It’s a real pleasure today to be joining the blog tour for Wicked Game by Jo Lambert, published for kindle on 7th January and available from Amazon in the UK and US. It’s a real pleasure to be featuring Jo again here on Being Anne: her first visit was way back in August 2015, with a lovely guest post to mark the publication of Summer Moved On, the first of her linked contemporary romances. I reviewed the book in November, and really enjoyed Jo’s “romantic drama driven fiction” – and went on to review (and thoroughly enjoy) Watercolours in the Rain too (you’ll find the review here). So let’s take a closer look at Wicked Game…
Fashion designer Thérèse D’Alesandro has recently moved into Westhead Manor with daughter Felicia and stepson Marco.
Joining forces with neighbour Ella Benedict, she is about to open a bridal boutique at Ella’s exclusive wedding venue Lawns at Little Court.
Managing his father’s European restaurant chain, Marco has both the looks and charm to guarantee him any woman. Any woman, that is, except the one he wants: Ella’s niece Charlotte. Marco knows he should walk away as not only is she the most exasperating female he has ever encountered she’s currently in a relationship with rock star Christian Rosetti. But the chemistry between them is undeniable and sensing trouble brewing between Charlotte and the egotistical singer he is prepared to wait.
Charlotte’s cousin Lucy has discovered Christian’s guilty secrets – ones he has been keeping safely hidden from everyone. Determined to cause mischief and at the same time settle her own score with the arrogant star, she sets in motion a chain of events which eventually brings Marco and Charlotte together.
Thérèse’s husband Gianlucca has invited the granddaughter of an old friend to stay as a house guest while he undergoes heart surgery. Rossana Caravello is due to inherit the one of Italy’s premier vineyards on her twenty first birthday in September. Aware this would make an excellent addition to her husband’s international business portfolio, Thérèse plots to push the young heiress and her stepson together. Rossana is already besotted with Marco, but if the plan is to have any chance of success first she needs to get rid of Charlotte…
Wicked Game was previously published under the title The Other Side of Morning, which I read and reviewed here on Being Anne in March 2016. I’m going to share my review again, but without the paragraph which mentioned my initial confusion about the large cast of characters: the book has been substantially revised and updated, a few complications removed, and I was particularly delighted to see the addition of a character list. Now recommended without reservation!
In my 20s and 30s, when I used to take beach holidays and lie toasting myself all day (stick with me – there is a point to this…!), I used to have a very heavy suitcase as I loved to take with me the big blockbuster novels by the likes of Barbara Taylor Bradford, Judith Kranz and Shirley Conran. This book reminded me really strongly of those books – very much about the lives of the rich and famous, with a whole range of exotic settings, but without the raunchiness of some of those authors I remember, and a really pleasing Britishness in the Lawns at Little Court and the surrounding village community that the author writes about so well.
Charlotte is eminently likeable, Marco the handsome, loaded and thoroughly gorgeous love interest. They’re a couple just waiting to happen, but the course of love doesn’t run smooth when complicated by a rock star who badly needs to change his ways, a young heiress in need of a husband, a step mother intent on her own version of a perfect outcome, and a silly young girl who mistakenly sees Marco as her destiny. While Charlotte and Marco are always the story’s primary focus, we slowly get to know all those other characters that surround them, many with their own intriguing stories.
Jo Lambert writes quite beautifully – her style is flowing and easy to read, her dialogue natural, her descriptions vivid. The characterisation is excellent too – wicked stepmother Thérèse is quite a piece of work, and you just know Kayte is trouble from the moment you meet her. I particularly liked Lucy – the spoilt heiress who actually has considerably more depth to her than it first appeared.
I very much enjoyed this one – a twisting and turning story set against a wonderful large canvas, and a totally engrossing world to disappear into for a few hours.
Giveaway
With thanks to Jo and tour organiser Rachel’s Random Resources, I’m delighted to offer the chance to win a £15 Amazon voucher (UK Only). Here’s the rafflecopter for entry:
Terms and Conditions UK entries welcome. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
About the author
Jo Lambert lives on the eastern edge of Bath with her husband, one small grey feline called Mollie and a green MGB GT. She is the author of seven novels. The first five collectively known as the Little Court Series are saga/romances set in West Somerset. For book number six she ‘moved’ over the border into South Devon. Summer Moved On became the first of two linked contemporary romances. The second, Watercolours in the Rain was published in October 2016. In June 2018 Jo signed to Choc Lit and her eighth novel, The Boys of Summer, set in North Cornwall will be published in 2019 under their Ruby imprint.
Jo is currently working on another coastal romance, this time set in South Cornwall. When she isn’t writing she reads and reviews. She also has an active blog. Jo loves travel, red wine and rock music and she often takes the odd photograph or two.
Hi Anne, just wanted to say a huge thank you for being part of the Wicked Game tour and for all your support. Jo xx