An Ideal Husband by Erica James

Hardback: 406 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Family Saga, 

Publisher: Harper Collins 2024

Source:  Tywyn Library

First Sentence: It was a perfect March day and spring had arrived in all its glorious splendour. 

Setting: Suffolk, England

Review Quote: 'I love Erica James and her new book does not disappoint. She brings a real warmth to her characters and also a poignancy to her story telling. Highly recommend.' Netgalley Reviewer, 

My Opinion:  Erica James is one of my long time favourite authors for a guaranteed agreeable read. Once again she has not disappointed me.

'An Ideal Husband' is a contemporary family saga, covering a year in the life of the Langford family. A perfectly normal happy family, or so they thought until Kip Langford tells his wife Louisa that he is leaving her. The dynamics of the relationships within the family are full of emotion as they navigate a roller coaster of a year. What complicated individuals they all are and at times some of their behaviour feels unbelievable. Louisa in particular feels far too sympathetic and understanding of her husband's behaviour.  

Recommended to fans of contemporary escapism, remember that is what it is escapism and fiction which is why at times the reader may find it somewhat removed from the reality of such a situation!

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

The Langfords are a perfectly happy family. Louisa and Kip, happily married for nearly forty years, have raised their children and are now just settling into a new phase of life where they’ll have more time for themselves. Everything seems perfect. But then, one Boxing Day after a lovely family Christmas, Kip tells Louisa that their marriage is over. It’s not something Louisa saw coming. And what he tells her next is even more he’s fallen in love with their son’s ex-girlfriend, Zoe, the woman who broke Angus’ heart. So just like that, Louisa’s marriage is over… and her new life can begin. A gorgeous, gossipy family drama of a couple navigating a divorce, a woman on a journey of self-discovery, and an older man getting his just deserts.

Previous Reviews:  I have reviewed quite a few of her earlier novels on the blog. They are Tell It To The Skies,  It's The Little Things,   Hidden Talents, The Hidden Cottage, The Real Katie Lavender,  A Secret Garden Affair, Mothers and Daughters,  Letters From the Past,  Summer at the Lake,  Coming Home to Island House

Author Profile:         

                                       

Photo Courtesy of  Amazon

In the author's own words from her Amazon Profile.

Thank you so much for visiting my Amazon Author Page. My first novel - A Breath of Fresh Air - was published in 1996 and was selected by WH Smith as a finalist for their Fresh Talent promotion. Since then I have written many more novels, most of which have been bestsellers, including Gardens of Delight which won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award and features Lake Como, one of my favourite places to visit. My novel Summer at the Lake also features Lake Como and was a No.1 bestseller in Norway.

My twenty-fifth novel - A Secret Garden Affair - was published in the spring of 2023 and is my second book to be published by HQ Stories. Partially set in the summer of 1981 when Prince Charles and Lady Diana are about to marry, Libby discovers her fiancé has been cheating on her. Heartbroken, she flees London to go to Larkspur House in Suffolk to be with her great aunt Bess and the renown garden designer Elfrida Ambrose. As Libby tries to piece her life back together, Bess and Elfrida find themselves reliving the past with all its secrets and tragedies. 

My 26th novel - An Ideal Husband - is currently available in hardback and I hope you'll enjoy meeting the Langford family who have to face more than their fair share of trouble after Kip announces that he wants a divorce as he's been having an affair with their son's ex-girlfriend! The paperback will be published in November.

If you want to keep up with all my latest news, or simply get in touch to ask me a question about one of my books, you can find me online in all the usual places as well as my website.

Photographs, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Erica James - Official Website.   Instagram - Erica James

Goodreads Author Profile  Erica James - Amazon Author Page.  Erica James - Facebook

Letters From the Past by Erica James

 

                                   

Hardback: 508 pages

Genre: Romantic Fiction, Family Saga, Historical Fiction,

Publisher: Orion 2020

Source:  Tywyn Library

First Sentences: Out in the garden Evelyn Devereux could hear ringing from inside the house. with an energetic step, she dashed up the lawn, assuming it was one of the children calling to say which train they would be on.

Setting: Suffolk, England

Review Quote: 'A captivating read: beautifully written and heartrendingly sad' Daily Telegraph

My Opinion:  As a long time fan of the author I had been looking forward to reading this sequel to  Coming Home to Island House. Letters From the Past is a heart rending story with the return of an extensive cast of characters.

The reader catches up with the extended Devereux family nearly twenty years later in the early sixties. Every characters story is told with flashback chapters to the war years. Erica James does a skilful task of bringing everything together in such a way that makes for an absorbing read. Poison Pen letters received by various family members bring all sorts of issues and secrets to light, causing much trouble and stress.

To be honest although it is not necessary to have read the previous novel, it will add to your enjoyment if you have done so. I am now left wanting to know what happens to all the characters next, another volume maybe? Recommended to fans of the author and those readers that love a family saga.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

Suffolk, 1962. The Devereux family are gathering for a party, and a series of anonymous letters are about to turn the sleepy village of Melstead St Mary upside down . . .

Evelyn is preparing to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary, but there are secrets she's never told her beloved husband, Kit. Secrets that stretch back to her wartime days at Bletchley Park . . .

For Hope, her sister-in-law, happiness has never come easily, and the letter she receives could destroy her fragile world. While, up at Melstead Hall, Julia has discovered that life she married into comes at a heavy price.

And halfway across the world, the indomitable Romily is longing for home. But with the Devereux family under threat, she finds herself confronting her own closely guarded secret. Can she save the day, and seize her own chance of happiness?

From the gorgeous Suffolk countryside to the sun-baked desert of Palm Springs, let Erica James sweep you away...

Author Profile:         

                                                   

                                                           Courtesy of Authors Website

In the author's own words from her website.

I grew up on the south coast of England with never a thought in my head as a child that I would one day be an author. But somehow, I’m now the author of twenty-four bestselling novels, with recent Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers including Swallowtail Summer, Coming Home to Island House, Letters from the Past, and Mothers and Daughters.  With sales of over five million around the world, including a No. 1 in Norway, I’m told that my books are loved by readers looking for beautifully drawn relationships, emotionally powerful storylines and evocative settings. 

In 2006 my novel Gardens of Delight won the Romantic Novel of the Year award and in 2020 I received the Nielsen Silver Award for sales of over a quarter of a million copies for both Love and Devotion and Tell it to the Skies. 

I live in Suffolk and travel as often as time permits to see my eldest son and his family in the US and my youngest son in Japan.

Photographs, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Erica James - Official Website.   Erica James - Twitter.  Instagram - Erica James

Goodreads Author Profile  Erica James - Amazon Author Page.  Erica James - Facebook

Mothers and Daughters by Erica James

                                            

Ebook:  365 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fiction 

Publisher: Kindle Edition March 2022

Source: My Kindle Library

First Sentence: Martha made sure the bathroom door was firmly shut.

Setting: Sussex Coast, England

Review Quote: ‘A wonderfully compelling family drama that deftly touches upon some serious issues’ Sunday Express

My Opinion:  Loaded this title on to My Kindle as confident I would enjoy. How was I so sure, well I have been  getting pleasure from reading this authors novels since 1996.  Definitely a long time fan of her style of escapism.

Mothers and Daughters was no exception, I loved it. The novel is built around the relationships of Naomi, the widowed mother of two adult daughters Martha and Willow.  With this my own role in life, I found much of the storyline felt authentic.  

Well constructed with lots of secrets that are slowly revealed it was another very satisfying read.  Erica James is one of a number of favourite authors that I turn to when looking for escapism.  So no hesitation in recommending to fans of contemporary fiction.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

Even happy families have their secrets…

Since the sudden death of her husband, Naomi has steadily rebuilt the life they shared in the village of Tilsham by the sea.

Her eldest daughter, Martha, is sensible and determined – just like her father was – and very much in control of where her life is going. If she could just get pregnant with her husband, life would be perfect.

Willow, the youngest, was always more sunny and easy-going, yet drifted through life, much to her father’s frustration. But now, with charming new boyfriend, Rick, she has a very good reason to settle down.

The three women are as close as can be. But there are things Naomi has kept from her daughters. Like the arrival of Ellis, a long-lost friend from way back, now bringing the fun and spark back into her life. And she’s certainly never told them that her marriage to their father wasn’t quite what it seemed…

The Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James returns with this gloriously compelling tale of mothers and daughters, secrets and love

Author Profile:         

                                                   

                                                           Courtesy of Authors Website

In the author's own words from her website.

I grew up on the south coast of England with never a thought in my head as a child that I would one day be an author. But somehow, I’m now the author of twenty-four bestselling novels, with recent Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers including Swallowtail Summer, Coming Home to Island House, Letters from the Past, and Mothers and Daughters.  With sales of over five million around the world, including a No. 1 in Norway, I’m told that my books are loved by readers looking for beautifully drawn relationships, emotionally powerful storylines and evocative settings. 

In 2006 my novel Gardens of Delight won the Romantic Novel of the Year award and in 2020 I received the Nielsen Silver Award for sales of over a quarter of a million copies for both Love and Devotion and Tell it to the Skies. 

I live in Suffolk and travel as often as time permits to see my eldest son and his family in the US and my youngest son in Japan.

Photographs, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Erica James - Official Website.   Erica James - Twitter.  Instagram - Erica James

Goodreads Author Profile  Erica James - Amazon Author Page.  Erica James - Facebook

Swallowtail Summer by Erica James

 

Erica James has written over twenty novels and over the years I have read the vast majority. There were a few in recent years that I missed so I am currently catching up on her back catalogue. 'Swallowtail Summer' took me to familiar territory as set in the Norfolk Broads where I have spent many holidays over the years. The descriptions are very realistic, so I was able to visualise the settings perfectly.

The story takes place in and around Linston End a much loved house set on the banks of one of the rivers. It has been the scene of many happy gatherings for the owner and his two best friends, plus their families for several decades. That is all about to change as unexpected news unsettles the equilibrium as the friends struggle to come to terms with what is happening.

The author has written a very readable contemporary novel that reveals a surprising number of secrets within its pages. A well-constructed story about family, friendships, love and loss. Recommended if you are looking for escapism that has some depth.

Coming Home to Island House by Erica James

I have been reading and enjoying the novels of Erica James since 1996. I therefore consider myself a long-time fan of her style of escapism. Heart-warming, romantic stories which often tend to be emotional roller coasters. 

‘Coming Home to Island House’ is no exception, with a period story, set just prior to the start of World War II, which is full of engaging characters. Island House is the family home of Jack Devereux and it here that he and his wife a successful author, Romily Temple, are when he is taken ill in the summer of 1939.  His estranged family are summoned home and discover after his death that to meet the terms of his will, they must reconcile their differences. Far from an easy ask for siblings that have spent a lifetime not getting on, plus discovering they now have a stepmother!  A family divided but united by the trials and tribulations they face as they suffer heartbreak and loss thanks to the horrors of war. 

 In conclusion this is a heart rending story with great character portrayals. Recommended for those that enjoy escapism, plus with this novel a good sense of historical background.

Summer at the Lake by Erica James

Hardback:  383 pages.
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fiction.
Publisher:  Orion Books 2013
Source: Tywyn Public Library.
First Sentence: It had been a mistake to open the envelope.

Review Quote: The Hidden Cottage is a heart-warming, romantic story full of engaging characters, an emotional rollercoaster. (DAILY EXPRESS)

My Opinion: Pure Escapism

I have been enjoying Erica James writing since 1996, so definitely consider myself a long time fan of her particular brand of escapism.  Contemporary romantic fiction with characters that one can often identify with people you come across in real life. This time set in Oxford and Lake Como both places I was instantly transported to with the authors realistic descriptions.

The three protagonists of the novel meet in dramatic circumstances right at the opening of the story. A group of individuals thrown together by fate Floriana, Esme and Adam find themselves surprisingly becoming firm friends. Florianna is involved in an accident and it was Esme and Adam that had rushed to her aid.
As the relationships develop between this unlikely group the life stories of the three of them unfolds. The three had kept in touch after the accident and found despite the fact that they were all so different that there was a strong connection concerning relationships and broken hearts. It seems as if they are all going to be of help to each other with regards putting their pasts to rest. Woven together seamlessly the characters stories made for a very engrossing read.

In conclusion then if you are looking for contemporary fiction that is pure escapism then Erica James will satisfy your requirements. According to the Guardian  Summer at the Lake was one of the 100 best-selling books in 2014. 

 I have reviewed some of her earlier novels on the blog. They are Tell It To The Skies,  It's The Little Things,   Hidden Talents, The Hidden Cottage and  The Real Katie Lavender

Author Profile

Erica James, née Sullivan was born in 1960 in Surrey, England, UK and she grew up on Hayling Island, Hampshire from the age of 4.  Now divorced, with two grown-up sons, Edward and Samuel, she divides her time between Suffolk, UK and Lake Como, Italy

 She began writing after attending a creative writing course at the Arvon Foundation, and published her first novel in 1996. In 2006, her novel Gardens of Delight won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists' Association. Erica James  is the author of sixteen best selling novels including her most recent, The Real Katie Lavender.

Apparently she has an insatiable appetite for other people's business and will readily strike up a conversation with strangers in the hope of unearthing a useful gem for her writing. She finds it is the best way to write authentic characters for her novels, although her two grown up sons claim they will never recover from a childhood spent in a perpetual state of embarrassment at their mother's compulsion.


The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the author's publicist and following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Goodreads - Author Profile  Erica James - Official Author Website  Erica James - Twitter

Amazon Author Profile   Erica James - Facebook  

The Real Katie Lavender by Erica James

Paperback: 463 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:  Orion Books UK 2012
Source:  Tywyn Public Library
First Sentence: 'At the age of thirty, Katie Lavender believed she was better equipped than most when it came to receiving bad news.
Review Quote: With marvellous writing, eccentric characters and a great plot, this has it all. (CLOSER 2012-08-11)
My Opinion: Great Escapism

Erica James is an author I have been a long time fan of, since 1996 in fact when I read A Breath of Fresh Air.  The Real Katie Lavender makes the thirteenth novel of hers that I have read. After having not read any of her books for a few years this is the second in the last few months, great escapism just what I have needed recently. Her novels might not be literary but they are always well constructed, this latest one is no exception, with lots of secrets revealed.

The biggest secret of all is revealed to the heroine of the title Katie Lavender by a solicitor a year after the death of her mother.  It is not a spoiler to tell you about this big secret as the reader knows all about it from the start of the novel. Katie is the recipient of a large trust fund that has been built for her by her birth father, a great shock to her that the man she called Dad was not her biological father but a man named Stirling Nightingale. Curiosity gets the better of her and despite her initial reactions to this news she decides she wants to find out more about this man. Her clandestine enquiries lead her to discover that she is part of what from the outsider's view point appears to be a very successful and happy family with a perfect lifestyle! In fact the family turns out to be plagued with problems, some of the characters are very stereotyped and you find yourself sympathising with some and irritated beyond belief by others. Katie becomes embroiled in the life of the Nightingale's and their complicated family relationships as they all seem to lurch from one family crisis to another. A good mix of romance, drama and humour that will keep you reading to find out how all will be resolved.

In conclusion then if  you are looking for contemporary fiction that is pure escapism then Erica James will satisfy your requirements.

 I have reviewed some of her earlier novels on the blog. They are Tell It To The Skies,  It's The Little Things   Hidden Talents. and The Hidden Cottage.

I am having trouble posting videos on the blog but here is the link to Erica James discussing the novel on YouTube. The Real Katie Lavender


Author Profile

Erica James, née Sullivan was born in 1960 in Surrey, England, UK and she grew up on Hayling Island, Hampshire from the age of 4.  Now divorced, with two grown-up sons, Edward and Samuel, she divides her time between Cheshire, UK and Lake Como, Italy

 She began writing after attending a creative writing course at the Arvon Foundation, and published her first novel in 1996. In 2006, her novel Gardens of Delight won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists' Association. Erica James  is the author of sixteen best selling novels including her most recent, The Real Katie Lavender.

Apparently she has an insatiable appetite for other people's business and will readily strike up a conversation with strangers in the hope of unearthing a useful gem for her writing. She finds it is the best way to write authentic characters for her novels, although her two grown up sons claim they will never recover from a childhood spent in a perpetual state of embarrassment at their mother's compulsion.

The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the author's publicist and following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Goodreads - Author Profile  Erica James - Official Author Website  Facebook Profile

Amazon - Author Profile

The Hidden Cottage by Erica James

Paperback: 372 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:  Orion Books UK 2013
Source:  Tywyn Public Library
First Sentence: 'Expect the unexpected' was Owen Fletcher's new personal mantra.
Review Quote: The Hidden Cottage is a heart-warming, romantic story full of engaging characters, an emotional rollercoaster. (DAILY EXPRESS 2013-08-16)
My Opinion: Emotional and humorous story of love and sacrifice.

Erica James is an author I have been a long time fan of, since 1996 in fact when I read A Breath of Fresh Air . The Hidden Cottage makes the twelfth title I have read from her catalogue, so not many more to make it the full set.  I was surprised to discover though that the last time I read an Erica James novel was in 2009, when I read three, all of which I reviewed on this blog. They were Tell It To The Skies,  It's The Little Things and Hidden Talents. I have always regarded her writing as a thoroughly enjoyable read where you can immerse yourself in the story, not great literature but so much better than some of the novels regarded as ‘chick lit’or ‘romantic women's fiction’

The Hidden Cottage did not disappoint, an emotional and humorous story of love and sacrifice in family life. As always her characters are identifiable with those you may have met in real life, the author herself admits that 'she has an insatiable appetite for other people's business and will readily strike up a conversation with strangers in the hope of unearthing a useful gem for her writing.' 
The heroine this time is middle aged with grown up children, which is welcome for those of us of a certain age, looking for what I call a 'light but enjoyable novel to take me out of myself'. One does not always want to read about young protagonists in contemporary fiction.

Mia Channing, on the surface appears to have a near perfect life, lovely home in the countryside, her own successful business, a happy marriage and three grown up children to whom she is devoted. Appearances are deceiving though as behind this façade, life is much more complicated. When a newcomer arrives in the village in the form of Owen Fletcher, chasing a dream, he unexpectedly shakes up Mia's life.

Can a damaged heart be repaired? If this a genre you enjoy reading then you need to find out for yourself.


Author Profile

Erica James, née Sullivan was born in 1960 in Surrey, England, UK and she grew up on Hayling Island, Hampshire from the age of 4.  Now divorced, with two grown-up sons, Edward and Samuel, she divides her time between Cheshire, UK and Lake Como, Italy

 She began writing after attending a creative writing course at the Arvon Foundation, and published her first novel in 1996. In 2006, her novel Gardens of Delight won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists' Association. Erica James  is the author of sixteen best selling novels including her most recent, The Real Katie Lavender.

Apparently she has an insatiable appetite for other people's business and will readily strike up a conversation with strangers in the hope of unearthing a useful gem for her writing. She finds it is the best way to write authentic characters for her novels, although her two grown up sons claim they will never recover from a childhood spent in a perpetual state of embarrassment at their mother's compulsion.

The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the author's publicist and following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Goodreads - Author Profile  Erica James - Official Author Website  Facebook Profile

Amazon - Author Profile