Review & Giveaway: The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society by Darien Gee

Title: The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society

Author: Darien Gee

Published: Allen & Unwin May 2013

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Status: Read from January 14 to 15, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy Allen & Unwin}

My Thoughts:

Last year I read Darien Gee’s charming debut novel Friendship Bread, where the simple anonymous gift of Amish Friendship Bread starter unexpectedly unites three women, Julia, Hannah and Madeline together in friendship, and a community in time of crisis. The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society resurrects the small Illinois town and it’s residents in this independent sequel.

Just as with friendship Bread, this novel is a celebration of friendship, family and community. While familiar characters wander in and out of the frame, this story features a new cast of women. Isabelle is is still wallowing in bitterness and misery after her husband left her for his dental assistant. His death just a few months later left Ava, the aforementioned dental assistant, to struggle alone as a single mother to their son. Yvonne has just moved to Avalon, determined to make a success of her plumbing business having turned her back on her family’s wealth and power long ago. Frances is joyfully waiting for the day their daughter, a toddler from China, can finally join their family only to be devastated by a setback in the process. As these women struggle to leave their past behind and reimagine their futures, they are drawn together by Bettie, a long time resident of the town and the president of the Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society who reminds them that each moment of the present is precious.

I think it helps to be familiar with Friendship Bread before embarking on this follow up, though it isn’t strictly necessary. The large cast of characters can be a little overwhelming initially but the distinct personalities and issues amongst the women featured quickly emerge. The plot is not entirely predictable though it’s progression is not unexpected as the characters cycle through emotional highs and lows. The pace is leisurely but as you take the townspeople into your heart you will find yourself reluctant to put the book down.

Written with heart, humor and simple wisdom, The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society is a sweetly engaging novel. And as a bonus you will find delicious recipes in the last few pages – I am determined to try Madeline’s Apple Dumplings with lemonade!

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ENTER to WIN

 

Thanks to Allen & Unwin Australia I have 3 print copies of

The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society by Darien Gee

to giveaway.

Open to Australian residents only

ENTER HERE

Closes June 23rd 2013. Drawn via random.org

Review: Allegiance Sworn {and the Light Blade Series} by Kylie Griffin

 

Title: Allegiance Sworn {Light Blade #3}

Author: Kylie Griffin

Published: Berkley April 2013

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Status: Read from May 20 to 21, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy the Penguin Australia}

My Thoughts:

I was delighted when I discovered Kylie Griffin to be an Australian author writing in the paranormal fantasy genre. Published by Berkley in the US (and distributed by Penguin in Australia), Allegiance Sworn is the third book in Griffin’s Light Blade series featuring the conflict between a brutal demonkind called the Na’Reish and the Light Blade warriors who protect the human race.

In Vengeance Born we were introduced to Annika, the half-blood daughter of the Na’Reish king desperate to escape her father’s cruel regime. When a Light Blade warrior, Kalan, is captured during a demon ambush, Annika offers to free him in exchange for sanctuary in the human territory. To escape the Na’Reish and overcome the Council objections, the pair must learn to trust each other with their lives, and their hearts.

In Alliance Forged Kalan and Annika are stunned when a party of Na’Chi, half-bloods just like Annika, appear at Sacred Lake seeking refuge, and offering an alliance in the coming war against the Na’Reish. While the Lady, the human’s deity, has told temple priestess Kymora that the coalition is vital in order to defeat the Na’Reish, not everyone is willing to put their prejudice aside. Hoping to promote acceptance of the Na’Chi, Kymora offers to work closely with them and their fierce leader, Varian but when rebel Light Blades attack the camp the fragile treaty is in danger of collapsing. In order to ensure it survives, Kymora must convince Varian to trust her, and himself.

In Allegiance Sworn, war is imminent and during a Na’Reish attack in human territory, Light Blade warrior, Arek is captured. Sold on as a blood slave, Arek would rather die than serve a Na’Reish but Clan-leader Imhara Kaal surprises him. She is an advocate for the Old Ways and wants to put an end to the Na’Reish King’s plans for war. Arek isn’t sure he can trust the she-demon but unless he learns to, he risks losing everything.

Set in an imaginative world where humans and demons are on the brink of war, Griffin combines romance, action, intrigue and magic in each book of her Light Blade series. I eagerly read one after another, enjoying an escape into the fantasy of warriors and heroines falling in love and fighting for peace.

The Na’Reish are a demon race with characteristics not unlike vampires in that they feed from from humans. They treat humans much like cattle and despise the Na’Chi, mixed bloods, who are usually killed at birth. They live in clans and fight amongst themselves for power and status but are led by a King, Savyn.
The humans live in a feudal type society, led by the Council of Light Blades who respects the teachings of the Lady, their deity. Some humans are blessed with abilities that vary including the power to heal, and in the case of some Light Blade warriors, the power to kill with a touch.
Griffin has done a wonderful job of developing the political and social structure of both societies over the three books and teasing out the intriguing connection between them. The world is detailed, vivid and interesting, with elements that are both familiar and unique.

I love that we don’t lose touch with characters even as the books moves on. In Allegiance Sworn, Annika, Kalan, Kymora and Varian all have roles to play though Arek and Imhara are the featured couple.

Trust is always a major obstacle to love between Griffin’s pairings, and in Allegiance Sworn, Arek, a Light Blade warrior whose mother was killed by the Na’Reish, struggles with believing Imhara is not the blood thirsty, violent creature he is familiar with. To survive, Imhara must make an ally of Arek but earning his trust is a difficult task, complicated by the attraction that grows between them.

While the books in the Light Blade series feature romance there is plenty of action, adventure and intrigue to entertain the reader. Corruption in the Council, secret enclaves of Na’Chi, skirmishes between enemies and the impending war creates scenes of tension and excitement.

This is a fantasy series that offers more than romance and I have really enjoyed the first three books of the Light Blade. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Kylie Griffin and she told me she has around four more books planned to finish out the series. I hope that we see them on the shelves soon.

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Review: The Book of Love by Bella Andre

Title: The Book of Love {Sullivans #1}

Author: Bella Andre

Published: Harlequin MIRA Au June 2013

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Status: Read on May 30, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy the Publisher}

My Thoughts:

I did hesitate when I was asked to review The Look of Love by Bella Andre, but my curiosity won out. Initially self published, the popularity of Andre’s Sullivan series caught the attention of traditional publishing houses and was eventually picked up by Harlequin for a seven figure amount. The Look of Love is the first to be released in digital and print under the MIRA imprint with eight more to follow over the next 12 months.

The contemporary romance series features a family, the Sullivan’s, which includes 8 genetically blessed siblings (6 boys and twin girls) with extraordinary good looks, various talents and intelligence, aged between twenty four and thirty six. The Look of Love opens as the Sullivan family gathers to celebrate their mother’s 70th birthday, introducing us briefly to all of the characters that will feature in subsequent books.

Chase Sullivan is the focus of The Look of Love. At thirty two, he is the third oldest of the children and, like all of his siblings, successful, gorgeous and single. A photographer, Chase leaves his mother’s house after the party and heads to his brothers winery in Napa Valley where he has a fashion shoot scheduled for the next few days. En route, he rescues a damsel in distress, Chloe Peterson, whose car has slid off the road during a violent storm.

Cue instant attraction where lust overrides all common sense and, within four days, a happy ever after ending for the barely familiar couple.

There isn’t a lot of thought given to creating a believable story here, with the plot simply a way to transition from one sizzling sex scene to another. And the sex is hot, I think the erotic interactions are very well written with the right balance of anticipation and fulfillment.
However the likelihood of Chloe, on the run from an abusive ex husband, placing herself in such a physically and emotionally vulnerable position is slim and I found it difficult to overlook that.
Chase himself is a contradiction. In a certain light his behaviour could said to be sweet, caring and with Chloe’s best interests at heart, but there are instances where he makes choices for Chloe ‘for her own good’ and that doesn’t sit well with me.

The Look of Love is a quick read but lacks any real substance. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but I think it limits its appeal to romance readers who love the fantasy of instant, overwhelming attraction, and I am not one of them.

Click here to read a Q&A with Bella Andre

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Q & A with Bella Andre, author of The Look Of Love

Welcome Bella Andre

Having sold more than 1.5 million books, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre’s novels have appeared on Top 5 lists at Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble and Kobo. After signing a groundbreaking 7-figure print-only deal with Harlequin MIRA, Bella’s Sullivan series will be released in paperback in a major global English language launch in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia in continuous back-to-back releases from June 2013 through April 2014.

Known for “sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance” (Publishers Weekly), her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine ”Red Hot Reads” twice and have been translated into nine languages, and her Sullivan books are already Top 20 bestsellers in Brazil. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post has called her “One of the top digital writers in America” and she has been featured by NPR, USA Today, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and most recently in TIME Magazine. She has given keynote speeches at publishing conferences from Copenhagen to Berlin to San Francisco, including a standing-room-only keynote at Book Expo America in 2012 on her self-publishing success.

If not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits her time between the Northern California wine country and a 100 year old log cabin in the Adirondacks.*

My review of The Look of Love, Bella Andre’s first book in her Sullivan series, can be read HERE , in the meantime read on to learn more about this bestselling author…

Q: Your success in self-publishing has been extraordinary. Could you tell us a bit about your publishing journey and how you ended up pursuing self-publishing?

Bella: Thank you! It’s been a very exciting journey. When I first began to self-publish in the middle of 2010, ebooks and digital readers were still fairly new. I was excited about the opportunity to write the books my readers had been asking for – and as soon as I self-published my first book, I was stunned by how much fun the process was. I had always wanted to write a big series of connected books about a family, so I decided in the summer of2011 to launch my Sullivan series with 8 books about the San Francisco based family, The response from contemporary romance readers for these sexy, emotional stories blew my mind.

Once my Sullivan series took off in a huge way and sold more than a million copies as self-published ebooks – because of my awesome fans around the world! – I was thrilled to have the chance to work with Harlequin on the print launch of the Sullivans, starting with THE LOOK OF LOVE, FROM THIS MOMENT ON and CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE this summer.

Q: What do you think are the secrets to your success?

Bella: First and foremost, I have the best fans in the world! In fact, one of my readers just sent me a tweet to let me know that she gave the first 8 Sullivan books to her daughter, who is a new mother herself, for Mother’s Day. Isn’t that lovely?

Another one of my “secrets” is that I absolutely love writing and working on my new book. While I also really enjoy running my publishing business, I simply can’t get enough of laughing and crying at the keyboard with the heroes and heroines in my Sullivan books. I’ve spent the past two years with them and I hope to keep writing about Sullivans for years to come.

Q: What do you do when you are not working?

Bella: I love to hike with my husband and kids. We live in the wine country of Northern California and I never tire of walkingthrough the local vineyards each season. Right now at the start of summer the vines are blooming like crazy. Of course I had to set THE LOOK OF LOVE at Marcus Sullivan’s Napa Valley winery so that I could share the beauty of this area with my readers! I’m also a big fan of eating great food, swimming, traveling, and reading as many books as I can possibly squeeze in!

Q: Which character in the Sullivan’s family have you enjoyed creating the most and why?

Bella: All of them! Honestly, I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite, but if I absolutely had to, I’d pick Mary Sullivan, because she raised eight exceptional children. She is a part of each of the eight books and I’m very excited about going into the past to tell her love story with their father, Jack Sullivan, in KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE, which will be out in time for the holidays this year!

Here are some reasons I love the heroes of my first three Sullivan books. Chase from THE LOOK OF LOVE is so loving and supportive. Right from the moment he meets Chloe, he’s there forher. Marcus from FROM THIS MOMENT ON is not only incredibly sexy, but he has taken care of his seven siblings and mother since he was fourteen years old. Gabe from CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE bravely runs into burning buildings tosave strangers every day and when he saves Megan and her daughter from an apartment fire, he can’t get them out of his head.

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* Quoted from the author’s website

Review: Flame Tree Hill by Mandy Magro

 

Title: Flame Tree Hill

Author: Mandy Magro

Published: Penguin May 2013

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Status: Read on May 15, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy Netgalley/publisher}

My Thoughts:

Flame Tree Hill is the name of twenty four year old Kirsty Mitchell’s family cattle station, but its been a while since she has been home for any length of time. After a devastating car accident, Kirsty left the farm, first to study and then to the UK for work haunted by the events that killed three of her closest friends. But with her employment contract up, Kirsty is finally feeling strong enough to confront her past and is looking forward to returning to the North Queensland tropics.
Kirsty is delighted to be collected from the airport by her big brother, but is taken by surprise at his companion. Aden, the older brother of Kirsty’s best friend who died in the crash and Kirsty’s long time crush, is establishing a mobile vet service in the area and is now her housemate. Despite Kirsty’s reservations, neither can deny their mutual attraction but their fledgling relationship is severely tested when Kirsty is diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer.

Flame Tree Hill is the third novel set in rural Australia by Mandy Magro, a country girl from Far North Queensland and unfortunately I am conflicted when it comes to my opinion of it, despite enjoying several elements of the story.

I thought the writing, and in particularly the dialogue, was a lot more polished that in Jacaranda, where I struggled somewhat with her writing voice in a way I couldn’t quite articulate.

I again loved Magro’s distinctly Australian settings which draws on her own experience and knowledge of the land. The author brought not only Flame Tree Hill station but also the community of Hidden Valley to life.

I admired the author’s willingness to tackle the issue of breast cancer and its distressing physical and emotional effects, particularly with a such a young character. Kirsty’s journey through treatment is frightening and confronting yet Magro handles it both honestly and compassionately.

I could sympathise with Kirsty’s distress regarding her diagnosis, her fears regarding her prognosis and her very real struggle to face the challenges she is confronted with. I think she copes admirably with everything and her moments of weakness, anger and frustration are a natural consequence of the illness.

Aden proves to be an incredibly caring and patient hero, despite Kirsty’s diagnosis he doesn’t hesitate to give her his full support and whatever assurances and strength he can. Unfortunately Kirsty finds it difficult to accept the love he offers, especially as her sense of guilt and shame grows as her emotional guards are weakened by her battle against cancer.

But then the author made a plot decision within the story that left me quite horrified. I can’t say too much without revealing a major spoiler but I’d be remiss not to mention that for me, it compromised the integrity of the primary characters and as a result my feelings about the entire book. I’m not sure if another reader will feel the same about the choice Magro makes in Flame Tree Hill but for me it was strongly affecting and I even deliberately delayed my review to see if my indignation would fade but it hasn’t, hence my quandary.

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Review & Giveaway: Half Moon Bay by Helene Young

Title: Half Moon Bay

Author: Helene Young

Published: Penguin May 2013

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Status: Read from May 22 to 23, 2013 { Courtesy Netgalley/the publisher}

My Thoughts:

With the wonderful balance of action, intrigue and romance which Helene Young always gets exactly right, Half Moon Bay is an exciting and engaging novel.

When the small community of Half Moon Bay is threatened by a corrupt Lord Mayor, international photojournalist Ellie Wilding returns to her home town determined to stop him. It doesn’t take long for Ellie to uncover evidence of kick backs and blackmail but she is shocked to discover that O’Sullivan may also be complicit in a drug ring involving Asian casino operators, Afghani warlords, Australian ex-soldiers and the death of her older sister Nina, a journalist, three years before and half a world away.
Nick Lawson is stunned to find Ellie in the midst of the protests against the land development in Half Moon Bay. Working undercover, the ICAC operation he is managing could be compromised if Ellie recognises him as the soldier who was present in Afghanistan when her older sister Nina, a journalist, was shot and killed.
As Ellie continues to investigate the links between her sister, an old friend and the corruption in her home town, she has no idea of the danger she is in and Nick, desperate to keep her safe from harm, will have to tell her everything, except the truth.

Moving between war torn Afghanistan, a small Australian coastal town and the ‘big smoke, Half Moon Bay is a fast paced, tension filled adventure. With consummate skill the author has developed a plot that is believable but not entirely predictable. I really enjoyed the way in which the story begins as if a fairly transparent case of greed but deepens into a complex web of crime involving corruption, drug running, kidnapping and murder.

Ellie is a capable, independent and strong protagonist. She is willing to fight for what she believes in and ignores attempts at threats and intimidation, but not to the point of fool hardiness. I love that Young’s heroines don’t take TSTL (too stupid to live) chances, and when the situation deteriorates, Ellie acts sensibly to minimise the risks to herself and others.

The romance between Ellie and Nick is complicated by a shared past that Ellie doesn’t even remember. Nick however has never been able to forget the bravery and resourcefulness Ellie showed while trying desperately to save her sister’s life. After failing to protect Nina in Afghanistan, Nick will do anything to ensure Ellie’s safety but given his status as the ‘enemy’ with regards to the land deal, her general suspicion of him and his inability to share the truth of his connection to the whole mess, earning her trust could be an impossible task.

Once I began Half Moon Bay I was reluctant to put it down, caught up in it’s exhilarating tale of romance and suspense. It was no less than I expected though from award winning author Helene Young. Half Moon Bay is a fantastic page turner and one I recommend you add to your must read shelf.

For details on how to win a signed copy of Half Moon Bay, view Helene’s guest post published at Book’d Out earlier today – CLICK HERE

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AWW Feature & Giveaway: Helene Young and Half Moon Bay

Welcome Helene Young!

I am thrilled to welcome back Helene Young to Book’d Out today, celebrating the release of her fourth book, Half Moon Bay. Helene has previously been a guest here at Book’d Out  andI  had the pleasure of meeting her last year.

Helene’s previous award winning novels, Shattered Sky, Wings of Fear and Burning Lies formed a loosely linked trilogy and earned her the title of most popular romantic suspense author by the Romance Readers of Australia (ARRA) in 2010 and 2011. My review of Half Moon Bay has been published HERE. In the meantime enjoy catching up with Helene and enter for your chance to win a signed copy of Half Moon Bay. Read on…

This Floating Writer’s Life.

The last twelve months has seen four significant milestones come and go. I had a change of job within the airline, which gave me more time at home with hubbie and hound.

Capt G took extended long service leave in November to coincide with his 55^th birthday, which also gave him a whole lot more time at home – a husband underfoot is a dangerous distraction…

We bought a 40 ft catamaran called Roo Bin Esque (named because she’s a voluptuous sexy French Boat with a couple of irreverent Australian sailors and dog aboard.)

Finally, we packed the contents of our house, along with several thousand books, into a shipping container and embarked on a sea change which we’ve been planning for fifteen years. (You can see the photos of our month’s journey north from Brisbane to Cairns on my blog.)

So now I’m a writer afloat with a new view from my window and a different rhythm to the day. It’s a little bit like camping as daylight hours dictate what you do. Sure we have a great big generator that makes lots of noise and produces beautiful 240 volts to run all the modern appliances, but who wants noise if you can have tranquility instead. I’ve always been a sparrow, up with first light, but now more than ever we wake with the sunrise and settle with the sunset.

It’s so much simpler than a house yet so much more labour intensive.  When we’re at sea there’s a dinghy to launch every time we want to go ashore. If the motors are on there’s a flurry of activity with water to make, batteries to charge, clothes to wash and decks to scrub. The fridge freezer demands to be defrosted every five days and the salt spray coats everything in a hazy layer.  Zeus, the long suffering Wonder Staffy, has to have a walk ashore twice a day since there’s not much play room on a boat, and besides those walks can be an adventure all of their own!

When we’re in a marina, there are people to chat to, chores to be done and a never-ending list of maintenance tasks.  Things we take fore granted like internet connection can prove to be fickle. We had several spots without internet or phone access on our sail north. They were the most peaceful days, but it took me a while to stop obsessively checking for service…

So how will all this affect my writing? I’m hoping for more down time to write. Half Moon Bay was released yesterday and my wonderful publishers would like the next completed manuscript in by mid-August. I’m working on it, but the view can be distracting and I find myself hurrying to find the camera and snap off another photo.

The upside is the inspiration in the scenery and people we meet.  For now I’ll soak up the ambience knowing there’s another significant milestone in a couple of weeks. Funny, but I don’t feel a day over twenty-five!

To go into the draw for a signed copy of Half Moon Bay tell us what you’d like to do if you could have a change from your current lifestyle in the comments. Would you be a tree changer or a backpacker, a sea change or jillaroo?

Competition closes Thursday 12 pm 30^th May and the winner will be announced on the 31^st May. Open worldwide

About Half Moon Bay

Ellie Wilding has been running from her past, but when the residents of Half Moon Bay call for help she knows it’s finally time to return home.  As an international photojournalist, she’s used to violence in war zones, but she’s shocked when it erupts in the sleepy hamlet on the north coast of New South Wales, threatening all she holds dear.

Battle-weary Nicholas Lawson walked away from his military career leaving unfinished business. In a coastal backwater, that decision returns to haunt him. He remembers all too vividly his last lethal assignment in Afghanistan when Ellie’s sister, Nina, was shot and killed. Ellie’s been in his dreams ever since, even if she doesn’t remember him…

As a storm rages and floodwaters rise, Ellie struggles to save her community. But who can she trust? Nick Lawson, the dangerously attractive stranger with secrets, or an old friend who’s never let her down?

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Review: Austenland by Shannon Hale

 

Title: Austenland {Austenland #1)

Author: Shannon Hale

Published: Bloomsbury April 2013

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Status: Read on May 09, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy the publisher}

My Thoughts:

Austenland is a delightful novel with a unique twist on the continuing homage to classics author, Jane Austen. Though it was released several years ago it has been republished by Bloomsbury ahead of its debut as a motion picture starring Keri Russell, due for release in September 2013.

In Austenland, New Yorker Jane Hayes is thirty two, single and nurses a secret obsession with Pride and Prejudice, particularly the BBC film adaption, and her romantic ideal Mr Darcy/Colin Firth. When Jane’s aunt dies and bequeaths her an all expenses vacation to Pembroke Park, a UK resort that immerses their guests in a Regency England ‘experience’, Jane hopes that living the fantasy will finally allow her to put her obsession behind her, before she winds up a spinster.

Though I do appreciate Jane Austen’s contribution to the literary world I wouldn’t say I am a huge fan and of her works, Emma is my favourite rather than the more popular Pride and Prejudice. As such, I wasn’t at all sure what to expect from Austenland but given it’s brevity (at just under 200 pages) I was willing to give it a chance and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was quickly caught up in this delightful romantic comedy.

I have no doubt Pembroke Park, should it ever actually exist, would have a steady stream of clientele enamoured by the romance of the Regency period (while still enjoying some of today’s mod cons). In Austenland, the resort is populated by paying guests and actors required to conduct themselves in a manner befitting Jane Austen’s time. I thought Hale created a unique and fun setting, and though it takes a while for Jane Hayes to succumb to the experience, which requires her give up her mobile phone and wear a bonnet whenever she steps outside, eventually she submits to its charms, encouraged by the attention of the Park’s gardener and the gruff Mr Nobley.

This lighthearted novel is a quick, entertaining read sure to delight Jane Austen and romance fans alike. I’m looking forward to reading the next Austenland book, Midnight in Austenland, from Hale soon.

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Review: Saved by the Bride by Fiona Lowe

Title: Saved by the Bride {Wedding Fever #1}

Author: Fiona Lowe

Published: Carina Press April 2013

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Status: Read from May 16 to 17, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy the publisher}

My Thoughts:

The residents of Whitetail, Wisconsin are struggling with the economic downturn after the small town’s main employer closed the doors and as acting mayor, Annika Jacobson is desperate to ensure her beloved home town survives. In a bid to secure new industry, Annika gate crashes the local summer home of Chicago businessman, Eric Callahan, during his daughter’s engagement party but her plans are thwarted by the billionaires son and second in command, Finn, who mistakes her for a devious journalist and has her arrested for break and enter. Annika’s not giving up that easily though and is determined to convince Finn, and his father, that Whitetail is a town worth saving.

Annika is an endearing heroine, though feisty, klutzy and determined she is also insecure and vulnerable after both her engagement and art career imploded in Chicago. Whitetail is not only her home town but also her sanctuary and she will make any sacrifice to ensure it’s future, including becoming Finn Callahan’s PA for the summer.

Living with his father, stepmother and young half brother while his sister plans her wedding and his mother convalesces in the guest house is not how Finn planned to spend his summer, but in order to manage the family business he has no choice. At least Annika provides a welcome distraction.

The attraction between Annika and Finn sizzles from their first disastrous meeting when they share a steamy kiss and heats up as they are forced to work together. They both quickly succumb to their desires but as Finn doesn’t believe in commitment and Annika isn’t willing to risk her heart after her last relationship ended badly, they agree to a ‘no strings attached’ summer fling. It’s an arrangement that suits them both until the line between lust and love begins to blur.

There is a lot going on in this novel apart from the development of the relationship between Annika and Finn. Finn’s family dynamics are complicated by a history of hurt and bitterness, and Finn resents playing at happy families. Meanwhile Finn’s sister, Bridie, is fretting over her lavish wedding plans and her fiance’s seeming disinterest.

Additionally, while Annika is pursuing business leads, an idea to market the town as a wedding destination that began as a temporary solution to their economic crisis is embraced by it’s residents much to Annika’s chagrin and she is hurt when her attempts to secure a manufacturing company’s interest are rejected by the townspeople.

Funny and heartfelt with appealing characters and a lovely small town setting, Saved By the Bride is a engaging contemporary romance by Australian born RITA award winning author Fiona Lowe. Fans who enjoyed Boomerang Bride will enjoy this start to Fiona Lowe’s new Wedding Fever series.

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Review: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

Title: Wedding Night

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Published: Bantam Press May 2013

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Status: Read from May 08 to 09, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy the Publisher}

My Thoughts:

Wedding Night, the latest novel from popular chick lit author Sophie Kinsella, exhibits her trademark charm and penchant for absurd humour.
Her heroine is thirty year old Lottie Graveney who is devastated when the marriage proposal she is expecting from her long time beau Richard isn’t forthcoming. In fact he tells her he is not interested in marriage in the forseeable future and for Lottie that means the end of their relationship. She is still reeling from the break up when her ex boyfriend, Ben, gets in touch after more than a decade’s silence. As the pair reminisce about the summer they spent together on the idyllic Greek island where they met, Ben reminds Lottie of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, confesses he never stopped loving her and proposes almost all in one breath. Lottie says yes and the pair decide not to wait arranging a no fuss registry wedding for just a few days hence. Lottie has only one condition – no sex until their wedding night. Despite the strenuous objections of Lottie’s sister, Fliss, and Ben’s best friend, Lorcan, the marriage goes ahead and the newlyweds jet off to Ikonos for their honeymoon, but Fliss isn’t about to let her sister make the biggest mistake of her life and she will do anything to stop them consummating the marriage.

Wedding Night is pretty much exactly what I expected from Kinsella, the plot is predictable, the characters largely OTT and yet it doesn’t seem to matter much because it’s all good fun, even if utterly unbelievable.
Where Wedding Night does differ from other novels I have read by Kinsella is the narrative told from two point of views. Lottie is the flaky, starry eyed heroine familiar to the author’s readers while her older sister, Fliss is a little more sensible and cynical. I liked Fliss a little more than Lottie though neither behave particularly well, Fliss is overzealous in her attempt to help her sister while Lottie makes a cascade of impulsive decisions.
As long as you don’t overthink it, there are some real laugh out loud moments as Lottie’s and Ben’s attempts to consummate their marriage are deftly thwarted by the hotel manager at the behest of Fliss including broken volume controls, intrusive butlers and a couples massage that causes Lottie to have a painful allergic reaction.

A lighthearted rom-com, Wedding Night is a amusing way to spend an hour or two when you don’t have the energy for anything more taxing. I didn’t think it’s Kinsella’s best but fans should still enjoy the familiar silliness.

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