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De Verwende Verloofde (2014)

by Pippa Wright(Favorite Author)

3.49 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

9044343599 (ISBN13: 9789044343595)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

House of Books

review 1: Kate Martell finds herself returning to her hometown of Lyme Regis in difficult circumstances; nor does it help that its quite the last place she ever envisaged finding herself. After all she left Lyme at the first chance she had and hadn't looked back since; and with a glamorous career, gorgeous husband and busy life in London why should she have? However, Kate's lost everything, and wanting nothing more than to hide herself away, Lyme Regis suddenly seems the perfect place to retreat and lick her wounds. Unfortunately it does mean having to share her granny's old bungalow with her soon to be brother-in-law, however, Kate soon sees this as an opportunity to present her sister with the perfect wedding present; why not train up Ben to be the perfect husband, ironing out the... more flaws that her experience of her own failed marriage has taught her. As such Kate sets to work, though in the process she may just learn a few lessons of her own.I have to say that this story did not quite match my preconceptions from the title; though not unpleasantly so. I was expecting more standard chicklit (probably something along the lines of Kate falling for her foster husband), however, what I actually got was a far maturer and realistic story, which made for a refreshing and engaging read.The main focus of the story is on Kate herself, the story of her failed marriage to Matt related through flashbacks from beginning to end, and also flashbacks to stages of her earlier life in Lyme. The Kate at the start of the story is clearly damaged, and it is through the flashbacks that we slowly start to learn how she has ended up like this, how she has been shaped by events in the past, events that up till now she perhaps has always ran away from. Indeed running away from things when the going gets tough is a reoccurring theme with Kate, and the story is really about her learning to face her past demons in order to move on.Wright tells her story at a gentle pace that suits its reflective tone; a lot of the key events not actually being revealed until quite late in the story; and I have to say there were a few twists that I hadn't expected, all not being quite as it had seemed. Also for the most part of the story I actually wasn't sure how it was going to end, unlike a lot of chicklit, there could actually have been several plausible endings.Kate as the central character is easy to relate to; she's far from perfect, but the sort of character that you're rooting for despite her faults and whose actions you can understand.Although the book covers some darker themes than the average chicklit, it is by no means a depressing read; and the foster husband aspect to the story in particular gives some light relief to contrast. I would say this part of the story is very much a sub-plot, although it does tie in well with the main themes.Overall this makes for an insightful and refreshing modern read, covering the day to day trials and difficulties of marriage, as well as facing up to one's past. I also thought it dealt well with some difficult subjects,(that I shan't name in order to avoid plot spoilers).Perhaps my only criticism would be that I thought the ending was a little too easily resolved, and I might have liked a little more exploration between the characters involved at this stage, although the actual ending itself was just as I wished.
review 2: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.It is third Pippa's book and for me her every book is better and better. I liked the idea of this book, the "foster" husband, I was very curious about the training going to take place. I must admit that it was the synopsis that allowed me to expect the plot to develop only around Ben and Kate, who wanted to teach him some lessons in domesticity. But instead I've got much more about Kate herself and her private life, with all its ups and downs, problems with her marriage and in work. And although I have expected much more of Ben and his cluelessness around the house, I am not disappointed in the way the plot evolves. The bits when Kate tries to "train" Ben are funny and give lightness to the book and - in my opinion - what was actually so bad that she wanted to prepare him a little for marriage with her sister? It's not that she took him to live with her because she wanted it. So, a girl must have a little fun in life, mustn't she?:)Kate's life is very interesting, there is something happening all the time and she as a book character is for me not so straightforward as many other chick lit heroines. She is a ball - breaker at work, but out of work she is a vulnerable woman. It was in a way interesting to see how she adapt to the new situation and how she tries to cope with her new life in the old town of hers.But I must confess that I didn't really know where is the book leading to. We have chapters set in the present and we have chapters set in the past, so we can clearly see what has happened, but all the time I was looking for this "foster husband". Instead I've got an interesting story about Kate, her work, her private life, how she met Matt, her marriage.Kate is a leading character in the book and she is nicely written, I liked her and actually I understood her. Matt was not my favourite one I must admit but the most I hated Prue. The whole book, every mention of Prue, every word that Prue said were for me like red colour for a bull. No. Never in a hundred years will I like Prue. She was such a negative character, for me full of spite and in my opinion there is nothing that can justify the way she has treated Kate. Ben was a teddy bear and I can tell you in secret that I have actually expected totally different plot, you know, Kate leaving Matt, training Ben to be a good husband to her sister, but in the meantime falling in love with Ben, Ben falling in love with Kate etc. :) This was my idea. Well, I was wrong, the story is totally different and although I was expected something different, the book had me hooked and kept me interested in reading. The writing is easy and it's flowing, there are no awkward moments and although I have expected a little more I really liked the book. less

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