Weekly Feature: Once Upon a Story...

 'Once Upon a Story' is a weekly feature in which we go back in time and focus  on a specific novel that was released in the same month we're in right now (in this case May), but a few years back! It can be a women's fiction classic from the 1990's or perhaps a great chick lit read from 2011. I thought it would be nice to not just focus on recent releases, but also take the chance to jump back in time once a week and look back at wonderful reads that have been released over the years!

This week, we're travelling not so far back to July 2012 to look back at...  

Divorcee Jennifer Irwin has it all – a successful interior design business and two loving children. But as her 45th birthday approaches and her children prepare to start their own lives, Jennifer is left feeling lonely in her empty nest.

That’s when she meets Ben Crawford – a man 16 years her junior – as their attraction heightens, Jennifer realises what she’s been missing. But mindful that the small-town Ballyfergus residents would never approve, they conduct their affair in secret.

But a secret is never a secret for long…

As the affair surfaces, Jennifer encounters opposition from friends and family, especially her daughter Lucy. Enraged by her mother’s relationship, Lucy seeks comfort in the arms of charismatic but troubled, Oren. Jennifer knows that Oren is not the man he seems, but can she convince her daughter of that?

And with everything going against them, can Jennifer and Ben’s love survive? Or will she risk losing her daughter to be with the man she loves? 

I read my first Erin Kaye novel last year for a Twitter Book Club I was a part of, and this novel was 'Second Time Around', which was published in July 2012. I had heard of Erin Kaye before, around that time lots of bloggers were enthusiastic about her latest release 'Always You', which is still lying on my to-read pile. 'Second Time Around' is a great novel and I thoroughly enjoyed Erin's writing style. The story was captivating, the characters were wonderful, and the book had me fascinated from beginning to end. If you're still looking for a good read, definitely consider picking up this one!  

Be sure to visit the blog next week for another blast from chick lit past with 'Once Upon a Story...'!

Review: 'Second Time Around' by Erin Kaye (2012)

Divorcee Jennifer Irwin has it all – a successful interior design business and two loving children. But as her 45th birthday approaches and her children prepare to start their own lives, Jennifer is left feeling lonely in her empty nest.

That’s when she meets Ben Crawford – a man 16 years her junior – as their attraction heightens, Jennifer realises what she’s been missing. But mindful that the small-town Ballyfergus residents would never approve, they conduct their affair in secret.

But a secret is never a secret for long…

As the affair surfaces, Jennifer encounters opposition from friends and family, especially her daughter Lucy. Enraged by her mother’s relationship, Lucy seeks comfort in the arms of charismatic but troubled, Oren. Jennifer knows that Oren is not the man he seems, but can she convince her daughter of that?

And with everything going against them, can Jennifer and Ben’s love survive? Or will she risk losing her daughter to be with the man she loves?

As readers of this blog will know, I am part of a Twitter book club (@TheNewBookClub) and the novel picked for the month of July was Erin Kaye’s ‘Second Time Around.’ I was really excited when I found out this was going to be the book club’s next read, because I’ve been looking for an excuse to finally read an Erin Kaye novel! I’m in love with the gorgeous covers of ‘Always You’ (which is lying on my to-read pile as well) and ‘Second Time Around’, and I’ve only been hearing good things about this author from other bloggers. So, during my holiday days spent near Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight I picked up this novel with high hopes!

Jennifer Irwin is a 44-year-old, divorced businesswoman who lives in the town of Ballyfergus in Ireland. With her daughter Lucy off at university, and her son Matt making plans to find a place of his own, Jennifer decides it is time for her to get back in the field and start dating again. However, she doesn’t expect to find lust and love packaged in the form of Ben Crawford, heir to the Crawford empire, and 16 years younger than her. It doesn’t take long before the news of their relationship comes out, and both Jennifer and Ben’s families aren’t thrilled, to say the least. While Jennifer has her own love life to deal with, her daughter Lucy has found her own Prince Charming at university. His name is Oren and he is a devoted Christian, looking for the perfect wife. As soon as Lucy brings him home, Jennifer can feel something is not right. But with her own love troubles to deal with, will she be able to convince everyone else of Oren’s true nature?

‘Second Time Around’ focuses on a modern-day theme that is often looked at in a slightly humorous light; older women falling for younger men (does the term ‘cougar’ ring any bells?). It is slightly ridiculous that it is widely accepted that older men have relationships with younger women, but when it’s the other way around, it is considered strange or simply not done. I love how Erin Kaye tackled this subject, mainly because I loved the pairing of Jennifer and Ben. Jennifer is a great leading character, and I fell in love with Ben from the first description of him. There was absolutely nothing weird about their relationship, and I could really feel the chemistry between them throughout the novel. All the characters in the book were really well-written, though, and I specifically liked the extra storyline that focused on Lucy and Oren. I felt for Lucy at the beginning of the novel; she's so unhappy at university and feels really lonely. Her meeting Oren (who is quite a character, let me tell you!) changes everything, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Lucy's transformation as a person towards the end of the story.

This novel shows that it is never too late for love and that you can have a second chance at it. I really enjoyed ‘Second Time Around’ and the theme it focused on, and it has definitely inspired me to pick up another Erin Kaye novel as soon as possible!

Rating:8,5/10

June 2013 releases to look forward to! (Part 1)

Wow, it seems like the month of May has passed by within the blink of an eye, or is that just me? We've had some fabulous chick lit releases the past couple of weeks, but June definitely has some must-reads in store as well, so here's part 1 (of 2) of some exciting upcoming releases!

Cora Carmack - 'Faking It' (6th of June 2013)

Every girl likes a bad boy...

And Max's current boyfriend is as bad as they come. She knows her family would freak if they saw his tattoos and piercings.

So when her parents turn up unannounced Max grabs the most wholesome guy she can to play her boyfriend.

But Cade Winston is so perfect that Max needs him to keep playing the part. And the more they have to fake their relationship, the harder it gets to just pretend.

Why so excited? --> I haven't read Cora Carmack's novel 'Losing It', but I've heard lots of people talking about it and I'm getting quite curious about Cora Carmack's writing! The cover looks quite steamy, and the blurb sounds good... Can't wait to check it out!

Erin Kaye - 'Always You' (6th of June 2013)

It’s 1992 and Sarah is in love with Cahal, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. As they plan to graduate from university, all seems set for their happily ever after…

Fast forward to 2012 and something’s gone wrong. Cahal is out of the picture and Sarah is divorced from Ian by whom she’s had two children. What happened? As Cahal walks back into Sarah’s life, can they overcome past decisions and surrounding prejudice and make it work a second time around?

Why so excited? --> Okay, what's not to love about this gorgeous cover?! I adore the purple/lilac/pink shades, the cute couple, the trees, the small plane flying away from the title... And luckily, the plot of the story sounds great as well! I've always had a weak spot for first loves losing sight of one another and then finding each other again, so it seems like this novel was made for the hopeless romantics amongst us!

Lucy Diamond - 'Me and Mr Jones' (6th of June 2013)

Is Mr Jones really Mr Right? Meet the women in love with three very different brothers...

Izzy’s determined to escape her troubled past with a new start by the sea – but flirtatious Charlie Jones is causing complications. Alicia’s been happily married to loyal Hugh for years but secretly craves excitement. Maybe it’s time to spice things up? Emma’s relationship with David was once fun and romantic but trying for a baby has taken its toll. Then temptation comes along...

As the future of the family’s B&B becomes uncertain, Izzy, Alicia and Emma are thrown together unexpectedly. It seems that keeping up with the Joneses is harder than anyone thought...

Why so excited? --> I've been lucky enough to have been sent a review copy of this novel, and I can tell you: this is definitely one of the June releases to get really excited about! It's a fabulous summer read; be sure to keep an eye on this blog for a review and interview with Lucy Diamond coming soon!

Fiona Walker - 'The Summer Wedding' (6th of June 2013)

The hotly anticipated wedding of Iris Devonshire, ravishing teenage daughter of celebrity couple Mia and Leo, is to be held in the gardens of their grand Palladian pile alongside the Thames. But Mia and Leo worry that she's rushing into the marriage. Just ask their best friends since college, Simon and Laney de Montmorency, whose relationship is on the rocks again - and they've already married each other twice.

On the big day, Iris's hellraiser fiancé Dougie Everett is not the only one flying high. As Iris rides up the aisle on a white stallion, a hot air balloon appears over the woods, heading straight for the ceremony. Its arrival is about to transform the lives and loves of some of the wedding guests for ever.

Why so excited? --> A highly anticipated wedding and a hot air balloon crashing the festivities...? Fiona Walker's new release sounds like quite the adventure and I'm really curious to find out what will happen to Iris, her fiancé Dougie and their summer wedding!

Helen Chandler - 'Two for Joy' (6th of June 2013)

Julia and Toby have been friends for years, but apart from a couple of drunken snogs in their university days, there's never been anything more than friendship between them. It's only when Toby goes through a dramatic break up with his gorgeous ballerina girlfriend Ruby, that he and Julia realise they're meant to be together.

Then Ruby drops a bombshell - she's pregnant - and though he feels torn in two, Toby feels he has to give their relationship another chance.

Heartbroken Julia is left to lick her wounds in her little Walthamstow home, thinking she has lost Toby forever. But things soon become much more complicated...

Why so excited? --> Once again, a lovely cover (I adore the small bits of London at the bottom!) I simply couldn't resist if I saw it in a bookshop! This is Helen Chandler's debut novel and I'm quite curious to find out what it's like. The blurb sounds good... Got to love a good, complicated love triangle! 

Hester Browne - 'The Runaway Princess' (6th of June 2013)

Amy Wilde is tired of the idiots her glamorous flatmate Jo tries to set her up with - she'd much rather be landscaping a garden with her dog Badger at her side than trying to find the man of her dreams. That is, until she meets Leo Wolfsburg. Handsome, polite, funny, intriguing - Leo is everything Amy could want in a man. Best of all, the attraction seems mutual.

But Leo's lifestyle is a world away from her own. Private planes, charity balls, exclusive members' clubs - Amy begins to realise that her simple existence has been turned upside down. And just where is Leo's home country of Nirona, anyway? Is this all too good to be true?

Why so excited? --> The title of this novel has already drawn me in, 'The Runaway Princess' sounds lovely, don't you think? It all reminds me just a bit of Meg Cabot's 'The Princess Diaries', but I loved that series and I think this sounds like a promising novel as well! 

Be sure to check the blog for part 2 of June 2013's upcoming releases to look forward to!