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| Paperback: 284 pages Genre: Romantic Contemporary Fiction Publisher: ChocLit, January 2011 Source: The author in return for an honest and unbiased review. First Sentence: 'You know you are in for a bad day when the Devil eats your last HobNob.' Review Quote: The panel of judges described Jane's voice as 'fresh and new with an unexpected hero', and included WH Smith's Matt Bates, Foyles' Jonathan Ruppin, Jane Mays from The Daily Mail and The Bookseller's Sarah Broadhurst. Please Don't Stop the Music was singled out by the judges for its 'dark undertones' and for engaging with 'issues a lot of people recognise'. --The Romantic Novelists' Association Award: 2012 Romantic Novel of the Year Award My Opinion: Prior to reading this I had wondered about the novel receiving the above award, but now I understand why. |
This is the third title by Jane Lovering that I have read and reviewed here and that is because Jane found me, rather than me discovering her writing for myself. I am so pleased she did as otherwise I may never have read one of her books. The first one was Reversing Over Liberace which I reviewed last October. The second one was Slightly Foxed I enjoyed the latter as much if not slightly more, as it was realistic, the first one I had found somewhat farcical.
At last I have got round to reading Please Don't Stop the Music, which I read in just two afternoon sessions in the garden, because it is a real page turner which I enjoyed more than the previous two. Prior to reading this and with my previous experience of her writing I must admit I had wondered about it winning the 2012 Romantic Novel of the Year Award, now I understand why. This novel is so much more than just another romance, there is an underlying current of mystery which found me racing through it to discover what happened.
The novel is full of secrets that will keep you guessing, some you may guess correctly others not, but the author certainly managed to hold my attention by keeping these secrets back for so long. The main characters both have secrets in their past but this did not make it seem any less realistic. At first I thought it was going to as both protagonists seemed so traumatised. Jemima who more than once in the novel was on the verge of running away when she felt her dark secret was in danger of being discovered. Then the man she meets through her jewellery business, Ben is also hiding something which is why he lives such a solitary life. Of course it is no surprise that Jemima and Ben become curious about each other, so how long will it be before their secrets are revealed, whether intentionally or otherwise.None of the secondary characters have straightforward lives either, but somehow this made the story more mysterious and it works.
If you enjoy contemporary fiction with humour and a little more than straight romance give this a try, definitely a good read within the genre.
Author Profile
Text From Jane Lovering Author Profile at Amazon
Jane was, presumably, born, although everyone concerned denies all knowledge. However there is evidence that her early years were spent in Devon (she can still talk like a pirate under the right conditions) and of her subsequent removal to Yorkshire under a sack and sedation.
She now lives in North Yorkshire, where she writes romantic comedies and labours under the tragic misapprehension that Johnny Depp is coming for her any day now. She is prevented from running away to join either Johnny or a circus by her five children, four cats and two dogs, and her husband.
Jane's likes include marshmallows, the smell of cucumbers, words beginning with B, the smell of the understairs cupboard, and Doctor Who. She writes with her laptop balanced on her knees whilst lying on her bed, and her children have been brought up to believe that real food has a high carbon content. And a kind of amorphous shape.
Not unlike Jane herself, come to think of it.
You can find out more about Jane ( should you wish to, of course) from her blog and website at http://www.janelovering.co.uk
The following link will take you to her Blogger Profile also amusing reading.
Information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites.