Lydia, Robyn and Dean don’t know each other – yet.

They live very different lives but each of them, independently, has always felt that something is missing.

What they don’t know is that a letter is about to arrive that will turn their lives upside down.

It is a letter containing a secret – one that will bind them together, and show them what love and family and friendship really mean…

I’ve been a fan of Lisa Jewell’s books for a long time now and have read almost everything she’s written. Up until now my firm favourite of her novels was The Truth About Melody Browne but The Making of Us has changed that and I think it’s Lisa’s best book to date. With a gripping storyline, a varied cast of lovably flawed characters and a series of clever twists and turns, The Making of Us is a brilliant read that I couldn’t put down.

Each chapter is simply titled with the name of the character who is telling that part of the story. We start in 1979 as Glenys and Rodney make a decision that will have far reaching effects that they could never have predicted. Moving on to the present day we meet Lydia, Robyn, Dean and Maggie; four characters who couldn’t be more different but are united by their link to one man – Daniel.

Jewell has created a wonderfully complex group of characters and initially it seems that they have nothing in common. Lydia, the self made but almost reclusive millionaire whose mum died in mysterious circumstances when she was very young; Dean from Deptford soon to be a father himself for the first time and eighteen year old Robyn, the golden Essex princess with the bright future. But as the story unfolds all three are forced to examine their lives and try to deal with the events fate has dealt them. All are in some way dealing with loss, loneliness and trying to find their own identities.

Daniel’s is just one of the factors bringing the group together. I loved that Jewell gave Lydia, Dean and Robyn each their own reasons for wanting to find out more about their histories and each other. The Making of Us examines parenthood, family and friendship from a myriad of perspectives and I was impressed by the way that Jewell covered the different opinions, debates and impacts on relationships of having children.

The storyline is superbly plotted with the individual stories taking their own twists and sometimes shocking turns to bring the characters together. There are a number of mysteries as the novel unfolds which kept me turning the pages and as the story moves from one character to another, Jewell often drops in cliffhanger chapter endings and then moves on to the next character’s story which had me reading as fast as I could to find out what happened to them all! When the characters do finally meet, I thought the chemistry between them was brilliant.

Although there are sad and heartbreaking elements throughout the book, it is a warm and positive read overall and deals with what could be depressing events in a warm and sensitive way. As I was reading The Making of Us I kept thinking, ‘why did it take me so long to read this?’ – the book was released in a large paperback format last year and has just been released in paperback with the lovely new cover pictured above and includes an excellent interview with Lisa Jewell at the back. The new cover is quite a change in direction for Lisa’s covers but I think it fits the book perfectly.

Lisa’s writing goes from strength to strength and I can’t recommend The Making of Us highly enough. I’m very excited about her next novel, Before I Met You which is out in July and partly set in 1920′s London.

5/5

With thanks to Najma at Random House for sending me a review copy of this novel.

Daisy Dangerfield has been brought up in the lap of luxury. Her father, Daddy Dangerfield, has given her the best of everything, she’s not known a moment’s doubt or worry. Until a shocking secret is revealed, and she is thrown out of the family with nothing but her dreams of revenge.

Meanwhile on a rough council estate in East London, Chanelle has wanted to be a dancer her whole life. Dancing is the one thing that takes her out of the grim reality of her life with her alcoholic mother and she is determined to use any means possible to become successful, no matter how underhand her methods.

Born on the same day Chanelle and Daisy’s lives could not be more different. Until everything changes, and they discover they have more in common than they could ever have imagined.

I read my first Lulu Taylor book last year (Beautiful Creatures) and I really enjoyed it, so I was very much looking forward to this new release. Having read it, all I can say is – wow!! Outrageous Fortune is a brilliant read that kept me up way past my bedtime and in my sleep-deprived state, it takes a lot to keep me up reading at the moment!

The story starts in 1985 with two very different births; at the exclusive Portland Hospital Daisy Dangerfield is born into luxury, doted upon by her father and destined for a wealthy, pampered future. In stark contrast on the other side of London, Chanelle Hughes is born addicted to heroin, to a drug and alcohol addicted mother and left to struggle for a chance for a better life. As they grow up, their lives are poles apart but some dramatic twists of fate find them both taking on new lives and having a lot more in common than they could ever have imagined! I love stories like this and Outrageous Fortune has everything you could wish for from a blockbuster novel; big bold dramatic story-lines, shocking twists, glamorous locations, very sexy men and two feisty and determined heroines.

The book is split into four parts and follows Daisy and Chanelle as they grow up and as their lives change dramatically. Just as the two girls’ fortunes change in the course of the novel, so did my opinion of them. I started off with a lot of sympathy for Chanelle and marveling at Daisy’s wonderful lifestyle. As Daisy grew up I thought she became quite spoiled and I found myself less taken by her character but as the big plot twist took place and Daisy’s world crashed down around her I was impressed by the way she picked herself up and moved on and she ended up being my favourite character in the novel. I also changed my opinion of Chanelle several times during the book and I love the way Lulu Taylor used the girls’ changing situations to bring out their full personalities. The mystery of the connections between Daisy and Chanelle makes Outrageous Fortune a real page turner and I was completely drawn into the story and their lives.

I enjoyed the romance aspect to the book a lot too. Both Daisy and Chanelle have chances at love and romance and in both cases, their relationships bring out a softer side in them. Outrageous Fortune has a much lighter feel to it than Beautiful Creatures which tackled some quite dark themes and I thought it was great that both girls got to have some romantic fun in amongst all the drama! That’s not to say that their love lives run smoothly – both girls find their pasts catching up with them as they are forced to keep secrets from the men they love.

I always imagine Lulu has great fun researching the wealthy glamorous sides of her books and creating the worlds of her uber-rich characters. I know I certainly enjoy escaping there but as well as being highly entertaining, the detail is also believable and very well researched with Outrageous Fortune taking us on a journey that encompasses luxury hotel empires, country estates, the sink estates of London and an iron ore mine in Russia!

As the book reaches its conclusion, the twists and turns had me turning the pages as fast as I could and despite its size, this was a quick read. Outrageous Fortune is a riches to rags to riches  story that had me completely engrossed for all of its six hundred plus pages. Glamorous, sexy, fun and gripping, I can’t recommend it highly enough as a wonderfully escapist read and am already eagerly anticipating Lulu Taylor’s next novel.

5/5

You can find our more abot Lulu Taylor and her books at: http://www.lulutaylor.co.uk/

Outrageous Fortune is out now and I’d like to thank Amelia at Random House for sending me a review copy.

Lou is married to a man who no longer loves her. It’s time to move on, to begin a new business venture and to start her life over.

To celebrate her new-found freedom, she travels to India, where, in front of the Taj Mahal, she befriends Ali after taking each other’s photographs on ‘that’ bench.

Ali is a serial mistress. But when she returns home, she discovers her latest lover is not the man she took him for. She too needs a new beginning.

As Lou and Ali put their pasts behind them, they start to discover new possibilities for life and for love, until the shocking realisation that they have far more in common than they thought.

Women of a Dangerous Age gets off to an excellent start, transporting us to India where lead charcters Lou and Ali are both escaping Christmas. For both the holiday marks a new start; Lou, having recently separated from her husband of thirty years, is looking forward to a new start on her own. For Ali, it’s the reverse as she looks forward to moving in with her boyfriend.

Lou and Ali two very different characters. Lou is colourful and comes across as larger than life; not always perfect but an open and warm person. There is a very funny airport scene where Lou has a bit of a luggage disaster and this and her reaction to it really endeared her to me! Ali on the other hand is very reserved and self contained, keeping herself apart from the group. I wanted to dislike Ali; she’s a serial mistress and her principles in relation to her relationships didn’t really sit comfortably with me. But despite wanting to, I couldn’t dislike her and as I got to know more about her background and character I actually found myself sympathising with her.

Blake has done an excellent job of creating two female lead characters with strength and humour and really brings out a depth of understanding of both throughout the novel through flashbacks and memories of their pasts which help to fill in their history and explain the people they have become in the present. I liked the way Ali and Lou’s friendship developed despite all the reasons that it shouldn’t. The situation they find themselves in leads to an easy, no holds barred honest friendship. Their banter flows on the page and Blake has created a lovely chemistry between them. I also enjoyed reading about their business ventures. Ali is a skilled jewelry maker and Lou, a talented dressmaker is launching a vintage and vintage-inspired clothing shop.

Fanny Blake’s writing is very accessible and I’m sure readers will readily identify with the situations and relationships she identifies. The spectrum and complexity of the relationships covered is great including a mother who abandoned her daughter and husband, a lost love, a serial mistress and a single mum. Lou’s relationship with her daughter fascinated me – as a mum to two boys I have a rosy image of how things might be if I had a daughter – Lou’s situation points out that no matter what you hope for in your relationships with your children you can’t necessarily predict the outcome once they are adults and it certainly made me think!

This is very much a book about relationships; with children, friends and partners. I loved the premise of that ‘dangerous age’ where you look at your life and decide if this is it or if you need to or are willing to make changes to get what you want and I thought Blake did an excellent job of exploring the topic through the book.   I often find that these types of books can become quite negative and almost depressing to read but Blake has done an excellent job of keeping the story upbeat but also very emotional. Her characters are written with warmth and an understanding that life is complicated and individuals actions are not always straightforward.  There is just the right amount of wit and humour in the story which for me made it an enjoyable and engrossing read.

As the story progresses there are a a number of excellent twists and although I had an inkling of the first, the second big twist really surprised me. Ali’s search for truth about her mum kept me gripped and again the outcome surprised me. Without giving away any spoilers, I thought the big reveal in relation to Ali and Lou’s friendship was excellent. Fanny Blake has definitely found her form with her second novel keeping me guessing to the end as to the outcome of Lou and Ali’s love lives. Women of a Dangerous Age is clever, funny, emotional and real. Highly recommended!

Women of a Dangerous Age is released on 26th April and I’d like to thank Amy at Harper Collins for sending me a review copy.

5/5

Vivian Lawson’s fantasy of being the perfect 1950s suburban housewife is shattered when an uncontrollable event changes her life forever.

Destitute and left to fend for herself in a man’s world, she searches her New England town unable to find a job. With nowhere to turn, Vivian takes the advice of her wisecracking best friend, Babs, and reluctantly becomes a Tupperware lady.

Vivian struggles with low self-esteem as well as stage fright but with the support of Babs’ lovesick brother, Stew, and the creator of Tupperware’s Home Party Plan system, Brownie Wise, she may just find the strength to conquer her inner demons and take control of her life.

Set in 1950′s suburban America, Leftovers tells the story of Vivian Lawson and the ups and downs of her life. This is the first novel I’ve seen described as a ‘romantic dramedy’ but the description fits perfectly and Leftovers ticked all the right boxes for me by combining elements from my favourite genres to create a memorable story that really stands out.

Initially, Leftovers is a sad tale as we meet the downtrodden Vivian who is trying her best to be a domestic goddess but failing at every turn. Aside from her domestic failings Vivian is desperately trying to please a husband who is less than interested, longing for a child and has a fraught relationship with her own mother. As the story progresses a dramatic turn of events sees Vivian hit rock bottom. It’s at this point that the story really took off for me. I love a good transformation tale and Vivian’s is one of the most entertaining and enchanting that I’ve read. To say that Vivian becomes a Tupperware lady is an understatement as she meets Tupperware goddess Brownie Wise and starts to turn her life around.

I loved the historical detail that Arthur packed into the novel. Wooten is a very visual writer and I could easily see a film or TV series based in Vivian’s 1950′s world. The Tupperware events in particular had me fascinated and I was surprised to find that Brownie Wise and her annual ‘Jubilee’ were actually historical fact. Although Leftovers  is a fairly lighthearted quick read it’s also a nice commentary on the roles and chances that were opening up to women at the time and the changes that have come about in society in the last 60 years.

The characters are well drawn and I loved the contrast between mousy Vivian and her outgoing friend Babs. As well as helping her friend out of an awful situation, it is Babs that brings a lot of the comedy element to the novel. Leftovers also has a quirky romantic side as Vivian flatly refuses to see what’s right in front of her own eyes (both the good and bad) for much of the novel. I thought the ending to the story was really sweet and although not preachy, this is a novel that puts a high value on friendship.

Leftovers is the second of Arthur’s novels that I’ve read and he’s fast becoming one of my favourite indie authors. With wonderful characters and a thoroughly entertaining story, I highly recommend having some Leftovers as soon as possible!

5/5

Leftovers is officially launched today and I’d like to thank Arthur for sending me a copy to review.

You can find out more about Arthur and his writing on his website at: http://www.arthurwooten.com

Take one aspiring cook, one judge, and a spoonful of romance…

When Zoe Harper wins a coveted place in a televised cookery competition she’s thrilled. It’s a chance to cook her way to fame and fortune and the little delicatessen she’s set her heart on.

The first task has hardly begun when she finds herself with rather too much on her plate. Not only has she got to contend with the fiercely competitive and downright devious Cher, but she’s fast developing an inconvenient crush on one of the judges – the truly delicious Gideon Irving.

All too soon there’s more than canapés, cupcakes and cordon bleu at stake. Will Zoe win the competition or is Gideon one temptation too far? And is Zoe really prepared to risk it all for love?

I read my first Katie Fforde book last year and loved Katie’s warm and easy writing style, likeable characters and the lovely summery romance of the story. I’m pleased to say Katie has done it again in Recipe for Love which is a must read for lovers of TV cookery programmes like The Great British Bake Off and Masterchef as it is set during a cookery competition.

The cooking challenges Zoe and her fellow competitors face make an excellent backdrop for the novel giving the plot plenty of variety and pace. I felt like I was being given a behind the scenes look at the contest and its contestants as I read about Zoe and her progress through the competition. Of course , this wouldn’t be a Katie Fforde novel with out the romantic element and this book has it in spades as Zoe finds herself attracted to Gideon Irving, one of the competition judges.

The chemistry between Zoe and Gideon is apparent immediately and there is a wonderful ‘will they/won’t they?’ tension to the book which is compounded by the fact that Zoe could jeopardize her place in the competition by being anything other than strictly professional with Gideon. I loved that Katie kept me guessing right to the end as to how their flirtation would turn out and as the story took some twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, I didn’t want to put the book down!

I liked Zoe very much and although she has a tendency to be helpful to the point of putting her own chances in the competition at risk, she came across as a genuinely likeable and nice person. I found myself rooting for her not just to do well in the competition but also for all the other aspects of her life and her dream of owning a deli to work out too.

The supporting cast are well written and bring a lot of humour to the novel; Zoe’s fellow competitor Cher acts as a wonderfully underhand spanner in the works throughout the story and I loved the sub plot involving Rupert and Fenella, the owners of Somersby House where the main part of the competition is being held; Rupert’s parents in particular are brilliant and scarily believable over the top characters.

Recipe for Love has a wonderful summery feel to it and is the perfect novel to curl up with as the days (hopefully) get warmer and summer approaches. A delicious read and tasty romance – top marks from me!

5/5

Recipe for Love is out in hardback now and I’d like to thank Amelia at Random House for sending me a review copy.

You can read an extract of Recipe for Love and find out more about Katie and her books on her website at: http://www.katiefforde.com/

The Titanic was the most magnificent ship ever built, offering every possible luxury to her passengers – yet on the night on the 14th of April, 1912, she sank in the North Atlantic, leaving the lucky ones floating in wooden rowing boats, and the rest struggling for their lives in the icy water.

This novel follows the fortunes of Reg, a handsome young steward who works in the first-class dining room; Annie, a gifted Irishwoman who is travelling to America with her four children; Juliette, a titled English lady who is pregnant and unmarried; an American millionaire and his wife who are trapped in a poisoned marriage; and a mystery passenger who never shows her face in public.

The sinking of the Titanic not only steals lives but blows apart the futures of those who survive. Coming to terms with the shocking events, survivors form new attachments, make decisions with tragic consequences, and watch all their old certainties crumble. How can life ever be the same again when you have heard 1,500 people dying in the water around you?

I think we all know the story of the Titanic; the ‘unsinkable’ luxury ocean liner that tragically hit an iceburg and sank on 15th April 1912. Of over 2000 people on board only 711 survived. As the 100th anniversary of the sinking approaches, Gill Paul’s historical novel Women and Children First explores the impact of the tragedy on those who survived. Although Women and Children First is historical fiction, it is very firmly based upon fact; Gill Paul’s descriptions of the ship clearly show the depth of her research and although all of the characters are fictional, they and their stories are very believable which makes the novel an absolutely gripping read.

Women and Children First is a novel of two parts; the first tracking the characters as they set sail on the Titanic and following events to the point where the survivors reach New York and the second part following their lives in the months after the sinking. The ‘before and after’ scenario is very well done and despite the fact that I already knew the events leading up to the sinking, Gill quickly establishes a wonderfully varied cast of characters which had me wishing I could change the course of history and praying that they and their friends and families all survived which made this novel a real page turner. Gill’s descriptions of the ship and the sinking are vivid and made for heartbreaking reading and having established the hopes and dreams of her passengers, I found the second part of the novel equally as absorbing as the first as the survivors attempt to come to terms with what has happened to them.

Although the novel follows a number of individuals and families, it is First Class steward Reg Parton who is the lead character and a uniting link between the set of characters. Reg is an excellent lead and his position on the ship means that he can move easily between the different classes which really ties the individual stories together nicely. I liked Reg a lot and was rooting for him from the beginning and I thought Gill Paul did an excellent job of showing the impact of such shocking events on a young man with everything to live for. But of all the individual stories explored in the novel it was mum of four Annie whose story got to me the most – you’ll have to read the book to find out why but make sure you have a tissue handy when you do.

Despite the sad events that the book is based around, Women and Children First isn’t a depressing read. There are numerous strands to the stories of the survivors which include a lot of drama without the sinking; infidelity, a secret pregnancy and mysterious passenger who doesn’t seem to come out in public. It was interesting to see the impact of the sinking on the story lines that had been established and I enjoyed the way that the author placed the characters and events into historical context.

Women and Children First is packed with wonderful historical detail and I loved the descriptions of New York society and the fabled ’400′ and the contrast with English upper class society embodied by the First Class residents of the ship. I found the stories of Reg, Annie and the other less privileged passengers equally interesting and the book became evem more poignant when I read that Gill Paul took inspiration for her characters from people that were actually on the Titanic; Reg being inspired by a photograph of a handsome first class steward that she found during her research. The book ends with a section of facts and photographs of the Titanic which illustrates further how closely Gill Paul has stuck to the accepted truths about the sinking of the Titanic. Highly recommended!

5/5

Women and Children First is released in paperback and ebook on 29th March and I’d like to thank Gill and her publisher, Avon (Harper Collins) for sending me a review copy.

Please stop by on Thursday when I’ll be interviewing Gill to celebrate the launch of Women and Children First.

You can find out more about Gill Paul and her work on her website at: http://www.gillpaul.com/

It’s 1956 and Samuel Lake, a handsome preacher, is voted out of his ministry by yet another congregation, disappointed by his relentless pleas for them to live more charitable lives. Out of options and out of pocket, Samuel and his family are forced to move in with their Arkansas in-laws, the rambunctious Moses clan.

At first they thrive in the unruly sea of relatives – Willa, Samuel’s wife, runs the bar for Grandma Calla, while the boys, Noble and Bienville, run riot through the surrounding countryside. But when Swan, their formidable but loveable 11-year-old tomboy, crosses the path of neighbour Ras Ballenger, things take a turn for the worse.

Ras Ballenger, horse trainer, is a man who rules both his family and his animals through terror. Used to instant obedience, he is insulted when Swan leaps to his son’s defence, an act that sets a whole chain of unexpected and terrible events into motion…

I read the hardback of The Homecoming of Samuel Lake in August last year just before my little boy was born and it was one of my books of the year for 2011. I’ve been meaning to find time to review it ever since so with the paperback version (with this lovely cover) being released today, I thought it the perfect moment to tell you more about this wonderful book.

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake is a captivating story of family, love, faith and hope which I found shockingly heartbreaking and upliftingly heartwarming at the same time, with events and particularly characters that have stayed with me long after I reached the final page. Beautifully written, The Homecoming of Samuel Lake tells the story of the Lake and Moses families set in Arkansas in 1956. As Samuel becomes a preacher without a pulpit he and his family return to his wife’s family home to live with Calla Moses and the rest of the clan and the novel follows them as they all try to adjust to their new lives.

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake has some of the best character names I’ve ever encountered; with protagonists including Swan Lake, Blade Ballinger and Toy Moses (Swan’s 6ft 4 army hero uncle) the characters were bound to stick in my mind but it is the depth and feeling that Jenny Wingfield has captured in all of her characters that makes them absolutely believable and unforgettable. I thought Swan was amazing; despite only being eleven years old, she is a force to be reckoned with and as her thoughts and actions spill onto the page I couldn’t help but love her. Swan is often the ringleader; a fearless and adventurous tomboy but also compassionate and loving so when she finds a young boy hiding out in the middle of the night who follows her home she cannot help but take him under her wing.

There are many threads to the story; Samuel’s struggle to find fulfillment as a preacher and to come to terms with his new role in life being a key plot line but for me it was the story of Swan and Blade’s developing friendship and the repercussions of that friendship that made the novel outstanding. Blade’s father, Ras’s actions throughout the novel make for hard reading and there are some truly shocking episodes at his hands but despite the sickening nature of his behaviour throughout the book, I found The Homecoming of Samuel Lake a very uplifting read with a strong message about hope and standing strong in the face of adversity.

Jenny Wingfield has a wonderful way with words and I loved the way the story was written. The novel gave me a very strong sense of time and place and I could clearly visualise the Deep South rural 1950′s setting with the family shop run on trust and ‘Never Closes’ bar. The story builds to a shocking series of events which tie all of the characters and strands together and concludes by looking at the aftermath for all involved. A truly memorable read and I can’t wait to see what Jenny Wingfield produces next.

5/5

I’d like to thank the publisher, Harper Collins, for sending me a review copy of this book.

Clarissa is almost seventeen when the spell of her childhood is broken. It is 1914, the beginning of a blissful, golden summer – and the end of an era. Deyning Park is in its heyday, the large country house filled with the laughter and excitement of privileged youth preparing for a weekend party. When Clarissa meets Tom Cuthbert, home from university and staying with his mother, the housekeeper, she is dazzled. Tom is handsome and enigmatic; he is also an outsider. Ambitious, clever, his sights set on a career in law, Tom is an acute observer, and a man who knows what he wants. For now, that is Clarissa.

As Tom and Clarissa’s friendship deepens, the wider landscape of political life around them is changing, and another story unfolds: they are not the only people in love. Soon the world – and all that they know – is rocked by a war that changes their lives for ever.

The first thing that struck me about this book was the vivid descriptions; Judith Kinghorn succeeded in immediately transporting me to another time and place with her depiction of Deyning, the Granville family and their friends in the summer of 1914. The story is told from Clarissa’s point of view; The Last Summer is her coming of age story. As readers we follow her as she develops from sixteen year old ingenue to grown woman and as her world changes more than she could ever have imagined.

I loved Clarissa as a character from the start with her enthusiasm, optimism and hope for her future. Despite her cosseted life, she came across as fun and not afraid to take a risk and as the story progressed I admired her strength of character and determination. She tells the story in the past tense from a future point so not only do we hear of events first hand but she is able to give her own perspective on her actions, thoughts and feelings and the reminiscent style suited the story perfectly.

Clarissa meets Tom and the attraction is immediate. I’ll willingly admit to being a little in love with the handsome Tom Cuthbert myself as I was reading. But Tom is not of Clarissa’s class and therefore their relationship cannot be. I found it fascinating to see the impact of the war on the traditional class distinctions and in particular on Tom and Clarissa’s lives. I don’t want to give out any spoilers but to say that the course of their love doesn’t run smoothly would be a major understatement. Kinghorn has created a sweeping story of love and loss which kept me guessing to the very end.

Judith Kinghorn has beautifully captured the thoughts and feelings of a particular group in a lost generation. From an historical perspective, Kinghorn has clearly done her research which is illustrated in the small details that capture the war and post-war periods, making The Last Summer entirely believable and often shocking. This is a very visual novel and I could easily see it translating to television or film. There is also an intriguing element of mystery as the story is punctuated with extracts from letters that hint at another love story.

Told in four parts, I thought the pace of this novel was excellent and I was surprised a number of times by the swiftness of the twists and turns to the plot which covers a period of sixteen years in total. I liked the fact that the story didn’t end with the war and homecoming and goes on to examine the consequences and lives of the survivors.

Despite the themes of loss, grief and change, The Last Summer is above all a wonderful and heartbreaking love story. As you can probably tell, I was completely caught up in Clarissa’s life and thoroughly enjoyed Judith Kinghorn’s debut. Highly recommended!

5/5

The Last Summer is out now in hardback and as an ebook and will be released in paperback on 26th April. I’d like to thank Helena at Headline for sending me a review copy.

You can find out more about Judith and her writing at: http://judithkinghorn.blogspot.com/

What if the thing you most longed for was resting on a two week wait?

After a health scare, Brighton-based Lou is forced to confront the fact that her time to have a baby is running out. She can’t imagine a future without children, but it seems her partner doesn’t feel the same way, and she’s not sure whether she could go it alone.

Meanwhile, up in Yorkshire, Cath is longing to start a family with her husband, Rich. No one would be happier to have a child than Rich, but Cath is infertile.

Could these strangers help one another out?

The Two Week Wait is Sarah Rayner’s fourth novel. Her last book, One Moment, One Morning has sold over 200,000 copies in the UK and I’d been hearing lots of good things about The Two Week Wait so when I was offered a review copy, I jumped at the chance. I haven’t read any of Sarah’s previous novels so approached the book with an open mind but expecting an emotional read based on the synopsis. What I found was a fantastic read that absorbed me more than any book has in a long time. I read it in two days because I just couldn’t put it down; I just had to know what happened to Lou and Cath and their hopes for becoming mothers.

I became totally involved in both Lou and Cath’s stories from almost the first page. The narrative doesn’t hang around and events move swiftly as Lou’s health scare prompts her to consider parenthood sooner than she thought and Cath is determined to explore all of the options for having children despite her own infertility. Rayner has clearly done her research and the novel gives a very clear insight into the practicalities of the IVF and egg donation process which combined with the emotional exploration of the subject taking in Cath and Lou’s experiences and the thoughts and feelings of their partners, friends and families gave me as a reader much to think about as the story progressed.

Rayner explores the topic of IVF treatment and egg donation from a myriad of angles and I was impressed by just how many varied viewpoints she wove into the novel whilst maintaining the personal and emotional connection with Lou and Cath. I loved that the book wasn’t black and white about parenthood and raising children and I’d highly recommend this book to book groups as I imagine there could be some really lively discussions arising from it.

For fans of Rayner’s previous novel, One Moment, One Morning, a number of the characters from that novel are present in this one, including Lou but there are also new characters including Cath, her partner Rich and their families. You don’t need to have read one book to enjoy the other although, having enjoyed Rayner’s writing so much, I do plan to read her other novels now.

It fascinated me that the two key characters never meet yet are so intimately involved in each others’ lives and the book is cleverly written to maintain the two stories in separation. Rayner’s writing and style reminded me of one of my favourite authors, Maggie O’Farrell in the way that she gets to the heart of her characters emotions and puts them on the page beautifully. As a mum, I think I would have had a strong emotional connection to the book anyway but Rayner took that connection to another level through the depth of feeling that she provoked in me for her characters.

The story is told in alternating ‘snapshopts’ featuring Lou and Cath which makes for great pace and gripping reading. I was so wrapped up in events that I was telling my husband about them as though they were happening to friends of mine. Rayner held my attention right to the last page with an epilogue that made me cry. This book is absolutely deserving of my first 5/5 for a 2012 release and I highly recommend it to readers looking for a sensitive, warm and absorbing read.

5/5

The Two Week Wait is available exclusively from Waterstons now and will be available on general release on March 1st.

You can find out more about Sarah Rayner and her novels on her website at: http://www.thecreativepumpkin.com/

With thanks to Emma at ed public relations for sending me a review copy.

In Wise Bear William: A New Beginning, toys long forgotten in an attic discover that children are coming up to rescue them.

All wanting to be picked, each toy examines their own self-described shortcomings and turn to one another for comfort and advice. But the most important thing they discover is that as much as you fix things up on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that really counts.

I reviewed Arthur Wooten’s last novel, Birthday Pie, last year and Arthur very kindly sent me a copy of his latest book, Wise Bear William: A New Beginning for Christmas. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to put a little review up even though I don’t normally cover children’s books. Wise Bear William: A New Beginning is Arthur’s first foray into writing a children’s book and I hope it won’t be his last. This is a lovely story and is beautifully illustrated by the talented Bud Santora.

I’d say this is an ideal story for children aged five upwards and is a great bedtime read as it has a lovely gentle pace and a fab ending which will leave everyone smiling.

The story unfolds as a group of toys stored in an attic find out that children (the grandchildren of the toys’ original owner) are going to pay a visit to the attic to see the toys and maybe even take them to a new home. William Bear is the toy that all the other toys consult as they prepare for the children’s arrival. The story has a nice message that stresses the importance of what’s inside over looks as the toys try to fix their imperfections to make themselves more desirable.

Wise Bear William left me feeling a little like I did when I watched the last Toy Story movie; I wanted to dig out all of my old toys and give them a hug and although this is a children’s book I think readers of all ages would enjoy it!

5/5

You can find out more about Arthur Wooten and his work at: http://www.arthurwooten.com/