at the heart of their little community all of Rosie’s plans for the future seem to be blown apart. Can she build a life in Lipton? And is what’s best for the sweetshop also what’s best for Rosie?

My Review: I was so excited when I got an early copy of this book, because I only recently got around to reading the first book Rosie Hopkins Sweetshop of Dreams. I really enjoyed that and was excited to get stuck in to the follow up, which is set at Christmas (so perfect timing). First off I must just say that I LOVE Jenny Colgan covers, and this one is especially ‘christmassy’ (I know that’s not a word but you know what I mean). For those that haven’t read the first book, although it’s not a necessity I think it makes this book so much more enjoyable.

Although I really enjoyed the first Rosie book, I LOVED this one and it started from the first few pages. Mrs Colgan re-acquainted me with the main characters, Rosie and her live in boyfriend, grumpy but adorable Stephen; as well as Rosie’s cranky aunt Lillian who now lives in a home. There are also numerous characters that have progressed from the first book and we see them back in the second such as Tina, Moray and the strange and quirky young boy Eddison.

I felt like I had practically moved into the village within a matter of pages and found myself holding the book everywhere I went on the off chance I could squeeze a few more pages in. This time around Rosie’s family are making their way across the water from Oz and Rosie cannot wait to see them all. With the excitement of her family visiting, the running of the sweetshop and the general activity in the village; I almost felt as shocked as the characters were when a tragedy occurs in the village. This is a catalyst for quite a few things (which I can’t details because that would be spoilers!).

However, with the tragedy to one side, we see loads of things happen as a result of it and this includes some sad moments, as well as some legendary moments! There are some very funny scenes that go on featuring Lillian and Rosie’s Mum which had me giggling. These two particular characters make such a difference and are an absolute joy to read. There seemed to be a number of conclusions made with this follow up book which I was really chuffed about too.

All in all my review may sound vague, but I really wouldn’t want to spoil this for anyone as it was such a brilliant book. I couldn’t out it down from start to finish and think it was even better than the first one. It was full of love, laughter and plenty of tears and is without a doubt a perfect Christmas Present! Can’t recommend it highly enough and think that JC fans who are itching to get this will be thrilled!

Calling Mrs Christmas by Carole Matthews

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My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: Cassie Smith has been out of work for a while but she has an idea. Drawing on her love of Christmas, she begins charging for small things: wrapping presents; writing cards; tree-decorating. She’s soon in huge demand and Cassie’s business, Calling Mrs Christmas, is born. Carter Randall wants to make Christmas special for his children, so he enlists Cassie’s help, and his lavish requests start taking up all her time. Thank goodness she can rely on her loving partner Jim to handle the rest of her clients. When millionaire Carter asks Cassie to join his family on a trip to Lapland, she knows she shouldn’t go . . . Suddenly Cassie finds herself facing a heart-breaking choice that could change her entire life.

My Review: Okay, I am going to make a very bold statement about this book. I think this has to be my favourite Carole Matthews book EVER, and that is saying something people! Carole has been writing since 1997 and I have read nearly all of her books, so for me this was just an absolute gem and I cannot think of another of her books I prefer?!? With the title, the very seasonal cover and obviously the synopsis of the book I knew this would be a Christmas themed book and was actually looking forward to it. With the end of October rapidly approaching, the clocks turning back all too soon and the evenings getting darker I was actually looking forward to a bit of festive reading.

From page 1 I fell in love, and that theme continued throughout the book. I fell in love with Cassie, her boyfriend Jim, Cassie’s family, the boys from Jim’s unit and the Randall family. Cassie is in an all too unfamiliar predicament; having been unemployed for months, with no future work in sight. So when she comes up with the idea for her own business named Calling Mrs Christmas, she has no idea that it will take off beyond her wildest dreams. With her love of Christmas spurring her on, and the support of her family she starts the business that sounds too good to be true. Jim was a wonderful character and I liked the fact that we got to see the side of Jim where he has to deal with all sorts of issues at the Young Offenders Institute where he worked.

When Cassie lands a huge client who is a rich and handsome businessman, she knows that he will be a hard client to keep happy. The story really highlights the extremes of Christmas from the end where boys have nothing, and the men who seem to have it all. Although Cater Randall is the handsome rich man in this story, I also thought he was wonderful and to be honest it made for a fair match in terms of lead men in the story (that’s always a winner in my eyes).

The best part of the book for me was when Cassie visits Lapland as part of her work, and I have to say it is blatantly clear that Carole has researched this part of the world (you lucky thing). I could almost picture every part of the trip from riding the Husky sleds to staying in the Ice Hotel. Every part of that trip was so authentic I might as well have been along for the ride. The ending was absolutely perfect and there wasn’t a moment in this book I didn’t enjoy. I loved everything about it apart from when I finished. Not only was I disappointed to have finished, but I did have a flicker of hope that maybe CM may well debate doing a sequel <getting down on knees to pray at this point>. This latest Matthew’s book is magnificent, and quite frankly if you haven’t read it, pre-ordered it, or asked for it as a Christmas present then you are missing out. This book is the perfect stocking filler and one which is my absolute favourite……

Take A Look at Me Now by Miranda Dickinson

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My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: How far would you go to make a new start? Heart-warming and romantic, Take a Look at Me Now will make you laugh, cry and cheer Nell on from start to finish.

What a difference a day makes…

Nell Sullivan has always been known as ‘Miss Five-Year Plan’. But when she finds herself jobless and newly single on the same day, Nell decides it is time to stop planning and start taking chances.

Nell blows her redundancy cheque on a trip of lifetime to a place where anything is possible – San Francisco. There she meets a host of colourful characters, including the intriguing and gorgeous Max. Very soon the city begins to feel like Nell’s second home. But when it’s time to return to London, will she leave the ‘new Nell’ behind? And can the magic of San Francisco continue to sparkle thousands of miles away?

My Review: I was lucky to get an early copy of this and after reading the synopsis was really looking forward to reading it. The subject matter is kind of good timing as the present day seems to be all about people being made redundant and in this latest release by Miranda Dickinson we see Nell face exactly that challenge. Nell is a woman who is known for her ‘five year plan’ and within the first few chapters you can see that she is (although loveable) totally stuck in a rut with her job, her love life and things in general. So when she goes in to work one day and manages to lose her job and her bloke in one foul swoop, she takes action.

I loved the fact that Nell was so impulsive and immediately decides to use her redundancy money to get away from real life and take some time out. Her destination of choice ends up being San Francisco. Having visited San Francisco I certainly had an advantage, but Miranda Dickinson really transports the readers there and the descriptions made me feel like I really knew the neighbourhood and characters. Nell is lucky that she has her cousin Lizzie out there who she was very close with growing up. Now that she has her accommodation sorted out, she just decides to wing the rest of her time.

I fell in love with not only Nell, but the people that lived in Haight-Ashbury and the whirlwind 8 weeks that Nell spends there. There were so many characters but they all played their part and towards the end of her journey there, it felt almost heart wrenching to see her have to return home. The story then follows up with the decision she makes when she finally does make it home. I have to be honest and say this was my least favourite part of the book. Aside from that the only other criticism I really had was how quick the ending was wrapped up. It was going at a brilliant pace and I felt like it could have easily been stretched over a couple more chapters (but that’s me no doubt being a little picky!).

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book by Miranda Dickinson and absolutely fell in love with San Francisco all over again. Most definitely recommended by meJ

Younger, Thinner, Blonder by Sue Watson

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My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: Tough talking, ball busting, TV talk show host Tanya Travis is at the top of her game. For fifteen years she has steered The Truth With Tanya Travis to be a ratings winner, solving the problems of Britain’s great drug taking, shagging, DNA testing unwashed. But underneath the designer exterior, Tanya’s life isn’t so rosy. She is hounded by the press, who are desperate to prove her boyfriend’s infidelity, and her closest relationships are with her crazy Brooklyn agent and her sweet faced (but foul mouthed) cleaner. When reality TV show Celebrity Spa Trek comes knocking, Tanya turns them down flat, believing that her image and credentials as the Darling of Daytime raise her above participating. However, she may be forced to re-think when her carefully constructed life starts to come apart at the seams. With her relationship in crisis, her career on the line, and her finances in dire straits she may have to join the desperate gaggle of C-List wannabes trekking round Nepal after all…. 

My Review: Sue Watson’s debut novel Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes was released in 2012 and was an absolute winner with me. I was really excited and getting to read an early review copy of her new book and thankfully I wasn’t disappointed. If there are people out there that wants to read a thoroughly meaningful book with morals and meaning, then please don’t read this and then grumble. If, however, you are looking for an extremely humorous fictional take on what it’s like to be a failing celebrity then this will be a winner!

Initially I found it hard to get to grips with the lead in the book Tanya Travis and the beginning felt a little bit ‘bitty’. Luckily that lasted no more than a few chapters and I began to really like Tanya Travis. Yes, she is a daytime talk show and has the boyfriend, lifestyle and money to match; but we also get to see the normal side to this quirky and OCD inflicted character. Within the first quarter of the book the humour was ramped up and I found myself wondering why Sue Watson hasn’t been writing for longer. In addition to Tanya, we meet Tanya’s slightly eccentric and crazy agent Donna and the absolute legendary cleaner she employs, Astrid. One thing I will say is that in both of her books, there have been characters that haven’t necessarily taken the led but which you absolutely fall in love with, and Astrid is most certainly one of them!

When Tanya’s career takes a serious nosedive her life falls apart in front of the general public. With her life and career on the verge of crumbling, she manages to let her agent persuade her to take part in the reality TV show Celebrity Spa Trek. BY the second half of the book I didn’t want to put the book down. The cleaner Astrid had me in hysterics, and Tanya’s behaviour matched the hilarity. The section of the book where she takes part in the reality show doesn’t dominate the book, but certainly adds the extra layer in terms of characters. There were some brilliant characters and I couldn’t help making real life comparisons (which makes it even funnier).

I certainly guessed where the book would go towards the end, but am glad that it was written the way it was. I only have one criticism about this latest book and that is the cover! I know people may think that’s a trivial matter, but for some reason I just don’t think the cover is enough to make people want to pick it up if they were in a bookshop. The cover certainly doesn’t do justice to the book itself, that’s for sure.With the cover issue aside, I can honestly say that if you want a really funny book to transport you from everyday humdrums, and lift your mood then this is the book for you. This was an outstanding second book by Sue Watson which does exactly what it says on the tin. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

WELCOME TO ROSIE HOPKINS’ SWEETSHOP OF DREAMS BY JENNY COLGAN

My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: Rosie Hopkins is about to face major upheaval. Her elderly aunt Lilian – feisty, independent Aunt Lily who never talked about her past – needs her help, so Rosie is moving to the depths of the countryside for a few months to look after her. Plus Rosie will be away from Gerard, the man she hopes to settle down with soon, and they’ll miss each other dreadfully… won’t they? Lilian Hopkins has spent her life running Lipton’s village sweetshop, through wartime and family feuds. As she struggles with the idea that it might finally be time to sell up, she also wrestles with the secret history hidden behind the jars of beautifully coloured sweets.  And the longer Rosie and Lilian spend together, the more they realise they can learn from each other…

My Review: I am a pretty recent covert to the Jenny Colgan books and was a huge fan of the Cupcake books. I’m currently working through her other books and realising that the sequel to this is due out in a couple of months I figured now was a good time to read it. As with her other books it didn’t take me long to get into the story and straight away really liked Rosie as the lead character. When Rosie is asked to go and help her elderly aunt Lilian in the countryside she is really unsure. Her boyfriend Gerard (who was awful I must say) would be left behind while she sorted out the family issues at hand.

As soon as the story moved with Rosie to the Countryside it improved dramatically. With the introduction to her aunt Lilian who I absolutely loved, it seemed like her and Rosie worked really well together as characters. Lilian’s little sweet shop has been closed for years and with her Aunt’s declining health, Rosie needs to sort out the sale of the shop and finding a home for her aunt. The other element of this story was not only Rosie’s but of Lilian’s past and how she found herself to be where she is today. As the reader we get to see snippets of Lilian’s history and her own life being brought up in a time when war was as the forefront of everybody’s mind. This was such a nice way to layer the story as you find yourself understanding why Lilian is the way she is now.

There are many village characters that also add sparkle to this story and I found myself wishing Rosie on as all she seems to do for the first half of the book is land herself in hot water. I particularly liked the stroppy and awkward character Stephen who seems to be determined to do things his way! I read this book very quickly and absolutely loved it. As usual with Jenny Colgan books you get the added addition of something extra and in this books case it was sweets. You get taken back in time with all the nostalgic mentions of sweets from days gone past, as well as sweet recipes at the start of each chapter! I have to say that the Cupcake books are still my favourite but this is a definite second. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the follow up of this due out in November 2013.

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

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My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: North Carolina, 1960. Newlywed Jane Forrester, fresh out of university, is seeking what most other women have shunned: a career. But life as a social worker is far from what she expected. Out amongst the rural Tobacco fields of Grace County, Jane encounters a world of extreme poverty that is far removed from the middle-class life she has grown up with. But worse is still to come. Working with the Hart family and their fifteen-year-old daughter Ivy, it’s not long before Jane uncovers a shocking secret, and is thrust into a moral dilemma that puts her career on the line, threatens to dissolve her marriage, and ultimately, determines the fate of Ivy and her family forever. Soon Jane is forced to take drastic action, and before long, there is no turning back.

My Review: I was unsure whether I would take to this book, especially since the setting is in rural North Carolina in the 1960’s. This was a time when race was divided and although we are now in the 20th century, racism is sadly still an issue for some in that part of the world. For that reason, I was undecided as to whether I really wanted to read this, but having read other DC books and loved them I started. I was pleased I made that choice as Diane Chamberlain has created a book that tells a story, and just that. She doesn’t sensationalise anything about it, but creates a story that will maybe make readers aware of the struggles that went on at that time.

Jane Forrester is far from the norm’ in the sixties as she is determined that although she is newly married, she still wants to have a career. I liked Jane and DC did an amazing job of recreating the unease that people felt in the sixties when women working was out of the ordinary. Very quickly we see Jane start her job as a social worker and are instantly taken into the world of the poorest people that are working in the tobacco fields. Ivy Hart is a young girl and lives with her Grandmother and sister. It took me not time to be transported to the conditions and type of life they had to lead.

As the story unfolds and we meet more workers and we begin to see the effects of the Eugenics Programme which was widely used in the sixties, and something I had never heard of until reading this book. As the book progresses you begin to see that there is a lot more to it that at first glance. The story peels back layers and weaves an absolutely gripping storyline making it impossible to stop reading. It’s a pretty sad story in one respect but one which had an absolutely amazing ending and a story that I loved from start to finish. Diane Chamberlain has singled herself out as an outstanding author by touching the reader emotionally, but at the same time still producing an amazing story which highlights historical events that some people may know nothing about.

This may not be for everybody as the subject matter may be too sensitive for some, but I found it absolutely gripping and would highly recommend it. It’s a book that will have remain in my memory banks for some time and I think if you haven’t read it you should certainly give it a try.

When Love Takes Over by Caroline Grace-Cassidy

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My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: Mia Doyle has a talent for selling houses. She values her independence – weekly visits home for her Mam’s corned beef and cabbage are enough to bear! So when her boss cuts her wages and takes on his niece Anita to share commissions with her, it’s quite a blow. Worse still, the two women don’t see eye to eye.

Anita is dealing with a bad family situation and unfortunately she brings her problems to work. Mia is torn between sympathy for her and anger at her self-serving attitudes. Meanwhile Mia’s friend Carla needs her wholehearted approval when she decides to have a boob job to please her boyfriend – approval Mia is not able to give. Suddenly their rock-solid friendship seems more like quicksand. 

To add to Mia’s tensions, her love life is shaky too. When she first met Paul the Builder it was love at first sight – or so she thought. But what does he think? She really can’t tell as he blows hotter and colder than an Irish summer’s day. Then Mia takes on a client of Carla’s, the millionaire Gordon McHale who reveals a secret about Carla that Mia would prefer not to know. 

At a time when she needs to put the head down and get on with it, Mia is distracted by the disastrous events unfolding rapidly all around her. Suddenly she isn’t so sure she knows herself at all or has any idea of what she wants from life.

Continue reading “When Love Takes Over by Caroline Grace-Cassidy”

TEMPTING FATE BY JANE GREEN

My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him – even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . .

Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.

Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?

My Review: I was looking forward to reading this latest release by Jane Green and as usual she hasn’t disappointed. Gabby and Elliot are a normal couple, and it’ clear from the outset, still very much in love. Gabby and her friend Claire often have discussions regarding women who risk it all by having an affair. We meet Gabby and Elliot and get a real feel for their everyday life along with their two teenage daughters. At first glance it seems like they are one of the few couples that are rock solid.

However, as time progresses we learn more about Gabby and after a while I could almost feel her lack of confidence in herself. On a girls night out she meets a young man called Matt and at that point it seems her life is altered. As soon as she meets Matt, I could feel Gabby changing. Jane Green has that knack of making the reader really feel what the character is experiencing. In this  case you can see what is happening in front of us, which is a slightly older woman being flattered and given attention. Matt has the ability to make Gabby feel a little bit dangerous and reckless.

Initially, I wasn’t sure how the story was going to play out, but wasn’t expecting what occurred. This is a story that is probably a real possibility for many women out there and although I know that what Gabby was doing was dangerous, I totally understood why she did it! The actual story isn’t particularly anything original, but Jane Green has managed to create a wonderful story out of something so ordinary; and more to the point, a story I didn’t want to put down.

I am rarely disappointed with a Jane Green book and this one is no different. I wouldn’t say it’s the best she has ever written, but was a book that I was thoroughly absorbed in. I’m already looking forward to the next book!