Magic sometimes happen - Margaret James

London-based PR and promotions consultant Rosie Denham has just spent a year in Paris where she's tried but failed to fall in love. She's also made a big mistake and can't forgive herself.

American IT professor Patrick Riley’s wife has left him for a Mr. Wonderful with a cute British accent and a house with a real yard. So Patrick's not exactly thrilled to meet another Brit who's visiting Minnesota, even if she's hot.

Pat and Rosie couldn’t be more different. She’s had a privileged English upbringing. He was raised in poverty in Missouri. Pat has two kids, a job that means the world to him and a wife who might decide she wants her husband back.

So when Pat and Rosie fall in love, the prospects don't seem bright for them.

But magic sometimes happens - right?

My thoughts:

Romantic fiction about two people meeting, and not getting that they should totally hook up! ;)

Rosie goes to visit a friend. She is mourning and does not want to talk about it (and it takes a while before we are told why, she really should not hold it inside.) She is busy and wants to forget.

Patrick's wife tells him she is leaving and taking the kids. I should think she is a B, which she is. But at the same time, it's not her fault if she fell for someone else. And he does realise during this that he should spend more time with his kids, and how fun it is to spend time with them. He was very work focused before. So, good for him to grow.

When these two meet there is something. But as this is more than just romance, they go their separate ways, but they still think about each other. I liked that. Love is not all falling in instalove, spending days in bed and getting married the next month. Here they think about each other, and worry about reaching out. But hey, there is also romance in this book so they do finally get together, get to know each other (slowly!), and fall in love.

Like I would steer you wrong, of course there is a HEA too.

Conclusion;

Friendship, love and a bit of everyday drama. 

cover

cute

Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: November 7th 2014
Romantic fiction
For review

Author Interview: Margaret James

Today's interview is with Margaret James.

Welcome!

1. Let us get to know you :)

Favorite kind of chocolate? Swiss dark plain every time!

Tea or Coffee? Difficult – tea first thing in the morning, coffee throughout the day, tea last thing at night.

Cats or dogs? Cats, but I do like dogs too.

Favorite season? Autumn/fall.

Paris or New York? Paris – I love Paris at any time of year!

One Amusing fact about yourself? 

I can’t tell left from right and always have to work it out. While I was learning to drive, my instructor had to write L and R on the backs of my hands.

2.  And now tell us about your new book, Magic Sometimes Happens? 

It’s a romantic comedy set in Minnesota, a state in America’s Midwest, in London and in Paris. When single PR fashion consultant Rosie Denham meets married father-of-two Patrick Riley, who is a college professor and a dedicated scientist, they’re immediately attracted. But they both realise taking things futher would be a very bad plan. Patrick is American. Rosie is British. Patrick’s wife is having an affair with a British man, so Patrick isn’t inclined to warm to anybody British. All the same, magic starts to happen between them. What will they do about it?

3. To see Rosie and Patrick better, who would play them in a movie?

Rosie – Anne Hathaway or Gemma Arterton.

Patrick – Richard Armitage or Orlando Bloom.

4. What was the inspiration behind the book?

My daughter lives in Minnesota, and a couple of years ago I visited during the fall. It was so beautiful that I fell in love with it and knew I had to set a story there. 

5. What are you working on right now?

The story of Rosie’s Aunt Lily, who makes the wrong decisions at every stage of her life and has to work very hard for her happy-ever-after.

Thanks!

Book blurb: 

Passport to love … 

London-based PR and promotions consultant Rosie Denham has just spent a year in Paris where she’s tried but failed to fall in love. She’s also made a big mistake and can’t forgive herself.

American IT professor Patrick Riley’s wife has left him for a Mr Wonderful with a cute British accent and a house with a real yard. So Patrick’s not exactly thrilled to meet another Brit who’s visiting Minnesota, even if she’s hot.

Pat and Rosie couldn’t be more different.   She’s had a privileged English upbringing. He was raised in poverty in Missouri. Pat has two kids, a job that means the world to him and a wife who might decide she wants her husband back.

So when Pat and Rosie fall in love, the prospects don’t seem bright for them. But magic sometimes happens – right?

Magic Sometimes Happens is book 5 in the Charton Minster Series (The Silver Locket, The Golden Chain, The Penny Bangle and The Wedding Diary).  

Buying links: 

AmazonUK

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMP8G4W

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/magic-sometimes-happens-choc-lit

iBooksUK: 

iBooks US: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/magic-sometimes-happens/id900415285?ls=1&mt=11

Review: The Penny Bangle - Margaret James

When should you trust your heart? It's 1942 when Cassie Taylor reluctantly leaves Birmingham to become a land girl on a farm in Dorset. There she meets Robert and Stephen Denham, twins recovering from injuries sustained at Dunkirk. Cassie is instantly drawn to Stephen, but is wary of the more complex Robert - who doesn't seem to like Cassie one little bit. At first, Robert wants to sack the inexperienced city girl. But Cassie soon learns, and Robert comes to admire her courage, finding himself deeply attracted to Cassie. Just as their romance blossoms, he's called back into active service. Anxious to have adventures herself, Cassie joins the ATS. 

My thoughts:

This is actually part 3 in a series but it can well be read on its own. Book 1 took place during WWI, book 2 was about that couple's daughter and this book has a new heroine named Cassie who arrives at a farm to work. The farm owned by the couple from book 1. It's her story.

I have read the other two books but this was actually my favorite. I can't say what made it so, was the writing better? The story? The heroine? Who can tell what tiny detail makes me fall more? I did like the two previous books too but I guess Cassie won me over more. She was brave, did not give up and most of all, she was sweet.

The story is about the war, family and love. Cassie falls for the son in the family, luckily the Denhams are good people and not snobs as they come from a better family and she is gutter trash. All is good on that front. But the war is always there and Robert goes back. Their romance takes some time to blossom and I liked this. No rush, even if we know it will happen (as he does not like her from the start.) And as he is away fighting and she does her best to serve her country there is always that amount of danger in the air. It's not showed though.

It was nice to meet the Denhams again and Daisy from previous books. And the twins Stephen and Robert were so alike, but nice young men. There is also another landgirl named Frances who befriends Cassie.

One thing I did not like, but as this was about the story, it's a very personal opinion. Because of something that happened I would rather have the book end unhappily then how it ended now, all happily. Somethings I do not forgive.

Conclusion:

Easy to read; romance, conflicts and war always present. Heartache and happiness is promised. 

Cover.
I do like how all covers fit their era.

Genre: Women's fiction /romance, Pages: 304, Published: May 7th, 2012 by Choc Lit, Source: For review

Review: The Golden Chain - Margaret James

Genre: Historical fiction/Romance
Pages: 336
Published: May 1st 2011 Choc-Lit

Can first love last forever? 1931 is the year that changes everything for Daisy Denham. Her family has not long swapped life in India for Dorset, England when she uncovers an old secret. At the same time, she meets Ewan Fraser - a handsome dreamer who wants nothing more than to entertain the world and for Daisy to play his leading lady. Ewan offers love and a chance to escape with a touring theatre company. As they grow closer, he gives her a golden chain and Daisy gives him a promise - that she will always keep him in her heart. But life on tour is not as they'd hoped, Ewan is tempted away by his career and Daisy dazzled by the older, charismatic figure of Jesse Trent. She breaks Ewan's heart and sets off for a life in London with Jesse. Only time will tell whether some promises are easier to make than keep ...

My thoughts:

This is a stand alone novel, but it also is a continuation of The Silver Locket, in that book Rose and Alex fell in love and later adopted a child, Daisy. Fast forward and she is 15, going on 16, and she falls in love for the first time. You can read it without having read the other one; you will just get more surprises. This is a good thing too.

Daisy was young, but she was also ready to try new things, and to make mistakes. She was pretty headstrong and found out that she wants to pursue acting with Ewan, who she has fallen for. So they leave because her parents also know they can't stop her.  They can just try to keep her safe, and that is sure why I liked her parents. Because if not then Daisy would surely have left without a word. Sure she makes mistakes later when she falls for a scoundrel (yes I still love that word). But she is growing up and finding herself. And for being so young she has a good head on her shoulders.

Ewan then, well he will make mistakes too. But as I said these two are young, and the love is there, and you all know I wouldn't be leading you down the wrong path. There will be a HEA.

While her previous book was about war this one is about the stage, and the trouble of finding a job. Following your dreams, and finding yourself. And there is some drama too, love trouble, and a certain "evil" Sir Michael who does not like the Denham family.

Conclusion:

This was a sweet book and you always knew when they were down on their luck that things would get better, or at least I hoped so. You always need hope in dark times. The setting was interesting, and the romance was always there in the background, but it was more important what they were doing. Which I liked. A nice balance between historical fiction and historical romance.

Rating:

Sweet

Cover:

Lovely

from the publisher

Review: The Silver Locket - Margaret James

Genre: Historical fiction/romance, women's fiction
Pages: 336
Published: November 2010 Choc-Lit

If life is cheap, how much is love worth? It's 1914 and young Rose Courtenay has a decision to make. Please her wealthy parents by marrying the man of their choice - or play her part in the war effort? The chance to escape proves irresistible and Rose becomes a nurse. Working in France, she meets Lieutenant Alex Denham, a dark figure from her past. He's the last man in the world she'd get involved with - especially now he's married. But in wartime nothing is as it seems. Alex's marriage is a sham and Rose is the only woman he's ever wanted. As he recovers from his wounds, he sets out to win her trust. His gift of a silver locket is a far cry from the luxuries she's left behind. What value will she put on his love?

Plot:

Rose Courtenay has had a privileged upbringing, but she is bored of it and she does not want to marry the man her parent's tell her to marry. The big war had started and she runs away to become a nurse. In France she meets Alex Denham, a boy from her past, he has a bad reputation and he is married. But still she falls on love.

My thoughts:

I was not sure about Alex, I mean he got the girl pregnant, and married her, very good, and proper considering, but then he wants to flee his marriage because all along he was in love with Rose. So I felt kind of, you made your bed, now just lay in it! But still he really loved Rose, oh it was hard, I did fall in the end, because he has just done the right thing, and I did wonder if that kid was even his. His wife was a horrid golddigger so her I did not like one bit.

Rose then, she was nice, and she wanted more from life. Can't blame her for falling for a handsome soldier, even if he is married.

There was also a sidestory with two sisters, one a friend of Rose and fellow nurse, the other one, well I can't say, spoiler alert. But via her I learnt something about a side character in the book. Something not nice.

I had wished for more war, I know, that sounds strange but this war was the last honest one, it was more between soldiers than what war is these days. And I felt there was not enough of the plight and horror. But then again that was perhaps could so it could focus on these two. Because this story was about two people running from problems, but at the same time finding themselves and doing courageous things. It was not so much about the romance, it was there, but it was more the growing they did, and how they tried to put things right.

Final thoughts and recommendation.

I felt it was a bit jumpy at times, and I actually think this could have been a good book written in letterform. Or I am just obsessed with war and letters.

Who to recommend it to,sure there is romance, there is war, so perhaps if you want a bit more drama with your fiction, but still some romance. And also an interesting book about WWI. I think it might get a 3, just because I wanted more war, but then I am weird.

Reason for reading:
Always been fascinated with WWI

Cover: Very fitting.

From the publisher