Pauline WilesCritiques

This was an enjoyable read. Even more impressive, it was the first novel from Pauline Wiles. Several authors I have read have been on their third or fourth novel before they got to this quality.
Wiles mainly set this novel in Saffron Sweeting, a fictional English Village. I believe she set her next couple of novels there too and they will be on my to read list. I have long been a fan of novels set in villages, no doubt starting with Rebecca Shaw's Turnham Malpas series.
As I live in England, (but a large city suburb not a village) the English setting was more familiar than the sections set in Silicon Valley. A large part of this novel features Grace interpreting American behaviours to the village resident. I can't help wondering if Wiles has or will write a novel featuring the chunk of time when Grace and James first went to America and how they initially adapted there. Did Grace have a Grace of her own who helped her adapt?
One thing I loved most about this novel is how the story kept it real, there were no incidents where a character was being a blind idiot. I have read so many chic-flic novels written in this way. Yes, Grace explored relationships with people and not everyone's behaviour was commendable. Equally nobody was a monster.
The biggest test I always have when I read a novel is am I ready for this book it to end? No, I didn't I wanted to read on and find out more about these characters, which I hope I can do soon!

This was a debut chick-lit novel by Pauline Wiles, of which she should be very proud. The story focuses on saving not only Saffron Sweeting, a (fictional) small village in Cambridgeshire, in danger of losing its traditional landmarks to greedy developers, but also the marriage of a young interior designer, Grace, whose husband’s one-off drunken indiscretion rocks the foundations of her marriage to the core.

Grace and her husband, James, are living in Silicon Valley in the US. When she discovers he has been unfaithful to her, she flees home to the UK and finds a small, cosy, pretty little village in Cambridgeshire in which to lick her wounds. She finds herself working for an estate agent run by Amelia—herself not a stranger to errant husbands. As chance would have it, Grace finds herself making the most of her interior design talents, when the effervescent Amelia pushes her into active village life…which also blows a certain handsome young property developer, Scott, into Grace’s path. Teetering on the ‘rebound’ tightrope, can Scott help her forget her rat of a cheating husband, or does her history with and love for her ex provide too much competition? And can Saffron Sweeting haul itself into the twenty-first century and defend itself against greed?

Wiles has certainly picked all the right ingredients for this chick-lit novel, and the result is a crisp, clean, witty, and well-devised book. She has portrayed some colourful and entertaining characters (all of them believable), and Grace is a strong and very likeable protagonist.

A very commendable first novel. A professional edit has been overlooked and would certainly upgrade it from 'commendable' to 'excellent'. Lack of attention to some editorial areas were just a little jarring, but it was enjoyable nevertheless. Hopefully, this promising author will address this, if not with this novel, with any future projects, which I would be happy to read.

Maggie Moone needs to move on after her divorce and she has friends who will help her. However, things don't go as smoothly as she would have liked. A career change comes with complications. A new romance develops which makes her life interesting. Maggie is a likeable and endearing character. Her friends are marvelous and add much to the story. The setting is Saffron Sweeting, a small English village, and it is an important part of the story. It is so well presented it is easy to imagine living there. The dialogue, which is often witty, is believable. Food plays an important part in the narrative, too.
This book brings so much to readers. It is well crafted and a pleasure to read. The narrative is interesting and never boring. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through LibraryThing. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Quite a fun and easy read! I really enjoyed the main character: a strong woman with practical skills who manages to turn her life around after a nasty divorce. I wish she was less of a doormat in her relation with her ex at the beggining of the book, but I guess her transformation would have been less dramatic... Great to read by the beach/pool or cosying up by the fire, with a nice cup of tea or mulled wine!

A sweet story set in a small village in England.

Ten Things My Husband Hated is about a woman, Maggie Moone, who is divorced but has not really moved on with her life. With the help of her friends, she makes a list of 10 things that would make her ex-husband crazy. As she tries to get on with her life, she methodically starts checking off the items on her list.

When I first started reading this book, it wasn’t holding my attention. The main character of Maggie was a bit wimpy for me. However, as the story moved on, she started getting stronger and I started enjoying the story more. I loved the character of Finn. He had me at the dream catcher scene which I won’t spoil for future readers of this story.

The village of Saffron Sweeting was another character in the book. You could easily see and feel the atmosphere of what it would be like to live in Saffron Sweeting. That tone, set the book up for a simple, but sweet story about new beginnings and love.

I wish the author had made the “list” meatier and more interesting. The story would have been so much better if Maggie had really committed herself to the list and tried to change her life. As it was, it felt like she was just stumbling into the situations that let her cross something off her list. Having said that, the author did pull the story together by the final quarter of the book, which is why I’m giving it 3 stars instead of 2.

Thank you to Library Thing and Pauline Wiles for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is the perfect book to read when you have a free afternoon, a cup of tea and a blanket - exactly as I did. After only a few pages I was engrossed in the life of Saffron Sweeting, the quaintest of towns. Maggie Moone, her delightful friends and hideous ex-husband made for a wonderful ensemble of characters that I want to continue to follow after the end of the book. The story was such a delight and a heart-warming and sweet rainy afternoon read.

For writer's early in their author career, authors already independently published suffering from fatigue, or those who want to enjoy the self-publishing journey, this is the book for you! This offers practical ways to conquer stress, boost productivity, and love your career.

Each chapter addresses specific challenges an author may face. It begins with helping you to know yourself as an author, finding your strengths and weaknesses. I read it from start to finish, which made it a bit harder to get through. It is definitely more suited for an author going straight to where they are having difficulties.

At the end of each chapter, there are questions to help you reflect on what the chapter covered and how you can apply it in your life. I think this is definitely a book every author setting out should have, right next to S.K. Quinn's For Love or Money book.

I received a copy from the author for reviewing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a very informative book. It could be especially helpful to someone starting out with their writing. The author gives tips for writers, even on how to make time to write. There is access to several resources also. She gives honest information and talks about realistic expectations. If you are thinking about writing/publishing a book, this could be a helpful resource.

This is no ordinary book to help authors build their skills.
Pauline Wiles takes an unusual, and little used path.
She advocates strongly for writing what you love, and for
adding self care to the writer's toolbox. Her advice is honest
(sometimes brutally honest), and aimed mostly at writers
who want to publish their work outside of the traditional
scene. However I think it can be applied to any writer,
especially the part about self care. The best quality work
does not happen when a person is burned out.

Kindle Unlimited, not how I got it, think it was one of those here you go we hope you review it type librarything things. It didn't overly have too much 'girly ick' fact and maybe just wasn't in the mood for it, because really enjoy the way the author writes, then there is the brit angle of course, which I like. Didn't want to take off star just because of somewhat indefinable eh factor for me personally. 'brit fict'
Forgot to review it on here so pasting from amazon

In Sweet Pursuits, the third book in the Saffron Sweeting Novel Series, author Pauline Wiles weaves a delightful tale written in the first person narrative of one woman's journey of self-discovery while trying to find her soulmate.

The reader is transported to the village of Saffron Sweeting in Great Britain, where they follow Bella Beecham as she attempts to win back the heart of her ex-boyfriend Owen Rigby, a genetic scientist who is returning to Saffron Sweeting after five years of living abroad in Berkeley, California.

This entertaining British Romantic Comedy tale has a wonderful mixture of humor, charm, sass and romance. Bella's story draws the reader in as she attempts a self-makeover in order to recapture the heart of her ex-boyfriend Owen, and as she encounters and overcomes crazy trials and tribulations along the way, Bella ultimately discovers her true self. Bella has a sassy sense of humor and independence that is admirable, and you just can't help but cheer her on as she learns to love herself, and discovers that she doesn't have to change who she is just to find true love.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I loved the portrayal of life in the quaint English village of Saffron Sweeting. The village's quirky inhabitants and Bella's close family and friends are colorful and provided a lot of laugh-out-loud moments.The author provides her readers with a story full of witty British phrases and mouth watering treats that makes you want to visit the village of Saffron Sweeting.

Sweet Pursuits is a lighthearted, witty, fun and thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy that will leave a smile on your face.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2017/02/sweet-pursuits-by-pauline-wile...

Funny, inspiring and above all, Sweet! I read it in one day and fell in love with Bella's antics.

I just finished this very charming and "sweet" story. Loved the characters and the story pace moved along well. One problem is it caused some sweet cravings!

This book was such an enjoyable read. The characters are well written and the story is, and isn't, what you might expect. When I first started reading, I assumed that it would be a typical chick-flick style book, which would have been fine for me, but as I progressed through the book, the story evolved into more of a story of self-realization and acceptance. This is a very sweet, and subtly empowering, story. I would certainly recommend this book!

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

I think Pauline Wiles book, Secrets in the Sky, was a refreshing, well written romance novel. It flowed very smoothly and I enjoyed the quirky characters of the town and the setting being in the UK. My only complaint would be that the "secret" storyline for Sophie and Kit dragged out a little too long. The Saffron Sweeting setting makes for a good series and I would recommend this book to people who like romance novels, but not trashy ones.

**I received an ARC from LibraryThing as part of their Members Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review.**

I rated this one 4.5 stars out of 5.

Women’s fiction, affectionately known as “Chick Lit,” often gets a bad wrap. Sure, chick lit novels sometimes aren’t as wordy or ironic as what’s passing for literature these days, but these books are no less fulfilling, emotional, and beautiful reads. Sometimes you need a book with a bubbly protagonist whose own emotional life issues mirror your own, with characters so stereotypical in their supporting roles that you just have to laugh at their ridiculous antics, and with a heartwarming conclusion that sends tingles into your fingers and toes and does in fact warm your heart. And that’s why I devoured this novel like I have my other women’s fiction favorites, wholly and without pause. In fact, I was so concerned about the plight of Sophie Cambell and the village of Saffron Sweeting, I read over 85% of the book in a handful of hours. I just couldn’t put it down.

Sophie Cambell has many secrets, and for awhile, she was comfortable keeping all of them. When a death in the family sets off a chain reaction of events, her whole ability to keep telling the lies protecting these secrets is put into jeopardy. The entire book revolves around the idea of coming home and trying to establish who you are in the face of people who have the wrong idea of who you’ve been. This conflict sets Sophie off on a journey that eventually ends in acceptance, love, and a new found sense of self she was waiting for.

The story itself is a pretty common one in women’s fiction. But what sets Wiles’ novel off from the rest is her biggest supporting character, the village of Saffron Sweeting. Each character Wiles introduces has a role: the town gossip, who also works at the post office; the estate agent who is glamorous, but shows Sophie that the image one portrays isn’t always correct; the pub owner with a heart of gold. And with each character, you welcome yourself into this village. I could almost imagine myself walking down the cobbled streets (I imagine them to be cobbled), and passing the familiar faces in the warm sunshine, while I nibble on a sausage roll from Brian’s bakery. And in their own way, each of these characters play an important role in creating the evolved Sophie Campbell that we meet at the end of the book.

I enjoyed Wiles’ mastery of dialogue, especially the English and Scottish mannerisms and language. It was never too hard to understand the meaning, even if the words weren’t familiar. I also loved the central romance, and was rooting for it until the very end. Many times, as the two lovers tried and failed to get together, I was heartbroken with them as they navigated their way back to each other. Ugh, I get chills just thinking of it!

I would recommend this book in a heartbeat to anyone that enjoys a fun read with a rewarding conclusion. I’ve not read Wiles’ debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, but given my love for the village, I am planning on picking that one up right away!

I rated this one 4.5 stars out of 5.

Women’s fiction, affectionately known as “Chick Lit,” often gets a bad wrap. Sure, chick lit novels sometimes aren’t as wordy or ironic as what’s passing for literature these days, but these books are no less fulfilling, emotional, and beautiful reads. Sometimes you need a book with a bubbly protagonist whose own emotional life issues mirror your own, with characters so stereotypical in their supporting roles that you just have to laugh at their ridiculous antics, and with a heartwarming conclusion that sends tingles into your fingers and toes and does in fact warm your heart. And that’s why I devoured this novel like I have my other women’s fiction favorites, wholly and without pause. In fact, I was so concerned about the plight of Sophie Cambell and the village of Saffron Sweeting, I read over 85% of the book in a handful of hours. I just couldn’t put it down.

Sophie Cambell has many secrets, and for awhile, she was comfortable keeping all of them. When a death in the family sets off a chain reaction of events, her whole ability to keep telling the lies protecting these secrets is put into jeopardy. The entire book revolves around the idea of coming home and trying to establish who you are in the face of people who have the wrong idea of who you’ve been. This conflict sets Sophie off on a journey that eventually ends in acceptance, love, and a new found sense of self she was waiting for.

The story itself is a pretty common one in women’s fiction. But what sets Wiles’ novel off from the rest is her biggest supporting character, the village of Saffron Sweeting. Each character Wiles introduces has a role: the town gossip, who also works at the post office; the estate agent who is glamorous, but shows Sophie that the image one portrays isn’t always correct; the pub owner with a heart of gold. And with each character, you welcome yourself into this village. I could almost imagine myself walking down the cobbled streets (I imagine them to be cobbled), and passing the familiar faces in the warm sunshine, while I nibble on a sausage roll from Brian’s bakery. And in their own way, each of these characters play an important role in creating the evolved Sophie Campbell that we meet at the end of the book.

I enjoyed Wiles’ mastery of dialogue, especially the English and Scottish mannerisms and language. It was never too hard to understand the meaning, even if the words weren’t familiar. I also loved the central romance, and was rooting for it until the very end. Many times, as the two lovers tried and failed to get together, I was heartbroken with them as they navigated their way back to each other. Ugh, I get chills just thinking of it!

I would recommend this book in a heartbeat to anyone that enjoys a fun read with a rewarding conclusion. I’ve not read Wiles’ debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, but given my love for the village, I am planning on picking that one up right away!½

I enjoyed it. I had to re read a few sections but it was an alright book. I liked the characters and found that the author did a great job of creating the landscape.

Adorable book! I really loved it. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is I can't honestly say - omg, this is the best book ever.

I received a copy of Saving Saffron Sweeting by Pauline Wiles in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really cute story about Grace and the challenges she faces when she discovers her husband James is cheating on her. I really liked Grace and she was someone I could relate to on so many levels. Her whole world is rocked by James’ infidelity and unable to deal with it, she runs away to a small English town to figure out what to do next.

She finds herself in Saffron Sweeting and meets some very interesting characters, some of whom become good friends and a good support system. But during her struggles she finds what is important and realizes that sometimes not everything there are some grey areas in life that you have to work through.

Delightful book.

Lovely book. Very Jill Mansell-ish.
Well written, well edited.

This is Brit chick lit, which to me means it is just a look at the life of our characters.
Yes, things happen; but it is not full of fabulous living, trips to Paris and billionaire baby daddies.
Just a good book with a common trope executed well.

Loved every minute of it.

Grace Palmer is living the American Dream, the young Brit has a fledgling interior design business that she is building in Silicon Valley, California. But her dreams are shattered when her husband James sleeps with her client. Humiliated and heartbroken, Grace flees back to her homeland where she starts her life anew in the quaint little English village of Saffron Sweeting. While Grace gets settled in her new surroundings, the community of Saffron Sweeting is fighting their own battles against the greed of developers who want to change its tranquility and destroy the village's landmarks. Grace is encouraged to become active in the village community and help them adapt to the changes coming to Saffron Sweeting. Grace embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will guide her to live a new life, find her passion, and have a second chance at love.

In her debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, author Pauline Wiles weaves a delightful tale written in the first person narrative of one woman's journey of self-discovery while helping a community save its quaint village from greedy developers.

The reader is transported between Silicon Valley, California and the village of Saffron Sweeting in Great Britain, where they follow Grace Palmer as she picks up the pieces of her life and forms a strong bond with the community of Saffron Sweeting as they navigate the changes to their village.

This entertaining story has a nice mixture of humor, charm, sass and romance. The author provides her readers with a story full of witty British phrases and mouth watering treats that makes you want to visit the village of Saffron Sweeting.

Grace's story draws the reader in as she starts her life over with a sassy sense of humor and independence that is admirable. I loved the portrayal of life in the quaint English village setting, and its quirky inhabitants are colorful and provided a lot of laugh-out-loud moments.

Saving Saffron Sweeting is a lighthearted, witty, fun and thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy that will leave a smile on your face.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/05/saving-saffron-sweeting-by-pau...