Christmas Yves by Nicola May

It’s two days before Christmas - and Evie Harris finds herself both manless and jobless. After a chance encounter with handsome Greg (and egged on by her toy-boy-eating friend, Bea) she agrees to work at a homeless shelter on Christmas Day. Striking up an unlikely friendship with homeless Yves, Evie begins an unwitting journey of spiritual awakening, all set against the sparkling winter backdrop of London landmarks. A New Year’s Eve revelation is on its way . . . but will it leave Evie with a happy heart, or will she allow the pre-Christmas past to dictate her future?

I am a big fan of Nicola May, she always seems to write what we all would say and think in our heads but not be brave enough to say out loud or put on paper which makes her very edgy and stand out from other authors. 

When I was offered to review her new novella I was intrigued even though I am not a fan of short stories but because I have never read anything by Nicola May that I haven’t liked I felt I had to give it a try.

Christmas is looking bleak for Eve, she is jobless and has just split with her boyfriend and looks like she could lose her home too. She befriends a homeless guy named Yves with a Y who attempts to show Eve what is really important in life and what can really make you feel good, but will this be enough to help Eve?

This is a great thought provoking read, that had a fabulous unexpected twist that was very moving. It has lovely touch of festive magic but it also has a storyline that sends a great message and really gets the reader to put things into perspective which is needed especially at this time of the year.

There is always at least one character in Nicola May’s books who is on the line and entertaining and in this book that character is Bea she brings a light hearted and fun side to the storyline. Eve is a very realistic character and a great lead.

This is a great little novella it seems Nicola May has yet again brought us another entertaining read. 

Kindle

The Bow Wow Club by Nicola May

In this entertaining sequel to Working it Out Ruby never expected to be starting over... ...but after a shocking bereavement, she begins to question whether or not she will ever be happy again. A chance encounter with handsome author Michael Bell throws her fragile heart into turmoil. Plus, a dark family secret and completely unexpected love interest add to her confusion. Encouraged to face her demons, she volunteers at the Bow Wow Club - (Boyfriends of Widows, Wives of Widowers). You will laugh and cry along with a myriad of eccentric characters as Ruby searches for her inner peace. But will she let love win? Or allow her past to continue to haunt her?


I was so pleased when I found out not only was Nicola May releasing another book, but her new book The Bow Wow Club is a sequel to Working It Out which means the return of the hilariuosly entertaining character Ruby!

This time around Ruby is grief stricken, her husband George has sadly passed away and her wild friend Fi is determind to get Ruby back into the land of the living and let someone into her heart again. You know having both Ruby and Fi back means there is going to be drama, entertainment and a whole trail of distruction!
This time around Nicola May manages to not only bring us many laugh out loud moments but also brings us some very moving parts which brought a lump to my throat. The way the author gets you on such a high and then suddenly out of nowhere comes a heartstopping moment.

There were many twists and turns and will they wont they moments in this book which helped to keep my interest sparked all the way through.

I loved all of the characters some who I remember from Working it Out and some quirky new ones like the lovable Simon. I must say though there was something about Micheal that had me on my guard from the moment I met him, my suspicions were aroused for some reason!

After reading The Bow Wow Club I stand by what I have always said about this author from day one, her books should be in our local bookshops up and down the country sitting among the other fantastic authors in the chart. Nicola May doesn't get the recognition she deserves so read her books and then shout about them from the roof tops!

If you are looking for a book that will have you hooked from start to finish and also have you laughing out loud then make this your next read.

Paperback

The School Gates by Nicola May

With all the lovely Christmas books being released at the moment I have been in my element but not wanting to read all of them months before the special day I decided to read The School Gates by Nicola May. Nicola is an author who in my eyes doesn’t get enough recognition for her work, I love her books and they are easily upto the same standard as many current chart books.

Plot

At 3.10pm every weekday, parents gather at Featherstone Primary in Denbury to collect their children. For a special few, the friendships forged at the school gates will see them through lives filled with drama, secrets and sorrows. When Yummy Mummy Alana reveals the identity of her love-child's father, she doesn't expect the consequences to be quite so extreme. 

Ex Czech au-pair Earth Mummy Dana finds happiness in her secret sideline, but really all she longs for is another child. Slummy Mummy Mo's wife-beating husband leads her down a path she never thought possible, and Supper Mummy Joan has to cope when life deals her a devastating blow. And what of Gay Daddy Gordon? Will he be able to juggle parenthood and cope with his broken heart at the same time?

Four very different mothers. One adorable dad. And the intertwining trials and tribulations that a year at the primary school gates brings

I had to say I was a little concerned how I would find this book, I don’t have children and I also seem to be missing the whole maternal gene to, on the odd occasion I have had to do the school run for my Niece and Nephew I have hated it and would rather go to the dentist to have my teeth pulled out, luckily I didn’t have the same feeling when reading this book!

Each chapter alternates between the many characters who make up this book and believe me there are a hell of a lot of them and when you first begin to meet them you do start to lose track of who is who but as the book moves along each of the characters start to develop and some of their storylines start to include the other characters and so you soon become familiar with who is who.

My favourite thing about Nicola May’s writing is the humour she brings to her books it is in a league of its own and it is very down to earth, day to day humour and she brings that humour back in this book which makes it such an enjoyable read. Humour aside the author also brings a number of more serious issues such as death, Infidelity, Weight Issues and fertility issues and each of these issues are brought to us on a very in-depth level the author doesn’t tiptoe around these issues which for me brought a deeper feeling storyline and it was great to see a different side to the authors writing style.

There are characters who you will love and there will be some you hate but I think the character that shone through for me had to be Mo she was such a loveable and genuine character she really was a joy to read. It really is amazing the amount of characters and storylines that are included in this book there really is something for everyone.

Look for a humour read with full bodied character and an indepth storyline then this book is right up your street.

Kindle

Working It Out by Nicola May

I have just finished Working It Out by Nicola May. When this book arrived on my doorstep I had already started another book but it was hard not to just pick this one up and start reading I felt like the book was winking at me from the shelf! The cover of this book is very eyecatching, I was surprised to find out that Nicola May is self published as the quality of the book is as good if not better than some of the books which are in the paperback chart at the moment.

Plot

After an unexpected redundancy, Ruby begins to question her priorities. Inspired by a quote from Kahil Gibran about loving your work, she launches her mission to find the ideal job.

Her year of gainful ( and sometimes painful!) employment includes nannying for clients in the south of France; dealing with embarising ailments in a Harley Street Clinic; waiting tables in a buzzy Soho Cafe; and meeting celebsof years gone byin a home for retired actors. And even though love is no longer top of her list, relationships just seem to start happening along the way which sees her handing out some P45’s of her own!

But will any of the jobs, or men she meets, see her dreams come true? Or will Ruby just end up back where she started?

My Opinion.

I loved the whole concept of this novel. Who would know the idea of the 12 different jobs in 12 months could be such an entertaining read. Our heroine in this book is Ruby and she is such an easy character to connect with I think we all wish we had a friend like Ruby and I think there is a little part of Ruby or at least Ruby’s ideas, in each of us. Although the storyline is entertaining it truly is Rubys character that makes the book such a humorous read.

This book starts off at a quick pace and has us wrapped up in the storyline from the beginning. The story continues at an easy pace all the way through with no dull moments, I found the book had my full attention the whole way through and this is because there was always so much going on. Each job that Ruby takes on is completely different, some jobs we get to read more about her experiences than others but I feel each of the jobs are not over done as there is only so much that can happen in each job without the risk of the reader losing interest.

What I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was the humour. The humour was very much day to day humour so didn’t feel false and there were points in the story where I did laugh out loud. I do love a book that can make me laugh and this book had me in stitches in some parts.

Nicola is very clever in her style of writing because although most of the storyline is hilarious, she also manages to weave in more emotional parts in this book but she does this in such a way that it doesn’t dampen the storyline.

I loved the character of Ruby but another character I enjoyed was her brother Sam. Sam is blind and I think this is the first book I have read where a blind person appears so much in a book and he was such a great character, he also seems to have Rubys sense of humour, he just seems so determined to make the most of his life and I would say he has more of a social life than I do! I found with both of these characters they were so life like I had to keep reminding myself that this is fiction these characters are not real!

My one personal negative about this book is Ruby’s taste in men!! This girl is not fussy when it comes to men and boy there is a wide range of male totty in this book each completely different to the next it was like a bag of pick n mix!! 

Nicola gives a great ending to the book which wrapped  it up nicely which is the icing on the cake to this hilarious, entertaining read. I look forward to reading more books by Nicola May if this book is anything to go by.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough it is one of my top reads for 2011. A gripping storyline with likeable characters and a splash of humour what more can you want in a book?

Nicola May is a self published Author. She has two previous books Better Together and Star Fish. More information can be found on her website www.nicolamay.com .

If you live in the Reading area then there is a great chance for you to meet Nicola and to pick up your signed copy of Working It Out this Saturday at Waterstones in Oracle Centre at 10.00am so Pop on down!!