Review: 'Little Sacrifices' by Jamie Scott/Michele Gorman (2012)

How much would you risk to stand up for your beliefs?
When Duncan and Sarah Powell move with their daughter, May, to Savannah Georgia in 1947, they hope against hope that they’ll be welcomed. But they’re Yankees and worse, they’re civil rights advocates almost a decade too early. 
At first May can pretend they’re the same as everyone else. It means keeping quiet when she knows she should speak up, but it’s worth the sacrifice to win friends. Unfortunately her parents are soon putting their beliefs into action. And when they wake to find that they’re the only family on the block with a Ku Klux Klan cross blazing on their front lawn, the time comes for them to finally decide between what’s easy and what’s right.
Time for another historical fiction read, and one by an author I'm actually already quite familiar with but not within this particular genre! Some of you might know Michele Gorman from chick lit novels such as 'Single in the City', 'Match Me If You Can' (click here to read my review) and 'The Curvy Girls Club' (click here to read my review). I've always really enjoyed Michele's novels, so when she contacted me about a novel she'd written under a different name, Jamie Scott, I was straight away intrigued and definitely up for trying it out. 'Little Sacrifices' has an interesting book description and is set in a time and place in history I don't know that much about, so I was curious to check it out and several weeks ago I finally had the chance to sit down with the novel!
Set in 1940s Savannah in Georgia, 'Little Sacrifices' tells the story of May Powell, who moves from the North to the South of the USA together with her parents, Sarah and Duncan. As a fifteen-year-old girl, May is not too keen to start over and hopes she will fit in with the other kids at her new school. Luckily, she quickly becomes friends with the boy next door, Jim, but it also doesn't take long for May to realise her family has some quite different beliefs when it comes to civil rights in comparison to most people in Savannah. In the beginning, May tries whatever she has to do to fit in, forgetting her principles and beliefs, but as she discovers what life can really be like in the South, she and her family are forced to choose between the easy road or the right way.
While it took me a bit of time to get into the story, I have to say I really enjoyed 'Little Sacrifices' and thought it was great to read another type of novel by author Michele Gorman, who I only know from her chick lit books. The story is told from the perspective of fifteen-year-old May who moves to Savannah with her parents; they turn out to have quite different beliefs to most other people in the city and we get to see how this influences May's life and those around her. I wasn't too familiar with the history of the Southern States, and it really fascinated me to learn more about it by reading this novel. I liked the fact that the story was written from May's perspective, and included some interesting and easy-to-like characters, such as May's old and new friends and their maid Dora Mae, whom I really would have loved to read more about.
The book deals with quite a serious topic and Michele Gorman dealt with it in a fascinating and respectful way, looking at both sides of the story. I also liked that there was a second storyline, mainly consisting of flashbacks to the life of the previous owner of the house May and her family move into. This really added something extra to the book which I enjoyed. I also have to agree with many other reviewers and quickly mention the epilogue, which was a satisfying and well-written end to this story. Once again a very convincing and enjoyable read by author Michele Gorman, who has definitely proven she can do more than chick lit. 'Little Sacrifices' is a gripping and fascinating historical fiction read that held my attention from start to finish; a great read certainly worth picking up if you like the sound of it!

Rating:8,5/10

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

Upcoming Release: 'Love is a Four-Legged Word' by Michele Gorman!

Today I've got some news about a pretty exciting upcoming release to share with all of you! Michele Gorman is a great author whose novels always make it to my TBR-list and I always enjoy them. On October 13th Michele's next novel will be released and I personally think it already sounds like a must-read!

Best friends Scarlett and Shannon spend their days tangled up in dog leads and covered in fur, running their dog business together. Scarlett’s intensive training course, Ruff Love, fixes owners as much as their pets, while Shannon spends her days walking spoiled pooches.
They share more than their business though: they also share Scarlett's husband, Rufus, who's been Shannon's best friend since childhood. It's a cosy setup. Unless one of them has a secret...
When Scarlett and Rufus's baby plans are decimated by a surprising turn of events, their marriage hits the rocks and it's Shannon they both turn to. All three relationships are pushed to breaking point, but when loyalties become divided, how do you decide who's most important? 
Notting Hill Press have been so friendly to make the first five chapters of the novel available to readers, so you can go ahead and download a sample of the book in any eBook format! Click the relevant link, then click the Download button and save the file to your computer before transferring it to your reading device.
Click here to download the sample; I personally can't wait to check it out!

ePub: http://bit.ly/ePub-LIAFLW-sample-book

Mobi: http://bit.ly/Mobi-LIAFLW-sample-book

PDF: http://bit.ly/PDF-LIAFLW-sample-book

During the pre-order period (through October 12th) the price of the book has been lowered to 99c/99p, so if you like the sample, be sure to buy the full book before publication day on October 13th!

Can't wait to give the novel a try!

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Twitter:@MicheleGormanUK

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Blog: www.michelegormanwriter.blogspot.com

Website: www.michelegorman.co.uk

Review: 'Match Me If You Can' by Michele Gorman (2016)

Ever thought about recycling your ex?
Best friends Catherine, Rachel & Sarah are fun, smart, successful and single – just like millions of women with a low tolerance for idiocy in their dates.
Mr. Right hasn't turned up yet, and Mr Right-Now isn't worth booking a wax appointment for. So when Catherine, London’s finest matchmaker, gets Rachel and Sarah to join her dating site where they can recycle their ex-boyfriends in exchange for an upgrade, they soon realise that anything could happen…
I’m really quite excited about the review I get to share with all of you today! One of the very first chick lit novels I clearly remember reading is Michele Gorman’s ‘Single in the City’; I still have the old paperback copy on one of my bookshelves at home somewhere. I really enjoyed the book and since then I’ve had a soft spot for Michele’s novels and try my best to read all of them. Now, numerous years and many many chick lit novels after that very first Michele Gorman read, I got the chance to review Michele’s latest release, ‘Match Me If You Can’, which was released by Avon on January 14th. I immediately loved the title and description of the book and was really excited to have a new novel by this author to check out!
Best friends and housemates Catherine, Rachel, and Sarah are all single, but not too sure whether they’re really ready to mingle. Finding Mr. Right isn’t an easy task and there are quite a number of strange guys out there. So, when Catherine convinces her two friends to join her own matchmaking website, RecycLove, Rachel and Sarah are curious to see what it will bring them, especially since you can only sign up together with an ex... While Catherine is dealing with her ex-husband Richard and his new, much younger, fiancée Magda, Sarah is too busy worrying about her younger sister Sissy and would rather stay at home baking than go out and meet eligible bachelors. At the same time, architect Rachel is competing against her colleague and ex-boyfriend James for the same project and can hardly find the time to think about the other sex. Will the three friends be able to find their match or does life have other things in store for them…?     
I think ‘Match Me If You Can’ is probably my favourite Michele Gorman novel so far! The book ticks the box for numerous things I personally look for in an entertaining romantic comedy novel such as great characters, several interesting storylines, a comfortable and well-paced writing style, and of course a lovely dose of romance! I really like the fact that the book focuses on three main female characters; each of them with her own personality and her own story to tell. Catherine runs a matchmaking business but hasn’t been too lucky in love herself since the divorce from her husband Richard; Rachel is trying to focus on her career which is a bit tricky since she is directly competing with her ex-boyfriend James, and Sarah wishes she could just stay inside and bake all day long instead of having to go out and be less introverted. I loved all three female characters (I developed a bit of a soft spot for Sarah, though!) and really enjoyed their storylines.
The chapters in the book are told from the different perspectives of the three main characters which really provides the reader with an insight into their lives and thoughts. Catherine, Rachel and Sarah are relatable and realistic female characters, and I think many readers will be able to recognise certain situations or feelings, just like I did. I have to admit both the title and the description of the book resulted in me expecting a bit more focus on the matchmaking aspect (and the original idea of ‘recycling’ your exes) but I certainly wasn’t disappointed by how the story turned out instead. Overall, ‘Match Me If You Can’ is another fabulous read by author Michele Gorman; a relatable, fun, amusing and light read that will be enjoyed by any chick lit/rom com fan out there!

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.

Upcoming Release: 'Match Me If You Can' by Michele Gorman!

Ever thought about recycling your ex?
Best friends Catherine, Rachel & Sarah are fun, smart, successful and single – just like millions of women with a low tolerance for idiocy in their dates.
Mr. Right hasn't turned up yet, and Mr Right-Now isn't worth booking a wax appointment for. So when Catherine, London’s finest matchmaker, gets Rachel and Sarah to join her dating site where they can recycle their ex-boyfriends in exchange for an upgrade, they soon realise that anything could happen...
I've had the pleasure of reading several of Michele Gorman's novels over the past couple of years and I've enjoyed every single one of them. On the 14th of January she is treating us to a new book titled 'Match Me If You Can' and I already can't wait to pick this one up! I have a good feeling, based on the lovely cover and interesting description, that this is going to be another great Michele Gorman read... Definitely one of the new releases I am most looking forward to this month!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

 

Review: 'The Curvy Girls Baby Club' by Michele Gorman (2015)

Ellie is fresh back from her honeymoon and can’t wait to share her news with her best friends Katie and Jane. To everyone’s surprise, mother-of-two Jane has news of her own… The women are due a day apart, on December 25th and 26th, and Katie can’t wait to be an honorary aunt to the babies. 
But it’s hard to keep your sense of humor, not to mention your self-esteem, in the face of hemorrhoids and elasticated waistbands. Add a clingy mother-in-law, a career in cardiac arrest and a sex life that makes Mother Theresa look lusty, and soon their lives are as out of control as their bodies. 
As the co-founders of The Curvy Girls Club, where loving yourself is the only rule, will the friends be able to practice what they preach?
As I already mentioned on the blog last week, on the 20th of August Notting Hill Press released author Michele Gorman's latest work, 'The Curvy Girls Baby Club', which is indeed a sequel to Michele's wonderful novel 'The Curvy Girls Club' (click here to read my review). I've had the pleasure of reading several of Michele's books in the past, such as 'Perfect Girl' (click here to read my review) and 'Single in the City' (click here to read my review), and really liked every single one of them. I also thoroughly enjoyed 'The Curvy Girls Club', so definitely looked forward to picking up this novella sequel!
'The Curvy Girls Baby Club' is set not too long after where the 'The Curvy Girls Club' stopped. Ellie, Jane and Katie are still the best of friends who share everything with each other and support one another, through thick and thin. When Ellie comes back from her honeymoon she can't wait to tell her friends that she is pregnant. However, to all of their surprises, Jane has the same news to share with them and the two even share the same due date around Christmas. The Curvy Girls Club's focus suddenly switches to the trials and tribulations of being pregnant while also dealing with pushy mother-in-laws, career stress, and low self-esteem. Will the friends be able to get through it all, still sticking to their belief to always love yourself, no matter what?
'The Curvy Girls Baby Club' is a short novella (roughly 120 pages in print) and a really enjoyable quick read from author Michele Gorman. The story focuses on Ellie, Katie and Jane; 3 friends who helped start up the Curvy Girls Club (which you can read more about in the original novel to which this is the sequel). I loved being back with these characters, reading more about them and seeing what they were up to. The girls turn out to be pregnant at the same time, resulting in them going through the different stages of becoming a mother together. While the plotline is quite far-fetched, it did result in a lovely story so it didn't bother me and I decided to just see it as a big coincidence with a spoonful of luck!
Michele Gorman's writing style is really easy to get into and combined with short chapters this made for a very quick read. I definitely wouldn't have minded if this had been a full-length novel instead of a novella because I really enjoyed it. I do recommend reading the 'The Curvy Girls Club' before picking up this novella, just so you know what the characters have been through and how they got where they are at the start of the story. Overall, another wonderful read by Michele Gorman and an entertaining sequel to 'The Curvy Girls Club' which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Rating:9/10

  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.

Exciting new release: 'The Curvy Girls Baby Club' by Michele Gorman

LOVE, LIFE AND A CHRISTMAS DUE DATE

Ellie is fresh back from her honeymoon and can't wait to share her news with her best friends Katie and Jane. To everyone's surprise, mother-of-two Jane has news of her own... The women are due a day apart and Katie can't wait to be an honorary auntie to the babies.

But it's hard to keep your sense of humour, not to mention your self-esteem, in the face of hemorrhoids and elasticated waistbands. Add a clingy mother-in-law, a career in cardiac arrest and a sex life that makes Mother Theresa look lusty, and soon their lives are as out of control as their bodies.

As the co-founders of The Curvy Girls Club, where loving yourself is the only rule, will the friends be able to practice what they preach?

At the start of this year I was lucky enough to have gotten the chance to read and review Michele Gorman's novel 'The Curvy Girls Club' (click here to read my review). I've enjoyed all of Michele Gorman's books so far and I'm really excited Notting Hill Press released a festive-themed novella sequel yesterday titled 'The Curvy Girls Baby Club' which I can't wait to read! The novella is approximately 120 pages in print, so a relatively quick read, and for the next week you can get it for just 99p/99c! If you're familiar with Michele's writing, you'll already know you want to go out and pick this one up as soon as possible; if you're not familiar with her work, what are you waiting for? If you're a chick lit fan, you won't be disappointed, trust me! 

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Exciting release: 'Little Sacrifices' by Jamie Scott!

How much would you risk to stand up for your beliefs? 

When Duncan and Sarah Powell move with their daughter, May, to Savannah Georgia in 1947, they hope against hope that they’ll be welcomed. But they’re Yankees and worse, they’re civil rights advocates almost a decade too early. 

At first May can pretend they’re the same as everyone else. It means keeping quiet when she knows she should speak up, but it’s worth the sacrifice to win friends. Unfortunately her parents are soon putting their beliefs into action. And when they wake to find that they’re the only family on the block with a Ku Klux Klan cross blazing on their front lawn, the time comes for them to finally decide between what’s easy and what’s right. 

Author Michele Gorman is known for her romantic comedy novels such as 'Perfect Girl' (click here to read my review) and 'The Curvy Girls Club' (click here to read my review); both reads which I really enjoyed. However, Michele has also released a completely different kind of novel under the pseudonym Jamie Scott, titled 'Little Sacrifices.' The book is described as an atmospheric coming-of-age novel set in the 1940s segregated American South. I'm already fascinated by the blurb and look forward to giving the book a chance. I think Michele Gorman's writing is great and it's always interesting to check out different kinds of reads, so hopefully I'll be able to review the book for my blog soon!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Review: 'The Curvy Girls Club' by Michele Gorman (2015)

Pixie, Ellie, Katie and Jane have been best friends since meeting at Slimming Zone. Tired of being judged on the number of calories they consume, they decide to form a different kind of club. The fun evenings they spend together, not worrying about their size, make them happier than they’ve been for years!
But the club doesn’t stop real life from getting in the way and together the girls have to address some much bigger issues than just their weight…
Will Pixie ever be brave enough to leave her abusive husband Trevor? Can Jane ever regain her confidence and go back to work as a TV presenter? Will Katie always carry a torch for the office lothario? And what if Ellie lets her all-consuming jealousy destroy her relationship with ‘The One’?
The new year has already started with some great new book releases, including Michele Gorman’s latest novel, ‘The Curvy Girls Club’ which was released by Avon on the 15th of January. Thanks to the lovely people over at Notting Hill Press I received an early review copy which I couldn’t wait to read, especially since I am quite familiar with, and a fan of, Michele Gorman’s work. I read ‘Single in the City’ (click here to read my review) and ‘Perfect Girl’ (click here to read my review) last year and really enjoyed both of them. I had already heard numerous positive things about ‘The Curvy Girls Club’, so I looked forward to diving into this new read!   
After having spent a lot of time together at Slimming Zone, trying their best to lose weight, it is no wonder Katie, Pixie, Ellie and Jane have developed quite a close friendship with each other. Losing weight can be quite a challenge, so it’s great to have your friends next to you along the way. When Pixie decides she has had enough of constantly watching what she eats and counting calories, the four women start a new club; a club where they come together to do fun things instead of only focusing on their eating habits. The Curvy Girls Club is born and to their surprise, it becomes extremely popular rather quickly. While dealing with the success of the club and organising different kinds of events, the four women also have their own personal and romantic issues to deal with which results in quite a bit of pressure on their friendship…
Another great read from Michele Gorman! I have no doubt many readers will be able to relate to the four main characters in this novel: Katie, Pixie, Ellie and Jane. Not only because the topics of weight and being judged by your appearance have become such much-talked about subjects within our modern society, but because each of the women is dealing with her own issues as well. Pixie is having trouble with her abusive husband, Katie is searching for the right guy, Ellie needs to get her jealousy in check if she wants to stay together with her boyfriend, and Jane has to start believing in herself again which isn’t as easy as it sounds. I loved reading about all four women, their friendship and their individual struggles (even though I have to admit I wanted to jump into the novel occasionally to give Pixie a good slap!). The characters definitely complimented one another and their separate storylines connected to the main storyline in a convincing and entertaining way.
Michele Gorman's writing style is really comfortable to read, well-paced, and detailed; she’s a great storyteller and I didn’t want to put the book down. I don't really have anything to add to this review, except for the fact that I can't wait to see what Michele will treat us to next and I hope we will not have to wait too long! Overall, 'The Curvy Girls Club' is a simply stunning, relatable, warm-hearted novel about weight issues, friendship and finding happiness; a read which any chick lit fan will certainly enjoy!

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: 'Perfect Girl' by Michele Gorman (2014)

Carol is perfect… at least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality she’s sinking fast – her family treats her like their personal assistant and her boyfriend is so busy with work that he’s got her single-handedly running their relationship. Not that her job is any easier. As the only woman on the bank’s trading floor she spends twelve-hour days trying not to get sworn at or felt up by colleagues who put the "W" in banker.
How long can she go on pleasing everyone else before she snaps and loses it all?
Notting Hill Press is treating us to another promising chick lit novel this month with the release of Michele Gorman's 'Perfect Girl' on the 14th of October. I've been lucky enough to have had the chance to read and review some of Michele Gorman's other works, namely 'Single in the City' (click here to read my review) and Christmas novella 'Christmas Carol' (click here to read my review), which I both really enjoyed. I straight away loved the cover of 'Perfect Girl' and looked forward to checking out another Michele Gorman story!
Carol appears to be the perfect girl to the outside world, but behind closed doors things are quite different to what they seem. She has a great job as a business analyst within the banking world, but her hours are ridiculous and her boss treats her in the most condescending way. After Carol has created a new programme for the bank to use and she gets no credit for it, she comes close to having had enough. At the same time, though, there are lots of other things demanding Carol's attention. She's helping her sister Marley with the planning of her wedding, she's trying to be understanding about her boyfriend Ben's busy work schedule, her parents need her help to find the perfect holiday getaway cottage, and her best friend Harriet needs some help with picking out the right men on an Internet dating website. Carol finds herself trying to please everyone around her, but there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. When will Carol finally start thinking about herself and what will it take to get to that point?
If you're looking for an enjoyable chick lit novel, Michele Gorman's work won't disappoint and this definitely counts for her latest release, 'Perfect Girl.' I already knew the main character Carol from the Christmas novella 'Christmas Carol' and I loved getting to know more about Carol, her friends and family, and her life. The novel can definitely be read as a stand-alone and I would actually recommend reading 'Perfect Girl' before checking out 'Christmas Carol.' Carol is a great protagonist which I think many readers, including myself, will be able to relate to. Sometimes we think too much about others and lose ourselves in the process and it was fascinating to join Carol and see how she dealt with everything going on in her life. 
The book is filled with great characters, such as Carol's best friend Harriet and her eccentric work colleagues, and has an entertaining plot line which I never got bored with. Personally, the book didn't have the ending I was hoping for, but it didn't ruin the reading experience in any way. Michele Gorman's writing is wonderful; her stories are a real joy to read and I definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a pleasant chick lit read to sit down with on a rainy afternoon. 'Perfect Girl' is a funny, heartfelt, thoroughly enjoyable novel with an entertaining mix of characters and a captivating plot line; I already look forward to Michele Gorman's next release! Rating:

9/10

  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.

Book News: 'The Curvy Girls Club' by Michele Gorman

 

A funny, heart-warming story about overcoming the prejudices we hold, no matter where we tip the scales. 

When the pounds start falling off Katie, founder and president of London’s most popular social club for the calorie-challenged, it seems like a dream come true. But as the overweight stigma recedes and her life starts to change, she faces losing more than the inches around her waist. Everything that’s important to her – her closest friends, boyfriend, and acceptance into the club itself – are at stake in a world where thin is the new fat. 

“So engaging and witty, yet insightful and empathetic.” Sophie Kinsella, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"A book about friendship, love and most of all, loving yourself; you'll eat this up." Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of Spin and Hidden

I'm incredibly excited about Michele Gorman's next release titled 'The Curvy Girls Club'! To celebrate the upcoming launch in the US and Canada on the 17th of June, Notting Hill Press is offering Michele's short story 'Weightless' for free! All you have to do is e-mail thecurvygirlsclub[at]gmail[dot]com and you'll receive 'Weightless' for your eReader along with a membership to the real Curvy Girls Club (no need to be curvy, it's a daily dose of loveliness for everyone)!
Click here to order your own copy of 'The Curvy Girls Club' on Amazon now and be sure to not miss out on a free copy of Michele's short story 'Weightless' this week!

Review: 'Single in the City' by Michele Gorman (2014)

Take one twenty six year old American, add to a two thousand year old city, add a big dose of culture clash and stir. 
To think Hannah ever believed that Americans differed from Brits mainly in pronunciation, sophistication and dentistry. That's been the understatement of a lifetime. She lands upon England's gentle shores with no job, no friends and no idea how she's supposed to build the life she's dreaming of. Armed with little more than her enthusiasm, she charges headlong into London, baffling the locals in her pursuit of a new life, new love and sense of herself.
At the end of last year I reviewed Michele Gorman’s Christmas novella, ‘Christmas Carol.’ I really enjoyed Michele’s writing, so when I was contacted by Notting Hill Press about reviewing her novel ‘Single in the City’ I was straight away enthusiastic. As soon as I started reading it, though, I realised the storyline seemed quite familiar to me and after checking my Goodreads list I discovered I actually read the novel in 2011. However, Notting Hill Press decided to republish the novel this year, including some small changes, and I remembered quite enjoying the novel the first time I read it, so was looking forward to re-reading and reviewing!
Twenty-six-year-old Hannah Cummings has gotten tired of her boring life in Connecticut. One evening, after a few glasses of wine with her best friend, she decides to take it all into her own hands and move across the ocean, to the city of London. Even though she has no job or place to stay, Hannah is willing to give it her best shot. Yet, being an American in England turns out to offer quite a few other unexpected challenges to Hannah, such as the language and the customs, while also trying to find and keep a job and searching for her own Mr. Right. Will Hannah make it in London or will she be forced to go back to her American life?
Michele Gorman’s novel has the basic recipe for an entertaining and trustworthy chick lit novel: a heroine who decides to make a big change in her life, to move to another country, where she has to build up everything from scratch. Even though Hannah is a bit naive at times, she is an enjoyable main character, and I personally really enjoyed joining her on her adventures within the city of London. Her struggles and search for the perfect man result in quite a few laugh-out-loud situations, such as the sandwich scene at the start of the novel. I also loved the conversations between Hannah and her American best friend, Stacy, which is a fitting example of that one great friendship a chick lit novel can’t do without, if you ask me!
I didn’t notice too many differences between the original novel and this version, except for one definite improvement. In the earlier version, footnotes were included to explain all kinds of American phenomena. The footnotes weren’t really necessary, so I’m glad the decision was made to leave these out. I’ve had some experience with Michele Gorman’s writing, and I really enjoy her personal style. The story flowed easily, was quick-paced, and funny. On the whole, ‘Single in the City’ is an entertaining, light and fun read that is perfect for a lazy afternoon or a day in the park or at the beach; I already look forward to reading the sequel, ‘Misfortune Cookie’!     
Rating:

     8/10
For more information about this book: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads    Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

   

Review: 'Christmas Carol' by Michele Gorman (2013)

One winter wedding, two happy couples, three ex-boyfriends. And a very uncomfortable weekend.

Carol hates Christmas. Being recently dumped, she’s not crazy about weddings either. So her sister Marley’s nuptials, over the Christmas weekend, are making her positively Scrooge-like. When she arrives at the stately home in rural Scotland to find her three ex-boyfriends in attendance, Carol has no choice but to face her ghosts to discover what really happened in those relationships, learning a lot about herself in the process. As the snow falls outside and the fire crackles in the hearth, might one of the wedding guests become the harbinger of Christmases to come?

I wasn’t familiar with author Michele Gorman's work, so when I received a review copy of her latest novella, 'Chistmas Carol', from publisher Notting Hill Press, I was quite excited about this chance to discover more about her writing. I loved the sound of another Christmas tale to get me into a festive mood before the holidays, and sometimes a short novella is just perfect reading material for a long train ride or a couple of hours to spare!

Carol is a successful business-woman who lives for her work, doesn't want anything to do with men after several relationships gone wrong, and hates Christmas. So, when her sister Marley decides to get married over the Christmas weekend at an estate in rural Scotland where her Blackberry can't possibly get any reception, Carol isn't excited, to say the least. Add three ex-boyfriends to this festive winter mix, who are all attending the wedding, and it can undoubtedly be said that this will be a Christmas Carol will remember for quite some time to come.

Charles Dickens' novel 'A Christmas Carol' has to be one of my favourite Christmas stories of all time. Over the years, the tale of Scrooge has been retold many times in numerous different ways and Michele Gorman has given it her own personal touch in this novella. Carol is a modern female version of Scrooge, and just like the original Scrooge, as a reader I slowly but steadily learned to love her with every page I turned. I really liked how the author turned this classic tale in a thoroughly enjoyable modern-day version. I loved the idea of the winter wedding, the confrontations between Carol and her past boyfriends, and the setting (Craighorn Hall, a manor in rural Scotland) sounds absolutely stunning.

One of the downsides of novellas is that they aren’t as long as a regular novel which can result in a lack of detail and not being able to get to know the characters of the story as a reader. However, both of those things didn’t play a role in this particular novella. Michele Gorman gives the reader plenty of background information and I had no trouble getting to know the main character Carol. If you are looking for a quick festive read to get you into the holiday spirit, look no further! ‘Christmas Carol’ is a fast-paced and enjoyable holiday read, and a lovely retelling of the ultimate classic Christmas story most of us can’t get enough of round this time of year.

Rating:7,5/10