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GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Wish You Were Here by Phillipa Ashley

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Description


Phillipa Ashley is a bestselling author in the UK with over 50,000 copies sold and the kind of funny, accessible British voice that U.S. audiences love.

Jack Thornfield, new CEO, is shocked to see his long lost love, Beth Allen’s resume come across his desk. After 8 years apart they have a second chance at happiness in this romantic story about love and secrets.

About the Author

Phillipa Ashley studied English Language and Literature at Wadham College, Oxford before working as a freelance copy-writer and journalist. Her first novel, Decent Exposure, won the 2007 RNA New Writers’ Award and became the Lifetime TV movie The 12 Men of Christmas. She lives with her husband and daughter in Staffordshire.

Details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Original edition (June 1, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402241445
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402241444

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Jack and Beth share a summer romance 8 years prior and Beth never hears from Jack again which breaks her heart.  Beth, in desperate need of a job, receives an offer from a firm where Jack is the CEO.  Her family and financial life is crumbling after her mother dies, her father has an accident and her talented teenage sister wants to go to an expensive acting school.  She settles into an unsatisfactory relationship with Marcus, who owns the local used car dealership. And yes, you are right in thinking all used car salesman are alike since I just felt icky even reading about him. 

After accepting the position, Beth finds her love and lust rekindled again being around Jack.  The job as a travel planner is just exactly what Beth needs and she soon realizes that Marcus isn’t what she needs.  The minor characters in this book are spectacular.  Freya (after Freya North, maybe?) is an extra sparkling star that provides a lot of comic relief and fun as the office assistance.  She provides a reality check for Beth as well and can see that Beth and Jack belong together.  Martha, Jack’s personal assistant/mother-figure,  knows how to run a tight ship and gets Jack exactly where he needs to be when it comes to Beth, even prodding Jack into hiring her.  Oh, and throw in an ice queen in the form of Camilla  (who is after Jack) just to make things interesting and get in the way of the reuniting couple. Sorry, but you have to read the book to get the full score.

I simply adored this book.  It gets everything right and you bond with the characters after only a few pages.  You will dislike (ok, maybe even hate) Camilla and Marcus but even then Ashley redeems them and shows their human side.  Beth and Jack just belong together and the chemistry between the two is perfect.  The is also a perfect balance between dialogue and description which to me makes the planets align.  I think I read this in about 3 hours, so it is perfect for the beach and even has a few exotic locations.  I really want to go to Corsica now.  If you are looking for pitch perfect beach reading, you can’t do better than Wish You Were Here.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?
Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address (No PO Boxes)
Contest ends on 6.22.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 6.23.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by Sourcebooks Landmark and  ONE copy will be available.
Only one winner per household address.

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Comments

  1. Thank you for the giveaway:):) I love reading your blog

    elliott2668(at)yahoo(dot)com

  2. Thanks for the giveaway. I noticed as I clicked submit. facebook was not checked on my entry form. I am a follower on fb-mamabunny shelor if you want to give me that entry 😉
    thanks
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  20. I just wanted to say thank you for entering the contest – and I’m *loving* all the new FB friend adds, Twitter and Goodreads followers! Have agreat day, all

    Phillipa x

  56. JINKY — ldsmomof03

    An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

    Thanks to all who entered.