BOOK REVIEW: Million Love Songs by Carole Matthews

After splitting up with her cheating husband, Ruby Brown is ready for a change: she’s single for the first tome in years and is going to dive into this brave new world with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. The last thing she’s looking for is a serious relationship.
Mason represents everything Ruby wants right now: he’s charming, smooth and perfect for some no-strings attached fun. Joe on the other hand is kind and attractive, but comes with the sort of baggage Ruby wants to avoid: an annoyingly attractive ex-wife and two teenage children.
But although Ruby might think she knows what she wants, she might be surprised to learn just what she needs to be truly happy. Let your heart sing this Spring… with Million Love Songs.
Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 400

Paperback March 22^nd

Carole Matthews publishes two books a year and I really don’t know how she does it! Million Love Songs is a warm, entertaining feel-good read with a slightly raunchier feel than Carole’s other books (You just wait and see what happens to Ruby when she visits Paris!).

Ruby Brown is recently divorced and definitely not looking for love; instead she is focusing on enjoying life and having some fun. But as is always the way when you’re not looking- Ruby finds herself with not one but two men pursuing her. Joe is her scuba-diving instructor, he’s handsome and kind but weighed down with so much baggage. Ruby loves spending time with him but the ex-wife and two sulky teenage children are ringing alarm bells. Suitor number two is Mason and he has his own complications in that he is Ruby’s boss; his family own the chain of pubs that Ruby works in. He is fit, rich and too smooth for his own good. So Ruby has a decision to make, two men, each with their own positives  but also complications; can either one make her truly happy?

I love Carole’s books, her main characters are always likeable and Ruby is no different. I loved how she was going out there, determined to have some fun after a messy divorce. She doesn’t always get it right but this just made her more believable and endearing.

Ruby’s best friend, Claire brings an extra element to the book; she is a  huge Gary Barlow fan (hence the title) and she follows her idol around the country hoping for a mere glimpse. Ruby tags along on a few of these trips and whilst making her a true Take That fan, they also make her realise that Ruby does want a relationship. Her friend is chasing someone unobtainable but Ruby has two available men in front of her that may offer her future happiness.

As I said before, this is probably Carole’s raunchiest book but I want to clarify that it is not done in a crude manner. I felt that she fitted the love scenes into the book in an appropriate way, they make the book feel a little more grown up and I think readers will welcome this slight change.

Million Love Songs shows Carole’s huge talent, the writing is excellent as usual, it’s a very entertaining read so go and get your copy! The hardback and e-book are already out and the paperback is published today!

Many thanks to Sphere for sending me a copy of the book to review, I will also be on the blog tour for this on March 31st!