Book Review: FANCY MEETING YOU HERE by Ali Berg & Mchelle Kalus

     

FANCY MEETING YOU HERE

by

Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus

Publication Date: 30 November 2021

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

About the Book

Sometimes the man of your dreams is standing right in front of you... only ten years in the past. A charming and unconventional love story about trying to rewrite history.

Evie Berry is a thirty-year-old wannabe screenwriter who spends her days managing a London cinema bar and making the podcast Pasta La Vista with her best friend Ben. She's also obsessed with Hugo Hearst. Have you heard of him? Of course you have. He's only one of the most influential and not to mention swoon-worthy bestselling writers of his generation.

When Evie's not hooking up with her on-again, off-again booty call 'Ever-Ready Freddy' (and sometimes even when she is), she fantasises about what might have been if she'd met Hugo years ago, when he was just a struggling writer.

After Evie interviews a psychic to the stars on her podcast, her life is catapulted ten years into the past. But the grass isn't quite as green as she remembers . . .

Fancy Meeting You Here is a hilarious and heartwarming new book from the bestselling authors of the global hits The Book Ninja and While You Were Reading - a love story about reliving your early twenties and testing out that old saying: be careful what you wish for.

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My Thoughts

FANCY MEETING YOU HERE by Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus is a light-hearted, yet cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for.

Thirty-year-old Evie Berry’s life isn’t bad but she’s definitely lamenting lost opportunities. An interview with a psychic for the podcast (Pasta La Vista) she co-hosts with best friend Ben results in some strange advice that Evie takes up . . . the next thing she knows, she’s travelled ten years back in time. Evie is twenty, living at home, studying film at university, and Ben is still her best friend.

Now Evie can rewrite history, including engineering a relationship with her long-term obsession, Hugo Hearst. It all starts off smoothly, yet the closer Evie gets to what she thinks she wanted, she starts to realise it isn’t what she thought it would be or what’s best for her.  

Fancy Meeting You Here is peppered with plenty of puns (both funny and groan-worthy) and movie references (I made a list). It’s an opportunity for a life re-do – something I think many of us would say yes to. It’s a fun and entertaining read. If you’re a Christina Lauren fan, check out Berg & Kalus. 

Review copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin.

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About the Authors

Hi there! We're Ali and Michelle. Co-authors, founders of Books on the Rail, professional Book Ninjas and best friends since we ditched play time for writing club in primary school.

Our first two novels The Book Ninja (2018) and While You Were Reading (2019) have been published and enjoyed around the world, and The Book Ninja has been optioned to be made into a film. Our third novel Fancy Meeting You Here was released in December 2021.

When we’re not writing books, Ali is a copywriter and Michelle is a primary school teacher. We both live in Melbourne with our respective families and colour-coordinated bookshelves.

https://aliandmichelle.com/

Book Review: THE LOST JEWELS by Kirsty Manning

ABOUT THE BOOK

From the author of The Jade Lily comes a thrilling modern-day treasure hunt brimming with family secrets.

Why would someone bury a bucket of precious jewels and gemstones and never return?

In the summer of 1912, a workman's pickaxe strikes through the basement floor of an old tenement house in Cheapside, London, uncovering a cache of unimaginably valuable treasure that quickly disappears again.

Present day. When respected jewellery historian, Kate Kirby, receives a call about the Cheapside jewels, she knows she's on the brink of the experience of a lifetime.

As Kate peels back the layers of London's stories of plague, fire and political turmoil, she is forced to explore long-buried family secrets. Secrets concerning Essie, her great-grandmother, and her life in Edwardian London. Soon, Kate's past and present threaten to collide and the truths about her family lie waiting to be revealed.

Inspired by a true story, The Lost Jewels unfolds an incredible story of mystery, thievery, sacrifice and hope through the generations of one family.

MY THOUGHTS

I was already familiar with the Cheapside Hoard, and had even seen the jewels in person at an exhibition some years ago. In 1912, a pile of jewels is found buried in the cellar of an old house that’s being excavated. The jewels are hundreds of years old. How did they get there? Who owns them? What is their origin? How’s that for a mystery to try and solve?!

In THE LOST JEWELS, Manning weaves a fictional story around the few known facts about the jewels. The story moves between the present day to the time of their discovery in 1912 and all the way back to the mid 17th century when some of the jewels are first mined.

I found the story to be highly engaging as mysteries are solved and present day connections to the jewels are revealed.

The Cheapside Hoard is still a mystery in many ways, and Manning doesn’t attempt to answer all the questions. What she does achieve is a credible and entertaining story that will please readers of historical fiction. Additionally, there’s a great list of further reading for those us whose imagination has been fired up after reading this book.

THE LOST JEWELS is the first Kirsty Manning I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Review copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin,  Australia

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kirsty Manning is the bestselling author of The Midsummer Garden and The Jade Lily (published in North America and UK as The Song of the Jade Lily). Her historical novels have been published in Australia and New Zealand, North America, UK, South Africa and translated into several languages including German, Dutch, Hebrew and Serbian.

Kirsty grew up in northern New South Wales, Australia and has degrees in literature and communications. A country girl with wanderlust, her travels and studies have taken her around the globe.

Kirsty lives in Melbourne. Together with her husband she is a partner in the award-winning Melbourne wine bar Bellota and the Prince Wine Store in Melbourne and Sydney.

http://kirstymanning.com/

Book Review: ACT LIKE IT by Lucy Parker

ACT LIKE IT

by

Lucy Parker

About the Book

This just in: romance takes center stage as West End theatre's Richard Troy steps out with none other than castmate Elaine Graham

Richard Troy used to be the hottest actor in London, but the only thing firing up lately is his temper. We all love to love a bad boy, but Richard's antics have made him Enemy Number One, breaking the hearts of fans across the city.

Have the tides turned? Has English rose Lainie Graham made him into a new man?

Sources say the mismatched pair has been spotted at multiple events, arm in arm and hip to hip. From fits of jealousy to longing looks and heated whispers, onlookers are stunned by this blooming romance.

Could the rumors be right? Could this unlikely romance be the real thing? Or are these gifted stage actors playing us all? 

 

My Thoughts

I’m feeling a tad sheepish that’s it taken so long to read one of Lucy Parker’s books. I bought ACT LIKE IT ages ago and it’s been sitting in my TBR pile since. The book is set in London – my fave city in the world. The main characters are theatre actors – and I love live theatre. So what was I waiting for? The ol’ grey matter must have been on the blink because this proved to be such a satisfying read.

Lainie Graham is a great character. She’s level-headed, a tad snarky, is quick witted and she has no illusions when it comes to Richard Troy, her infamous co-star. Richard’s personality is somewhat of the toffee-nosed variety but that’s as much to keep a distance between himself and others as it is a result of his privileged yet sorrowful upbringing.

Together, these two are just so good! The dialogue is excellent, the banter is exceptional, and the humour frequent. The conflicts between them feel true-to-life; they experience some intense situations and their reactions always feel true to the character. The chemistry between them is delightful and I loved how they came together and came to care about each other.

I highly recommend ACT LIKE IT and I’ll definitely be reading other books in the author’s London Celebrities series.  

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P.S. Once you've finished the book, head over to Lucy's website for bonus short stories featuring the characters in the London Celebrities series

Meet the Author

Lucy Parker lives in the gorgeous Central Otago region of New Zealand, where she feels lucky every day to look out at mountains, lakes, and vineyards. She has a degree in Art History, loves museums and art galleries, and doodles unrecognizable flowers when she has writer’s block.   

When she’s not writing, working or sleeping, she happily tackles the towering pile of to-be-read books that never gets any smaller. Thankfully, there’s always another story waiting.

Her interest in romantic fiction began with a pre-teen viewing of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (Firth-style), which prompted her to read the book as well. A family friend introduced her to Georgette Heyer, and the rest was history.

http://www.lucyparkerfiction.com/

New Release The British Affair by Suzanne Halliday

The British Affair

by
Suzanne Halliday

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 19, 2018

When Miss Perfect meets her Knight

Lifestyle blogger and freelance journalist, Emma Perfect is a modern woman--independent, strong-willed, and clear-eyed. She has no time for romance and all the nonsense that comes with it.

Landing a freelance assignment for a major magazine she jets to England to cover the latest Royal Wedding. Determined that her time across the pond will be just business she isn’t prepared to meet hotelier, Jordyn Goodlove Knight. Struggling to resist his charm, Emma tries to ignore their attraction. But, the single dad with a big heart is ready to prove that fairy tales are alive and well --if you just believe.

USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Halliday writes what she loves to read about in her spare time- sexy alpha men!

When not tapping away on her computer, Suzanne can be found with a mug of tea in hand. She's a lover of travel and also enjoys a good joke.

Suzanne is the proud mother of USA Today Bestselling Author Ella Fox.

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New Release: White Knight by Annie Dyer

White Knight

by Annie Dyer

Series: Callaghan Green Series Book Two

A Contemporary Romance Standalone

Release Date: June 1, 2018

Back then things were simple, being together was easy and exciting. Back then, their only concern was keeping their relationship secret from her brothers. Until she had a choice to make; the hardest decision she ever had to face. 

Claire Callaghan has dedicated her adult life to two things: her career as a family lawyer and trying to move on from the love she had to give up. Killian O’Hara has spent years fighting for his country, growing his business, and trying to forget how it ended back then, all the while wondering why Claire took herself out of his life, breaking his heart. 

But fate has a funny way of bringing the past into the present.

Claire’s latest case puts her in danger, not just from the man who her client needs to hide from, but from the man she’s had to leave behind. Killian can protect her, if she’ll let him, because being close to him reopens old wounds. All he wants is to try again, to prove he’s the man she needs and maybe an explanation.

However, even choices made long ago have consequences, and only Claire can decide if she can give both Killian and herself a second chance at the happily ever after they never had – back then.

White Knight is the second in the Callaghan Green series. Each book is a standalone and can be read separately from the others.

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