New release:
Celia J Anderson – Sweet Proposal
Piatkus Entice
August 1st 2013
Books, chocolate and a Jacuzzi: could there be a better combination? Gorgeous Geordie Leo arrives in Clayton-on-the-Bream with a mission to make his mark. When he reveals his ideas for a bespoke bookshop and chocolate-themed cafe, struggling writer Mab can’t resist his plea for help.
However, Leo’s timing is disastrous. Engaged to flighty, super-thin Sophie and knowing that Mab is up to her neck in a mysterious scheme of her own, Leo fights hard to ignore the warm, sensual friendship that is growing between them. When their eclectic mix of family and friends weigh in to help, the dream seems almost possible, but can Leo ignore Mab’s shady past? As they battle with sabotage, jealousy, vindictive neighbours and unpredictable relationships, Mab and Leo find that even chocolate can’t always make miracles happen . . .
Brynna’s Review:
Sweet Proposal is a modern romance with a chick lit feel. Mab is a hopeful writer with a jerk of an ex-boyfriend to put behind her. She’s moving out of her apartment, trying to help her best friend with an autistic child, works and did I forget to mention she’s pregnant with her other friend’s (who happens to be the best friend’s boss) husband’s child. To put it mildly, her life is in a
major upheaval.
Enter Leo Lamb, clumsy, handsome with a crazy plan to open a book/spa/sweet shop in an old house right next to the health food restaurant left to him by their mutual friend. He wants Mab to take up half of the ownership and help get the business up and running. Leo and Mab have an instant connection that neither can really act on at first. Leo is engaged to Sophie, a flighty princessy type. And Mab is a surrogate for her friends and feels she can’t share that with anyone.
Once all the players come into play (and there are alot of secondary story lines and characters weaved throughout the book) a little insanity ensues, but when the dust settles you’re left with a heartwarming, blended, crazy family and a fun read. I enjoyed Sweet Proposal and look forward to future books from this entertaining author.
Mab is a woman with a mission – to be a published author. She is beginning to think that she will never find the perfect man and is just about to stop looking and concentrate on her career when Leo appears in town – dynamic, sexy but unfortunately out of bounds. And even if he was available, she isn’t sure if she could ever be bothered with a relationship again. In this extract, Mab imagines what her perfect man would be like.
Mab had been thinking of her dream man off and on all morning. She’d even typed out a list of his essential qualities, telling herself that she wasn’t wasting valuable writing time and that it would be useful background information for her next novel. The man of her dreams (should she decide he was worth the risk) must have:
· a wicked sense of humour
· a kind heart
· an aptitude for whipping up stunning little suppers
· the sort of bottom that makes you want to bite it
· a fabulous smile with strong white teeth
· sparkling eyes
· a great body – tall enough for her to look up at him; strong and muscular without being burly
· squeaky-clean hair, perhaps with a tendency to curl?
· designer stubble
· an interesting accent: soft Irish brogue, lilting Geordie or gentle Scots for preference.
But where was she going to find him? More to the point, would he find Mab amazing enough to pursue, because there was no way she was everchasing a man again. And even more importantly, would he wait long enough for her to sort out her tangled life?
Biography; Celia J Anderson
When she’s not marking children’s work, or writing stories involving pants, Celia spends far too much time on Facebook (Celia Joy Anderson) and does a lot of walking to counteract the cooking, eating and drinking which form another of her hobbies. She blogs as part of the Romaniacs online writers’ group – http://theromaniacgroup.wordpress.comand tweets as @CeliaAnderson1. Her own website was recently launched thanks to Lucy Felthouse – http://celiajanderson.co.ukand she has an author page on Facebook (Celia J Anderson)
Her ultimate dream is to have her children’s books published too. Usually sea-starved in the depths of the Midlands, she can often be found wandering happily around Brighton visiting her two daughters and pretending to collect ideas for her next book.
