Review... Ten Years On - Alice Peterson

Ten Years On - Alice Peterson
Quercus, 2012
ISBN: 9780857383259













My rating

From the back cover:

"Rebecca is happily married to Olly and content with her job at a glamorous London art gallery. But when tragedy strikes, she decides to move back to her childhood home in the country, hoping time will help her to heal. Joe, born in the same country town as Rebecca, had a falling out with her a decade earlier. Now he's the successful owner of a wine bar, Maison Joe, and is breaking local hearts by dating a striking actress, Peta. Rebecca finds living with her parents again a challenge. Nor is it easy to discover that Joe lives and works too close for comfort. When she sees him once more, memories rush back to haunt her, along with unanswered questions about the past. Why did they lose touch? What was Olly hiding? Can Rebecca answer those questions and move on?"

I bought this book when it was on-sale for Kindle for only 20p. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much, just a quick easy read that wouldn't require a lot of attention.

I couldn't have been more wrong... This book is simply wonderful!

The story is beautiful and so full of emotion. I spent the majority of time reading it crying my eyes out, and that doesn't happen often!

The author really took us on a journey with her heroine. The glimpses into the past, as well as the passage of time through the present day story are weaved together perfectly and make the story feel really three-dimensional.

The grief and sadness the heroine goes through feels genuine and the author never makes light of it.

This is a very deep and moving story about love, life, loss, and second chances that had me hooked all the way through.

Highly recommended. Bring tissues!

Xx

Book Review... Babies in Waiting - Rosie Fiore

Babies in Waiting - Rosie Fiore
Quercus, 2012
ISBN: 9780857389589













My rating

From the back cover:

"Meet Louise, 38, Toni, 26, and Gemma, 18. 
They are all expecting babies in September. And they are all discovering that impending motherhood is more than a little overwhelming. Finding their way onto an online forum, they discover fellowship, friendship, way too much information - and ultimately one another. 
Meeting in real life, they set out to face the highs, lows, secrets and revelations of pregnancy and the first months of motherhood together. But one of the women is keeping a secret that will test their friendship to its very core..."


I got this book out from the library after seeing it reviewed on the Novelicious Website (link).

I have to say that although I found the beginning a bit shaky I ended up really enjoying this book. It has a nice mix of the fun moments of the kind you would want and expect from 'chick lit' as well as some brutal honesty.

The three heroines are really well portrayed by the author, and their personalities opinions and experiences are nicely woven together. I got a little frustrated with the 18 year old Gemma, I feel that she came across more 16 than 18, a little too immature for my liking, but it did suit her spoilt-rich-girl background.

These three women all make mistakes along the way and the author isn't afraid to make them pay for them/ I particularly enjoyed Louise's story, especially her finding new love despite her difficult situation.

The changing of narrative style between each heroine is an interesting tool, at first it felt a little jarring, but once I got used to it it really helped to keep each story separate in my mind.

I really enjoy reading 'journey' stories and that is certainly what these three women go on. Both together and individually.

This is a lovely book, I liked it.

Xx

Book Review... Frenemies - Megan Crane

Frenemies - Megan Crane
Quercus, 2008
ISBN: 9781847242389













My rating

From the back cover:

"Gus Curtis has been avoiding growing up for a long time. But she’s almost thirty and official adulthood is just around the corner. So she’s come up with a plan and it’s all going to be fine. Until she walks in on her perfect boyfriend lip-locked with her oldest friend and her carefully planned world collapses like badly cooked souffle. 
Determined to win back her man, Gus drinks far too much, indulges in some ad hoc karaoke and loses what’s left of her dignity in a series of public slanging matches. Before long, her loyal friends have had enough and she’s finding consolation in the arms of the one boy she really should have stayed away from…"


I have read a lot of Megan Crane's Harlequin Presents (written as Caitlin Crews) but this is my first mainstream novel of hers.

I am so glad I picked it up as I really enjoyed it. The intricacies and complexities often found in the relationship between women are captured and used perfectly by the author. She doesn't shy away from making her characters behave badly at times, and her heroine manages to be both likeable and un-likeable all at the same time.

The story is full of ups and downs, which perfectly relates to the theme of 'growing up' in this book. Plus it has a nice mixture of fun and grittiness. One of my favourites scenes is where Gus, dressed in her blueberry bridesmaid dress for a party, realises that what sounds like a laugh doesn't actually work in reality and her silly actions are only hindering her want to be taken seriously!

The almost-a-love-story running through the book is nicely executed and enough to keep me (a die hard romance fan) pleased, and I love how the ending was left nicely open.

Any woman will be able to relate to the themes in this book and Megan Crane writes as though she is your oldest friend telling you about her latest adventure.

Really enjoyable.