Carole's UK book titles
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The Only Way is Up- OUT NOW! |
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What do you do when there’s nothing left to lose? Lily and Laurence Lamont-Jones had it all: lavish holidays in exotic locations, a top private school for their two children and a beautiful home in the Buckinghamshire countryside. Then Laurence loses his job, and their house and all their belongings are repossessed. With nowhere else to go, the family move into a flea-ridden council house on a notoriously rough estate and start to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. But will Lily’s dream of returning to a world of luxury ever come true – or will she learn that money doesn’t always buy you happiness... |
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It's Now or Never |
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'Witty, funny and incredibly touching, this is perfect for lifting the spirits during a dull February.' 'It’s Now or Never is a must-read and I hugely 'This is a great read about finally changing your life when you're not happy with it. You will laugh out loud at the crazy things these sisters do in order to shake things up.' 'As with every one of Carole’s book, you’re kept riveted to your chair and guessing until the very last page!' 'This charming tale about love, relationships and family is guaranteed to please fans of Matthews' previous novels. It's full of laugh-out-loud moments and genuine poignancy, and will have readers nodding knowingly at the all-too-familiar depictions of family life. With likeable characters and a roller-coaster plot, Matthews has delivered once again.' 'Utterly absorbing, satisfying, the absolute perfect weekend read! Recommended!' Ever felt that it's time to turn your life around? When twins Annie and Lauren attend their older sister Chelseas' fortieth birthday party at the Dorchester Hotel, they wonder why their lives are so different. Why is Chelsea's devoted husband twirling her round the dance floor, while Annie's husband has gone fishing and Lauren's lover is at home with his wife and children? There and then, they decide it's time to turn things around. To go all out for what they want, to start living again. The question is: have they left it too late? |
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That Loving Feeling |
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'It makes you laugh one minute and cry the next – I just could not put this book down from the beginning to the last page.' 'This is one of my favourite Carole Matthews' books to date.' 'She is so good at relationships, one of the best who just keeps getting better. The book has the usual feel-good factor. Lovely.' 'The much anticipated new book from Carole Matthews is a real page-turner, brimming with tears, laughter and an underlying story of true love' 'This witty, touching tale of love and mayhem of family life is simply brilliant' 'Unashamedly fluffy with likeable characters and some real laugh-out-loud moments.' 'Carole Matthews is one of our favourite authors here at Hot Brands, and this story is full of twists and turns, a roller coaster of emotions, laugh out loud cringing moments as well as a more tender and poignant storyline. Absorbing and captivating and a book you won’t want to put down. This is a perfect weekend read!' Ever wondered what you’d do if your relationship lost its spark? Juliet Joyce has been happily married for twenty-five years. But with two grown-up children who treat the house like a hotel, a seventy-year-old mother who’s just moved in, and a father who’s announced he’s gay, it’s hardly surprising that Juliet’s relationship with her husband Rick is beginning to suffer. Juliet’s resigned to the fact that the only romance she’s going to get is from the pages of her library books, so nothing prepares her for the unexpected return of Steven Aubrey. Last seen twenty-six years ago, when he jilted Juliet on their wedding day, he ignites a passion in her that she thought was long gone. But will Steven sweep her off her feet or can Rick remind her of the loving feeling that they’ve lost? There’s only one way to find out... |
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The Difference a Day Makes |
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'Highly recommended – a charming, delightful, heart-warming and emotional read to tug at your heartstrings. Delightful.' ‘This novel has a sweet air of optimism to it – even the weepy bits – and it’ll make you laugh as well as cry. Matthews fans won’t be disappointed.’ ‘A sweet and heart-wrenching tale. Keep the tissues handy.’ ‘Take one endearing heroine, add wellies and a handsome vet and the result is another heart-warming treat from one of our favourite writers.’ ‘A heart-warming story and thoroughly entertaining.’ 'The world needs loads more books like this.' You just never know what the difference a day can make. What would you do if your life was turned upside down and everything that you'd ever relied on was taken away from you? That's the dilemma that faces Amy Ashurst... One day she had everything – the next it was gone. William and Amy Ashurst are typical townies, but when Will collapses on his way into work he decides to move to the country. Three months later, Amy is standing outside Helmshill Grange, a sullen monstrosity of a house, deep in the Yorkshire moors. Within days, Will’s traded in their brand-new Audi for a clapped-out Land Rover, and brought home chickens, goats, sheep, a serial-killer cat and a mad dog. Then tragedy strikes and Amy finds that she’s living a dream but it’s not her own... Hamish... |
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All You Need is Love |
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‘We always let out a squeal of excitment when a new Carole Matthews novel hits the shelves and, luckily for us, this one doesn’t disappoint.’ 'The reason Matthews is as successful as she is, lies within the fact that she knows her audience, she sticks to the recipe and the souffle comes out of the oven, magnificent, and looking exactly like the picture and, what's more, it doesn't collapse on the way to the dinner table.' Single mum and superwoman Sally Freeman wants a better life for herself and her son Charlie. But it's not going to be easy - her home is on a run-down Liverpool council estate, so if she's going up in the world, she'll have to drag it along with her. Just as Sally's mission to rejuvenate her surroundings gets underway, she's offered a ticket out of there, in the splendid form of Spencer Knight. He has everything she could wish for - the looks, the charm not to mention the wallet. But is he the answer to her prayers, or does her hapless ex-boyfriend Johhny still have a hold on her heart? Her dilemma is made worse when, for the first time, her home has the glimmer of a future. And as she struggles to choose between her head and her heart, she discovers that if The Beatles are right and all you need is love, then everything else will fall into place. |
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It's a Kind of Magic |
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'This is a fabulous romantic comedy and would make a great movie... we are thinking Reece Witherspoon and David Arquette. We couldn't put this one down. Carole Matthews is a wonderful writer, she creates characters who you can immediately identify with.' 'This is a great read both in the magical and literal term, Emma and Leo have been together - off and on - for ever. But their relationship seems to have lost its spark - it's as though the magic has gone. When Leo turns up at Emma's thirtieth birthday dinner unforgivably late and horribly drunk, embarrassing her in front of her family, she can't help wishing things were different. In fact, she wishes Leo was different. She loves him very much but if someone could wave a magic wand and turn him into a reliable, considerate boyfriend it would certainly save her a lot of trouble. When Leo's path crosses with a decidedly sparkly wisp of a girl called Isobel, he falls under her magic spell and Emma sees him altering before her very eyes. Soon she regrets wishing for a 'new' Leo at all. And, surely, Isobel can't be for real? One thing's clear, if Emma's going to win him back, she'll need to do some changing of her own... |
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The Chocolate Lovers' Diet |
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'Fans of Carole Matthews won't be disappointed with this touching and funny follow-up...' 'This is a delicious treat.' Survival tips for times of stress:
Whenever the four members of The Chocolate Lovers’ Club call an emergency meeting there’s barely time to count to ten before one of them gives in to chocolate... Lucy Lombard thought her ‘Happily Ever After’ was all sewn up when her gorgeous boss Aidan declared his love for her, but she’s just caught him in bed with another woman. As always, she’s not the only one with problems – Autumn’s new boyfriend has yet to meet her parents, Nadia’s husband swears he’s given up gambling but she just can’t trust him, and Chantal is hoping to save her marriage, but not in quite the way she’d expected. It’s not surprising that these girls are going to need a lot of chocolate to see them through the challenges that lie ahead… Following on from Carole Matthews’ hilarious novel The Chocolate Lovers’ Club the unforgettable four members are about to sort their lives out once and for all. |
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The Chocolate Lovers' Club |
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'This is one of the best chick-lit books I've read for some time, with an interesting mix of characters and believable situations. It's both touching and funny, and is highly recommended!' 'One word of advice before you start this book - make sure you've got a big bar of chocolate next to you... This is serious chick-lit and it will make you believe in friendship and love all over again.' Some women are addicted to shopping, others can't get enough of champagne. Some like to curl up with a good book and others want a night out on the town. But there's just one thing Lucy Lombard can't live without and that's chocolate - rich, creamy, sweet, delicious chocolate. For her there's no substitute. There's nothing it won't cure, from heartache to a headache, and she's not alone. Sharing her passion are three other addicts: Autumn, Nadia and Chantal. Together they form a select group known as The Chocolate Lovers' Club. Whenever there's a crisis, they meet in their sanctuary, a café called Chocolate Heaven, and with a cheating boyfreind, who promises he'll change; a flirtatious boss; a gambling husband and a loveless marriage, there's always plenty to discuss... By turns hilarious and heart-rending, The Chocolate Lovers' Club brings together four unforgettable women from totally different worlds united in their passion for chocolate. |
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Welcome to the Real World |
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'Her fun new cover style is winning her new fans, and this is a lovely tale of chasing your dreams. Warm and contagious, she's a delightful author.' 'I've been eagerly awaiting Carole Matthews' tenth book, Welcome To The Real World, and it must be the best so far! I've probably said that before, but it's true, they get better every time.' Fern Kendal has the voice of an angel but, as a badly paid barmaid and pub singer, she's going nowhere. Then she enters the TV talent show Fame Game and this could be her big break. If only, in the real world, things were that simple. Evan David's exquisite tones have enthralled opera buffs throughout the world. His agent, his coach, his chauffeur and his chef are just a few of those who pander to his every need. But what Evan needs now is a break - from it all. When Fern is picked to be Evan's assistant their two worlds collide and neither one is prepared for the dramatic effect they will have on each other. For something happens when they are together - and it's more than just music... Welcome to the Real World is an irresistibly romantic story of what happens when two people from totally different worlds can't help falling in love... |
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You Drive Me Crazy |
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'Matthews is one of the few writers who can rival Marian Keynes' gift for telling heart-warming tales with buckets of charm and laughs - this is definitely one of the summer's must-reads.' 'This novel has all the warmth and wit we expect from Carole Matthews. Perfect.' Falling in love can be a bumpy ride... The last place Anna Terry expects to fall in love is in the waiting room of her divorce lawyer's office. But that's where she meets Nick Diamond and Cupid's arrow strikes. If only they were in the mood.... Anna's had more than her fair share of heartache. Her first marriage ended before her pregnancy was over, and her second husband has disappeared, leaving her with a two-year old son, a pre-pubescent daughter and not a penny to her name. Nick's luck hasn't been any better: his wife has run off with the local butcher - which wouldn't be so bad if she wasn't a vegetarian! His second-hand car dealership is in chaos and his mother is sure that line-dancing will mend his 'Achy Breaky Heart'. When Anna gets a job as Nick's secretary, what starts as a mild flirtation soon accelerates into overdrive - but that's before their ex-partners show up and they're all in for a bumpy ride. |
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With or Without You |
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'Matthews avoids simplistic and predictable solutions and in doing so makes her story fresh and enjoyable.' 'A healthy dose of plot twists and laugh lines.' 'Romantic comedy heads for new heights - in this case the Himalayas - in this charming new novel...' When you follow your heart, you never know where it might lead you... When Jake tells Lyssa it's not working, she knows he's not talking about the toaster. What she doesn't realise is that he has been seduced by another woman. Lyssa's immediate reaction is to sob into her pillow and wait for Jake to come home with his tail between his legs. But slowly she understands that's not an option. In a bid to escape, she embarks on a trekking holiday in Nepal. Her sister teases her that she'll meet a hairy-arsed yak shepherd - but it never occurs to Lyssa that in the Himalayan foothills she might fall in love... When it's time to go home - back to reality and a very sheepish Jake - Lyssa has to face the hardest choice of her life. |
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The Sweetest Taboo |
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'Classic boy-meets-girl chick fic... But don't knock it! Matthews' previous novels are all tipped to be Hollywood films... 'With more twists than a Hollywood hair salon, The Sweetest Taboo will have you guessing to the end.' '...a dynamite plot and heaps of comedy...a cracking book that'll keep you guessing right to the last page.' 'Feel good chick lit... with plenty of hilarious scenarios along the way... Perfect holiday read...' 'A fabulous read - it's funny, witty and will pull you in right from the start...' Sadie Nelson ought to know – she’s got two men to choose from and neither one is hassle-free. First there’s Gill McGann, a Hollywood producer who’s flown her from a grey day in London to sun-soaked LA in order to win her heart. He has more to offer Sadie than she could ever have imagined - including a sticky ex. Then there’s gorgeous actor Tavis Jones, whose sense of fun makes Sadie feel immediately at home. But can they ever be more than just good friends? The longer she leaves it, the harder it gets, and Sadie’s about to discover that in LA anything can happen…. |
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A Compromising Position |
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'Will have you giggling from the start...hilarious' 'Hilarious... Saucy but Nice' Emily Miller has been betrayed. When her boyfriend posts compromising photos of her on the internet, her life goes into sharp decline. Emily is about to lose everything - including the man she thought she loved. Her best friend, Cara, is determined to mend Emily’s broken heart and she believes that a little magic is all that’s required. But will Cara cast the right spell to get Emily out of her current position? Or will it go horribly wrong when they both fall in love with the same man? |
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A Minor Indiscretion |
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'… an insightful relationship drama.' '... her humorous storytelling resurrects the power of romance to conquer all.' Happily married with three children, Ali Kingston doesn’t realise that a quick cappuccino in a Covent Garden café is about to turn her life upside down. But then it isn’t every day that a street artist 15 years your junior falls at your feet. And when she tries to convince her husband that it was just a minor indiscretion things start to get out of hand.. |
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For Better, For Worse |
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'It will charm Bridget Jones fans on both sides of the Atlantic.’ Having just been through a messy divorce, she’s hardly in the mood to don a lilac bridesmaid’s dress, especially when she thinks Martha is about to marry the wrong man. In fact, Josie is all for talking Martha out of what could be the biggest mistake of her life. Which is all very noble, until Josie meets Matt Jarvis and appears to be about to fall for the wrong man herself. And when an ex-husband, and old flame, a dubious boy band and a seriously determined duck enter the picture who can tell where it will all end... |
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More to Life than This |
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'Witty, daring, and intelligent, Carole Matthews gives fans a modern view of marriage with More To Life Than This, and yet another reason to keep this author on my list of favourites.' Kate Lewis is thirty-five and feeling restless. Her husband Jeffrey is keen on gardening and golf; her children are obsessed with well-balanced diets; and Kate’s main worry is when to do the ironing. There must be more to life than this! Enrolling on a T'ai Chi course at Northwood Priory with her best friend Sonia - and arranging for an au pair to look after Jeffrey and the children while she’s away - Kate is off to find herself. But, as things turn out finding herself isn’t easy to do, particularly when Ben Mahler is on her course... |
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A Whiff of Scandal |
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'You'll love this!' Does life have to make your head spin? It does when you find out that the guy you're head-over-heels about is already married. That's when Rose Stevens decides to escape her problems and flee to a remote country village. All she wants is peace and quiet, but the quaint, eccentric villagers of Great Brayford have other ideas. Rose is amazed that her occupation as an aromatherapist is causing such consternation among the townsfolk, when what else goes on within the village limits seems so much worse: there's a housewife who's a hooker, a sex-starved neighbour and a troublesome peeping Tom. Beneath the all-pervasive aroma of garden lavender there's a distinct scent of scandal here, and Rose thinks that her small transgressions seem paltry in comparison - until she starts to get intimately involved with the sexy local builder... and her ex-lover arrives out of nowhere with a shocking announcement... and she unwittingly finds herself in the centre of a chaotic, rumour-fed hurricane of scandal that ensures her life is even more complicated than it was before. But maybe that's also because she's in love again. |
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Let's Meet on Platform 8 |
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'Warmly written.' After knocking her down while rushing to catch the 6.07 from London, Jamie Duncan bandages Teri Carter's knee, buys her new stockings, seats her on the train with her foot in his lap and taxis her home from the station. Who says chivalry is dead? Not only is Jamie a romantic hero - tall, dark, with greeny-gold eyes and a Scottish burr - he's witty, charming and eager to share their daily commute. Suddenly Teri's life is Brief Encounter meets Wuthering Heights. But then she discovers Mr Right is also Mr Married. Jamie's not the type to cheat, and Teri doesn't want him to... or does she? After dating Mr Lazy, Mr Greedy, Mr Completely Selfish and Mr Downright Pervert, can she renounce Mr Perfect? |
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