TAKE THIS WOMAN by JOSEPHINE COX.

TAKE THIS WOMEN

BY JOSEPHINE COX

THE BLURB:-

Blackburn, 1947.

In a tiny front parlour fourteen-year old Laura Blake watches her beloved father die. But not before he tells her she will make something of her life. Laura never forgets his words. Yet her path to success proves to be a rocky one. Forced to trundle a cart around the back streets, selling other folk's cast-offs to support her family, Laura learns enough to start work in her uncle's furniture shop.

But then fate deals another cruel blow when she is brutally raped. Bearing the child of her attacker in secret, she vows to make the world pay for its injustice towards her.

As she grows older her beauty blossoms, and her new toughness helps her forge a career in the antiques business. But it is in affairs of the heart that Laura stumbles, and before she can find fulfilment, she must learn to put the past behind her, and give as well as take.

THE REALITY:-

This was one long tome of a read, along the lines of A Woman Of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford, which is probably my favourite book and certainly the most inspirational I have ever read. Indeed, I'm sure Josephine Cox has read it too- the concept of trapping your enemy by making him a much-needed loan that he has no way of paying back, as he is dissipate, and making him attach the deeds to his business and house featured in that book, as it does here.

But I'm not going to accuse the writer of plagiarism- this novel was just too bloody good for such accusations and I'm sure that all the best ideas get recycled (as a mass market fashion designer, I know this to be true!)

Tough and gritty and a real rags-to-riches story, this book is very keen and honest in its emotions. I loved the character of Laura and how she triumphed over adversity. It's obvious that some people do seem to have a lot more bad luck than others and I like the fact that she managed to turn her life around, drawing from her true friends, and smite her enemies.

It was horrible that she got breast cancer towards the end- that particular affliction has reared its ugly head in my family. Let's just put it this way- I wouldn't dream of skimping on the monthly self-checks. I'm glad she survived and managed to rid herself of her scumbag of a husband and fell into the arms of her true love.

Very truthfully written with a good mix of likeable and hateful characters, it's quite a long and intense read, but a worthwhile one.  

THE KISSING GARDEN by CHARLOTTE BINGHAM

THE KISSING GARDEN

BY CHARLOTTE BINGHAM

THE BLURB:-

As children, George Dashwood and Amelia Dennison loved to roam the Sussex Downs and, just as their two very different families were friends, so were they, until they are caught in a thunderstorm. Sheltering from the elements, George realizes that the way he feels about Amelia has changed. But it is 1914 and the declaration of war cuts across any romantic plans that the two might have.

George is away at the front for four years, but when the miracle happens and he returns home safely Amelia finds that the boy she loved has gone. Although they marry it seems that George does so from a sense of duty. It is only when they discover and old priory with a magical atmosphere that their chance for happiness becomes a reality.

THE REALITY:-

It took me a while to get into this one- the first few chapters were predictable and dragged, so I ended up speed reading the next hundred or so pages. But I forced myself to go back and start again and the story naturally became more interesting and made more sense.

The idea of an enchanted garden is a very lovely one but there were times when the story became almost too fey and whimsical. By the time the book got to Gwendolyn's illness and subsequent recovery you had to question whether the author was in some way...touched and soft in the head. I pressed on. The idea of a kind of magic from long ago purposely affecting a future place in time was nice, as were the sections from The Noble One and Longbeard.

But by the time George was becoming involved in politics the writing, although historically interesting, was long-winded and I yearned for the end! It was nice that the story started in exactly the same way as it began, with a shell shocked hero returning from war.

And that word sums up this work- nice. But nothing exceptional.