Singled Out [Hardcover]

Trisha Ashley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 25, 2004

Cassandra Leigh has a long-term lover who is handsome, charismatic, sophisticated--and married. Now Max has abandoned Cass and taken his wife off to America, leaving Cass all alone in her damp little cottage.

Cass always dreamed that one day she and Max would be married and have children, but now she is waking up to reality. Not only is the prince missing, there isn't even a half-way decent frog in the vicinity.

Meanwhile, Jason, one of her oldest friends, has developed a worrying crush on her--she's also had an encounter of a closer kind than she bargained for with Dante Chase, the new owner of the U.K.'s most ghost-infested manor house, a man even more haunted by his past than Cass is by hers.

Now, the vicar wants to sell Cass off to the highest bidder at the local charity slave auction, and Max, Jason and Dante are each determined to bid for her. And somehow Cass knows that they're all after more than a little light dusting . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Chick lit goes goth in this second novel from a popular British author, who gives all the typical elements a pleasantly daft twist. In a small English town peopled with numerous delightfully batty minor characters, fortysomething heroine Cass is worried Max, her recently widowed lover of 20 years, won't marry her. When not researching her latest romantic horror novel by prowling local graveyards and haunted houses, Cass is meeting her best friends, Marilyn Monroe-esque Orla and recently separated Jason (where is his wife, anyway?), at the local pub to bemoan their single states. Dysfunctional family members include twin sister Jane, the ferociously selfish lauded poet, and Eddie, the congenial nudie New Age flautist. The "meet cute" scene occurs at a charity slave auction; Cass becomes the prize in a bidding war won by mysterious stranger Dante Chase. Chapters open with lively negative reviews of Cass' horror novels reflecting her current situation. The prose is cluttered with quips, witticisms, and amusing asides, but fans of "veddy British" humor will easily get past it to the wholly unbelievable yet entertaining plot. Kaite Mediatore
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Praise for Singled Out

"All the typical elements [with] a pleasantly daft twist . . . . [an] entertaining plot."
--Booklist

"Will have you chuckling out loud . . . I could not help but L-O-V-E Cass. Author Trisha Ashley is an author to watch . . . Highly recommended reading!"
--Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews (5 stars)

"This is romantic comedy, but not for girls who like their romance rose coloured and uncomplicated. This is romance chock full of real life. Messy, complicated, and with a deep vein of black humour that Trisha mines in her own unique way. I recommend you write Singled Out on the back of your hands ready for the next time you're bookshopping. It's not one you want to miss."
--Your Time (UK)

"Trisha Ashley's romp... makes for enjoyable reading."
--The Times (UK)

"Fresh and funny."
--Woman's Own (UK)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (August 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312327129
• ISBN-13: 978-0312327125
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #826,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

UK Trisha Ashley is the author of ten contemporary romantic comedies, with her latest one, Chocolate Wishes, being the hundredth book to be published by the Avon UK imprint of HarperCollins. A Winter's Tale was shortlisted for the Melissa Nathan award for Romantic Comedy in 2009. She is from St Helens, and believes her typically dark Lancashire sense of humour, crossed with a good dose of Celtic creativity from her Welsh grandmother, have made her what she is today...whatever that is. Four of her novels are set in rural West Lancashire and three in Wales. They frequently explore aspects of the three F's that are a constant in her own life: Food, Flowers and Friends.
She has a website at www.trishaashley.com where you can find out more, sign the guestbook, or join the newsletter group.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended book to curl up with!, August 9, 2004

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Singled Out (Hardcover)

Cassandra "Cass" Leigh is a famous horror writer. Writing horror novels is a way to purge herself of past demons that still haunt her nightmares. Nightmares that are courtesy of her parents' idea of punishment, being locked up under cupboards for hours on end. She has a long-term lover, who is married, named Max. Max has left Cass in the U.K. and taken his wife off to America for about a year, leaving Cass all alone. Cass has always thought Max and she would eventually marry, have children, and grow old together. Now she realizes that it's never going to happen. Being in her mid-forties, it is probably too late for her to even get pregnant.

Jason, her long time friend, has developed a crush on her, due to the Vampirella costume she wears while she does crypt-o-grams (singing telegrams). He has told Cass in no uncertain terms that he would GLADLY let her use him to get pregnant! At the same time, Dante Chase, the new owner of the U.K.'s most ghost-infested manor house, Kedge Hall, has caught her attention. Now, THERE is a man even more haunted by his past than SHE is!

Every year the vicar has a slave auction that Cass volunteers for. The public bids on the volunteers, and once their indentured servant is purchased, the winner has a slave for one day to do chores for them. (Nothing kinky.) Max, Jason, and Dante are each determined to bid for her. And Cass somehow knows that they are all after more than a little light dusting or palm reading. Oh, did I forget to mention about Cass's little talent? If she touches someone she can feel their emotions, sort of an empathy talent.

Through it all is her crazy family. Her father calls often and leaves long rants on her machine calling her the spawn of satan and preaching brimstone. Her mother won't speak with her. One of her brothers climbs rocks for fun. The other brother is always stoned, and is quite a character through this whole book, and her "sweet" sister, Jane, is anything but.

***** This book will have you chuckling out loud as you read. Never a dull moment in this novel. And I could not help but L-O-V-E Cass. She is a riot and so easy going. If the author of this little gem, Trisha Ashley, ever decides to give up Contemporary, she could go into horror! Cass is always daydreaming scenes for whatever horror novel she is currently writing. I found myself as fascinated with Cass's writing as I was with Cass herself! Author Trisha Ashley is an author to watch as she buds out with all her talents. Count me in as one of her new adoring fans. Highly recommended reading here! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nothing Grabbed Me, July 27, 2005

By 

Christine (Frederick, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Singled Out (Hardcover)

I previously read "Every Woman For Herself" and really liked it, so I picked up the other Tricia Ashley novel that my library offered. This book bored me to the point where I was skipping pages and skimming paragraphs waiting for something to grab me. I liked Cass and Orla, but never warmed up to Jason - Cass's bear of a friend with a reportedly horrible temper and missing wife. Dante Chase gave me the creeps, too. Yes, yes, haunted by his past and all that but where was the appeal? I never got to the point where I understood why Cass liked him so much. The physical descripton of him was unappealing, as was his personality. A disappointment. Read "Every Woman For Herself" instead.

5.0 out of 5 stars this is hilarious!, January 16, 2011

By 

Hb Alksnys (west coast bc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Singled Out (Hardcover)

This is my first but not last dip into Ms Ashley's world.... wow.... i have wit like that, but hers is hundred times more brilliant and funny... what a gift. A woman after my own heart. Who would have thought this book has given me ideas about my own life?! I'll be back for more ~ thanks for brightening up my world this rainy winter - ta ta for now. :)