Selected by Orion for a major promotion - a delicious new comedy of love life and manners by the author whose 1st novel, A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, was a Sunday Times Bestseller. Erica ame's compelling combination of sharp humour, utterly believable characters and superb storytelling promise to make this another great read - and a bestseller.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
James's latest romantic novel (after Airs and Graces) begins when the first tenants move into Cholmford Hall Mews, near Manchester in the North England countryside. The Mews, once the stables of a grand shooting lodge, is now an upscale housing development, home to a group of residents who grow from strangers to close-knit neighbors as they share a variety of life-changing experiences. Jessica Lloyd, a 36-year-old novelist, has left behind her carefree (but emotionally frustrating) expatriate life in Corfu to be close to her lively but aging mother, Anna. Amanda is newly married to widower Tony Fergusson, and is irritably adjusting to her roles as housewife and stepmother to his young daughter, Hattie. Beautiful former librarian Kate, who loves children and quietly nurtures Hattie, is in her late 20s and lives with Alec, a divorced 49-year-old executive. Josh Crawford runs his family's clothing business with his brother Charlie, and insists on living alone at Cholmford Mews, despite the fact that he has recently been diagnosed with MS. James convincingly describes Josh's struggles with his illness and the reactions of others as he comes to terms with the disease, while tracking his budding relationship with Jessica. Meanwhile, a miscarriage, a divorce, two unexpected romances and a reconciliation or two keep the narrative moving. Anglophiles and readers who like happy endings should find ample satisfaction in this bucolic social comedy. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Newly opened Chelmford Hall Mews in the English countryside is the lovely residential setting for the beginnings and endings of romance in this engaging novel. Romance novelist Jessica Lloyd leaves Corfu and her lover to be closer to her aging mother, while Josh Crawford, recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, aims to get away from the pity of his older brother. Kate Morris moves in with her much older lover, while widowed Tony Fergusson copes with his new wife, who can't seem to settle into the role of stepmother. By the end of the novel, each of these characters has found his or her way into a new relationship and the prospect of happiness. Jessica is the key figure. So cynical about love and romance at the outset that she suffers writer's block, she is desperate to feel not only loved, but needed, too. Happily, she succeeds in finding such a relationship, one that gives her the necessary sense of belonging alluded to in James' title. Holly Cooley
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sense of Belonging,
By Tracy Clark (Tacoma, WA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Sense of Belonging (Paperback)
I'm surprised by the low-star rating for this book. I picked up a copy of this book while waiting to catch a train to Paris. I enjoyed this book while on vacation. I thought it was interesting, great character development; basically I couldn't put it down. After I finished it, my other two travelling companions read it as well. My only disappointment was upon arriving back in the States, not all Erica James' novels are available. Well, hey, that's what Amazon.uk is for right?
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit predictable but enjoyable,
By Karen Heslop (Britian) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Sense of Belonging (Paperback)
A sense of belonging is a great novel set in a romantic location where neighbours become more than just close. The ending is a bit predicable and sickenly happy but all in all a good read which you'll find hard to put down. You'll fall in love with James' heroine, a writer home from a sun soaked life in Corfu to concentrate on her writing. And you'll find your self hating her villians, the sarcastic and sadistic Amanda, who hates her marriage almost as much as her husband and step daughter.Full of excitement, not as juicy as I first thought it would be but still a great book to curl up in bed with.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not worth your time!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Sense of Belonging (Paperback)
Under developed characters, happy, not-for-real endings. Not recommended at all.
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