Love Takes Wing (by Janette Oke)

There's something oddly appealing about Janette Oke's books. They're not great literature; they aren't very long; they're fairly easy-read style, intended for teenagers as well as adults. Yet the people seem believable; I almost feel as if I might have known them. Their world is a simpler place than today's, although some problems - such as medical ones, or the need for travel - are much more complex in these pioneer days in the USA.

'Love Takes Wing', is the seventh in the 'Love comes softly' series. It's a direct sequel to 'Love's Unfolding Dream', in which Belinda - Marty and Clark's youngest - starts her introduction to nursing, and gets to know her niece Melissa, who is about her age.

In this book, set a couple of years later, Belinda is established as practise nurse at her brother Luke's surgery. As the book opens, Melissa returns briefly to the family after training as a teacher, before returning to the West. Belinda is a bit lonely, but throws herself into her nursing. Tragedy strikes when one of the family is injured, with long-term consequences as a rift appears in what has always been a united and happy family. In addition, two young men start to show an interest in Belinda, and she has to make some difficult decisions about her future.

I'm enjoying reading the continuation of this series which I first came across many years ago. I'm going to continue straight on to the last in the series after this, eager to know what happens to Belinda.

I'm pleased to see that this series is still in print on both side of the Atlantic, twenty years after first publication.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 4th November 2009

Starting Over (by Sue Moorcroft)

I thoroughly enjoyed the first novel I read by Sue Moorcroft, 'Uphill All the Way", so I was delighted when I was offered her latest book to read, by The Bookbag site.

It's an unusual coincidence that it's called 'Starting Over', the same title as the last book I read: 'Staring Over' by Marcia Willetts. Indeed, it's the third book of that title I own now; I also have (and like) 'Starting Over' by Robin Pilcher.

I was a little put off by seeing a remarkably fluffy-looking blue cover with pink flowers and brown birds, that screamed 'chick-lit' - but then again, the publisher is called Choc-Lit. Their claim is that their heroes are as irresistible as chocolate. Still, I hoped there would be some depth to it, and some great characterisation, as there was in Uphill All the Way.

It starts well. A single email is the prologue, sent to Tess by her ex-fiancé Olly, cancelling the wedding. A sharp shock that demonstrates Olly's unpleasantness, and also explains why we next meet Tess on her way to a cottage she has just bought, in a small village, to escape from her past.

When Tess is nearly at her new home, with laden car, she bumps into a breakdown truck, and meets Ratty, who is obviously (due to their instant mutual antipathy) going to be the hero of the book. Unfortunately, from my perspective, Ratty is far from irresistible. I accept that some women like tattoos and grumpiness, but Ratty is aggressive at times, he's extremely promiscuous, and he can be very manipulative. He has a few good features too, but his negative side far outweighed his good points in my view.

Nonetheless, the story proceeds as per Mills and Boon formula, with far too many bedroom scenes (or remembrances of them), albeit, thankfully, not too explicit. There are some good moments, and some enjoyable interludes with Tess's new friend Angel and her children. Unfortunately all the male characters are rather flat, and some of the plotting seems a bit forced.

Perhaps I'm being unfair because I didn't think it was nearly as good as Uphill All the Way, and was thus a bit disappointed. If I'd picked it up expecting standard chick-lit, I'd have been impressed at the good writing and the depth of characterisation in Tess and one or two others. I read it in a few days - it was a good story, if I skipped the bedroom parts, and suspended reality once or twice - and the ending was satisfying, albeit predictable.

Recommended in a low-key way if you enjoy light women's fiction.

My longer review of Starting Over can be found at the Bookbag site.

Starting Over (by Marcia Willett)

I'm very much enjoying re-reading Marcia Willett's novels. Mostly I space them out, interspersing with at least five or six other books. But this time, I decided to read one straight after another.

Part of the reason for doing so, is that the same characters often appear, albeit in minor roles, in the different books. If I leave it too long between books, I forget who they are. I always remember the young men Guy and Giles, who are twins, but lose track of their various friends and relatives. So, having just finished 'Second Time Around', which featured Giles, I thought I'd re-read the one published after it, 'Starting Over', which I first read in 2000.

To my surprise, and somewhat to my confusion, I quickly realised that this book is set some years earlier. It should probably have been read directly after Willett's first novel, 'Those who Serve', which cover the events leading up to the death of the teenage Charlotte, since it takes place about a year after the events at the end of that book.

There are several sub-plots involved. Pippa, in an unhappy marriage. Hugh, feeling a lot of unecessary guilt over Charlotte's death. Annie, recently widowed but still relying on words of wisdom from her dead husband. Frances, desperately worried that her husband is being unfaithful. And Max, who has a dream of building an outdoor centre for children. I'd totally forgotten what happened in the book, in which Guy and Giles are about 17, and enjoyed it afresh.

It's probably best to read after 'Those who serve' to understand better who is whom, and to get greater depth of empathy with Hugh and some of the other characters. But it does stand alone; events are explained without being too repetitive, although the sheer number of people mentioned might seem excessive. Thought-provoking in places, considering questions about middle-class mentality (like Pilcher, Willett seems to assume that the wealthy middle classes send their children to boarding schools and then university - not my understanding of middle classes, but apparently so in some circles), and also looking at what marriage means. A few Christian references here and there, but nothing preachy.

All in all, a good book. Recommended.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 28th October 2009

Second Time Around (by Marcia Willett)

I've been reading Marcia Willett novels for about eleven years now. They're character-driven, comforting books which I find very relaxing and enjoyable. She tends to use a few minor characters from previous books, which gives a sense of familiarity, and yet each book stands alone.

I first read 'Second Time Around' some time in 1998, before I began writing book reviews. Eleven years later, I'd pretty much forgotten everything other than the main premise, which is described in the blurb on the back: three diverse people inherit a house.

It's actually about four distinct main characters. Firstly we meet Isobel, recently separated from her husband and estranged from her daughter. She is companion and housekeeper to the elderly Mathilda Rainbird. Then there are three distant relations, to whom Mathilda bequeathes her coastal house. None of them know her, or each other, and all are lonely in their different ways. There's Will, a recently widowed man who has lived in Switzerland; Bea, the just-retired matron of a boys' school, and Tess, a young woman who is slowly carving out a career for herself in dog-minding.

These people, each with his or her own background and some painful circumstances, come together and find a surprising rapport. There are one or two slightly shocking incidents, some sadness, some enjoyment, and a general feeling of being amongst relaxing, likeable people.

Definitely recommended.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 24th October 2009

Jesus Rediscovered (by Malcolm Muggeridge)

I only vaguely remember Malcolm Muggeridge, as a TV personality in the 1980s. I was impressed with the first book of his that I read - Christ and the Media - so when I saw another of his books on a second-hand stall, I snapped it up.

'Jesus Rediscovered' is the kind of book that was probably fairly radical in its day. However, reading it forty years after publication, it seems not only severely dated, but long-winded and - in places - somewhat tedious. It's mainly transcripts of talks he gave in various church or college settings in the 1960s, and while none of them is long, I didn't find any of them particularly interesting either.

In Muggeridge's talks, he attempts to find the real Jesus, without the trappings of the church. This is something which many people are doing in the 21st century; yet his attempts seem very out-of-date, and his description of the church of the era bears little relation to the problems of churches today. Some of his theology is rather dubious, too; he seems to assume that nobody believes in the Virgin Birth, for instance, and discounts many of Christ's miracles.

There are a few gems, so I'm glad I did eventually finish it. The interview with the author in the final section is quite revealing and makes good reading - but I found I couldn't manage more than a few pages at a time, and frequently didn't feel like picking it up at all.

Long out of print, but may well be available second-hand.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 22nd October 2009

Arabella (by Georgette Heyer)

I do like Georgette Heyer! I keep writing this, I know. I am at least consistent. I first started reading her books in my teens, and loved them then; I've re-read most of them at least two or three times, often more, and enjoy them just as much thirty years later.

The last time I read 'Arabella' was in 2002, so it was more than time for a re-read. I knew it was one of my favourites, so took it slowly.

It's the story of an attractive girl of seventeen called Arabella. She lives in Yorkshire, the eldest daughter of a kind, if somewhat naive vicar. She has a couple of older brothers and several younger siblings, and knows that it's her duty to marry well. Her parents are not wealthy, and the education of her brothers (far more important, in Regency times, than the education of girls!) is proving expensive.

Arabella has a rich, albeit somewhat shallow godmother in London, thanks to the forethought of her mother. This lady has no daughters, and is delighted at the idea of bringing Arabella 'out' as a debutante in a London season. Arabella is a young lady of strong principle, with a good sense of humour, and a tendency to react impetuously when she is angered in any way. Unfortunately this latter tendency means that she starts her season under false pretences, having made a claim to be someone much wealthier than in fact she is...

The hero of the story, Robert Beaumaris, is one of Heyer's best heroes. Elegant, rather bored, and excessively wealthy, he finds himself first determined to make Arabella a big hit, and then - rather to his surprise - he becomes very fond of her. He has many faults, but they're all vindicated by both his sense of humour, and his sense of honour.

The overall plot is, of course, a low-key romance with predictable (and most satisfactory) ending. But along the way there are many unexpected twists and turns; even on the fifth or sixth re-reading, I found myself amused, surprised, and very taken with the whole story yet again.

I look forward to re-reading it once more in another six or seven years.

Highly recommended.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 19th October 2009

Thanks for the Memories (by Cecelia Ahern)

Although I wasn't very keen on Cecelia Ahern's first novel, I'm glad that I didn't judge her based on that; I've very much enjoyed her more recent works. They're slightly surreal, but the people are believable and the stories well written.

'Thank you for the memories' is a somewhat quirky novel about two people who, at the beginning of the book, have nothing in common at all. Justin is an art history expert who lives in London. He's recently divorced, and has been invited to give guest lectures at a university in Dublin. While he's there, he is persuaded to donate some blood, rather against his wishes.

We meet Joyce as she's getting over the loss of her unborn baby, after a nasty accident. She is naturally grieving, and is not helped by the break-up of her marriage. And she's very confused to find that she suddenly has some memories, some of which appear as dreams, which don't seem to belong to her at all.

The novel follows Justin and Joyce in turn, as they happen to meet or come in contact; I found it very odd at first but it unfolds nicely and realisation came to me before it did to Joyce. There are some very amusing moments, and some which are poignant; the ending is inevitable (and rather a relief - I did worry that it might be left open, or with Justin none the wiser) but many of the events during the main part of the book are far from predictable.

Cecelia Ahern has a remarkable gift for creating unusual scenarios and making them seem believable, at least while reading the book. Recommended, if you don't mind suspending reality for a while.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 15th October 2009

Ani's Raw Food Desserts (by Ani Phyo)

I'd never come across Ani Phyo before. Probably not surprising, since I'm neither vegan, nor a raw food fan - although I do agree that there are many benefits to raw food eating, particularly fruits and vegetables. We do eat quite a bit of raw fruit; I make fresh fruit juice each morning, and we have pure fruit smoothies most evenings.

But when I saw this on the 'Bookbag' shelves, it looked most appealing. And, indeed, the book itself is a delight. There are 85 recipes, most of them with accompanying (and very appetising) photos. Interspersed, here and there, are extra pages of hints for such things as boosting metabolism, or keeping one's skin young. I read the book pretty much cover to cover, and found it very inspiring.

Unfortunately, some of the ingredients sounded strange to me: agave syrup, mesquite powder, coconut oil, cacao nibs, Medjool dates. I'd never heard of any of them. Nor, it seemed, had the health food shops I visited in both the UK and Cyprus, in the hope of finding them. I could have ordered them online (at vast price) - but was disappointed, since Ani Phyo assures us that her ingredients are all easy to find.

I did manage to discover Medjool dates, to my surprise, in a coffee and nut shop in Cyprus. They were rather pricy, but much juicier than regular dates, and also free of any added sugar. I tried two of the recipes that used dates without any of the other unusual ingredients, and they both turned out extremely well.

Then I thought I might as well try some substitutions: I used honey instead of the agave syrup, and creamed coconut (in a sachet, intended for curries) rather than coconut oil. The recipes I concocted also came out well, so I'll probably try similar substitutions in other recipes from the book. We have various friends and relatives who are dairy-free, and/or gluten-free, and/or diabetic. Almost all the recipes in the book would be suitable for any of them. I still don't know what I might use use as a substitute for cacao nibs or mesquite powder, however.

My longer review of Ani's Raw Food Desserts, with accompanying explanations of exactly which ones I tried, can be found on the Bookbag site.

Love's Unfolding Dream (by Janette Oke)

I like reading Janette Oke's light historical fiction when I need to relax or unwind. Her writing is good, her historical detail accurate, as far as I can tell, and certainly realistic, and her characters come to life in her books. Although the author herself is Canadian, many of her books are set in the pioneer days of the USA.

'Love's Unfolding Dream' is the sixth in the 'Love Comes Softly' series about Marty and Clark, and their various offspring. This one is set about twelve years after the previous book in the series ('Love's Unending Legacy') and is about their youngest daughter Belinda. As the baby of the family, she has grown up with a deep compassion, and longs to accompany her doctor brother, Luke, in his work.

Meanwhile Melissa, who is Belinda's niece but around the same age, comes to live with Marty and Clark, in preparation for going away to college. It's very hard for Melissa to leave her family, but Marty is delighted to have a granddaughter to stay. Melissa is very different from Belinda, and they are both different from her other niece of similar age, Amy Jo. Naturally there are jealousies and disagreements, particularly when a new and rather handsome young man joins their school.

There's nothing deep in this book; it's a light read, which would be suitable for older children or teenagers who like reading about this time in history. There's a definite underlying Christian theme throughout, but it's fairly low key without being preachy. The people are all quite believable, leading to some very moving sections where I had tears in my eyes.

All in all, highly recommended, although it helps to have read others in the series. However, since there's such a gap between this book and the previous one, there is at a short opening section describing and naming all Marty and Clark's children and grandchildren. I had to refer to this a few times as I was reading, since so many of them had appeared in the gap between the novels.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 8th October 2009

The Whole Day Through (by Patrick Gale)

Sometimes I get sent books to review. Occasionally, I do an online questionnaire for a publisher, and get sent a book as a reward. This book is in the latter category. I'd never heard of Patrick Gale, but when the book arrived I thought it looked interesting.

'The Whole Day Through' is the story of Laura, a young and somewhat promiscuous woman who gives up her independent lifestyle in Paris to look after her elderly mother. Her mother is physically frail, but mentally extremely astute - she was, in her youth, an eminent physicist. Laura's upbringing was unconventional, leaving her very relaxed in some senses, and highly stressed in others.

Laura bumps into Ben, an old flame, who is temporarily separated from his wife. Ben now lives with his brother, who has a mild form of Down Syndrome, and is gay.

The book is well written, although there were too many four-letter words for my tastes. It takes the form of a single day, beginning with a chapter entitled 'early morning tea', and progressing through - I think - a single day. There are many flashbacks, memories and links that make it somewhat confusing.

Not that it matters. The plot weaves together well, although I didn't find the characters particularly appealing other than Laura's eccentric mother, who wasn't very believable but delightful all the same. There are some interesting issues covered - Ben works as a doctor in a clinic for people with STDs; some of the questions raised were thought-provoking, although I found rather too much sordid detail about what the job actually entailed.

It's not a long book - I read it in about three hours, on the way back to Cyprus from the UK. I don't suppose I'll read it again, but I don't regret having read it. At the back is an interview with the author, explaining more about the book.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 30th September 2009