Tuesday 10 December 2013

Doubting Abbey

Doubting Abbey by Samantha Tonge

Another rom-com from a facebook friend. I love Sam's writing style so was looking forward to this one. When the price dropped to just 59p on Kindle I couldn't believe my luck!

Essex girl Gemma is persuaded to impersonate her aristocratic flatmate in a reality show set in a stately home. As a reader you need to suspend disbelief and accept that not only can she do this, but she can also switch back to being Gemma by changing her clothes, make-up and hair colour and people won't notice. But once you've accepted this you are in for a treat. The novel jogs along at a good pace, full of humour and wacky antics. The characters are larger than life and Gemma herself is particularly likeable. She's a great creation and I'd like to see a sequel to this book - how life progresses for her as the new Lady Croxley (because yes, she gets her man. Sorry, spoilers! But you expect nothing less from a rom-com.)

Saturday 7 December 2013

A Stitch in Time

A Stitch in Time by Amanda James

Choc-lit novel by a facebook friend. I liked the idea of the time-travel element, so bought this one for Kindle.

Sarah has been chosen by the mysterious powers and their agent, John Needler, to be a 'stitch' - in other words to go back in time and put things right after blips have made things go wrong. First she goes to Sheffield during the Blitz, then to 1913 London, then the American wild west. Each time she needs to save someone but doesn't know who until she gets there. And all the while she's falling in love with John Needler.

This is a lively and entertaining novel. I enjoyed the historical aspects of it which felt very well researched, and the atmosphere of each period was well drawn. It's an unusual plot. The only thing that let it down for me is that I wanted to know who these powers were, and how it is all organised, ie how the timey-wimey wibbly-wobbly stuff works. But it wasn't trying to be a sci-fi novel - it's a romantic comedy with a time-travel element, and as such works well.