Changes

[[Category:New Reviews|Women's Fiction]]__NOTOC__{{Frontpage|isbn=1471180158|title=WomenMaybe Tomorrow|author=Penny Parkes|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Jamie Matson works in an upper-class grocery store, for a man who's a control freak with all the subtlety of a half brick. Jamie's son, Bo, 'has his problems'. He's asthmatic and the more you read, the more you'll suspect that he's on the autistic spectrum. Sometimes Jamie needs to take time off at short notice - she's a frequent flier in the local A&E and sometimes Bo's Fiction==not fit enough to go to school. Missed shifts or the need to be away on time to pick Bo up from school are occasions when Jamie can be controlled and put in the wrong. It was going to come to a head.__NOTOC__}}{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Pamela FudgeLauren Bravo|title=A Change For The BetterPreloved

|summary=Jo Farrell had spent all her life caring for other people. After she lost her alcoholic husband and Gwen is pressing her demanding, hypochondriac mother she had time for herself, but when she looked in the mirror she wasn't particularly impressed by what she saw. The middle-aged, slightly plump woman bosom on a big number that starts with grey curls reminded her of her mother a four and the clothes she was wearing did little to help eitherends with an oh-my-God-I'm-nearly-forty. It was something odd which helped her to change. The very scruffy man from downstairs (the sort you Having been made unexpectedly redundant - any HR officer worth their salt would cross argue the road to avoid) came to borrow toss - Gwen finds herself having a bit of a newspaper mid-life crisis. Catharsis is key and somehow they got talking about what needed Gwen has decided now is the time to be done to change take back her life.'|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709090609</amazonuk>1398510629

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cath Staincliffe0008506337|title=The Kindest ThingGarnett Girls|author=Georgina Moore|rating=45

|summary=Imagine that your partner of twenty or so years discovers that The love affair between Margo Garnett and poet Richard O'Leary was all-consuming, apparently on both sides. Margo was just sixteen when they are dying from a terminal diseasefell in love. Now imagine that theyRichard was twenty-one and described by Margo's mother as 'an older man've asked you to help them to die a little sooner, on their own terms. What Her parents worried that Richard's influence would you do? This is the dilemma that faced Deborah and, after take her away from what they felt she went ahead and helped her husband Neil could achieve - going to die, she found herself charged Oxford and standing trial for murder with her own teenage daughter, Sophie, testifying against her.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849012083</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Nicola Cornick|title=Confessions of having a Duchess|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Dowager Duchess Laura Cole has come to the village of Fortune’s Folly to live a quiet life as a widow with her young daughterglittering career. But when the village squire decides to invoke In the Dames’ Taxevent, a law requiring every unmarried woman to give up half they eloped and Richard took her wealth to him, away from the town becomes a hotbed Isle of men searching for heiresses now desperate to marryWight. Joining the men is Dexter Anstruther, sent Margo did go to secure a rich wife Oxford and carry out went on to become a murder inquiry on behalf of Lord Liverpoolwell-respected journalist. The last thing Laura couple had three children: Rachel, Imogen and Dexter expect is to see each other again after their steamy encounter four years agoSasha. But their passion for each other is reawakened Life was lived in London and looks set to ruin them bothholidays were spent at Sandcove, the family home on the Isle of Wight.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303802</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Julia Williams|title=The Bridesmaid Pact|rating=5|genre=Women Even then the doubts about Richard's drinking were never far from Margo's Fiction|summary=I recently read [[Last Christmas by Julia Williams]] and enjoyed it so much that I was determined mind: ''she would never be able to read more by this fabulous author. The opportunity presented itself leave him in the shape of charge'The Bridesmaid Pact', a truly wonderful book that not only met but also exceeded all my expectations. In fact it was so good that I read the last 200 pages in just one day, totally ignoring my family whilst doing so. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847560873</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Abby McDonald|title=The Liberation of Alice Love|rating=4Then Richard left them.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=You can just picture Alice Love standing before the panel on Britain's Got Talent. 'And what do you do?' they like to ask.<br>'I work in the film industry...'<br>'Oooh, really?'<br>'...as a lawyer.'<br>'Oh.' Like all those accountants they're always showing, you can imagine that Alice too would receive a rather luke-warm welcome on the show. And Alice would concur that her job isn't all that glam, even if her industry itself is a bit swish. But it's an appropriate job for her, since Alice is very sensible and by-the-book. She's certainly not the type of person to go overdrawn, or run into any kind of trouble financially, so when her card is declined one day she's pretty sure it's just a computer error.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099533928</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lulu TaylorHadeer Elsbai|title=Midnight GirlsThe Daughters of Izdihar

|genre=Women's FictionFantasy|summary=Best friends Allegra McCorquodaleDrawing inspiration from Egypt, ''The Daughters of Izdihar'' explores the lives of two women who could not be more different, Imogen Heath yet find themselves fighting for the rights of women and Romily de Lisleweavers – those with magical abilities - in a society pitted against them. Nehal, known as born into the Midnight Girlsupper class, spend wishes to attend the Weaving Academy to learn to control her abilities and then join the military, but instead she is forced into an arranged marriage with Nico. Giorgina on the other hand did not have a privileged upbringing like Nehal and feels great pressure to provide for her family and maintain their nights at reputation, whilst secretly attending meetings of the exclusive Westfield Boarding School Daughters of Izdihar – a group campaigning for Girls up women's rights. Giorgina also happens to be in the attic rooms smoking and bitchinglove with Nico. But when the girls are witness to What follows is a tragic accidentstory of an unjust society, filled with hypocrisy and cruelty, they become bound together forever by what they have seen from which blossoms a group of admirable women fighting for their rights and vow never to tellovercoming their personal obstacles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099524929</amazonuk>0356520471

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Holly McQueenB0B575J99N|title=Confetti ConfidentialBeneath the Porticoes|author=Brooke Adams

|summary=Elizabeth Miller was thirty-four and a teacher at a prestigious girl's school in York. It was 'Confetti Confidential'comfortable' is the third book ' but she longed for something more in life. She'd ''still not found the Isabel series, but the first one I've read. Even without that grand claim on right vocation nor met the front, you couldnright man't help but draw comparisons between Kinsella's series and this one from now was the very first pagetime to make a change. She needed challenges. The writing style is virtually identical – to There was a little trepidation when she applied for the point where you do actually wonder if this is just professoressa job in Bologna. After a pseudonym – telephone interview, she was offered the position and while the chatty, chummy, conversational approach is not for everyone, if itwasn's t long before she was exploring the sort of thing you like then this is the sort of book you'll lovebeautiful city. There were some natural doubts before her first class but it went surprisingly well.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099545756</amazonuk>

SS{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sabrina Broadbent0241542405|title=You Don't Have To Be GoodMeredith Alone|author=Claire Alexander

|summary=Bea Kemp has reached Jo Fairburn knew that she was under intense pressure as the new head of West Burntridge First School: if she didn't live up to her retired predecessor there could well be a crisis point house price slump in her lifethat part of the town. She is in her forties, childless, enjoying a tedious job The school had an active Parent Teacher Association and the funds which they raised were a lacklustre marriage with Frankconsiderable benefit to the school. She seems to have spent her entire life There was one difficulty, though - they were ''devastatingly shockable'being good' and it really does not seem to have got her anywhere. Her only pleasure seems to come from the time she spends , with her niece and nephewtwo members, in particular, causing problems for the head. Laura Spence and Adrian, and as her successful sister Katharine has no qualms about using her as an unpaid childminder, thatKate Monroe objected to Jo's quite a lot! However, all that looks set to change when Katharine announces that she is moving away with restrictions on the toys children so she does not need Bea to look after themcould bring in on Toy Day but that was just a warm-up act for their real gripe: LGBTQ education.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099535556</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rekha WaheedGiovanna Fletcher|title=Saris and the CityWalking on Sunshine

|summary=Yasmin Yusuf is a likeable main character Mike's wife, Pia, who he was with a group of Sex-and-the-City-style friends. The story begins with Yasmin splitting up with the man she was convinced was going to proposefor seventeen years, rapidly followed by losing her jobhas died. We then follow her as she determines to become successful and make her mark in her new job, And whilst holding out for ''the package'' in her personal life. I particularly liked the way each chapter he is a lesson and lets the reader know what Yasmin will be learning or proving through events played out in that chapter. For exampledealing with his grief, so are their best friends, chapter one is ''Lesson One: If he's the bad boy Vicky and you're the good girl, you will get burnt'', hence the resulting ex-boyfriendZaza.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755356136</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Joan M Moules|title=Fragile Memories|rating=3|genre=WomenBut Pia left them all some 's Fiction|summary=Maura was surprised when she inherited the manor house at Picton near Salisbury. She hadnrules't been close to her Uncle Tom for many years and he had a stepsonfollow, Jim, whom knowing that she thought would have inherited in preference to her. It was five years since she's been back to Picton dying and when she returned that they would need help to put the property carry on living. Whilst some of the market she was surprised by the extent of rules are around practicalities such as clearing out her longing to return there. Money was going to be a problem though. She worked as a model and couldn't really to this from the manor – and she didn't have the money for the property's upkeep. Her boyfriendwardrobe, Nick, had an answer. He already had three successful restaurants and was looking another one that Mike discovers one day encourages him to extend into the countryside – what better place could there be for his new restaurant?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709090587</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Anne O'Brien|title=Virgin Widow|rating=4.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The mighty Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, is famous throughout England as take one of King Edward IV’s most trusted advisors. But as Edward is lured towards another influential family when he falls in love with Elizabeth Woodvilletheir trips away, Warwick responds by backing the alliance between Margaret of Anjou and King Louis XI of France, aiming to put Margaret’s husband Henry VI back on the English throne. A helpless pawn, Anne is torn away from the man she loves, who will grow up to become Richard III, to be used as political capital by her father Vicky and his allies as they try to regain the kingdom of England.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303756</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Sally Wragg|title=Playing for Keeps|rating=3|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=The Vernon family have been involved with Rislington Rovers Football Club – The Rogues - for generations. Presently there are three generations actively involved with the Club, although Eleanor Vernon, the matriarch of the familyZaza, wishes that husband Landon would spend a little more time struggling with her. As the Rogues are facing relegation their grief and a police investigation into their financesown life troubles, stalwart Landon isn’t likely decide to be doing that any time soon drop everything in their own lives, and when the Club needs a new Chief Executive the appointment is one which divides the Vernon family and it seems that there’s not one of them whose personal life isn't in turmoilgo along with him.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709089880</amazonuk>140593560X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Debbie MacomberB09FS89KX9|title=Hannah's ListFall On Me|author=Penelope Potts

|summary=It Life should have been good for Hollie: She was a just going into the final year since Dr Michael Everett's wife Hannah died from ovarian cancer of her veterinary degree and his grief - three years later - was still as painful as ever. He certainly wasn't ready for what his brother-in-law, Hannahworking at BB's brother, handed himdiner. It Bob - the owner - regarded her fondly: he was a letter which Hannah good boss. Hollie had written some time before moved in with her boyfriend, Marcus: her mother thought he was great and he was doing well in his career. Hollie wasn't quite so certain though: Marcus wanted to control her death and not only did she suggest that most of all he should remarry, she went on wanted her to name three women she thought would make a good wife for himleave her job at the diner. Winter Adams Then there was the chef who owned the café on blossom Streetfact that he would be violent, Leanne Lancaster had been Hannah's nurse, but who was Macy Roth?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303799</amazonuk>both to her and to other people.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Hester Browne0008421714|title=The Finishing TouchesMrs March|author=Virginia Feito

|genre=Women's Literary Fiction|summary=As The problem began just after the daughter publication of its owner, and a highly experience management consultant George March's most successful novel to boot, Betsy is date. Everyone but Mrs March (we know her first name only on the obvious choice last page) seemed to call for help in turning around a finishing school failing either be reading it or had already done so. Every day Mrs March went to the local patisserie to make buy olive bread but on that particular morning, Patricia asked, as she was wrapping the grade in 21st century London. Except... Betsy never attended bread, ''but isn't this the school as first time he's based a studentcharacter on you?'' She mentioned that Johanna, and shethe principal character had 's not so much her mannerisms'management consultant' as she . Perhaps this would not have mattered, except for the fact that Johanna is the whore of Nantes - 'shop assistant' – a distinction many a proud parent could be forgiven for missing. With the Tallimore Academy facing financial ruinweak, plain, detestable, pathetic, howeverunloved, Betsy isnunloveable wretch.''t so much their best hope as she is their only hope.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340937807</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Allie Spencer1473685745|title=The Not-So Secret Diary of a City GirlUnbreak Your Heart|author=Katie Marsh|rating=3.54

|summary=Banking analystWhen Beth Carlyle and Simon Withers first met they were on opposite ends of an angry exchange - well, Laura McGregor has Simon was angry and Beth was doing her secret diary accidentally uploaded best to apologise for having knocked Simon's son, Jake, off his bike. He wasn't hurt but Jake has history. He has HLHS - that's Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome for those of you who are not ''au fait'' with your medical acronyms. When he was born, the Internetleft side of his heart hadn't developed properly and he needed open-heart surgery when he was a few days old. The diary contains her thoughts about her lacklustre relationship So, Simon has every right to be over-protective particularly when someone isn't looking where they're driving.}} {{Frontpage|author=C J Carey|title=Widowland|rating=4|genre=General Fiction|summary=It's April 1953, and Adolf Hitler's schedule includes going to Moscow to attend the state funeral of Joseph Stalin then within weeks coming to London, parading around a bit, and watching over the sanctioned return to the throne of Edward VIII with his wife, Queen Wallis. For yes, Britain caved in the lead-up to the World War Two that certainly didn't happen as we know it, and we are now a protectorate – well, we share enough of the same blood as the Germanic peoples on ''the mainland''. But this is most certainly atraderdifferent Britain, for Nazi-styled phrenology, and ideas of female purpose, her attraction towards has put all of that gender into a “dirtcaste system, ranging from high-digging journalist” brow office bigwigs to the drudges, and massive discrepancies beyond those, right on down to the childless, the husbandless and the widows. Female literacy is actively discouraged. And in this puritanical existence, our heroine, Rose Ransom, is employed with the accounts task of bowdlerising classical literature to take all encouragement for female emancipation out of it – after all, not every book can be banned, and not every story excised immediately from British civilisation, and so they just get a hefty tweak towards the party line before they're stamped ready for reprint. That is her new managerjob, at least, until the first emerging signs of female protest come to light, with their potential to spoil Hitler's visit.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755352947</amazonuk>152941198X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Katie FfordeRuth Hogan|title=A Perfect ProposalMadame Burova

|genre=Women's General Fiction|summary=I This book lets us discover several people in different stages of life in the early 1970s, all vaguely connected. So we have read most of Katie Fforde's books and each and every one has proved a bullied half-cast boy (as he would have been called then), a girl in a humdrum job wanting to be enjoyable become a singer, and entertaining. A Perfect Proposal comes up to chiefly, Imelda, the same high standard andthird generation of Madame Burova, having just finished reading it''Tarot-Reader, it has left me wanting more! Her style is very relaxed Palmist and easy going and she always creates believable characters that you canClairvoyant't help caring about.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846054494</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Sandra Wilson|title=A Change of Fortune|rating=3|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Leonie Conyngham seemed , to have everything going for use herfamily's sea-front booth. She was beautiful and set to be the belle of the forthcoming seasonThe singer, but a family disaster stripped her of her position as the most important pupil in her school scryer and placed her there as the lowliest teachersufferer's mother will all become staff at a revamped holiday camp, there to do but just before then we see Imelda fly solo for the bidding of those above her. Her possessions stolen and in debt she had little choice first time in the matterfamily stall. Her physical attractions have not left We also see her on her thoughlast day, fifty years later, but now the young rakes in possession of London are not looking at her as a possible wife, but to see who can be the first to deprive her pair of her virtue.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089996</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Gillian Morgan|title=Salt Blue|rating=3|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=I always judge letters that will change everything for a book by its coverwoman called Billie. The eyes in Just who is she, and who delivered the pretty face on the cover of ''Salt Blue'' are arrestingsecrets about her to Imelda, but difficult to assign and why did it have to remain a period, though it’s clearly women’s or teen fiction. I imagine that the cover might attract fiction readers of mainstream women’s magazines such as Women’s Weekly or Woman’s Own, so it’s spot on for the story inside.secret all this time?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906784159</amazonuk>152937331X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kate LawsonJennifer Saint |title=Mother of the BrideAriadne |rating=4.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=This is re-telling of the story myth of Jess Foster who Ariadne and the Minotaur is busily preparing for her forthcoming marriage to Max Porter, willingly aided by her mum, Molly, interesting and her stepmother, Marnieunusual. It soon becomes apparent though that Jennifer Saint presents the women have different ideas, particularly opinionated Marnie who seems set on Jess having the society wedding of the year and even goes as far as hiring story in a wedding planner. Molly, on the other hand, agrees with Jess way that things should really be kept simpleis sympathetic to its origins but also appealing to a modern audience. Thus the scene Saint's narrative is well set for all told predominantly through the moods and mayhem which occurs when arranging a wedding. Will Jess be able viewpoint of Ariadne, spanning from her childhood to stick her death, allowing the reader to really connect with Ariadne as a character in her guns and arrange own right rather than just a prop in the type heroics of wedding that she wants or will it just be easier to give in to other suggestions?Theseus. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847561179</amazonuk>1472273869

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Liane MoriartyLucy Holland|title=What Alice ForgotSistersong

|genre=Women's Literary Fiction|summary='This wasn't the worst thing that had ever happened to her…it was just Sistersong is part of a genre I particularly enjoy, the modern retelling of folk and fairy tales. These stories, for most ridiculous' laments thirty nine year old mother of threeus, Alice, who has had the last ten years are a cornerstone of her childhood and I relish seeing them retold with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective. If handled well these retellings give new life struck from her memory by a blow and new meaning to stories that are now becoming increasingly narrow and outdated, fleshing out characters, examining relationships and re-evaluating the head in her step aerobics classrole of women. Alice now thinks she's twenty nineSistersong is a perfect example of a modern retelling done well, newly pregnant the plot is handled with her first child and happily married care, keeping its archaic historical feel but allowing the characters to come to life, to Nick feel real and furthermore she hasn't human, most importantly they feel relatable in a clue what she's doing at an aerobics class modern world whilst still feeling appropriate for the pre-Saxon age they live in the first place. This is a masterpiece of storytelling and I was captivated from beginning to end. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0141043768</amazonuk>1529039037

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Elin HilderbrandB08NF79QXT|title=The Castaways|rating=4.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=On the island of Nantucket, four couples have forged strong bonds of friendship. Together they live and love, raise their children, share their dreams. It's an idyllic existence and at the same time a very purposeful one. The couples have worked hard to create the quality of life they now enjoy and nothing can take it away from them. Until now. Greg and Tess are dead, the result of what appears to be a sailing accident. They leave behind two young children, and six devastated friends, all of whom have to come to terms with what has happened. For some there is guilt over final words said or final warnings left unsaid. For others, there is the knowledge that secret relationships will now have to stay that way evermore. 'The Castaways' is the book of that fateful summer, the accident and its aftermath, but it's more than just that. It's a look at the precious role friends and family play in our lives, and how innocent actions or words can change the course of history forever.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340919825</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewCherry Blossom Boutique|author=Karen Abbott|title=A Most Rebellious DebutanteBrooke Adams

|summary=Lucy TempletonThirty-one-year old Liberty Rossini has had her shop, daughter of Lord Templetonthe Cherry Blossom Boutique, fell in love with her dancing master. It wasn't entirely unusual for a seventeen year old girl to feel this way, but it was better that it was unheard of just six months when she was caught in his arms's nominated for - and wins - the Retail Best Newcomer Award. A substantial sum of money for She's delighted and the dancing master ensured that he would disappear and Lucy was sent to stay two people she's brought with her married sister as punishmentto the event couldn't be more pleased. She was not to attend parties or social functions Sonja, her mother, is an ex-model and must spend Brazilian: you can see where Liberty got her time looking after her sisterlooks from. Jessica's thirty-four and Liberty's young children best friend: they've known each other since university and doing good worksLiberty adores Jessica's husband, until such time as the Templetons could get her married offCharles and their four-year-old daughter, Ava. All might have gone according to their plan had Life would be perfect for Liberty if it wasn't for one thing: she not had misses having a chance encounter with the notorious Lord Rockhaven and a stolen kiss catches man in her heartlife.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709090315</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jojo MoyesB08GFSK2WZ|title=The Horse DancerKarma Trap|author=Lisette Boyd

|summary=Only two things in life matter George Jackson is thirty-three years old, absolutely gorgeous to fourteenlook at -year-old Sarah: her horse Boo and her grandfather Henri Lachapellesingle. Henri sees SarahShe's skill at horsemanship as her way out not had sex for eight months and she's stuck in the karma trap: an awful lot of their inner city London life and wants bad luck is being visited on her to follow in his footsteps and become she has a member of France's elite equestrian academy Le Cadre Noirreal talent for attracting drama.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340961600</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Mavis Cheek|title=Truth to Tell|rating=4.5|genre=Women Her life's Fiction|summary=Robert Porter was angry. The politician filling the television screen was lying. He knew it. He railed against it and said politician would have thought himself lucky not to be there in person. Nina only managed to calm her husband by enquiring whether he would like red or white wine chaotic: she dealt with the meal and had that been leak from the end of the matter then that would have been shower by putting something down at the end bottom of the matter – if you see what I mean. But stairs to absorb the telephone rang and it was Robert's boss with details of the teamwater -bonding office trip to Florida. Robert assured him that he was really keen to go (he wasn't) and Nina was looking forward to it too (she wasn't). And then Nina started wondering about the difference between shower fell through the politician's lies roof whilst she was in it and Robert'sleft her, erstark naked, evasionsstaring at the pervy postman. Surely it must be possible She only has to tell the truth?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091931673</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jojo Moyes|title=The Last Letter From Your Lover|rating=4.5|genre=Womentake her mother's Fiction|summary=I do love dog out for a story that wraps me walk for her to end up completely within its little world, making me want to ignore my long list of things to do with dog poo spattered across her face - and just curl up reading all day. Jojo Moyes' new novel certainly managed a photo being taken by someone who shares itaround the office. I felt transported back to the 1960's, entirely caught up in the characters' lives, riding their highs and lows alongside of them, and I ended up desperately foisting my just-woken-up toddler onto my husband so that I could just read the last four pages without her hanging off my arm!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340961627</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cathy WoodmanB08CHJLNBS|title=Trust Me, I'm a Vet|rating=4.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Though I'm not a pet owner and as such had never thought too much about it, I believed this book when it told me there are two types of vets (three if you count the Vietnam kind, though for these purposes let's not). No, I mean the city type who look after poodles and hamsters and maybe the odd depressed gold fish, and the country kind who stick their hands up cows' bottoms for fun, and think horses are man's second best friend, as well as essential equipment for extracurricular activities. Maz definitely falls into the first category, but when her love life gets as sticky as a cancerous canine tumour, she realises that London is not the place to be any more. An opportunity arises at the rather tweely named ''Otter'' ''House'' ''Veterinary'' ''Clinic'', and she seizes it, pleased to have a reason to flee the capital, at least temporarily.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099543567</amazonuk>}}  {{newreviewCapturing Emilia|author=Jeannie Machin|title=My Lady DominoBrooke Adams

|summary=Adele Russell serves behind the counter in He's Charles Devereaux, thirty-eight and a haberdashers and lives over partner at Wickham Jones, the shopMayfair letting agents. It wasn't always like that though as itShe's only a few years since she was a wealthy heiress engaged to marry an earlEmilia, twenty-nine, but after her father's financial ruin librarian and his death archivist in a fire her fiancé broke off the relationship and Adele was lucky to be taken in by her old nurseheritage library next door. It's taken some time to come to terms with what happened and Adele Emilia has reconciled herself to her lowly position until read [[The Secret by Rhonda Byrne|The Secret]] but she finds an invitation to a masked ball. What harm would there be in her wearing her mother's ball gown and dominomoved on from new age books like that, just for a taste of how things used to be?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089988</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Val Harris|title=Sea Creatures|rating=3.5|genre=Womenwhich leave you dependent on someone else's Fiction|summary=Rowena Moon and her husband Brendan lived on the Cornish coast with their three childrenphilosophies, Jenna, Charlie and Olivia. Brendan was an artist – and to something a reasonably successful onelittle deeper. Rowena ran Charles is more of a local café and the children had the freedom of the local beach. It sounds like[[Personal by Lee Child|Jack Reacher]] man himself, and probably wasbut, an idyllic childhood until one day Rowena disappeared without warning and without explanation. It was devastating and affected each of the children in different ways as they grew up. Twenty two years later the five are reunited and the mystery of their past unravels.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0955599741</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Sandra Heath|title=A Commercial Enterprise|rating=3.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Caroline is a Lexhamabove all, but shehe's not one of shocked that Emilia reads ''theThe Guardian'' Lexhams as her father made a rather unfortunate marriage. In consequence sheThey're obviously not at all compatible, so why can Charles not get this woman out of his mind? She's rather surprised to be invited to the reading of her unclenot his usual type at all: it's willobvious to his friends. She didnAnd given that Emilia regularly feels repulsed by Charles't know hims superficiality, had no expectations and probably wouldn't have gone to London if why does she hadn't been trying feel drawn to escape the attentions of a pressing suitor. him? The journey there is trying, but sherelationship's rescued by Sir Hal Seymour who gives her obviously a lift in his carriage. It might have got Caro to the reading on timenon-starter, but she made an enemy of his mistress who had hopes of becoming his wife.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>070908997X</amazonuk>isn't it?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lisa JewellHelly Acton|title=After the PartyThe Shelf|rating=54|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=ItWhen we meet Amy, she's been eleven years since Ralph and Jem finally became an item at the end of Lisa Jewellin a relationship with Jamie. You can's first novel Ralpht really call it a partnership, because things tend to get done on his terms, but she's Partysticking around because she hopes she can change him. After buying a house in South London and having two children their once excitingAh, romantic and crazy relationship has gradually become consumed by responsibility and domesticityyes. Jem has become bogged down with motherhood and running Haven't we all been there? Things are looking up when he tells her to pack for a home and just wishes Ralph would help out a bit as she struggles surprise trip. Could this be it? Is he ''finally'' going to start working again. Ralph, unsure of his role in get down on one knee? Was the family, has gradually drifted away both physically work (and emotionally from Jem and his children, preferring to spend as much time as possible painting in his studio.the wait) worth it?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846055733</amazonuk>1838770879

{{newreview|author=Sue Eckstein|title=The Cloths of Heaven|rating=4.5|genre=WomenWhen Mike Parker's Fiction|summary=We're in West Africa in the early nineteen ninetiesgirlfriend comes into school with a black eye, claiming he gave it to her, her whole world is tipped upside down. ThereHer relationship has just ended and now she's the usual mix talk of expatriates and diplomatic staff doing their best to do their best whilst still making the most of school. Mike was the freedoms such a life gives. Isabel is married to iconoclastic photographer Patrick Redmond and copes better than most wives would popular boy in school who was always so in love with her husband, everyone knew that, so why did he do what he did? Some people believe her and some don's fixation with pendulous black breasts. There t, but one thing is gossip though. The High Commissioner and his wife Fenella are both involved in illicit affairsfor sure, with more or less discretionthis isn't going to blow over any time soon. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0954930983</amazonuk>0349003297

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Trisha AshleyKatie Fforde|title=Chocolate WishesA Springtime Affair|rating=4.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=I know one should never judge a book by its cover, but somehow I always do. So 've wanted to read author Katie Fforde for ages and this was pretty much exactly what I was expecting some light-hearted chick-lit when I began this book. I was a little startled to find several mentions of tarot cardswarm, Mayan charmscosy read focused on romance, family and guardian angels - a somewhat bizarre spiritual mixture - within the first pagesfriendships. WhatThis provided two romances for the price of one, but it was actually the family element as opposed to the romance that I wondered, had I got myself into?really enjoyed. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847561144</amazonuk>1780897561

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Margaret LeroyB07W4MNBSG|title=The Perfect MotherBe Careful Who You Marry|author=Lizzy Mumfrey|rating=3.54|genre=Women's General Fiction|summary=Perfection pervades every corner of Catriona's life She has a beautiful home, a charming husband, a well-behaved stepdaughter, It was coming up to Halloween in 1987 and a cherished daughter group of her own, 8sixth-year-old Daisyform schoolgirls wondered what they would be doing when they were fifty. When Daisy is taken ill, Catriona does all a good mother would do to help her get better. But as Daisyyou's condition deteriorates with no sign of improvementre only seventeen that seems positively ancient, Catriona seeks more and more medical intervention, until eventually she is accused of being responsible for her daughterbut Liz was convinced that 's illness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303527</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Susannah Bates |title=Under a Sapphire Sky|rating=4.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Marianne Cooper is happy. She has a thriving jewellery business with her best friend Gabby and is six months pregnant with Gabbyyour entire life depends on who you marry's brother Jay's baby. Marianne enjoys her passion for stones, her unconventional attitude to life The only eligible boys were the Young Farmers and her pregnancy, the idea of living in a farmhouse and her unique relationship with Jay, but when her ex boyfriend, having a couple of children called Will and reformed manOlly appealed to Charlotte, Paul comes back into her life with his fiancée Sophie or perhaps William and a rare padparascha stone he wants Marianne Oliver if you were Elizabeth who was determined to turn into an engagement ring, she soon finds herself questioning her decision to reject Paul and indeed her way of life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099445441</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Louise Harwood|title=Kiss Like You Mean It|rating=3.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=This book is a modernmarry the rather superior Patrick Shepley-day love story. It's all about trendy characters with trendy names living rather trendy lives in glossy location setsBotham. The title gives a very clear message as place to its contentsstart their search was obviously the Young Farmers' Halloween disco that weekend. Romantic fiction which will appeal generally to women. But There was just one problem - there's also a story within a story (and for me the more interesting one) which is the Hollywood movie being filmed were too many Elizabeths in Europe. It takes us back to the first World War and the heroic actions of one young man, in particularclass.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330442090</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=Laurie Graham|title=Life According Move on to Lubka[[Features|rating=3.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Buzz Wexler is at the top of her game, working in music PR with all the latest up and coming Urban music bands like Grime Beat and Evil Marsupial. She's forty-two years old but is still out every night, drinking, eating very little and seemingly surviving on a diet of chemical mood enhancers. One day, however, she is called into her manager's office and assigned a tour with a 'World Music' group, the Gorni Grannies, a group of elderly women from Bulgaria who sing together. Buzz finds her life in the fast lane is brought to a sudden halt, as she tries to control a group of elderly ladies touring England who think that lifts are powered by black magic and that Poundland is the best shop ever invented. Yet this is just the beginning of a whole new life for Buzz.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849161828</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Janet Mullany|title=Improper Relations|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Unlucky in love Charlotte Hayden has just lost her best friend and confidante Ann in marriage to the Earl of Beresford. At the wedding she encounters Lord Shadderly, Beresford's best friend, a broodingly handsome man whom she takes an immediate dislike to. Before she knows it Charlotte is caught in a compromising situation with Shadderly and he is forced to propose to her or risk both their reputations.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755347803</amazonuk>}}features]]