From Kleptokitty's box of rescued books.

Pre-numbered label used for registration.

A Reader's Digest Condensed Book

Cocktails for Three focuses equally on three different women, and on their friendship, unlike many books aimed at twentysomething and thirtysomething females. It is not told in the first person, thus avoiding solipsistic navel-gazing about the lack of decent men and their early-life crises. This is enough to make it stand out from the mass of "women-friendly" novels that crowd the marketplace with their pink book jackets and lurid strap-lines (unfortunately, its book jacket would have you think otherwise, but don't be put off).

Wickham cleverly puts herself in turn into the shoes of Maggie, Roxanne and Candice, exploring their contrasting lives and outlooks. All three appear incredibly successful in their glamorous careers working for a glossy magazine (perhaps in order to up the typical aspirational stakes of this genre). However, they harbour other facets: the diffidence and depression of the new mother; the hidden grief and yearning of the mistress; and the guilt and idealism of the daughter attempting to right her late father's wrongs. Heather, the fourth woman who plays a pivotal role in the plot, is never given her own voice or viewpoint, but instead is judged and discussed by the others, which does mean her eventual character resolution is somewhat predictable. Yet these elements of predictability in the characterisations and plot detail act as a catalyst for a series of events that are less predictable and are thus both satisfying and moving.

Along the way, Wickham successfully tackles death, birth, guilt and romantic love with a depth of emotion that does credit to her ability to localise these universal themes without trivialising them. Cocktails for Three blends familiar ingredients with a few sharp twists to create an exhilarating mix.

From the back cover of Angel Falls - Mikaela Campbell lies in a coma after a freak riding accident. Although doctors have told her devoted husband not to expect a recovery, Liam hopes his love will accomplish what they cannot. Between caring for their two grieving children, Liam sits by Mikaela's bedside day after day, holding her hand, telling her the stories of their life together.

Then he discovers Mikaela's secret past: her first husband was world-famous movie star Julian True. And when Julian's name is the only one Mikaela will respond to, Liam must face the painful reality that Julian may be the only person who can bring Mikaela back to life. But at what cost? Does Liam love his wife enough to risk losing her to a man no woman can resist?

The decision he makes strikes deep at the heart of his family, transforming each of them. For when Mikaela finally wakes up, she is a different woman, changed in a way no-one could have foreseen.

From the inside cover for A Place in the Hills - Archaeologist antonia Hunt has always been fascinated by the Roman poet Cassius and is finally on the brink of a major discovery about his life and death. But a tragic accident threatens to destroy everthing she has worked so hard to achieve. Past and present come together as two passionate love stories unfold.

Added to the All and Everything bookbox.

Taken from the sterile's All and Everything Bookbox.
I don't know about the other two but I've read Madeleine Whickam before and enjoyed her.

Thank you so much Redhouse for this Rabck! I was so surprised when I open the 2 packages yesterday as both of them had a Madeleine Whickam book in them!!! This one and another one that came to me as part of a ring!

I hope to read this soon but as it is 3 books in one I may not read them all in one go.

When I am finished though I will try and keep the book moving via trade/relay or rabck.

I took this book away with me this weekend so I wouldn't run out of reading material :) I really asked for Redhouse to send me this book (thanks again!) because of the Madeleine Wickham book 'Cocktails for Three'. When I got the book I decided that the 3rd book 'A place in the Hills' looked interesting and that 'Angel Falls' wouldn't be something for me. Now I have had the book glued to my nose for the weekend here is what I thought!

Cocktails for Three - This is one of the best Madeleine Wickham books I have read! I really enjoyed the characters and found all of them interesting and inspiring. I little twists and turns kept the story exciting and wanted me to read more and more. I really couldn't put it down!

I am still looking out for a few more of her books but they are hard to find. I am also still trying to get my around the fact that this is the 'Shopohlic' series writer Sophie Kinsella because her style when writing as Madeleine Wickham is soooo totally different.

Angel Falls - I started reading this book without any expectations at all. However I really got pulled in to the story and found that I was in fact hooked. I was really amazed because when I read the introduction for this book I instantly thought it was not my kind of thing and I would hate it. Not sure I would look out for any other of her books but this story really was nice and enjoyable.

A Place in the Hills - Well this one did not catch my attention at all. I really thought this one would be fun and interesting but I started to read it and it nothing happened for me. I gave up and doubt I will ever go back to it. Maybe I should have given it more of a chance but then again 2 out of 3 isn't bad :)

I will trade/release/relay this book asap!

RELEASE NOTES:

I am taking this along to the English meet up tonight. If no one takes it home it will be passed along for the Haydn cinema OBCZ.

The only chick-lit I took from this Meet-Up.
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My Review: September 2006

The book by M. Wickham was a good read, defenitely better than "The Tennisparty" by her. The characters were a bit too stereotypical for my liking. In a group of female friends there is always a family-type, a rather shy-good natured type, and a 'vampy'-type who has affairs. Same goes for this book. But apart from that it was ok.

I didn't read "Angels Falls", cause I have that book seperately and will read it at a later time.

The third book was interesting, also a bit suspenseful (will she find the cup, will she solve the riddle?) and the plot was for me a nice change. Never read a book involving archeology before.

RELEASE NOTES:

English Meet-Up.