I own hundreds, nay thousands, of books but if a supermarket straps two together and sells them to me for next to nowt, chances are I will take them off their hands. That's how I acquired this very easily read piece of chick-lit with enough quirky bits to keep me turning the pages. I recognised the small town idiosyncracies. I loved the ordinariness of daily life and the extraordinary Grumps and his witchcraft museum equally. It's not a Nobel prize winner but it amused and entertained me. I like Trisha Ashley.I like her capable, tireless, domestic heroines. I like her detailed descriptions of their cleaning / cooking / gardening / chocolate making skills (delete as appropriate for book under discussion.) I love her cosy rural settings with just the right amount of weirdness going on in the background. I even like her brooding yet loveable heroes although I'm not entirely sure I read these books for the romance.I am aware that by concentrating so firmly on the domestic side of life, Ms Ashley may come under fire for a certain lack of progressive feminism. But when so much chick lit involves ditzy, stupid girls doing ditzy stupid things, it makes a nice change to read about capable, grown up women.It also no doubt is a reflection on the way that my life has changed as I've progressed through to my late thirties. Ten years ago when I was living a generally more glamorous life, reading about cocktails, parties and shoes wasn't quite so annoying. Two kids later and my life is a constant round of cleaning, cooking and caring, with a job somewhere in the middle to keep me on my toes. It does at times feel less than fufilling, especially as I am not exactly good at the more domestic pursuits. So reading about women who are not only good at them but enjoy them is weirdly comforting. I think its a bit like Georgette Heyer (mentioned in this book as the heroines favourite author - another tick for me.) Even when I was younger, I gravitated towards the self possessed, sensible heroines rather than the young, silly ones. I very much enjoyed Kitty, Hero et al. But I looked up to Sophy, Annis and Frederica.I also need to thank Ms Ashley for getting me through my recent readers block. Ive had a heap of DNFs lately due to one thing or another, so actually reading this through to the finish was quite a result.
What do You think about Schokoladenzauber (2010)?
A nice easy feel good book :) very predictable but readable.
—ibniqazi
