Friday 26 February 2016

“Most of the time, there is no truth, only various levels of interpretation. Fact is a construct we provide to the public.”

The Ashford AffairThe Ashford Affair 
by Lauren Willig

I really enjoyed Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series and thought I would give one of her stand alone novels a try.  I was not disappointed.  Wonderful historical fiction spanning the 1920's to 2000, and taking place in Africa, New York, and England.  I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting, with the story sucking me in in the very first chapter and not letting me go right up until the very last page.  Romantic, mysterious, and just plain fun; this is what I look for in historical fiction.

As a lawyer in a large Manhattan firm, just shy of making partner, Clementine Evans has finally achieved almost everything she's been working towards - but now she's not sure it's enough.  Her long hours have led to a broken engagement and, suddenly single at thirty-four, she feels her messy life crumbling around her.  But when the family gathers for her grandmother Addie's ninety-ninth birthday, a relative lets slip hints about a long-buried family secret, leading Clemmie on a journey into the past that could change everything...

What follows is a potent story that spans generations and continents, brining an Out of Africa feel to a Downton Abbey cast of unforgettable characters.  From the inner circles of WWI-era British society to the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the red-dirt hills of Kenya, the never-told secrets of a woman and her family unfurl.

Thursday 25 February 2016

"Heartbreak was a luxury too costly for a single parent."

One Plus OneOne Plus One by Jojo Moyes

This is my favourite Jojo Moyes book to date.  This quirky family dramedy made me laugh, cry (as per usual with a Jojo Moyes book), and cheer for these characters.  The perfect read for rainy afternoons, lounging on the beach, or just wanting to escape with a good book.  For fans of the film Little Miss Sunshine.

Suppose your life sucks.  A lot.  Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is being bullied and your math whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can't afford to pay for.  That's Jess's life in a nutshell - until an unexpected knight-in-shinning-armor offers to rescue them.  Only Jess's knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean.  But Ed has big problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages...maybe ever.

“Most of the time, there is no truth, only various levels of interpretation. Fact is a construct we provide to the public.”

The Ashford Affair  by Lauren Willig I really enjoyed Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series and thought I would give one of her stan...