Emily, Sandie and Grazia are back in the sequel to The Secret Shopper's Revenge. Emily is living happily with Will and her son Freddie, they are trying to keep Bell's Emporium afloat during the recession. Things get worse when Freddie's father, Duncan is back on the scene. The demands he is making put Emily and Will's relationship under massive strain and Emily's dreams of a picture-perfect family Christmas are thrown out of the window.Grazia is starting to think about her future without Leon. After going under-cover at a cosmetic surgery clinic, she decides to have a few procedures done but will this make her any happier? When she meets a younger man in a bar she is surprised as to how much they have in common and unsure what his reaction would be to her real age.
Meanwhile, Sandie is running the mystery shopping agency from Toby's gorgeous pent house apartment. She is incredibly happy but then she has her first meeting with the potential mother-in-law from hell; her own mother shows up several years after disappearing and then she gets a shock that changes everything.
Kate Harrison throws a new character into the mix. Kelly is a bit of a rough diamond, she starts work as Sandie's new assistant. This is her first ever job and she loves it but can she really be trusted 100% when Sandie hardly knows anything about her?
I did enjoy this book but it was very strange to read something set at Christmas when it is June and the sun is shining! It did make me feel extremely festive though and I only wish that I had read it at a more relevant time.
Emily, Grazia and Sandie are still brilliant characters but I wish there had been a little more interaction between them in this book. It was interesting to see what had happened since we left them and I thought that Kate Harrison gave us a really good sequel. Kelly is an interesting new addition and she certainly shakes everything up, you are left guessing throughout as to whether she can be trusted or not.
If you liked the first book then you will enjoy this one, I enjoyed reading it now but I think it would be even better in the run up to Christmas.
10 comments:
I also thought this was a good follow up but similarly made the mistake of reading it slightly unseasonally!
Verity- I kept forgetting to buy it around Christmas time but better late than never!
Lovely review! I haven't read anything by this author, but it seems I should at one point. Thanks for sharing!
I have the first book on my to read list, so now I'll make sure that I read it soon so I can read the second one closer to Christmas! Great review.
Irena- Kate Harrison has written quite a few books and they are all very good!
Shan- Thanks, hope that you enjoy it!
I've just finished another Kate Harrison which was fun - Old school ties - apparently it is a reworking of her first ever novel.
Verity- Thanks for the recommendation, I shall look out for it!
I love the idea of a book for Christmas, but I've not read the other so perhaps I should be on the lookout for that one first.
I loved this one - I got it for Christmas so perfect timing. I love the Secret Shopper series and can't wait for the third book to come out - I think it's due in March next year.
Charlie- It is perfect for Christmas, I would probably read the first one to start with though so you can find out about the characters.
Amanda- they are a lovely series aren't they, I'm looking forward to the next one!
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