Fat Bottomed Girls

What a journey! I was mesmorized from the first chapter onward and have had the privelege to read it to the end. The wording and flow is effortless as you follow what every one of us dreams of. I like that the win was just enough to treat them to the tour. I was a Queen fan growing up, I love that this story is a journey following the show around Europe. If any of you know the lyrics of the songs, much of life's lessons are in them. The hidden meanings are clear to see.

The hilarity in the women's antics is something every person can relate to-the celebration of life and the crazy moments it brings, allowing them to venture into something beyond their normal existence. There were so many parts I couldn't contain my laughter, and then many parts where I could fully relate to the main character. I could see the differences as women and the raw nerves at times as they learn to deal with each other's ways. The waking up after the German night of beer then wine, had me laughing hysterically. The phone sex conversation and not remembering-Oh my, we've all done crazy things that we look back on with a smile, in a way the alcohol allowed Carol to see what she's really feeling inside. Liquid courage erases most boundaries.

The bond between the women is a natural meshing of personalities, their love and respect of each other comes clearly through each chapter. One outspoken and boisterous, the other a little more reserved but finally learning to be free in herself again. With divorce and starting over we all need to find our footing again in the world. The insecurities, self doubt, the reserved nature, yet still hoping for that magical moment to come to life. The other is reckless and lives with an abandon. She's figured out what works and what doesn't in her life.

I love how Carol remembers the wish list and surprises Amy with the bungee jump, I don't think i'd be as brave. Then Amy treating Carol to suprises along the way. I think it's what we all do as people...when we care for a friend we go out of our way to show them in ways they never expect or make heartfelt wishes come true, remembering the tidbits of information over the years and filing it away for future.

The shower scene is racy and steaming up the page. The heartfelt moment when she realizes that things can be so wonderful despite the previous memories. I think that captures how most women feel when trying to find their footing. When just out of divorce, navigating the date world, that first moment when being with a new partner is definately a nervous one, but here it is written in a way that Carol is learning to live in the moment, letting go of some of her insecurities.

Although this is a romance, I was submersed into the women's lives as they learn about each other. This book should be in the book stores, it is a true telling of a friendship so strong that many women will relate. The magical journey of finding how to live again, being comfortable with yourself and learning what your soul needs as you go through life.

I cannot say enough it had me laughing, giggling, remembering the crazy antics of my youth and questioning how i think about my own life!

Simply an exceptional book! Starred top marks and backed till it reaches it's goal.
All my best,
Wendy
"And When"

Clarance... What a hoot !!

Id no idea what to expect here. I thought it would be another run of the mill, poor me chick lit excuse for a book but this is a fabulous laugh.

The two friends are ideally matched, 1 loud and unafraid, 1 reserved and quiet. each has qualities the other relies on and we see that as early as the first chapter. we know they are women of the world, they have kids, in fact they have young adults as you say they are in uni. From that the reader can work out the girls are late thirties, early fourties but we dont need to know. Age is just a number !!

The humour here sneaks up on you. its full of outstanding one liners. You owe me a coffee for the line "I can handle it as hard, fast and twisty as it comes." I lost it over my computer screen.

There are so many jems hidden in here, from the sex museum, the loreal flick on the Eiffel Tower, getting arrested in Madrid, finding a man, bungee jumping in Berlin.... Boy you do pack in the enjoyment.

The changing languages to whatever is native is an inspired idea, as is the description of the places. its evident theres been a lot of reserch done to make sure each place is right and it is.

Put more up !! Put more up !! I want to see whats next ...

Jack

Just read over the first couple of chapters, but I'm chuckling! I could so totally relate! Funny and the pace is perfect. I like the snappy dialog so far. I do think just a tad more /narrative/description might enhance, but really, you're not writing Pillars of the Earth here. This is supposed to be fun, and it is! I recommend!!!

Fat Bottomed Girls. Read all about it and boy didn't i just! I felt, reading this wonderful, clever chick-lit writing, that I was with these gals, Carole and Amy, going on the 'We will rock you' tour after the lottery win. Hilarious and very sexy on times. Thank God I had the Kleenex at the ready to clean my steamed-up screen! If you could buy stock in a book, I would stake all my savings on Fat Bottomed Girls becoming a best seller - and then a block buster movie!
Connie x Streets Apart,

I just finished the first chapter and am looking forward to sharing the hilarious journey with them.
Barbara Jurgensen To Catch a Speckled Trout

As a reader I have enjoyed this and would like to wish you every success with it.

I like road trip type stories. This is good because it's funny and doesn't try to be profound, nobody's trying to 'find themselves'.

Clair,
I read all that you posted.
My experience of this read is marred by the large number of typos that I found, particularly after chapter three. We all have typos, but for a book that has almost two hundred backers, I am surprised so many remain. Surely previous readers should have caught them. I only started writing them down after chapter three. I highly suggest you re-read this carefully to catch more.
I found your use of apostrophes particularly surprising. It is inconsistent, so I am not sure whether it is because of an oversight or because you are unsure of the rules. (Not for plural, yes for possessive, so "rollercosters" not "rollercoster's" but "her friend's glass" not "her friends glass")
Setting this aside, I have mixed feelings about the book. On the one hand, it is quintessential chic-lit, and your two characters are endearing. But I feel the plot is a bit thin. The romp about Europe provides fun travel writing and ambiance, but it does not really go anywhere, until we meet Mark and Jose. But we did not know that Carol and Amy needed to meet men until they do. So I guess I would want the hook to include the understanding that the need for a male companion was a driving force earlier. That way, the encounter in Paris and the one in Madrid would be more significant.
As it is, I feel that the only driving force is Queen (again, until we meet Mark).
Hook and plot. I think the lottery hook is a good one, and getting the girls excited about their trip is cute. So you hook well. But then your plot is purely based on the tour. This is not inherently bad. Some of the best books in history have a similar structure (as in epics). But you have to have a goal, a direction, the Penelope for Odysseus, the Beatrice for Dante. And the tour itself is not enough Again, I think you can achieve this (I you want to) by bringing the need for male companionship earlier.
Character development- I think that the girls are very endearing, albeit a bit alcoholic. They could perhaps be a bit better developed back home ere they go on their trip. I think you could really give a bit of depth, again, one possibility is making the issue of the manless homes more pervasive. But the characters are a bit sketchy.
At one point you make a big deal of the fact they are Scottish, but then at the airport they say they are "English". I am unclear about their jobs, or what their real lives are like. How they met... Again, I think it bears some development.
I find the alcohol utterly too much. I hope you deal with this later on.
Ambiance- this I think you do well. However, I suggest you be more careful with the spellings of the places in the foreign countries. It is a detail, but very important for effective travel writing.
I did want a bit more. There is a lot more to Amsterdam than the sex museum and Hash Brownies, more to Paris than the Louvre and the Champs Élysées and the Louvre. In other words, remember the streets, the sidewalks, the little details that transport you to the place. You do this to some extent with the metro, but I would want more.

There is nothing stopping this book from reaching the ED. And you say that you have already self published. So perhaps I just wasted several hours of my time. But I think you can do much more with this.
However, I do feel strongly that you need to tend to the typos before you get selected for review by the benevolent overlords. Not only for yourself.

Here are my comments as I read

1
A bit of summarizing about the holiday plan.
2 5 am. Should be AM

3 Paris loomed before them
As her drove.
Should be "they drove"
Amy and Carol held on for dear life as the taxi weaved through the impossible scene doing the best
Comma after "scene"

giving the bar and reception area, a very calm, clear and spacious feel.
No comma needed after area.

she said grabbing her friends arm
Should be "friend's"

but saved the best to last.
Best for last.

Me two, this place is just mad.”

Did you leave that in to make sure people are really reading?

Amy looked around, in front of them lay numerous bars
Should be a period or a semicolon, not a comma.
you know I love em.
Should be 'em.

Here take a few scallops.”
Comma after "here"

Amy loved scallops and was gratefully to hold on to them
Grateful
After dinner... Suggest you break this sentence up.
Champs-Elysee
Élysées, I believe.

Which are we visiting tomorrow,” asked Amy.
Need a "?"

They ate in the relaxed atmosphere of the hotels outside terrace,
Hotel's
5
She nudged Carols arm.
Carol's
Their waiter returned with a two bottles of sparkling water
The a is not needed.
lift at a seconds notice,
Second's

for that nights show,
Night's
“Bonjour, puis-je siéger ici?”
Odd. First, it's night, so wouldn't be say "Bon soire"? And would he not say "puis-je vous joindre?" can I join you, rather than "can I sit here?

He led Carol outside and sat with her at one of the patio table as
Tables

“We’re leaving folks.”
Need the comma.

Wine bars closing
Bar's

6
leaving Carol lying in bed behind her laughing.
Suggest "leaving Carol laughing in her bed"
Should be PM.

“Sorry, we’re English.”
Scottish, I thought!? British, maybe.

the exchanged looked very animated
The exchange

Teleferico
Should be Teleférico

Principle Pio
I believe it is Príncipe Pio
San Antonio del la Florida
Should be "de la". Not "del la."
Casa de campo, should be Campo, as it's the name.
Rollercoaster’s
No apostrophe needed.
The paragraph-long sentence starting "The restaurant turned out to be..." would benefit from being split up.
lifted it too her lips and casually glanced across
To her lips

José takes an accent, but that is neither here nor there.

A spanish restaurant closing at 10?
I guess, but that is when dinner starts for many spaniards.
7
into two pubs 100’s of miles apart from
Suggest you write "hundreds"

hoping he said yes since
Suggest hoping he'd say yes
didn’t mention it again believing it might be a touchy
Comma before "believing"
l my stomachs got through at least some
Should be "stomach's"
Okay so the next shows in an hour.
Show's
Carol didn’t pull away instead, she
Suggest period after "away"
see the panda’s having
Pandas- no apostrophe
rollercoaster’s
No apostrophe
teenagers.Climbing
Space missing.
preparing two coffee’s.
No apostrophe.
hand on her friends shoulder
Friend's
that...”He stopped
Space missing
I just gave up I suppose
Comma after "gave up"
His head bent down to kiss them snapping
Comma after "them"

Best of luck with it, and congratulations.
Best,
Maeve

Wow, what a warm, funny, uplifting book!
Carol and Amy are fabulous main characterswith a believable friendship that really shines through. I love the juxtaposition with these characters, with Amy bringing more fun to Carol, and Carol keeping Amy grounded: it's a combination that really works and which is true to reality. Your descriptions of the different these friends travel to are authentic giving the novel a real vividness. I really loved this as sometimes when stories centre on characters traveling to different locations, it can feel as if the reader is being dragged from one location to the next, with the scenes in each place being given relatively little description at all, however it never felt like this when following Carol and Amy's travels. Carol's vulnerability is portrayed brilliantly and makes this so much more than a lighthearted read - it's great watching her progress on her journey gradually starting let her walls down and take more risks.
As much as i've tried, i can't find anything to give constructive criticism on, it's clear attention has been paid to the details resulting in a polished and well crafted novel with the right balance of action, description and dialogue.
I just loved everything about this and want to know what happens next!
Highly starred and on my wl until the end of the month when it will deffinitly be given a spot on my shelf.
Best of luck with this,
Amy :)

This is a great fun read! It's light, but very well written and the two friends are likable in different ways. I can tell their different perspectives on life will make the book very entertaining. Love the fact that they both have sons but there is no mention of husbands or fathers. There's the hook!
There was one point in chapter one where their son's has an apostrophe that I don't think should be there - the rest is so polished, I hope you don't mind me pointing that out!
Good luck with this. I can easily see it being published.
Best,
Kate

Been following your book for a long time. Glad to see it finally pushing for the top. You've got my backing.

Good luck!

Really enjoying this so far, like the characters, like the humour. On my watchlist to read more. And, yes! Queen the greates band ever!

I have really enjoyed reading the uploaded chapters. well done. Made me laugh out loud. Loved reference to Mona Lisa being the sour faced woman, some great one liners. You also use some wonderful descriptions e.g. in the Marriot in Paris " oozing natural light". The girls were great fun to spend time with.
I wish you the very best. Highly stared and backed.
Olive.

As a guy I dont normally read a lot of chick lit but on here ive read two and I find myself commenting on both. I love the way this is set out, the way it all links together, the way in which we think this is just going to be a romp through a few cities but their antics and failings bring this to life.

Its like a non violent, none gun totting Thelma and Louise. Its been on my shelf for ages, every since my wife, who doesnt have a page, saw me looking at it. She bought it and has loved every chapter, so much so she's had me reading the ones not on here. Boy can you write a shower scene !

I am glad its doing well, its a great read, even for a guy.

P.s take no notice of sour grapes comments, this is a great, fun read and when life is tough what we all need is a laugh and this has it in bucket fulls. Every book has the odd typo, the odd misplaced comma, but this is far better and def not childish. I've read some stinkers on here and amazon and this shines in comparison.

I like the premise for this but the writing itself is riddled with simple childish mistakes. I assume this is not the version you have available on Amazon.

Hi Clair!

Just read the first 4 ch's of FBG and loved it so much I downloaded it on my kindle (thanks for that link! I really can't handle reading books on here). I'll read the whole thing probably tonight. Incidentally, the girls' friendship reminds me so much of some of my friendships. I was reading at work and definitely laughing out loud. What a fun book, can't wait to read it all! I'll leave stars/comments etc when I read the whole thing!

PS. Love Queen. Except for Under Pressure. But we'll blame David Bowie for that ;-)

ON EDIT: 25FEB12 - def backed! I'm about halfway through. Made some notes on my kindle. I"ll compile them all. I think we're both in the WF crit group (I just joined). Did you get critted yet? Ugh should've looked before I hit edit comment :-)

Good luck!
Kate M

I have just read the first few chapters. This is a great story with a fantastic premise. What really makes it is the wonderful, appealing characters. Well done.

I read with ease the first few chapters, enjoying the dialogue and friendship between Carol and Amy - and then I stopped to think at the end of chapter 3 as you delved deeper into Carol's character. In Amy and Carol you have created characters that as I reader I care about: I want Carol to find her confidence and I want to continue reading so that I can follow their experiences. The story is fun and light-hearted, but you also write about complex emotions, which will resonate with many women. Top stars from me with backing too along the way. Maria (Georgina's Family) :)

Chicklit isn't really my thing ( I'm a guy) but that doesn't mean i can't see good writing in other genres, and this is that. it reads like something you would find on the shelf.

Excellent. I've really enjoyed reading the exploits of your characters. You have a real feel fro expressing emotions. Deservedly backed.
April

A funny and light hearted read, I love the contrast between the two characters too.. The dialect also is easy to follow and I found myself getting drawn in from Chapter 2. WELL DONE. Highly rated :-)

Fab chick lit cant wait to delve in deeper - where's that cappachino and kit kat :)
regards
Sheila

Hi Clair – This is a great read – lively & easy to read, bowling along & taking the reader with it. A fun and interesting concept too – reminds me of Allison Pearson’s ‘I Think I Love You’. I like that the amount the women won was huge, but not excessive – made the whole thing seem more real.

You’ve obviously had loads of feedback, so you probably don’t need much more... the only two comments I’d make, though, are that overall I felt the dialogue could do with tightening – it’s chatty and real for sure, but there are times when I felt there was perhaps a little too much of it – ie some of the exchanges could do with being distilled & still achieve the same conversational effect. The other thing that struck me was the lack of tension. I realise the novel is centred on fun, not angst, but I do wonder whether at times it needs some shade to balance the light. One example that struck me was the hash brownies incident – you say the women took a lot of wrong turns etc on the way to the concert – might you not make a separate scene of this, in that they get lost, there’s a bit of ‘peril’ so the reader thinks they’re about to miss the whole thing, & then the situation is resolved & they get there in the nick of time? Similarly, in the scene up the Eiffel Tower, I felt more could have been made of Amy’s fear of heights.

Anyway, only my opinion. I really enjoyed the read & hope you reach the desk v soon.

wow! Go Carol! After the first few chapters, which seemed mysteriously devoid of men, we find out what Carol's hesitation is all about, and from that point I was rooting [if you'll pardon the expression] for her to, if not fall in love, at least have a good time. This is like Shirley Valentine x 2 in its innocent, happy go lucky tone, with its maybe just a little past their prime MCs. Highly readable, and I can only guess what happens from here.. but I feel that it won't end in tears, somehow.

Clair, I've finally got round to reading at least some of Fat Bottomed Girls and loved it. Great humour, fantastic characters, pace is good. Just wish I had a Kindle so I could download the whole book. This should be out in print! Did I mention I went to a party with Queen in Montreux when I was 15.....?

Melanie xx
La Vie en Rosé

FAT BOTTOMED GIRLS
I opened this book because of the title; made me think of myself. Both Carol and Amy are wonderful main characters. I like the details you include about their lives like the type of coffee they drink and their computer passwords. Made me want to identify with them even more because I’m a caromel coffee drinker too. The real strength of this, tho, is your overall writing style. It’s crisp and clean. Makes this a fun and easy read. I’m adding it to my shelf. Wanttobeawriter: Who Killed the President?

This is a great read. Funny but plenty of pathos, too. Well-written and some superb characters. Excellent.

~Fat Bottomed Girls~

Great premise, great narrative and, most importanly, great characters! Carol and Amy are two characters I would definitely enjoy spending time with.

Also, I loved your reference to one of Queen's hits in 'As with all kids...they would want it all.' Genius!

If you're a fan (or even if you're not a fan) of Queen, you'll love Fat Bottomed Girls!!!

Iman xxx

Miss Manners: http://www.authonomy.com/books/39355/miss-manners

Great fun and well-written. One for the top!

The person below must be reading a different book !! because this one sets out to do what it says on the tin. Its a hilarious jaunt along the holiday of two 40 plus women, who love each others company, want the best for each other and cant wait to get on their adventures.

This is well written, original and it doesnt profess to be a high brow novel. What it does do is transport you on their trip, makes you question and join in their adventures and most of all ... make you wish YOU were going along with them. Its a hoot !

I was attracted by the title of this book, but found it too simple written, simple spelling mistakes and incorrect use of commas etc, mistakes which a school child shouldn't make, plot was immaturely wriiten, lack of build up and imagery, wasn't for me

I was attracted by the title of this book, but found it too simple written, simple spelling mistakes and incorrect use of commas etc, mistakes which a school child shouldn't make, plot was immaturely wriiten, lack of build up and imagery, wasn't for me

Funny!!! Sounds like a trip I'd like to take with some of my friends!! ^_^

Thanks!

Carrie
Kimchi and Classrooms

I really am enjoying the story. I want to hang out with Amy and Carol - they sound like great fun and clever. Your writing brings them to life in such a vivid form.

Well done.
Karyn

This is some of the best dialogue in works I've seen on Authonomy. Great character development. I feel I know these women personally after just one chapter!

The story of Amy and Carol is funny. I like it. Rated and on my WL.

A fun story. I like the title and the opening. I wanted to know a bit more about the girls before we plunged into modern day - why are they still best friends and so close? What happened in between?

Conversely, I found the office detail and then the lead up to the win a bit slow. Perhaps a bit of editing to deal with the pace and the slightly variable punctuation?

Though I thought there was an opportunity to tighten things up here, this is sure to go down well with women who enjoy a fun, warm and humorous read.

J.S.Watts
Witchlight

thanx for the message. ive read your first chapter but its just not for me sorry.
best of luck x

Wow!! Really loved this, reads like something I could pick up in a shop!

Made me laugh, I would tell my friends about it :D

Clair;
I started to read your book today and have to admire your great writing style and wit. I love how you develop your story right out the gate with heart and humor. Your book will be the first on my shelf and I will definitely continue reading. Highly stared from me and if you have any time on your busy hands I would truly appreciate if you would take a look at my work:
"Ella In Between".
Thanks so much
Elke

Oh this has got so much better and that last bit... the build up and their night alone... I need a cold shower... best thing I can say is written by a woman who knows what its like, knows what women want and WOW - THANK YOU.

Funny as heck, great real characters who know what they want... the dinamic between them is almost real. Really enjoyed this ... im off to buy it ... cos I can !

Dear Clair,
I chose Fat Bottomed Girls to read after seeing it mentioned on a thread in the forum - I'm a huge Queen fan and the title made me smile.

I hope you don't mind, but I made a few notes as I read...

Like title

Like opening para, then straight to modern day. I wondered though, if you could have a later 'snapshot', of maybe the girls as carefree teenagers? Then the contrast between mad beautiful teens and the poor lady on the sofa would be more marked (and engender more empathy - we all sit hopelessly on our sofas at some point, remembering youth and freedom).

Echo in 4th para 'yet another'

'Peaked'? This made my mind boggle a little... do you mean 'peeked'? Or her hair was sort of sticking up?

Smirked - I always think a smirk is a fake smile, which I don't think you mean. Smirk to me is what a bully does when he's nailed his victim. (I might be wrong!)

Like the winning scene, with them not realising

I like the naughty passwords, but could you be a bit more subtle at setting them up? So after the IT lady who didn't appreciate the Knockers, just drop the passwords in without comment. So, cut 'knowing what came next'.

Mist over with joy - As they've already been crying with joy, this phrase jarred me. Could you use something else? Mouth trembling? Head thumping from adrenalin and too much fizz?

'As with all kids...want it all' Ouch. How hard and how true. I think you need more of this kind of wisdom - that kind of observation (especially not presented as part of narrative) goes a long way to building credence in the character. It also makes your reader feel as you know what you're talking about - a writer in their twenties wouldn't know that, not really.

I think your pace is a little slow, maybe because of two things - structure and backstory. I'm not sure you need all the detail of the office world. You can sum worlds up very quickly (you did it with the opening para), so I think you could cut quite a lot of the detail out, without losing the purpose of the detail (illustrating their dull lives and lovely friendship). Structure wise, you could use just one or two scenes before the lotto winning scene. As soon as I got to that bit, I was interested - I wanted to know what they'd won, and then I wanted to know what they'd spend it on. You could even splice the two threads together - the boring day and the win, by using flash back or whatever. Anyway, just an idea.

I like the sound of your synopsis, I like how the structure of the rest of the novel is so easily assimilated (we know they're going to 8 places), so we can really concentrate on their character development.

I only read to the end of Ch 2, and I would read on if you could tighten the structure and increase the pace a little.

Hope I've helped a bit, I enjoyed reading.

Best wishes,

Carlie

Just read the first few chapters of Fat Bottomed Girls and loved it. Carol and Amy are fabulous characters and I like the way their personalities are opposite so they compliment each other. I am glad you didn't have them winning millions as this would have been a whole different ball game. £96,000 is enough to give them the freedom of an adventure and keep them grounded but not enough to split up their relationship. This is a fun read and the type of book I would take on holiday to have a giggle by the poolside! I lost faith in the lottery but maybe I will change my mind.........

Happy to put on my watchlist to dip back into and six stars.

Kim (Pain)

I really enjoyed reading this Clair, it's funny and warm with bags of charm. The premise is great fun too, lots of luck!
Millie x

Fat Bottomed Girls is definitely one of my favourite books on the site. Well-structured, great pace and I love the main characters. One to watch.x

Clair, Fat Bottomed Girls has really cheered me up! I look for escapism, a good story and a bit of fun and I found it all here. There's enough doom and gloom around - it's nice to get away from it. Excellent.

I must say reading the first few chapters what struck me the most was Carol and Amy's strong friendship and the differents £96,000 made to thier entire lives. I absolutely like the way stuctured the story as a ongoing adventure, bring them a mixture of challenging times, as well as happiness. In other words even though they were in their 40's they could still live a enjoyable life. The lotto winning element of the story is something we all think about what if we won, how would we spend out winnings. You have certainly captured my imagination and thats why I can see a very bright future ahead for Fat Bottems Girl story. It has all the elements I look for in a good book; happiness, adventure, family feel, friendship as well love. The book took me on a Journey beyond the three chapters I had planned to read today and much further then I nomrally read in a single evening. Overall I thought the story was brillant and well written throughout. The pace of the story was steady read, which is good as the two best friends grow on me. Chapter twenty two bedroom scene was heavily detailed in a positive way, it enabled the reader to follow the developing relationship between Mark and Carol. Loved the story, love the lay out and I would rate this story *********stars. Simply brillant, well done:)

I must say reading the first few chapters what struck me the most was Carol and Amy's strong friendship and the differents £96,000 made to thier entire lives. I absolutely like the way stuctured the story as a ongoing adventure, bring them a mixture of challenging times, as well as happiness. In other words even though they were in their 40's they could still live a enjoyable life. The lotto winning element of the story is something we all think about what if we won, how would we spend out winnings. You have certainly captured my imagination and thats why I can see a very bright future ahead for Fat Bottems Girl story. It has all the elements I look for in a good book; happiness, adventure, family feel, friendship as well love. The book took me on a Journey beyond the three chapters I had planned to read today and much further then I nomrally read in a single evening. Overall I thought the story was brillant and well written throughout. The pace of the story was steady read, which is good as the two best friends grow on me. Chapter twenty two bedroom scene was heavily detailed in a positive way, it enabled the reader to follow the developing relationship between Mark and Carol. Loved the story, love the lay out and I would rate this story *********stars. Simply brillant, well done:)

This book nearly set my toga on fire!
Cicero

I'm 8 chapters in now and this is such a fun, whistle stop tour.

You've really captured Carol's timid side and it's great to watch her change and become more confident. You can see she has been livelier before marriage and been badly affected by the divorce so I like the way Carol's self-esteem grows with the journey. I like the touch of the information about Queen at the start of each chapter and relating that to Amy or Carol. The show seems to change slightly with each destination, making it unique to each city. As for the cities, you've immersed the characters into them effectively. So far, Madrid has been my favourite because Carol is really starting to come alive (and of course it's getting a lot steamier). Amy is a real character, boisterous and confident. The scenes in the museum in Amsterdam did make me laugh out loud.

I'm just left wondering now if Carol will stay true to Mark or if he is just the start of her adventures, and what trouble is Amy going to get into next?

I had to back this even though I dont like chick lit. When i read the bit about Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, you had me ... I skimmed through a few chapters, enjoyed it and read a little in Rome. The acuracy of the Angels and Demons tour blew me away. I will give this a definate in depth read.

This is hilarious, its a bit stereotypical to go to amsterdam and get stoned, but for a 40yr old to do it, made it funny, and the munchies the next day made me remember so many days as a teenager.

I guess thats what these early chapters do, quite a smart move actually, they make us remember things we've done in our own lives.

V well done x