Monday, December 30, 2013

Is This All There Is? by Patricia Mann

4.5 Star

Beth Thomas has the perfect life. At thirty-five, she’s married to her college sweetheart, has two adorable kids, and teaches part time at the local university. But when a friend persuades Beth to go dancing on a rare night out, a chance meeting with twenty one year old Dave, one of her former students, changes the course of her life. Loud music, too much to drink, and the thrill of feeling young again lead to an unforgettable kiss that was never supposed to happen. As she tries to put the memory behind her, Dave’s pursuit leaves Beth torn between her loyalty to one man and her lust for another.



Lydia - 4.5 Star

Is This All There Is tackles a sensitive subject with tact, grace, and impeccable emotion. Beth’s thought-provoking journey will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions regardless of whether you can relate to, or disapprove of her actions. 

I don’t have children myself, but I know many who do and I can see that Beth is like every mom. She’s doing the best she can for her family, she doesn’t take time for herself, and things have grown a little stale with her kind, wonderful husband. So when she bumps into a former student, a decade her junior, and things turn flirty, Beth suddenly doesn’t quite seem like the average soccer mom anymore. She confused, conflicted, and trying to do the right thing. But the right thing isn’t always the most pleasant and we somehow always gravitate to pleasure rather than pain and the hard road. And Beth is no exception.

Beth’s journey to find herself and ‘is this all there is’ is a real, raw and gritty journey of self-discovery. She’s lost herself as a wife and mother, sacrificed herself for her family, and suddenly wants to find herself again, and not in the most socially acceptable of ways. She doesn’t take a class or start taking time for herself by going out with friends. She starts flirting with a much younger man which comes with heavy consequences.

Is This All There Is seemed so real to me. The emotion was palpable and even though I didn’t agree with Beth’s choices, I followed along realizing how easy it is to grow apart from your spouse, how easy it can be to fall into infidelity, and how easy it is to turn things around, easier even than turning to someone else – if you take the initiative. But this might not be nearly as fun as the new spark that draws us like a moth to a flame for that new relationship spark, which is where Beth turns. 

I worried about Beth throughout this novel and rooted for her to figure out how wonderful her life is at home. There are many lessons in this novel and Mann takes us on an exploratory journey whether the grass is in fact greener on the other side. 

Thank you to Patricia Mann for our review copy. All opinions are our own. 

Connect with Patricia:

Saturday, December 21, 2013

The French For Love by Fiona Valpy

3.5 Star

Gina has lost her perfect job, her boyfriend and her favourite aunt all within the space of a few months.

So when she inherits her aunt’s ramshackle French house, Gina decides to pack her bags for the Bordeaux countryside – swapping the miserable English weather for blue skies, sunshine, great wine and a fresh start. 

What she hasn’t factored in is a hole in the roof, the most embarrassing language faux pas, and discovering family secrets that she was never supposed to know.

Suddenly feeling a long way from home, Gina will have to rely on new found friends, her own hard work – and Cédric – her charming, mysterious and très handsome new stonemason. 

But whilst desire needs no translation, love is a different matter. Can Gina overcome the language barrier to make her French dream come true?



Kathryn - 3.5 Star

I enjoyed The French for Love for all the reasons you could imagine with such a title.  It was warm and inviting and filled with promises of love. Our leading lady, Gina, is at a loss with a past year full of changes and doesn’t know what direction to take next so her decision to move into her aunt’s cottage in rural France seems to be an ideal plan while she sorts out her head. I found myself longingly hoping for some long lost aunt to turn up and hand me the keys to a rural idyll too… perhaps not going to happen, but I was drawn into the fantasy of warm summer nights and cicadas constantly buzzing in the background. The knowledge of wine making and the wine industry were perfect for the setting and added a lot to the authenticity of the novel and Gina’s career.

Gina’s persona is very likeable (even if I was a bit jealous of her new life style, I still liked her!) and frankly there’s not much more that could have been thrown at her in such a short space of time - it would throw anyone’s life into turmoil.  She has no real ties to the UK with the exception of her mother and a good friend from work.  I did wonder how likely that would be, but I suppose France and England are around the corner from each other these days so perhaps not a big deal to move across the channel any more.  I liked that Valpy brought up some family strains and tied them back together succinctly while leaving us room for thought.  I really appreciated that Gina’s relationship with her mother was given some closure. I think Gina needed that sorted out and without the proper conclusion I would have been disappointed. 

Her life in France seems pretty simple and the people she meets are equally so - there aren’t really any hidden agendas and though you’re always somewhat aware of the end result it doesn’t take away from the sweet nature of this novel.  It opened a sense of community to the reader that is often missing in our hectic lives. 

All in all The French for Love is a simple and sweet love story with everything you would expect.

Thank you to Bookouture for our review copy. All opinions are our own. 

Connect with Fiona Valpy:

Freud's Mistress by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman

3.5 Star

Minna Bernays is an overeducated woman with limited options. Fired yet again for speaking her mind, she finds herself out on the street and out of options. In 1895 Vienna, even though the city is aswirl with avant-garde artists and writers and revolutionary are still very few options for women besides marriage. And settling is not something Minna has ever done.

Out of desperation, Minna turns to her older sister, Martha, for help. But Martha has her own problems—six young children, a host of physical ailments, a household run with military precision, and an absent, overworked, disinterested husband 
who happens to be Sigmund Freud. Freud is a struggling professor, all but shunned by his peers and under attack for his theories, most of which center around sexual impulses, urges, and perversions. While Martha is shocked and repulsed by her husband’s "pornographic" work, Minna is fascinated.


Minna is everything Martha is not—intellectually curious, an avid reader, stunning. But while she and Freud embark on what is at first simply an intellectual courtship, something deeper is brewing beneath the surface, something Minna cannot escape.



Lydia - 3.5 Star

Having studied psychology in university, I found this one an interesting read, although not a very engaging one. Based on the recently substantiated rumour that Freud was having an affair with his sister-in-law, Freud’s Mistress delves deep into Freud’s life through his wife’s sister’s eyes in a fictional account. Told from her viewpoint, we’re given an account of the infamous figure, his family life, his theories and his work. 

Minna and her sister, Martha, couldn’t be more different, and Freud’s struggles as a professor before his theories became accepted was interesting to read about. All of this captured me from the beginning, however, none of the characters have much of a progression which made the second half of this novel more tedious to read. Freud himself doesn’t come across very well in this novel, as neither does Minna, in love with and having an affair with her sister’s husband. Normally this type of plot might not hold much interest to me, but for some reason this one kept most of my attention and I think it was due to the history and the psychology as I wasn’t particularly taken with any of the characters. Freud’s egotism and aloofness was especially off-putting as was Minna’s naiveté and Martha’s disinterest in her husband and children.

I enjoyed the historical details, even the discussions of Freud’s theories and how they were received by his colleagues and found myself particularly fascinated by the drug use. What I wasn’t sure of was Minna’s continuous mention of it being detrimental to his health. Was smoking and even the very common drug use of the times known as being detrimental? I wasn’t sure and this stopped me and made me wonder. I could have used her having some proof to refer to, a doctor’s report or the like, and then it might have been more believable to me. 

I couldn’t even remotely connect to romance in this story which didn’t help my overall enjoyment. Their relationship was very mechanical and boring – but this is Freud we’re speaking about, so I’m not sure fireworks and passion would have worked. Clinical and even-keeled and passionless suited the story. I might have been turned off by a Freud who turned all sorts of tricks, regardless of his whacky theories. 


I did, however, find the story very easy to read with prose that wasn’t too bogged down in detail that flowed easily, and I loved the description of Vienna, pinning away for a trip overseas. If you’re interested in history and Freud you might very well find this one interesting. 

Thank you to Putnam for our review copy. All opinions are our own. 


Connect with Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman:


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Would You Rather... with Samantha Tonge

Please welcome Samantha Tonge, author of Doubting Abbey.


About Samantha:

Samantha Tonge lives in Cheshire, England, with her lovely family and two cats who think they are dogs. She has sold over 80 short stories to mainstream women's magazines and her work appears regularly in the People's Friend. Her debut novel, Doubting Abbey, has just been published by digital-first CarinaUK, Harlequin.

Connect with Samantha:



Would you Rather... with Samantha Tonge

Chips, chocolate or cheese? 

Chocolate – unless the cheese is on pizza!

Bridget Jones, Becky Bloomwood or Carrie Bradshaw? 

Ooh, REALLY hard… Bridget Jones.

Wine, beer or vodka? 

Wine – dry white.

Camping or spa vacation?

Spa vacation! I like a comfy bed free from bugs.

Water or Mountains?

Mountains – so pretty and I love hiking.


Zombies or Vampires?

Ooh, vampires – preferably Edward Cullen or Damon Salvatore.

Dogs or Cats?

Cats – although I have two who think they are dogs. One likes being taken for a walk. The other carries her favourite toy, a straw, around in her mouth, like a dog with a bone.

Coke or Pepsi?

Neither – I weaned myself off fizzy drinks years ago

Coffee or tea?

Coffee – no milk or sugar. Yum.

Dine out or take away?

These days take away so I can slob out in the evening, in front of a good movie.

High heels, sneakers or flip flops

Sneakers.

Physical book or ebook?

Ebook, so I can drink my coffee at the same time as reading.

Paperback or Hardcover?

Paperback doesn’t break the bank.

Pen or Pencil?

Pen.


Mad Men, Downton Abbey or Breaking Bad

Downton Abbey of course!

Drama or Comedy?

A good drama.

Twilight or Hunger Games? 

Twilight! *sigh* I am still recovering from Carlisle’s head being ripped off in Breaking Dawn.

Lipstick, lipgloss or chapstick? 

Chapstick.

Facebook or Twitter

I love Twitter!


Plot your entire novel or fly by the seat of your pants? 

Plot it before, but if the characters want to take me somewhere else, once we get going, that is fine.


Doubting Abbey


Swapping downstairs for upstairs… How hard can it be!?
Look up the phrase ordinary girl and you’ll see a picture of me, Gemma Goodwin – I only look half-decent after applying the entire contents of my make-up bag, and my dating track-record includes a man who treated me to dinner…at a kebab shop. No joke! 
The only extraordinary thing about me is that I look EXACTLY like my BFF, Abbey Croxley. Oh, and that for reasons I can’t explain, I’ve agreed to swap identities and pretend be her to star in the TV show about her aristocratic family’s country estate, Million Dollar Mansion. 
So now it’s not just my tan I’m faking – it’s Kate Middleton style demure hemlines and lady-like manners too. And amongst the hundreds of fusty etiquette rules I’m trying to cram into my head, there are two I really must remember; 1) No-one can ever find out that I’m just Gemma, who’d be more at home in the servants quarters. And 2) There can be absolutely no flirting with Abbey’s dishy but buttoned-up cousin, Lord Edward.
Aaargh, this is going to be harder than I thought…


Available at:


Would You Rather... with Catherine McKenzie

Please welcome Catherine McKenzie, author of Hidden, Forgotten, Arranged and Spin.

About Catherine:

A graduate of McGill University in History and Law, Catherine practises law in Montreal, where she was born and raised. An avid skier and runner, Catherine’s novels, SPIN, ARRANGED and FORGOTTEN, are all international bestsellers. Her fourth novel, HIDDEN, will be released in June, 2013 in Canada and in Spring 2014 in the US. Her novels have been translated into French, German, Czech, Slovak and Polish. And if you want to know how she has time to do all that, the answer is: robots.

Connect with Catherine:



Would you Rather... with Catherine McKenzie

Chips, chocolate or cheese? 

Chips for sure.

Bridget Jones, Becky Bloomwood or Carrie Bradshaw? 

Mmm, tough one. How about: Bridget Jones in her literary form and Carrie Bradshaw as seen on TV.

Wine, beer or vodka?

Honestly depends on the occasion. Hot summer day: beer. Good dinner: wine. Dancing through the night: vodka.

Camping or spa vacation?

Camping.

Water or Mountains?

Winter: mountains. Summer: water (but can I have mountains behind them?).


Zombies or Vampires?

Vampires.

Dogs or Cats?

Cats.

Coke or Pepsi?

Coke, preferably in Diet Coke form.

Coffee or tea?

Tea.

Dine out or take away?

Dine out.

High heels, sneakers or flip flops

Sneakers.

Physical book or ebook?

For home: physical. For travel: e.

Paperback or Hardcover?

Paperback (though being published in Hardcover when my book comes out in the US in April will be a thrill.)

Pen or Pencil?

Pen.


Mad Men, Downton Abbey or Breaking Bad

Mad Men.

Drama or Comedy?

Drama.

Twilight or Hunger Games? 

Hunger Games.

Lipstick, lipgloss or chapstick? 

Chapstick.

Facebook or Twitter

Facebook.


Plot your entire novel or fly by the seat of your pants? 

Panster for sure.
Hidden

When a married man suffers a sudden fatal accident, two women are shattered—his wife and someone else's—and past secrets, desires and regrets are brought to light

While walking home from work one evening, Jeff Manning is struck by a car and killed. Not one but two women fall to pieces at the news: his wife, Claire, and his co-worker Tish. Reeling from her loss, Claire must comfort her grieving son and contend with funeral arrangements, well-meaning family members and the arrival of Jeff’s estranged brother—her ex-boyfriend—Tim.

With Tish’s co-workers in the dark about her connection to Jeff outside the workplace, she volunteers to attend the funeral on the company’s behalf, but only she knows the true risk of inserting herself into the wreckage of Jeff’s life. Told through the three voices of Jeff, Tish and Claire, Hidden explores the complexity of relationships, our personal choices and the responsibilities we have to the ones we love.

Available at:

Amazon Kindle Kobo

Monday, December 16, 2013

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - Lydia's Review

5 Star

Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.



Lydia - 5 Star

What a fabulous read this was! I worried needlessly about The Rosie Project hype and whipped through this one quickly, enjoying every word. This is an easy read that carries some interesting observations and insights and it’s quirkiness and uniqueness never seems forced. 

Reading The Rosie Project felt like I was reading Sheldon Cooper’s thoughts (The Big Bang Theory) with a few differences. I enjoy Sheldon’s character, but I LOVED Don Tillman. He’s not quite as cocky about his intellect, nor does he seem to lack empathy quite as much as Sheldon clearly does. Don wants to fall in love, but he just doesn’t know how, whereas Sheldon can’t seem to be bothered by Amy Farrah Fowler. Don is kind. Sheldon has no clue.

I really enjoyed the insight into Asperger’s as I’ve watched several movies and television programs now with similarly afflicted characters. I find the mindset fascinating. Their thought processes, their lack of filter and unflinching honesty. Don is so socially challenged that you can’t help but laugh and cringe at the same time. He can’t read social cues or emotions. He’s meticulous with his schedule and rules. So it’s a surprise to all involved when he meets Rosie. She’s horrible for him on paper, being the opposite of everything he wants in a wife as outlined in his Wife Project questionnaire. And yet he’s inexplicably drawn to her. Something that all his logic defies.

What I loved most about this novel was the reasoning behind every action Don did or everything he said. It was eye opening and I was surprised at how much of it made sense. How logical it all was astounded me because for someone so different from myself, I would have thought things might not have made quite so much sense. But they did. Don’s thought processes were so logical it baffled me. And I wondered why we don’t all see the world this way or react as Don does. It made me wonder how the differences come about. 

The Rosie Project developed in ways I could never have predicted, and I really enjoyed watching Don proceed with his Wife Project, and then the Rose Project. I loved Rosie’s quirky character, particularly juxtaposed against Don’s equally quirky personality. Both of their unusual ways lead to some very amusing situations and I frequently giggled out loud while reading. 

I really did find The Rosie Project a feel good novel, even if at times I squirmed in my seat and felt uncomfortable at Don's unflinching honesty. Other times I found Don’s viewpoint refreshing and unique from all the other ‘looking for love’ stories I’ve read. I can’t wait to see this one made into a movie!

See Sabrina-Kate's review of The Rosie Project here.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for our review copy. All opinions are our own. 

Connect with Graeme Simsion:

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Would You Rather with Zanna Mackenzie

Please welcome Zanna Mackenzie, author of How Do You Spell Love?


About Zanna:

Zanna Mackenzie lives in the UK with her husband, 4 dogs, a vegetable patch that’s home to far too many weeds and an ever expanding library of books waiting to be read. 

Being a freelance writer and editor of business publications is her ‘day job’ but, at every opportunity, she can be found scribbling down notes on scenes for whatever novel she’s working on. She loves it when the characters in her novels take on minds of their own and start deviating from the original plot!
Formerly a travel agent and therapist (she has qualifications in clinical aromatherapy, crystal healing, naturopathic nutrition and herbalism) she loves walking the dogs and gardening – that’s when she’s not writing or reading!

Zanna’s novels include The Love Programme (Astraea Press) and How Do You Spell Love? (Crooked Cat Publishing). Her next novel, If You Only Knew, is to be published in early 2014 by Crooked Cat.

Connect with Zanna:


Would you Rather... with Zanna Mackenzie

Chips, chocolate or cheese? 

Cheese definitely. I love cheese and would happily eat it every day except I have a slight lactose intolerance so it’s a once-a-week treat. On the weekend my hubbie and I have cheese, biscuits and a huge bag of Kettle Chips each in front of the TV – favourite meal of the week! 

Bridget Jones, Becky Bloomwood or Carrie Bradshaw? 

Becky Bloomwood. I love Sophie Kinsella’s books and I have all of the Shopaholic books. My favourite is Shopaholic & Sister, mainly because I can really relate to her sister Jess and also because it’s set in Cumbria – one of my favourite places for a holiday.

Camping or spa vacation?

Not so long ago I would have opted for the spa vacation but this past year I’ve developed a strange desire to try out one of these quirky glamping breaks where you stay in a yurt or a shepherd’s hut.

Water or Mountains?

Tricky one. I love being next to the water and find it really relaxing but I’d probably have to go for the mountains option as I love hill walking.


Dogs or Cats?

As we have 4 dogs in our household I think I’d better say dogs!

Dine out or take away?

Take away – it’s cheaper, quicker and less hassle.

High heels, sneakers or flip flops

I’d go for the practical and comfy option – though in my case with 4 dogs to walk and a very muddy garden it’s more likely to be wellington boots than sneakers.

Physical book or ebook?

Physical book. I’m not much of a techie/gadget person and have to spend all day in front of a computer for my job so when I read it’s for relaxation and I don’t want to be faced with yet another electronic device – just a proper, old-style paperback!

Paperback or Hardcover?

Paperback – easier to hold when you’re reading in bed.

Pen or Pencil?

Pen – preferably with blue ink. There’s something off putting about black ink I always think.


Mad Men, Downton Abbey or Breaking Bad

Downton Abbey – I love period dramas. Though, given the choice, I’d prefer BBC’s The Paradise to ITV’s Downton.

Lipstick, lipgloss or chapstick? 

Chapstick. I have a particular brand I get mail order and am never without it. I stockpile it in a basket at home and have lipbalm in all my coat pockets.

Facebook or Twitter

Facebook. I find it easier to keep track of what’s happening than Twitter plus you can say more in a post!


Plot your entire novel or fly by the seat of your pants? 

I’d say plot. Though the plot I end up with when the book is finalised is usually pretty different to the plot I started out with so maybe in truth it’s a bit of both….


How Do You Spell Love?

Make A Wish…
Kat can’t help wishing there was more to life than this. What happened to her dream job? What happened with Nathan?
Summer is wondering where her life is going too… battling the developers of a controversial housing estate and working out why boyfriend Rob is increasingly distant.
When the developers win the battle and move into town everyone’s life is turned upside down.
Kat meets building site project manager Alex. She enjoys his company far too much, even though he’s on the town’s most hated list.
Summer meets Tom who has plenty of relationship troubles of his own, so things could get really complicated. 
Soon everyone is keeping secrets, lives change and hearts are broken. Is everything falling apart, or does life just work in mysterious ways…

Available at:



Hush Little Baby by Suzanne Redfearn

5 Star
If I stay, he will kill me. If I leave, he'll destroy Addie and Drew. 

Jillian Kane appears to have it all - a successful career, a gorgeous home, a loving husband, and two wonderful children. The reality behind closed doors is something else entirely. For nine years, she has hid the bruises and the truth of her abusive marriage in order to protect Addie and Drew, knowing, if she left, Gordon would destroy her-destroy them.

When, in an act of desperation, she flees, her worst nightmare is realized, and she finds herself on the run with her two young children, no money, and no plan. With Gordon in hot pursuit, there is only one inescapable certainty: No matter where she goes, he will find her. Kill her. And take her children.


Lydia - 5 Star

What a stellar debut! I loved every riveting word and gobbled this novel up whenever I had a spare chance. Hush Little Baby tackles spousal abuse, both emotional and physical, and how horrific it is for all involved. A gripping tale about a wife and mother who is pushed beyond her limit and finally becomes determined to leave, pushing her husband to his breaking point. Riveting, explosive, and a roller coaster ride that is continuously thought provoking with poignant and perfect prose, this novel is not to be missed!

I didn’t find this book at all predictable. Although I thought I knew where it was going and that I was in for a nail-bitter of a book, oftentimes it surprised me. There was a break in the tension, or things flipped in another direction (yes, I’m being vague – no spoilers!) and although the pacing would shift in one aspect, in others it picked up – for example, the physical terror decreased, but the emotional distress ramped up. 

One of the things I loved about this book was that I didn’t find the main character, Jill, at all predictable either. Nor did I find her cliché. She was a smart, accomplished woman with a high profile career, and I particularly liked how Redfearn painted Jill as a mother - she isn’t a perfect mother and she doubts her ability as one continuously. 

As much as this book was a thriller in certain respects, it was more women’s fiction in the tone and feel of the book. I was surprised at how relatable and interesting I found Jill to be. She was a normal woman, except she had an explosive little secret, and I could have been reading about my neighbor or best friend or even myself with some of her thoughts and actions – I think this was the most disturbing aspect of the novel, the fact that it was so relatable, that she was such a normal, accomplished woman that you’d have no clue was being abused.

Nearing the end of the novel, I had fifteen pages left when I hopped off the subway on my way home from work. I immediately dropped down on the first bench I could to finish it, unable to wait for the next twenty minutes of my journey home had passed to pick it back up again – definitely the sign of a great book! One thing I do wish for though – a different cover. For some reason this one does nothing for me, and it might have even made me hesitate to pick it up from my TBR pile for a while.  

Pick this one up today for a fabulous, thought-provoking, and riveting read!


Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for our review copy. All opinions are our own. 

Connect with Suzanne Redfearn:

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Longbourn by Jo Baker

5 Star

If Elizabeth Bennet had the washing of her own petticoats, Sarah often thought, she’d most likely be a sight more careful with them.

In this irresistibly imagined belowstairs answer to Pride and Prejudice, the servants take center stage. Sarah, the orphaned housemaid, spends her days scrubbing the laundry, polishing the floors, and emptying the chamber pots for the Bennet household. But there is just as much romance, heartbreak, and intrigue downstairs at Longbourn as there is upstairs. When a mysterious new footman arrives, the orderly realm of the servants’ hall threatens to be completely, perhaps irrevocably, upended.




Rebecca - 5 Star

Until very recently I had never read a Jane Austen novel. I know that is a shameful confession for a supposed English bookworm to admit to, but it's true. Of course I've watched all the BBC adaptations over the years (Colin Firth in breeches on horse back; whats not to love?), but somehow never got round to reading the good lady herself. So knowing Jo Baker's novel was heading my way I borrowed a copy of Pride and Prejudice from the local library. It was of course brilliant but I'm not even going to attempt to critique a novel that people have made careers of analysing. It did however give me an appreciation of how brave Jo Baker was in her literary ambition to attempt to write a piece of Austen 'fanfic' (apparently that's the term for writing a prequel or sequel to another authors work). Not only is Austen's work fiercely guarded by legions of super-fans who seem to take a personal affront to such homages (and trust me these people are scarily serious types who review books using the royal "we"), but she is brazenly inviting comparisons to be made between her own work and a literary masterpiece. Amazingly Baker pulls it off. 

Readers hoping to find out more about Elizabeth and Darcy might be disappointed initially as it is quickly apparent that this is very much a story about the people living downstairs in the Bennet household and whilst we are aware of snippets of the Pride and Prejudice plot taking place, these events are very much in the background, almost like a soundtrack to the Longbourn story. But I was soon far too interested in what was happening to Sarah, the housemaid, to care; her life and daily routine was fascinating to read about and I thought Baker managed to strike a delicate balance between the gritty reality of a servant's existence with Sarah's pursuits of her own hopes, dreams and romantic aspirations. Similarly it would have been easy for Sarah to seem either too blind and accepting of the social injustices she was subject to or to be too modern a heroine, fiercely pitting herself against them. She is neither, and when I came to make the inevitable comparisons ultimately for me Sarah made the Bennett girls and their fripperies seem less vital, even Elizabeth, which is quite something. This is a wonderful book which I think Austen virgins, super-fans and everyone in between can enjoy; I loved it.

Thank you to Random House Canada for our review copy. All opinions are our own.

Connect with Jo Baker:

Monday, December 9, 2013

Would You Rather... with Nicky Wells

Please welcome Nicky Wells, author of the The Rock Star Romance Trilogy.


About Nicky:

Hi! I’m Nicky Wells, your ultimate rock chick author. My books offer glitzy, glamorous contemporary romance with a rock theme ~ imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill! If you’ve ever had a crush on any kind of celebrity ~ rock, pop, movie or other ~ you’ll connect with my heroes and my leading ladies!

Like my first leading lady, Sophie, I love listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When I’m not writing, I’m a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and regular contributor to The Midweek Drive show on Lincoln’s Siren 107.3 FM. Rock on!




Connect with Nicky:


Would you Rather... with Nicky Wells

Chips, chocolate or cheese? 

Chips, any day. I'm a savoury kinda girl! 

Bridget Jones, Becky Bloomwood or Carrie Bradshaw? 

Oooh tough one. Bridget, I think.

Wine, beer or vodka?

Wine! Nothing better than a nice cold Pinot Grigio.

Camping or spa vacation?

Spa. I don't do camping. I don't even do glamping!

Water or Mountains?

WATER! I'm an ocean lover.


Zombies or Vampires?

Errr... neither. But if I must choose? Okay. Vampires.

Dogs or Cats?

Cats, actually. (Surprising myself here!)

Coke or Pepsi?

Other brands are available but... Coke (Diet, please)

Coffee or tea?

Both! Tea in the morning, coffee in the afternoon.

Dine out or take away?

Take away.

High heels, sneakers or flip flops

Flip flops. Can't walk in heels, and can't stand smelly trainers. LOL!

Physical book or ebook?

Don't mind either way. 

Paperback or Hardcover?

Paperback.

Pen or Pencil?

Neither. Laptop!! But for the kids: pen. Proper fountain pen, in fact. So much more conducive to nice handwriting!


Mad Men, Downton Abbey or Breaking Bad

*whispers* I missed out on every one of those...

Drama or Comedy?

Comedy. There's too much drama in my life as it is, LOL!

Twilight or Hunger Games? 

Twilight.

Lipstick, lipgloss or chapstick? 

Lipgloss. I've never been a lipstick kinda girl, I look like a clown with it. Someone once said my eyes are too big and you shouldn't have two focal points in your face. Sounds weird, but makes sense, and that's my excuse at any rate.

Facebook or Twitter

Addicted to both.


Plot your entire novel or fly by the seat of your pants? 

Plot. I'm an OCD plotter, in fact!


Spirits of Christmas


At one time, up-and-coming rock singer Jude had it all: a great band, a platinum record, a loving girlfriend. This Christmas, however, he is well down the road towards spontaneous self-destruction. Unwitting at first, Jude has progressively alienated his band and driven away the love of his life. Tonight, the night before Christmas Eve, he has broken the final taboo during a disastrous gig. Yet Jude doesn't see how badly his life has derailed, not until a ghostly procession of legends passes through his bedroom with a series of vivid and powerful wake-up calls. Will the Spirits help Jude put the friendship, love, and rock music back into his Christmas? 




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