Book Review - Saving Grace by Jane Green

 

Saving Grace by Jane Green

Published: 25th September 2014

Publisher: Pan

Pages: 400

Available in: Kindle and Hardcover

Pre-Order from Amazon here

 

Blurb

Grace Chapman has an enviable set-up, living comfortably with her husband, bestselling author Ted, in a picture-perfect farmhouse on the Hudson River in New York state.

Then Ted advertises for a new assistant, and Beth walks into their lives. Organized, passionate and eager to learn, Beth quickly makes herself indispensable to Ted and his family. But Grace soon begins to feel sidelined in her home - and her marriage - by this ambitious younger woman.

Is Grace just paranoid, as her husband tells her, or is there more to Beth than there first appears?

Review
I have read almost everything that Jane Green has written and have seen her style develop from basic love triangles to those with much deeper issues such as infertility and cancer, this goes in a slightly different direction and is verging on a psychological thriller type plot.  Ted’s new assistant Beth is determined that she will ruin Grace and she seems to have no limits to the measures she will take to ensure she succeeds.  Initially Beth doesn’t appear to be a threat to Grace as she seemed mousey and timid but gradually an incredibly disturbing character emerges which leaves Grace heading for disaster.

Initially I wasn’t convinced I was going to enjoy this book as there is a lot of scene setting and nothing much happens for the first third of the book and then it hits you.  So if you start reading and are not sure please keep going as the plot when it gets going is very gripping.  I also wasn’t too sure about Grace as a character initially as all she seems to do is spend her time making everyone around her happy which did seem to make her vulnerable and insecure making it easy for Beth to take over, I was glad when she finally got some balls and decided what she wanted.

I was left with a couple of issues which I felt were not addressed in the book, firstly why didn’t Grace get a second opinion when in her heart she knew the doctor was wrong and secondly what on earth happened to Beth to cause Beth to be the way she was?

This book is written in the third person from just Grace’s perspective. Personally I think it would have worked better been written in the first person then we would have gained more insight into how Grace was coping with her life if we knew her actual thoughts and feelings.  Also I would have liked some of the story to be told from Beth’s perspective so we could understand what was driving her behaviour.

There are recipes at the end of each chapter which I just found irritating, especially when the story was unfolding; I think these would have been much better in a section at the end of the book. 

After the slow start I did really enjoy this book and I’m sure many fans of Jane Green will love it. I rate this book 4/5 as I had a few issues with it, but it was still a gripping and enjoyable read which I would recommend to both fans and new readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan for sending me an arc copy to read.

 



Top Ten Tuesday - My Autumn TBR List

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week the list was the top ten books on your Autumn TBR pile, I've interpreted this as books that are going to be released in September, October and November, so here goes:

 

 

 

1. Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella, released September 25th 2014

I love the Shopaholic series and am definitely ready to find out what Becky gets up to next.

 

 

2. The Woman who Stole my Life by Marian Keyes, released 6th November 2014

I love Marian Keyes novels so any new one was always going to be on the list.

 

 

3. The Great Christmas Knit Off by Alexandra Brown released 6th November 2014

I loved Cupcakes at Carrington's and even through I've yet to read the next two books I know I will love this book, it sounds just perfect for a cosy read one night.

4. Hello  from the Gillespies by Monica McInerney, released 6th November 2014

This is one which sounds a really good read and I actually have an ARC of this on my kindle which I can't wait to start reading.

 

 

5. A Most Desirable Marriage by Hilary Boyd released 2nd October 2014

This looks a really interesting book, which I was lucky enough to win a copy of in a goodreads giveaway so I hope it doesn't take too long to arrive.

 

 

6. The Seafront Tea Rooms by Vanessa Greene released 9th October 2014

I've not read anything by Vanessa Greene but this looks like a really good read, so hoping to get a copy of this one next month.

 

 

7. The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern released 9th October 2014

I just think the cover alone should make anyone want to read this one, its just beautiful.

 

 

 8. The Christmas Party by Carole Matthews released 23rd October 2014

This looks like the perfect book to kick off the Christmas reads this year and who doesn't love a good Christmas party?

 

 

9. Coming Home for Christmas by Julia Williams released 6th November

Another one to get us in the mood for Christmas, love the character names in this one.

 

 

10. Baby it's Cold Outside by Kerry Barrett released 9th October 2014

I recently stumbled across this on twitter and it looks really good, who doesn't love Christmas, weddings and a bit of magic. Even though its the third in a series I can't wait to read this.

 

So that's what I'm most excited to read this autumn, let see how many I actually manage to read. Check out what is on other blogger lists here.

 

Showcase Sunday #9

 

Showcase Sunday is a weekly event hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where book bloggers share what books they have added to their collection in the previous week. This week I've been very good and only added two books to my tbr pile.

 

 

Firstly I received this to review from bookbridgr, thank you bookbrigr and headline.

 

 

Secondly I was sent this to review from Choc Lit, it looks really good and is due for release on October 7th.

 

What new books did you add to your collection this week? Link up with Vicky's blog and see everyone's list here.

 

 

 

 

Release Day Round-Up #3

Just three picks for my release day round up this week:

 The Beginner's Gide to the Birds and the Bees by Sophie Hart

Publication Date: September 19th 2014

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 384

Available on Kindle and Paperback

Pre-Order now from Amazon

 

What happens in the bedroom doesn’t have to stay in the bedroom
A refreshingly open and uplifting romantic comedy about friendship, love and sex. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone in order to give a relationship a good dose of TLC…

Sex therapist Annie Hall helps couples put the fizz back into their relationships. It’s a shame her own love life is non-existent. When Jamie who works next door catches her eye, she can’t ignore the spark of chemistry.

Most men would jump at the chance to skive off work for an afternoon quickie with their gorgeous wife, but Nick knows Julia is after only one thing – a baby. Sex shouldn’t be a chore. Can Annie help Julia see that?

Newly engaged Zoe and Simon can’t keep their hands off each other. They’ve decided to take a vow of celibacy until their wedding night. Will Annie help them stick to it?

Roy and Linda have been married for over thirty years but she’s more interested in the family business than getting intimate with him. Can Annie convince Linda to rediscover her passion for Roy after all this time?

While Annie begins to work her magic with the three couples, she soon discovers that she’ll need to take some of her own advice if she’s going to let a new man into her life.

 

I loved this book, see my full review here. If you enjoyed her previous novel then this is a must read.

 Twitter Girl by Nic Tatano

Published: Septeber 18th September 2014

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Pages: 288

Available in Kindle from Amazon

 

Meet America’s Tweet-Heart.

She’s network reporter Cassidy Shea, better known as @TwitterGirl, with more than a million followers thanks to her sarcastic tweets. One hundred forty characters that can take anyone down a notch.

But while brevity may be the soul of wit, it can also get you fired.

When a controversial tweet goes viral the snarky redhead finds herself locked out of the career she loves… and watches her boyfriend take a hike.

Alas, no industry values sarcasm more than politics, and Cassidy becomes a marketable commodity for Presidential candidate Will Becker, a squeaky-clean, stone cold lock to be the next occupant of the White House. This candidate is unlike any other; he’s the country’s most eligible bachelor. He’s also looking for a running mate, and we’re not talking about a Vice President.

Twitter Girl has caught his eye.

Cassidy finds herself swept up in a whirlwind romance that turns her into the next Jackie Kennedy and becomes the favorite to be the next First Lady. The country can’t get enough of America’s First Couple… will Cassidy and Will Becker bring back Camelot?

But an anonymous tip triggers her journalistic curiosity. Is Will Becker all that he seems? The search for the answer teaches Cassidy the meaning of love.

 

I've not read anything by Nic Tatano yet but this looks really good, plus I'm intrigued to read some chick-lit written by a man.

 

 After the Wedding by Roisin Meaney

Published: September 18th 2014

Publisher: Hachette Books Ireland

Pages: 400

Available in Kindle and Paperback

 

After a bumpy start, Nell and James have finally said 'I do' and everything seems to be falling into place. Nell is getting comfortable in her new role as stepmother to James' sixteen-year-old son Andy, she's finally mending fences with her father and she's ready to look to the future.

Then Nell's ex-fiancé Tim - her husband James' brother - comes back to Roone, a place he's never liked, and she begins to feel uneasy. As the summer days roll by, and Tim seems in no hurry to return to his wife and daughter, Nell is finding it more and more difficult to enjoy her new beginning.

But when the little island of Roone is rocked by the disappearance of a young child, Nell realises that life can change in a single moment. Will happiness be restored before the autumn comes?

I really like the sound of this book and this is an author that I've not heard of before, so that excites me.

 

Book Review - The Beginner's Guide to the Birds and the Bees by Sophie Hart

 

The Beginner's Guide to the Birds and the Bees by Sophie Hart

Published: September 19th 2014

Publisher: Bookouture

Available on Kindle, pre-order here,

 

 

 

Blurb

What happens in the bedroom doesn’t have to stay in the bedroom A refreshingly open and uplifting romantic comedy about friendship, love and sex. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone in order to give a relationship a good dose of TLC…

Sex therapist Annie Hall helps couples put the fizz back into their relationships. It’s a shame her own love life is non-existent. When Jamie who works next door catches her eye, she can’t ignore the spark of chemistry.

Most men would jump at the chance to skive off work for an afternoon quickie with their gorgeous wife, but Nick knows Julia is after only one thing – a baby. Sex shouldn’t be a chore. Can Annie help Julia see that?

Newly engaged Zoe and Simon can’t keep their hands off each other. They’ve decided to take a vow of celibacy until their wedding night. Will Annie help them stick to it?

Roy and Linda have been married for over thirty years but she’s more interested in the family business than getting intimate with him. Can Annie convince Linda to rediscover her passion for Roy after all this time?

While Annie begins to work her magic with the three couples, she soon discovers that she’ll need to take some of her own advice if she’s going to let a new man into her life.

If you’re a fan of Tracy Bloom’s No one Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday and Lindsey Kelk, kick your feet up, turn off your phone, and sink into Sophie’s novel

 

Review

Firstly thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

 

Sophie Hart’s first book The Naughty Girls Book Club was one of my favourite reads of last year; it was funny, heart-warming and engaging.  If you enjoyed her last book as much as I did then you will not be disappointed by this one. It is very similar, in that it has the same sort of premise where a group of unlikely characters come together and become friends. The characters are on the whole engaging and the story flows really, probably a little too well as this book was finished far too soon.

From the blurb I expected this book to talk heavily about sex, in fact  it doesn’t feature that much, Annie as the sex therapist talks to her clients more about how their emotional relationships are working rather than actual physical sexual problems.  I liked this as it gave more insight into the characters and their insecurities; this particularly came through with Ray and Linda’s relationship.

Out of all the characters I think Ray was my favourite, he reminded me of a big squashy teddy bear and I just wanted to go give him a hug and tell him everything would be alright in the end. I also loved Annie, she was so sassy and confident most of the time but she let her insecurities about finding love show a couple of times which just made me love her. The way the sparks built up between her and Jamie was really well done and I couldn’t wait to find out if anything would happen between them.

If you read Sophie’s previous novel then you are in for another treat with this one and if you haven’t read it I still recommend you read this as its honest, funny and very well written. I just hoping a third novel is not too far away.

Rating 5/5

Top Ten Tuesday - Authors I've Only Read One Book From But Need to Rad More

 

This week's Top Ten was authors you've only read one book from but need to read more, this is a great list for me as I've read so many new authors over the last three months , most over which I'm desperate to read more from. This list is in no particular order:

 

 

1. Melissa Hill

I read A Gift to Remember last month and I loved it, Darcy was such a great character who I really related to. I particularly want to read The Charm Bracelet and Something from Tiffany's both of which sound perfect reads for me.

 

 

 

2. Natalie Meg Evans

If you want a historical romance with a hint of mystery then this is the book for you, I loved it and cannot wait until her next book The Milliner's Secret is released next spring.

 

 

3. Rosie Fiore

Back in 2012 I became pregnant after trying for months and I devoured almost every mum to be book I could get my hands on, this was one of the best. I've not picked up her other book Wonder Woman yet but it look like something I would really like.

 

4. Emma Garcia

I found this brilliantly funny and loved Viv as a main character. Really want to pick up the sequel OMG Baby soon.

 

 

 

 

5. Katie Fforde

I cannot believe that I've got to 31 and this was the first Katie Fforde book that I read, I know it definitely wont be the last, its just deciding which one to read next from all the others.

 

 

 

6. Lucy Diamond

This was the first book that I wrote a review for on this blog so will always be a favourite. I'd never read any Lucy Diamond before and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I really want to read The Beach Café, Sweet Temptation and One Night in Italy before too long.


7. John Green

 This book was everywhere when I started blogging so I had to read and I'm so glad I did, this book was amazing and has made me want to read all of John Green's other books, I have An Abundance of Katherine's on my tbr pile so should read it before the end of the year.




8. Philip Kazan
I won this book off Goodreads and was so excited as it was the first book I've ever received for free. The descriptive language in this book is just stunning and very absorbing, I can't wait to see what his next book is like.



9. Jill Steeples
This is a really good chick-lit read which has wetted my appetite for more of Jill Steeples' work, hopefully I can read Desperatley  Seeking Heaven soon as this sounds so good.



10. Zara Stoneley
This book had me laughing all the way through, it was just brilliant. The rest of Zara's work seems to be more erotic fiction than chick lit but I still really want to read more from her and hope there is a sequel to Stable Mates to read

So that's my list this week, what is on yours? To see everyone's list take a look here.

Showcase Sunday #8

 

Showcase Sunday is a weekly event hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where book bloggers share what books they have added to their collection in the previous week.  This week I have been fairly good and just bought one book and picked one up in the local library.

 

 

 

I bought Daughter by Jane Shemilt and picked up The Playground by Julia Kelly which I was super excited about as it was only released this week. What new books did you receive this week? Link up with Vicky's blog and see the list here.