Difference between revisions of "Newest Women's Fiction Reviews"

Jacqueline gave up her dreams of becoming a classical musician to follow her boyfriend Kennedy to college. When he dumps her, it hits her hard – so hard she starts skipping classes and, as a result, failing economics. Dragged out to a party by her friend to help her get over the break-up, instead she faces terror as her ex’s friend Buck tries to rape her. A mysterious stranger, Lucas, intervenes to save her, and when she realises they share economics, she starts to wonder whether he could take her mind off Kennedy. She’s also receiving e-mail tuition from an older student she’s never met, who seems to be flirting with her. Soon, though, she realises that Buck hasn’t forgiven her for escaping his attentions, and she’s forced to try to find the courage to take a stand against him. Full review...

Time's Echo by Pamela Hartshorne

Grace Trewe has temporarily moved to York to sort out the affairs of her godmother, Lucy, who died suddenly. After surviving the Indonesian tsunami the previous Christmas, Grace has decided to live life to the full and plans more travelling once Lucy's house is sold. She hasn’t a care or a tie in the world, as long as she doesn't remember little Lucas back on that Christmas beach. As it turns out, that's not the only thing she needs to avoid. Strange, horrific dreams disrupt her sleep and vivid daydreams start to attack her waking moments as 21st century York keeps fading to be replaced by its 16th century streets. Grace will be fine though; it's just stress and her oddly acquired knowledge of the past is just a coincidence, or so says seemingly kindly neighbour, historian and single father Drew. Meanwhile, 500 years before, there was a woman named Hawise who met a terrible death… Full review...

The Rose Petal Beach by Dorothy Koomson

Tamia and Scott met at school and they were friends before they were anything else although it wasn't to the liking of either family. Scott's brother referred to Tamia as that - a reference to the colour of her skin. Tamia's family weren't racially prejudiced but they knew the Challey family and their reputation for criminality. It wasn't what they wanted for their daughter: they saw a university education, but were to be disappointed on both counts. It looked to be working well: the marriage seemed stable and they had two beautiful daughters, but then one night it all fell apart. Scott was arrested in front of his wife and children for a dreadful crime. As if this wasn't bad enough, Tami's world disintegrated even further when she discovered that Scott's accuser was someone whom she regarded as a close friend. Full review...

The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

Jo Marie, who was recently widowed, feels drawn to an inn in a small town called Cedar Grove, where she believes she can find healing. She renames it Rose Harbor Inn and gets ready to welcome her first two guests. Full review...

Ferney by James Long

History lecturer Michael Martin thought that the chance of love and marriage had passed him by. Then Gally, a history nut and lecture gate crasher, attended one of his lectures and dared to contradict him. Contradiction led to courtship and the marriage that had previously seemed so elusive but despite their love and accompanying emotional security, Gally has a dark subconscious that haunts her. She's unsettled by repeating nightmares and, worse, night terrors that can't be explained by counsellors' logic. However when Mike and Gally find their (or rather, Gally's) ideal home in the shape of a derelict cottage in the Somerset village of Penselwood, Gally's nightmares are augmented by a strong feeling of déjà vu. Meanwhile the Martins seem to have developed a benevolent stalker in the shape of aged local Ferney Miller. Mike considers him a bit of a pain while for Gally he represents something else entirely; something that she can't explain nor understand but will become a threat to her marital happiness and Michael's peace of mind. Full review...

Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich

Following on from Wicked Appetite, pastry chef Lizzy and paranormal bounty hunter Diesel continue to seek the seven powerful stones linked to the seven deadly sins. They're looking for the stone associated with lust and it becomes a bit of a treasure hunt as, accompanied by Gloria (the slightly wizardy un-witch) and Carl (the ill-mannered monkey) they have to work their way through a string of clues. However, they aren't the only ones looking; for wherever goodies seek power, the baddies lurk also. The baddies in question are again the deliciously dark (on many levels) Gerwulf (Wulf) Grimoir and his medieval minion Hatchet. Wulf may be Diesel's cousin but there's not a lot of family love in any room they both occupy so let the race to the stone commence. Full review...

On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

High school teacher Anna has been hired as a tutor for the summer, helping 16 year old T.J. who has missed a fair amount of school due to illness. Leaving the USA behind, the two of them head over to the Maldives where his parents have hired a holiday home, but instead of gracefully descending into paradise, they crash land, quite literally, into a nightmare. Their pilot has a heart attack, their sea plane plummets into the ocean, and they wash up on a deserted desert island. The unlikely twosome has to band together to survive and wait out their rescue, but as weeks and then months pass, hope fades and they have to wonder what will happen if no one ever finds them. Full review...

Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas

Dream Lake is the third book in a series about three brothers who grew up in a somewhat dysfunctional home. This one focuses on Alex, youngest of the three, who is a brilliant designer and builder. Unfortunately, we’re told, he’s also angry at the world, arrogant, and aggressive. He’s a very heavy drinker, too. Full review...

The First Time I Saw Your Face by Hazel Osmond

Mack Stone used to be a journalist on a tabloid paper and was not averse to dishing the dirt on whoever he happened to be writing about. He has left that world behind though and is now attempting to work freelance and only write in a more ethical way. However, one day he receives a call from his old boss who has one last job for him to do. When Mack is not keen, he reveals that he has information about Mack's mother – a sordid little secret that he would have no qualms about publicising to the world if Mack does not agree. If Mack wants to protect his family, it seems that he has little choice but to agree. Full review...

Tokyo Hearts - A Japanese Love Story by Renae Lucas-Hall

Takashi is a student in his final year at university. He works pretty hard, but his heart belongs to Haruka, who was a fellow student until she had to leave when her father was taken ill. As a rule they meet once a week in a cafe - but Takashi fears that Haruka only sees him as a friend, particularly when he discovers that she's seeing a wealthy ex-boyfriend on a regular basis. Jun's good-looking too and Takashi realises that he has little to offer, particularly as Haruka loves shopping for designer goods. They're in fashionable Tokyo where style, sophistication and fashion are a way of life. How will it work out, particularly when Haruka is planning on moving to Kyoto - which is also where the ex-boyfriend lives - and earthquakes seem to be happening regularly in the capital? Full review...

Frisky Business by Clodagh Murphy

Romy doesn’t have a clue who the father of her baby son, Luke, is. But it’s not like she’s an über-slut who sleeps around: in her defence his conception was a one off thing, it was dark (they were in a cupboard) and the baby daddy had on a Darth Vader mask (it was a Halloween party). That was a year ago, and now Romy’s wondering whether she should renew her efforts to find the mystery man, for Luke’s sake as much as anything. As the book starts she is throwing her own Halloween party, hoping to jog some memories as she recreates last year’s (not in every way of course…she’s far from ready for baby number 2). Full review...

Instructions For Bringing Up Scarlett by Annie Sanders

A lot of adults will be familiar with the scenario where a close friend ventures the thought 'if anything happened to us would you look after the children?' and there will be few who do other than give assurances that of course they would. There's an easy assumption that it was unlikely to come about - and it would seem churlish to refuse someone that reassurance. Alice gave her best friend Virginia that assurance, but when the unthinkable happened she was a travel guide writer, used to going hither and thither at a moment's notice. Scarlett was eleven years old and she didn't come with a user's manual. Full review...

The Wedding Diaries by Sam Binnie

Kiki and Thom are getting married! The proposal might not have been quite as fabulous as Thom would have liked (bad Kiki!) but that’s all sorted now and with barely a year to plan the shindig, Kiki needs to get cracking. With dresses to try on, venues to find, wedding cakes to taste test, there’s lots to be done, and so the sensible option is to start a diary, to chronicle this magical time in her life but also for her to keep track off all those little To Dos which will lead up to I Do. Full review...

A Strange Inheritance by Mark Neilson

Meg had just lost her job when she received the letter from the Solicitor. It was all very mysterious but when she presented herself in his office she discovered that an Uncle she knew nothing about had left her an inheritance. It wasn't just any inheritance, either – in addition to a substantial sum of money she was now the proud owner of a mill in the Yorkshire Dales. Almost on a whim she decided that she wouldn't sell the property. The more that she saw of the mill, the more that she felt she wanted to live there. She loved the local town and it was a bonus when she made a friend – a fellow Scot – on her first day there. Full review...

In the Name of Love by Katie Price

Charlie Porter is a television sports presenter who's recently broken up with her footballer boyfriend. She and her friend Zoe now refer to him as TFB. The first letter is for 'total' and the last casts doubts on his parentage. I'm sure that you can work the rest out for yourself. On a holiday to Barbados (Zoe's footballer boyfriend forgot her birthday, you see...) she meets Felipe Castillo, a central figure in the Spanish Eventing team and hotly tipped for an Olympic medal. There's an almost immediate attraction - after Charlie has given him a piece of her mind because of his attitude to a waiter - but there are one or two difficulties in the way of their relationship. Full review...

The Painted Bridge by Wendy Wallace

Young bride Anna Palmer places her trust in all the wrong people. One choice that backfires spectacularly is her impulsive marriage to the Reverend Vincent Palmer. Less than a year after their marriage he tells her that they are going to visit some of his friends at a place called Lake House. But Lake House is a privately run asylum 'for genteel women of a delicate nature'. Once there Anna discovers that she is not allowed to leave without Vincent's approval. Full review...

Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon

Alice and William Buckle have been married for quite a few years and have two teenage children and a dog. With their busy lives, they end up having little time for each other and rarely get the opportunity to talk about the things that matter. In order to do something about her feelings of discontent, Alice googles 'happy marriage?' and although there seem to be no magic secrets for success, a little later she is invited to take part in an online survey about modern marriage. She is given the label, Wife 22, and is assigned to her caseworker, Researcher 101, who sends her questions periodically, and is also available through email to answer any queries. Alice soon enjoys being able to pour her heart out through the questions that she has to answer but also finds that she is becoming more than a little attracted to her faceless caseworker. They start chatting through facebook and Alice finds it quite exciting to mildly flirt with her new friend. However, the more she does so, the more disgruntled she becomes with her own husband. There comes a point though where Alice has to decide whether to take things further and if she does, what will become of her marriage? Full review...

Second Time Around by Erin Kaye

When Jennifer and Ben first meet, they really like each other. It doesn't take long before they are dating and although there is over sixteen years difference in age, they get on so well that they can see that they do have a future together. However, as Ben is closer in age to Jennifer's children, Matt and Lucy, she is worried about what they will think. Ben's parents are equally unhappy especially as they feel that if Ben stays with Jennifer, she is not likely to provide them with the grandchildren they so desire. It seems that there's no way to keep everybody happy. Full review...

French Lessons by Ellen Sussman

There are six main characters in this book which is really three stories in one. Nico, Philippe and Chantal know each other, and Nico knows Josie, and Philippe knows Riley, and Chantal knows Jeremy, but Josie and Riley and Jeremy don’t know each other or anyone else. The first three are French tutors who have private lessons with their foreign students on the streets of Paris, using the city as a better backdrop for learning than a stuffy classroom. This week they each have Americans engaging their services, and over the course of one day the lives of students and teachers all change in ways they never expected. Full review...

Lace by Shirley Conran

Lili might be young but she's a superstar and she's used to getting what she wants. She's just summoned Judy, Kate, Maxine and Pagan to her suite in Manhattan's most exclusive hotel. They might be at the top of their professions - Fashion, PR and interior design but it's Lili who holds the whip hand here. She has a simple request:

Which one of you bitches is my mother? Full review...

Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy 2) by Deborah Harkness

Shadow of Night moves on from where A Discovery of Witches finishes. Matthew Claremont (vampire, intellectual and, even after centuries of life, still looking a pretty decent 37 years old) and Diana Bishop (historian and witch with a pedigree stretching back to the Salem witch trials) are married and have time-walked to 1591 to look for Ashmole 782, the ancient book that Diana let slip through her fingers in 2010. They also need to find Diana a tutor to help her control the powers that she's chosen to ignore for a lifetime. There aren't just supernatural items on the agenda though; Diana thought she knew all there was to know about her new spouse but there are secrets to be discovered, his connection to the historic 'School of the Night' being one of the less dangerous. Oh, and another thing, they discover that the 16th century isn't, perhaps, the best time to visit if you're a witch, especially if you need to advertise for a tutor. (I think we could have told them that if they'd asked!) Full review...

The Taliban Cricket Club by Timeri N Murari

We all know, or think we know, how oppressive life was for Afghans, particularly Afghan women, under the Taliban regime, but when you read this novel, boy do you get a sense of how tough it really was. Full review...

In Her Shadow by Louise Douglas

Hannah has had one nervous breakdown due to unbearable guilt and seems on course for a second. How else can she explain the fact that the still dead Ellen seems to be following her around? It all started two decades earlier... Full review...

The Day You Saved My Life by Louise Candlish

Holly, in her early twenties, is a single mother who has had severe post-natal depression since the birth of her son Mikey. He is now a toddler, and they live with Holly's mum, Joanna. She has a somewhat sordid past of her own but has given everything to raising Holly in a loving environment; she has also had to do most of the caring for her small grandson. Full review...

The Secrets Between Us by Louise Douglas

Sarah and Alexander meet at a time when both are looking for a fresh start following the demise of their previous relationships. She is vulnerable, he is needy, and together they can support each other. Sarah is quickly employed as a live in housekeeper in his sprawling home, and moves south from Manchester to join Alex and his young son Jamie. Life in a small village takes some getting used to, especially given what has happened. Genevieve, Alex’s popular, pretty and wealthy wife, has disappeared. Some say of her own accord, others are sure something sinister has happened to her, but in any event she has not been heard from since she left town and the locals are suspicious of Sarah’s motives. In their eyes she is moving in on the man who rightly belongs to the town sweetheart, taking over the role of mothering Jamie, and generally weaselling her way in to become the lady of the house before Genevieve’s bed is even cold. Protestations that she is simply an employee, not a lover, fall on deaf ears, and with Genevieve’s family being the most prominent in town, it’s hard to get anyone to be on Sarah and Alexander’s side when accusations start flying. Full review...

Dragon of Life Book 2 Minor Gods by Mark Devine

Luke and Martha have been apart for some time as Luke's been in Valparaiso where one of the hotels which he sold to a consortium of employees has been having problems. When they meet again it's in Seattle, but they're on their way to the Far East in the hope of starting a new life free from the attentions of the FBI which they so tired of in the first book in the series. They had perhaps hoped that life would be simpler - but this is Luke Whittaker we're talking about and 'simple' is just never going to happen. Full review...

Whatever It Takes by Adele Parks

Whatever it takes means giving up your exciting, settled life in the capital to move to Dartmouth, if that’s what your husband wants.

Whatever it takes means being a constant shoulder to cry on for your best friend even when that nagging voice at the back of your mind is asking whether this is really a two-way friendship.

Whatever it takes means prioritising the needs of others – your daughters, your in laws – ahead of your own needs. All day, every day.

Whatever it takes means maintaining a calm, put-together demeanour in the face of event crashers, party trashers, unfaithful spouses and life-changing secrets.

Whatever it takes means keeping up appearances, no matter what. But if a relationship’s a sham, it’s only a matter of time before the façade starts to crack and splinter. Full review...

Dragon of Life Book 1: Raining Truth by Mark Devine

When we first encounter Luke Whitaker he is - he tells us - a disembodied spirit placed in this part of the heavenly kingdom so that he can remember his life and emotions exactly as they were lived. I don't know about you, but I'd find that rather unpleasant and decidedly embarrassing. Luke Whitaker recognises that there are parts of his life which he'd rather remove from the record, but acknowledges that he can't. We join him in 1967 in Seattle and he's on his way to Honolulu. When he sets off he doesn't realise quite how momentous the trip is going to be. Full review...

Turn Back Time by Pamela Fudge

Charles and Tessa have managed reasonably well since their divorce. Both adore their daughter, Megan and would agree that the other is a good parent - that is if they ever had any contact with each other other than the occasional text or email. Just before Megan is due to go to university Charles sends a message to Tessa via Megan. He has something which he needs to discuss with her and thinks that they should meet. Full review...

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

At the age of 60, Maggie Fortenbury's glory days seem to have passed her by. An ex-Miss Alabama, she headed for the fame she dreamt of in 'the Big Apple' and ended, instead, making disastrous life choices that took her along a different route. However she had made one good decision: to work for the diminutive Hazel Whisenkott, midget and founder of Red Mountain Realty. Now, as Hazel is dead, and despite her friendship with her colleagues (obese, optimistic Brenda and moaning Ethel), suicide seems the next logical step. It has to be done correctly as Maggie comes from an era when you wouldn't want to let anyone down or any commitment unfulfilled. Therefore picking her final day becomes increasingly difficult when other things get in the way, including a troupe of Whirling Dervishes. Full review...

Indelible Ink by Fiona McGregor

Once wealthy, middle class Australian suburbanite Marie King never thought she'd be starting a new life at 59 but here she is, divorced and having to sell the marital home. Unfortunately, attached to the marital home is the marital garden into which Marie didn't only give life but also pour her own life. However, Marie tries to be positive and decides that if she's going to be a new person, she may as well go the whole way. This means tattoos (much to her offsprings' horror) and an unlikely friendship with tattooist Rhys. With that comes the realisation that the privileged suburb of Mossman isn't all there is to Sydney. There's much more to the city, and indeed herself, than she first thought. Full review...

Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues by Trisha Ashley

Tansy was brought up by her great-aunt Nancy, who is in her nineties at the start of this book. Tansy lives with her fiancé Justin, but time is racing by and she is beginning to despair of ever getting married or having babies. Justin is under his demanding mother's thumb, and Tansy loves getting away to the village where her great aunt owns a small shoe shop. Full review...

This Is How It Ends by Kathleen MacMahon

This is an incredibly gentle (and gently funny) love story set in the winter of 2008 when the Irish economy was booming and the US were about to elect their first black president. Hugh (a deliciously grumpy surgeon) and his currently unemployed architect daughter Addie lived happily in an Irish seaside town. Ok, he'd broken both his wrists tripping over Addie's dog and Addie found it hard not to cry sometimes, but they were alright. Then one day, out of the blue, they receive a voicemail message from Bruno, a distant American relative who's just popped over the ocean to say 'Hi!' Remembering the last US relative who came to visit (it didn't go well), Addie and Hugh decide to ignore the phone... and the front door... and the occupant of the bench seat across the road... He's bound to go home eventually. Full review...

Amber Scott is Starting Over by Ruth Saberton