Not What It Seems by Pamela Fudge

Not What It Seems by Pamela Fudge
Buy Not What It Seems by Pamela Fudge at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Women's Fiction
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Summary: Not great literature but certainly a great read for when you just want to relax.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 224	Date: July 2013
Publisher: Robert Hale
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-0719809606
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Owen was a widower with two young children and Evie was recently divorced with three children of about the same age. Friends introduced them - in the way of doing a little matchmaking - but although they liked each other and the kids all got on well there was no spark between them. They both needed help though and they made a business arrangement. Until the children were old enough to leave home they would share a house and the parenting of the children but they would not be involved in a sexual relationship. Friends and acquaintances found this difficult to accept and Evie grew tired of explaining that the setup was Not What It Seems. When we meet Owen and Evie the last child has just left home and as the arrangement has come to an end they're both moving into their own houses.

I do hope that Pam Fudge will forgive me for describing her as a guilty pleasure. I don't mean that I've no wish to admit to reading the book but rather that on a hot night when I couldn't sleep I should have been reading something worthy. After all, I have a veritable Everest of such books at the side of the bed. But what I wanted was a darned good story with characters I could believe in and warm to - and you've got to admit that this is a cracker of an idea

And the beauty of the book is that you can understand why the relationship worked when the children were growing up and why there's a bit of strain when it's all broken up. Fudge has given us a couple of great lead characters in Owen and Evie. You not only believe in them - you sometimes get cross with them when they seem to be doing something silly. You're involved. The greatest praise I can give though is that Fudge brings the five children off the page as individuals and you can understand why they feel the way that they do. Like me you'll probably be wondering about how the relationships between the kids works out and Fudge delves into this quite neatly.

I'm not telling you that this is great literature - it's not. It's a great read and if, like me, you can't sleep, or you're on a beach or curled up in front of the fire then this could be the book to have in your hand. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

If you've not encountered Pamela Fudge before we recommend that you start with A Change For The Better.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Not What It Seems by Pamela Fudge at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.

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