A Proper Family Christmas - Chrissie Manby

About the book...

Annabel Buchanan has it all. A privileged life. Pots of cash. Looks and manners born of generations of fabulous breeding. At least, that's what she likes people to think. But Annabel's carefully created image is about to come crashing down.

With her beloved daughter Izzy in need of a kidney transplant, Annabel is desperate to find a suitable donor. That's how she comes to admit that before Annabel Buchanan there was Daisy Benson, given up for adoption by her teenage mum and dad.

Hoping her biological family will be able to help, Annabel traces the Bensons and is horrified by the embarrassing, chavvy bunch she discovers. They're definitely not her kind of people. And she is equally baffling to them.

But as Christmas approaches and Izzy's situation brings the Benson and the Buchanan families closer, will Annabel discover at last that blood is thicker than water?

About the author...

Chrissie Manby is the author of seventeen romantic comedies including A PROPER FAMILY HOLIDAY, THE MATCHBREAKER and SEVEN SUNNY DAYS. She has had several Sunday Times bestsellers and her recent novel about behaving badly after a break-up, GETTING OVER MR RIGHT, was nominated for the 2011 Melissa Nathan Award.

Chrissie was raised in Gloucester, in the west of England, and now lives in London. Contrary to the popular conception of chick-lit writers, she is such a bad home-baker that her own father threatened to put her last creation on www.cakewrecks.com. She is, however, partial to white wine and shoes she can't walk in. 

You can follow her on Twitter @chrissiemanby, or visit her website www.chrissiemanby.co.uk to find out more.

My thoughts...

I recently joined an online book group and A Proper Family Christmas was our first book to be discussed at the end of December.  

The story begins with Annabel Buchanan showing some of the visitors to the annual village fete around her manor house.  Not because she wants to, nor because she needs the money - it's a free tour but because she feels she should!  She really does personify a stereotypical spoilt, rich, bored, stay at home kept woman.  On the surface she has it all, the property, clothes, holidays and pots of money.  But all that collapses when her teenage daughter goes to a music festival with some friends and ends up hospitalised.

A can of worms is opened when Annabel who was adopted at birth decides to trace her birth family, because she feels that only they can help Izzy her daughter to once again lead a normal life.  She approaches them with half a story and hopes to take what she wants and run.  It's fair to say that A Proper Family Christmas is a book with hidden depths.  I formed opinions about the characters early on, the descriptions were so vivid and life like and the scenario's so very real. My opinions changed many times as the characters evolved.  This book is so accurate we all form opinions based on first impressions but often the impression we give to strangers is a facade.  Chrissie peels away the layers of Annabel and her rich friends, her adoptive mother, birth parents, grand-parent and sisters.  Breaking down barriers and exposing the true characters.

I picked this book up expecting an uplifting, xmas themed book that I'd smile and ooh and ahh my way through whilst eating and drinking my body weight in chocolates and wine. Oh how wrong I was.  It begins way before christmas and yes, it does end with a fuzzy, warm feeling but not before we tackle some hard hitting subjects head on - adoption, serious illness, teenagers, drugs, bulimia, dementia, perceptions and ideas about what is right/wrong from a family who just has enough, surviving more on love and family to a family that seemingly has everything but finds some things cost way more than money could buy.

Wow, I don't know how Chrissie managed it but the feelings and thoughts of everyone affected by each of the scenario's was covered in a sensitive but real way.  It was a breath of fresh air to get the truth, not just what I call the 'public face'. What this book demonstrates in a huge way is that family, love and support has a bigger impact, providing greater support  than any amount of money and superficial friendships ever could.

I particularly loved Annabel's transformation more than any of the others.  She set out to use her birth family for her own ends, smooching and smoozing her way into their lives - wanting to take, only giving them what she had to, yet not realising they weren't quite buying her story and an overheard conversation puts paid to any headway she'd made. She had nothing but kindness and love shown to her yet still continued in her blinkered way but when the chips really were down they all rally to help each other, putting aside their own issues and feelings as only a family can and does - it is this that made the story so real for me.

A lovely book that's more about people, family and relationships than anything else.  The Christmas setting prompts the feeling of goodwill and friendship.  Christmas to most of us means, family, friendship, generosity and kindness - goodwill to all and Chrissie wraps up this story in the twinkle and bows of christmas - demonstrating that nothing is impossible with family and friends sharing the journey with you.

I look forward to reading more from Chris Manby in the future because this author delivers exactly what it says on the tin plus a lot more besides - thank you.

The Wedding Cake Tree - Melanie Hudson

About the book… 

Can a mother’s secret past provide the answers for a daughter’s future?  

When failed opera singer turned style photographer, Grace Buchanan, is ordered by her hippy-chick mother, Rosamund, to drop everything for two weeks and travel the British Isles with a mysterious stranger – war-weary Royal Marine Officer, Alasdair Finn - she is more than a little surprised; after all, her mother has been dead for six months…   

At the reading of the will, Grace discovers that Rosamund kept the life she lived before Grace was born a secret. That secret is now to be revealed to Grace in the form of seven letters, written by her mother, just before she died. Entranced by the British landscape and caught in a brief but perfect moment in time, Grace and Alasdair travel to four enchanting locations, walk in Rosamund’s footsteps, scatter her ashes, and read a letter at each one.       

What follows is an emotional, fun-filled, and adventurous journey of a lifetime, on which Grace slowly uncovers the truth about Rosamund’s incredible life story, leading both Grace and Alasdair to question their futures and address their own secret demons from the past. 

But can Rosamund’s puppeteering from the grave alter life’s course for Grace, or will things take an unexpected turn?

Buy Links: 

About the author… 

Melanie Hudson was born in Yorkshire in 1971. Her earliest memory is of standing with her sullen brother on the street corner selling her dad's surplus vegetables (imagine The Good Life in Barnsley and you're more or less there). After running away to join the British armed forces in 1994, she experienced a career that took her around the world on some exciting adventures. In 2010 when she returned to civilian life to look after her young son, on a whim, she moved to Dubai where she found the time to write women's fiction. She now lives on a nature reserve in Devon with her quirky son and mad dog. Melanie has an irrational fear of butterflies.

Contact Links: 

Follow Melanie Hudson on twitter @Melanie_Hudson_ or visit her Website

My thoughts…

I started this book intending to read a little bit with a coffee and literally didn't stop until I'd finished it! It is so beautifully written and I was compelled to keep reading, wanting to know what happened next but at the same time not wanting it to end. It's one of the few books I've read recently that left me bereft when I turned the last page, a story that will stay with me for a long time if not forever.

Grace attends the reading of her mums will and is completely thrown to find out that before she is eligible to inherit she must go on a journey of discovery. Her mum has written a series of letters beginning with one which she has to read in the solicitors office. This was totally unexpected and heart breaking for her. I had tears in my eyes and the book had only just begun. Imagine discovering the mother you knew and loved has led a life before you were born that you know absolutely nothing about! Add to that the Marine her mum has lined up to accompany her and we were in for an adventure.

This book pulled at my heart strings, I think I felt every emotion possible reading it and what made it particularly special was the journey itself. Melanie's descriptions were so vivid I could have been on the journey with Grace and Alasdair. Only realising just how accurate the place descriptions were when they travelled to Scotland. I've spent several holidays around the west coast of Scotland, it is one of my favourite places to go and I knew most of the places they visited, I could vividly see myself standing in the same spots - and I have had hot chocolate at the top of the Cairngorms in the Ptarmigan restaurant!!

I'd say nobody knows a person better than their mother and Rosamund's understanding of Grace was just beautiful to read - she succeeded in death to achieve what she failed at in life, pushing Grace gently into doing things she knew would ultimately make her a stronger person. Sending Alasdair along supposedly to keep an eye out for Grace - not totally untrue but she was pulling his strings too! Rosamund perhaps took the cowards way out, writing a series of letters instead of telling the her story to Grace whilst she was alive.

The Wedding Cake Tree succeeded in making me see, life is too short, we should grab our chances whilst we can and make the most of every day. It's far too easy to get caught up in the day to day drudge, forgetting to make time for the people and things we love - lives not just about working and paying the bills.

One of the wonderful things about this book was it was full of surprises, it was difficult to predict what was coming next and the story twisted and turned evoking different emotions with each chapter, keeping me hooked right to the final page

This was a beautiful book, one I've already recommended to several friends and I've discovered the Wedding Cake Tree is a real tree, not just a lovely description given to a pretend tree. A truly lovely idea to plant a tree at significant times and watch it grow as your relationships/children grow too.

The Mexican Kimono - Billie Jones

About the book...

Mexican Kimono is fast-paced, satirical chick lit by upcoming Australian author, Billie Jones, guaranteed for a laugh or three. Narcissistic Samantha simply can’t resist buying the beautiful kimono at auction on a whim. That’s what credit cards are for, right? And then the kimono’s curse starts taking apart her life, spectacularly and destructively, one hair extension at a time, and Sam’s in for a hell of a ride.

About the author...

Billie Jones writes over the top satire, with a pulpy feel. She spins average characters into outlandish situations, and subtracts the humdrum tedium of life replacing it with zany humor and action. She’s the alter ego of a writer who enjoys keeping her two personas separate, thus having another person to blame if the jokes fall flat. Her short stories and novellas have been published widely over the last five years, with six more novellas contracted to publishers in 2014, one of which will be under the pseudonym Billie Jones.

My thoughts...

I was asked by the author if I'd be interested in reading this book in exchange for an honest review.  As I like the author I accepted without knowing anything about the book - risky I know!  I'm glad I said YES!! It was a truly brilliant  book and what a fabulous cover.

What a colourful romp - perfect for a winter blast of sunshine. Billie introduces our leading lady Sam who finds herself buying an exotic Kimono at an auction for over $10,000 - quite accidentally of course! I loved and at the same time loathed the main character Sam.  She comes across as slightly dippy, things just seem to happen to her and none of it is her fault of course!  She reminded me very much of  'Bridgit Jones' at times. I howled out loud at some of the antics and then I saw the other side of her, the self centred, delusional side which wasn't quite as nice and I did want her to get her comeuppance but I have to say was equally hilarious.  Billie's descriptions were brilliant,  I could clearly visualise all the many characters in this book but in particular her mother. What a gem, so very like many mothers in real life - loved by all the friends but an embarrassment and nuisance to the grown up children.  As for Toffany well!!  If only there really was a Toffany's Cafe - I wouldn't meet my friends anywhere else - what a place to people watch.

A truly wonderful, laugh out loud book which I highly recommend to anyone wanting reassurance that they and their friends lead 'normal' lives - nobody could really live in Sam's world - could they?

Connect with Billie Jones on twitter @bjoneswrites

Resolutions - Teri Riggs

About the book…

DEA agent Eve Taylor has had her fill of alpha males. When Resolutions’ operative and former lover, Dillon “Mac” McKenna, threatened her hard-earned independence, she ran. On a mission to gather evidence against a Colombian drug-lord, Eve discovers the drug-lord is helping terrorists plan an attack on American soil. Before she can escape with the vital information, she’s captured and comes face to face with her mortality…

As a teen, Mac watched his family fall apart after his mother died doing dangerous U.N. work. The possibility of losing Eve to a mission ignited an overwhelming need to protect her. When he forced her to choose him or her job, she walked away. Two years later, it seems all his nightmares have come true and he’s tasked with rescuing her from a Colombian prison. Mac has never stopped loving Eve, but does he dare risk his heart when he’s so terrified of losing…

On the run, Mac and Eve must learn to trust each other again in order to stay alive.

About the author…

Teri Riggs was destined to be a writer. As a small girl she didn’t read bedtime stories, she made up her own. Who needed Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs when there were so many great tales bouncing around in her head? When she grew up and became a mother to three little girls, she continued the tradition of making up bedtime stories. On the occasions she chose to tell conventional fairytales, Teri usually gave them a bit of tweaking here and there or added a new ending. Her girls loved it.

After her daughters had the nerve to actually grow up and leave home, Teri discovered she had a passion for writing and jumped right in. It came as no surprise she chose to write mysteries and happily-ever-after’s since that’s the genres she loves to read.

Teri lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, one of her daughters and two dogs that seem to think they rule the world. And some days Teri thinks maybe they do.

My thoughts….

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest opinion which I’m happy to give.

I’d never heard of the author Teri Riggs and a story based around a Columbian drug ring wouldn’t be my usual choice of book either but I like to try new authors and books and I’m so glad I did.  It was brilliant! The book is fast paced, action filled, terrifying and at times emotional and romantic.

Eve and her team of special agents enter the compound of Miguel Mendoza, a major Columbian drugs lord so that she can copy the files on his computer, vital evidence the DEA needs to bring him to justice. She managed to do this successfully but whilst they were trying to escape the compound they were ambushed.  A gun fight ensued, one of the team was killed, others injured including Eve.  She was captured and that’s really where the story began.  Teri took me on an emotional journey as Eve was literally brought to her knees, tortured and battered but more than proved her worth as a special agent. My heart beat faster and I literally held my breath at each encounter Eve had to endure with Mendoza’s men. Eve’s strength of character and sheer focus on her mission was awe inspiring. Just when I thought she was at breaking point and wouldn’t survive another beating a rescue team managed to infiltrate the compound and successfully escape with Eve.

Let battle number two begin! The rescue team was led by Mac, Eve’s former lover who is clearly very much in love with her.  He and his team manage to get her to a safe house where Eve can receive the medical care she urgently needs before she can be flown home.  As Eve slowly regains consciousness she finds out who her rescuer was and the sparks began to fly. The two very clearly still loved each other but the reasons for their split resurface.  Mac a typical alpha male wants to protect his ‘woman’ and can’t accept that she is on the frontline and in danger.  He’d like her behind a desk safely at home.  Eve has other ideas, she has proven her worth and earned her role as a leading DEA agent and thinks he should accept that and if he can’t well tough the job wins!

In the short term however, they were in Columbia and had to learn to trust each other again in order to protect themselves and get out of the country alive. The story is told from both Eve’s and Mac’s perspectives at this point - so rare to get the full story.  It is fair to say that Mac is seriously impressed with Eve’s strength of character and commitment to her mission but finds it difficult not to play the heavy handed ’alpha’ male which ensures we are taken on an emotional roller coaster which puts their lives at risk. What happened when Eve finds out she had been betrayed by a member of her own team and has to head back to Mendoza’s home to retrieve the memory stick she had hidden this time with Mac as her partner?

I read this just before bed over the course of three evenings and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was disappointed when it ended and will definitely be seeking out more of Teri Riggs.  Thank you to JB Johnson for letting me be part of the Promo Blitz for Resolutions by Teri Riggs.

Skeletons - Jane Fallon

About the book…

Jen has discovered a secret. It's not hers to share, but is it hers to keep?

If she tells her husband Jason, he might get over the shock but will he forgive her for telling the truth? She might drive a wedge through their marriage.

If she tells someone else in Jason's family - the family she's come to love more than her own - she'd not only tear them apart but could also find herself on the outside: she's never really been one of them, after all.

But if she keeps this dirty little secret to herself, how long can she pretend nothing is wrong? How long can she live a lie?

Jen knows the truth - but is she ready for the consequences? 

Buy Links:

About the author… 
Jane was born in Harrow in North London and later moved out to Buckinghamshire where she attended St Bernard's Convent School in Slough before moving back up to London to read history at University College.

Her first real job was working as a 'Girl Friday' in a small Theatrical and Literary Agency - (the same job that Rebecca has in 'Foursome'). As soon as she walked through the door she fell in love with the idea of working in drama in some capacity.

After three years she left to pursue a career in TV, starting as a freelance script reader and then working as a script editor on various shows including EastEnders where she was made a producer in 1994. The following year she started work producing a new low budget show for BBC2 - 'This Life'.

Several other shows including 'Teachers' and '20 Things To Do Before You're 30' followed before she suddenly got brave enough to have a go at trying to fulfil her life long ambition to write a novel in 2006.

Skeletons is her fifth novel.

Contact Links:

Visit Jane Fallon's Website 

My thoughts…

I recently won a signed copy of Getting Rid of Matthew in a competition on twitter. What nostalgia, it brought back happy memories.  I just love all of Jane Fallon's books — she has the fantastic ability to bring to life, ‘real life!'  It’s a little like voyeurism looking into the lives of people who could, very easily be my own family or friends.

When I heard she was bringing out her fifth book Skeletons in March of this year I literally couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.  I was on the list for a proof copy to review from Penguin but saw it up on Netgalley and couldn’t wait.  Although, if Penguin still wanted to send me a paper copy I’d just love them forever.

Jen, the main character in this novel is ‘living the life’. Family, or rather her husbands extended family provides everything she needs in life — his parents are closer to her than her own, his sisters her best-friends. Everything is perfect. Which is why, when she discovers a secret that could potentially rock that life she decides to do something about it.

Jane Fallon takes us on an emotional journey as Jen battles to make the right decisions.  Trying to protect the family and in doing so discovers things about her own family she didn’t know.  Every turn of the page was with anticipation.  It really was a roller-coaster of a book.  Climbing to the summit only to plunge again, then to rise again with each chapter. Jane developed such good characters, whose lives and emotions were so vivid that I felt real empathy and emotion for them.  I liked and disliked the right people, although, as was Jane’s intention my opinions of them changed throughout the novel too. I often found myself silently berating, praying, wishing and hoping for different outcomes as the book developed.

The best type of books in my opinion are books that make me think. This book had me thinking long after the final page. Is it better to turn a blind-eye to keep the status quo or should you  unlock a can of worms and hope for the best.  Jen, like many people I know in real life did what she did for the good of other people, never once thinking about the consequences of her actions only those of the people around her.  Who suffered the most do you think? People only see what we want them to see and do we ever know the whole story?

Another brilliant book, that wasn’t just a ‘nice’ read — it wasn’t predictable although at times I found myself predicting what was coming next, more often than not wrongly!  It’s funny how you can see things without seeing, perhaps we should all take a step back and evaluate our own lives — or perhaps not, I for one am happy in my bubble. I cannot wait to get a paper version of this book, to hear what other people thought and to re-read it again to see if I still feel the same about each of the characters.

I highly recommend this book, Thank you Jane Fallon, don’t leave it so long until your next novel!!

The Happy Endings Book Group - Jane Tara

About the book…

Once a month, seven very different women come together to discuss books. They all love a happy ending, but have lost sight of how to get their own. Paige misses glimpsing the magic in the world. Sadie doesn't see the beauty inside people. Amanda wonders what she ever saw in her ex husband. Tilda literally can't see herself. Michi can't bear looking at her family, while Clementine is blind to what's right in front of her. And Eva looks for romance in all the wrong places.

But things are about to change ...

Meet the women of the Happy Endings Book Club as they celebrate Christmas, and themselves, in London, Paris, Vienna, New York, Sydney … and in love. 

Buy Links: 

About the author… 

Jane Tara spends most of her time wandering the world and writing. She has over twenty children's picture books published in Asia, and has written travel articles for many publications worldwide.

She has lived in Tokyo, London, Vienna, New York and various parts of Australia. She recently transformed her itchy feet into ITCHEE FEET, which publishes travel books for kids.

Jane is the author of FORECAST and the sequel, TROUBLE BREWING. Her latest novel, THE HAPPY ENDINGS BOOK CLUB

Jane lives with her partner Dom and their four sons in Sydney, Australia.

Contact Links: 

Visit Jane Tara's Blog

My thoughts…

I had an copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.  I was drawn to the book firstly by the gorgeous cover and secondly by the fact that I'm a member of a book group and thought it would be interesting to see if there was any comparisons.

Jane Tara has hit the nail on the head with this book - a book club isn't just about the books.  In fact the books are the smallest part of a book group.  It's about a bunch of people from different walks of life who initially come together to share the same interest but through the meetings become friends supporting, listening and advising each other. 

Each member of The Happy Endings Book Club is at a different stage in their lives. All looking to move forward.  The book loosely weaves the women together, each having a chapter or so within the book to tell their tale and thanks to Jane Tara's vivid descriptions I got to travel the world with them.

Some characters I got, understood, liked and felt empathy for others I didn't - a bit like real life really.  The thing that stood out for me was that despite the fact the women were all different characters, trying to work through different scenario's in search of their own 'happy ending' when things got too much they turned to The Book Group for stability - knowing they had the support of their fellow members.  A book club is somewhere to escape reality.

Overall I enjoyed this book at 182 pages it was a quick read for me and perfect for an afternoon curled up with coffee and the cat.

Apple Tree Yard - Louise Doughty

About the book… 

‘Don’t tell them about Apple Tree Yard, don’t tell them about us. No one has any way of knowing. Nothing is written down’.

Yvonne Carmichael has worked hard to achieve the life she always wanted: a high-flying career in genetics, a beautiful home, a good relationship with her husband and their two grown-up children. Then one day she meets a stranger at the Houses of Parliament and, on impulse, begins a passionate affair with him – a decision that will put everything she values at risk.

At first she believes she can keep the relationship separate from the rest of her life, but she can’t control what happens next. All of her careful plans spiral into greater deceit and, eventually, a life-changing act of violence.

Apple Tree Yard is both a psychological thriller and an insightful examination of the values we all live by and the choices we make, from an acclaimed writer at the height of her powers.

Buy Links:

About the author… 

Louise Doughty is the author of seven novels, including Apple Tree Yard, published by Faber & Faber UK. So far, rights have sold in fourteen territories worldwide. Apple Tree Yard is her first novel since Whatever You Love, which was shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award and long-listed for the Orange Prize for Fiction. She has won awards for radio drama and short stories, along with publishing one work of non- fiction, A Novel in a Year, based on her hugely popular newspaper column. She is a critic and cultural commentator for UK and international newspapers and broadcasts regularly for the BBC.

Contact Links: 

Louise Doughty - Author website

My thoughts…

I'm a member of a book group and this book was chosen by the host of our next meeting which will be on Tuesday 7th January.  I'll be very interested to hear if everyone shares the same thought as me.

I swing between chick lit and psychological thrillers, two extremes which equally satisfy. As I had read quite a few christmassy themed chick lit novels in December I was craving grit and looking forward to reading Apple Tree Yard.  

It didn't disappoint, I was hooked from the first page.  The book begins towards the end of a court case at The Old Bailey.  The narrator is in the person in the dock, just realising their fate.  At this stage it's not known who or what this case is about but I couldn't help feeling deep empathy - Louise Doughty's description of the accused had my heart beating faster and I was only on the prologue!

Through a series of flashbacks  Louise takes us back to where it all began when super confident Yvonne Carmichael first meets the man who takes control of her totally, her life and her every waking thought. She wasn't consciously unhappy with her life yet the speed at which she is sucked into an affair suggests to me sub-consciously she was.   

Louise Doughty's research was clearly very thorough and her writing style dragged me straight into Yvonne's life as if she was someone I knew yet a chapter later I didn't know her at all.  Hat's off to you Louise.  As I progressed through the book I read faster and faster devouring each chapter trying to second guess where the story was going. For every bit I understood there was twice as much I didn't which kept me glued.

I don't think I've ever come across an author who describes a scene in such detail then suddenly ends it in a short sentence to change direction at the same time keeping me glued to the page. Superb!

I was saddened when the pages ran out on this book - but Louise left me thinking.  I would lay down my life for my family - or would I?  

I highly recommend this book and I will be seeking out more from Louise Doughty.