The Woman Who Met Her Match by Fiona Gibson

The Woman Who Met Her Match by Fiona Gibson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - on and off over 3 days

Publisher - Avon

Pages - 400

Blurb from Goodreads

What if your first love came back on the scene . . . 30 years later?

After yet another disaster, Lorrie is calling time on online dating. She might be single in her forties, but she’s got a good job, wonderful children and she’s happy. This, Lorrie decides, is going to have to be enough.

That is, until she receives a very unexpected request from France. Antoine Rousseau, who had once turned a lonely French exchange trip into a summer of romance, wants to see her – after thirty years.

But Lorrie is a responsible woman. She can’t exactly run off to Nice with the man who broke her teenage heart . . . can she?

A wonderfully funny novel, perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Joanna Bolouri and Milly Johnson.


My Review

We open at the Summer of 1986 where we meet our main character Lorrie, just a slip of a girl at 16, not very confident and shipped over to France for an exchange. She meets her first love and is heartbroken when she goes home. Fast forward thirty years, her children have signed her up for online dating, after a few disastrous dates Lorrie's first love gets in touch out of the blue. Lorrie is a responsible adult, a mother, making woman feel gorgeous with beauty products she can't just leave it all to chase her first love, or can she?

This is a lovely wee book, funny, light and some darker themes of loss and discrimination in the work place. Dating disasters, friendship, love, loyalty and trying to get yourself back after fully focusing on your kids and picking up life after a bereavement. Humor is laced throughout and I think because so many of the themes within the book are applicable to your normal every day person that there is something for everyone in this story. The chapters are relatively short which is great if you don't have time to sit and get stuck right in, had I had more time I would have read this in one sitting.

Lorrie is a relate-able character, a good heart, focusing on family and to be honest a wee bit of a door mat at times where you are urging her to stand up for herself. I found myself getting really invested in the characters, we all have a family member who is self involved, someone else we are looking out for. The element of the one who got away and what would happen if they got in touch again is something most people have thought about once in their adult life, if not more. A great read for a blue day or just by the pool. This was my first time reading this author, I absolutely would read her again. Thanks to Avon Books for introducing me to a new author and putting her on my radar, I will be looking up more of her work, 4/5 for me this time.

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Bride Without A Groom by Amy Lynch

Bride Without a Groom by Amy Lynch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 5 days on and off

Pages - 230

Publisher - Maze

Blurb from Goodreads

Rebecca has chosen the most luscious, five tiered, wedding cake – as featured in Hello! Magazine. The engagement ring that she has selected is celebrity inspired. The wedding singer is on speed dial. He doesn’t usually do Michael Bolton, but as it’s for a first dance he’ll make an exception. She has fallen for an ivory lace couture gown that is to die for. The down payment may require her to sell a left kidney, but it will be worth it. Isn’t that why you have two?
There’s one teeny problem. It’s nothing, really. No need to panic! It’s just that Barry has yet to propose. Truth be told, he’s had enough. There’s only so much wedding talk that one man can take. Now he’s leaving for a conference in Bangkok and frankly, he’s looking forward to the peace and quiet. As the Tiger beer flows and the tie loosens, his colleague Shelley is providing more than a shoulder for him to cry on.
Back in Dublin, Rebecca worries, and Operation ‘Win Back Barry’ is in full swing. But wait… who is the mysterious woman that is so keen to talk to her? And what is it that Barry needs to get off his chest?



My Review



Rebecca is thirty and has one thing on her mind, getting married to Barry. Barry isn't ready yet but that doesn't stop Rebecca, she has everything planned and frustration leads to impulsive behavior. She starts actually booking things for the wedding and Barry has had enough, they have a huge flight, Barry heads off to Bankok for work with his colleague who is more than happy to take his mind off things. Rebecca is left contemplating her behaviour, her life and of course still the wedding of her dreams.

Dear Lord this girl is bat crazy! Think of the worst Bridezilla ever, multiply her by ten and you are coming close to Rebecca. She isn't even engaged but she is seriously obsessed to the point she pushes her man to the limit. She is really spoilt and shallow, she spends his money with no second thought, she is obsessed with the celebrity style, labels, names and lifestyle. She cannot wait to be married because she can give up her job and spend her husbands money, ugh she has very little redeeming qualities to be honest. Whilst Rebecca is one of the most shallowest creatures created I think she brings to life to the character really well. We live in a modern world were so much is focused on money, showbiz, labels, fashion and I think Lynch en captures this well. Whilst Rebecca is a horror or a human being, she is also quite funny at times and I did chuckle at a few parts of the story.

I think this book is a cracking read for a holiday, spoiled madam, self examination, relationship troubles, infidelity, third world problems and obsession with the world created in magazines. Whilst I wasn't a huge fan of many of the characters in this book I did actually enjoy reading it, I think Lynch did well to bring the characters to life and capture modern day issues, 3/5 for me this time. This is my first time reading this author and I would read her again, thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book.

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The Rest Of My Life by Sheryl Browne

The Rest of My Life by Sheryl Browne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 246

Publisher - Choc Lit

Blurb from Goodreads

You can’t run away from commitment forever …

Adam Hamilton-Shaw has more reason than most to avoid commitment. Living on a houseboat in the Severn Valley, his dream is to sail into the sunset – preferably with a woman waiting in every port. But lately, his life looks more like a road to destruction than an idyllic boat ride…

Would-be screenplay writer Sienna Meadows realises that everything about Adam spells trouble – but she can’t ignore the feeling that there is more to him than just his bad reputation. Nor can she ignore the intense physical attraction that exists between them.

And it just so happens that Adam sees Sienna as the kind of woman he could commit to. But can he change his damaging behaviour – or is the road to destruction a one-way street?


My Review

Adam is a Lothario in a small town, on a path to self destruction. After a personal tragedy and relationship crisis, Adam is going about life the wrong way. Bedding wives, girlfriends and just about any woman who comes along his path, Adam is making himself a target for the wrong kind of attention. Enter Sienna, sweet, innocent, who has rented a cottage with her friend, her wee dog and is writing her screen play. When she sees the Adonis that is Adam she can't help but be drawn to him, aware of his reputation she aims to keep her distance. However as the attraction grows, Sienna can't help but ignore her head and listen to her body. With so much stacked against them, can Adam get over his past and Sienna keep her heart safe?

This is a very chick lit book, relationships, lust and attraction are big features however there are more layers and deeper emotive topics covered. Adams previous relationship has left emotional scars and the driving force for his behaviour with woman and alcohol. His friend wants to support him but we all have our limits and Adam is pushing the boundaries. Sienna is almost sickly sweet, some of her behaviour, for me, was very irritating however I believe it echos the reality of some women in positions such as she finds herself in. Adam will draw in scores of female fans who would love to rush in and save him from himself, he does have many layers rather than just the boy toy he initially presents as. For some readers, I think he will evoke fury, having no respect for some of the women (or their partners) when he beds them. Infidelity often gives rise to rage for a lot of readers so just an FYI.

The story goes along the boy meets girl style story, obstacles in the way however it goes a bit deeper and delves into issues that some readers may find a touch a nerve. We hear a lot from Adams view point which is quite refreshing as a lot of these books have the female as the main protagonist. Certainly a different read and whilst I didn't love the characters, I did have a soft spot for Sienna's father, I did enjoy the book. 3/5 for me this time, this is my first dance with this author, I would read her again. I voluntarily reviewed this book, thanks to the author for introducing me to her writing!

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Second Look by Connie Stephany

Second Look by Connie Stephany
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 248

Blurb from Goodreads

Adam Jackson is not proud of his string of bad decisions. Cheating on his girlfriend, irrevocably hurting the woman he loved since high school and dumping his fiancée on their wedding day are just the tip of the iceberg. When an unspeakable tragedy pushes him to take a hard look at his life, Adam says goodbye to the no-strings hookups and begins to make amends with the women he hurt in the past. The only problem is the woman he wants to find the most has disappeared off the face of the earth.

Jennifer Sylvester has only loved one man in her life, but she’s made one mistake after another with him. She hasn’t seen him in four years and she’s determined to make sure their paths never cross again. When Jennifer is offered her dream job back home in Minnesota, she’s unable to turn it down. She packs up her daughter and moves back home, hoping she’s able to stay hidden from the man who still holds her heart.

When Adam and Jennifer finally reunite, old sparks begin to fly. But can Adam break down the walls Jennifer has spent so long building up? And more importantly, is Jennifer brave enough to ask Adam for something that could once again tear them apart?



My Review

Second Look revisits some of the characters from the first book Second Chances, Adam had left his bride to be and the book concentrated on that. Now in book two, we get to really meet Adam, his life now and some throwback to what happened to make him leave his bride to be in the first book. Jennifer is back, the woman who turned his world upside down in book one, his old flame and bringing with her her daughter. When tragedy strikes, Adam reevaluates his life, his casual love them and leave them attitude and how things ended with Jennifer. For Jennifer, she has never quite got over Adam and being this close to him isn't easy, she cannot allow herself to get caught up with him again and risk having her heart broken again. Her daughter is her main concern not what her heart is telling her, will Jennifer listen to her head or follow her heart?

I would absolutely recommend reading book one guys, you get a better feel for the character and it is always good to know the background history. The timeline splits between current events and every now and again flips back to the past to give some more insight into the Adam & Jennifer dating period. The chapters are well marked so you can follow the time sequence easily and differentiate between the duo timeline.

There are a lot of emotional aspects within the tale, grief, loss, personal growth, family, cause and effect. It was interesting to learn more about the characters of Adam and Jennifer which gives a bit more insight into what happened in the first story. I wasn't as captivated by the tale as I was the first book, I think because being jilted at the alter is on a very different scale to the in depth story examination of relationships & personal growth. There was a bit of the story with a spikey character that I thought was going to go in a very different direction and create havoc and lots of drama, however it petered out leaving me feeling it was a tad unfinished, for that character. The author creates a scope of characters that holds your interest and leaves you wanting to read more about them and see where their future heads. 3/5 for me this time, I would read this author again and I believe there may be more to come in the New Beginnings series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book, all views as always are my own.

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Second Chances by Connie Stephany

Second Chances by Connie Stephany
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - <5 hours

Pages - 163

Publisher - Lulu

Blurb from Goodreads

A year after being dumped on her wedding day, Abby Simon was still left wondering what had gone wrong. It made Adam almost impossible for Abby to get over. Since then, Abby had been on a series of dates that usually ended in disaster, and she was ready to just give up on men entirely.

When Abby unexpectedly runs into an old crush she hasn’t seen in thirteen years, she can’t help but notice he’s hotter than ever. Max wouldn’t give her the time of day back then, but to her total surprise, he seemed very interested in her now.

Just as things are heating up with Max, Adam shows up claiming he still loves Abby and leaving her was the biggest mistake of his life. Adam finally gives Abby answers as to why he left and is asking for another chance.

Abby must now make the biggest decision of her life…which man deserves a second chance?


My Review

Abby Simon is our main character, left one year ago by her fiance Adam, on the day of their wedding she is now getting her life back to normal. She has her own cafe called "Dessert first", proud to call her own and mouth watering desserts made by her own hand. Kept busy with the job, surrounded by good friends and family, things are going well despite being talked into a blind date by well meaning loved ones. The last thing Abby is expecting is a blast from the past and someone who makes her considering dating again. Just as things warm up nicely with Max, her out of reach teen crush, when Adam shows up and may be finally ready to tell Abby what happened to break her heart and cancel the wedding!

It has been a while since I have had a book from a self published author, due to time constraints and education commitments, as well as being burned in the past from it. I picked up this book with trepidation, you never know what to expect with a new author, self published or otherwise. However Mrs Stephanie was lovely from the first contact and I could do with a change so accepted.

It isn't the norm for me to comment on the cover however, I feel I must. Pink loving girlies, you will love the cover, it is screaming pink and has a wee fabby cupcake, one on the front and one on the back cover. The book is chick lit, fluffy and fairly light so the cover is a good representation of this, I believe the author also created it herself which is something to be commented on.

The story itself goes from mostly present time, to back in time to either Abby's younger years or meeting Adam or the wedding morning. The time jumps are done well, clearly signposted and relevant to the chapter you are reading when it goes back. Second Chances is about a woman broken hearted, left with lots of unanswered questions, now one year Abby is moving on and a blast from the past is just what she needs. Typical, just as things are going good and moving on, Adam is back on the scene and Abby may get the answers she has wanted to hear for so long, but how will this impact on her new relationship?

Oooh I always say chick lit is not my genre at all, I would much rather horror, crime, gore and thrillers. However, this is yet another chick lit I have devoured and really enjoyed! For a debut author and self published without a professional editor, Connie Stephany has done really really well with this book. The characters are really easy to get on board with and for the most part, like, although I dislike Adam!

I would definitely read this author again and look forward to her next book in the series, 4/5 for me this time. Thanks so much to the author for introducing me to her work and sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. This book is available to buy from Amazon or directly from the author.

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Review - Bridesmaids by Jane Costello

Bridesmaids by Jane Costello
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 419

Blurb from Goodreads

Four weddings, three disgruntled ex-boyfriends in the congregation, two wayward 'chicken-fillet' boob enhancers, and one gorgeous man, it's tough being a bridesmaid.

My Review

This is a great chick lit book. Evie is one hour away from walking down the isle in front of her best friend, Grace, who is getting married. It's stressful, things are going wrong however, her chicken fillets are in place and she spots a hot specimen whilst on an errand. Things go hilariously wrong from there on in and this is only the first of a few weddings Evie is part of. Evie has a string of ex boyfriends who seem to crop up at the most inopportune moment. Her mother is quite unique and a little embarrassing and all of these weddings are filling her with dread.

This book covers friendship, relationships, wedding preparations, betrayal, secrets and love to name just some of the themes. The book is made up of short chapters which is great for picking up and putting down however the content will make you want to read it in one sitting.

It is light hearted with some serious themes, it reminded a bit of the movie Bridesmaids, if you liked that you will love this. First time reading this author, I would certainly read her again. She had me laughing out loud, recalling some of my own past relationships and sympathizing, and hating, some of the characters. 4/5 for me this time and if your just wanting something light or a good holiday read, look no further.

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Review - An Autumn Crush by Milly Johnson

An Autumn Crush by Milly Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 6 days

Publisher - Simon & Schuster

Blurb from Goodreads

In the heart of the windy season, four friends are about to get swept off their feet...

Newly single after a bruising divorce, Juliet Miller moves into a place of her own and advertises for a flatmate, little believing that, in her mid-thirties, she'll find anyone suitable. Then, just as she's about to give up hope, along comes self-employed copywriter Floz, and the two women hit it off straight away.

When Juliet's gentle giant of a twin brother, Guy, meets Floz, he falls head over heels. But, as hard as he tries to charm her, his foot seems to be permanently in his mouth. Meanwhile, Guy's best friend Steve has always had a secret crush on Juliet - one which could not be more unrequited if it tried...

As Floz and Juliet's friendship deepens, and Floz becomes a part of the Miller family, can Guy turn her affection for them into something more - into love for him? And what will happen to Steve's heart when Juliet eventually catches the eye of Piers - the man of her dreams?



My review

Juliet needs a room mate and who better to help her interview than her over the top flamboyant best friend Coco. After a few undesirables, Floz comes along, sweet, self employed and the girls hit it off. Juliet's brother, Guy, bursts in on Floz and their meeting causes undesirable emotions and actions. Juliet is very much trying to attract the attention of her out of her league heart throb at work whilst being totally oblivious to Steve, Guy's best friend who is in love with her. Will anyone get the person they want?

The characters are all like able and like most chick-lit, it is nice to dip into when your in a reading slump. Coco is hilarious, always flapping about his love life and lack of a good man to stick around. Juliet has been burned by her ex husband, hates the Lothario playboy Steve and lusts after her boss. Floz has been hurt badly, has a secret or two she would like to keep and refuses to admit her feelings for Guy.

The story is about friendship, love, betrayal, loyalty and personal growth to name but a few. It is a nice wee tale and it helped get me out of my reading slump. My only real issue with it, and it is a fairly small issue, was between Floz and Guy. Pretty much every encounter went wrong, if he could say something wrong he did, if he could do something wrong he did, not just some of the time but all of it and that irked me a little. Other than that it was nicely written and had some heart warming moments, 3/5 for me.

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DRC (Netgalley) - Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2.5 days

Publisher - Washington Square Press

Blurb from Goodreads

“Have you ever heard of supernovas? They shine brighter than anything else in the sky and then fade out really quickly, a short burst of extraordinary energy. I like to think you and Ben were like that . . . in that short time, you had more passion than some people have in a lifetime.”

Elsie Porter is an average twenty something and yet what happens to her is anything but ordinary. On a rainy New Year’s Day, she heads out to pick up a pizza for one. She isn’t expecting to see anyone else in the shop, much less the adorable and charming Ben Ross. Their chemistry is instant and electric. Ben cannot even wait twenty-four hours before asking to see her again. Within weeks, the two are head over heels in love. By May, they’ve eloped.

Only nine days later, Ben is out riding his bike when he is hit by a truck and killed on impact. Elsie hears the sirens outside her apartment, but by the time she gets downstairs, he has already been whisked off to the emergency room. At the hospital, she must face Susan, the mother-in-law she has never met—and who doesn’t even know Elsie exists.

Interweaving Elsie and Ben’s charmed romance with Elsie and Susan’s healing process, Forever, Interrupted will remind you that there’s more than one way to find a happy ending.



My Review

The story starts in June, present day, when Elsie and Ben are very much in love and only 9 days since they got married. When Ben nips out to get something for Elsie and is killed, Elsie finds her whole world collapsing, we follow her journey through grief and reliving how they met to present day. The story flips from now, the after math of the accident, to months previous when they first met and their relationship progression.

Aw I really liked this story, total chick lit type novel. It has a bit of everything in it, grief is a big part of the story as Elsie is having to learn to adjust to life without her husband. As they had a whirlwind romance and very quick marriage they hadn't met everyone in each others lives which poses additional difficulties for Elsie. From reactions from his friends and family, to her own, Elsie faces all the issues that comes with the loss of a loved one as well as additional issues you would hope never to encounter.

The present is really sad and anyone who has lost someone will be able to identify with her behavior and actions as she grieves. The recent past on how they met and how their relationship progresses is cute, childish, romantic and fairly sweet although I think a few cynical readers may be irked by some of it but I really liked it.

The story has many layers to it, I felt, aside from the grief and romance, you have trust issues, learning to work through obstacles I am sure many of us have faced at one time. Friendship, jealousy, anger and the amazing ability, we humans have, to pick ourselves up and rebuild our life when the rug has been pulled from under us.

I would recommend this book to anyone to be honest, it is a good wee read and had life not got in the way I would have got through it in one sitting easily. The characters are likable, brought to life well and can I just say, I loved Ben and George Callahan, although George doesn't appear in the book often, he has a strong presence and offers much to the story.

For a debut novel I think it is very well put together, it covers many important issues and is a great wee tale that I didn't want to put down. I will definitely keep an eye out for this authors future work, 4/5 for me this time. Thank you so much to Netgalley for introducing me to a new author and providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review. You can buy Forever, Interrupted now in paperback format and ebook now from all good retailers.

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PRR - Revenge wears prada by Lauren Weisberger

Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Time Taken to Read - 7 days

Publisher - Harper Collins

Blurb From Goodreads

Everything's in place for the season's hottest launch: Tall latte (with two raw sugars)? Check. Gucci trench (draped over desk)? Check. Outrageous, unreasonable demands? Check. Andy has just turned thirty and is an incredibly successful magazine editor, working closely with her best friend Emily, another Runway survivor. She's about to get married - life's on track and she's been careful to stay clear of Miranda Priestly, her dreadful first boss. But Andy's luck is running out. Miranda Priestly isn't the kind of woman who hides in the background. She's back...and more devilish than ever.


My review

I haven't read the previous book, the devil wears prada however I don't think you need to have as there was a few cast backs and explanations with relationships and situations.

It starts up ten years after the last book left off, when Andy told the evil Miranda to **** off in the middle of the street and left her job. Her arch enemy from her time working with Miranda at the magazine, Emily, is now her best friend and together they made a hugely successful bridal magazine "The Plunge". Andy is getting married, her magazine is doing better than anyone could have hoped, what could go wrong? Of course, que Miranda coming back into Andy's life and things going on a downward spiral.

I wasn't too sure what way this book was going to go, Andy finds a note on the morning of her wedding that causes her to have second thoughts. You think this is going to be a huge focus of the book however it then takes a different turn, then Miranda comes into her life, as does an ex. For me it just seemed a bit all over the place and if I had to sum it up in one word, I would need to say vanilla. It was just meh, it wasn't badly written it was just fairly mundane. Near the end there was two twists and even they were not enough to save the book. It took me over a week to get through this, I just didn't find it engaging really. I think I will pick up the first book at some point which may evoke some more interest in these characters however reading some of the reviews that only added more annoyance to previous fans. Sadly this just didn't do anything for me 2/5 this time, the actual writers style I didn't mind so I would try one of her books again. Thanks to Harper Collins for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Angels by Marian Keyes

Angels by Marian Keyes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time Taken to Read - 6 days

Blurb From Goodreadss

After catching her husband having an affair and being fired from her job, Maggie Walsh suddenly finds her perfectly organized existence has become a perfect mess. She decides, for the first time in her life, to do something daring -- and flees to her best friend, Emily, in the faraway wonderland of Los Angeles. In this mecca of tanned, beautiful bodies, unsvelte, uncool Maggie is decidedly a fish out of water. Yet, overnight, she's mixing with film folk, pitching scripts, even experimenting with sex -- and discovering that the end of a marriage is not the end of the world.

My Review

Maggie discover her husband is having an affair and as is always the way, things go from bad to worse when she is fired. Rejected, alone and upset she turns to her friend for support who happens to live in Los Angeles. Maggie leaves behind her troubles and decides to do something different and daring and embarks upon an adventure that makes her question everything she knows about herself.

I have read one of the Walsh tales before and from what I remember I really enjoyed it, this one was a mixed bag for me. Maggie was very annoying, she was a doormat in her response to her husbands betrayal, her encounters that followed after and even in some scenes with family members. You wanted to scream at her, well I did, get a back bone woman! Her character was fairly annoying and you just wanted her to do something, one of her relatives called her plain or vanilla yogurt and they had her bang to rights.

That said the book is enjoyable and very much chick lit. You follow Maggie to a strange place where everyone is thin, bleached, manicured and tanned to within an inch of their lives. We follow her journey of how she copes after finding her husband has betrayed her and now after years being safe and married she is free and single.

Some of the book is really funny, I love her family especially her mum and the fake tan part, reminded me of my mum and some of her antics. In between Maggie's outings and finding herself she slips back to the past and we slowly learn how her and Garv, her husband, got to be in the rut they ended up in.

I found some of the story slow going and a touch padded and other parts where very well done, an in between 3/5 for me. I have read this author before and I am sure I will pick her up again.

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ARC - A Passionate Love Affair With A Total Stranger by Lucy Robinson

A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger by Lucy Robinson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 2 days

Blurb From Goodreads

A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger by Lucy Robinson, author of The Greatest Love Story of All Time, is a hilariously funny and gorgeously romantic story about falling in love when you least expect it. Charley Lambert has put considerable effort into achieving a perfect life. She has The Job. The Wardrobe. And The Flat. Her womanising, junk food-loving housemate Sam lowers the tone a bit but that aside, things are peachy. Then she breaks her leg in three places, watches her unrequited love propose to someone else and - worst of all - is forced to hand over her job to her nasty deputy while she recovers. Workaholic Charley fears that she will soon go mad. Desperate for something to do, she discovers her talent for helping the lovelorn online. And then William arrives in her inbox. Within hours of his first email, her world starts to change. Helpless, she watches herself fall in love with this man and begins to realise that she's not who she thought she was. But will she be brave enough to turn her back on her old life - all for a total stranger?

My Review

High powered business woman, ,Charlie Lambert, is all about her job. She loves what she does and it comes second to nothing in her life, it doesn't hurt that she has been lusting after her boss for 7 years. She flat shares with Sam, her complete opposite. He hasn't managed to land his big break, lives on junk food as opposed to her organic strict food regime. He has a different woman on the go practically daily whilst she hasn't been with anyone since her fumble with her boss years ago. When an accident keeps her from her beloved job she starts up a business, helping out people online to find their perfect partners. William arrives in her inbox and before she knows it she is questioning everything and forgetting about her boss.

This is a story that has giggles, tender moments and the realization that sometimes the things you take for granted are the most important and work isn't the be all and end all. Charlie is a hard character to like, I felt, she is a workaholic and her life is mostly focused on her job and obsession with her boss. After the accident and "meeting" William she becomes very bunny boiler like and obsessive to the point where before she had been so professional and business like then puts her new business at risk with her ridiculous behaviour. I warmed to her nearer the end when she assesses everything in her life and seems to have an epiphany but for the most part I disliked her. Sam is a great character, he is fun, caring, sweet and loyal - I liked him from the get go.

The story is well written and when I got to the emails part I was totally hooked. I also loved the letters from the past, sorry to be vague but I hate spoilers. I disliked being left hanging after the big scene at the office, I like clarification and what happened after. It had no reflection on what then happened with Charlie but I would have loved to have found out how it followed up.

This was my first time reading this author, I found her writing style unique in that I can honestly say she didn't remind me of anyone else I had read before. I would read her work again. Thanks for RealReaders for sending me an ARC of this. The book is out on the 31st of January 2013 from any good retailer.

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Review - Something You Should Know by Melissa Hill

Something You Should Know by Melissa Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1.5 days

Blurb From the back cover

Her mouth went dry and for a second Jenny didn’t think she would be able to breath – it couldn’t be him, could it?

Just when everything was going so well for Jenny and Mike, Roan Williams had to come back into their lives. Four years earlier, while her friends Tessa, Gerry, Karen and Shane were falling in love and heading for happy ever after, love-rat Roan had broken Jenny’s heart and completely shattered her life. Harboring a terrible lie, Jenny had struggled to pick up the pieces of her life, but if Roan was going to be around, the truth would have to come out.

It would ruin everything but Mike had a right to know…

My Review

I haven't had much time for reading lately so went for something light and chick lit. It is what it is, a story about a girl and a guy and all the complications that follow, although this one is a little different. We start in present day and Jenny is happy as she can be with Mike, they are going to get married and life is bliss. As with these type of scenarios something is bound to go wrong. Jenny's old flame is back in her life and she has to come clean to her friend about why she is so upset. We flick back to the not too distant past and start from when she first met her ex and the bulk of the story goes from there.

We follow Jenny and Roans meeting, relationship ups and downs and meet all of Jenny's close friends and the ins and outs of their relationships. There is an unexpected, shocking turn of events nearing the end of the book that I didn't expect or see coming which did give you a jolt. Jenny I found irritating for a lot of the book but came to if not like here then at least tolerate her. An enjoyable story and I would read this author again, 3/5 for me this time.

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P.R.R - Alice Brown's Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating by Eleanor Prescott

Alice Brown's Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating by Eleanor Prescott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read 1.5 days

Blurb From Goodreads

Sometimes finding your dream man is a job for a professional...Alice Brown has the best job in the world. She's a matchmaker and spends her days helping people fall in love, all the while imagining her own Prince Charming, who's somehow never come along. Her latest client is Kate. She's 569 days from her 35th birthday and she's already five years behind in her life plan. Desperate to find the perfect man, she enlists Alice's help, but will anyone measure up to her standards? Meanwhile Alice is coping with her awful boss, Audrey, and trying to stop herself falling in love with someone else's man. But what if she's got it all wrong? Will Alice find Kate's Mr Right? And when it comes to her own Prince Charming, will she be able to take her own advice?

My Review

Alice Brown is pretty much our main character (although there are a few other key characters as well). She works as a matchmaker in a dating agency and loves nothing more than sifting through the clients to see who is perfect for who. She seems like an unlikely candidate for the job being a plain Jane, simplistic girl who is single but she knows her stuff and her clients love her unlike her horror boss. Our other main characters as Alice's boss, Audrey and Kate who has a life plan but can't get the much needed man to fill it and time is running out as she is in the over 30s club.

Well what can I say, it is another chick lit book and whilst they aren't my first choice I did really enjoy it. The chapters are small so you can dip in and out as you please, whilst you get a chapter per character (and there are a few, the main ones and as the story progresses a few others) you don't get lost or confused at all as they have the persons name at the top of each one.

With most chick lit you pretty much know how the story is going to pan out however there were a few nice surprises along the way. It is well written and the story just flows off the pages, you don't have to think too much at all with it which makes it a perfect wee read pretty much anytime. A great start to what I hope is a new writer and look forward to reading more of her work, 4/5 for me this time. Thank you so much to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book and introducing me to yet another promising new author.

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