Marcie Steele

I've had my eye on Mel Sherratt's books for a while but haven't yet managed to read one, so it was no surprise that this one caught my eye, written under Mel's pseudonym of Marcie Steele.

The characters were all very likeable, even huffy Chloe, but I would have liked to read a bit more about them, perhaps Marcie Steele will revisit the town of Somerley for another instalment. I loved the story of how their friendship grew, despite being of varying ages and backgrounds. It was almost as if fate conspired to bring them all together.

Lily's story, although sad, was quite inspirational. Lily is a filter coffee - strong, traditional and dependable. She had a vision for her cafe which exceeded all expectations, enabled her to make lifelong friends and gave her permanent residence in the kitchen, according to Chloe. It's worth reading for that little gem alone!

I enjoyed seeing the friendships develop among the three younger women. They complemented each other and I likened them to different types of coffee. Kate is a cappuccino - pretty and frothy on top but surprisingly strong underneath. Chloe, the baby of the group, is a little espresso - dark, moody and bitter. She does mellow throughout the book which was lovely to see. Lucy is a character I would have liked to hear more about as to me she is a latte - all froth and pretty bland.

This was a nice pleasant bit of light reading; it was good fun but sad and left a lingering message never to give up on your dreams.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.… (altro)

Marcie Steele, aka Mel Sherratt, has done it again! With such a colourful cast of characters, I jumped into the pages of this fantastic book and didn't want to leave it. Along with the lovely characters, there's also a bitch and a man-tart to make this book so much more than chick-lit.

Louise and Sam are brilliant characters, working on Sam's bustling fruit and veg market stall. They have known each other forever and are best friends who tell each other everything...well almost everything. Louise has kept the secret of Charley's parentage from everyone including Sam, leaving the reader to jump to conclusions as to who Charley's father might be. As usual, I had my money on completely the wrong horse!

Sam is also struggling with marital problems, after marrying her childhood sweetheart, Reece, but doesn't tell Louise the extent of her problems. When she meets Dan, and he shows a keen interest in her, Sam wonders whether her marriage is worth saving after all. I was willing Sam to speak to Louise properly about her issues; we all know a problem shared is a problem halved.

With Louise's siblings, Ryan (the man-tart) and Nicci also on stalls in the market it really gives the sense of a close knit community. With everyone looking out for each other and willing to do anything for each other, I had a small tear in my eye towards the end when the market family came together to make a dream come true for one of them.

As well as the adult issues in the book, through Louise's daughter Charley, it also looks at teenage problems such as raging hormones, the dangers of meeting strangers on the internet and cyber-bullying through Facebook.

That's What Friends Are For left me surrounded with a warm glow - it's definitely a book to lose yourself in and has as many dramas as an episode of Eastenders. A fantastic feel-good book that reminds us exactly what friends are for.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.… (altro)

I should start by saying I am not really a fan of chick lit but this book appealed to me because I do love to read books featuring shops. When I started the book I thought it was not going to be for me but as I got more and more into the story I started to really care about the characters and whether they succeeded or not.

Riley Flynn is the manager of Chandlers Shoe Shop which has been on Hedworth's high street for decades. More recently, sales have been falling and the shop is threatened with closure unless things turn around. Riley comes up with various ways to boost the shop's profile, with the help of her colleagues and good friends, Dan and Sadie. At one point I was on tenterhooks waiting to see if one of her ideas came off. That's the mark of a good book, if it grabs me enough to make me care.

It's a heartwarming story, with the usual ups and downs, in love, friendship and work and I found it to be a lovely read. Marcie Steele has written two other books set around her fictional town of Hedworth and I wouldn't hesitate to read another one. If you're looking for a pleasant, feel-good story then this is for you.… (altro)