Book Review: Wonder Women by Rosie Fiore

"Jo has always dreamed of starting her own business, but the arrival of her two gorgeous toddlers has put her ambition on the backburner. Then she hits on a brilliant idea – a kids’ clothing shop with a twist – and is thrilled when it really takes off. When husband Lee offers to quit his job to look after the family while her business grows, it seems a godsend – but will their marriage stand the test of reversing their roles?

Jo soon recruits Holly and Mel to help her in the shop. Designer Holly’s high-flying career has come crashing down and she’s moved back home – but is she ready to manage a major family crisis? Meanwhile, Mel worries her teenage daughter Serena is going off the rails. Is finding out more worth risking her daughter’s trust? 

At the crossroads of their lives, friendship could be the only the thing keeping these wonder women strong."

Rating: 4/5

You can pre-order Wonder Women as a paperback or an eBook now.

I very much enjoyed reading Rosie Fiore's 2012 release Babies in Waiting which was published through Quercus, so I was really pleased when they offered me a copy of her new book to review as a Kindle edition (the paperback is being released a few months after the eBook). I eagerly downloaded it to my Kindle and began reading... no mean feat since I would rather read a paperback anyday, but I was so keen to read this one, I didn't mind the Kindle for once and got stuck in. The cover has been through a bit of a change since it's original, and is now a blue hue instead of the more garish green, and I actually prefer the blue, far more suited to the idea of the book now I have read it!

The book is based around a group of women who run a children's clothing shop together. The main character is Jo, married to Lee and mum to two young children. Jo's career didn't really take off as she planned, but she is sure when she has the idea for the clothes shop that she can make it work. Husband Lee is really supportive, and decides to take on the bulk of childcare while his wife works on her new career. Also working at the shop are new friends Holly and Mel. Holly has just returned from living in South Africa for 10 years, and is getting over her own betrayal and heartache. Mel is a single mum to daughter Serena, but is worried about the state of their relationship. She's sure Serena is hiding things and is worried about her daughter but is unsure of how to broach it with the volatile teen. Will the three women be able to make a success of the shop against the odds?

The story begins mainly with Jo and Lee, and jumps about in their life story, from when they were just friends, to getting together and eventually getting married and having children together. I liked that Fiore took to the time to introduce these characters properly because it allows the reader to really like them as a couple and want things to work out for them. I really liked Jo, and could relate to her feelings of guilt as a working mum. Fiore makes her seem very real, and she doesn't make the journey too plain-sailing either, you can feel when Jo is up against it, and her uncertainty about her success endears you to her. Her relationship with husband Lee is also very realistic too, and he is a great character, struggling to cope with the demands of suddenly becoming a stay-at-home father and a wife who isn't around as much as before.

The other women too were great to read about, and I think a lot of women reading will be able to relate to them in some way, however small. Holly's story was fascinating to read, and I especially enjoyed the parts set in South Africa. It is Fiore's native country, and she writes it and its people so brilliantly, you feel like you are in the thick of it with them! Holly's South African friends in particular were brilliant, and I really did enjoy these parts of the story. Holly's tale in the more present day is at the same both excellent and heart-breaking. The storyline involving her mother had me in tears, it's so emotionally written and Fiore handles it so well, I think I cared more about this story than Jo and Lee in parts, it was so moving. Mel, the single mum's story was less compulsive, but you want things to work out okay for the mother and daughter duo, she's a likeable character and works hard in the shop for Jo.

The idea of opening a shop isn't a new one for a book, it's a subject which has been written about many times in chick lit and women's fiction, but I really did enjoy Fiore's take on it. She doesn't shy away from letting the reader know all aspects of opening a shop and how hard it was for Jo, and I enjoyed reading about the progression of the shop, and how that changed the lives of its workers. The relationships of all those in the book are good to read about, and the women in it really are wonder women, going up against the odds to try and make a success of their new venture. The shop they create sounds fantastic, it's certainly something that I could imagine would be do-able and a welcome idea to many parents out there! I definitely recommend this book, it's a brilliant read and I was engrossed in the story of Jo, Mel and Holly from start to finish, and it certainly brings Rosie Fiore up into the ranks of a must-read author for me, I can't wait for her next book!

Book News: Things We Never Say by Sheila O'Flanagan

I always know that when I pick up a new Sheila O'Flanagan book I'm in for a really good read, so roll on June 20th when her new book Things We Never Say is released! As usual, it sounds like a fab book, and I am sure Sheila will have delivered on it being yet another brilliant read.

You can pre-order Things We Never Say as a hardback or an eBook now.

"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?"

Book Cover News: Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

One of the most awaited books this year has to the sequel to the hugely successful book The Devil Wears Prada, which is to be called Revenge Wears Prada and is due out on June 20th 2013. The cover has finally been revealed, and while I have to say it isn't my cup of tea, I am certainly looking forward to reading it, and catching up with these great characters again!

You can pre-order Revenge Wears Prada as a paperback or an eBook now.

"The hotly-anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada – the million copy bestseller that took the world by storm.

Everything’s in place for the season’s hottest launch:

Tall latte (with two raw sugars)? Check.

Gucci trench (draped over desk)? Check.

Outrageous, unreasonable demands? Check.

Andy has just turned thirty and is an incredibly successful magazine editor, working closely with her best friend Emily, another Runway survivor. She’s about to get married – life’s on track and she’s been careful to stay clear of Miranda Priestly, her dreadful first boss. But Andy’s luck is running out. Miranda Priestly isn’t the kind of woman who hides in the background.

She’s back… and more devilish than ever."

Book News: Two For Joy by Helen Chandler

Another debut novelist this year is Helen Chandler, and her brand new novel Two For Joy sounds like it's my cup of tea. I really love the cover, I love the colour scheme, and it really makes me want to pick it up and read it right now. It's out on 6th June, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

You can pre-order Two For Joy as an eBook or a paperback now.

"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 . . "

Book Review: A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews

"Grace has been best friends with Ella and Flick forever. The late-night chats, shared heartaches and good times have created a bond that has stood the test of time.

When Ella invites them to stay for a week in her cottage in South Wales, Grace jumps at the chance to see her old friends. She also hopes that the change of scenery will help her reconnect with her distant husband.

Then Flick arrives; loveable, bubbly, incorrigible Flick, accompanied by the handsome and charming Noah.

This is going to be one week which will change all their lives forever...

Join Grace, Ella and Flick for a week of love, laughter, tears and friendship in A Cottage by the Sea."

Rating: 4/5

You can buy A Cottage by the Sea as a paperback or an eBook now.

I was pleased to be sent a review copy of Carole Matthews' brand new book A Cottage By the Sea a few months as I really liked the idea of this book. It sounded like it was just about friendship, nothing else, and it was going to be enjoyable, as all of Carole's books are. I loved the cover when I first saw it too, such a beautiful image and it certainly makes the book look like one you want to sit and devour, especially in this horribly cold weather, and it looks bright and sunny on the cover of this one!

The book is about a woman called Grace, and the friendship she has with her two friends whilst they are all on holiday together, staying in Ella's family cottage in South Wales called Cwtch Cottage. Grace's marriage is in trouble, and she is sure this holiday is either going to make or break the bond between her and husband Harry. Trouble is, she's not sure her husband can live without Twitter or the internet for a week while they are there. Then there's her other friend Flick. The three have been best friends since they were young, but Flick has always been the flighty one of the group, and Grace isn't sure how to talk to her high-flying friend anymore, especially when she turns up with yet another man, Noah, in tow. Their week in the cottage by the sea will certainly stretch their friendships more than they dreamed possible, but will it be a happy ending for all of the friends?

I really enjoyed this book for so many reasons. I liked that there wasn't a gimmick with it, it's just a good old-fashioned story about female friendships and the ups and downs that they go through. All three of the women are very different, but that is what makes it fun to read, because you just know things aren't going to go smoothly for them all on holiday. The main character of the book is Grace, and I warmed to her from the start. She's just keen to have a good time in the cottage, and I could certainly understand her frustration at her husband, paying more attention to his phone than to her, and I expect in this technological day and age, this is something that is becoming more and more common! You do feel sorry for her, and as the book went on, I certainly had my own hopes for her happy ending.

The stories involving the other women were good to read as well, and Matthews cleverly weaves them all together so effortlessly. I really liked Ella's story - I could see where it was going, but still you can't help but hope for a change of heart, and I enjoyed reading it as it went along. Noah is the mysterious male of the piece, and he was written perfectly. He seems the perfect man in all ways, polite, a good cook, fun to be around and helpful in difficult situations, and although things with him were a bit predictable, I didn't mind because it was such an enjoyable read. Another thing I loved about this book was Matthews' descriptions of the cottage and the Welsh countryside - it sounded absolutely idyllic and like the perfect holiday, in the middle of nowhere in the peace and quiet, and I really enjoyed reading the descriptions and being taken away mentally on Grace's holiday.

A Cottage by the Sea is a delightful and charming read that I enjoyed from start to finish. I loved how I was swept away into the Welsh countryside with this group of friends, and experienced their highs and lows along with them. I was particularly drawn into Ella's story, which I felt was really well written, and Grace was a great main character who you were really hoping for a happy ending for. Yes, it was a tad predictable in that I knew what would happen by the end, but it really didn't matter because I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns it took to get there. As usual, Matthews has written the perfect book to sit down and devour, it's a great holiday read, and I bet you'll enjoy it just as much as I have. A fantastic book that makes me eager to read yet more from Carole Matthews!

Book News: The Lying Game by Tess Stimson

I am a big fan of Tess Stimson's writing - her books are always gripping reads and cover subjects you don't always get to read about, and therefore I get really excited for a new book from her. The Lying Game sounds amazing, and I cannot wait to read it. It's due out on 23rd May, not long to wait!

You can pre-order The Lying Game as a paperback or an eBook now!

"There are some things we are never meant to know . . . Harriet Lockwood has never really felt that strong mother-daughter bond between herself and her daughter, Florence. Then one day she finds the reason why. The girl she has raised for the last fifteen years is not her biological child. Zoey Sands has a somewhat chaotic lifestyle and is completely the opposite of Harriet Lockwood, but the one constant thing in her life is her daughter Nell. Could it be that Nell isn't her child. When Harriet turns up on Zoey’s doorstep wanting to see her biological daughter, the two families are instantly thrown together and nothing can ever be the same again."

Book News: The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne

I'm really pleased to see Hester Browne is back this year with a brand new novel with publishers Quercus, and it sounds like a really good one to read too. The Runaway Princess is out already as an eBook but is coming as a paperback on June 6th. I have to say the book cover is so pretty as well!

You can buy the eBook now, or pre-order the paperback.

"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?"