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.

(From the back cover) Former academic Arthur Opp weighs 550 pounds and hasn’t left his rambling Brooklyn home in a decade. Twenty miles away, in Yonkers, seventeen-year-old Kel Keller navigates life as the poor kid in a rich school and pins his hopes on what seems like a promising sporting career-if he can untangle himself from his family drama. The link between this unlikely pair is Kel’s mother, Charlene, a former student of Arthur’s. After nearly two decades of silence, it is Charlene’s unexpected phone call to Arthur – a plea for help-that jostles them into action.

Through Arthur and Kel’s own quirky and lovable voices, HEFT tells the winning story of two improbable heroes whose sudden connection transforms both their lives. It is a novel about love and family found in the most unexpected places.

Heft is a moving novel that is both heartbreakingly sad and hopeful at the same time. The story is narrated from the perspectives of two male characters; fifty-something professor turned recluse Arthur Opp and seventeen year old high school student Kel Keller. The link between the two is Kel’s mum, Charlene, who was once a student of Arthur’s.

At face value Arthur and Kel couldn’t be more different, but as I read their stories, I was struck by the similarities between them; both have complex family backgrounds, both raised by their mothers with distant father figures. Both are hiding; Arthur in the physical sense, having not left his home for years and Kel is hiding his background, having assumed a new persona to fit in with his school friends. Both are lonely. I thought both characters were very well written and as the book alternates between their stories I found it hard to put Heft down.

I loved Moore’s writing style but have been struggling to define it for this review. The narratives come across as straightforward and accessible, almost simple at times but beautifully written and gives Arthur and Kel their own unique voices with their own linguistic quirks like Arthur’s use of ‘O’ and writing and as ‘&’ and Kel’s short sentences which really seem to get into the mind of a seventeen year old boy. Heft was very easy to read but kept me thinking long after I’d finished it.

The story twists and turns surprised me and kept me guessing as to Kel and Arthur’s fates as a phone call from Charlene starts a series of events that changes both their lives dramatically. At times Heft was heartbreaking to read as the book examines issues including, obesity, alcoholism, mental health, teenage pregnancy and parenthood but I couldn’t put it down and was willing there to be a happy outcome for all characters.

In addition to Arthur and Kel, the supporting cast are well drawn and show the spectrum of family life and relationships and although I thought Arthur and Kel were excellent, my favourite character was Arthur’s cleaner Yolanda who affects a number of transformations in Arthur’s life and made me smile with her direct approach to problems.

Without giving away spoilers I was surprised by the way the novel played out. The ending left me with quite a lot of questions and wondering what happened next. I do like novels that tie up all the ends neatly but in this case I thought the more open ending was very apt. Heft is an enjoyable and thought provoking read with characters that are easy to take to your heart and a lovely hopeful message about what ‘family’ really is. Recommended!

4/5

Heft is out now and I’d like to thank publisher Random House for sending me a review copy.

You can find out more about Liz Moore and her writing at: http://www.lizmoore.net/

When Rosie decides to get her friends together for their very own version of Come Dine With Me she’s bursting with excitement, even though her husband Stephen is less than keen. But Rosie is adamant. Four couples, each hosting a dinner party on a different night of the week, with a prize at the end for the best one. It’ll be a good laugh, won’t it? And a great way for everyone to get to know each other. What could possibly go wrong?

What Rosie doesn’t anticipate are the lengths her fellow hosts might be prepared to go to in order to claim the prize — outlandish recipes, rare ingredients sourced from abroad, and a chocolate tart that looks just too good to be homemade…

But perhaps she should be more worried about the mounting tension between the guests, as backbiting breaks out over the appetisers and a glass of wine too many leads to indiscreet flirtation. As the pressure in the kitchen rises, relationships begin to crack under strain, high-minded principles collide and the oven gloves come off… But that’s all part of the fun. Isn’t it?

Dinner At Mine tells the story of a group of friends who decide to have a Come Dine With Me style competition to see who is the best dinner party cook and host. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure about this book at first -  I love Come Dine With Me but I couldn’t quite see how the format would work in a novel so, curious, I picked it up and started reading. An hour later I was still glued to the book having only meant to have a quick look. Chris Smyth has created a fantastic group of believable characters who are in turn, annoying, lovable, bitchy and at times crazy and the result is a very funny book that examines what happens when a group of friends get competitive!

The main story is the competition and I loved the solution the group came up with for voting at the end of each dinner party – their emails made the book for me. The story is split into four parts with each part covering one of the dinner parties which gives the book a nice pace and kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. Although the dinner parties are the main event, each section begins with chapters that cover the build up and preparation to the dinners and not only reveal a lot about each character but also delve deeper into some of the relationship sub-plots.

The novel only covers a period of four weeks but we get to know a surprising amount about the characters as the book progresses and although the competition is Rosie’s idea, all of the characters get equal billing which makes for an interesting and involving plot. The eight characters cover a lot of the relationship and personality bases and I’m sure readers will find plenty to identify with; competitive Rosie and husband Stephen – happily married with a young baby, highly competitive Marcus who likes to feel superior to everyone else and teacher girlfriend Sarah who is questioning where she is with her career and relationship; American Barbara – highly creative and highly strung and her socially conscious boyfriend Justin and finally the two singletons of the group, Charlotte – my favourite character for her pot stirring and Lawyer Matt.  I loved reading  the dynamics between the participants and as Rosie tries to pair off Charlotte with Matt, the sparks begin to fly in what is just a starter for dramas to come.

Smyth writes in the third person and does an excellent job of getting into the minds of both his male and female characters and I loved the subltle humour that came out as we see individual perspectives on the same event. I found the second half of the novel a little slower than the first but the drama level certainly steps up a notch during the last two dinner parties and I found myself reading as fast as I could to get to the end to find out who was the winner. Dinner at Mine is a fresh, original and funny read and a great debut from Chris Smyth -  I’ll be eagerly anticiating his next book!

If after reading the book you think you’d like to hold your own dining competition, publisher Simon and Schuster has produced a dinner party pack to accompany the book which includes scorecards, place settings and charts which can be downloaded at: http://books.simonandschuster.co.uk/Dinner-at-Mine/Chris-Smyth/9780857205056

4/5

Dinner at Mine is out now and I’d like to thank Alice at Simon and Schuster for sending me a review copy.

Is love at first sight too hot to handle?

After a decade in love with dashing Francis, Allegra North thought that the grass was greener on the other side of the fence and they parted. But a year later she returns to the beautiful Devon coast where romance first blossomed, believing she must rekindle the old flame to save her sanity, her family and her career.

But childhood sweetheart Francis has a ravishing new girlfriend, Kizzy, and he only seems interested in faking romance with Allegra to settle family politics. As summer storms circle, the exes juggle badly behaving parents, vengeful family members, and a very reluctant celebrity who holds the key to everybody’s future. When a chance encounter threatens to spark something that could burn bridges as fast as she can build them, Allegra faces a dilemma: Should she rekindle her old flame, or trust in love at first sight . . .?

I really enjoyed Sealed With a Kiss, Fiona Walker’s short story prequel to The Love Letter – it left me wanting to find out what happened next and learn more about main character Allegra (Legs) North and her love life! The Love Letter certainly delivers on that front, giving our heroine not one, not two, but three very different love interests during the course of the novel. This is a big caper of a novel filled with a huge cast of eccentric characters and lots of romance and comedy and despite a slow start, I found it an enjoyable read.

Allegra came across as a fun and funny character. She works for a literary agency and her emails to reclusive super-author Gordon Lapis made me laugh out loud. She’s certainly a lady who says what she thinks! Allegra manages to get herself into a number of awkward situations during the course of the novel, not least having to return to Farcombe, the home of her childhood sweetheart (and recipient of the title love letter) Francis to try to persuade him to allow Gordon to reveal is true identity at the highly selective Farcombe festival.

The story takes off as Allegra arrives in Farcombe with a complex web of family feuds, affairs and double crosses. At times I found it hard to keep all the characters and their histories in my head but the descriptions of the fictional village in which the story is set are lovely and through its varied inhabitants, I felt like I knew the place. I loved the local pub/restaurant/B&B, The Book Inn and thought the literary references throughout the book were nicely done.

At almost 700 pages, there is a lot of plot in The Love Letter and several key story lines. The reveal storyline for Gordon Lapis, author of a bestselling Children’s magical adventure series was my favourite thread and I loved the twists to the tale as his real identity was revealed. The love letter story line also kept me guessing as I wondered who Allegra would eventually end up with and I was surprised by the turns that the romantic side of the book took, especially as the mysterious Mr Byrne entered the frame.

The Love Letter is a fun, lighthearted romp of a read with a gorgeous Devon setting, an entertaining cast of characters and a romantic storyline that will keep you guessing to the end. I was pleased to see in my interview with Fiona earlier that she plans to revisit some of the other characters from Sealed with a Kiss in her next book and I’m looking forward to reading more from Fiona in future.

3/5

You can find out more about Fiona and her books on her website at: http://www.fionawalker.com/

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

(From the back cover) How do I pick him up? Is it OK to bring her into bed with me? Is it OK to give him a dummy? When will she sleep through? When should I start weaning? When will she start crawling? How do I make a start on solids? When will he start talking? When should I start potty training? So many questions for mothers of babies and toddlers – but all the answers are in THE ULTIMATE BABY & TODDLER Q&A, a comprehensive and accessible handbook from Netmums, the fastest-growing online parents’ organisation in the UK. This indispensable guide includes hundreds of top tips and suggestions from other mums – it’s real advice that really works from real mums who have experienced what you’re going through.

Something a little bit different for today’s review with a non-fiction book! I think I’m probably not the only mum who has found herself randomly Googling things like ‘my baby is sleeping/not sleeping a lot – is this normal?!’ and ‘teething remedies’ and more often than not, my searches have led me to the Netmums message boards where I’ve found lots of mums going through the same thing and have been completely reassured that my little ones are normal and I’m not the only one stressing about the ups and downs of parenthood! Now Netmums has put the answers to fifty of the most commonly asked baby and toddler-related questions in their new book The ultimate baby and toddler Q&A.

I really wish I’d had this book when I was a new mum; it’s a very reassuring read with an excellent balance of ‘expert’ advice and quotes from Netmums members which comes across as helpful rather than preachy. Having recently had my second baby, I was amazed at how different children can be and the quotes from real mums give a good indication of this and the different approaches parents can take proving that there isn’t necessarily a ‘right’ answer as much as we might want one!

The book is divided into five parts, each covering ten key questions on Newborns, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months and 12 months plus and covers everything from ‘Is she supposed to sleep this much’ and ‘Should his poo look like this’ to ‘Do other mums feel this bored’ and ‘What’s with the tantrums?’ Each chapter starts with a general introduction followed by a ‘What the experts say’ section and ending with a section titled ‘What the Netmums Say’. I thought this worked really well and the questions and advice are easy to dip in and out of. There’s also a keyword index at the back to help you find the topics you need.

The experts include a nurse, a paediatrician, a health visitor and a psychotheraputic counsellor all with a wealth of experience with babies and toddlers and the book ends with a ‘Useful addresses’ section at the back with lots of helpful telephone numbers and websites on topics such as breastfeeding, multiple births, weaning and postnatal depression. No book is ever going to be able to answer all of the questions that come up with babies and toddlers but this one makes an excellent start and I think it would make a great addition to any new mum’s bookshelf.

The ultimate baby and toddler Q&A is released on 26th April and I’d like to thank Emily at headline for sending me a review copy.

You can find out more about Netmums at: www.netmums.com

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?

As a long time fan of Jane Austen’s work I’m often drawn to books that feature her in some way so when I read about and saw the fab cover for The Jane Austen Marriage Manual, I knew I had to read it! From the start, this novel wasn’t what I was expecting; I don’t know why but I’d assumed an English setting and heroine so it was a surprise to find American Kate from Scarsdale as leading lady.

The book starts with a prologue introducing Kate on her wedding day and then steps back six months to introduce Kate properly. I liked ‘six months earlier’ Kate straight away – her sense of humor comes across with her wry observations on her pregnant colleagues and her commentary made me smile. Kate has strong views on marriage and motherhood; she wants neither and it made a refreshing change to find a character in a book that had decided that marriage and children weren’t for her but was happily supportive of her friends that had married and had children.

The second surprise for me was that the novel tackles some heavy topics from the start;  Kate loses her job, her home and suffers a close family bereavement all within the first 70 pages. As she looks for work, Kate accepts an assignment for a high end magazine to examine the possibility that the women Austen wrote about had the right idea in trying to land a rich husband to provide wealth and security for their futures. I loved the premise for the story; in the modern recession hit world is a rich husband the answer? Kate comes across as a mixture of Bridget Jones, Carrie Bradshaw and occasionally her own favourite heroine, Elizabeth Bennett.  She’s certainly an interesting character and more complex than I’d expected initially. It was interesting to watch the fight between what I saw as the real Kate and the persona of Lady Kate that she creates as part of her act to lure a rich husband.

I loved the little Austen references throughout the novel, for example, Kate’s best friends are called Marianne and Brandon and each chapter starts with an appropriate quote from on of Austen’s classics. This isn’t a modern re-write of an Austen novel and although certain characters and elements of the plot reminded me of Pride and Prejudice I don’t think you need to be an Austen fan or have ever read any of her books to enjoy The Jane Austen Marriage Manual.

As Kate puts her plan into action, I enjoyed reading about exotic locations and the jet set lifestyle and my need to find out what happened to Kate and her quest kept me gripped. Kate’s adventures soon see her meeting a bevy of rich and handsome men and there is definitely more than a little of Mr Darcy in one of the key male characters in the book. Kim Izzo kept me guessing to the very end as to whether Kate would find love or wealth (or both). Her debut is Austen with a kick and I loved the ending and the overall message of the story.  An excellent choice for a grown up chick lit read.

4/5

You can find out more about Kim Izzo and her writing at: http://kimizzo.com/

The Jane Austen Marriage Manual is out now and I’d like to thank publisher, Hodder for sending me a review copy.

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/