Choc Lit's Ripple in time!

The Silent Touch of Shadows by Christina Courtenay

Melissa Granthem has split from her husband and  the father of her daughter, the promise of ‘to have and to hold forever’ was broken and not by her. Jake Precy, is a widower with a daughter the same age as Melissa’s and the two girls become friends through school once Melissa moves from London, into her ancestral home.

Sibell’s husband was killed in 1459 and she was then forced to move back with her abusive father and brothers until they signed the deal for her re-marriage to a man old enough to be her grandfather. Sir Roger meets Sibell whilst he is on his quest to get his real father to acknowledge his existence and inheritance. Despite the odds, they fall very much in love but will they ever be together?

Through ghosts and love the two worlds merge into the here and now however will Melissa be at peace until it’s resolved once and for all?. Primarily this is a love story, first and foremost and as readers have come to expect from Choc Lit its all credible and the reader knows there is going to be a happy ever after ending. The journey to get there is enjoyable, intriguing and enlightening. 

Christina Courtenay must either study a thesaurus or she goes to bed with one. Some of the vocabulary in this story is wonderfully unique and delicious. Words such as sweeting, melee, guffaw, doppelganger to name just a few. The story is well written and delivered including the end that if it were a chocolate bar would be satisfying and silky all at the same time.

Out from Choc Lit 07^th July 2012, treat yourself to a good read because you deserve it!

The Commuting Bookworm 26/06/12

And So The Margaret James Trilogy Begins

The Silver Locket by Margaret James

This is the first book in the trilogy that follows the Denham family. It starts in 1914 and we meet the young head strong, wonderfully defiant Rose Courtenay who is not willing to confirm to her families Victorian wishes. Therefore rather than being married to her parent’s choice of suitor she runs away and becomes a nurse. Whilst working in France during the war, she meets Lieutenant Alex Denham who reminds me of a Lion Bar of chocolate. He has many layers and textures, some chewy, some soft, but over all very solid.

In Choc Lit true fashion, we are encapsulated into the story and characters, so that they become so vivid, bright and alive, we care about them and what happens to them. This novel has so many depths and layers, it’s a love story with muscles. The research is comprehensive and therefore every reader will learn something, they did not previously know about that time in our history.

One of the nicest feelings about getting to the last few chapters, is not only finding out how it all ends, but knowing that you have another two books to read afterwards, you do not feel like you are saying good bye to the characters. You know you are going to be able to catch up with them in  The Golden Chain and The Penny Bangle. 

In conclusion a lovely, romantic novel that every woman who loves chocolate will adore.

The Commuting Bookworm 12/06/12



No Wonder it was short listed for The Melissa Nathan Award For Comedy Romance

An Autumn Crush by Milly Johnson

Juliet is looking for a flat mate and Coco her friend is helping her look and interview possible flatmates. Floz arrives late because she had to take a hedgehog to the vets!  Juliet has a twin brother who has a best friend called Steve who is into wrestling and dreams of making it big in America. Coco is gay, and looking for the man of his dreams. In short they have all suffered heartbreak, they are all very individual personalities. It does not sound like it but you have some great ingredients for a fabulously funny, romantic, heart warmingly, Tragic, uplifting story.

Coupled with secrets, misunderstandings and pre-conceived ideas, a bully, an alcoholic, a death, the eternal optimism of Juliet, the love of Steve and the strong friendship they all build leads us through a wonderful tale to a happy ending.

I loved this book, it was easy to read, not pretentious and it is true to life with some great one liners. With many of the situations, it is easy to see one in the same fixes, because of the same actions. There is no real nasty violence, no swearing and nothing dark or sinister about this story. If anyone is feeling a bit down, they should read this book, not for any other reason, than its great, its happy, its funny, its romantic without being slushy.

Its one of those rare books that could be read and enjoyed again and again. It has made me interested in reading Milly Johnson’s back catalogue.



I would give this a rating of 5/5 for both a personal read and also as a reading group read as there is loads to get your teeth into in discussions and you really would be laughing all over again! 



http://www.melissanathan.com/Award/







 

A Commuting Bookworms Life: Independent Publisher Choc Lit scores again

A Commuting Bookworms Life: Independent Publisher Choc Lit scores again: Run Rabbit Run by Kate Johnson: Choc-Lit Sophie Green is an ex-spy. An MI5 officer has been shot dead with her gun, her fingerprints ...

Independent Publisher Choc Lit scores again

Run Rabbit Run by Kate Johnson: Choc-Lit

Sophie Green is an ex-spy. An MI5 officer has been shot dead with her gun, her fingerprints are all over his office, but she swears she is innocent. Her boyfriend Luke Sharpe is tall, tanned, sexy and does not do commitment, he is a MI6 spook, or was until his girlfriend Sophie kills, again.

Jack de Valera, English by birth, but lives as a bounty hunter in the US, until he is framed for the murder of a Supreme High court judge, Irene Shepherd, he is on the run, all the way into Sophie’s arms quite literally whilst she is camping in France, he steels her gun, ties her up, They connect dots and then they go on the run together.

This novel is a great read; it’s a cross between Chic Lit, Spooks and carry on spying. Its not to be taken too seriously but Johnson has done her research and treats her readers with respect. She pulls the strands in, with some great curve balls throw in to send you down the garden path.

There are however gaps, some could probably be plugged by reading her Sophie Green back catalogue, others like how does Sophie fly from JFK to London and then back again but keeping her gun? These need to be resolved or ignored in the readers mind.

Run Rabbit Run is Chic Lit with muscles, and therefore I would highly recommend it for a nice easy read, either whilst commuting, holidaying or just whilst soaking in the bath to relax. You will not be disappointed. 

The Commuting Bookworm 29/03/12

The Hanging Garden – Ian Rankin

DI John Rebus chases a suspected Nazi criminal, gets involved in a turf war between two gangsters and suffers pain and anguishes when his beloved daughter Sammy is run over by a hit and run driver, this just about pushes him to his limit and he nearly falls of the wagon. 

This is my first Rebus novel, and as I do not own a TV, I have not seen it either. Therefore I had no pre-conceived ideas. I found reading it at a pace of 20/30 pages per sitting a great help, otherwise I think I could have lost some threads. The story becomes quite intricate when trying to follow which criminal works for who, and what position the different DI’s where in, and in what team. However this said, I confess, it did make for gripping reading and was sufficiently graphical that it was as good as watching it on TV.

I liked the fact, that although some of the characters where of the criminal fraternity, there was hardly any bad language in it and I find this makes for a more pleasant read. It also leaves room for more useful vocabulary relating to the story line. I also found that it was possible to build some attachment to some of the characters and even to feel sorry for them despite the fact they might be on the wrong side, such is Rankins writing talents. 

There were some instances where I feel it might have been beneficial to have read the Rebus back catalogue of stories in order and thus my understanding of some of the story lines would have been clearer. However as I have not and only have a friends husband’s comments suggesting that they follow in order to influence this hunch.

I did enjoy this book, and I did enjoy Ian Rankin’s style and would read another one at some time in the future.