A Festive Feast

Christmas Cake and Mistletoe Nights by Carole Matthews - A Book Review

When I pick up another Carole Matthews book and start reading I am instantly transported back in time to when I met her at the beginning of my own writing journey.  I was in awe of meeting a 'proper author' and how lovely she was when we chatted.  I have read many of her books and each time marvel at how many she has written and how good they all are.

Reading just a few pages of this one gave me inspiration to pick up my pen again and continue on my journey towards being a published author.  This book is written in the first person which is how I like to read and therefore how I like to write.

Instantly I am back with Fay and the gorgeous Danny - remembering one of Carole's Mary Berry endorsed books, the Cake shop in the Garden.  I have looked forward to this continued canal journey that Fay began with Danny  It is a sequel but equally can be read as a stand alone book.

The story is jam packed with EXCITEMENT.  It is a mixture of love, friendship and family; baked in the chill of winter and iced with snow.  It is decorated with an upbeat teenager and an old man, both of whom make you laugh and cry; a Latvian friend who needs to temper her language; and a bitterness and angst with her sister that Fay muddles through.

There is storm damage and restoration where they all pull together and the hero surprises and delivers moments of great joy.

This book made me want to bake a cake and get the Christmas tree out of the loft.

It made me grateful for what I have and it tickled both my sense of humour and imagination.  It is a great seasonal read that I hope will be part of a trilogy.  I want MORE of Danny and Fay, Lija and Mog; Stan, Rainbow and Nana; and sister Edie.  Excellent, Keep writing Carole Matthews.

Reviews also posted on Amazon and Goodreads.

 

Surprise me

Book Review

Oh my life, this is the most excellent book.  I absolutely loved it.   It is the second Sophie Kinsella book I have read and love the first person narration.  Anyone who has an overactive imagination or over suspicious mind will be thrilled by this book.  

Long term relationships have their ups and downs and Sophie's humour takes on trying to revitalise the marriage of Sylvie and Dan, which is utterly brilliant.  However, true to life there are shocks and revelations too.  Pressures of family life, work and holding secrets takes its toll but Sylvie's overactive mind leads her to a drive force that changes how she looks, feels, thinks and loves.

This charming tale melts away dark corners and sheds light on truth, friendship and love.  All the relationships are believable and you feel as though you are spying on Sylvie's life, watching and waiting for a good outcome.

I NEVER turn to the ending pages of a book to see how it turns out but I was so in Sylvie and Dan's corner that I just had to know whether what I was reading and feeling was truth.  I related so much to Sylvie - her thought patterns and believable senarios; her perceived quirkiness of her husband Dan and having to knock her father off the pedestal she had had him on.  It made me think again about 'reactions' and 'actions'; how LIFE NOW is all that matters and no matter how much time anyone has to live the most should be made of it.

A delightful, easy, believable read that grips, churns and hooks you.  Tantalising, honest and wholesome.    Well done Sophie Kinsella *****

Reviews also on Good Reads and Amazon.