REVIEW: Happiness For Beginners

Happiness For Beginners by Carole Matthews published by Spectre Books

Christmas For Beginners – Carole Matthews published by Sphere

Christmas is gathering pace and Hope Farm, and owner Molly Baker has been convinced by her colleague Bev, to go completely out of her comfort zone and organise an open day to raise some much-needed funds ahead of the New Year. Molly finds it all a bit overwhelming, and is concerned that the animals will play up on the day.

Despite the chaos of the farm getting in the way of her event planning, Molly is looking forward to spending the holidays with tv soap actor boyfriend Shelby and his teenage Lucas, hopeful that a happy family Christmas is exactly what they need to draw them all together. But while she is busy making plans on the farm, Shelby, it seems, has ideas of his own.

I absolutely loved this book!! If I could give it more than five stars in a review then I would!!! It is by far the best festive novel I have read this season (and I’ve notched up quite a few!) but also, it’s one of my favourite books so far this year!

I hadn’t read the first book, Happiness For Beginners, but you don’t have to. Carole Matthews draws us in and explains the back story- bit like arriving late to a drinks party and someone is in the middle of a story, but a friend fills you in on what you’ve missed, so you don’t feel left out.

I loved most of the characters, Bev and Alan are wonderful, and I even found myself trying to guess which band t-shirt they would be wearing every day!! However…Lucas! Wow! What a spoilt brat he was – he never appreciated what anyone did for him, and sulked around everywhere and Mollie seemed to tolerate it which sometimes (often!) annoyed me.

I found myself waking up to read a little bit more in the middle of the night as I wanted the characters in my life, and now I’m a little sad that their story is wrapped up– although I’m really hoping there will be another one in the series.

Absolutely fantastic!!

Comments

REVIEW: Confessions Of A Forty-Something F**ck Up by Alexandra Potter

Confessions Of A Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter published by Pan Macmillan Nell Stevens’ life is a mess – moving back to London from LA after her business goes bust and her relationship fails she notices that many things have changed. Her friends are now all settled with children, and she is forced to rent a room in a house. Life just feels like it’s f**ked up!. When Nell gets a job writing obituaries, she first encounters Cricket, an eighty-something widow with challenges of her own, and they strike up an unlikely friendship. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and unexpected joys. Because Nell is determined. Next year things are going to be very different. It's time to turn her life around. Initially I didn’t think I was going to like this book, as I mistakenly thought it was transcripts of a podcast, but how wrong was I? Th...

REVIEW: Moonlight Over Studland Bay by Della Galton

Moonlight Over Studland Bay – Della Galton published by Boldwood Books Samantha Jones works as an audio typist for a local company in Dorset. However, it’s not her dreams job. She wanted to devote, and expand, Purbeck Pooches, her pet sitting service. When best friend (and housemate) Abby has a baby boy Sam’s priorities change and she realises she wants more from her life. Does she want life to continue as it is or does she want to look for the perfect sperm donor – on a drunken evening Abby and Sam draw up the perfect "daddy" list. Sam’s world is soon rocked when her boss Rex accuses her of moonlighting and her parents who have run a B&B locally for years make a shock revelation. I’m going to say it from the start…I loved this book! Sam is a relatable character who knows what she wants from life, but she doesn’t want to upset, hurt or trample on people to get it. She’s just an all-round good egg!! There were times in the book when Abby made me laugh but a...

Diva written by Daisy Goodwin and published by Aria and Aries

Opera singer Maria Callas known as “ la divina” with her fabulous voice was born with note only a gift of singing, but also the drama and beauty needed to succeed on the worldwide operatic stages. Sadly, liked a bird in a gilded cage, Maria’s life is lonely, and although surrounded by people and her husband she feels isolated. When she meets the fabulously rich shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, her isolation melts away. For the first time in her life, she believes she's found a man who sees the woman rather than the legendary soprano. Desperately in love, Onassis introduces her to a life of unbelievable luxury, mixing with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. And then, suddenly, it's over. The international press announce that Onassis will marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces. This is a fictional account based on true events, think of The...

Book-Mad-Mum

Search This Blog