BOOK REVIEW: The Playground by Julia Kelly

Eve is putting her life together again.
Her partner has walked out on her.
She's moved into a tiny flat on the outskirts of Dublin.
She has no job.
But she does have her beloved baby daughter and there's a little playground across the street. It's a tired spot for teenagers and tramps, but Eve is determined to make this new life work. Alongside her interfering lodger and a group of local mums she swings into action to make the playground the heart of the community.
But not all games are innocent- and not all friends are true. When a terrible accident is blamed on her, Eve must forge her own independence- and realise that the playground is not a place to hide from adulthood. 

Publisher: Quercus

Pages: 272

The Playground is the first book that I have read by Julia Kelly  but I very much enjoyed it.
Her writing style is quite disjointed but this just adds to the overall feel of the book. She does't necessarily want you to curl up and have a cosy time; she almost sets out to challenge you as a reader.
Eve's life is in turmoil, her partner Joe has walked out on her and their three year old daughter Addie. Her self-esteem is at an all time low and due to money worries they have had to leave their family home and move to a small flat in Bray. Eve just wants to make everything right for Addie who she loves more than life. So when an opportunity arises to improve the playground across the road, she jumps right in, not knowing what the consequences will be.
I can't really compare this book to any others I have read; I found Julia Kelly's narration original and absorbing. Eve is a fantastic character; there are times when we get almost a stream of conciousness from her which was very enlightening but almost made her seem even more vulnerable as I felt that I knew so much about her.
The Playground is a very enticing story that quickly draws you in. Julia Kelly is highly descriptive in her writing so it is easy to become absorbed in the world that she has created; I would highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to Quercus for sending me a review copy, The Playground is out now! 

BOOK REVIEW: Where Love Lies by Julie Cohen

Lately, Felicity just can't shake the shadow of uncertainty that has pervaded her life. Her husband Quinn is the kindest person she knows and loves her peculiarities more than Felicity feels she deserves, But suddenly it's as if she doesn't quite belong.
Then Felicity experiences something extraordinary: a scent of perfume in the air that evokes memories and feelings that have been settled deep within her for a long time, untouched and undisturbed. As it happens again and then again, the memories of a man Felicity hasn't been seen for ten years akso flutter to the surface, And so do the feelings of being deeply, exquisitely in love, or is it something else?

Publisher: Transworld

Pages: 368 pages

Where Love Lies is an excellent read, Julie Cohen has written a dark and interesting drama. Felicity is married to Quinn, a newspaper editor, she works from home as a childrens author and they live in a picturesque cottage in a tiny village. Everything is perfect but Felicity has changed and she has begun looking at life very differently. She has always been a little different, one of the many things that Quinn loves about her but her behaviour has become a little concerning. Felicity keeps experiencing episodes where she can smell the scent of Frangipani and this in turn sets off memories of a past relationship with her first love. At the end of these episodes Felicity is left feeling euphoric with love but not with her husband. She leaves the marital home to take some time to explore these feelings; she knows she is hurting Quinn but she also feels like he deserves so much more than her. What is causing these episodes and can she ignore them for the sake of her loving husband?
It's hard to review this book without giving the plot away and I don't want to as it's such a good one. Julie Cohen throws in some particularly good plot twists though, one at the end literally made me gasp out loud.
Felicity is a very complex character, I was still undecided by the end of the book as to whether I liked her or not. She has no control over the episodes she is having but I didn't necessarily agree with the way she dealt with it. I think this was partly because I felt quite protective of Quinn who was an extremely likable character. I felt as though he was constantly treading a thin line between protecting Felicity and giving her room to be herself.
Where Love Lies is an emotional read, you can really feel the turmoil that Felicity is in and her confusion as to why. Feelings are a huge part of the book, Julie Cohen explores what they mean and how they affect us, the ones we should and shouldn't have plus the ones we miss having.
Where Love Lies is a hard hitting drama with an excellent plot, Julie Cohen knows how to shock and enthrall her readers from the beginning to the end.

Many thanks to Transworld for sending me a review copy. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Teashop on the Corner by Milly Johnson

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?

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 492

The Teashop on the Corner is Milly Johnson at her best; warm, inviting, witty and entertaining. I devoured this book in about two days, I wanted to constantly be surrounded by the characters that Milly had created in order to find out what would happen to them.

The teashop run by Leni is delightful, she sells beautiful literary gifts and her cakes are named after famous authors etc. I found myself wishing that this was a real place as I know I would be in there a lot. Leni's teashop becomes a real safe haven for the main characters in the book, the shop brings people together who perhaps would not have met otherwise.
I always love the way in which Milly Johnson manages to tackle big issues in her book but without bringing the reader down. The Teashop on the Corner deals with death, infidelity, sexual abuse, domestic abuse and deception. I couldn't believe how much was packed into this book and it was done in such an effortless manner. As I said though, Milly Johnson shows the tough stuff but then ever so subtly lifts the reader back up, not an easy feat.
The Teashop on the Corner is a brilliant book, the characters and the storyline are spot on and I was very sad to reach the final page.

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending me a review copy. 

Book Review: Tempting Fate by Jane Green

When Gabby first met Elliot she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years  of marriage she has never doubted her love for him- even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away.  For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt...
Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.
Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?

I loved, loved, loved this book! I have always enjoyed Jane Green's writing but I was completely taken with this one.
Tempting Fate is interesting from the very beginning but I was very much engrossed in the story and characters after the first third of the book; I really struggled to put it down.
Gabby risks everything for one night. Jane Green shows the consequences of Gabby's behaviour, she is still a likable character but it was refreshing to see that she didn't play the victim. Gabby knows that she was wrong, no one forced her and now she must face up to what she did.
Tempting Fate looks in great detail at family relationships. They take years to create yet they are so fragile; one betrayal and those ties and loyalties can be shattered. Gabby goes looking for a bit of excitement but in reality all she wants is the security and familiarity of her husband and their marriage.
Tempting Fate is an excellent read, the story and characters are well thought out, I would highly recommend this book and any others by Jane Green.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Publisher: Penguin

Pages: 416

Many thanks to Francesca at Penguin for sending me a copy of the book to review, Tempting Fate is out now!

Guest Review: Pedigree Mum by Fiona Gibson

I have a lovely guest review for you today from my dear friend Kim. Kim lives in Hong Kong, we met through blogging and have been pen pals for the last few years, I am very excited as Kim is coming to the UK in August so we shall finally get to meet. She is a very lovely lady and has taken the time to review Pedigree Mum by Fiona Gibson, you can check out some of Kim's other review over at her blog, Still Reading. 

When Kerry Tambini upped sticks with her family to a new home on the coast, she couldn't have been happier. Then husband Rob made the biggest mistake of his life...
Stranded with her children in snooty Shorling, Kerry has plenty on her plate. So how can she say no to the kids' pleas for a dog when they're missing their father so dreadfully? Will adopting a wayward hound lead Kerry to a new love- or has she bitten off more than she can chew?
As she steps back into the dating world Kerry must juggle her family, her neurotic dog and try to fit in with the local pedigree mums, making her a true heroine of our time.

Kerry Tambini and her husband, Rob, get an offer to live by the sea in a small village called Shorling. After an idyllic family day out there they decide to leave the hustle and bustle of London behind and move with their two children to the coast. Then Rob makes the biggest mistake of his life and the whole family dynamic is changed.

Kerry soon realises how hard it is to bring up her children single-handedly in a village full of competitive, un-friendly mum’s. She feels heartbroken for her struggling children who are missing their father enormously, so, after months of them begging for a dog and in an attempt to cheer them up, she finally decides to adopt one.

Enter, Buddy!

The children and Kerry instantly fall in love with Buddy and his wayward ways and very soon he begins to fill part of the gap they all have in their lives. Then, just as things start to settle a little, Kerry finds she has a couple of admirers in Shorling but she struggles to feel romantic towards anyone after being so badly let down by Rob.

Firstly, let me say thank you to Dot at Dot Scribbles for sending me this book to review. This is the first Fiona Gibson book I have read and it was so enjoyable, I devoured it in a couple of days.

Underneath the funny and cringe-worthy happenings in each of these character’s lives, there are some serious issues being dealt with in the story which, on the whole, I think Fiona Gibson handles with honesty and humour. My only tiny comment would be that I feel Rob is treated very unsympathetically throughout the book and although he makes a huge mistake, I did feel a little bit sorry for him. Apart from that, I found this book to be entertaining and well worth setting aside some time to read. It is ideal for a holiday read.

Publisher: Avon

Pages: 400

Many thanks to Becke at Avon for sending this  book for review, Pedigree Mum is available now.