Lighting Candles in the Snow - Karen Jones Gowen

‘You can live with a person for years and still not know him.’

Karoline London is twenty-nine years old. She has finally had enough of the way her husband Jeremy has being behaving towards her, and when he ruins the special evening they had planned for their sixth wedding anniversary, she realises she can't take anymore.

Thus begins a new period in Karoline's life, coming to terms with being alone again, filling her life, and when changes occur at work, something that has always shaped her days, her routine becomes even more altered and she grapples to keep a hold on her life. She has the support of her older sister Suzie, who is happily married with lots of children, and who therefore lives a very different life to Karoline. 

We follow Karoline through these difficult, transitional events in her life, through times that challenge her to be strong and to come out the other side. Karen Jones Gowen presents a warm-hearted and convincing portrait of a woman faced with major changes in her life, going from full and active days to being alone and bored.

This is an engaging, thoughtful novel, insightful regarding relationships. The author writes openly and movingly, creating a character many women will empathise with.

However, she also creates a complex, damaged character in Jeremy; he is not as straightforward as he seems, and through him the author explores the nature of self-doubt and the crippling damage of past pain that has been buried inside. She also touches on the idea of love and acceptance of all of a person, not just the good but the bad as well.

The idea of living and loving and thereby risking getting hurt in life or feeling safe but lonely by hiding oneself away is considered by Karoline: ‘What kind of life is it anyway if the sole purpose becomes saving oneself pain? Then why get married, why have children, why do anything? Why even walk outside your door, because you might get hurt? Just sit alone in your house day after day with nothing but the TV for company, to save yourself pain.’

I liked how the story developed, and the introduction of another character telling a little of their story towards the end of the novel, which sheds light on the past, was very effective and nicely done.

The setting is Salt Lake in Utah, and I found it fascinating to learn a little about this area.  Many recipes of the meals cooked or eaten in the story are included at the end of chapters which is a nice addition. I really enjoyed reading this moving and perceptive novel. 

Published by WiDo Publishing

Thanks to the author for kindly sending a copy of this novel to read and review.

You can follow the author on twitter @KarenGowen and visit her website here. 

Working it Out - Nicola May

'Twelve months, twelve jobs - and by the end of it, she would surely know where her true vocation lay.'


Working it Out tells the story of Ruby Matthews, who having been made redundant from her marketing role just before Christmas, and inspired by a certain quotation about loving your work, decides to try out twelve different jobs, one per month over the course of the following year, on order to try and discover what she would really love to do. As the novel progresses, we spend a year with Ruby as she tries a variety of different roles and discovers more about herself. These different jobs provide plenty of opportunity for humour, and some touching moments too. 

Ruby is a kind-hearted woman and tends to see the good in people. She cares about her friends and family, evidenced by her close relationship with her brother Sam. She is by and large a very positive person; 'she was going to embrace everything that was thrown at her in good humour and a positive spirit.' It's exciting to experience all these different working environments with her. Ruby is also looking for lasting love; there are some casual encounters and there is some saucy humour here, but she realises that she wants more than just temporary excitement; she wants a relationship that lasts, and is deeper than just physical attraction. Through her experiences, she developes a maturer outlook with regard to love and relationships.  Ruby is part of a nice caring little community on her street in Putney, London, where there are some lovely supporting characters including Margaret, the kind, friendly widow from over the road. 


This is an entertaining, amusing read with plenty of humour, and also some serious moments. It's an uplifting read that made me smile. Ruby approaches everything in a positive manner and gives each and every job her best, and this pays dividends in terms of the benefits to how she feels; 'For the first time in ages she had taken control of her life, which in turn was making her really happy and ooze the confidence she sometimes lacked.' I felt that the author conveyed emotions and relationships well. Perhaps aspects of some of the jobs are a little unlikely or fortunate but it is all so enjoyable and readable that I was happy not to worry about that. I really like the cover of this book; it is so bright and cheerful, evocative of a sunshine-filled day, and the woman in the picture is cleverly depicted in the act of doing so many different things at once, just like Ruby. 

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Thank you very much to the author for sending me a copy of her novel to read and give an honest review.


Working it Out is a self-published novel available now in paperback and e-book formats.


Visit the author's website here to find out more. You can also follow her on twitter @nicolamay1


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