Picked up in a charity shop.

This book has been accepted on the "Chick Lit" Relay by editorgrrl - thank you. I will be sending in the post today, surface mail.

Hope you enjoy the book.

ISBN 0340682310. 2003 Coronet mass-market paperback received in the mail from chocdrop in Derby, England, for the Chick Lit relay. (Is Derby pronounced "Darby"? Here in the U.S. it rhymes with "Herbie.") When chocdrop PM'd me that this book is big, I was thinking Snap Happy big. But it's 660 pages & split the padded envelope it was in. And there's no customs form -- guess it fell off. Read more at madaboutbooks.com.

From the publisher
When Ellen Jamieson breaks up with her long-standing boyfriend, she plans to go travelling. But first she agrees to house-sit for her parents, who are trying to find a buyer for their idyllic cottage in the Cotswold village of Oddlode. The village is full of quaint and eccentric characters, both blue-blooded and below the salt, and Ellen is the subject of much speculation. Under the wing of Ophelia ('Touchy Pheely') Gently, an impoverished local sculptor, Ellen goes to an Auction of Promises village fundraiser and wins a mysterious lot of three wishes. These have been donated by Jasper Belling, the incredibly gorgeous prodigal son of the local lord of the manor. Falling in love with a notorious hell-raiser is the last thing Ellen intended, and the convoluted scandals of the villagers put many obstacles in the way of the young lovers. Several ancient skeletons come rattling out of various cupboards before a no-holds-barred, loved-up finale.

From the back cover
Spurs Belling had the X factor. In all her years travelling with dangerous sports fanatics, most especially surfers, Ellen had only met half a dozen who truly had it. And Richard, who had so wanted it, had never really possessed one cell of X. Spurs Belling was pure, unadulterated X. It made him very, very dangerous. And as far as Ellen was concerned, somebody to be avoided at all costs.

After thirteen years, all passion spent, Ellen and Richard have called it a day. With her life in suitcases and boxes, Ellen agrees to help her parents sell their unoccupied Cotswold Cottage - then she plans to travel the world. Little does she know that idyllic Oddlode contains the world's sexiest hell-raiser, and she finds herself travelling uncharted waters to unknown territory - headlong into love.

I really liked this book -- even though it's 660 pages, I read it in four days. Fluffy Brit chick lit. Every once in a while I'd get annoyed at the characters and the outside forces keeping them apart, but mostly I was able to suspend my disbelief. I'm going to look for Fiona Walker's other books.

It took me forever to get the title -- even though the front cover says "Put your heart up for auction and get Lots of Love." Duh.

I have a friend who nicknames everyone but not punny like Pheely's. Names like "Socks & Sandals," "Anemia Witch" and ""Helmet."