Review: 'Evie's Year of Taking Chances' by Christie Barlow (2017)

Evie’s job has always been her safe haven. As a librarian in the little town of Becton she loses herself in books - after all it’s far easier to read about other people’s problems than set about solving her own. 
Then, one birthday, everything is turned upside down. A mysterious parcel containing a beautiful book with a poignant inscription arrives for Evie. It’s the beginning of a new chapter for Evie and she’s inspired to try and find her real mother. 
Evie’s search leads her to meet handsome author Noah Jones. Charming and intelligent, Noah seems the perfect catch but what Evie doesn’t realise is that he is hiding something – a key to Evie’s past. 
As Evie gets closer to Noah and discovering her mother, she must take a giant leap of faith. Can she embrace the new and make this her year of taking chances? And if she does, will she get her heart broken?
Over the past year and a half or so I’ve had the pleasure of reading several of author Christie Barlow’s novels. I’m a big fan of publisher Bookouture, which is how I was introduced to Christie’s works, namely when I requested a review copy via NetGalley of her novel ‘Kitty’s Countryside Dream.’ I ended up really loving the book, and since then I’ve been looking out for other reads by this author. Since that first novel I’ve also read ‘Lizzie’s Christmas Escape’ and her ‘The Misadventures of a Playground Mother’ series. I have to admit I wasn’t too big a fan of the last one mentioned there, but I was definitely curious to check out Christie’s latest release, ‘Evie’s Year of Taking Chances’, which promised to be a great chick lit read…
Twenty-something Evie has a pretty good life; she loves her job as a librarian and she has some great people around her in the town of Becton, particularly her best friend and colleague Clara and her foster mother Irene. Yet, every single year on her birthday Evie can’t help but wonder whatever happened to her real mother; why was she unable to take care of her and where could she be now? One year, Evie decides it’s time to finally start searching for some answers to her questions so she tries to find her birth mother. At the same time, however, there is someone else who makes an unexpected reappearance in Evie’s life; eight months ago she developed a crush on author Noah, but never bumped into him again after that. Now he’s back in town and, most important of all, seems to be interested in her… Will Evie be able to make the best of this new year, full with chances, or will it all just be a bit too much in one go?
When I read my first Christie Barlow novel, ‘Kitty’s Countryside Dream’, I immediately developed a liking for the author’s writing style and loved the story she had come up with. However, the books I’ve read since then just didn’t quite manage to live up to that very first novel I picked up, in my opinion. However, I’m happy to say ‘Evie’s Year of Taking Chances’ did manage to capture that same feeling, and really was another captivating and warm-hearted chick lit read I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. The book has realistic characters at its core, and also ones that are easy to warm to and root for. I liked Evie from the start, and also thought there were some wonderful secondary characters that really added their own touch to the story as a whole (I especially liked Clara, Evie’s best friend and colleague).
I quite like it when the main storyline of a novel consists of several different aspects and different things are going on. This was also the case for this book and I was really curious to see how everything would work out, even ending up being a bit surprised by some of the events (don’t want to give anything away!). Christie Barlow’s writing style also fits the chick lit genre really well, so if you’re a chick lit fan and curious to check out one of her reads, don’t hesitate to start with this one. All in all, I’m really happy to say I was once again convinced by Christie Barlow’s writing with her latest release; ‘Evie’s Year of Taking Chance’ is a lovely and wonderful story filled with smiles, love and friendship; a thoroughly nice feel-good read!

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'The Misadventures of a Playground Mother' by Christie Barlow (2016)

After a year of country living, Rachel Young is finally getting into the swing of things. Her four kids are happy and content at the village school, and she’s managed to navigate the choppy (shark-infested) waters of the playground mafia. 
Or… so she thought. 
When playground mum Penelope Kensington moves herself and her kids into Rachel’s home, after discovering husband Rupert has been having an affair, Rachel knows she must ask them politely to leave. The problem is, Penelope never takes no for an answer. 
As Rachel tries to deal with Penelope, she also meets new school mum Melanie. Melanie is a breath of fresh air, but her arrival sends ripples of gossip through the playground. Melanie has a few secrets in her closet, and it seems she’s not the only one…
Ever since I read her novel ‘Kitty’s Countryside Dream’ (click here to read my review), which I really enjoyed, I haven’t been able to stop myself from picking up any book that has author Christie Barlow’s name on the cover. Since then I’ve read her novels ‘Lizzie’s Christmas Escape’ and ‘A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother’, and I currently have her latest upcoming release, ‘Evie’s Year of Taking Chances’ waiting for me. However, today I have a review of the sequel to ‘A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother’ to share with all of you. ‘The Misadventures of a Playground Mother’ had been part of my to-review shelf for quite some time already, so it was definitely time for me a few weeks back to finally give it a go!  
It has been roughly a year since Rachel Young, her husband Matt and their four children made their big move to the countryside. One thing Rachel was keen to leave behind was the challenge of getting along with the Playground Maffia, but the school gate politics in their little village turned out to be almost just as fierce. When Rachel’s ‘frenemy’ Penelope Kensington is dealing with some marital problems, she moves into the Young family home and Rachel is having incredible difficulty getting her out again. Luckily she meets new mum Melanie during the school pick-up and a friendship blooms up between the two of them. But every day at the school gates continues to bring new challenges, especially with someone like Penelope Kensington roaming the grounds…
I read Christie Barlow’s ‘A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother’ last year, and even though I wasn’t completely blown away by the book, I was curious to check out its sequel, ‘The Misadventures of a Playground Mother.’ In this second book we once again join Rachel and her family, but while the first book focused a bit more on actual playground politics, this one seems to move away from that a bit. The focus is really on Rachel and some of the other mums, particularly Penelope, who is one of the most frustrating characters I’ve personally ever come across. The fact that Rachel lets her get away with all the things that she does was quite unbelievable to me, and I couldn’t help but feel things just went on for way too long. Kudos for Rachel being a saint, but almost any other person would have already given up on Penelope way sooner, if you ask me…!
I’m glad Melanie, a new mother with kids going to the same school, was introduced to the story, because this really added a nice new touch to it all. While I did enjoy the book more than the first one, I still couldn’t help but not get a real click with it and the characters. I’ve really liked all other Christie Barlow’s reads I’ve read so far, but these books just don’t really seem to work that well for me. That being said, I’m sure there are readers out there who will really enjoy this, so don’t let my review put you off. All in all, ‘The Misadventures of a Playground Mother’ is a rather entertaining sequel with some nice elements in there, but still not entirely the novel for me.

Rating:7,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother' by Christie Barlow (2015)

Fed up with the playground mafia at her children’s school, Rachel Young is desperate for a change. 
With her family and various pets in tow, a picture-perfect village in the countryside beckons. There, Rachel’s children will be able to keep chickens and skip through fields and she’ll bid farewell to the botoxed, fake-Gucci wearing Mumzillas forever.
But at the new school the mums are even worse, and before long, Rachel finds herself contending with a motley crew including Mrs High School Musical, The International Sex God and The Frisky Pensioner. 
While the children are practicing their sums and perfecting their reading, Rachel is learning some harsh lessons on the other side of the school gates, and ruffling plenty of feathers along the way…
Bookouture is one of my favourite publishers, and they are also the ones that introduced me to author Christie Barlow last year. I thoroughly enjoyed her novel 'Kitty's Countryside Dream' (click here to read my review) and also really liked her Christmas-themed release 'Lizzie's Christmas Escape', which I read at the end of last year. I got a review copy of 'Misadventures of a Playground Mother', one of her other books, but quickly realised this is actually the sequel to 'A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother' and whenever possible I definitely prefer to start at the beginning of a series. So, I got a copy of the first instalment and was curious to give it a go!
Rachel Young and her family are on the verge of a new adventure as Rachel and her husband decide to move the whole family to the idyllic English countryside. With the ideas of rolling green hills and lovely small villages in her head, Rachel can’t wait for the move to finally happen. One of the things she particularly can’t wait to leave behind is the playground mafia; the gossiping mums at the school gates who seem to judge her with every blink of an eye. No need to say Rachel is quite surprised when she discovers the playground politics in the countryside might be even worse than in the city. Without even wanting to, she gets mixed up in all of it and once you’re in, it’s quite difficult to manage to find your way out again, especially without obtaining any damage…
School gate politics has been quite a popular topic to write about for several years now. It’s a topic I don’t have any personal experience with since I don’t have any children (yet), but it’s been a topic that caught my interest and over the years I’ve read several books focusing on this subject. I was curious to see where this particular one would go and what author Christie Barlow would do with the story. The focus was mainly on protagonist Rachel; and where I was expecting her four children and husband Matt to also take on a particular role in the storyline, they hardly made an appearance, to my personal surprise. The spotlight was really on Rachel and some of the other mums in the school playground, such as Penelope, which of course shed some light on that particular side of school ground politics and not so much on the home/family aspect of it all. 
While I liked the setting and basic plotline of this novel, and it is definitely witty and amusing in places, I couldn’t help but miss something while reading it. I can’t really specify what it is exactly, but I just didn’t connect with any of the characters and was constantly waiting for the storyline to really grab me, but it just didn’t. I’m not saying I really didn’t enjoy this read, because I did, but I do think I was somehow expecting more, also based on the other Christie Barlow novels I’ve read and really liked. So, on the whole, ‘A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother’ was not exactly the read I was hoping it would be, but it is still a witty and enjoyable take on school ground politics, and I am curious to see whether the sequel to this book is perhaps more up my street!

Rating:7,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Review: 'Lizzie's Christmas Escape' by Christie Barlow (2016)

Every Christmas Lizzie promises herself that things will change and she will leap into the new year a new woman. And yet here she is again, at the beginning of December and nothing is different. Her girls have grown up and left home, her husband Henry is slumped in front of the TV and she is alone in the kitchen, seeking refuge in the cooking sherry and talking to her Gary Barlow calendar. She’s also been very diverted by handsome new neighbour Marcus and she knows she shouldn’t be … 
So when best friend Ann suggests a weekend away in the country, Lizzie jumps at the chance. Will this Christmas escape give Lizzie some much needed perspective and allow her to mend her marriage? Or will Marcus prove to be too much of a distraction?
Earlier this year I got the chance to check out author Christie Barlow's writing when I found myself with a review copy of her novel 'Kitty's Countryside Dream'. I really enjoyed the book (click here to read my review) and was quite keen to check out another one of Christie Barlow's works, in this case her Christmas novel 'Lizzie's Christmas Escape.' The cover of the book is so cute and colourful and the description definitely piqued my interest, so I looked forward to checking it out and hoped I'd enjoy it just as much as 'Kitty's Countryside Dream', and that it would be able to already get me in the Christmas spirit...!
Lizzie Stevens has been married to her husband Henry for years. They started off their marriage being head over heels in love with each other, but now that their two daughters have left the family home, it seems the emptiness has taken over all parts of Lizzie's life. The only thing Henry seems to care about is whether dinner is on the table when he gets back from work and watching darts on TV every evening, while Lizzie wants and needs more from their marriage. When handsome new neighbour Marcus appears on the scene, Lizzie can't help but be taken in by his charm and attention. This Christmas Lizzie will need to make some important decisions; decisions that can change everything for not just her, but also her family... and what better way to get a clear head than taking a short break from it all?
When I picked up 'Lizzie's Christmas Escape' I was already slightly familiar with author Christie Barlow after having read, and really enjoyed, her previous novel 'Kitty's Countryside Dream'. I hoped I would also enjoy this festive read and I'm happy to say I did. The book focuses on main character Lizzie Stevens who is stuck in an unhappy marriage. When she meets her new neighbour Marcus some sparkle is brought back into her life and Lizzie is forced to suddenly rethink a few things. I have to admit I expected a slightly more Christmassy read and one that focused more on the 'escape' that is referred to in the title, but even though the book didn't really meet those particular expectations, I still really enjoyed it. 
One of the best elements in the novel is Lizzie's relationship with her best friend Ann. The two have been friends for a really long time and are there for each other, no matter what. While the other secondary characters are interesting as well, I found myself especially looking forward to those scenes with both Lizzie and Ann, discussing the issues in their lives and experiencing new things together. I think Christie Barlow's writing is great; it flows really well and didn't bore me at any time. On the whole, 'Lizzie's Christmas Escape' is a thoroughly enjoyable and good chick lit read; not as festive as I initially thought, but a great read nonetheless.

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

New Release: 'Lizzie's Christmas Escape' by Christie Barlow

Every Christmas Lizzie promises herself that things will change and she will leap into the new year a new woman. And yet here she is again, at the beginning of December and nothing is different. Her girls have grown up and left home, her husband Henry is slumped in front of the TV and she is alone in the kitchen, seeking refuge in the cooking sherry and talking to her Gary Barlow calendar. She’s also been very diverted by handsome new neighbour Marcus and she knows she shouldn’t be …

So when best friend Ann suggests a weekend away in the country, Lizzie jumps at the chance. Will this Christmas escape give Lizzie some much needed perspective and allow her to mend her marriage? Or will Marcus prove to be too much of a distraction?

Yesterday, on 21 October, Christie Barlow's latest novel 'Lizzie's Christmas Escape' was released and it's an October release I can't wait to pick up myself. I really enjoyed Christie Barlow's novel 'Kitty's Countryside Dream' and have been looking forward to picking up another one of her books. Next to that, this book has just a lovely festive cover and I can't wait to dive into this year's Christmas novels... Definitely at the top of my October wishlist!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Review: 'Kitty's Countryside Dream' by Christie Barlow (2016)

New home. New life. New beginning. Love affairs can blossom in the most unlikely places...

When Kitty inherits Bluebell Lodge from her grandmother, a farm in the beautiful Staffordshire countryside, it’s time for fresh air and a fresh start. Up to her elbows in chickens and ponies, Kitty soon realises there’s an awful lot to learn about farming. Still, at least the locals seem friendly, not least her handsome neighbour Tom… 

But just as Kitty is beginning to find her feet, and the possibility of love, the discovery of a long-hidden diary, by a mysterious character called Violet changes everything. Who is Violet and what is her message for Kitty? As Kitty fills in the lost pieces of her family jigsaw and discovers some shocking revelations, will her countryside dream and blossoming relationship fall to pieces? When it comes to life in the country, nothing is ever quite as it seems …

I think I've mentioned before that I'm a big fan of publisher Bookouture. They have a lot of great authors (Jenny Hale, Mandy Baggot, Marcie Steele, to name a few) and I'm always willing to give any of their chick lit/women's fiction titles a try. This also goes for Christie Barlow, an author that's completely new to me and one I've been quite curious about for some time now. I've read multiple good reviews of her works, so when I got a review copy of her novel 'Kitty's Countryside Dream' via NetGalley, I was really excited to give her writing a go. Based on the cover, I already had a good feeling about this book, but it's always wait and see to discover whether the inside is what you expected or not...!

Sometimes life gives you just what you need at the exact right time... This is also what happens to Kitty, who is still grieving her beloved mother, and is desperately in need of a fresh start somewhere new. The unexpected inheritance from a grandmother she didn't even knew was still alive brings Kitty to a small town in Staffordshire, where she is now the owner of a flat and Bluebell Lodge, a chicken farm. The fact that Kitty knows absolutely nothing about farming or chickens seems a bit daunting at first, but luckily her handsome neighbour Tom is more than willing to help out. Slowly but surely it starts to feel as if Kitty is building up something new for herself, but everything is once again shook up when she finds a hidden diary at the farm; a diary that holds a few secrets Kitty had no idea about...

I was really excited to pick up my first Christie Barlow read and rightfully so; I can't believe it took me so long to finally check out this author because I loved 'Kitty's Countryside Dream' from beginning to end! The book has a great plot at its core with a wonderful collection of characters that held my attention throughout the story. Kitty is a lovely heroine and I really enjoyed joining her at Bluebell Lodge, trying to figure everything out, with the help of her neighbour Tom and new friend Jeannie, who were both interesting and fun characters that also brought their own little something to the story. I really like novels in which the author decides to divert a bit from the main plot and also add in some extra, smaller, storylines for secondary characters while still linking everything to each other and Christie Barlow did a great job doing just that in this novel. 

The book focuses mainly on family and friendship as its main topics with a nice dose of romance and even a bit of mystery added to it. I was really captivated by the book from start to finish and think this is a great read if you have a few hours to yourself, whether you're on the beach, in the park or simply at home in a comfy chair. 'Kitty's Countryside Dream' is a feel-good, heart-warming and compelling story that I thoroughly enjoyed; the perfect Spring/Summer read and one that has already got me really looking forward to the next Christie Barlow read I'll be picking up!
Rating:9,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.