Book-Mad-Mum

The Plus One by Sophia Money-Coutts My rating: 4 of 5 stars Polly is a thirty-something journalist who works for a magazine called Posh. Her job is to interview the Duke's and Duchesses of the UK. For one assignment she is sent to interview a playboy marquess with a bad reputation with the ladies! Polly certainly didn't expect to fall in love with the marquess Jasper Milton. Friends Lex, Lala, Joe and best friend Bill, all try and make Polly see sense, but love is blind as they say. Has she finally found her "happy ever after" with Jasper? I loved this book, it was laugh out loud funny and I raced through the pages, enjoying every single word. I must admit though, I did blush when I was reading the very graphic sex scenes, but this was mainly because I was reading it on the train, and was worried that someone was reading it over my shoulder!!! I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest and open review...

One Day in December by Josie Silver My rating: 5 of 5 stars There's no such thing as love at first sight according to Laurie, a cynic when it comes to l'amour! That is until one evening in December whilst traveling home on the to deck of the bus, she gazes out the steamed up window and locks eyes with a handsome stranger sitting at the bus stop. In a moment of madness she wills him to get on the bus, but when it drives away without the handsome stranger, Laurie realises he might just have been the man of her dreams. She then spends the next year, alongside her best friend and flatmate Sarah unsuccessfully searching for Bus Boy. The following Christmas at their annual Christmas party, Sarah introduces Laurie to her new boyfriend Jack who turns out to be....BUS BOY! Unable to tell her best friend the truth and shatter her dreams, Laurie keeps the secret to herself, and there follows years of friendship and heartbreak. I absolutely loved this bo...

One Enchanted Evening by Anton du Beke My rating: 4 of 5 stars Anton Du Beke has his finger in many pies, professional dancer, singer, entertainer and now he can add novelist to the list. One Enchanted Evening is set in the ballroom of a London hotel in the 1930s and tells the story of Raymond De Guise, the principle dancer, chambermaid Nancy, and porter Billy who all work downstairs, behind the scenes of the hotel. As you would expect dancing is a big feature in this book, but also surprisingly was the politics of the time, which I found added another dimension to the story. If you like Downton Abbey or The Halcyon (the ITV drama set in a hotel) or Upstairs Downstairs, you will love this book. An enjoyable debut novel from Mr Du Beke. View all my reviews