Category: General Fiction

Happy Ever After by Patricia Scanlan

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My Rating: 3/5

First of all Patricia Scanlan’s writing style has always been the typical Chick Lit stuff. It is usually the stuff or romance gone wrong and then hopefully going right with some tears and hopefully laughter along the way. I am a typical Chick Lit fan in that I like this particular style of writing and Patricia Scanlan has always been one of my favourite authors for this very reason. Her books have in the past always captured me and I end up feeling a sense of contentment whenever I read her books.

This particular story is a follow on from her previous novel Forgive and Forget. Having said that you could read this alone and still pick up the story from where it left off. We meet Debbie and Bryan who are newly married, and Debbie’s battle to get her new husband to stop spending his money on parties, drink and drugs.

Connie who has done her bit for her daughter and son-in-law ends up having an interesting new man turn up in her life. Could this be what she has been waiting for? Unfortunately for Connie, her ex-husband Barry has re-married to Aimee. When Aimee finds out she is pregnant and Barry realises he may well have to go through parenthood all over again seeks solace by trying to get Connie’s attention. In the meantime unbeknown to Aimee and Barry, Aimee’s daughter Mellissa from her first marriage, is silently spiralling into a world of obsessive eating disorders. Everyone suddenly want’s Connie’s attention and she wonders, can she walk away from them and let them solve their own problems for once. Or will she help them all and lose the chance at her own happiness?

Patricia Scanlan manages to cover the real topics in life such as eating disorders, relationships with your ex and love later in life without making them too disheartening. The story runs along nicely with real detail and feeling and I thoroughly enjoyed it up until the very last chapter where it felt like the author got bored of writing and just finished with a very short and sweet epilogue. Almost felt like there should have been another 5 or 6 chapters to finish it nicely. I still enjoyed the book but ended up feeling a little disappointed.

It’s The Little Things by Erica James

Synopsis: Dan and Sally Oliver and their friend Chloe Hennessey are lucky to be alive. Three years on, after surviving one of the world’s biggest natural disasters – the Boxing Day tsunami – their lives have changed dramatically.

Dan and Sally are now parents. Dan is enjoying being a stay-at-home father taking care of their young son, and Sally is the breadwinner and loves her job as a partner in a Manchester law firm. The arrangement has so far worked well, but when Dan starts to question whether Sally has got her priorities right, the cracks in their marriage begin to appear.

Dan and Sally have everything Chloe wishes for in life – a happy marriage and a beautiful child. Dumped by her long-term boyfriend just weeks after the tsunami, she’s been on a mission ever since to find the perfect father for the child she craves. When she meets Seth Hawthorne, she thinks she may have hit the jackpot. But is Seth the man she thinks he is?

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: The new Erica James book introduces us to Dan and Sally and Chloe and her ex Paul. After surviving the Tsunami, their lives are altered and they go back home to start afresh. Chloe splits up with Paul and is finding her job as GP in her village is not enough until she meets Seth Hawthorne, who she thinks can give her everyhting she wants. Sally and Dan have their son Marcus to consider and with Dan working from home and Sally being the breadwinner it doesnt take long for things to start going awry. Their lives become complicated and before long everything that can go wrong does go wrong. As usual it is written really well and makes for an enjoyable and realistic read. Erica James rarely dissapoints and although this book was good I felt the ending was too hurried.

Rumour Has It by Jill Mansell

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Synopsis: When newly single Tilly Cole impulsively quits her London job for a fresh start in the small town of Roxborough she finds she’s arrived in a hotbed of gossip, intrigue and rampant rivalry for the most desirable men. Tilly has no intention of joining in – she’s just happy with her new Girl Friday job. Then she meets Jack Lucas. Jack is irresistible… and he’s got his eye on Tilly. But there are shocking rumours about his wicked reputation. Tilly doesn’t want to be just another notch on anyone’s bedpost. But is she being mature and sensible – or is she running away from the love of her life?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: The last book I read by JM was great, and I didnt think that her books could get any better. I was wrong! This story starts with Tilly walking home to find that Gavin her live in boyfriend has done a bunk. Moved out without so much as a backward glance. Although hurt (but slightly relieved) she visits her friend Erin in Roxborough to cheer herself up. Little does she know that this visit would change her life completely. She ends up applying for a “strange sounding” job advertised in the local rag and before she can blink has set up home in Roxborough and is thrown in to a whirlwind of a new life. The new life involves Max (the gay but formerly straight interior designer), his teenage daughter and Max’s best friend Jack. The story is funny and such a pleasure to read. The only thing I was dissapointed in was that I finished it too quickly. If you are a big Chick Lit fan you cannot get better than this so get yourself a copy.

The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton by Catherine Alliott

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Synopsis: Evie Hamilton has a secret. One she doesn’t even know about . . . yet.

Evie is the wife of successful, handsome husband Ant and mother of high-achieving, accomplished daughter Anna, and her biggest worry in life is whether or not she can fit a manicure in on her way to fetch Anna from clarinet lessons. She doesn’t think about much else outside her own, charmed circle. There simply isn’t time.

But all that is about to change. One sunny Oxford morning a letter – a ticking time-bomb – lands on Evie’s immaculate doormat and up ends Evie’s comfortable life. Something she could never have anticipated has been waiting in the wings to sabotage everything she holds dear, and it’s not going away. She will have to reappraise everything in her carefully arranged universe.

But Evie is a fighter and she will fight for what she loves. And in the process, find there is more to her than she thought, and more to her life.

What will remain? What will change for ever? And can a woman’s entire world really be as fragile as her best china?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: The secret life of Evie Hamilton was a great book that was a refreshing change to the normal thrillers I have been consuming in large numbers recently. Catherine Alliott has created a great character, somebody that isn’t perfect and would be an ideal best friend! She is warm and funny yet slightly on the ditzy side. Evie is married to Ant and they have a daughter Anna. The whole family plays a part in this funny story, including Evies sister in Law Caro who is a force to be reckoned with. There is a major shock in store for Evie when she discovers something about Ants past which will disrupt and could possibly destroy all of their lives. Give it a go if you have never read her books.

All You Need is Love by Carole Matthews

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Synopsis: This is a romantic comedy set in Liverpool about Sally Freeman – a twenty-something single mum and superwoman – and her bid to make her world a better place. Hopelessly in love with her is Johnny – an artist with not a penny to his name – and Spencer Knight – a rich city slicker with a Porsche and a penthouse apartment. Sally wants to improve the dreary estate where she lives and she enlists the help of the locals to plant a garden and build a community centre. But will she choose the right man to love?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I have read an awful lot of thrillers lately and this was a refreshing change. It’s a story about Sally Freeman, a young single mother who lives on a council estate with her son Charlie. Spencer Knight comes along and sweeps her off her feet. He is rich, charming, affectionate and sexy and Sally can’t quite believe her luck. However her ex Johnny is still in love with Sally and has to try to win Sally back. As a penniless aspiring painter, who also lives on the estate and cares for his ill mum, he doesn’t have a lot of chance.

I am quite a fan of Carole Matthews and this story is no different to my previous opinions. The story is warm and funny and a thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters are a little different to her previously tried and tested formula for leading women. However, somehow she seems to have hit the nail on the head and created loveable people that you end up loving or hating in equal measures. No there isn’t a deep underlying moral to the story, but it is what it is! An enjoyable funny and warm chick lit book that is easy reading.

An Offer You Can’t Refuse by Jill Mansell

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Synopsis: Lola has no intention of accepting when her boyfriend Dougie’s snobbish mother offers her 10,000 to break up with him. Then she discovers a secret that makes her think again. Dougie would probably have broken up with her in the long run, and this way she can help one of the people she loves most in the world.

Ten years later, though, when Lola meets Dougie again, her feelings for him are as strong as ever. But she broke Dougie’s heart and he’s about to discover that she was paid to do it. She can never tell him the truth, so can she get him back? Well, Lola’s very attractive and very persuasive. But even she’s got her work cut out this time

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I got a bit tired of Jill Mansell books for a while but when her new one came out I thought I’d give it a try and I’m glad I did. The story is about Lola, a young girl who falls in love and then moves abroad after getting herself in a situation. When she comes back her life takes an unexpected turn and her first true love is back in her life with a bang. Lola is a great character and one that any girl can compare in some ways to a close friend. This book was warm, heartfelt and funny. The perfect combination. Couldn’t put it down and thoroughly enjoyed every chapter. Yes, it’s a typical ‘Chick Lit’ book but I will definately by buying Jill Mansells new releases in the future. Any book that makes me laugh on the train on my daily and dreary commute deserves 5 stars! Highly recommended and guaranteed to cheer you up!

Lessons In Heartbreak by Cathy Kelly

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Synopsis: Izzie Silver left the small Irish town of Tamarin behind for New York. Life is good – until she breaks her own rules and falls for a married man.

On the other side of the ocean, Izzie’s aunt Anneliese discovers the pain of infidelity for herself.

Then Lily, the wise and compassionate family matriarch, is taken ill. At her bedside back in Ireland, Izzie discovers a past her grandmother has never spoken of, while Anneliese feels despair mount. The one person she could have turned to is starting to slip away.

The lessons each of the women learns – both past and present – bring joy and heartbreak. And the hardest lesson of all is learning to let go.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5 Continue reading “Lessons In Heartbreak by Cathy Kelly”

Tell It To The Skies by Erica James

Synopsis: The beautiful city of Venice has been Lydia’s home for many years. It’s a place she loves and where she’s found a sense of peace and fulfilment. Then one day she glimpses a young man’s face in the crowd that threatens to change all that. He’s a heart-stopping reminder of a dreadful secret she believed she had banished to the past…

As a young child, Lydia and her sister are sent to live with grandparents they’ve never even met before. It’s a cruel and loveless new world for them, and it teaches Lydia to grow up fast. She learns to keep secrets and to trust sparingly. And through it all she suppresses her grief and guilt, believing she is to blame for her mother’s death.

Now, twenty-eight years later, Lydia is persuaded to leave behind the safe new life she has created for herself and return to England to face the past. And maybe her future.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I have to say that as an avid reader ploughing through 3-4 books a week, I always look forward to Erica James new books. Yes it is on the slightly romantic side but this book is just as good if not better that her previous publications. The story gets you from the very beginning and you find yourself sympathising with the characters very quickly. Erica’s books are always different and due to the fact that she doesn’t churn them out every 5 minutes I find that I never get bored with her stories. They are always a great read and i would strongly recommend this to people who haven’t read her books before.

The Chocolate Lovers Diet by Carole Matthews

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Synopsis: Lucy Lombard thought her ‘Happily Ever After’ was all sewn up when her gorgeous boss Aidan declared his love for her, but she’s just caught him in bed with another woman. As always, she’s not the only one with problems – Autumn’s new boyfriend has yet to meet her parents, Nadia’s husband swears he’s given up gambling but she just can’t trust him, and Chantal is hoping to save her marriage, but not in quite the way she’d expected. It’s not surprising that these girls are going to need a lot of chocolate to see them through the challenges that lie ahead…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: In this latest book we meet Lucy who is a single thirty something girl who has just discovered that her fella has done the dirty on her! Her main love in life is chocolate along with Nadia, Chantelle and Autumn. We follow the four girls as they try to make sense of their lives. Will they all get the Happy Ever after that they want?

Carole Matthews has done her followers proud! I was worried that a sequel would lessen my enjoyment of the first book but if anything she has made this book even better. If you haven’t read her books before start with ‘The Chocolate Lovers Club’ and then this one, it’s well worth the read. So much so I read this within a day! The characters are real and you find yourself empathising with all of them for one reason or another. It’s not a book with profound meaning, however it has such a “real” feel to it, you can almost feel yourself sitting next to these characters. I would say if you want a book that is easy to read, thoroughly enjoyable and not too heavy this is the one!

Missing by Susan Lewis

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Synopsis: It’s an early autumn day like any other as Miles Avery drives his wife, Jacqueline, to the station. Nothing remarkable crops up in conversation, nor do either of them appear anything other than their normal selves. At the station, Jacqueline gets out, takes an overnight bag from the back seat, then turns towards the platforms. This is the last anyone sees of her

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I have been reading Susan Lewis books since she first started writing and I must say that this book was one of the best Ive read. She seems to have got better the more she writes. This book is filled with believable characters that you empathise with immediately. The story and plot were fantastic and I loved this one so much I read it in a day and a half. If you’ve never tried reading Susan Lewis before…..start now.