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488th out of 1,792 books
—
4,037 voters
Please Don't Stop The Music
"Winner of the 2012 RoNA Romantic Novel of the Year"
Jemima Hutton is determined to build a successful new life and keep her past a dark secret. Trouble is, her jewellery business looks set to fail - until enigmatic Ben Davies offers to stock her handmade belt buckles in his guitar shop and things start looking up, on all fronts.
But Ben has secrets too. When Jemima finds ou...more
Jemima Hutton is determined to build a successful new life and keep her past a dark secret. Trouble is, her jewellery business looks set to fail - until enigmatic Ben Davies offers to stock her handmade belt buckles in his guitar shop and things start looking up, on all fronts.
But Ben has secrets too. When Jemima finds ou...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
February 1st 2011
by Choc Lit
(first published January 31st 2011)
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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As the winner of the 2012 Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award I was expecting a great read and was not disappointed! I'm a sucker for a swoon worthy bad boy in tight jeans!
Jemima and Ben's story is sweet, sad, funny and at times heartbreaking! The story begins with struggling jewellery designer Jemima having a really bad day. A series of unfortunate events lead her to the withdrawn and also secretive former rock god Ben. Jemima is secretive and beautiful, with bucket...more
Jemima and Ben's story is sweet, sad, funny and at times heartbreaking! The story begins with struggling jewellery designer Jemima having a really bad day. A series of unfortunate events lead her to the withdrawn and also secretive former rock god Ben. Jemima is secretive and beautiful, with bucket...more
Wow... Just wow! I am almost speechless about how much I loved this book.
I have to admit that I was rather sceptical at first, but since it won the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year award I wanted to give it a go. By the time I was 20 pages in I was 100% hooked!
There is so much abut this book that is simply brilliant - the honest and hilariously funny dialogue, a brilliant cast of characters, and the hints to the secrets were weaved throughout the story like a master.
Oh, the hero's story is so hear...more
I have to admit that I was rather sceptical at first, but since it won the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year award I wanted to give it a go. By the time I was 20 pages in I was 100% hooked!
There is so much abut this book that is simply brilliant - the honest and hilariously funny dialogue, a brilliant cast of characters, and the hints to the secrets were weaved throughout the story like a master.
Oh, the hero's story is so hear...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I bought this book on the strength of a really positive review on Dear Author and because I was looking for some smart, humorous single title romance to read.
When it arrived in the mail the day before yesterday, I read the first two pages and thought, Uh Oh. This book did not grab me. Also it's in first person, which I have a personal aversion to.
I had already gone and bought the book though, so I perservered. And so glad I did. Once the book hit its stride (and for me, that wasn't until well...more
When it arrived in the mail the day before yesterday, I read the first two pages and thought, Uh Oh. This book did not grab me. Also it's in first person, which I have a personal aversion to.
I had already gone and bought the book though, so I perservered. And so glad I did. Once the book hit its stride (and for me, that wasn't until well...more
Without a doubt, the best impulse buy of the past twelve months.
A positive review and an intriguing blurb led me to hope for a slightly unusual romantic mystery. A few pages into the book I realised that it was far, far more. Behind the smooth, captivating development of the plot and characters lies a firm, confident and very skilled hand.
Ms Lovering pulls off some extraordinary technical feats with such ease and panache that they almost slip by unnoticed. Holding back the revelation of the fi...more
A positive review and an intriguing blurb led me to hope for a slightly unusual romantic mystery. A few pages into the book I realised that it was far, far more. Behind the smooth, captivating development of the plot and characters lies a firm, confident and very skilled hand.
Ms Lovering pulls off some extraordinary technical feats with such ease and panache that they almost slip by unnoticed. Holding back the revelation of the fi...more
May 03, 2011
Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary,
suspense-mystery
Secrets push friends and lovers apart. Secrets make life unbearable. Secrets keep Jemima running from her past. It doesn’t matter how far she runs, her past always lurks like a dark shadow in the background.
A quiet country village is full of secrets. Jemima believes she is the only one hiding something. She doesn’t know how wrong she is.
Jemima makes ornate jewellery, but when her main customer cancels her order it leaves her in a state of shock. She takes her wares into York and after a dishea...more
A quiet country village is full of secrets. Jemima believes she is the only one hiding something. She doesn’t know how wrong she is.
Jemima makes ornate jewellery, but when her main customer cancels her order it leaves her in a state of shock. She takes her wares into York and after a dishea...more
Jemima Hutton needs to keep her past a secret. She knows if it gets out, her new friends wouldn’t want anything to do with her. She is determined to build a successful life, and is having good luck with her jewelry making business, until her lucky streak ends. When she meets the reclusive Ben Davies at his guitar shop, she begs him to stock her jewelry, and he agrees. As Jemima and Ben’s friendship grows, Jemima knows Ben is hiding a secret. He used to be a rock star, front man of a popular band...more
This was another freebie I got at the RT conference. It's a British selection but I enjoy the language and the change of pace that setting gives me. Jemima is struggling to make a life for herself after a bad past left her alone with only her jewelry making skills to support her. She lives with a friend who's had a baby with no daddy in sight. The struggles of the new mother added a lot of emotion to the story. Anyone thinking motherhood is a breeze should read this book. Then there are the guys...more
Summary: The owner of the shop that sells Jemima Hutton’s handcrafted jewelry suddenly decides to drop her. Jemima trudges through the streets of York to find another store that will sell her stuff. She doesn’t have any luck until she finds the out-of-the-way music store of Ben Davies. Even though he doesn’t think his type of customers will be interested, he agrees to try to sell the music-themed belt buckle she has with her. If he succeeds, he will consider stocking her other pieces.
Ben is a my...more
Ben is a my...more
Plot:
Jemima Hutton makes belt buckles, and that leads her into the guitar store owned by Ben Davies. They both have secrets, and they both need someone.
My thoughts:
What can I say, it was real. I like this kind of romance. You know where a couple meet, are friends, and then something slowly builds up. It is real, it's life, there are doubts, and there is love.
Jemima is young woman trying to build a life. She is nice, but she is also broken. Why we do not know. But there are hints, something has h...more
Jemima Hutton makes belt buckles, and that leads her into the guitar store owned by Ben Davies. They both have secrets, and they both need someone.
My thoughts:
What can I say, it was real. I like this kind of romance. You know where a couple meet, are friends, and then something slowly builds up. It is real, it's life, there are doubts, and there is love.
Jemima is young woman trying to build a life. She is nice, but she is also broken. Why we do not know. But there are hints, something has h...more
Am inceput sa citesc aceasta carte cu gandul ca imi voi alina dupa-amiaza cu o poveste de dragoste simpla,obisnuita, usor de digerat.Nu ma asteptam sa ma treaca prin atat de multe stari: de la zambet la hohote de ras, de la o lacrima in coltul ochiului la (in final) lacrimi de crocodil.
Personajele principale sunt Jemima Hutton(O tipa de 28 de ani cu un trecut crancen pe care incearca sa-l uite.Un trecut ce o face sa fuga si sa se mute tot timpul in alt loc atunci cand simte ca prinde radacini un...more
Personajele principale sunt Jemima Hutton(O tipa de 28 de ani cu un trecut crancen pe care incearca sa-l uite.Un trecut ce o face sa fuga si sa se mute tot timpul in alt loc atunci cand simte ca prinde radacini un...more
Jemima (a jewellery maker) met local artist Jason when she moved to York a year and a half ago, and in turn, moved in with a new friend Rosie (who makes cards). All three share a workshop and Jason and Jemima help with Rosie's little baby boy. Rosie and Jason know that Jem is secretive and isn't interested in romantic relationships, but always question why.
When Saskia, a snotty shop owner who stocks Rosies cards and Jems jewellery, decides to drop Jem as a supplier, Jem trys to convince local Yo...more
When Saskia, a snotty shop owner who stocks Rosies cards and Jems jewellery, decides to drop Jem as a supplier, Jem trys to convince local Yo...more
I ignored everyone and everything around me until I had read Please Don’t Stop the Music from cover to cover in one sitting. It wasn’t only the promised Dark Secrets that were responsible for this, but also the characters. In Jane’s book, they’re refreshingly different to the ones you often find between the pages of a romantic novel. The characters in Please Don’t Stop the Music are very much an “alternative” cast: they certainly don’t have perfect lives, nor are they perfect themselves. These a...more
Meet Jemima Hutton - Self employed belt buckle designer who lodges with her friend Rosie and Rosie's young baby Harry.
Whilst searching the streets of York for stockists for her belt buckles Jemima meets Ben Davies - One time Indie Rock Star who now hides in his little out of the way guitar shop.
Add Jason, the resident artist, Saskia, business owner (what is her hold over Jem and Rosie?) and hubby Alex and you have a mix of lovable characters all with their own secrets. Some deeper than others.
Be...more
Whilst searching the streets of York for stockists for her belt buckles Jemima meets Ben Davies - One time Indie Rock Star who now hides in his little out of the way guitar shop.
Add Jason, the resident artist, Saskia, business owner (what is her hold over Jem and Rosie?) and hubby Alex and you have a mix of lovable characters all with their own secrets. Some deeper than others.
Be...more
This was a freebie from iTunes, and a pleasant read, a well crafted romance. Jemima was intelligent, interesting and a good friend, with a lot going on in her life. Ben is a washed-up rock star, attractive but apparently neurotic. The romance between them is organic and believable, growing slowly while Jemima tries to sort out her small business, help her friend and flatmate with her mothering woes and keep on top of the rest of her life. Of course there are more melodramatic plot twists and tur...more
Jemima has a dark secret. The scars from her past stop her from settling down. Ben has secrets of his own. When Jemima goes to Ben’s shop to ask him to stock her jewellery, they recognise something in each other.
Please Don’t Stop the Music is too dark to be considered chic lit. The deeply damaged hero and heroine, arson, postnatal depression, the peculiar mystery of what Saskia is up to, all combine to make it a compelling read. With all that, you’d expect it to be a bit of a depressing read, b...more
Please Don’t Stop the Music is too dark to be considered chic lit. The deeply damaged hero and heroine, arson, postnatal depression, the peculiar mystery of what Saskia is up to, all combine to make it a compelling read. With all that, you’d expect it to be a bit of a depressing read, b...more
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Please Don’t Stop The Music was an incredible novel about a retired rock star. It was completely original, surprising and romantic. I have read a lot of rock star novels recently, but this one stood out. In my opinion, this was a one of kind story.
I absolutely adored Jemima and Ben’s story. Their secrets were shocking and heartbreaking, but also inspirational. I was stunned and extremely pleased with their big rev...more
Please Don’t Stop The Music was an incredible novel about a retired rock star. It was completely original, surprising and romantic. I have read a lot of rock star novels recently, but this one stood out. In my opinion, this was a one of kind story.
I absolutely adored Jemima and Ben’s story. Their secrets were shocking and heartbreaking, but also inspirational. I was stunned and extremely pleased with their big rev...more
Jemima Hutton is a talented jewellery designer with a dark past, but after being dumped by her only buyer, she has no idea how she’s going to carry on making money. Until she walks into Ben Davies’ guitar shop and her offers to carry her belt buckles as long as they sell. Jemima is intrigued by Ben, who shies away from people, and when she learns he was once part of uber-successful band Willow Down, she can’t help but wonder why he quit in the middle of their American tour. But if Jemima wants B...more
An enjoyable, easy read (the best choice after just finishing Les Mis!)
I enjoyed the characters though found Saskia to be very irritating from the start. The blossoming relationship between Jem & Ben was humorous though it did become quite dark for a time. I think the only problem I had with the book was the predictability of parts of the plot. I could sense most of the underlying truth from very early on. Saskia's behaviour and it's cause were too easily spotted at too early a stage in the...more
I enjoyed the characters though found Saskia to be very irritating from the start. The blossoming relationship between Jem & Ben was humorous though it did become quite dark for a time. I think the only problem I had with the book was the predictability of parts of the plot. I could sense most of the underlying truth from very early on. Saskia's behaviour and it's cause were too easily spotted at too early a stage in the...more
First and last lines of the book are great, but everything in between is a melodramatic mess. I'm a sucker for romances with a music theme but sadly although the hero is a former rock star there are almost no scenes related to music. Just two incredibly wounded people who keep running away from each other - first he's too damaged, then she's too damaged, etc. etc. And considering the heroine is supposed to be a jeweler, wouldn't it be a good idea if the author had learned how to spell "jewelry?"...more
I bought Please Don't Stop The Music on my birthday, 1st February, which also was the publication date of this book. I really enjoyed reading it too as it was set in York one of my favourite cities and only 1/2 drive from my home town.
There were many twists and turns and secrets which came out throughout my read.
I want a Ben in my life, he sounds gorgeous though a bit skinny! I'm not mentioning anything else as i really don't want to spoil any of this book for the readers.
All i'll say is that i...more
There were many twists and turns and secrets which came out throughout my read.
I want a Ben in my life, he sounds gorgeous though a bit skinny! I'm not mentioning anything else as i really don't want to spoil any of this book for the readers.
All i'll say is that i...more
So, I was at a loss for what to read and pulled this one off the shelf. I figured it would be a bit of a romance type but was drawn in by all the stuff about mystery in the blurb.
Overall, I liked it. The plot line was good with secrets gradually revealed throughout the book (although Ben's secret is presented in such a way that we are supposed to think 'of course!' but actually its not entirely plausible, I don't think). I guess the sense of mystery counters the romance a bit, turning it into a...more
Overall, I liked it. The plot line was good with secrets gradually revealed throughout the book (although Ben's secret is presented in such a way that we are supposed to think 'of course!' but actually its not entirely plausible, I don't think). I guess the sense of mystery counters the romance a bit, turning it into a...more
This is a debut novel Jemma Huton is 28 years old she shares a flat and
working space with Rosie her baby son and Jason, she is desperately
trying to forget her past but why?
She is a jewellery Artist and is determined to make a good business of
it. She meets Ben Davies who runs a small music shop he is persuaded to
stock her belt buckles, however he has his own secrets to hide.
I liked this book from the introduction about the Hob Nobs I found it
funny especially the banter between Jemma and Ben,...more
working space with Rosie her baby son and Jason, she is desperately
trying to forget her past but why?
She is a jewellery Artist and is determined to make a good business of
it. She meets Ben Davies who runs a small music shop he is persuaded to
stock her belt buckles, however he has his own secrets to hide.
I liked this book from the introduction about the Hob Nobs I found it
funny especially the banter between Jemma and Ben,...more
Well I am a artist so this was a great read for me I identified with just about everything in this book it covered everything from the jewelry side to the Indie rock music world lets go to the finest belt buckle perhaps losing one gem of a business but we never lose a singerplease dont stop the music lets just smile and chuckle dont ever lose your heart of belt diamond buckle Pleasae dont stop the music How her world connected in his and what awaits both of them its definitely on my top list of...more
This is the third title by Jane Lovering that I have read and reviewed here and that is because Jane found me, rather than me discovering her writing for myself. I am so pleased she did as otherwise I may never have read one of her books. The first one was Reversing Over Liberace which I reviewed last October. The second one was Slightly Foxed I enjoyed the latter as much if not slightly more, as it was realistic, the first one I had found somewhat farcical.
At last I have got round to reading P...more
It's strange. I absolutely adored this book when I began, was snorting out loud at one in the morning because the writing was so shockingly hilarious and the voice so fabulously strong. An unmistakeable voice which is something I highly highly appreciate in any writer but especially one writing here and now. So I loved it, loved it, loved it.
The spelling of Iggy Pop with an 'ie' kinda made me blink. But I did love the musical references. Actually I loved all the pop culture references, totally r...more
The spelling of Iggy Pop with an 'ie' kinda made me blink. But I did love the musical references. Actually I loved all the pop culture references, totally r...more
Wow, what a fantastic book!
There was no other way to start this review, I can't believe it took me so long to pick it up and read - I loved it!
Jane Lovering's style of writing is fun and extremely easy to read. I found myself sitting down to read it and easily reading 3/4 chapters without realising it. The story flowed really nicely and I warmed straight away to the characters, (well, not to Saskia, but you will know why when you read the book!)
I am an avid follower of Jane Lovering on her bl...more
There was no other way to start this review, I can't believe it took me so long to pick it up and read - I loved it!
Jane Lovering's style of writing is fun and extremely easy to read. I found myself sitting down to read it and easily reading 3/4 chapters without realising it. The story flowed really nicely and I warmed straight away to the characters, (well, not to Saskia, but you will know why when you read the book!)
I am an avid follower of Jane Lovering on her bl...more
Ahh - really liked it. It's a study of the sort of damaged characters I love. I think it's a bit like my stories but there's a lot less sex in this! Some great one liners, fascinating characters. I loved the angst, the reveal, the language. A definite keeper for me. It's an ebook and I want the paperback! I don't even want to give the synopsis - you have to read it not knowing anything except for the fact that it's a sweet romance with dark secrets and it ends happily.
I bought this book after reading so many good things about it - they were true! I absolutely loved this book, and read it so quickly, as I couldn't put it down. I just wanted to keep reading to find out what was happening to them! The characters were so well written, they were 3d and you really felt like you were getting to know them, as the events were unfolding. The storyline I really enjoyed, it wasn't too obvious as to how it would end, which I liked.
I keep thinking about the characters eve...more
I keep thinking about the characters eve...more
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Jane Lovering was born in Devon, England but, following extradition procedures, now lives in Yorkshire. She has five children, four cats, two dogs and doesn't believe in housework so the bacteria and dust are approaching sentience and now rank among the pets. Incidentally, she doesn’t believe in ironing either, and the children all learned self-defensive cookery at early ages. She works in a local...more
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“Know me right through to my bones.”
—
4 people liked it
“I know I have to give her that freedom. Otherwise I’ve just caged her, haven’t I? And what kind of love would it be, that only came from inside a box?”
—
4 people liked it
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Apr 13, 2013 10:03am