Book Review: Million Love Songs by Carole Matthews

A big massive hello and welcome to Carole Matthews. I am pleased to be kicking off the blog tour for her new novel, Million Love Songs which was released by Sphere on 22nd March 2018. 

Ruby Brown is ready for a change. She’s single for the first time in years and she’s going to dive into this brave new world with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. The last thing she’s looking for is a serious relationship.

Mason represents everything Ruby wants right now: he’s charming, smooth and perfect for some no-strings-attached fun. Joe on the other hand is kind and attractive, but comes with the sort of baggage Ruby wants to avoid: an annoyingly attractive ex-wife and two teenage children.

Ruby thinks she knows what she wants, but is it what she needs to be truly happy? It’s about to get emotional in Million Love Songs.

Carole has created a spotty playlist for this new book which you can check out here: https://open.spotify.com

Looking at this playlist, it has me thinking about my favourite love songs. I am very much a hopeless romantic. A romantic film, a song about love and I am trying not to cry.

There are many love songs I love and to be honest, I have found it hard to pick. Therefore, I have picked three (i know, it’s cheating but I don’t care.)

My first favourite is one that is also on Carole’s list and that is ‘I Knew I Loved You’ by Savage Garden. This song was the one played for the first dance at my wedding and so it will always hold a special place.

My second favourite is ‘She is Love’ by Oasis. This is a great, upbeat love song (and in my opinion, one of the songs by this band that I can hear The Beatles sing.)

My final favourite is ‘Once in a Lifetime’ by Landon Austin. This song is a beautiful song that I just think is very romantic.

My verdict on Million Love Songs: 

Million Love Songs is Carole Matthews at her best. I have recently read Christmas Cakes and Mistletoe Nights, loved it and was therefore really looking forward to reading the latest novel from one of the queens of romantic comedy.

I was hooked by the title alone. I was (still am in fact) a Take That fan and have fond memories singing along to A Million Love Songs at my first concert as a teenager. The mentions of Take That throughout the book brought back very happy memories. Also, this cover is just beautiful.

Ruby has just recently been through a divorce and is working at a waitress at a pub in Milton Keynes.
Still reeling from the fact that her ex husband cheated on her, Ruby feels very lost as she tries to navigate her way through her new circumstances as she also tries to figure out what the hell happened. I wanted to give her a hug.

Resigned to her fate as a new singleton, no one is more surprised that Ruby when she starts spending time with her boss, Mason. Also, through a bid to try new things, Ruby also meets the lovely Joe.

I don’t want to give too much away about the plot as I don’t want to spoil it but there were certain characters I loved (Ruby, Charlie and Joe,) and then others I didn’t.

All of these people felt realistic and characters that you can relate and empathise with. Carole is very good at creating wonderfully likeable characters (this novel being no exception.)

Charlie sounds like a no-nonsense, warm and loyal friend to Ruby and I liked their double act. Mason to me was a lot like Daniel Cleaver – someone who is charming but very untrustworthy.

The further I got into this novel, the more I couldn’t stop reading. The writing is full of humour, warmth and heart – all the things that are standard in Carole’s novels.

This is a perfect holiday read. I loved it.

About Carole Matthews: 

Carole Matthews is the Sunday Times bestselling author of over twenty-nine novels.

 In 2015, Carole was awarded the RNA Outstanding Achievement Award. Her novels dazzle and delight readers all over the world. She is published in more than thirty countries and her books have sold to Hollywood.

For all the latest news from Carole, visit www.carolematthews.com, follow Carole on Twitter (@carolematthews) and Instagram (matthews.carole) or join the thousands of readers who have become Carole’s friend on Facebook (carolematthewsbooks).

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.