Chic-Lit and Child-Lit

Today I’m sharing a couple of books that have a British flare. One is considered chic-lit, while the other is a children’s book. Hope you enjoy.

TAKE A CHANCE ON ME by Jill Mansell

British author Jill Mansell has another delightful chic lit book out this month, TAKE A CHANCE ON ME.

As with her other books, author Mansell takes everyday activities, problems we all face, charming characters, and weaves it all together into a humorous and touching story.

Cleo Quinn has lived in the town of Channings Hill all of her life. She has some self-confidence issues that date back to school where she was teased and humiliated. She has finally found a guy who could be ‘the one.’ Then her world begins to spin out of control.

Johnny LaVenture, Cleo’s childhood nemesis, returns home for his father’s funeral. Now a famous sculptor, Johnny picks up his teasing as soon as he sees Cleo. When he remains in town, Cleo is constantly running into him.

Cleo’s anger flares when she see Johnny. It is anger that makes her heart race and her skin feel on fire, isn’t it?

While Cleo is trying to sort out her feelings, readers are introduced to a number of eclectic secondary characters who are intriguing in their own right. Among those characters are Cleo’s older sister, Abbie, and her husband, Tom.

Abbie and Tom appear to be a very loving couple. But when an incident from their past is revealed, their world is shattered. Can their feelings for one another be enough to hold them together or will that be what pushes them apart?

Cleo is a lovable and witty character you are drawn to from the first page. Her ups and downs will have you laughing one minute, crying the next, and feeling her mixed emotions all at the same time.

Once you start reading TAKE A CHANCE ON ME, you won’t be able to put it down until you know who Cleo is taking chance on and who is taking a chance on her.

For more information on author Jill Mansell, check out her website at www.jillmansell.co.uk

Take A Chance On Me by Jill Mansell, Sourcebooks Landmark, @2010, ISBN: 978-1-4022-3751-5, Paperback, 432 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

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MRS. PINKELMEYER AND MOOPUS MCGLINDEN BURN THE RRRRUMP RRRROAST by Jennifer Kelman

This delightful book is designed to help youngsters whose parents are away for a few hours or a few days.

The story features Mrs. Pinkelmeyer, a silly English lady, and her funny dog, Moopus McGlinden. As she’s preparing a rrrrump rrrroast for supper, Mrs. Pinkelmeyer gets a phone call.

The call is from a mysterious stranger in New York. Mrs. Pinkelmeyer doesn’t get upset with the wrong number. Instead she hears an upset child in the background and agrees to talk with him. It seems the youngster, Henry, is missing his parents.

Mrs. Pinkelmeyer begins to tell Henry about hilarious adventures her dog, Moopus McGlinden, has been on. Soon Henry is laughing. After hearing about a bath Moopus had to take, Henry is ready to take his own bath and says good-night to Mrs. Pinkelmeyer.

It’s then that Mrs. Pinkelmeyer smells the rrrroast and finds that she’s burnt her supper. She just sits down and smiles while Moopus McGlinden licks her ankle.

The beautiful illustrations by Michael Swaim brings the jolly Mrs. Pinkelmeyer and funny furry Moopus to life.

This is the first in a series of Pinkelmeyer enjoyable tales.

Author Jennifer Kelman’s website is www.MrsPinkelmeyerBooks.com

Mrs. Pinkelmeyer and Moopus McGlinden Burn the Rrrrump Rrrroast by Jennifer Kelman, Illustrated by Michael Swaim, Dog Ear Publishing, @2010, ISBN: 978-160844-612-4, Paperback,  38 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.