The Matchbreaker - Chris Manby 2007 ****1/2

A lot of people found Chris Manby's main character Lindsay infuriating in this. And I must say I was amazed at how arrogant and self-centred she was. However, I have to say that I did warm towards her about half way through. Lindsay has always been a daddy's girl, even to the extent of sabotaging all of her father's relationships, and when he becomes engaged to his latest 'squeeze' Karen, she is determined to ruin that as well.

Deciding to take her future mother-in-law to Ibiza for her hen weekend, Lindsay plans to give her a send off she will never forget.

One of my favourite things about chick lit is when the author is describing London. I like taking a virtual trip along Oxford Street or Hyde Park with the character and this is what happened here.

Worth a read.

Started 16th January

Finished 20th January

Piccadilly Jim - PG Wodehouse 1917 ****

 

Remarkably clever Wodehouse where a young man sets up a scam (only because a gorgeous woman has caught his eye of course!) in which he pretends to be himself, leading to rather complicated story!

Years ago, James Crocker writes a scathing review of some love poetry submitted to his newspaper by a beautiful redhead named Ann. By chance, he bumps into her again on his way to visit his aunt and uncle overseas, but cannot reveal his true identity to her once she begins to slate his character. Instead, he names himself Bayliss after his butler back home.

At the same time Ann who coincidentally is working for his aunt and uncle, is devising a plan where the aunt's spoilt grandson Ogden is to be kidnapped and sent off to a health farm to shape up. Meeting this charming man seems to her an ideal opportunity to carry out her plan, and she enlists James (rather amusingly) to pretend to be James Crocker in order to get rid of the boy.

Confused? Yes, you will be, but do persevere, because as usual, Wodehouse makes it all worthwhile in the end (and also extremely funny!).

 

Started 5th October

Finished 13th October

Death of a Gossip - M.C. Beaton 1985 ****1/2

Every time I have been in the library, I always end up passing the M.C. Beaton books. I'm a bit paranoid when it comes to reading books in the wrong order and could never find the first one in the series. But this weekend, after suffering from a long and tiring tooth extraction I took myself along to the small library in my Dad's village to cheer myself up. And I found this! The first book in the series. And devoured it hungrily. It had everything I wanted, murder, crime, wholesome and well round characters, and was very easy to read. Definitely what you want to read when you are feeling under the weather. Hamish Macbeth is the modern day version of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot put together, with a ferocious crop of red hair and a dry wit. We meet him for the first time in the fictional village of Lochdubh in Scotland, investigating the murder of a ghastly woman named Lady Jane, who crashes a friendly fishing club and quickly becomes the most unpopular person they have ever met. I am off to find the next book. Praise for M.C. Beaton, you have gained another fan.

Started 26th July

Finished 29th July

I've Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella - 2012 *****

I love Sophie Kinsella. She's such an easy, relatable author and I was enthralled by this novel.
Poppy loses her engagement ring soon before she is due to marry her partner Magnus. Her phone is then stolen and by chance she finds a replacement in a bin. The trouble is, this phone is still very much in use and Poppy finds out that it belongs to a businessman named Sam's ex PA. She doesn't see why she should give it up, besides, she needs a phone in case anyone tracks down her ring, and Sam desperately needs the phone back to access his emails and contacts. The only thing they can do is meet and try to come to some sort of arrangement. (I don't know why this initially reminded me so much of 'Pillow Talk' with Doris Day, but it did.)
As you can imagine, all sorts of things happen, but the ending was (of course) exactly what I wanted.

Started 8th June
Finished 20th June