I am delighted to be taking part in the Fiction Addiction Book Tour for Surfing in Stilettos by Carol E. Wyer today!
I really enjoyed reading Carol Wyer's first novel, Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines - read my review here - and I was pleased to see that she had taken up the same characters again to create Surfing in Stilettoes. Amanda Wilson had provided much entertainment in the first book and so the chance to catch up with her again, along with husband Phil and lively mother, was too good to miss.
This novel didn't disappoint me. It's another entertaining read full of escapades and adventure, as this time Amanda and her husband Phil set off to spend a gap-year travelling in Europe in a campervan. Son Tom is back at home, alone, which sounds ominous straight away! Amanda calls in to see her buoyant mother Grace on the way to the ferry and immediately remembers why she is always astounded by her; despite her senior years her mother seems to be able to handle her drink and party lifestyle much better than Amanda can; cue much suffering, a missed ferry and an unimpressed grumpy hubby! A new friend, Bibi, will embroil the unwitting Amanda in her plans regarding her cheating husband, and amongst the laughs there is a more serious note to the story too.
Alongside Amanda and Phil's antics on the continent, we have the musings of Todd Bradshaw in Sydney. Readers of Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines will recall that Todd is a face from Amanda's past. This is recapped here so if you are reading this novel without having read the previous book, you will soon be up to speed with the history of their relationship.
I liked the way that this time, the novel is structured differently to the first book, in that it has straightforward chapters as well as the entertaining blog posts from Amanda that were so well done in the first novel, recounting her observations on life as a woman now in her fifties. We pick up on more of what Todd and Phil are feeling, and discover new character Bibi, but still enjoy the hilarious blog reports from Amanda and the comments from her loyal followers, who, like us, cannot wait to find out what will occur next in this lady's life!
This novel didn't disappoint me. It's another entertaining read full of escapades and adventure, as this time Amanda and her husband Phil set off to spend a gap-year travelling in Europe in a campervan. Son Tom is back at home, alone, which sounds ominous straight away! Amanda calls in to see her buoyant mother Grace on the way to the ferry and immediately remembers why she is always astounded by her; despite her senior years her mother seems to be able to handle her drink and party lifestyle much better than Amanda can; cue much suffering, a missed ferry and an unimpressed grumpy hubby! A new friend, Bibi, will embroil the unwitting Amanda in her plans regarding her cheating husband, and amongst the laughs there is a more serious note to the story too.
Alongside Amanda and Phil's antics on the continent, we have the musings of Todd Bradshaw in Sydney. Readers of Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines will recall that Todd is a face from Amanda's past. This is recapped here so if you are reading this novel without having read the previous book, you will soon be up to speed with the history of their relationship.
I liked the way that this time, the novel is structured differently to the first book, in that it has straightforward chapters as well as the entertaining blog posts from Amanda that were so well done in the first novel, recounting her observations on life as a woman now in her fifties. We pick up on more of what Todd and Phil are feeling, and discover new character Bibi, but still enjoy the hilarious blog reports from Amanda and the comments from her loyal followers, who, like us, cannot wait to find out what will occur next in this lady's life!
Carol Wyer has served up another deliciously funny slice of life with this second novel, depicting her main character Amanda Wilson attempting to get the most out of her life before she is too old; indeed a theme of this book and the previous one is certainly that age need be no barrier to enjoyment. This is entertaining modern fiction with a light hearted touch from an author who successfully brings out the funny side of everyday life and employs a very up-to-date angle by using blog posts to tell part of the story. I think readers could enjoy this novel on its own, but I would highly recommend reading the first novel to familiarise yourself with these characters and simply because I found it a genuinely funny book.
About the author
Carol is a humorous writer and blogger whose light hearted novels and articles encourage others to laugh at life and grow old disgracefully.Her best selling novel 'Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines' won five awards for humour including Readers Views Reviewer's Choice 2012 and Silver medal in the Indie Book Awards 2012.
The sequel 'Surfing in Stilettos', released July 2012, was a Costa Award nominee. It charts the further adventures of Amanda Wilson, a middle-aged woman seeking fun and adventure, who gets more excitement than she bargained for when an adult 'gap year' goes wrong.
Carol recently signed a three book deal with Safkhet Publishing. They will be releasing her first witty non-fiction book, How not to Murder Your Grumpy, June 1st 2013.
You can follow the author on twitter @carolewyer and visit her website here.
Author links
Amazon UK Author Page | Amazon US Author Page | Website | Thornberry Publishing | Safkhet Publishing also here | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Member of Romantic Novelists Association
Giveaway!
The giveaway is for 3 x Handmade Belgium chocolates (stilettos and handbags), 2 x Scotch stiletto tape dispensers in pink, 1 x stiletto key ring and 3 x copies of Surfing in Stilettos. To see photos of these items visit the tour post here.
The giveaway is for the whole tour and is open from 25th March until 6th April 2013.
You can enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below.
Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Lindsay, thank you ever so much for starting my morning with a spring in my step. I am over the moon that you enjoyed Surfing in Stilettos. Hubby will now have to suffer my chirpy noises as I feed him breakfast and grin at him.
ReplyDeleteHuge thanks nor only for this spiffing review but for being part of the tour. x
Thanks for making me smile with your books Carol. Hope hubby not too irked by your cheerfulness! ;) x
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ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous review to end the tour Lins.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being the very last stop :)
Shaz
x
Thanks for stopping by Shaz, and for setting up a fab tour. x
DeleteHear hear! To both comments :D
DeleteWhat a fantastic way to end the tour. I have left you a cupcake or two the tour page, shoe related of course xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Julie, and I look forward to the cupcake! :) x
DeleteHubby loves cupcakes too. Thanks Julie for following the tour and all your lovely comments. Huge thanks to Lindsay for finishing it on such a high. x
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