The cover for this book caught my eye when it was mentioned on Twitter recently – isn’t it cute? The Jane Austen Marriage Manual is Kim Izzo’s debut novel and will be published by Hodder & Stoughton on 12th April. It sounds like a fab fun read and as an Austen fan it went straight on my wish list!

It`s a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen knew more about marriage than anyone else. `Never mind that she never got married herself…`

It`s in the midst of the recession when Kate, a freelance journalist and self-professed Jane Austen addict, finds herself single, unemployed and soon-to-be homeless `not to mention about to turn 40`.

In desperation she accepts a writing assignment to prove a theory that in the toughest economic times a wealthy man is the only must-have accessory. So, with just Jane Austen`s advice for company, she sets off to see if Mr Rich can ever become Mr Right.

Her mission takes her to Palm Beach, St Moritz and London. Where, in keeping company with the elite, she meets billionaires, oil tycoons, and generally men who make Mr Darcy look like an amateur. But will rubbing shoulders with men of good fortune ever actually lead her to love?

‘Am I dead? I don’t feel dead…’

Sophie cannot leave the people she loves. Her husband, Ollie – a man who once watered a houseplant for a year before realising it was plastic – is lost without her. Their son Freddie is so little. And her friend Jenny? There’s something she desperately needs to know before it’s too late.

Sophie is only thirty-five when she gets hit by a bus on Regent Street, leaving her husband Ollie, six year old son Freddie,  her best friend Jenny and the rest of her family and friends shocked and grieving. But Sophie hasn’t quite left them yet; she’s still floating around, watching over her nearest and dearest.  The Angel at No. 33 is the story of Sophie and her loved ones in the year following her death. You might be forgiven for thinking this would be a real tear-jerker of a novel and of course, in places it is (Sophie’s little boy Freddie got to me every time) but as well as being incredibly moving The Angel at No. 33 is also funny, insightful and ultimately uplifting.

Sophie tells us much of the story herself with heartfelt, often amusing commentary on her life and death that strikes just the right emotional balance. If I met someone like Sophie in real life I’d probably be quite intimidated (gorgeous, amazing husband, life and soul of every party, clever and funny) but as a ghostly presence, Sophie becomes more reflective about her life and what was actually important and I loved the observations that she came up with as she watched over the people she loves most.

Alternating with Sophie’s thoughts, the rest of the novel is told in the third person and focuses on key characters trying to cope without Sophie. Predominantly Ollie and Jenny but also the Muswell Hill mums; Sophie’s quirky, eclectic and slightly frightening local support network. The Muswell Hill mums cover a multitude of mummy categories with Tash, the hot divorcee, Lydia the emotional one and Suze, the ultimate organiser and as they launch into committee mode in a bid to rescue Ollie from self destruction and domestic neglect this storyline brings a lot of the humor to the book! Jenny is also roped into their plans as the person who knows Sophie, Freddie and Ollie best and the coming together of the different friends in Sophie’s life made me think about my own friends and the ways I mix them or don’t!

Jenny has her own set of problems in the form of fiance Sam who is reluctant to set a wedding date and Sophie’s death also makes her step back and evaluate her life. I liked Jenny a lot, perhaps because she seems to be the most ‘normal’ of the female characters in the book but also because she tries so hard to be there for everyone and genuinely cares without going overboard.

As Ollie and Freddie’s lives become open to scrutiny, Williams addresses issues of bereavement, grieving and moving on, truthfully and I only had one small gripe about one of Ollie’s actions as he tries to come to terms with Sophie’s death. I liked the way Sophie is used as the detached observer to bring wry observations and humor to sensitive issues without belittling them.

Well written with engaging characters, I liked Polly William’s style and found The Angel at No. 33 to be a real page turner. Thanks to a mysterious box of hidden letters and a cryptic ‘to do’ list left by Sophie there is also an element of mystery to the plot. Although the subject matter is sad and very moving, it’s not depressing and  The Angel at No. 33 is a bittersweet, romantic and enjoyable read.

4/5

The Angel at No. 33 is Polly’s sixth novel and is out now. You can find out more about Polly and her books at: http://www.pollywilliams.com/

Does every relationship deserve a second chance?

When chief romantic Rose Delaney scores her dream job at London’s quirkiest new attraction, The Museum of Broken Hearts, she thinks she’s got it made. Sure, it’s a little depressing dealing with relics of failed relationships each day, but Rose is determined not to let it break her ‘love conquers all’ spirit. After discovering the museum’s handsome curator is nursing a broken heart of his own, Rose steps in to fix it. Can Rose heal the rift, or will this happy ending go awry?

Regular readers will know that I’m a big fan of Talli Roland’s novels so whilst I’m waiting eagerly for her next book to be released, I thought I’d read her novella Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts. For those who haven’t read any of Talli’s writing yet, this novella is the perfect opportunity to get a feel for her books. The story is full of Talli’s trademark warmth, humour and romance and I thought the idea of a Museum of Broken Hearts was quirky and original.

Rose is a hopeless romantic and very much an optimist and was a girl after my own heart from the beginning. As we meet her she’s working in the basement of the British Museum and thoroughly fed up with her fossil cataloguing job so when she sees the advert for a job at The Museum of Broken Hearts she has to apply! Despite the protestations of her best friend Mel who tells it like it is, Rose heads into the job full of enthusiasm and quickly decides that she needs to help her new (and very handsome) boss mend his own broken heart. Talli has created two lovely characters in Rose and Heath and the story is a clever take on both relationships and love with a couple of fab twists in the tale.

Some short stories are just that – a nice quick read but not much to them but I was impressed by the substance of this one. It’s an excellent read and very much worth the pennies that it cost to download.

*STOP PRESS* Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts is FREE to download on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com today so grab it quick!

You can find out more abou Talli and her books at: http://talliroland.blogspot.com/

Last month I wrote a list of the ten ‘chick lit’ books that  I can’t wait to read this year. Lindsey Kelk’s summer release I Heart London was on the list so you can imagine my excitement when I saw that the cover has been released. I’ve loved all of the covers in this series and this one is gorgeous too – I can’t wait to find out what happens to Angela when she’s back on home turf!

Home is where the heart is. Right?

Angela Clark has fallen in love with America – and it’s starting to love her back.

Throw one expired visa into the mix, and things quickly take a turn for the worse.

Now, there’s another wedding in the offing – and everyone remembers how well the last one went . . .

After the break up of a long-term relationship Lisa escapes to the remote Isles of Scilly, twenty eight miles off the coast of Cornwall, for a new year reunion with old college friends. But as winter weather sweeps across Britain the airports close and only two people make it: Lisa and Dominic. She always thought him attractive and he still is, but he doesn’t even seem to remember her.

Kate Allan’s romantic short e-book novella Snowbound on the Island was released last week and is a very appropriate read for the current UK weather!

Lisa finds herself thrown together with handsome Dominic as they await the arrival of the rest of their university friends (who have been stranded in the snow) for a new year celebration on the Isles of Scilly. I thought this story was a fab quick romantic read with a plausible plot and two likeable characters in Lisa and Dominic. Despite this being a short story, Kate Allan really brings out her two characters’ personalities. I loved that Dominic hadn’t really noticed Lisa in the past which created a great tension between them. As the two make the best of the situation sparks begin to fly making Snowbound on the Island a romantic winter warmer!

You can find out more about Kate and her writing on her website at: http://kateallan.com/

Joanne Kavanagh and best friend Suzie pack their bags and swap dreary, depressing Dublin for the cool Californian coast. Both are determined to start a new life in the land of opportunity, leaving behind the recession and their complicated families.

They make a pact at the airport to stick religiously to the ‘LA Commandments’, a list of ten ‘Thou Shalt Nots’ for their new life in LA, including ‘Thou Shall Not Fall in Love,’ but when Jo befriends sexy, shy musician Marc, and Suzie falls for womanizing bar-man Chris, not only are the commandments at risk of being broken, but also the girls’ hearts…

With all California has to offer —sunshine, shopping, killer nightlife, and drop-dead-gorgeous men, will the girls stay faithful to the LA Commandments?

The LA Commandments was a surprising read. Having read the synopsis, I was expecting a lighthearted chick lit novel about two friends jetting off for fun and sun in California; what I found was a gripping story with lighthearted moments but also a much more serious side than I expected. Once I started reading I couldn’t put this book down and the final twist really surprised me.

The story begins on the day that Jo and Suzie leave for LA and is told in the first person from Jo’s point of view. I enjoyed the excitement as the two girls headed off for their new beginning and I thought the idea of the LA Commandments (a set of rules that the girls would follow as they enjoyed their trip) was fun but I was surprised to find that the book mainly just focuses on one of the commandments “Thou shalt not fall in love”. To say that the pair don’t stick to that commandment is a bit of an understatement with Suzie especially having an eye for the men from the off and soon developing a major crush on bar-man Chris. Jo’s romance is more slow burning and both girls encounter their fair share of romantic drama as the story progresses and the ups and downs of their relationships had me hooked!

I thought Jo and Suzie were both interesting characters and the relationship between them as best friends was realistic and well developed. My only minor criticism is that they both came across to me as a bit too fixated on their weight/looks at times despite it being clear that neither of them had anything to worry about! The supporting cast are also interesting and varied and between them raise a number of more serious issues including cancer, depression and alcoholism. Duffy certainly isn’t afraid to tackle some hard hitting issues and their repercussions on loved ones, family and friends and does so in a sensitive and thought provoking way.

The story ambles along quite gently to begin with as the girls get to know their new surroundings, find somewhere to live and try to find jobs but it really picks up pace as Jo and Marc’s relationship develops and this was my favourite part of the book. I thought Marc was a lovely character and his up and coming star status added a fab touch of LA cool to the story. The sunny California setting is vividly described and Duffy certainly knows her locations.

Overall, The LA Commandments is a romantic and bittersweet novel that I really enjoyed.  This is a story of love, friendship and family and the ending in particular is one that I won’t forget. A strong debut from Gillian Duffy and I’m already looking forward to reading her next novel which should be out later in the year.

4/5

I’d like to thank Gillian and her publisher for sending me a copy of this book for review.

You can find out more about Gillian and her writing at: http://theduffydiary.wordpress.com/

I met the lovely Nicola May yesterday at her book signing at Waterstones in Croydon. Nicola celebrated the official launch of her new book Star Fish last week. I love the cover for this one and am very much looking forward to reading my copy soon. Kindle owners – you can grab Star Fish for the bargain price of £1.53 at the moment and if you haven’t read Nicola’s previous novel, Working It Out, I’d highly recommend that too.

Tired of looking for love, Amy Anderson decides that an astrological dating agency is the only way to meet the man of her dreams.

Star Fish follows Piscean Amy’s hysterical search for her ‘sole mate’ as she dates her way through the twelve signs of the zodiac. So who will finally woo Amy?

Will it be Ted the Arian photographer with a passion for ice skating, or maybe Laurence, the Libran IT whiz kid who likes to get behind the wheel of a fast car? Or how about Capricornian Christopher, the owner of Starr & Son, the dating agency?  You’ll be kept guessing until the very last page!

Nicola will be signing copies of both books at the following events in the next few weeks:

11th February – Waterstones Camberley
18th February – Waterstones Windsor
25th February – Waterstones Woking

I’m a big fan of Katie Fforde so was very excited to read her first digital short story, The Undercover Cook, released today. I really enjoyed this short story which follows undercover journalist Emily as she takes on an assignment at a top restaurant with a fiery head chef! The Undercover Cook is a brilliant snapshot of Katie’s storytelling and if you haven’t read any of her books before will give you a great flavour of her writing.  This is a great quick read and has all of the classic Katie Fforde ingredients; warmth, humour, romance, a lovable heroine and a tasty hero! Find out more and download your copy at: http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/editions/the-undercover-cook/9781448135639

Meet Emily, a young woman who dreams of being a prize-winning investigative journalist. Her first assignment is to a top restaurant where tempestuous chef Theo Milton reigns supreme. Very soon romance starts to sparkle amongs the pots and pans. And Emily finds there’s more than cooking on her mind.

Katie’s next full novel, Recipe for Love is released on 1st March and you can find out more about Katie and her books on her fab new website at: http://www.katiefforde.com/

Dara Flood always says the most interesting thing about her life happened before she was born. Thirteen days before she came into the world, her father walked up the road and never came back.

Now in her twenties, Dara’s life has a careful routine. She lives in Dublin with her mother and sister Angel. She has pizza with friends every Wednesday, salsa class every Friday, and sees her boyfriend every Saturday. It’s safe and that’s the way she likes it.

Then Angel gets desperately sick and Dara’s ordered life falls apart. Neither she nor her mother is a compatible match for the kidney Angel needs. So Dara sets out to find the father who could be their last hope. But on the path to uncovering the truth about her father, Dara learns that to let life – and love – in, sometimes you just have to let go . . .

Finding Mr Flood is Ciara Geraghty’s third novel, but the first book of hers that I’ve read. As regular readers of this blog will know, I love discovering new authors and Ciara is now high on my list of ‘finds’. Ciara’s writing style in Finding Mr Flood is individual and different and gives the story, told in the third person, a quirky air which I really enjoyed.

This is a large book at over 500 pages and there is a huge amount of detail and complexity in the characters and plot. At times I felt that the amount of detail made for slow (but still enjoyable) reading but there are also parts of the book that are fast paced and had me racing through the pages, particularly in the final part of the story.

As the novel begins we are introduced to a number of key characters in quick succession; the Flood family, consisting of Dara, her sister Angel and their Mother who is referred to for the majority of the novel as ‘Mrs Flood’, their neighbor Mrs Pettigrew, Dara’s lover Ian, her colleagues (Tintin and Anya) at the dog pound where she works and in a seemingly unrelated plot-line, Stanley Flinter, his five brothers and family. Stanley is the youngest of six brothers and having a rough time of things, particularly in his love life and career.

I was impressed by the depth that both key characters and minor ones display; Geraghty has really got inside the heads of all of her subjects and the story is peppered with intimate facts and feelings which really made me connect with Dara and Stanley and although she only has a small role, I loved Mrs Pettigrew.

The ‘Mr Flood’ of the book title vanished just before Dara was born and the majority of the book charts Dara’s quest to find him in the hope of securing a kidney match for Angel. But as much as the book focuses on Dara’s search for her father, the real story is that of Dara’s development as she faces her fears and takes control of her life. I felt for Dara straight away; she has a difficult relationship with her mother, blames herself for her father leaving and the sister she relies upon for security and warmth has an uncertain future. There are a number of twists and turns to the plot which make for an engaging story and I thought the romantic element was excellent and very well developed.

Overall this is a bittersweet and emotionally charged novel which tackles some heartbreaking topics. But despite the sad themes running through the book there is also a lot of humor, much of it very subtly observed and Ciara Geraghty’s writing is warm and sensitive. I really enjoyed this involving read and if you are looking for a novel with emotional depth, an element of mystery, great storytelling and a lovely romance then this could be the book for you!

4/5

I’d like to thank Katy at Hodder for sending me a copy of this book for review.

You can find out more about Ciara Geraghty and her novels at: http://www.ciarageraghty.com/

The lovely Choc Lit gang revealed the cover for Jane Lovering’s next novel Vampire State of Mind over on their Facebook page the other day. Isn’t it gorgeous? And such a fab title too. Described as “Choc Lit’s version of Buffy”, I can’t wait to read this one. Vampire State of Mind is out in August – perfect timing for your beach reading list!

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