New England Rocks - Christina Courtenay

I've previously read one of this author's historical fiction titles, Highland Storms, which was a really enjoyable, well written period adventure and romance. I like to read a young adult novel from time to time, as I enjoy a nice variety in my reading matter! This is Christina Courtenay's first novel for young adults, and it is the first in a trilogy all to be set in New England.

Rain Mackenzie is expelled from Blakeborough boarding school in England and travels to join her wealthy parents where they currently live, in a small town north of Boston in New England. They hope to teach her a lesson after her exploits at her previous school where she was found in the boys dormitory surrounded by empty tequila bottles, by sending her to the local school, Northbrooke High, and bringing her down to earth. She is intent on not enjoying it at Northbrooke High, determined to keep to herself and not get involved with anyone. After all, she thinks she won't be there long. However, her opinion starts to waver when she gets to know fellow student and musician Jesse Devlin a little better. Despite a definite attraction between the pair, there's a complication because Jesse is already attached, and his girlfriend Amber isn't at all keen on Rain spending any time with him. The story follows Rain's time settling in at the school and getting to know Jesse. 

I thought this was an easy, enjoyable, fun and undemanding read, with a sweet storyline, featuring an independent, sassy heroine and a troubled, sensitive and handsome hero. It was an escapist read, and the development of friendships and romance were nicely portrayed. The author writes with a compassion for her characters, and captures the high school environment with its cliques and rivalries. I enjoyed the bonding day episode when the kids went out into the forest. I felt perhaps the outcome was a little easy to guess at, but I was glad that it concluded the way it did. Rain developed as a character, moving from her initial disgruntlement at finding herself thrust into a new school in another country, to an acceptance and even appreciation of the new people she meets, and happiness at how things turn out. There's a lot more to Jesse than initially meets the eye, and his tougher background is in stark contrast to Rain's privileged upbringing. There's some highlighting of the contrasts between the UK and USA, in terms of language and cultural comparisons; I'd have liked a bit more of this, and I'd have loved a little more about the New England setting and landscape.

Overall New England Rocks is a fairly quick read and an enjoyable teenage tale with heart, and I'd be keen to see what the author does in the next book in this series; in the meantime, I'll be hoping to read some of her other historical fiction.

Published by Choc Lit

Thanks to the publisher for kindly sending a copy of this novel to read and give an honest review.

You can find the author on twitter @PiaCCourtenay  and visit her website here.

You can read the prologue and first chapter on the Choc Lit website here. 

Highland Storms - Christina Courtenay

Brice Kinross returns to the Scottish Highlands from Sweden in 1754 looking for a fresh start away from his troubles, after suffering disappointment and what he considers to be betrayal at the hands of his sweetheart and his brother. He arrives to take up his inheritance, the family estate at Rosyth. He firstly wants to find out about the true state of things there, as his father Killian believes the estate should have been doing much better financially than it has, and he hasn’t heard from his relatives there for some time. The factor or caretaker there who has been in charge, Colin Seton, is suspected of not pulling his weight, or worse, and Brice must establish what has been happening through his own investigations into the place. He attempts to reconnect with the people there who remember him as a youngster, and to make a good impression on those who don't yet know their newly arrived laird.  

I loved this novel. Brice makes for a dashing, kind, fair, chivalrous, strong and impressive hero.  The story builds nicely from the new chief arriving, trying to make his mark and demonstrate his commitment to turning Rosyth into a success again and making it a good place for them all to live, and the attraction and potential of romance between Brice and pretty, intelligent housekeeper Marsaili is a joy to read as the story unfolds.  There is much adventure and drama as the story progresses, making for an exciting conclusion. The historical perspective is weaved into the tale, with only a few years having passed since the Jacobite rebellion.

The novel has a gorgeous cover design too, a beautiful colour which to me evokes the purple heather mentioned in the landscape in the book. A lovely book to sit back, curl up and relax with and be transported back to the mid 18th century Highlands. This was a bit of different kind of read for me, and I got drawn into the story and the period, with some marvellous characters, my favourites being Brice, Marsaili and Liath the dog! I will definitely read more by this author.

This book follows on from the earlier novel 'Trade Winds', but 'Highland Storms' can definitely be read as a very enjoyable stand alone novel too. 


5/5

Thank you to Shaz at Jera's Jamboree for highlighting this book during the blog tour, and for the book giveaway from the author via that site, which I was lucky enough to win.

Find out more about the author on her website: Christina Courtenay

And more about ChocLit novels: Choc Lit