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Showing posts with label katie oliver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label katie oliver. Show all posts

2 April 2016

Review: 'Who Needs Mr Willoughby' by Katie Oliver (2016)

What should rule - your head, or your heart?

When sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood are forced to leave their family home to live in a rural Northumberland cottage, Marianne is convinced her social life is over. Somehow, she can’t see kitten heels coping well in the countryside – and being stuck in the middle of nowhere, miles from London, sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. Not to mention her arrogant new boss, Dr Brandon, who doesn’t seem to think much of her city ways.

When she meets the gallant, charming and handsome Mr Willoughby, Marianne begins to think that country life might not be so bad after all…especially when he suggests that marriage might be on the cards. But the countryside still has a few tricks up its sleeve for Marianne…after all, love rarely turns blossoms in the most convenient places!

On the 24th of March the third part of Katie Oliver's latest book series, The Jane Austen Factor, was released by publisher Carina UK. 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby' is a retelling of Jane Austen's classic 'Sense and Sensibility', which I'm sure people who know the book already managed to get out of the title. A few weeks ago I read and reviewed the second part of the series, 'The Trouble with Emma' (click here to read my review), which I really loved and is a modern-day retelling of Austen's 'Emma.' I couldn't wait to check out this last part as well, even though I have to be honest and admit I'm quite sad to see this so far great series finish!

The lives of the Dashwood family, consisting of sisters Marianne and Elinor and their mother, are suddenly changed when they are forced to leave their home and move to a cottage in rural Northumberland instead. Marianne feels there's nothing positive the countryside could possibly bring her and finds it difficult to settle in. She manages to find a job at the local veterinary office, but her new boss Mr. Brandon is quite a challenge to please. When Marianne meets the handsome Mr. Willoughby, she is over the moon; finally something to keep her distracted from her rather boring new life. But as they embark on a romance, Marianne has no idea the countryside still has quite a few unexpected events in store for her...

I still don't exactly know why it took me so long to finally pick up one of Katie Oliver's novels, but after having read this second one of hers I am convinced her books are definite must-reads for any Jane Austen fan out there! 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby' is a modern-day retelling of Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility' and Katie Oliver decided to go with a mix of elements from both modern times and Austen's original stories. The story is told from the perspective of Marianne, the younger of the two Dashwood sisters, and I loved how the author portrayed a more modern version of the character while also staying true to her original personality (especially Marianne's love for drama!). I have to say I've always been more of an Elinor fan myself and would have liked it if a bit more focus had been put on her as well, but it didn't make me enjoy Marianne's story any less.

You don't need to be familiar with the other parts of this book series or Austen's original novel in order to understand what's going on in the book; it can definitely be read and picked up as a stand-alone. Katie Oliver's writing is really great, in my opinion. The book is well-paced and the chapters are of a good length, not too long and not too short. I am really quite sad to see this series come to an end and can only keep my fingers crossed and hope Katie Oliver will decide to turn Austen's remaining three novels into modern-day retellings as well! Overall, 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby' is another entertaining, well-written and simply great modern retelling of an Austen classic; definitely worth picking up for any Austen or chick lit fan!
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.

18 March 2016

Upcoming Release: 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby?' by Katie Oliver!


What should rule - your head, or your heart?

When sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood are forced to leave their family home to live in a rural Northumberland cottage, Marianne is convinced her social life is over. Somehow, she can’t see kitten heels coping well in the countryside – and being stuck in the middle of nowhere, miles from London, sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. Not to mention her arrogant new boss, Dr Brandon, who doesn’t seem to think much of her city ways.

When she meets the gallant, charming and handsome Mr Willoughby, Marianne begins to think that country life might not be so bad after all…especially when he suggests that marriage might be on the cards. But the countryside still has a few tricks up its sleeve for Marianne…after all, love rarely turns blossoms in the most convenient places!

On the 24th of March the third part of Katie Oliver's 'The Jane Austen Factor' series will be released and it's a release I can't wait to read! 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby?' is a retelling of Jane Austen's classic 'Sense and Sensibility' and I am really excited to see what author Katie Oliver has done with the story. I loved 'The Trouble with Emma', part two of this book series, and I have a good feeling I'll enjoy this third part just as much, if not even more!

5 March 2016

Review: 'The Trouble with Emma' by Katie Oliver (2016)

There’s a fine line between matchmaking and meddling…

Stuck in a boring job, living at home with her parents and without even a glimmer of romance on the horizon, Emma Bennet’s life isn’t turning out how she planned. And since hit reality show Mind Your Manors started being filmed at the Bennet household, she’s felt more like a spare part than ever.

Matchmaking her assistant, Martine, is just the distraction Emma needs – and, whether Martine likes it or not, Emma is determined to see her coupled up before long! But when she meets Mark Knightley, the genius behind Mind Your Manors, Emma finds her own heart on the line...

Mark is everything Emma isn’t: quiet, reserved…and forever minding his own business! And suddenly, Emma is determined to prove to Mark that she’s ready to stop thinking about other people’s love lives – and focus on her own.

Ever since I read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ when I was in secondary school, I’ve been in love with Jane Austen and her novels. I’ll give any adaptation or retelling of her works at least a try (yes, I’ve also read ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ and am still not quite sure what to think of it…), so when I discovered author Katie Oliver was releasing a new series titled ‘The Jane Austen Factor’, to be published by author Carina UK, I immediately got excited. To be honest, I have no idea why it has taken me so long to finally check out one of Katie Oliver’s books, because she’s a big Austen fan as well and this comes back in many of her works. However, I luckily managed to get a review copy of ‘The Trouble with Emma’, which is quite a new release, and I was really excited to start reading!

Emma Bennet’s life definitely isn’t as exciting as she would like it to be. She still lives at home together with her father and younger sister, there’s no special man in her life, and she has no fantastic job to keep her occupied. So, when she sees a great opportunity for matchmaking the in-house help Martine, Emma immediately considers it her new project. However, other things are about to turn Emma's life upside down when her family home is chosen to be the next country house featured on TV show 'Mind Your Manors.' When she meets Mark Knightley, who works behind the scenes of the show, Emma can't help but be intrigued and start wondering whether it might be time to start focussing on her own love life instead that of others...

I've read hardly any modern-day adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novel 'Emma', but Katie Oliver's 'The Trouble with Emma' is definitely my favourite so far. I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary retelling from start to finish and didn't want to put it down. Of course I was already familiar with the basic plotline of the book, but author Katie Oliver really added some great modern elements and twists to the story, making it not just a great read for Austen fans but for chick lit fans as well. It's quite a challenge to have a main character who is on the one hand quite frustrating and difficult to warm to, but on the other hand you can't help but find yourself rooting for her. That's one of the strengths of Austen's original novel, in my opinion, and in this retelling the author has done a wonderful job with this as well, because I did really like Emma (but wanted to slap her in the face every now and again as well!).

The secondary characters in the novel, such as Mark Knightley, Emma's father and younger sister, and Martine, really had the author's own touch and interpretation and I loved what she did with them and how she made everything fit together. I really found myself flying through the pages of this book. Katie Oliver's writing style is fantastic; the chapters were of a perfect length and it was just a well-paced and comfortable read which I didn't want to put down. I also want to quickly mention the book covers of this series which I love; they're a great combination of modern and historical times, which suits the series really well. I'm so glad I finally got to read one of Katie Oliver's books and already can't wait to pick up the first and third instalments of her 'The Jane Austen Factor' series. 'The Trouble with Emma' is a brilliant read; a captivating and thoroughly entertaining retelling of a Jane Austen classic; I loved it!
Rating:10/10
 
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.

2 January 2015

January 2015 releases! (Part 2)

Yesterday I posted a list of some of the exciting new releases that are coming up this month. January is filled with great books which provides all of us book lovers with a wonderful start to the new year. Today, I have the second part of the releases that will be coming out this month to share with all of you, so be sure to scroll down and check out which ones you'll want to add to your TBR-list! 

Jemma Forte - 'When I Met You' (15th January)

Marianne Baker is happy. Sort of. She’s worked at the same job for years (nearly 15, but who’s counting), she lives at home with her mum (who is driving her crazy) and sleeps in a single bed (yep, her love life is stalled). Playing the violin is her only real passion – but nobody like her does that for a living. Then one night everything changes. 

The father who abandoned Marianne over twenty years ago turns up on her doorstep, with a dark secret that changes her life forever. Suddenly Marianne’s safe, comfortable world is shattered. If her father isn’t the man she thought he was, then who is he? And, more to the point, who is she? It’s time to find out who the real Marianne Baker is. 

Why so excited? --> I'm not familiar with Jemma Forte's work, but I really like the sound of her upcoming release 'When I Met You.' The book has a really nice cover as well, so I'm looking forward to checking out this author's work!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Jill Mansell - 'Three Amazing Things About You' (15th January)

Hallie has a secret. She's in love. He's perfect for her; he's even single. But he's out of bounds. And her friends aren't going to help her because what they do know is that Hallie hasn't got long to live.

Flo has a dilemma. She really likes Zander. But his scary sister won't be even faintly amused if she thinks Zander and Flo are becoming friends - let alone anything more...

Tasha has a problem. Her new boyfriend is the adventurous type. And she's afraid one of his adventures will go badly wrong.

THREE AMAZING THINGS ABOUT YOU begins as Hallie goes on a journey. She's about to get a new heart. But whose heart is it?

Why so excited? --> A new Jill Mansell novel! What more do I need to say?!
 


Katie Oliver - 'And the Bride Wore Prada' (23rd January) 

She’s dated Mr Darcy…now, it’s time for Gemma to prepare to say ‘I do’! And the Bride Wore Prada is the sensational first book in Katie Oliver’s long-awaited Marrying Mr Darcy series, the follow-up to her best-selling Dating Mr Darcy trilogy.

Also by Katie Oliver:

Prada and Prejudice
Love and Liability
Mansfield Lark
and, coming soon: Love, Lies and Louboutins!

Why so excited? --> I have no idea why, but so far I haven't read any of Katie Oliver's works while her Mr. Darcy series sounds like the perfect read for me! I'm definitely planning on picking up some of Katie Oliver's works this year and can't wait to check out this one as well! 
 


Liza Palmer - 'Girl Before a Mirror' (27th January) 

An account executive in a Mad Men world, Anna Wyatt is at a crossroads. Recently divorced, she’s done a lot of emotional housecleaning, including a self-imposed dating sabbatical. But now that she’s turned forty, she’s struggling to figure out what her life needs. Brainstorming to win over an important new client, she discovers a self-help book—Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero—that offers her unexpected insights and leads her to a most unlikely place: a romance writers’ conference. If she can sign the Romance Cover Model of the Year Pageant winner for her campaign—and meet the author who has inspired her to take control of her life—she’ll win the account. 

For Anna, taking control means taking chances, including getting to know Sasha, her pretty young colleague on the project, and indulging in a steamy elevator ride with Lincoln Mallory, a dashing financial consultant she meets in the hotel. When the conference ends, Anna and Lincoln must decide if their intense connection is strong enough to survive outside the romantic fantasy they’ve created. Yet Lincoln is only one of Anna’s dilemmas. Now that her campaign is off the ground, others in the office want to steal her success, and her alcoholic brother, Ferdie, is spiraling out of control. 

To have the life she wants-to be happy without guilt, to be accepted for herself, to love and to be loved, to just be—she has to put herself first, accept her imperfections, embrace her passions, and finally be the heroine of her own story.

Why so excited? --> I think this is definitely one of the most intruiging releases coming up this January. I really love the cover of this book and the blurb sounds really promising.
 


Sara Addison Allen - 'First Frost' (29th January)

Autumn has finally arrived in the small town of Bascom, North Carolina, heralded by a strange old man appearing with a beaten-up suitcase. He has stories to tell, stories that could change the lives of the Waverley women forever. But the Waverleys have enough trouble on their hands. 

Quiet Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley's Candies, but it's nothing like she thought it would be, and it's slowly taking over her life. Claire's wild sister Sydney, still trying to leave her past behind, is about to combust with her desire for another new beginning. And Sydney's fifteen-year-old daughter Bay has given her heart away to the wrong boy and can't get it back. 

Why so excited? --> I love both the cover and the sound of Sarah Addison Allen's new release! I really enjoy stories about families and the Waverley women have already managed to intrigue me by just reading the blurb. Can't wait to read this book!
 


Melissa Pimentel - 'Age, Sex, Location' (29th January)

An American living in London, Lauren is intelligent, beautiful and loves to party. So why can't she convince a man she isn't after something more serious than scrambled eggs and goodbye in the morning?

Determined to snare some regular male affection, she embarks on a project: each month she will follow the rules of a different dating guide - from refusing to pay the bill to chatting up every man in her path - and will switch seamlessly to the next book at the end of each month. 

Lauren's love life is about to get scientific...

Why so excited? --> This novel is described as 'Bridget Jones' Diary' for the HBO 'Girls' generation. I have to admit I am not a fan of the TV show 'Girls', but I really enjoyed 'Bridget Jones' Diary' and am definitely quite curious to give Melissa Pimentel's new release a try!
 


Fiona Gibson - 'As Good As It Gets?' (29th January)

“Midlife crisis? WHAT midlife crisis?!”

Charlotte Bristow is worried about her husband Will. Their fourteen years of marriage have been rather lovely so far, but things have been a bit odd lately.

With their stunning 16-year-old daughter Rosie newly signed to a top modelling agency and Will recently out of a job, Charlotte can’t help but notice that things are changing in their household.

As Will dusts down his old leather trousers and starts partying with their new, fun neighbours, Charlotte begins to wonder what on earth is going on.

So when Fraser, Charlotte’s ex – and father of Rosie – suddenly arrives back on the scene, Charlotte starts to wonder what might have been…

Why so excited? --> Fiona Gibson's novels never disappoint which is why I'm really looking forward to finally getting my hands on a copy of her upcoming release 'As Good As It Gets?'. I have high hopes for this one!
 


Nikki Moore - 'Valentine's on Primrose Hill' (29th January)

The third short story in the fun & flirty #LoveLondon series from exciting new chick lit author Nikki Moore!

For Georgiana Dunn, life changed forever in the devastating moment that the lorry hit her car.

Scarred and scared, she's not left the house in months.Then her mum buys her a puppy, forcing her to face the world again, walking on London's beautiful Primrose Hill. But that doesn't mean she's looking forward to Valentine's Day.

Leo devotes himself to working with children with special educational needs. In fact, he does very little else, and his friends are always telling him to get a (love) life. So when they challenge him to find a date for Valentine's Day, and he meets a lovely but lost girl who looks like she could use a friend, he thinks he's found the perfect solution.

But life has a way of being less than perfect … Will he be left standing on his own on the most romantic day of the year?

Why so excited? --> For those of you who love chick lit and haven't heard of Nikki Moore's #LoveLondon series should definitely check it out. The series is set in different locations in London, has lovely book covers, and just looks like a brilliant series. Can't wait to also read this part!   
 


Fleur Smithwick - 'How to Make a Friend' (29th January)

As a lonely child, Alice found comfort the same way so many others do - she invented a friend. Sam was always there when she needed him, until one day...he wasn't.

Now, Alice's life almost resembles something happy, normal. She has a handful of close friends and a career as a photographer. But when a tragic accident shatters the world Alice has constructed, the sense of isolation that haunted her in childhood returns. And with it, so does Sam.

To Alice, he looks and feels like a real person, but how can that be so? And who will decide when it's time for him to leave again?

Why so excited? --> I really like the sound of this novel; it sounds incredibly promising and intriguing, and I really look forward to discovering what Fleur Smithwick has done with this story.