28.10.10

Book Review: Getting Away With It by Julie Cohen

Wherever there's trouble, there's Liza Haven. After years of misbehaving in the quaint country village where she grew up with her identical twin sister Lee, Liza escaped to LA for a thrilling life as a stunt woman. But when her job brings her a little too close to death for comfort, Liza has to go back to the one place she couldn't wait to get away from- home.
Only when Liza arrives she discovers that her seemingly perfect sister has run off, leaving behind her ailing mother, a family ice-cream business that's frozen in time and a dangerously attractive boyfriend. And what's ore, everyone thinks Liza is Lee. This is Liza's one chance to see how it feels to be the good twin. She might be getting away with it but there's no getting away from facing up to who she really is...
I have had a rather nasty kidney infection over the past few weeks and this book arrived just at the right time. Getting Away With It has kept me company in many doctors waiting rooms!
Firstly let me say that the cover to this book is lovely, several people have commented on it when it has been spotted lying around my house.
The story focuses mainly on Liza Haven as she returns to Stoneguard but we do gradually get to know Lee too as the odd chapter details what she is up to while Liza is trying to juggle everything and fool everyone into thinking she is her perfect twin sister. It seems that both sisters are running away from certain things and the  book deals with what they are afraid of and whether the answer to their problems is to simply return home.
it was really interesting to see Liza pretending to be her sister, she learns more about herself and the person she wants to be by stepping into her twin sister's shoes. The only person that Liza can't fool is her mother who has appeared to favour Lee over Liza for their whole lives. Liza's mother has Alzheimers and I think that Julie Cohen dealt with this issue so well. The author describes the day to day struggles and challenges of caring for somebody with this condition.
There is an element of romance to this book too, Liza finds herself attracted to Will Naughton, the local aristocrat but she tries to keep her distance as she knows that it would be the ultimate betrayal to steal her sister's boyfriend, but he is very persistent...
Julie Cohen has written a lovely book, Getting Away With It questions what you are running away from in life and to consider that everyone has struggles no matter how calm and content they appear. I would highly recommend this book, you can find out more at Julie Cohen's website.

Many thanks to Headline for sending me a copy to review, the book is published today!

5 comments:

verity said...

Like the sound of this one - hope you're fully better from that nasty kidney infection

Nadia said...

This one sounds great! And from what you wrote, it kept you company while being ill - hope you are feeling better :) I think I'll definitely add this one to my TBR list. Thanks!

Dot said...

Verity- I think you would really like this one! Saw the doctor yesterday and it's still not gone, third week of antibiotics will hopefully do the trick!

Nadia- Thank you, hope you enjoy it!

The Book Whisperer said...

I haven't heard of this author, Dot, thanks for alerting me - I will check out the website. Like the sound of this book :)

Dot said...

The Book Whisperer- This is the first book that I have read by this author but it was really good, couldn't put it down.

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