Jam Tops the Fonz and the Pursuit of Cool: A Rockin’ Retro Rom Com for the Hair Gel Generation! By Kris Lillyman

Its 1978 and  nerdy teenager Gordy Brewer decides it is time to pack away the toys, stop being a Sci-Fi fan and become cool. Gordy knows this is the only chance he has for cool chic Pippa Wilson to turn her attention away from super cool boyfriend Steve Cool (Yes his real name) and for her to notice him. Gordy uses The Fonz as his mentor to come up with a list of what is needed to be cool.

Daisy Flynn also longs to be in the cool crowd, she has a secret crush on Steve Cool.  When she spends a summer working with Gordy in a record shop she immediately knows she has found a kindered spirit in Gordy, and a shared interest in music. Something magical happens when Gordy and Daisy work together they become cool.  But summers do not last forever and Gordy is still in pursuit of Pippa and chasing his dreams.

 

Will Gordy be still playing it cool when he releases that the girl of his dreams is not at all what he expects her to be?

This is a book that will take you back to the good old days of 1978 with its constant referrals to all that is nostalgic about this era, which makes this a book if you grew up in the 70’s and 80’s a story that you can easily relate to from the start, adding this with a fantastic, and funny romantic comedy that will have you laughing out loud from beginning to end, this is a not to be missed read.  I will look forward to reading more books by the author Kris Lillyman.

Kris Lillyman is based in Northamptonshire, England and has worked as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator for over twenty-five years. He is married with two grown up children. In addition to adult novels, he also writes and illustrates children’s books.

Mistletoe Mansion by Samantha Tonge

Kimmy Jones dreams of running her own cupcake business, boyfriend Adam thinks she has her head in the clouds, and that she needs to find what he thinks is a normal, sensible nine to five job. With Kimmy still happy to chase her dream she soon finds herself single and homeless just a couple of weeks before Christmas.

When she sees by chance a housesitting job at Mistletoe Mansion she manages to get herself the job, and finds a temporary solution to her problems. Also she hopes to make use of the house’s superb kitchen facilities to get her baking business going.

She soon is mixing with the elite celebrity neighbours and all is looking well, until haunted happenings start to begin in the house. Using all the paranormal skills Kimmy has learnt from watching Most Haunted, can Kimmy communicate and help not only a ghost move on, but herself too.

Although this book does have a very Christmassy title, you could actually read this book all year round, as the theme of Christmas is only a backdrop to the story. With its crazy cast of characters the story is a nice, easy  and a fun read, packed with humour and hilarious one liners, such as ‘It’s the first and last time anything from Primark touches my sofa’   A wonderful, warm and witty read that I really enjoyed and it entertained me. I look forward to reading more books by the author Samantha Tonge.

Nobody’s Fault by Terri Tyler

When Nick announces he is leaving his family to go and live with another woman, a woman called Adrienne he has only known a week. Nick leaves his wife and teenage daughters unexpectedly having to begin a new life.  For Nick and Adrienne it is love at first sight, they know they are soul mates and that they belong together, forever.  Whatever fate has in store they have no control over their desires or their destiny.

The story is told from most of the characters view points in the book, so you get first-hand knowledge of the effect and impact that the love affair has on the whole family.  What I liked about this book is that not only is it a powerful and dramatic plot with all that is going on with the break- up of a marriage, but the story builds up with twists and turns in the plot to a suspense and spectacular and surprise addition to the storyline that makes this book a remarkable and unpredictable read from beginning to end.