BOOK REVIEW: Maybe This Time by Jill Mansell

Mimi isn't looking for love when she spends a weekend in Goosebrook, the Cotswolds village her dad has moved to. And her first encounter with Cal, who lives there too, is nothing like a scene in a romantic movie- although she cannot help noticing how charismatic he is. But Cal's in no position to be any more than a friend, and Mimi heads back to her busy London life.
When they meet again four years later, it's still not to be. Cal is focusing on his family, and Mimi on her career. The Cal dives into a potentially perfect new romance whilst Mimi's busy fixing other people's relationships. It seems as if something, or someone else always gets in their way. Will it ever be the right time for both of them?

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 424

I knew that I was in for a treat with Jill Mansell's latest book, Maybe This Time. Mimi goes to visit her dad and his partner Marcus in the beautiful Cotswold village of Goosebrook. On her first visit she meets Cal who she instantly likes but she quickly becomes aware that he is not available. When Mimi returns from London four years later, Cal is still there and still very attractive but he has just begun a new relationship and Mimi's career is keeping her busy and taking her on a different path. Mimi and Cal have great chemistry but there always seems to be obstacles between them. Once all of the distractions have disappeared, will Cal and Mimi finally get their act together or are they just not meant to be?
Mimi is a fantastic creation, she fits effortlessly into life at Goosebrook and it is clear to see that she is one of life's good people. I loved the interaction between her and Cal, the dialogue they share is natural and I was so hopeful that they would get together.
The setting of Goosebrook is a great feature of the book. It is your typical, slightly eccentric English country village. Its inhabitants are very close to each other and it was lovely to see Mimi being taken under their wing and quickly becoming a valued member of their tight-knit community.
My favourite character in the book is CJ, he is the highly successful author Mimi works for at one point. He says it like it is and is a bit of a drama queen. I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the book as it contained such a lot of humour but also because you see Mimi realise how capable she is and her confidence is given a well needed boost.
I think Jill Mansell has a great knack of creating highly memorable romantic moments in her books. She slowly builds up the chemistry between the characters and then it suddenly hits you.
Maybe This Time is warm and witty. It has a fabulous romantic feel and I can highly recommend this highly entertaining book.

BOOK REVIEW: You and Me Always by Jill Mansell

On the morning of Lily's twenty-fifth birthday, it's time to open the very last letter written to her by her beloved mother, who died when she was eight.
Learning more about the first and only real love of her mum's life is a revelation. On the same day, Lily also meets Eddie Tessler, a man fleeing fame who might just have the ability to change her world in unimaginable ways. But her childhood friend Dan has his own reasons for not wanting Lily to get too carried away by Eddie's attentions.
Before long, secrets begin to emerge and Lily's friends and family become involved. In the beautiful Cotswold village of Stanton Langley, nothing will ever be the same again. 

Publisher: Headline Review

Pages: 368

Publication Date: January 28th

Jill Mansell has now written over twenty best selling books but she just gets better and better. You and Me Always is warm, witty and poignant; I felt like I had always known the characters and I didn't want the story to end.
Lily's Mum died when she was just eight years old but she left behind letters for her daughter to open each birthday. But Lily is turning twenty-five and she knows that this will be the last letter. Her Mum uses it to tell Lily all about her one true love, not Lily's poor excuse for a father but a man that she spent one glorious summer with. On the same day that she reads the letter, she meets Eddie Tessler, a young movie star who is hiding out in Lily's village due to a media scandal. They instantly hit it off and Lily thinks he might just be what he needs. Her childhood friend Dan is not impressed but he has his own reasons to warn Lily off.
This book worked so well, the setting was just lovely and the characters bounced off each other perfectly. I loved the different storylines and the way in which Jill Mansell offered small glimpses into the past.
Eddie and Dan were excellent male leads and I could also see why they both cared deeply for Lily. The romantic element to this book was spot on and the banter between the three main characters was very funny.
You and Me Always is such a good read and I think Jill Mansell fans are going to be very impressed again.

Many thanks to Headline Review for allowing me to review this book via Netgalley. 

Book Review: Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell

Hallie has a secret. She's in love. He's perfect for her in every way, but he's seriously out of bounds. And her friends aren't going to help her because what they do know is that Hallie doesn't have long to live. Time is running out.
Flo has a dilemaa, She really likes Zander. But his scary sister won't be even faintly amused if she thinks Zander and Flo are becoming frriends- let alone anything more.
Tasha has a problem. Her new boyfriend is the adventurous type and she's afraid one of his adventures will go badly wrong.
Three Amazing Things About You begins as Hallie goes on a journey. A donor has been found and she's about to be given new lungs. But whose?

Publisher: Headline Review

Pages: 382

Publication Date: TODAY! 

Three Amazing Things About You is Jill Mansell's latest fantastic book. I read it in just over a day and it reminded me how much I enjoy this author's writing.
Hallie is the central character, she is only 26 but she has cystic fibrosis so she is very aware that her time is limited. She has very strong feelings for Luke but she can't act upon them as while Luke is a good friend he is also her GP. Hallie keeps her feelings a secret but how will she take it if he meets someone else?
Flo is another lovely character and she becomes more and more important as the book develops. Her attraction to Zander is a shock to her but she completely underestimated his nightmare sister who will do everything she can to wreck their happiness.
Tasha meets Rory in a very entertaining way but she can't believe how quickly she falls in love. He's a complete adrenalin junkie and his friends question whether she is too sedate for him. When their relationship is put under a huge pressure, Tash shows to everyone just how much she loves Rory and will do all she can to be by his side.
These separate characters come in to each other's lives at several points without interacting; they may just be in the same place or mention a shared acquaintance. I think this really helped explore the idea of fate, how much of our destiny do we actually control?
I think that one of the things Jill Mansell does best is the interaction between her characters. Her dialogue is effortless which makes them more believable.
Cystic fibrosis is a big issue to approach and I felt that it was handled really well. I know somebody who has cystic fibrosis and I really did feel that it was clear to see that Jill Mansell had done her research. I was very impressed with how this book will raise awareness about cystic fibrosis and organ donation.
Three Amazing Things About You had me in tears at the end. It is an excellent book and I would highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley for a review copy of this book. 

Fabulous Fridays: Chick Lit

I have been thinking about this post for a while but have been putting it off as I hate, hate, hate the term Chick lit! I think it has far too many derogatory connotations yet it is one of my favourite genres to read. So off I went to get a definition of what Chick Lit is and I found this:

Chick Lit is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood...

This still isn't great as it still sounds a bit feminist and bra burning to me but I interpret it as books about women! I am a woman and therefore it is likely that I am going to enjoy reading books about other women, I hold my hands up to the fact that I very rarely read books with a male lead character or written by a man. I think this is a subconscious choice, I do have a few male authors who I enjoy but it is mainly books by female authors sitting on my TBR pile.

So sorry for the preamble but here is a list of some of my favourite chick-lit books and inadvertently this list also includes all of my favourite chick-lit authors. These are the writers I go to when I want a great story, likeable characters, a bit of drama and the odd happy ending. These are the authors that I get excited about having a new book out as I just know that I am guaranteed a treat! 

I apologise right now if you don't agree with my definition of Chick Lit but I hope that some of these books might be of interest to you, just click on the title to read my review!

Have a lovely weekend

Dot
xxx 

The Teashop on the Corner by Milly Johnson (Simon & Schuster, 492 pages) Life is full of second chances...if only you keep your heart open for them.
Spring Hill Square is a pretty sanctuary away from the bustle of everyday life. And at its centre is Leni Merryman's Teashop on the Corner, a place where three people will find a friend to lean on.
Carla Pride has just discovered that her late husband Martin was not who she thought he was. But now she must learn to put her marriage behind her and move forward.
Molly Jones' ex-husband Harvey has reappeared in her life after many years, wanting to put right the wrongs of the past before it's too late.
And Will Linton's business has gone bust and his wife has left him to pick up the pieces. Now he needs to gather the strength to start again.
Can all three find the comfort they are looking for in The Teashop on the Corner? And as their hearts are slowly mended by Leni, can they return the favour when she needs in the most?

Thirteen Weddings by Paige Toon (Simon & Schuster, 422 pages) Sometimes you just have to step out of the light to see clearly again...

Bronte never expected to see Alex after their one night together, but she never stopped thinking of him. So when she arrives at work one day to find that Alex is a new colleague, she is secretly thrilled. The only problem is that Alex is now engaged to the girl he was on a break from the night they met.
Determined to move on, Bronte becomes a part-time wedding photographer, alongside her day job. Surrounded by loving couples, tearful bridesmaids, mischievous  pageboys and interfering mother-in-laws, she struggles through wedding after wedding whilst he heart is slowly torn apart.
As Alex's own wedding day draws ever nearer, their chemistry becomes harder to ignore. Bronte must decide whether to fight for the man she loves, or to let him go forever. 

You're The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher (Penguin, 400 pages) Maddy, Ben and Robert have been inseparable since they met in the school playground. They've stuck together through thick and thin, feeling safe in the knowledge that they have each other.
So when Ben falls hopelessly in love with Maddy, he decides to keep it quiet for the sake of their friendship. Until Robert swoops in and kisses Maddy- irrevocably fracturing things between them as the kiss turns to love.
But when Robert and Maddy's love turns sour, can Ben continue to say nothing? And can Maddy choose between her two best friends?

Take a Look at Me Now by Miranda Dickinson (Avon, 416 pages) When Nell's on-off boyfriend Aidan calls her into his office, the last thing she expects is to lose her job. Heartbroken and unemployed, she makes a radical decision to blow her redundancy cheque and escape to San Francisco. But is the glamour of the city too good to be true? And can Nell leave her past behind?

A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews (Sphere, 448 pages) Grace had always been best friends with Ella and Flick. The late night chats, shared heartaches and good times have created a bond that has stood the test of time.
When Ella invites them to stay for a week in her cottage in South Wales, Grace jumps at the chance to see her old friends. She also hopes that the change of scenery will help her reconnect with her distant husband.
Then Flick arrives: lovable, bubbly, incorrigible Flick, accompanied by the handsome and charming Noah.
This is going to be one week that will change all of their lives forever...

The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes (Penguin, 624 pages) Helen Walsh doesn't believe in fear- it's just a thing invented by man to get all the money and good  jobs- and yet she's sinking . Her work as a private investigator has dried up, her flat has been repossessed and now some old demons have resurfaced.
Not least in the form of her charming but dodgy ex-boyfriend Jay Parker, who shows up with a missing person case/ Money is tight- so tight Helen's had to move back with her elderly parents- and Jay is awash with cash. The missing person is Wayne Diffney, the 'wacky one' from boyband Laddz.
He's vanished from his house in Mercy Close and it's vital that he's found- Laddz have a sell-out comeback gig in five days time.
Things ended messily with Jay. And she's never going back there. Besides she has a new boyfriend now, the very sexy detective Artie Devlin and it's all going well, even though his ex-wife isn't quite 'ex' enough and his teenage son hates her. But the reappearance of Jay is stirring up all kinds of stuff she thought she'd left behind.
Playing by her own rules, Helen is drawn into a dark and glamorous world, where her worst enemy is her own head and where increasingly she feels connected to Wayne, a man she's never even met. 

To The Moon and Back by Jill Mansell (Headline, 416 pages) When Ellie Kendall loses her husband Jamie in an accident she feels her world has come to an end. But life has to go on and eventually she's ready for a new start- at work, that is. She definitely doesn't need a new man, not while she has a certain secret visitor to keep her company...
Entrepreneur Zack McLaren seems to have it all, but the girl he can't stop thinking about won't give him a second glance. Why can't she pay him the kind of attention she lavishes on Elmo, his time share dog?
Having moved  to an exclusive flat in North London, Ellie becomes friendly with neighbour Roo who's harbouring a secret of her own. Between them, can both girls sort out their lives? Guilt is a powerful emotion, but a lot can happen in a year in Primrose Hill...

Book Review: Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell

Dexter Yates loves his fun, care-free London-life, but everything changes overnight when his sister dies, leaving him in charge of her eight-month-old daughter Delphi. How is he going to cope leaving his hedonistic life behind for a new start in the Cotswolds?
Comic strip artist Molly Hayes lives in Briarwood, the village that Dexter moves to. She's not had a great history with men even though there's a connection between them it looks as though this isn't going to change.
But lots of the village residents have secrets to discover and it soon becomes clear that Dexter sin't the only one who is going to have to adapt once these are revealed. 

I am a big Jill Mansell fan. I think Don't Want to Miss a Thing is her best book yet. Dexter Yates is a seriously likeable character; the book begins with tragedy when his beloved sister Laura dies, leaving him the sole guardian of her eight-month-old daughter Delphi. Dexter loves Delphi but he also loves his life, working crazy hours, drinking, staying out late and bringing home random women. At first, Dexter doesn't think he can give that up but ultimately he knows that he can't let Laura down and he would never abandon his beautiful niece.
To avoid any distractions, Dexter moves to a Cotswold village to begin his new life with Delphi. Molly is his new neighbour, he instantly likes her and she is very supportive of him and Delphi. Molly has been single for a while, she likes Dexter but as usual things don't go to plan and they begin doing everything they can to avoid each other.
Briarwood is full of interesting characters. Frankie runs the local cafe and has just learnt some terribly shocking news about her husband. Their daughter Amber has secrets of her own, secrets that could lead her to a lot of trouble. There is also Lois, the village barmaid who is a lot more conservative than she looks and her father Stefan who lives in a caravan. Stefan has never got over his first love from many years ago and he has no idea that the lady in question has thought about him every single day.
Don't Want to Miss a Thing is such an enjoyable read. I loved watching Dexter and Molly's relationship develop. He soon realises that he can't live without his niece; giving up his old life is actually the best thing that Dexter has ever done. Molly is a genuinely nice character too; she wants to help Dexter without any complications so why does she feel so jealous when he sees other women?
There was so much packed into this book but Jill Mansell ties it all together perfectly.
Don't Want to Miss a Thing is my favourite read of all Jill Mansell's books and I highly recommend it.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to Headline for sending me a review copy, Don't Want to Miss a Thing is out now!

Book Review: A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell

It's been a while, but Lara Carson's back in Bath and lives are set to change as a result. Because Lara left her family and boyfriend Flynn eighteen years ago without a word to anyone. Why has no one heard from her since? Her childhood best friend Evie is thrilled Lara's back and able to share her happiness. Evie's about to walk down the aisle with her dream man, Joel, or so she thinks... Then there's Flynn Erksine, even more attractive now and stunned to see Lara again. The spark between them is as strong as ever, but how's Flynn going to react when he discovers the secret she's been keeping from him? Oh yes, there's a lot of catching up to be done...

Jill Mansell's last book To the Moon and Back was simply lovely and A Walk in the Park is another excellent read.
The book is set in Bath which I really enjoyed as it is one of my favourite places to visit. Lara has returned after eighteen years. When she left she didn't say goodbye, instead she just disappeared, leaving everyone wondering what had happened to her.
One of the people who missed her the most was best friend Evie. They have a lot of catching up to do and Lara has arrived at the perfect time. Evie has just jilted her fiance at the altar and is single and homeless so Lara and her spare room are extremely welcome.
The other person who has wondered about Lara all these years is the gorgeous Flynn Erksine. They were together at school and then Lara vanished. He's incredibly happy to see her but will that change when he discovers that Lara has returned with some baggage that may belong to him.
A Walk in the Park is a brilliant story, the characters of Lara and Evie are particularly likable and believable. I think that Jill Mansell writes great chick-lit with a realistic edge, her characters struggle with decisions and don't always get the cliched happy ending. but I think this is what makes Jill Mansell's books so good. It only took me a few days to read A Walk in the Park, I always think Jill's books are like sitting down with a good friend for a gossip. I would recommend any books by this author and I am already eagerly anticipating her next one!

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to Headline for sending me a copy of this book to review, A Walk in the Park is out now.

Book Review: To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell

When Ellie Kendall loses her husband Jamie in an accident she feels her world has come to an end. But life has to go on and eventually she's ready for a new start- at work, that is. She definitely doesn't need a new man, not while she has a certain secret visitor to keep her company...
Entrepreneur Zack McLaren seems to have it all, but the girl he can't stop thinking about won't give him a second glance. Why can't she pay him the kind of attention she lavishes on Elmo, his time share dog?
Having moved  to an exclusive flat in North London, Ellie becomes friendly with neighbour Roo who's harbouring a secret of her own. Between them, can both girls sort out their lives? Guilt is a powerful emotion, but a lot can happen in a year in Primrose Hill...

Okay, prepare yourselves for a completely gushing review as I LOVED this book! I have read and enjoyed a fair few of Jill Mansell's other books but this one is without doubt my favourite.
Ellie is a great character, she is trying to hold everything together after Jamie's tragic death but she clearly needs a bit of help. Cue Tony Weston, Jamie's dad, who loves Ellie very much and wants her to be happy again more than anything. When he discovers that the flat that she and Jamie shared is in a right mess, he buys a flat in Primrose Hill for Ellie to live in with the excuse that he can use it when he's visiting from LA, where he's a famous actor.
The new flat is the catalyst that Ellie needs, she makes friends with her neighbour Roo who encourages Ellie to make the changes to her life that she so desperately needs to do. The most important one for Ellie is to leave her job where she is tired of receiving pitying glances and the feeling that people are treading on egg shells around her. Roo discovers that Zack McLaren is in need of a new PA and helps Ellie to get an interview. Zack is gorgeous and extremely successful and his old PA makes it clear to Ellie that he normally employs older women as he doesn't want any distractions in the work place. Ellie is very careful not to over step the mark, she even tells Zack that she has a boyfriend when she doesn't just so he doesn't think she's after him. However, as Zack and Ellie spend more time together it is clear that there is a huge connection between them but Zack believes she has a boyfriend and Ellie doesn't want to make things awkward at work plus what would Jamie think about her falling in love with another man?
To the Moon and Back is a brilliant read, the chapters are short and snappy, each one leaving you wanting more. I read this book in one day and I was left with a huge crush on Zack Mclaren. As usual, Jill Mansell provides a really good story with some lovely and believable characters. The plot keeps a steady pace and I was willing Ellie to find the happiness that I felt she deserved.

Many thanks to Headline for sending me a copy of this book to review, To the Moon and Back is published today!

Book Review: Take A Chance On Me by Jill Mansell

I loved Jill Mansell's last book Rumour Has It so I was very excited to receive an advance copy of Take A Chance On Me published by Headline Review on 18th February.

The story revolves around Cleo Quinn who isn't known for having the best luck with men. However, things with her new man Will are going extremely well and she's beginning to think that things may be looking up. But the return of Johnny LaVenture in Channings Hill changes everything. They were sworn enemies at school and Johnny is now a famous sculptor who soon has all the ladies in the village lusting after him even though he only has eyes for one of them. Meanwhile, Cleo's sister Abbie is being haunted by the events of the past as they come crashing back into her and husband Tom's life in the present. Is their marriage strong enough to survive such events? And then we have Ash, he is Cleo's best mate and neighbour. He has the gift of the gab when presenting his hugely popular radio show but is as quiet and shy as a mouse when in front of anyone he remotely fancies. Will he ever be able to overcome this and tell the woman of his dreams about his real feelings?

It did not take me long to really get into this book and then I didn't want to put it down. I think that Jill Mansell always creates highly believable and likable characters and Take A Chance On Me is full of them. Cleo Quinn is lovely and you get to know her very well as the story progresses. We learn of her hopes and her fears and I was willing for everything to work out for her in the end.

Johnny LaVenture is an excellent name for a character and through his return we learn so much about Cleo's past. We've all had that experience of bumping into that person from school who we didn't really like and having the realisation of how different we are in the present.

Jill Mansell's writing style is extremely witty and welcoming. She really draws you into the story and you very quickly care for the characters that she has created. There are many surprising twists and turns in this book as the characters do take chances, especially with their emotions. I would highly recommend Take A Chance on Me,I thought it was excellent.

Review: Rumour Has It by Jill Mansell

My lovely sister lent me this after telling me how much she had enjoyed it. I'm so glad she did as I really struggled with the first Jill Mansell book that I read but I thought that this one was great.
Newly single, Tilly Cole quits her life and job in London to move to the small town of Roxborough, where her best friend Erin lives. Roxborough may be small but it is full of gossip, secrets and intrigue. Tilly gets a job as a Girl Friday for the lovely Max Dineen and his teenage daughter Lou. Whilst most women in the village think that Max is the perfect man, Tilly only has eyes for the gorgeous Jack Lucas but his reputation as the village Lothario is enough to hold her back. As Jack becomes more persistent, Tilly has to question whether she is making the biggest mistake of her life by keeping her distance.
There are a lot of lovely characters in this book and I found Roxborough to be completely believable. I sometimes found Tilly a little irritating as she was so stubborn. However, Jack Lucas is perfectly created and we learn more and more about him as the story develops.
I did not find Rumour Has It at all predictable; there was a huge twist that I really was not expecting and it was handled particularly sensitively. You are kept wondering right to the very last page as to whether Jack and Tilly will get together, especially with Tilly being so stubborn!
There are quite a few characters in this book, each with their own little plot and Jill Mansell weaves them all together to create a gripping story. I warmed to the characters instantly and read the book quickly to find out what happens to them all.
Rumour Has It has made me want to read more of Jill Mansell's books, I was a little negative about the other one that I read but this one has totally changed my opinion.

Book Review: Thinking of you by Jill Mansell

I don't like to write negative reviews but I really didn't enjoy this book. I'm not sure if maybe I had too much on my mind but I felt like it was a real chore to get to the end.
This is the first book that I have read by Jill Mansell and I am going to try not to let it put me off as I have read so many good reviews of her books and it could be that this one just wasn't right for me.
The idea of the book is that Ginny Holland's daughter, Jem, has gone off to university and Ginny needs to revamp her own life. So she gets a new job as a waitress with the gorgeous Finn as her new boss; starts a relationship with the charming Perry Kennedy and tries not to worry about Jem too much.
Unfortunately, I found the whole book to be a little predictable and therefore I found it hard to believe in. I did enjoy the characters that Jill Mansell created though and I think this is what kept me reading to the end.
Has anyone read any other Jill Mansell books that they can recommend as I would like to give them another go?