Novelicious.com | The Women's Fiction Blog for Readers and Writers

Review – Two for Joy by Helen Chandler

Reviewed by Kay Brooks

Julia’s best friend Toby has been there for her since her days as a student, providing good times and occasionally a shoulder to cry on. It’s only when his spontaneous marriage proposal to his glamorous ballerina girlfriend, Ruby, is humiliatingly rejected that she realises that she wants much more from him. His reciprocation of romantic feelings leads to a whirlwind weekend of passionate declarations and intense sex. The realisation that they are simply meant to be together is surprising but welcome. Everything seems to have fallen into place, until Toby receives a life-changing text message from a distraught Ruby.  She is pregnant. Reluctant but determined to do the right thing, Toby breaks off his new relationship with Julia via email and decides to give his relationship with Ruby another chance for the sake of their unborn child. Julia is left heartbroken, wondering whether she will ever be able to get over Toby and move on with her life. What she doesn’t realise is that recovering from Toby’s rejection is far from being the biggest challenge she is about to face.

Review – The Secrets Women Keep by Fanny Blake

Reviewed by Susan Lobban

Daniel has it all, a loving family, a large circle of friends and a group of thriving hotels. However, while on holiday at his Italian farmhouse tragedy strikes and the women in his life must pick up the pieces.

Daniel’s wife, Rose, is proud of her happy marriage and the fact that their love has been unwavering through the years. Therefore when she discovers a mysterious text on her husband’s phone, it is all the more shocking.  Between this and her role as mediator for her two daughters, Anna and Jess, Rose realises her idyllic home life will never be the same again.

Eve was Daniel’s friend first, but when introduced to Rose the women become firm friends, and are a vital part of each other’s lives. She is there for Rose in her time of crisis, whilst also juggling her own troubles in both her home and work life. On the surface everyone’s life may seem content but delve deeper and secrets and lies emerge.

Right from the first sentence I was transported from a snowy day spent on the couch to sun drenched Italy. The author’s imagery was fantastic and I felt that I was standing beside Rose while she chops tomatoes in the kitchen of Casa Rosa.

Review – Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

Reviewed by Victoria Sutton

I am slightly obsessed with all things New York. I’m still mourning the end of Gossip Girl and I don’t believe there is any such thing as too many Friends re-runs. Giant pretzels are my savoury snack of choice. I may possibly have a snow globe of Manhattan on my desk… So I was even more excited than the very excited postman when he proudly presented a lovely book parcel that had come all the way from the Big Apple itself. And not just any old book but a novel actually set in New York with the most beautiful picture of Brooklyn Bridge on the cover. I couldn’t wait to get started…

Someday, Someday, Maybe is the debut novel of Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood fame. Given my addiction to US TV shows I’m surprised that I have to admit here that I’ve never really watched the Gilmore Girls, even though I’m sure it would be just my sort of thing. But even though I have only ever caught a couple of episodes, they have been enough for me to actually visualise Lauren Graham herself as the main character of the novel, Franny Banks.

Review – Austenland by Shannon Hale

Reviewed by Jennifer Joyce

After numerous failed relationships, Jane Hayes has sworn off men. None of the men in her life have ever lived up to her fantasies of Mr Darcy so Jane decides to stick to watching her Pride and Prejudice DVD instead. After discovering her obsession with Mr Darcy, Jane’s great-aunt arranges a trip for her to Pembroke Park, where guests role play, living the lives and romances of the Regency period. Jane is sceptical but she goes along with the plan to try to get Mr Darcy out of her system. Jane is asked to give up her modern possessions in exchange for gowns and day dresses. Jane still isn’t convinced she has it in her to act the part, but she’s signed up for three weeks and so plunges herself into Austen’s world.

Austenland is quite tongue-in-cheek about the whole role play idea. While those around Jane are fully immersed in their characters, Jane feels foolish and can never really relax in her role of Miss Erstwhile and finds herself breaking the strict rules.

To provide the obligatory romance, Jane and the other guests are joined by Colonel Andrews, who is both charming and amusing, and the dark, brooding Mr Nobley. And then there is the tall, handsome gardener who should be off limits. Most of the people staying at Pembroke Park are actors, but there are two other guests alongside Jane – Miss Charming and Miss Heartwright. Miss Charming was my favourite character in the book, trying her best to fulfil her role of a young lady on the lookout for a suitor while clearly being desperate for any kind of romance to happen during her stay.

Review - Bay of Secrets by Rosanna Ley

Reviewed by Kate Appleton

Ruby Rae has just lost both her parents in a shocking and sudden accident. When she returns to Dorset, to clear out her childhood home, she discovers a box hidden in her parents’ wardrobe containing photos and trinkets which set alarm bells ringing. After a bit of detective work Ruby discovers that her parents kept a life-altering secret from her.

Meanwhile, back in Barcelona in 1939, Julia has been forced to enter the convent by her parents in a bid to protect her from the raging civil war. She is soon given the opportunity to work in a local maternity clinic, but suspicious adoption practices force Sister Julia to question those in power.

The novel has been written in the style of a triple narrative from the view points of: Ruby, her mother Vivian, and a nun, Sister Julia. The lives of these three women are effectively woven into each other culminating in a shocking denouement revealing hidden and unexpected truths. Although the chapters jump from the 1930’s to present day you’re never left confused as to where you are in the women’s respective journey. The women vary in importance, and although each have an interesting view point, I found myself drawn to the struggles of Sister Julia whose whole life is stretched across the pages.

Review – The View on the Way Down By Rebecca Wait

Reviewed by Kay Brooks

Emma is part of what seems like a perfect family unit on the surface. Her mother whiles her days away cooking and baking in the kitchen, her father supports the family and practices carpentry in his spare time and she is an enthusiastic Christian and seemingly perfect daughter. However, the surface only needs to be scratched to see just how broken the family is. Two brothers were also once part of the family; Kit, who is not to be spoken about after his death five years ago and Jamie, who vanished just days after his death. Emma’s parents seem resigned to Jamie’s disappearance and have even attempted to wipe him from their lives completely, but she really could do with a big brother right now.

‘The View on the Way Down’ is a compassionate exploration of how a tragedy can blow a family apart, irrevocably altering everyone within it. It is a story of survival against the odds with heartbreaking moments that are painfully true to life. The novel is written in three parts. Personally, I found the second part the most revealing. It is made up from a series of unstructured letters or notes that Jamie sends to his dad as an attempt to reach out to him and make some sense of the mess that their lives have become. The letters reveal the kind of memories that all adults with siblings carry around with them, detailing exciting escapades and close scrapes. Some memories are revisited later from different points of view, which could have been boring, but Wait managed to make it a fascinating insight into varying perception.

Review – Dead Rich by Louise Fennell

Reviewed by Kirsty Nicole Pole

Sexy, Rich, Glamorous...and hiding secrets.

The Spender family are in turmoil. Georgia Spender, famous fallen celebrity, has been found dead, and now Britain’s favourite family have to deal with the aftermath. Glamorous, rich and very, very famous the family must try and stick together through the scandal that is spinning them out of control before they’re ripped apart for good. Trapped behind the doors of their exquisite house, epically named ‘The God’s’, the Spender family try to hold everything together whilst keeping the crazed paps, and the even crazier fans, out.

‘Dead Rich’ is the perfect title for this book. The Spender family ooze money and their nonchalant attitudes to life are addictive to read as they swan around London’s most glamorous boroughs throwing money, and sometimes themselves, at whatever they want. As a nation of people who enjoy dipping into the lives of the rich and famous with television shows such as ‘Made In Chelsea’, ‘Dead Rich’ is a deliciously indulgent tale of sex, scandal and lies for anyone who would never dare behave like this family.

Review – As You Wish by Eloisa James

Reviewed by Jennifer Joyce

As You Wish is actually made up of two novellas – Seduced By A Pirate and With This Kiss. In Seduced By A Pirate, Sir Griffin Barry has been away at sea for fourteen years, leaving his new bride on their wedding night. But now injured and pardoned by the crown, Griffin has returned to England and plans to track down his wife.

Phoebe is shocked to learn that Griffin has returned to England, having fled from their marital bed as a short weedy 17 year old. Griffin is now tall and muscled but, despite her growing attraction to Griffin, Phoebe isn’t pleased by the reappearance of her husband. She is quite happy with the life she has built for herself and doesn’t want Griffin, practically a stranger, to disrupt it. However, the biggest shock of all is waiting for Griffin in the form of Phoebe’s three children.

I really enjoyed Seduced By A Pirate and loved the spark between Griffin and Phoebe as they battled over whether they should remain married. I was enjoying it so much, I would have liked the story to be a full-length novel, so we could see Griffin and Phoebe’s relationship blossom and see for ourselves how the bond develops between Griffin and the children.

Review – The Secret of Happy Ever After by Lucy Dillon

Reviewed by Cressida McLaughlin

When Michelle arrives in the cosy town of Longhampton after the breakup of her marriage, she isn’t thinking about much more than getting herself back on her feet, trying to banish the past and starting up her new business, interiors shop Home Sweet Home. She hadn’t banked on meeting Pongo – the disobedient but loveable Dalmatian, and his owner Anna, in the dog-friendly café. Michelle isn’t necessarily keen on letting anyone into her life, but is unable to resist the friendliness – or forlornness – of Anna, and the two bond over an apology and a piece of carrot cake.

Three years later the two are firm friends, Michelle’s business is going from strength to strength, and Anna is dealing with three stepdaughters who see her as a live-in helper, and losing her job at the local library. When the owner of the cavernous, dishevelled bookshop next door to Home Sweet Home has to give up his business due to illness, Michelle sees the perfect expansion opportunity. However, when she goes to discuss taking over the lease with Mr Quentin’s solicitor Rory, she discovers that things aren’t as straightforward as she hopes. Forced to rethink her plans, she comes up with a solution that will help her business plans, and it involves Anna. What she isn’t banking on is how the changes will affect her personal life as well as her professional one.

Review - The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Reviewed by Zoe Lea

Juliet Moreau is destitute, working as a cleaner in King’s College she is a world away from the life she used to have. As the daughter of the famous surgeon, Doctor Moreau, Juliet used to live a privileged life but a huge scandal caused her father to disappear - leaving her and her mother to fend for themselves. After her mother’s death, Juliet struggled to find a place in society and is haunted by the scandal surrounding her father’s disappearance. She believes him to be dead, so when she runs into Montgomery James, a former servant in their house and assistant to her father, Juliet is taken aback. She discovers that her father is, in fact, very much alive and living on a remote island. Juliet persuades Montgomery to take her to the island so she may be reunited with her father and confront him over the scandal, but something far worse than mere scandalous rumors await her there.

Once on the island, Juliet learns of her father’s brilliance and deviance and exactly what triggered the horrific scandal in the first place.  Now educated to her father’s research and ongoing work, she is shocked to her core and desperate to escape the island and her heritage, with only her wits to help her.

Review - Lord of Darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt

Reviewed by Jennifer Joyce

Megs and Godric married two years ago, but out of convenience rather than love and haven’t seen one another since their wedding day. Godric remained in London while Megs moved to Godric’s Cheshire estate. However, Megs is unexpectedly back in London, determined to carry out two tasks: find the murderer of her lover and true love, Roger and consummate her marriage to Godric in order to have a baby.

While Megs is still grieving for Roger, Godric is also consumed with grief for his first wife, Clara. While Godric went along with the wedding to Megs, he never planned on having a new wife in anything but name. He doesn’t want a wife on a day to day basis and he certainly doesn’t want to betray Clara by having one in his bed. Godric has been living a solitary life for the past two years so he isn’t pleased when Megs turns up, along with her Great-Aunt Elvina, Godric’s sister, Sarah and an array of staff to run Godric’s dusty old house. As well as disrupting his house, Megs’ arrival threatens to unveil Godric’s secret. For years, Godric has been leading a double life. During the day he is simply Godric St John, but at night he becomes the Ghost of St Giles, a masked avenger protecting the most violent streets of 1740’s London. Part of the reason Megs has travelled to London is to unmask the Ghost of St Giles and kill him because rumour has it that it was the Ghost who murdered her beloved Roger.

Review – Leftovers by Stella Newman

Reviewed by Susan Lobban

By answering mostly Cs in a magazine quiz, Susie is dismayed to find this makes her a ‘leftover’. She is a single thirty something in a dead end job and she longs for fulfillment in both her work and home life.

Susie’s friends are keen for her to try internet dating but she's more interested in using her computer for stalking her ex on Facebook.  Her grandmother’s philosophy is that there is a pasta shape and sauce for just about every situation and Susie follows this advice as she is overlooked for promotion, manages hellish clients and dips her toe in the dating pool again.  

Susie may have a long way to go before she gets where she wants to be in life, but when she gets there she’ll certainly have a full stomach!

It has been a long time since I have read a single lady dating book, so I was keen to see how times had changed with this type of novel. Also, I had heard great things about Stella’s debut Pear Shaped. At first I thought not much had changed – lonely single girl taking solace in food, however as the story progressed so did the main character. Susie was a refreshing and opinionated woman. It is rare that I laugh out loud at a book, but Susie’s witty one liners had me in stitches. I liked that she took no nonsense and although she’d had her heart broken she came out of the other side stronger and more determined.

Review - Peaches for Monsieur Le Curé by Joanne Harris

Reviewed by Kelly Allen

After eight years of living in Paris, Vianne Rocher feels as if her little family have finally settled down. Vianne is safe in her world with Roux; the man she fell in love with all those years ago in Lansquenet, their daughter Rosette and her eldest daughter, Anouk. However, one day a letter arrives from an old friend that summons Vianne back to the faraway land of Lansquenet. She always promised herself never to return, however the letter appears desperate for her help and she decides to go back. Roux, who strongly believes in never looking back (and who had his fair share of troubles when he was last in Lansquenet) chooses to stay behind on their houseboat.

Vianne arrives in the little town with her daughters in the light of the carnival, but immediately feels that there is something amiss. Soon she bumps into Father Reynaud; her old adversary, and both of their journeys begin to spiral out of control. Reynaud struggles with the gossip regarding his rumoured actions within Lansquenet, whilst Vianne battles with her own insecurities surrounding Roux and her dear friend, Josephine. Furthermore, they both long to discover the truth behind the elusive Inés that has brought trouble into the community since the day she arrived.  It is only when it is almost too late that Vianne realises she has returned to help Reynaud all along.

Reading this book made me hungry; not only for the delicious food that is described with such passion and vibrancy, but for the words and metaphors that bring each scene into a reality. The story is told between the daily accounts and experiences of Vianne and Reynaud; the voices are strongly written and there is no doubt who is narrating when a fresh chapter begins. Joanne Harris has written two very strong narrative characters, not only in terms of bringing them to life for the reader, but also in terms of strong-willed characters, who will fight to the death for what they believe is right.

Review – Love is the Easy Bit by Mary Grehan

Reviewed by Kay Brooks

Sylvia Larkin has spent the last eleven years of her life being a mother, a role that she feels less than adequate at, especially when compared to her openly loving husband, JP. During the time since her daughter, Kate, was born, she seems to have lost something of herself and doesn’t know how to go about getting it back. When her former lover appears in her life, having become a seemingly charismatic, successful artist, Sylvia realises what she has given up and spirals into despair, coming close to destroying her own family.

While the cover of the novel is aesthetically pleasing, I found that after reading the blurb, I wasn’t looking forward to reading about Sylvia Larkin. For me, the blurb reveals too much about what is going to happen. It tells the prospective reader that Sylvia is going to try and repair the damage caused to her family by her breakdown. It would have been interesting as an active reader to contemplate the different routes that she might take. There was no reason to question what attributes her former lover had or memories they had made together that might make her returning to him a viable option because the blurb told me she wasn’t going to. To add to this negative first impression, the blurb suggested that the novel was going to be depressing.