Review: 'The Proposal' by Tasmina Perry (2013)

When Amy Carrell's wealthy boyfriend ends their relationship just before Christmas, she's left to nurse her broken heart alone. With nothing to lose, she replies to an advertisement requesting a companion for a mysterious 'Manhattan adventure'. 

Whisked off to New York with eccentric British aristocrat Georgia Hamilton, Amy experiences a glamorous side of the city that she's never seen before. Along the way, Georgia initiates her protegee in the arts of old-school elegance. 

But as Georgia shares her life lessons, Amy discovers a painful secret in her mentor's past. A secret that shattered her future. A story of love and betrayal that only Amy has the power to put right.

When I received a review copy of Tasmina Perry’s latest release, ‘The Proposal’, it felt almost as exciting as getting a beautifully-wrapped gift. The book was tied with a gorgeous blue ribbon, and combined with the lovely cover, it truly felt like an early Christmas present! Next to that, I was excited about being able to read a new novel written by Tasmina Perry, who has definitely become one of my favourite authors during the past year. The blurb of ‘The Proposal’ promises a slightly different read than Tasmina Perry’s usual style, so I was quite curious to start reading!

Amy Carrell is an American dancer who has dreamed of performing on the London West End. However, after an injury, she finds herself spending most of her time auditioning and working as a waitress instead of performing. When her boyfriend Daniel, who in contrast to Amy was born in a wealthy family and has a promising career ahead of him, breaks up with her right before Christmas, Amy is fed up with it all. Longing to visit her family in New York, she reacts to an advertisement of an old lady named Georgia Hamilton who is looking for a companion to join her on a New York adventure. Soon, Amy and Georgia are on their way to New York and as the two spend more time together, Amy learns more about Georgia’s fascinating time as a debutante in the 1950s and her reason for wanting to visit New York for the first time...

The Tasmina Perry novels I’ve read so far could be described as glamorous and mysterious, and revolve around the death of a specific character. ‘The Proposal’ is completely different, which is shown by the cover and blurb, and instead promises a romantic tale perfect for the holidays. One thing the novel has in common with Tasmina Perry’s other books, though, is that it is a brilliant and captivating read. I fell in love with this novel as soon as I had read the first chapter and found myself thoroughly enjoying the journey through modern-day London and New York, and 1950s England. The book included some amazing flashbacks, which tell the story of Georgia’s experiences as a young debutante. I loved how the glamour and feel of old-fashioned times was brought to life, and I felt myself being able to conjure up the image of beautiful ballrooms filled with girls dancing in elegant dresses.

One of the strengths of this novel is definitely the two female characters at the centre of the story: Amy, who is trying to fit in and find her place in the world, and Georgia, who has been through a lot in her life. I loved reading both of their stories, and I really enjoyed the way the novel switched between the modern day and age and the 1950s. Tasmina Perry is a fantastic story teller, and this novel proves that she can do it all, whether it’s a mysterious murder mystery or a lovely warm tale of romance. ‘The Proposal’ is an elegant, fabulous, splendid novel of which I enjoyed every single word, and I would recommend this to anyone who loves a bit of romance. A perfect gift for the holidays!

Rating:9,5/10

Review: 'Deep Blue Sea' by Tasmina Perry (2013)

Beneath the shimmering surface lies a dark secret...

Diana and Julian Denver have the world at their feet. With a blissful marriage, a darling son and beautiful homes in London and the country, Diana's life, to the outside world, is perfect. But nothing is as it seems...

When Julian dies suddenly and tragically, Diana is convinced there is more to it than meets the eye. She calls on the one person she had never wanted to see again - her sister, Rachel.

A former tabloid reporter, Rachel appears to be living the dream as a diving instructor on a Thai island. The truth is she's in exile, estranged from her family and driven from her career by Fleet Street's phone-hacking scandal.

For Rachel, Diana's request opens old wounds. But she is determined to make amends for the past, and embarks on a treacherous journey to uncover the truth - wherever it may lead...

Earlier this year I was introduced to author Tasmina Perry when I got the chance to read and review her novel ‘Perfect Strangers.’ I was instantly taken in by the glamour, intrigue and mysteriousness of this book, and was quite curious to read more of her work. During the summer of 2013, ‘Deep Blue Sea’ was released and I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of the novel. I was really looking forward to picking up this book and discovering more about Tasmina Perry’s writing, hoping I would enjoy the novel just as much as I enjoyed ‘Perfect Strangers’!

To strangers it might seem that Diana and Julian Denver lead the perfect life: they are happily married, have a son whom they both adore, and lead a luxurious lifestyle which offers them anything they could possibly wish for. Yet, when Julian is unexpectedly discovered dead in their Notting Hill home, Diana’s life is turned upside down. Amidst all the chaos, there is one thing she knows for sure: Julian would never have taken his own life. Even though they haven’t spoken to one another in years, Diana decides to contact the person who will certainly be able to help her, her sister Rachel. Rachel used to be a tabloid reporter, but after being involved in a phone hacking scandal, she was forced to give up her career. She now lives in Thailand, where she runs a diving school together with her business partner Liam, but when Diana phones she know she’ll do whatever she can to help to uncover the mystery surrounding Julian’s death. 

Once again, Tasmina Perry did not disappoint. ‘Deep Blue Sea’ is an intriguing novel that had me guessing and wanting more from its very first chapters. A great mix of characters (I specifically loved Rachel and Diana, and how their relationship as sisters develops throughout the novel), lots of intriguing twists and turns, and the fabulous scene setting (the reader is taken to all kinds of places all over the world, and I personally straight away fell in love with Diana and Julian’s amazing houses in the countryside and London) define Tasmina Perry’s own unique style; a style I have definitely come to love after reading two of her novels.

I really like it when a book manages to grip you, makes you want to know the truth, and doesn’t allow you to put the novel down until you have discovered all the details and solved the mystery. However, the fact that Tasmina Perry not only focuses on suspense, but also adds a layer of romance to her stories, once again adds to her own personal writing style and makes me appreciate her work even more. ‘Deep Blue Sea’ is a highly addictive, glamorous, and intriguing read which will have you guessing until the end and undoubtedly longing for more! 

Rating:8,5/10       

Review: 'A Heart Bent Out of Shape' by Emylia Hall (2013)

For Hadley Dunn, life so far has been uneventful - no great loves, no searing losses. But that's before she decides to spend a year studying in the glittering Swiss city of Lausanne, a place that feels alive with promise. Here Hadley meets Kristina, a beautiful but elusive Danish girl, and the two quickly form the strongest of bonds. Yet one November night, as the first snows of winter arrive, tragedy strikes.

 

Hadley, left reeling and guilt-stricken, beings to lean on the only other person to whom she feels close, her American Literature professor Joel Wilson. But as the pair try to uncover the truth of what happened that night, their tentative friendship heads into forbidden territory. And before long a line is irrevocably crossed, everything changes, and two already complicated lives take an even more dangerous course...

Thanks to the lovely Ben at Headline I received a review copy of Emylia Hall’s ‘A Heart Bent Out of Shape.’ This is Emylia Hall’s second novel, which judged by the blurb promises a mysterious and intriguing story set in Switserland. Her debut ‘The Book of Summers’ was picked as a Richard and Judy Summer Book Club read and I’ve only heard and read great things about it. So, needless to say, I was quite curious to discover Emylia Hall’s writing myself.

Hadley Dunn leads a normal and not too exciting life. One day, she decides it is time for something adventurous, a change, which results in her leaving home to go and study for a year in the city of Lausanne in Switserland. Lausanne is full of promise and Hadley quickly becomes close friends with the Danish girl who lives in the room next to hers, Kristina. Unexpectedly, tragedy strikes, and Hadley’s Swiss adventure is suddenly turned into a nightmare. The only person she feels she can trust is her American Literature professor, Joel Wilson, whom she forms a close relationship with. Hadley wants to discover what happened that cold November night when everything changed, but this turns out to be a more difficult and intriguing task than she initially thought.    

‘A Heart Bent Out of Shape’ is set in Lausanne, and Emylia Hall provides the reader with magnificent descriptions of this Swiss city. It almost felt like I was walking down the snow-covered streets myself, as if I could feel the cold and see the tops of the mountains in the distance. With her words, she manages to convey a very specific feeling and image, a particular atmosphere, which fits the story perfectly and made me curious to visit Lausanne myself someday. Next to the scene setting, I was straightaway intrigued by Hadley and I liked her as a character. A couple of years ago I was a student myself and I really wanted to study abroad for a couple of months, preferably in the UK, but I never dared to actually do it. Hadley takes the plunge, and I admire her for stepping out of her comfort zone. I also loved her friendship with Kristina and the relationship she builds up with Hugo, a retired crime author who spends his days drinking brandy at a fancy hotel in Lausanne.

It took a bit of time before the story really got going, but this provides the reader with a couple of chapters to get acquainted with Hadley as the protagonist of the story and the city of Lausanne; chapters that build up to the moment of tragedy which is what the rest of the novel focuses on. After that moment, I simply wanted to read on and on to discover more about the story. The novel includes a big twist at the end, which I personally had not expected. ‘A Heart Bent Out of Shape’ is a poignant and captivating read about hope, first love, and loss, which you will not want to put down until you’ve discovered all of it!

Rating:8/10    

Review: 'The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe' by Mary Simses (2013)

A high-powered Manhattan attorney finds love, purpose, and the promise of a simpler life in her grandmother's hometown.

Ellen Branford is going to fulfill her grandmother's dying wish--to find the hometown boy she once loved, and give him her last letter. Ellen leaves Manhattan and her Kennedy-esque fiance for Beacon, Maine. What should be a one-day trip is quickly complicated when she almost drowns in the chilly bay and is saved by a local carpenter. The rescue turns Ellen into something of a local celebrity, which may or may not help her unravel the past her grandmother labored to keep hidden. As she learns about her grandmother and herself, it becomes clear that a 24-hour visit to Beacon may never be enough.

As soon as I pulled my review copy of ‘The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Café’ by new author Mary Simses out of the envelope (thanks to the lovely people at Headline!), I couldn’t wait to start reading it (and it was also the start of a serious craving for blueberry muffins). It’s always great to discover new writers, and after finding out other people were saying Mary Simses’s work reminds of Nicholas Sparks (one of my favourite romance novelists of all time), I already had a feeling this debut novel would not disappoint! 

Ellen Branford has it all: she’s a successful lawyer, lives in the always exciting city of New York, and in a few months she will be married to her handsome fiancé Hayden. However, unexpectedly Ellen finds herself in the small town of Beacon in Maine, on a mission to fulfil her late grandmother’s last wish: delivering a letter with an apology to her teenage sweetheart. Ellen thinks it will just be a short trip, but when she falls through a dock and is saved from the water by local carpenter Roy, all kinds of unforeseen things happen. Soon, Ellen realises she might need a bit more time in Beacon to not only discover what her grandmother had been hiding from her family from years, but also to discover what she wants to do with her own life.

I couldn’t help but fall in love with the descriptions in this novel. Mary Simses really manages to create beautiful places and images with her words, and in my head I could easily picture the small town of Beacon with its local pub, Ellen’s grandmother painting, and I could almost smell the freshly baked blueberry muffins. The touches of romance and nostalgia in the book are fantastic, and they really made the reading experience even better for me. I do understand why people compare this novel to Nicholas Sparks’ work, because he can do the exact same thing with his writing and it’s a quality not all authors possess.

The plot is not too original and in places a bit predictable, but this didn’t spoil the story for me one bit. There were even some small twists and turns I personally did not see coming. ‘The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Cafe’ is, true to its title, an irresistible novel to those readers who love a romantic and nostalgic story they can get lost in. A truly delightful and warm debut novel by Mary Simses, and I’m already looking forward to her next one!  

Rating:8,5/10

Review: 'The Outline of Love' by Morgan McCarthy (2013)

Persephone Triebold has grown up in the strange desolation of the Scottish Highlands, raised by her anxious father and memories of her dead mother. Inexperienced in the rules of friendship, sex and love, Persephone takes the opportunity to replace uninhabited mountain ranges with city life and leaves to study for a degree in London.

Parties, new friends and the polluted splendour of the capital intoxicate Persephone at first, but fail to supply her with the grand passion she wants. It's only when she meets the literary star Leo Ford, a former singer who has become a celebrated writer, that she finds someone she can love. Though Persephone succeeds in entering Leo's circle of friends she finds him to be as elusive as he is sought after. And she becomes increasingly curious about the incident in his past of which no one ever speaks...

One of the great things about being a book blogger is receiving review copies from publishers for books you probably would not have known about otherwise or would not have picked up in a shop yourself. ‘The Outline of Love’ is one of those books. Thanks to the lovely people at Headline (thank you, Veronique!) I received a review copy of this novel in my mailbox, and at first I wasn’t entirely sure whether this would be a book for me. I really like the front cover, especially the pretty silhouette of London in the background, but I wasn’t too sure about the description. However, it’s important to step out of your comfort zone every now and again, especially when it comes to reading, so I decided to give it a go.

At the centre of ‘The Outline of Love’ we have PersephoneTriebold, who has been raised by her father in the desolate Scottish Highlands. Persephone can’t wait to get out of the mountains and start a new life in the exciting city of London, where she will go to study for her Management degree. As soon as Persephone arrives in London, she quickly finds herself living the typical student life: annoying roommates, new BFF’s, parties, boys... But somehow, Persephone is missing something. Something she had already been missing in Scotland and had hoped to find in a place like London. Then she meets Leo Ford, former lead singer of a famous band and now a renowned author, and Persephone finds herself completely captivated by him. Everything in her life starts to revolve around Leo and how she can possibly secure a place in his circle of friends, or perhaps even more... However, Leo is not your average man and it doesn’t take long before Persephone finds herself lost in his mystery and secrets.

There were definitely some elements in this novel that spoke to me. I liked the setting: the contrast between the rural Scottish Highlands where Persephone grew up, and her longing for a life in a city like London. I have also always had a weakness for Greek and Roman myths, so I really liked the idea of retelling the myth of Persephone and Demeter and using it as a parallel storyline. However, I didn’t find myself warming to Persephone, no matter how hard I tried. She seemed a bit empty; I was expecting strong emotions, but instead it felt like she constantly remained on the surface. Because of this, I found myself losing more and more interest after each page. At the end, some events managed to grab me, but once again I was disappointed by the way Persephone dealt with it all.

Morgan McCarthy’s writing is one of a kind; thoughtful, detailed, and not like anything else I have read before. Her descriptions of the setting are incredibly realistic and I could easily imagine myself sitting in Persephone’s house in London, or in the middle of the Scottish Highlands. It certainly does not seem like this is only her second novel. Though there was a nice plot, a good basis to start with, I did not enjoy this novel as much as I hoped I would because I felt it lacked emotion and it didn’t manage to grab me. I’ve read some amazing reviews of Morgan McCarthy’s first novel, ‘The Other Half of Me’, and from those reviews it already became quite clear: you either love McCarthy’s style or you don’t. ‘The Outline of Love’ is a thoughtful and well-written novel, which might capture the interest of other readers, but unfortunately not mine.

Rating:6,5/10

Review: 'Things We Never Say' by Sheila O'Flanagan (2013)

Abbey Andersen is the last person to go looking for change. Yes, it's tough that she barely sees her mother these days - but in San Francisco she has great friends, a steady relationship and a job she enjoys. When Abbey is contacted by Irish lawyer Ryan Gilligan she learns in an instant everything she believed about her roots is a lie. She must travel to Dublin to find out more - but she's scarcely off the plane when she's plunged into a new crisis. One that will change everything not just for Abbey but for the family in Ireland who had no idea that she even existed. Now Abbey has to make a choice that will affect everyone she knows. How can she be sure she makes the right one? And can life ever be quite the same again?

Sheila O’Flanagan is one of the biggest names within the world of chick lit with about fifteen best-selling novels to her name. As a lover of anything chick lit, I also have a couple of her books somewhere on my shelves and every time I see a new title in a book shop, it attracts my attention. But somehow I’ve never actually managed to pick up one of Sheila O’Flanagan’s works and sit down to read it. So, when I received a review copy from Headline (thank you!) of her new novel, ‘Things We Never Say’, I knew I would finally take the time to explore one of her novels myself.

‘Things We Never Say’ focuses on two places in the world: Ireland and California. In Ireland, we find the Fitzpatrick family, which is devastated after the sudden death of patriarch Fred. His children Donald, Gareth and Suzanne are not necessarily devastated by the fact that their father is no longer amongst them; it is his will that has left them most distressed. The reason for this can be found at the other side of the world in San Francisco. Abbey Andersen has a good life: she loves her job as a nail technician, she has a nice apartment with her boyfriend whom she loves very much, and she has great friends to support her. However, when her boyfriend suddenly decides to leave her behind with several debts, Abbey’s life appears to not be so great anymore. When out of the blue an Irish investigator shows up to tell Abbey her family history also isn’t exactly what she thinks it is, Abbey is forced to make some decisions that will not only affect her, but also those around her.

I really liked the fact that this novel focused on two separate storylines that later on become entwined. From the first few pages I already adored Abbey; she’s a lovely character and I was really rooting for her throughout the book. She really cares about the people around her and tries to do what’s best for everyone, not just herself, in any kind of situation. Next to Abbey’s storyline, there’s the feuding Fitzpatrick family. It took me a longer time to get used to these characters. They all have their own secrets and are obsessed with money and particularly their father’s will. I liked discovering and reading about Gareth, Donald, Suzanne and their families, even though most of them weren’t really easily likeable characters. I thought it was great how Sheila O’Flanagan managed to bring all of these diverse characters with their own individual personalities together.

The novel starts with a fascinating chapter set half a century ago, during the Magdalene Laundry era. These Magdalene Laundries were mainly Catholic-run facilities in Ireland for ‘fallen’ women, for example prostitutes or pregnant girls and women who had been left behind by their families. I thought this really added a historical layer to the novel which I personally loved. I have to say I thought the main part of the novel took up too many pages; the story seemed a bit slow at times, and I would have preferred fewer pages or perhaps a more extensive romantic storyline for Abbey. Overall, ‘Things We Never Say’ is an intriguing and enjoyable novel all about family dynamics, which has convinced me to definitely pick up another Sheila O’Flanagan novel in the near future!     
Rating:7,5/10

Review: 'Because You Are Mine' by Beth Kery (2013)

When they met, the instant attraction was unmistakable…a purely, exquisitely physical charge. 

Succumbing to their desires is the easy part. But when passion opens the door to an intimacy neither has known, can a man known for being unbendable learn to love?

When the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ trilogy by E.L. James topped the book charts all over the world in 2012, I got curious and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I had never read any erotic romance fiction before, so it was something completely new (and I have to admit, slightly scary) to me. The tale of Christian Grey and Ana Steele definitely held my interest; otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to read all three books. But to say I absolutely loved the novels and couldn’t wait to sneak in a few pages of reading after a long working day... No, not really. So, when I received a review copy from Headline of Beth Kery’s ‘Because You Are Mine’ and I read the blurb, I wasn’t too sure whether this book would be for me. However, I wanted to give the genre another chance, so with a large cup of tea and a blanket ready on the couch, I dove in. 

‘Because You Are Mine’ tells the story of thirty-something wealthy businessman Ian Noble and twenty-three year-old artist Francesca Noble. Francesca is an Arts student who has won a competition to create the centrepiece painting for the lobby of Noble’s new office building in Chicago. During a party held in her honour, she meets Ian Noble for the first time and from the start there is something between them. Francesca is immediately fascinated by Ian and the attraction appears to be mutual. Ian helps Francesca to discover her sexuality, but it doesn’t take long before Francesca longs for more. She wants to break through Ian’s walls, but is he ready for this and does he want the kind of intimacy Francesca is looking for?

The storyline of this novel seemed very familiar: a dominant, rich, handsome alpha male falls for a younger, slightly shy, virgin whom he teaches about sexuality. This is apparently seen as a ‘winning formula’ within the world of erotic romance fiction (so I’ve read), which is probably why it reminded me so much of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’ A bit too much, to my personal opinion. I really missed the chemistry between the two main characters, Ian and Francesca. I liked Francesca at the beginning of the novel; she seemed to be a strong young woman, opinionated, and not someone to simply play around with. However, as the story progressed, Francesca became more and more submissive. I know this is part of the novel and the relation Ian and Francesca have with one another, but I thought it was a waste Francesca seemed to transform into someone completely different. I really missed the development of the characters throughout the novel, and felt like not much was going on or actually changing.

While ‘Because You Are Mine’ was published as one novel in 2013, it had already been released as 8 separate parts at the end of 2012. I didn’t notice that the author originally wrote this story as several parts; it definitely fit the form of a longer novel. I also really liked Beth Kery’s writing; it was easy to read and seemed to be of a certain kind of quality which I sometimes miss in these kind of novels. Yet, while I was working my way through the book, I wasn’t once really grabbed by the story. It didn’t bother me to read it, but I also wasn’t sad when it all came to an end. I am sure there are people out there, particularly fans of erotic romance fiction, who will be able to really appreciate and love this novel, but it wasn’t one I think I will pick up again.

Rating:

6,5/10
   

Review: 'Husband, Missing' by Polly Williams (2013)

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Gina has only been married six months when her husband Rex goes on holiday to Spain and vanishes without a trace, tipping her dream new marriage into nightmare. As a frantic search gets nowhere, Gina is adamant that he's alive and vows never to give up hope. Speculation is rife: he's drowned at sea, lost his memory...or just walked away. Troubling stories start to emerge about Rex's past that are hard to square with the man she married. How well does she really know her handsome, charismatic husband? They'd fallen in love so quickly, so passionately, that the past had seemed barely relevant to either of them. Now an explosive secret threatens to rewrite the story of their love affair. As the mystery of Rex's whereabouts deepens, Gina begins to wonder whether you only ever truly know the person you love once they've gone.

Thanks to the lovely people at Headine, I received a copy of ‘Husband, Missing’ in the mail last week. After reading some great reviews of this novel on other blogs the past couple of weeks, I had already added the book to my ‘to-read’ list. As soon as I pulled the sunset-coloured cover from the envelope, I knew I couldn’t wait to get started and see whether I would agree with all the positive reviews out there.

‘Husband, Missing’ tells the story of Gina and Rex, a couple who are blissfully in love and got married after only knowing each other for six months. Everything seems perfect, until one day Gina receives a phone call that Rex has gone missing. He had gone on holiday to Spain with his brother Jake and some friends, went out surfing one morning and didn’t return. Gina’s world comes crumbling down, but in between all the chaos she knows Rex is still alive; she can feel it. Even when her friends and family lose hope and tell her to move on, Gina cannot let go of her husband. However, as time goes by, Gina gets to know more and more about Rex’s life before she appeared in the picture, and she starts to have doubts about the man and the marriage she so blindly believes in...

After the first couple of pages, I was already hooked by this story. From the moment Gina hears Rex has gone missing, I only wanted to read on in order to find out what was going to happen. Where was Rex? What had happened to him? The story is told from Gina’s perspective, which results in the reader being taken along on this emotional rollercoaster of feelings. The mystery surrounding Gina’s husband, Rex, kept me intrigued and I wasn’t satisfied until I had finished the novel. However, it wasn’t just Gina, but also the other characters that made this story so compelling. Rex is the link which connects various people to Gina: his half-brother Jake, his mother Clarice, his ex-girlfriend Mandy. These characters were all well-developed and had their own story to tell, which I loved. 

I hadn’t read any of Polly Williams’ work before this novel, but I heard good things about ‘The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy’ and ‘The Angel at No. 33’. After reading this novel, I will certainly check out Polly's other books as well. ‘Husband, Missing’ is beautifully written; a warm, honest and bittersweet tale. This novel has a somewhat deeper and more mature feel and isn’t your typical chick lit romance. So, if you are looking for something slightly different, be sure to pick up this intriguing and well-written novel which will keep you in its grip until the very end!  

Rating:

8/10