Holiday Reads

3 Book Reviews

1.  My (Not So) Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

This was my first Sophie Kinsella book and it certainly will not be my last.  I found it very entertaining with lots of laugh out loud moments and touching heartfelt scenarios.

The protagonist’s life in London and rural Britain has real depth of character which enables the reader to be transported easily to the countryside from the city and back again.  Each place has a lure and is emotive so that Katie sometimes finds herself torn between her ambitions and family loyalty.  Her bosses in London are quirky but when they holiday or visit for business at Katie’s family farm venture they, show her another side to their personalities. 

The book shows we all have two sides to us and given the right circumstances we can be the person we want to be.  If you like high-flying careers or the simple life of camping outdoors, you will enjoy this book.  It will amuse and inspire, help you to chase dreams or simply appreciate what you already have.

 

2. Desperately Seeking Summer by Mandy Baggott

I read this book in the setting it was situated in – on Corfu Island – so it made it so much more authentic.  The Greek phrases speckled in conversation were familiar and the description of food, trees, flowers, sea and smells lingered after each chapter I read.

The characters and businesses typical of Corfu were easy to relate to – I particularly liked the olive wood workshop as there are so many of these dotted around the island and shops sell all things olive related.

The infiltration of ex-pats and tourists are helping an otherwise failing economy;  having lived on a Greek island for 3 years I easily imagined to the Real Estate business where the buying, selling, renting of all types of properties has its peaks and toughs in this story. 

Author Mandy makes many references to celebrities and UK television programmes we are all familiar with which adds English reality into Greek fantasy.

Watching large coaches navigate narrow winding roads from my hotel balcony and boats on the sea added to the humour and drama with which the writer conveys this edgy romance.  From desperately sad circumstances the protagonist turns her back on the UK to seek her future.  Slowly under the warmth and slow paced life of Corfu she helps to raise standards, business and self-esteem of her sister and bereaved mother.  This melts the hardening of her heart along with getting to know the locals, accepting her losses and testing out her instincts.  The family business and her love life take an upward turn and you are left with as much feel-good factor as the Mama Mia films.

3.  Spring on the Little Cornish Isles – The Flower Farm by Phillipa Ashley

I have Cornish blood running through my veins although I have never been to the Scilly Isles and now have a desire to go there and see where our spring blooms are grown. 

The story of farm owners – twins Will and Jess and their mother who is recovering from a marital disaster – take on seasonal workers.  Together with locals the reader is transported to a remote island where dedication and hard work is an every day occurrence.  However relationships bloom too.  Dreams are held dear but circumstances cause turmoil of the heart and mind.

Fun and dramas bring the right people together and deep love conquers all.

The author keeps the reader on track with all the different relationships and delightful description of places helps the imagination enter into the characters worlds.  The tantilising ‘will they, wont they’ dilemmas are real page turners and leaves you happy with the outcomes.