Showing posts with label Humorous romantic fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humorous romantic fiction. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Construct A Couple by Talli Roland
This is the fourth novel by Talli Roland that I have read and reviewed. I am probably somewhat older than her targeted market, but if you consider yourself young at heart, then like me you may well have read her earlier novels. I find she writes well and that I enjoy her novels, despite the fact that I doubt I would ever have picked them up originally. However invited to review her past work I was pleased to do so as sometimes it is good to step outside our comfort zone. You will see from my previous reviews of her earlier books, that I have come to rely on her novels to provide me with a laugh and my high ratings of her novels are worth it for this factor alone.
I ended my review of Build a Man by commenting that it had been a light and entertaining read with characters I was looking forward to hearing more about which apparently would start with the future looking much brighter for Serenity Holland.
It did, it is a year later when the sequel starts and Serenity is just about to start a new job with a magazine, another step towards her dream of becoming a successful journalist. Her boyfriend Jeremy still recovering from a stroke is working far too hard in his own charitable business. Serenity thinks that moving from America to London has all worked out perfectly for her, but is their relationship strong enough to survive the fact that they are hiding secrets from each other. Never a good idea, lack of communication with your partner can lead to disastrous consequences, as you will discover if you read this.
Unfortunately I guessed what has happening in two out of three situations, maybe I am just getting too cynical in my old age, but they were rather obvious. Despite that minor gripe it was still a few hours entertainment from a talented young lady who has a delightful writing style and a knack of creating some great characters. Wait till you meet Gregor! If this appeals to you do make sure to read Build a Man first so that you get to know the protagonists, as it will be easier to follow.
Links to my earlier reviews.
The Hating Game cleverly written witty debut
Watching Willow Watts Sparkly lively modern novel that will appeal to many.
Build a Man Talli has a talent for humour.
Author Profile
Talli Roland, has three loves in her life, romantic comedy, coffee and wine. Born and raised in Canada she now lives in London, on a street with two Starbucks and, at last count, three other cafes that constantly temp her outside her cosy flat. She has a secret crush on Lord Sugar and if she was forced to wax a man's hairy chest it would have to be Simon Cowell, clearly she watches a lot of reality television. Talli trained as a journalist but soon found she preferred making up her own stories with happy endings.
Biographical, other information and photo are with thanks to the following links where you can find out more about Talli Roland.
Amazon Author Profile, Goodreads - Author Profile, Talli Roland - Blog, Talli Roland - Official Website
The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon
Paperback: 410 pages
Genre: Humorous Romantic Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Books 2007
Source: Charity Bookshop in UK in 2008.
First Sentence: 'The bedroom was dark,lit only by a sliver of brightness from the wall light in the basement well outside edging its way round the sides of the blind.'
Favourite Quote: 'It was an irrefutable truth that if no woman ever went with a married man, then no wife would ever have to endure the heartbreak of finding out that her life as she understood it was a sham.
Review Quote: 'This witty first novel is a complete winner. It's comic, touching and the narrative races along at breakneck speed' Daily Express
My Opinion: As it has turned out I am now wishing I had read this ages ago!
It has taken me four years to pick this title from our bookshelves to read and then only because I needed a title beginning with G for the A - Z Book Challenge, hardly a great reason. I was unable to even recall why I wanted to read this title in the first place. Something must have piqued my interest in this book originally, the first of Jane Fallon's now four published novels. Having studied her author profile, read this and done some research I would now like to read her other novels if I get the opportunity.
As it has turned out I am now wishing I had read this ages ago! The theme of a married man having a long term affair with a single woman might not be a new one or to everyone's taste. Getting Rid of Matthew though has a twist in the tale, the clue is of course already there for you in the title. I surprised myself enjoying it as much as I did, not great literature but not trying to be and for that reason it makes a realistic and witty read within this genre.
Affairs are destructive and they do cause hurt, we all know that even Helen, the other woman in this triangle that she has lived with for four years. After all this time and being unable to persuade Matthew to leave his wife and daughters for her Helen is coming to her senses. Life is passing her by and she needs to sort her life out, things turn out not be that simple though! As the title tells us without any spoilers it is obvious that the novel is about freeing herself from Matthew so that she can become an independent young woman once again. The moral of this light but readable novel is definitely be careful of what you ask for, as escape from such a tangled web just might not be easy either.
Author Profile
Her books have sold over 650,000 copies in the UK and have been translated into over 20 languages.
Getting Rid of Matthew (2007), Got You Back (2008), Foursome (2010) and The Ugly Sister (2011)
The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites.
Amazon Author Profile, Jane Fallon - Wikipedia, Goodreads - Author Profile
I have chosen to read this title as the letter G for The A - Z Book Challenge which I have decided to attempt to achieve in alphabetical order. I have a good selection of titles to choose from our bookshelves, it will be interesting to see how far I can get before I get stuck. You can follow my progress here.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Build A Man by Talli Roland
File Size: 499KB
In Paperback: 308 pages
Genre: Humorous Romantic Fiction
Publisher: Notting Hill Press (5 Nov 2011)
Source: The Author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
First Sentence: 'If I see another set of boobs, I'm going to loose it.'
Review Quote: Build A Man had characters I really, really cared for, it had an inspired plot (Talli is a plot genius!), it had warmth and humour . . . I can't recommend it enough. --Chick Lit News and Reviews
My Opinion: Talli has a talent for humour.
This is Talli Roland's third novel and the third one that she has kindly sent me for review. I am always happy to oblige, I am probably somewhat older than her targeted market. If though you consider yourself young at heart, then like me you may well enjoy her writing. I find she writes well and that I enjoy her novels, despite the fact that I doubt I would ever have picked them up from choice in a bookshop. Sometimes it is good to step outside our comfort zone, you will see from my previous reviews of her earlier books, that I have come to rely on her novels to provide me with a laugh. My high ratings of her novels are worth it for this factor alone.
The Hating Game Watching Willow Watts
This time although I did find myself laughing, I felt guilty about it due to the issues involving cosmetic surgery that are so brilliantly covered in Build A Man. After all Botox is not really a laughing matter!
Serenity Holland aspiring journalist is working for her boyfriend until she finds her dream job. Unfortunately she hates her work as receptionist for Peter's cosmetic surgery practice, where she is mainly treated badly by his rich and vain clientèle. An opportunity comes up for her to use one of her boyfriend's more normal patients as the subject of an article that the tabloid press will be unable to resist. Her ploy works and she struggles with her conscience as she starts to secretly write about this bachelors desire for cosmetic surgery, believing it will change his life.
The reader will quickly realise that Serenity is in the wrong job and possibly has not made the right choice of relationship either, however it takes a disaster for her to make changes in her life.
A light and entertaining read with characters you will maybe empathise with or at the very least care about. If you care enough, there is more to come as the sequel Construct a Couple is due out very soon during June, which apparently starts with the future looking much brighter for Serenity Holland.
Author Profile
Talli Roland, has three loves in her life, romantic comedy, coffee and wine. She lives in London, on a street with two Starbucks and, at last count, three other cafes that constantly temp her outside her cosy flat. She has a secret crush on Lord Sugar and if she was forced to wax a man's hairy chest it would have to be Simon Cowell, clearly she watches a lot of reality television. Talli trained as a journalist but soon found she preferred making up her own stories with happy endings.
Biographical, other information and photo are with thanks to the following links where you can find out more about Talli Roland.
Amazon Author Profile, Goodreads - Author Profile, Talli Roland - Blog, Talli Roland - Official Website
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