Annabels Christmas Surprise/Regency Romp 2 (Regency Romps)
There are also some well worked-out secondary characters in the novel, such as Clara's mother Anita who made me laugh out loud with her specific ways and her love for food and her sister Roisin, and a fascinating friendly group of neighbours who really added another fun layer to the story for me. This is in contrast to the character of Jason, the boyfriend with whom Clara broke things off with 10 years earlier, who managed to really send the chills down my spine. Clare Dowling's descriptions are spot on and she manages to set the scene perfectly, making the reader feel what Clara is feeling at a particular moment, whether it's joy or fear.
It's a gripping and funny novel with a slightly darker and more serious side to it as well; certainly a read I'd recommend to people who are looking for chick lit but with a twist. Tammy and Alvin may have ended things on a bad note but that doesn't mean they don't still have feelings for each other. So when Alvin shows up on Tammy's doorstep on the day they were supposed to be married with little more than a hope and prayer, Tammy is slightly thrown.
Revisiting her past with Alvin is sure to bring back memories that she'd sooner forget, but yet, not trying again would make her wonder what would have happened for the rest of her life. So reluctantly, Tammy agrees to go along with Alvin's plan of doing all the things on their "pre-parental" plan. But will the end result be heartbreak all over again or a new beginning? With extremely likeable and relatable characters, this is a story that readers will understand. After all, we've all made mistakes and we've all wished we could start again.
Although Alvin puts up with a lot more than most men would, you've got to love Tammy and will understand where she's coming from through flashbacks throughout the story. This is a timeless love story about facing your fears and not looking back when you know the only way to go is forward.
Another excellent novel from a fresh new voice in women's fiction. Emma Corrigan is a young woman who spills her most intimate secrets to a complete stranger on a plane. She is horrified to then learn that this handsome stranger is her American boss, Jack, who's visiting the company's London branch. Emma is a fantastic character that every reader will identify with.
Sophie Kinsella does not disappoint in this hysterical novel that you will not be able to put down. Her adventures include keeping the senator's high-maintenance, publicity-seeking wife happy, planning a state fair booth, and trying to get quiet staffer Cam to notice her. This is more of an episodic novel than something with a true cohesive plot thread. Some of the scenes are ridiculously slapstick, while others are sweet and heartfelt.
For someone interested in politics, Allison shows an almost abysmal lack of knowledge regarding the process on the Hill. In fact, that is the larger concern here: Allison's best pal, Janet, falls for an online dating scam, the senator is a caricature, and the senator's wife This is a fairly fun book to read because of its humor and nuttiness, but don't go looking for anything more.
If you think that you will be rewarded with a good ending, though, be warned. A sequel is coming. Pia Santore is a young woman interning for the summer in New York for a celebrity magazine. She is staying with her Italian aunt in Astoria, Queens, hoping to escape the pain she still feels from the loss of her younger sister. Francesca Donata is a famous Italian actress. She has retired from acting and has moved to Astoria for the summer, in hopes of reconciling with her estranged sister.
Pia, with the help of a local artist with ties to Francesca's family, convinces Francesca to grant her a series of interviews. As Pia digs into Francesca's past, she finds betrayal, lies and manipulation. Pia and Francesca are so different, yet they are connected because of their inability to forgive themselves for the past and find happiness in their own life.
This novel returns the reader to Astoria, the location of the author's debut novel, Bella Fortuna. Alternating between Pia and Francesca's point of view, the author has written a wonderful story about two strong women and their relationships with their sisters. Romance readers will be delighted with the love interests of the two women. Annie is one very organised New Jersey mum - she has to be as she juggles a demanding corporate job and her family. But when she tells her bosses she's not willing to work out of Connecticut during the week, they show her the door.
So now she has more time to ferry her daughter Charlotte around to soccer. Soon Winslow West, the crazy coach of the top girls soccer team, the Power, has his eye on the talented Charlotte. His is a world of exhausting training sessions where death is the only excuse for absence and not even Halloween or storms will stop match time. And for the competitive soccer mums on the sidelines, there's even a position for an anti-rage rep to stick lollypops in the mouths of disruptive parents.
As Winslow builds his dream team and a massive Soccer-Plex, it seems one dissatisfied parent has sabotage on their mind. A sharp satire that is unashamedly over-the-top, this really kicks a winning goal. As the book blurb says: And do five things she fears.
But first she has to leave her apartment. It doesn't help that Carrie looks down on everyone with a lower IQ which includes almost everyone in New York. The only person she sees regularly is her therapist, who comes up with a plan to get her interacting socially, including joining an organisation and going on a date. After the death of her mother, Daisy is finding it incredibly hard to cope with everyday life. Even getting up from the couch or her bed and going outside seems like simply too much.
Her best friend, Abi, wants to do anything she can to help Daisy get back on her feet and become the same old Daisy again. She decides to sign both of them up to do a charity walk at night to raise money for cancer research. Daisy has to start training for the walk, which gets her into all kinds of situations and is the start to her finding her way again, learning how to deal with everything that life throws her way. What's not to love about this novel - from the pretty cover and inspiring storyline to the fun characters and captivating style of writing.
It was incredibly easy to warm to Daisy and I quickly find myself rooting for her to get back on her feet and try to make the best of things. Daisy's really funny and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her develop as a person throughout the story. There are some brilliant secondary characters, like her amazing best friend Abi and neighbour Felix, who becomes Daisy's walking buddy.
Trying to deal with a loss and finding yourself again is something almost everyone has to deal with at a certain point in their lives, and Beth Thomas has managed to turn this experience into words in a beautiful way. Her writing is fabulous, and I am already excited about her future releases. Carry You is a read I can't recommend enough to others; it's warm, touching and truly inspiring. Former daytime soapie star Tabby Brockman is sacked from her job in a bookstore after an incident with a rabbit costume. But it seems God does have a plan for her - she's getting the chance to return to her TV role on Legacy of Life: But back on the set she finds her nemesis Rachel Savage is also joining the cast, the TV writer who killed her off still hates her and she's got to find a way to bond with her character's children.
On the personal front, her mum has set her up with an unwanted boyfriend, who just won't leave her alone, and she's got a big crush on stage dad David - but Rachel already has her claws in him. Are they crazy to consider leaving Florida to join a fledgling venture with this spontaneous couple? But it seems Alyssa may be finally ready to settle down. Then Dawn arrives on the scene, fragile and secretive after running away from a messy situation with her so-called boyfriend.
She proves to be a saving grace, though, in helping around the house, especially after they accept a big winter wedding booking with a demanding bride. The thread about Dawn, how a loner was caught out by a liar, was intriguing and added some suspense - although the conclusion to it was perhaps a bit soft. The story also focused on the tension between the brothers and the strain on Kira, as she realises she may have merely exchanged one set of stresses for another.
All in all, a story that flowed effortlessly. All Maggie Beaumont yearns for is just a decent guy who will stand by her and be a good father to her future kids. Despite being the owner of the sole restaurant in her Maine town, accepting any sorts of blind dates and eagerly volunteering and organising fundraisers, Maggie just can't seem to find The One. When she meets gorgeous bachelor Tim O'Halloran, she unintentionally tells everyone about her new crush, later discovering he's their new priest. Will she ever find true love? Or will the seemly cold and grumpy lobsterman Malone be The One?
I found this a disappointing read compared to Higgins' other books because of its lack of surprises and twists. Fashion editor Winnie has been sent to a small coastal town to set up a new lifestyle magazine. That's this city chick's punishment for getting caught kissing her married boss at the Christmas party. But Winnie's certainly not staying in exile in Kingston for long - she's determined to be back on the glamorous media scene in Sydney within two months. But she soon finds herself falling for the charms of fisherman Alex and the rest of the quirky community.
With a fun heroine who gets herself into lots of scraps, and a handsome hero who is hiding a secret, this is a charming romance read. Kelly Monsoon is leaving behind her small, cold flat she shares with her two best friends Sophie and Mandy to move in with her new boyfriend. Who just happens to be Rufus George, one of Hollywood's hottest actors.
Kelly works for a British theatre company and met Rufus while he was treading the boards there. And although Kelly devours Heat every week, she still finds settling into a celebrity's life difficult. With super-critical stylist Elody overhauling her body and her look, the paparazzi capturing her every move, and Rufus back in LA spending time with a gorgeous co-star, Kelly finds she is losing touch with her old life.
Don't get thrown by the cover illustration and back cover blurb - this isn't about planning a celebrity wedding at all. In fact there isn't a proposal in sight for the first pages and Rufus only appears as a guest star. A sequel is in the works. Annie Valentine is back for the fourth time for more shopping and makeovers. However even with Ed at home looking after the baby twins, things aren't completely rosy, with never-ending house renovations, fears she might be replaced on the show and a nosy tabloid reporter hanging around waiting to get a juicy scoop on Annie.
Her friend Svetlana and her newly found daughter Elena also make a reappearance in this novel. As Svetlana has lost most of her money through the recession, Elena starts a dress business called The Perfect Dress. But when Svetlana makes a few bad business choices behind Elena's back, is the business doomed before it even takes off? The action then heads off to that fashion mecca Paris before Annie decides to show the world that even she can hike up the Scottish hillsides in three-inch heels.
Another fun read about our favourite fashion shopper - is there more tales to come? Probably my favourite Hollywood insiders' book so far. Lola was born into Hollywood royalty on Oscar night - her father is an award-winning director. Meanwhile her best friend Kate, a very ambitious agent, is still trying to leap up the ladder while her best actress friend Cricket is still striving for her big break. But her rival Adrienne Hunt is out to destroy her career and she has to deal with self-centred actresses like Olivia. With lots of celebrity bad behaviour and name-dropping.
Stella Fair, luxury reporter for a London newspaper, knows all about elite brands but somehow starts dating Jay Fisher, without realising the renowned playboy is the billionaire heir of an American banking group. Then her six-times married father Ham doesn't want her seeing Jay because he dislikes his family. Throw in some work problems alongside romantic tensions with a colleague and stepbrother, and Stella finds that money might make the world go round but it doesn't make the path to love any easier to tread - even in Prada wedges.
Cannie Shapiro, from Weiner's book Good in Bed, is back - and in her world it's 13 years down the track. Still plus-sized and feisty, she has married her diet doctor, Peter Krushelevansky, become a best-selling novelist and is now writing science fiction under a pseudonym. Her biggest priority in life is getting ready for her daughter Joy's bat mitzvah. But the adolescent Joy is tiring of her mother's constant attention and is looking for a place in the in crowd and a closer relationship with her father Bruce.
When she gets her hands on Cannie's novel Big Girls Don't Cry, a thinly disguised memoir written in anger after Bruce left, Joy wonders how much of it is true. Meanwhile Peter announces that he wants a baby - which means finding a surrogate mother. With Weiner's novels, you know you're on a certain thing - expect flawed but intriguing characters, family dramas and emotional twists.
But this one is certainly not my favourite. The mother-daughter dynamics are well explored, the unexpected fate of one of the characters gives a power-punch towards the end but the surrogacy sub-plot shouldn't have been so sidelined. This continues the escapades of Eva Valentine, a former wild-child diva turned newlywed mother. When Eva marries Michael and gives birth to their daughter Daisy, her dreams of domestic bliss are shattered as the man she loved enough to marry turns into a stranger she can no longer talk to.
Faced with the difficulties of spending her nights with a man who only wants her for sex even though her stitches have barely healed and raising her daughter practically single-handedly, it isn't long before Eva feels like an overweight desperate housewife who's gagging for some fun and a return to the crazy and glamorous days of her past. To top it all off, her long-time friend Maddie seems to be steadily turning against Eva and letting her down at a time when she needs her most.
Luckily, her best friends Parker and Lisa are on hand to drag her away for weekends of fun and excitement. As things get worse and worse on the home front, Eva can no longer ignore the temptation on offer on her weekends away from reality What I liked best about this book was that the author wasn't afraid to write about subjects that might be deemed contentious or non-PC.
The book presents such situations as a new mother going out drinking shortly after the birth of her special needs child, and the manner in which nobody wants anything to do with someone who's taken a drug overdose even if it means the person dies without help. It's always refreshing to see new topics explored in books, particularly topics that make you wonder what you would do in that situation. Although Eva describes herself as a diva, she's a likeable one, and you cannot but sympathise with her for the way in which certain characters treat her in the book.
There are plenty of raunchy scenes, but for those who wonder whether that might be their cup of tea, the action is not too in-your-face and you'll find yourself chuckling at the situations the characters find themselves in - particularly at a swingers' party in Paris. There are three books in the Champagne series, and if you like this one, you'll be happy to invite Eva and her pals back into your life again at some stage in the future.
Kyla and Kimari Fontaine are gorgeous, privileged sisters who are finishing their final year at Penn State University. Kimari, an aspiring author and the wilder of the two, falls for Penn State football player Sean. After graduating, her dream comes true and she publishes her first novel, thrusting her into high-profile parties in New York City.
However, she soon discovers that her partying ways and a questionable picture of her with an infamous playboy rapper might jeopardise her relationship. Kyla, the more reserved sister, is torn between two men. Vince is a stable medical student who adores Kyla. Troy is the two-timing ex-boyfriend who she cannot resist. After much heartache, Kyla realises who she belongs with, only to learn that it might be too late to salvage the relationship. This is a fun quick read that follow the lives of two sisters as they make the transition from the college years to adulthood.
Ava Duane's life needs a change. Her boyfriend is unromantic and uncommitted and to make it worse Ava's younger sister is getting married. The only thing Ava seems to look forward to is the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. When she meets her sister's dress designer and finds out she designs the costume for the TV show, Ava's passion for dance is reignited. She enrols in a dance class and soon finds her ideal dance partner. But when the chance comes to change her life, will she be brave enough to?
Chance is a tie-in to the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing which sees celebrities learning to dance and battling it out to become the champion. The link to the show is very tenuous, and at points it seems a little shoehorned in. But Ava is a likeable character with a normal everyday life, who you feel for as she tries to add a bit of sparkle to her life. It is an easy, enjoyable read but won't have you dancing for joy.
Jess Wainwright runs a very stylish country cafe but then gets an offer to work as a head designer in the city. Can she really leave Stumpy Gully and adapt to life in Melbourne? But really what's there to stay for - her long-term relationship with Graham has ended, leaving her without the boys she loved like her own sons. And a possible relationship with her old friend Nick doesn't look like it's going anywhere. Meanwhile, her overbearing sister-in-law Caro is worried that her father's new girlfriend is trying to get her hands on their inheritance; her friend Tori is dealing with a shopping addiction; and two greenies are working on a smelly project that may just change the world.
The authors dish up yet another series of caricatures including the well-coiffed, well-to-do townies who regularly arrive in their gleaming vehicles.
Sweet | Susana's Parlour | Page 2
The Jess in the city aspect was seriously underplayed; the dirty rat could be smelt a mile off, and the mentions of Chanel are few and far between. But it may be just the ticket if you want to lose yourself for a few hours with a light read. TV journalist Tessa heads to Appleton Manor in the Cotswolds to film a documentary about the wedding of Oscar-winning movie star Clemmie and her actor fiance Rufus. Rufus used to play rugby with Will Forbes-Henry, who has returned to England to rescue his family's fortune by turning the manor into a hotel. Will is wary of Tessa and has a number of burdens on his broad shoulders - his parents Jack and Caro continue to have an open marriage, his fiancee is stuck in France, his artist brother Tristan still hasn't got over a past love and his aunt Henny and cousins Milly and David have moved in after his uncle's death.
It is certainly no surprise who's going to end up with whom - perhaps best suited to those who like racy rural romps in the vein of Jilly Cooper. Andrea Lieberman's sheltered upbringing has left her afraid of her own shadow. So when she is offered an assignment as a photographer in England, Andrea decides it is time to see what life has to offer beyond the tiny world she has created for herself in Los Angeles. She heads to London armed with pepper spray and the question of whether or not to accept her boyfriend's proposal looming over her.
Along with her two travel companions, Andrea makes her way through England photographing some of the country's most beautiful castles and cathedrals. As luck would have it though, nothing goes as planned and Andrea must cope with a series of disasters. Throughout the journey she develops a sense of self-reliance and discovers that she is capable of far more than she had ever expected. Chaperones is filled with witty dialogue and humorous comparisons between the British and American cultures, making it a very enjoyable read.
Using History to Your Advantage
Allie McGuffey needs a miracle. Hopefully, a miracle in the form of a new boyfriend or at least a temporary man to make her ex-boyfriend Mark jealous. She produces Mark's radio show - well she used to produce it before she was knocked aside by his new girlfriend, Lisa. In the dingy bar while searching for substitutes she meets Charlie, a new radio host at her Ohio station. She also happens to be producing him. Soon, Allie is trying to make Charlie a household name, while Charlie would rather just take it easy. And after a one-night stand goes awry the two begin an affair, with Charlie's on-air seduction leading the way.
Charlie Glass has spent her life being the caregiver of her very ill, very famous father. Her only consolation is cooking - and eating - which doesn't really make things easier for Charlie, seeing as she is overweight and her step-sisters are stick thin. When their dad passes away, Charlie and her step-sisters think that they already know his wishes and for Charlie, that means just inheriting the home she shared with him and nothing else.
But Elroy Glass has thrown them all a twist from beyond the grave. He has decided to give Charlie his share of the company stock, making her the primary stockholder. This means that Charlie now runs a shoe company - and not just any shoe company but Elroy Glass, a company so famous that A-listers clamour to get their hands on a pair of her father's heels. What can Charlie possibly know about the shoe industry?
Pursenbook.dyndns.co.za
And how will she be able to get through the wrath of her horrendous step-mother, Diana, in the process? On top of that, Charlie needs to get thin - fast - so that she can present the right image for the company. But is life just going to miraculously change if Charlie looks ten shades of gorgeous? Well, yes, it just might. Especially when she attracts the affections of the very handsome, very rich Jay Brodrick. Fairytales, however, almost always come crashing down. Will Charlie be able to get her Happily Ever After with so much in the way?
This is a hilarious modern take on Cinderella, complete with the evil step-mother and two pretty step-sisters, who treat Charlie like trash. While Charlie and her cast of characters were fabulous, there was one thing that would have made the story even better: If Charlie actually let Jay Brodrick know who she really was and revealed their pre-makeover encounter. This story is so full of heart and eye-wateringly-funny moments that you won't be able to put it down! After getting her heart broken, Daisy Rodgers flees America in the hope that putting as much distance between herself and her ex will help speed up her recovery.
Jumping at the chance to see the world while getting paid to do so she joins the team catering to the world's highest paid, supercharged racing drivers on the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit. Only trouble is, it's not long before she finds herself falling for one of the drivers and with him already having a girlfriend a childhood sweetheart no less , surely it can only lead to one thing - further heartbreak.
With enough twists and turns - with one in particular that will have you quite literally gasping for breath - this is a highly enjoyable read. A real "paige" turner in fact. Plus if you were a fan of Johnny Be Good, then look out for the cameo appearances from Meg, Johnny and Christian, along with the revelation of just who the father of Meg's baby was! Emmy's latest long-term relationship has just ended. Instead of Duncan popping the question, he's run off with his personal trainer. Adriana only ever has flings and doesn't have or need a job.
But as she approaches 30, she's beginning to think things need to change. So Emmy and Adriana make a pact - Emmy is to sleep with a man from every continent while Adriana is looking for one man to place a diamond ring on her finger within the year. Meanwhile their friend, the slightly neurotic book editor Leigh, is about to get engaged to her boyfriend, Russell, a real catch.
So why has author Jesse Chapman got her all hot under the collar? If you have been hankering after some pure chick lit and aren't looking to scratch the surface too deep , this story about three friends trying to change their lives may be just as welcome as a four-carat diamond ring. Julia James is a self-help guru who has spent the past years proclaiming herself as a role model to single ladies all around the globe. When an accidental meeting between Julia and wannabe actor Lance Collins occurs, the paparazzi snaps a picture of the two of them together and the very next day splashed all over the tabloids is the headline "Julia James and Lance Collins - A Couple".
This is bad news for Julia who has made her name on telling women that they don't need a man to be happy. With her fans labelling her a hypocrite, she is forced to flee home. Lance follows suit and now the two must work out their dilemma as rumours spiral out of control. When a manuscript from Julia's past comes to light, it seems that her days as an author are over. Can she redeem herself in the writing world or is it time to start a new page in her life? This is a light-hearted story with plenty of humour.
Imogen has the life in Chelsea, an exclusive borough of London that many would dream of. An ex-model and wife of a wealthy bank owner, she has the life where anything can be bought, except happiness. Joined by her Chelsea friends Calvary and Lady Yasmin Belmont, the three women are united by secrets and loveless marriages; turning to each other to exact revenge on their husbands. As the tag line says 'on the King's Road, revenge is sweeter than champagne The book paints a picture of the life of a glamorous wife in Chelsea to whom money is no object.
This is helped along by the name-dropping of designer labels that in some books can seem shoehorned in but in this case seems to add to the story. It is well written and the author does well to make you feel empathy with the characters who might as easily have been too posh for you to care about. It is a light-hearted read that reminds you that money can't buy you everything. Dr Steven Fisher is in search of the female orgasm or at least a drug to make them happen.
He's got pretty close to it, until Annie aka Miss G the orgasmically challenged PhD student turns up. Steven struggles to understand why she keeps failing the test, and he soon is reading D. Lawrence and Victorian poetry in a bid to work out what love has to do with the chemistry. But will he find out in time before his product launch? Chemistry for Beginners is a bit like Adrian Mole meets chick lit. Definitely quirky and at times it feels like you're reading the diary of your geeky brother.
But you end up warming to both Annie and Steven and there are definite plots twists and turns that you don't see coming. If you're looking for something a bit different then this could well be it. When Sara's husband accidentally reveals that he's fallen in love with the woman with whom he's having an affair, Sara resorts to her job as a film director and views her life as though it were a movie. She creates fantasy scenes, whether of reuniting with her errant spouse or destroying him and his lover. But Sara also understands the reality of her situation, one that demands her attention.
She has four children, including an infant, and her directing career has slowed to a near crawl. Her husband, he of the "the heart wants what the heart wants" philosophy of life, moves on with his mistress, leaving Sara angry, hurt, and bent on destruction. She wants to be happy but she needs to get out of her own way. This is a book that will have you either in tears or gales of giggles. Parts of it are hilarious, parts will break your heart. Sara is entirely likable; you will feel her pain and rejoice in her victories, even if there are times you want to throttle her.
Deryn Warren's writing is addictive, so don't be surprised if you find yourself annoyed when you have to put it down. It isn't perfect - the film script conceit occasionally gets old, and there are some parts that seem repetitive - but its pluses far outweigh its minuses. A funny, heartwarming, bittersweet novel that deserves your attention. Fiona loses her flatmate when she is caught at a party half-naked with Ellie's new man, Connor.
Ellie, a travel journalist, doesn't stick around long enough to find out it was all an innocent accident. So Fiona's hunt for a new flatmate brings the beautiful but vulnerable Bunny to her doorstep - she's fleeing an abusive boyfriend and has an impressive stash of cash. After stuck-in-a-work-rut Fiona goes along on a travel junket intended for Ellie, she meets magazine social diarist Angela-Jean who wants her to fill in while she goes to New Zealand to find herself.
Hannah Swenson is your average year-old. Her mother constantly tries to set her up with every available man in the tiny town of Lake Eden, she is helplessly devoted to her job as the owner of The Cookie Jar - oh, and she just found a dead body behind her store. As the town worries and wonders who the murderer could be, Hannah devotes herself to searching out the guilty party. But can she find the murderer before they kill again? Or will she be the next victim? This mystery takes the reader through all aspects of a good novel: It is the first in a series of Hannah Swenson murder mysteries.
Her most promising response comes from Welsh forester Dougie and soon she's off to his village. This sweet romantic story is flavoured with an unexpectedly strong cast of characters including the obese Eve who dotes on drunkard Peter; a charming couple known as the Worm Gatherers and perpetual student Rizzo who has his eye on the luscious Lisa. It was a case of expecting light, fluffy chocolate mousse and getting so much more. When Tansy needs to start again, she heads to her home village of Sticklepond from Chocolate Wishes to set up her dream shoe shop Cinderella's Slippers.
She gets caught up in listening to the recordings of the life story of her great-aunt, uncovering long-lost family secrets. With moody actor Ivo Hawksley, and her two evil step-sisters meddling in her life, Tansy wonders if she'll ever get her own happy-ever-after. This was a nice, easy, light-hearted read. You immediately bond with Tansy and feel the warmth of her great-aunt Nancy. But for me, the story of Justin her ex doesn't work and it let the book down. Former burlesque dancer Venus de Marley aka Olivia finds out only by reading the New York Times obituaries that her estranged father has died.
Also attending the funeral is year-old Sophie Ashe, who Olivia adopted out as a baby - she thinks that their bonding is what he meant by closing the circle. As Sophie moves in, Olivia fights a legal challenge, puts the players in a raspberry-coloured uniform and drafts some new talent. There's lots of baseball jargon but it helps pull you into the drama of a game.
But it was a bit disconcerting to see that famous team sometimes referred to as Red Sock. Also suggest you skip the conclusion offered in the Extra Innings part of the book. Quinn thought she had found happily ever after with Burke, her high school sweetheart. However, things fell apart for Quinn and Burke - on their wedding day no less - leaving Quinn in a decade-long funk. While everyone else is moving on with life, Quinn is stuck in a rut. When Burke and his brother, Frank, return to town for a wedding, Quinn is forced to face her past head on whether she wants to or not.
While it's obvious that Quinn once loved Burke, it's hard to see what she really saw in him. He's so self-indulgent, unlike Frank. When faced with a second chance, will Quinn choose true love or will she run away once again? This is another stellar read from Harbison, who always intertwines a lesson into her story. It's funny in parts but mainly it's a story of redemption and moving on when you feel as though you can't. Cassie married at a young age, thinking she found "The One", but 10 years later all she has found is heartbreak, betrayal and loss.
To help her get her life back on track her three best friends, Kelly, Anouk and Suzy, hatch a plan for Cassie to live with each of them in the most glamorous cities in the world for four months each. Starting out in New York with Kelly, then Paris with Anouk and finally London with Suzy, Cassie is forced to leave the old her behind and reinvent herself in new and challenging ways.
While at it, she finds love once again, discovers her passion and notices a new woman blossoming after years of being stuck in a home alone most days. But, all things great don't last for Cassie as she sees her new love lost and her newfound passion dissipated after a horrible tragedy. It's only the lists made by Suzy's brother, Henry, that get Cassie through the turmoil and help her find her way. But will she find what she truly wants before the year is up or has she let it slip through her fingers once again?
Karen Swan did an amazing job with this novel. It's wonderful to see Cassie's transformation from a fragile young girl to a worldly sophisticated woman throughout the course of a year. The storyline is spot on and everything that happens seems to be related to something else, giving the reader clues as to what's to come without being too forward. It's chick lit at its most brilliant and it will leave you wanting to spend Christmas at Tiffany's In this festive sequel, Georgie and Tom are blissfully in love, Sam and Nathan are happier than ever and Eddie, is just, well, he's just the glorious Eddie!
When a TV crew turn up at Carrington's store and begin to film scenes for a TV reality show, Georgie isn't sure what is going on. Why hasn't Tom told her anything about this? Kelly, the TV producer, has brought her vile daughter along too and soon, everything Georgie thought was going right in her life seems to be going wrong.
Armed with her two BFFs Sam and Eddie, she finds out what is really important in life and may just be happily surprised by what Santa has up his sleeve for her this Christmas I loved this book. In my eyes, Alexandra Brown can do no wrong and this was just another example of why I love her writing so much. Her characters are believable and loveable apart from the ones you're supposed to hate! There is one scene in this book involving snow and a helicopter that left me in stiches; I love books that can lift your mood so easily!
And, of course, how can you have a book about Carrington's without talk about gorgeous handbags and delectable treats from Sam's cafe? The type of cakes in this book had my mouth watering, and there are recipes at the back. This is a delicious, indulgent novel about cakes, Christmas and the gorgeous cast of eclectic characters that keep the doors of Carrington's open every day.
Clem Alderton is one of Notting Hill's most prestigious party girls. She's gained a reputation over the years for drinking too much, being too easy and then doing it all over again the next day. She's also the girl every woman wants to be and every man wants to be with. She's gorgeous and seems to have it all, yet she can't let the past go. So, one night when she takes her reckless behaviour a little too far, her pristine world of partying and forgetting it all is over. Suddenly, her beloved brother hates her and she's in danger of losing her home and job. In comes a handsome stranger, nicknamed "The Swimmer" for his broad shoulders, who appears at the most unexpected places and does things to Clem that no man ever has.
When he offers her brother the chance to save his business he jumps at it. The only condition is that Clem must go back to the one place she never wants to return to again: Will Clem risk losing her brother's love forever just because she can't bear to face what happened ten years ago? Or will she take the opportunity to do what she should have done years ago? This is a wonderful story, very powerful and well written.
While "The Swimmer" appears stalker-ish and possessive at first, there's no doubt that he is what Clem needs - at least for a little while. It's obvious that Karen Swan has a background in fashion as the detail put into the clothing and styles of the characters is so detailed and exquisite. The ending will definitely shock you, but it's also an ending that will make you smile and feel good. After a year of living in Derbyshire running her sweet shop, Rosie Hopkins is looking forward to spending a cosy Christmas with her boyfriend Stephen, and when she gets round to telling him, her family, who are flying over from Australia.
Life couldn't be better, except that Rosie is struggling to form a relationship with Stephen's mother and she shudders at the thought of the arrival of her own chaotic family. Stephen appears to have his own issues to deal with, which he is keeping close to his chest, and Christmas is starting to look rather stressful. A tragic event hits the village with far-reaching consequences, not least the potential closure of Rosie's shop. Will the community and Rosie be able to overcome the tragedy and be able to enjoy this Christmas and look to the future?
This is the sequel to the very popular Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams and definitely does not disappoint. The original characters are here, including I am glad to say, her aunt Lillian, along with a few new ones. I enjoyed the development of the relationships, and found the dialogue between Stephen's rather stuffy mother and Rosie's somewhat brash mum absolutely hilarious. I did question whether the author could match the first book, which is a firm favourite of mine, and she has!
A great Christmassy read; with wonderful characters and the reader gets the true sense of a community pulling together in a crisis. Issy Randall is back for Christmas at her quaint Cupcake Cafe but will things be the same when her boyfriend, Austin, is sent to New York for work? While Issy couldn't be happier that it's Christmas and time to start baking delicious holiday treats for her customers, the absence of Austin and the fact that he may not be coming home weigh heavy on her heart.
Obviously, Issy can't leave the cafe that she's worked so hard to build. In addition, Pearl and Caroline, though competent workers, couldn't possibly hold things together while Issy was away. But sometimes you just have to have a little faith in your friends and the universe as a whole. Will Issy and Austin make things work or is their fairytale romance finally over?
This is another great read for those who met and loved Issy the first time around. Even if you didn't read the original Cupcake Cafe novel, you can still enjoy Issy and friends in this one because it can easily stand alone. It's a heart-warming Christmas book that will have you rooting for Issy to figure out what she wants most! The women, who are all members of the cookbook committee of the Hope Springs Community Church, are holding a Christmas cake recipe contest.
Margaret, the heart and soul of the group, learns a few weeks before Christmas that her breast cancer has returned and has spread to other organs. Margaret tells her friends that all she wants for Christmas is to visit her deceased mother's hometown in Texas. So the best friends set off in a stolen funeral parlour van across country to fulfill Margaret's wish. Continuing the Hope Springs series, this is a beautifully written holiday story about friendship that you will not be able to put down. This is an enchanting holiday story about three very different people whose paths cross: Mark Nolan, a handsome pessimist who runs a coffee shop on San Juan Island; Holly, who at six years old lost her mom in a tragic car accident, and is now living with her uncles Mark and Sam; and Maggie, a sexy, short toy shop owner with a head full of crimson curls, who lost her husband after only a year of marriage.
Holly connects to Maggie right away but Mark isn't sure about the red head who believes in magic and fairy tales. Lisa Kleypas has a special talent in sweeping the reader away in her stories so you don't want them to end. This is the first in her Friday Harbor series. This is the story of Darby Quinn, who through her many experiences with men realises it may not be worth waiting for her prince to arrive. Many of these exs can be compared to Disney princes for instance Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid is likened to Evan, who turns out to be anything but a prince.
The comparisons of past relationship to these princes is clever and it's interesting to watch Darby as she swears off love forever and then finds Jake, the owner of her favourite restaurant, by getting her shoe stuck and him having to help her out. Darby is a fun character and easy to cheer for. The only question is can she give up on the rules she has about finding Prince Charming and fall in love with Jake after all?
This is a fun, light-hearted read. Recent graduate Girl has had a feminist upbringing and been taught to make a difference. After being fired from her non-profit job for standing up for her rights, she meets Guy at a networking event and he hires her to work for My Company. Her role is to attract Ms magazine into the company's net site. But Girl plans to use her place in corporate America to extract a huge donation for a woman's charity. One of the most panned chicklit books, it's in our Top 10 Most Disappointing.
I had high hopes for City Dog when I first began reading. The idea of an adorable West Highland White Terrier as a main character was unexpected and unique. However, I soon found myself bored with the plot and uninterested in the characters Recently divorced, Amy has put aside her novel to focus on a series of children's books chronicling the adventures of her Westie, Carlie, and Carlie's faithful, albeit fictional, companion, Robert Maguire.
With the success of the books, Carlie is tapped as the star of her own television show and Amy finds herself a reluctant stage mother. As things with the show begin to go awry, and her love life becomes just as confusing, Amy gets a sense that it might be time to return to both her literary, and familial, roots. I kept hoping by the end of the book that the characters would have redeemed themselves. However, I just felt Amy was a sad, depressed divorcee who was letting things happen to her instead of making the life she wanted.
Her romance with Nick, whom she meets at the television studio, lacks any real chemistry and feels more like adolescents on a first date than thirty-somethings looking for a partner to enhance their lives. The most enjoyable parts of the book were the chapters "written" by Carlie. I loved having a dog's point of view on her human. This is a story about life at a Cornwall boarding school for girls - but, unlike most boarding school books, told more from the viewpoint of a new teacher.
Can their long-distance relationship survive and why is she so attracted to David, her opposite number at the boys' school?
There's also principal Veronica Deveral, whose secret past is about to confront her, and French teacher Claire, who's having an affair. For those wanting the students' perspective, there's Fliss who can't wait to get thrown out of the school; scholarship winner Simone who's trying her hardest to fit in; and Alice, the beautiful troublemaker. I enjoyed the fact that all the threads weren't neatly sown up at the end - leaving us wanting to return to Downey House for the sequel. Claudia has just scored the holiday break she desperately needs.
Marcus - her boss and married lover - is sending her on a trip to Greece. All she has to do is deliver an envelope to one of his business contacts, Con, in Athens, and then she is free to soak up the sun on Santorini island. With Marcus forking out for two weeks accommodation - his guilty payoff over the end of their relationship - Claudia invites along her two best friends, Tara and Sophie. But Con seems to be a slippery character - and her piece-of-cake business transaction never seems to eventuate.
Heading off to Santorini, she meets up again with an Australian traveller called Jack. But surely Claudia didn't go all the way to the Greek isles to have a fling with someone from home? Meanwhile Tara, a magazine writer, is hoping the trip will provide all the inspiration she needs for her novel, while Sophie is wondering about the state of her marriage and whether she's cut out to be a mother to her young son. With its glorious setting and enticing plot about women on the brink of 40 weighing up their lives, I had high hopes for this third novel from Heidke. But with characters I just didn't relate to and the oh-so predictable mystery subplot, it was all too tempting to take a break from reading it.
Managing the future of Hollywood stars is no easy feat, yet Zoe Greene pursues her role with tenacity. Best friend, superstar Maggie Hall, realises that ageing and falling in love are completely out of her control. Both women have a secret past where the only family they have ever known is each other. New Yorker Dylan Mercer is beautiful and young. Working her way in Hollywood, Dylan's search isn't for fame and fortune but a more personal one - the search for her birth mother. As the latest romantic novel is set for film production, the role of young Simone is up for grabs; Hollywood beauties are lining up for the role rumoured to catapult any actress into stardom.
It's Zoe's job to find the perfect female to take on the role. Add to the mix a struggling film company; an alcoholic writer in the throws of depression, an egotistic leading man; and a young man with a new heart. And it's a storyline perfect for Hollywood! Close Up is charming, entertaining and funny; taking the reader into an authentic take on Hollywood as three characters embark on their own individual journey without realising their fate and futures lie within the lives of each other.
Even though the reader can at times pre-empt what might happen in the unfolding chapters, it doesn't deter you from turning the page and becoming enthralled in the drama! The reader will cheer for the underdog; shed a tear or two; become mesmerised in a world unknown to the average person and most of all, fall in love with the characters who have real stories behind their Hollywood shells.
Kelly has a dream of sewing and making beautiful things for people. When she graduates from college, she starts working at Clothesline, a retail clothing store in the heart of San Francisco. She meets Sera, a struggling college student trying to make it on her own. When Ana, who becomes an assistant manager with Kelly, tells the girls that she needs to make extra money, they automatically start thinking of ways for all of them to have extra income by going into business with each other.
Their first project is a Mini Vendi-vending machine, then they move on to door-to-door selling and dog grooming. Along the way they start to realise they really don't know that much about each other and Sera and Kelly start to wonder why Ana needs the money. With the crazy ideas they come up with to make extra money, you will love this story about why mixing friendship with money-making maybe it isn't the best idea. Maggie, Roxanne and Candice are best friends who have all found success as employees of Londoner magazine. They look forward to their monthly tradition of meeting at the hip Manhattan Bar to catch up with each other's lives and gossip over cocktails.
Each woman has a secret which she feels as though she cannot tell anyone. Maggie can't tell anyone how she truly feels about her recent life changes, Roxanne must keep hidden the identity of her married lover and Candice feels she must make amends for her family's shameful past. Could these secrets tear them apart?
This is a great story about the strength and challenges of friendships and the power of secrets. Coco Swan lives with her grandmother, Ruth, after her mother passed away when she was young. Though her friends think she needs to move on and go out on her own, Coco is more than content to stay around and work in the family antique shop. When she finds a valuable Coco Chanel bag at the bottom of a box of junk, however, her life is changed.
Inside the bag is a letter which seems to beg Coco to find its recipient if it's the last thing she does. Almost immediately she sets off on a quest to reunite the bag and its owner but discovers a lot more about herself in the process. While Coco is a sweet character, the issue with her name bewildered me a bit.
In a day and age where people are naming their children all sorts of things, it doesn't seem like there would be as much issue with Coco as there was. Her embarrassment over her name was slightly ridiculous and detracted from the real story a bit. Otherwise, Coco's journey to reunite the Chanel bag and its owner was a charming one with a cast full of well-meaning characters each facing their own dilemmas. Iestyn Bevan doesn't have a lot of luck with the ladies, instead he pines after fellow farmer Menna Edwards.
Menna seems more interested in her rugby shirts and rams. Iestyn enlists the advice of Johnny 'Brechden' - the local stud - and his brother's girlfriend, the lovely Sima, life coach extraordinaire.
Someone to Love
She grasped her long skirt in her hand and sprinted to the end of the hall, pausing before the table. Or so she imagined. The thought of taking the artifact in her hands and descending the flight of stairs to scurry to her carriage, which was waiting several houses down the street and around the corner, terrified her. But she knew their options were limited and their time quickly running out.
Jude shook her head, casting out any lingering doubts. Her family needed help, and if she and Sam could provide their eldest sister with a fraction of financial security, then they owed her that. The intricately crafted piece belonged in a museum; a place where the public could admire its beauty and historical worth, not hidden away in this dusty old house.
Not one to turn down the opportunity to give something a freedom formerly denied, Jude grabbed the vase, surprised at its weightlessness in her hands. Holding her breath once more, she descended the stairs two at a time before halting at the closed door that separated the stairwell from the hall that led from the front of the house to the kitchen.
A shiver went through her. Her body was alert to the oddness of it all, but she pushed the door open and made her way to the room right off the main foyer. There, a window still stood ajar, waiting for her to crawl back through and lower herself to the shrubs below. Jude only prayed she made it home safely—and that Marce, her eldest sister, appreciated all Jude did to help support everyone who sought refuge at Craven House.
Not that Marce could ever know where the money came from, only that it appeared in her private chambers—as if from thin air. It was her last opportunity to turn around, return the vase to its rightful place, and depart with no one the wiser. Jude plucked at the sturdy wool of her filth-streaked pinafore as she held her breath to keep the wretched smells at bay. The stink of unwashed bodies, moldy, forgotten food, and wet animal was overpowered only by the stench of a coppery odor she knew to be spilled blood. For many years, she counted herself lucky to possess several dresses—even though she shared each with Samantha.
A sliver of the rising sun outside the narrow window of her cell allowed a slice of light to penetrate her dank enclosure; though Jude would have been happy to remain ignorant of her despicable surroundings. Her dress, though made from a thick material, still snagged on the rough, splintering bench below her.
But after hours of standing—and pacing—Jude had to rest her aching legs. It was either the sticky, grimy, wooden bench or the more intolerable hard-packed dirt floor littered with discarded food and a pail filled with what she was told was water but appeared murkier than the River Thames. The trouble she presumed herself in. They were to sell the piece, give the money to Marce, and be free to live with some semblance of peace knowing their home was safe.
They should have known that a stolen vase would not go unnoticed and unreported in the post. They should not have been so delusional as to think they could take the vase and gain coin for it as easily as selling wares inside the marketplace. No one had come to inquire about her well-being; no offers of refreshment or fare, no blanket to ward off the night chill. The window was too narrow for her to wiggle through and the door was bolted from the outside.
It should have been easy. The perfect time for their heist. Jude had quickly retrieved the cap, tugged it back into place to hide her red hair, and continued toward a door she hoped would open to a garden sitting area…and her freedom. Not the shouts of an infuriated lord or the call to halt by a faithful servant, but rather the searing shriek of a child. Jude barely glanced over her shoulder to see her identifier before rushing through the door, along the side of the house, and around to the narrow lane behind the row of townhouses.
Her tousled hair fell around her shoulders, still crimped from her plaits. A pristine white night shift gathered at her throat in a bow. The night watchman was rushing around the corner, his lamp held high to illuminate his way. The swinging lamp sent light reflecting off the dinted piece of metal as they both stood stock-still, staring at one another. The pair was caught in the small circle of light given off by the uplighter. His expression was likely a mirror image of hers; fright. She was an unchaperoned woman, dressed in a less than fashionable gown with a cap hiding her hair.
It was reasonable for the constable to question her on principle alone, for what woman would be traversing the deserted London streets at close to midnight? Certainly, she should not have agreed to the harebrained notion in the first place. Marce would have counseled against it. Most night watchmen took to their route with nothing more than a billy club as protection. And so, the standoff continued.
Jude gave in to her exhaustion and leaned back against the grimy wall, needing to forget her many mistakes.
She settled against the cold wall of her locked cell and drew her knees to her chest, allowing her dress to cover her chilled feet. As her head met the hard surface of the stone, she closed her eyes, begging her tears to stay where they belonged, unshed. She would not cry. She breathed deeply, allowing the stench of her surroundings to invade her nostrils and then expelled gradually, slowing her pulse. Jude would share her horrid dream with Sam. Marce reminded her younger sisters, daily, each time they offered their complaints, that many women were much less fortunate than they. At least they had a roof over their heads, food in their pantry, and some hope for a more fruitful future if they minded their behavior and attracted fine suitors.
And a new dress or two for them all would be appreciated, especially since Lady Haversham had been so kind as to sponsor their societal debut. From somewhere outside the cell, Jude heard loud, angry voices. They were muffled by the wall and door separating her from other parts of the building housing her, but the aggression in the dominant voice was unmistakable.
Jude would prefer a large hole open in the room and swallow her, as opposed to the force of nature currently headed her way. Only moments would pass before the ire presently unleashed on the night watchman who dared keep Miss Judith Pengarden locked in a room, would be refocused on Jude herself.
I am certain you know both the earl and the duke. They will quickly settle all this once and for all. Most certainly not proper accommodations for a woman of her status. Newman would not purposely apprehend an innocent young woman. Marce, her blonde hair falling down her back unrestrained and her coat buttoned down her front, stormed into the room with Garrett close on her heels. She could have been set upon by any sort of unsavory character.
She was without a chaperone and was unwilling to give me any information about herself beyond your direction, Lord Garrett. Her sister may be vehemently protective of her siblings, but that in no way meant she coddled them. Jude knew better than to speak. It was a rhetorical question meant to keep her silent, for Marce was in no way finished talking.
Jakeston, as you should have been. You also did not arrive home with Samantha. I dare say you did not so much as depart with your twin at the start of your evening. However, here Jude sat: Garrett stepped between his sisters. After Jude is allowed a hot—very hot—bath to cleanse this awful stink from her. Mockingly, he brought a loose tendril of her hair to his nose and sniffed, disgust masking his teasing nature. Both for you and our family as a whole. She left Garrett and Jude staring blankly at one another. It was highly likely Jude would never be adept at such things.
Thankfully, she had no interest in repeating her actions. Not until their financial situation became increasingly dire, at least. She vowed to refocus on being rid of the vase and not entangling herself in any more harrowing escapades about London. Jude turned rounded eyes on her elder brother—the lone wolf of a family full of females.
She and Garrett nodded to the watchman as they crossed the threshold into the cool morning air. A little bird chirped in the tree bordering the front walk. Both remained quiet as a man came down the path before them.
The stranger removed his hat and nodded to Marce in greeting. If her sister issued any response, it was too quiet for Jude to hear. His hair fell across his forehead at the movement, but he quickly brushed it aside. As he did, Jude noticed the youthfulness of his face.
It was very much like Garrett to puff his chest when faced with a gentleman of peerage, something he longed to be but had given up on years before—the forgotten younger son of a deceased lord. Their sister left her siblings for only one short week every year. Sometimes it was immediately following the holiday season, other times it was during the summer months, but she always returned a bit lighter in nature. She cared for so many—receiving nothing in return. If she sought a few days to live a normal, carefree life then Jude could not blame her for taking it.
Take her life and future into her own hands, provide for herself instead of partaking in what Marce worked tirelessly to provide for them.
Get A Copy
Far too young and innocent to take on any further responsibilities. A way to help support their large household and push the debt collectors back. Our dear eldest sister will be fighting off my hungry suitors! Jude swatted at him and he hurriedly scooted out of her reach on the bench seat, fluttering his hand as if fanning the heat from his face.
He jested with Jude constantly. He loved his sisters, but Jude especially. Though he was a man about town, he never went long without visiting Craven House, no matter how often Marce insisted she did not need his concern over their well-being. The trio settled into a companionable silence as their carriage traversed the bustling morning streets. Each was lost to their own musings as the carriage found its way quickly home. But she rebuffed his assistance and he turned back to Marce. The envelope was labeled as clearly as the others Jude had seen: In that instant, Jude regretted her decisions for the night, yet at the same time, knew the ends justified the means.
She must remember she was, indeed, helping Marce and everyone who called Craven House their home. Though she needed to focus more on not getting caught if her great measures were to help and not hinder everything her family had worked so hard for. Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories.
Christina enjoys a quiet life in Northern California with her family, her wine, and lots of coffee. Most days she can be found writing, reading, or traveling the great state of California. His age should not exceed thirty years, and he should be of pleasant and amiable disposition. His income not to be less than two hundred guineas per annum. Of course, once it came out that it was one of those shameless Brandon women, it became quite clear. And recently there was that Crim.
But I was telling you about how this shameless hussy somehow managed to entrap the most eligible bachelor of all, the Honourable Mr. Percival Braidwood, whose blond locks gleam like gold and who has the profile of a Greek god. How she got him to answer such an advertisement is beyond me, or maybe she just took advantage of him staying in an inn where she was perusing likely candidates.
I am certain she must have managed to arrange for him to compromise her in some way, and he such a gentlemen he had no choice but to offer marriage! I spent the entire season trying to catch Mr. We were a perfect foil, my raven locks and his golden ones. Listen, if you breathe a word to the Honourable Mrs.
What does she say? Oh, Isolde is putting a brave face on it and declaring it a love match. I even found one of her disappointed suitors, whose hand and heart she spurned for greater wealth, despite the poor man being a widower with young children. Have you any beaux? Send post-paid envelope to … oh, to some inn. Sarah Waldock grew up in Suffolk and still resides there, in charge of a husband, and under the ownership of sundry cats. They like to help her write and may be found engaging in such helpful pastimes as turning the screen display upside-down, or typing random messages in kittycode into her computer.
Sarah claims to be an artist who writes. Her degree is in art, and she got her best marks writing essays for it. She writes largely historical novels, in order to retain some hold on sanity in an increasingly insane world. There are some writers who claim to write because they have some control over their fictional worlds, but Sarah admits to being thoroughly bullied by her characters who do their own thing and often refuse to comply with her ideas.
It makes life more interesting, and she enjoys the surprises they spring on her. Sarah has tried most of the crafts and avocations which she mentions in her books, on the principle that it is easier to write about what you know. She does not ride horses, since the Good Lord in his mercy saw fit to invent Gottleib Daimler to save her from that experience; and she has not tried blacksmithing.
She would like to wave cheerily at anyone in any security services who wonder about middle aged women who read up about making gunpowder and poisonous plants. Oliver knows he has bungled things badly, but he is determined to win the woman he loves, even if he must travel through time to do it. Frankly, the initial first draft writing is much more exciting for me than making revisions. Want to know how Lady Pendleton evolved? OMG, I forgot to get my blog post up today!
Is it time for lunch already? People are more important than things, right? Suze Orman always says so. OMG, is it 5: As you can see, deadlines are a necessary evil. So I am learning to set deadlines for myself. And I still have several others after that, which will keep both Mari and me busy for the foreseeable future. Lady Pendleton, a time-traveling Regency lady herself, suspects that these two belong together. First, however, she must help Helena discover her true origins—and hopefully, a home where she belongs.
James stared incredulously at Sir Henry, who, for once, was not wearing his normal easy-going expression. Instead, he leaned against the mantel of the fireplace of his study, studying the grate as though there were a fire blazing in it. In spite of her words, she looked worn out. Strands of her blonde hair were falling out of her chignon, and he thought he saw the remains of tears on her cheeks. They were fond of Miss Dray. No signs of foul play. The doctor says it was natural causes—her heart just gave out.
His wife erupted in sobs again, and James decided he should find his daughter and leave the Newsomes to their grief, giving voice to that decision. The nanny will manage until Mother can send us a replacement. Emily and Theodosia simply love having Annabelle around, and it will only distress them further if she leaves as well. She has a way with babies, it seems.
James was not convinced. Lady Sarah smiled in spite of herself. Sir Henry winked at him. I think she liked you well enough. Or so she says. She was quite an eyeful. Lady Sarah looked thoughtful. Where did she come from? Sir Henry grinned as he looked down at her. Surely you know by now how unpredictable she can be. James cleared his throat. If you would be so kind as to call her down… I can send for her things later.
Lady Sarah was so vehement that he could see she was almost ready to burst into tears again, and after Sir Henry shook his head in warning, James visited his daughter briefly and left without her. Would he be seeing them again? We buy inexpensive and quirky little items that begin with that letter and get together for a Stuffing Stockings with Stupid Stuff party. We play board games, have some drinks, eat some food and just enjoy an evening of laughter and fun.
Decorating the Christmas tree with my family, then watching Christmas Vacation. Hunting for that perfect tree, preferably a fresh-cut one, and decorating it.