Alison Brodie

The cover of this book made me feel happy inside, as if the driver doesn't have a care in the world and is fun loving. On reading the book it turns out that one indeed can judge a book by its cover.
This book was such a funny enjoyable read which had me giggling a lot.
There is romance and suspense with a very brave lady in the mix too. Its all happening in this quick whittled, dramatic and very entertaining book.
Everyone needs to read this book once it is published, its blooming brilliant xx… (mais)

This book starts off with the Sheriff Hank Gephart being found shot outside of a nursing home.

In comes Ruby Mortimer-Smyth, a prim and proper English woman transplanted into a small town in Kansas. Hoping to have gone to Paris, France, because that is where she and her husband were supposed to go and live for his job.

Ruby and her stepsister Claire, have always been competitive and no more so in the fact that Ruby was going to get go to Paris and her cousin was not. With the story being set up with the Sheriff being shot on the eve of Y2K, the reader is taken back a bit to the start of the story which sets up the characters in a fun and a funny way had me wanting to read more.

Ruby ingrains herself into life in Kansas the best she can even though most of the time she feels like a fish out of water, but along the way she meets and befriends a few different "characters" . The more she is brought into the lives of these different people, the less English and prissy she becomes. Plus she is also to rethink her life and what she wants out of it and she finds it is not what she has. She is not happy in her marriage and I think that is why she becomes enamored of the good sheriff. So did she really shoot the sheriff?

Told in a humorous and laugh out loud way, this book is so much fun, I loved how Ruby. for me being kind of an uninteresting person to a fun loving very nice but unhappy woman who goes from being selfish to doing an about face and becoming a caring loving woman. I came to like her a lot and the story was fun to read!… (mais)

“Wild Life” by Alison Brodie is an entertaining,charming and a delightful read. The genre of this novel is fiction, but there is humor and romance as well. I feel it has a magical feel, and a little bit of Fairytale, or Folktale as well.

Kudos to Alison Brodie for making a statement about the importance of our land, trees, and the natural environment, and protecting it from land developers. I find that the author describes and weaves social issues as the environment, foster care, drugs, family,and community within the story.

The characters are flawed, dysfunctional, complex and complicated. We are introduced to Faustine, now a model who has just signed a significant contract with a large Lingerie company. Her contract stipulates that she will do nothing to embarrass the company. Faustine is called home for an emergency. A land developer is going to destroy the trees near her father’s house, and build homes. Faustine is attached to one tree that she calls “Bob”. The community builds a tree house where Faustine can stay so the tree can’t be taken down. This tree also is significant to Faustine, because of the memories of her deceased mother, and often she would go to the tree and express her feelings.

McPherson is a wealthy arrogant builder who needs to get rid of the trees to build his community. McPherson grew up in poverty and remembers when he and his mom were evicted and had no place to go . His dream of these homes is to make it affordable for those who would never dream of getting a house.

Faustine is surprised to find that 9 year old Oscar has been living in this tree. He is supposed to be in Foster care, but his aunt doesn’t really want the responsibility.

When Faustine and Oscar meet McPherson, there is war!! Faustine dons a mask so she won’t be recognized and uses her sister’s name. Faustine wants the trees, and McPherson wants the land. Each tries to undermine the other. The bickering and plotting between the two adults is amusing. Is there a line between love and hate?

Faustine tries to get Oscar to go to school. Oscar for a 9 year old is extremely manipulating.

I read this novel in one sitting and didn’t want to put this down. I highly recommend this amusing and intriguing novel!… (mais)

Review of “Brake Failure” by Alison Brodie
By Linda Zagon lindasbookobsession.blog/

I have to blame Alison Brodie for having to catch my breath from laughing so hard with her book “Brake Failure”. I really did enjoy this book and found it very entertaining!

The genres of this book are Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance and Humor. I would also suggest satire.

I find that Alison Brodie’s description of her dysfunctional characters and circumstances are witty, humorous, amusing, and compelling.

The timeline of the story is just before the Millennium, and the Y2K meltdown.
The story starts when the people living in a home for the aged discover an injured body at their door. It is the Sheriff. Who shot the Sheriff?
Next we meet our heroine Ruby, very proper and prim and British. She is meeting her sister Claire for a challenging lunch. Both have brought distinguished guests. The sisters have an unusual sibling rivalry that almost borders on the absurd. To Ruby, Claire shows off her English airs and brags constantly. Ruby can’t wait to outdo her sister when she tells her she will be moving to Paris with her new husband for his job. The day of the wedding, Ruby’s new husband informs her there is a change of plans and that they will be going to Kansas. Of course this is a disappointment to Ruby.

Ruby’s adventures in Kansas with her new neighbors and friends planning for the Y2K Meltdown are hilarious. Her neighbors and friends love her British accent and only want to hear stories of the Queen.

Of course, Ruby’s romantic adventures are intriguing as well. There are twists and turns, and some suspense, and mystery.

I have had so much fun reading Alison Brodie’s novel, I was disappointed when it was over. I highly recommend this! Enjoy!!!… (mais)