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Love Potions
When aromatherapist Sukie Ambrose starts using her cottage garden as inspiration - and raw ingredients - for her products, she thinks she's just hit on a good way of saving money while offering her clients a way of destressing and relaxation. However, Sukie lives in a village where strange things have been known to happen. She discovers that her new improved lotions and potions are making her massages distinctly magical - and producing more star-crossed lovers than Shakespeare could ever dream of . . .
322 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2006
10 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Christina Jones
85 books192 followersI've written all my life, but only became a published novelist in 1997. Before that, I wrote short stories and newspaper articles for pin money while doing a series of naff jobs. In fact I've had twenty seven jobs and been sacked from nineteen of them for writing when I should have been working. I've been, among other things, a shop assistant, waitress, cleaner, secretary, factory worker, market-researcher, nanny, bookseller, night-club dancer, civil servant, blood donor attendant, fruit-picker and barmaid. I'm now, apparently, a Real Writer.
Writing for a living is wonderful - a dream come true - and I now manage to combine writing novels, short stories and articles with not doing the housework, not doing the gardening, not cooking much, but at least attempting to look after my husband - the Toyboy Trucker - and my daughter and our 17 rescued cats.
I was born in Oxford and have lived in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Northumberland, London and Jersey. I blame my parents both for my itchy feet and my romantic soul. My Dad was a circus clown - Poor Billy, Prince of Laughter Makers - and my Mum who trained as a teacher, came from an army family, and had lived in six countries before she was 15. They met and fell in love while the circus was off the road and my Dad was working as Santa Claus in a department store. My Mum, at home for Christmas, was the fairy in his grotto. I was entranced by the way they met, that they were from such different backgrounds, and that their love for one another managed to survive every obstacle and objection thrown in its path. Every book I've written has their story at its core.
I grew up in a Berkshire village, in a tight, happy, secure and very working class community. My childhood was idyllically happy, and my friends from those days are still my best friends now. My novels reflect this community spirit, and all have small groups of people - crossing class, age and gender - who are friends and work together through the roller coaster ride of life. Also, because the women I grew up with were, by necessity, tough and go-getting with a sense of humour, my heroines are gutsy and strong. Real women in real situations. And the fact that the backgrounds to my books mirror my own past experiences is no coincidence, either.
My parents were great storytellers and avid readers, and taught me to read long before I started school, so I started writing my own stories at about five years old without thinking it in the least odd. Writing was an obsession, a friend, a way of life. I had my first short story published at 14, still blissfully unaware this was unusual. However, having a novel published was my life's ambition - and one that took another thirty writing years to achieve.
Having won a couple of awards for my short stories, I joined the Romantic Novelists' Association in 1993, and was lucky enough to be voted runner-up for the New Writers' Scheme Award at my second attempt in 1995. Dancing in the Moonlight was published by My Weekly Story Library, and as it didn't have an ISBN wasn't classed as a novel. I was, of course, ecstatic at this literary elevation - and it was at the RNA Awards Lunch that I was approached by an agent who suggested I should try writing full length commercial fiction. Going the Distance was the result, and amazingly it was sold to a publisher straight away and then, equally amazingly, chosen for the 1997 WH Smith Fresh Talent Promotion - and I haven't (touch wood and fingers and all other extremities crossed!) - looked back since.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Writing for a living is wonderful - a dream come true - and I now manage to combine writing novels, short stories and articles with not doing the housework, not doing the gardening, not cooking much, but at least attempting to look after my husband - the Toyboy Trucker - and my daughter and our 17 rescued cats.
I was born in Oxford and have lived in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Northumberland, London and Jersey. I blame my parents both for my itchy feet and my romantic soul. My Dad was a circus clown - Poor Billy, Prince of Laughter Makers - and my Mum who trained as a teacher, came from an army family, and had lived in six countries before she was 15. They met and fell in love while the circus was off the road and my Dad was working as Santa Claus in a department store. My Mum, at home for Christmas, was the fairy in his grotto. I was entranced by the way they met, that they were from such different backgrounds, and that their love for one another managed to survive every obstacle and objection thrown in its path. Every book I've written has their story at its core.
I grew up in a Berkshire village, in a tight, happy, secure and very working class community. My childhood was idyllically happy, and my friends from those days are still my best friends now. My novels reflect this community spirit, and all have small groups of people - crossing class, age and gender - who are friends and work together through the roller coaster ride of life. Also, because the women I grew up with were, by necessity, tough and go-getting with a sense of humour, my heroines are gutsy and strong. Real women in real situations. And the fact that the backgrounds to my books mirror my own past experiences is no coincidence, either.
My parents were great storytellers and avid readers, and taught me to read long before I started school, so I started writing my own stories at about five years old without thinking it in the least odd. Writing was an obsession, a friend, a way of life. I had my first short story published at 14, still blissfully unaware this was unusual. However, having a novel published was my life's ambition - and one that took another thirty writing years to achieve.
Having won a couple of awards for my short stories, I joined the Romantic Novelists' Association in 1993, and was lucky enough to be voted runner-up for the New Writers' Scheme Award at my second attempt in 1995. Dancing in the Moonlight was published by My Weekly Story Library, and as it didn't have an ISBN wasn't classed as a novel. I was, of course, ecstatic at this literary elevation - and it was at the RNA Awards Lunch that I was approached by an agent who suggested I should try writing full length commercial fiction. Going the Distance was the result, and amazingly it was sold to a publisher straight away and then, equally amazingly, chosen for the 1997 WH Smith Fresh Talent Promotion - and I haven't (touch wood and fingers and all other extremities crossed!) - looked back since.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 4, 2010
It was kind of boring. The idea of the story is great and it could have been so much better.
For this ~300 pages it's too less story. Derry, the male "protagonist", was nearly not there. From time to time with a few scenes he was there but mainly he was not. I couldn't really believe that they raelly have fallen in love.
All in all: Could have been worse & better.
For this ~300 pages it's too less story. Derry, the male "protagonist", was nearly not there. From time to time with a few scenes he was there but mainly he was not. I couldn't really believe that they raelly have fallen in love.
All in all: Could have been worse & better.
February 2, 2021
If you are looking for a bit of escapism then this is the book for you. A warm light hearted book with very likeable characters the main protagonist is Sukie Ambrose an aromatherapist.
Strange things start to happen when Sukie is forced to use raw ingredients from her cottage garden. Sukie lives in a village well known for its reputation for strange magical things to happen. Funny and well written I would recommend it as a good read. Try and enjoy.
Strange things start to happen when Sukie is forced to use raw ingredients from her cottage garden. Sukie lives in a village well known for its reputation for strange magical things to happen. Funny and well written I would recommend it as a good read. Try and enjoy.
November 30, 2008
This is my first Christina Jones book, and it has left me wondering what took me so long! Love Potions is a truly delightful story and a wonderful read.
Christina Jones tranports her readers into the lives of several larger than life characters in the deceptively sleepy village of Bagley-cum-Russet. Before you realise it's even happened you care about what happens to everyone of these characters. The tone of this story from start to finish is warm and funny. Actually, that's an understatement, because there are many parts of this book that are hilarious with laugh-out-loud moments.
Love Potions is a fun read, but that doesn't detract from the angsty moments in the story. There will be times when you'll be particularly rooting for Sukie and an older character, Joss, and willing them to attain their happy-ever-afters, which without a doubt, they deserve.
Christina Jones ties up every single thread of the plot and sub-plots, and wraps it all in a warm and fuzzy Happy Ever After for every one of the characters. There is nothing in this book to disappoint, and I can't wait to read more from Christina Jones. Hmm...time I think to dig Hubble Bubble out of my TBR shelves.
Christina Jones tranports her readers into the lives of several larger than life characters in the deceptively sleepy village of Bagley-cum-Russet. Before you realise it's even happened you care about what happens to everyone of these characters. The tone of this story from start to finish is warm and funny. Actually, that's an understatement, because there are many parts of this book that are hilarious with laugh-out-loud moments.
Love Potions is a fun read, but that doesn't detract from the angsty moments in the story. There will be times when you'll be particularly rooting for Sukie and an older character, Joss, and willing them to attain their happy-ever-afters, which without a doubt, they deserve.
Christina Jones ties up every single thread of the plot and sub-plots, and wraps it all in a warm and fuzzy Happy Ever After for every one of the characters. There is nothing in this book to disappoint, and I can't wait to read more from Christina Jones. Hmm...time I think to dig Hubble Bubble out of my TBR shelves.
June 9, 2022
All of Christina Jones’s village novels are like being wrapped in a huge blanket: they are comforting, warm and make everything seem better!
April 4, 2020
this was a very unentertaining read. i only wanted to finish it because i am participating in a readathon.
the characters were very two-dimensional and didn’t have much development, especially the main character named sukie who is i think is rather scatter brained and selfish because she didn’t think about the consequences of the potions and just... brushed it off? a very sensible 28 year old. at most, i enjoyed reading jocelyn’s story, she deserved what she got.
speaking of the story, it was dreadfully predictable. everything fell into place far too easily that i was starting to wonder if there was really a need for a plot, it felt like the concept of the story was just there to move the plot along. there were some very just-so-happen-to-be-there plot devices that were so predictable that it made the story very bland and dull.
i wished the magical realism was more fascinating, as having it blandly just as love potions to conveniently solve problems wasn’t very engrossing, especially when the problems were very superficial.
i did enjoy the description of the surrounding area of little villages in England and the english slang, very relatable haha.
none the less, a 2 star read for me. i don’t think chick lit is for me 😅😂
the characters were very two-dimensional and didn’t have much development, especially the main character named sukie who is i think is rather scatter brained and selfish because she didn’t think about the consequences of the potions and just... brushed it off? a very sensible 28 year old. at most, i enjoyed reading jocelyn’s story, she deserved what she got.
speaking of the story, it was dreadfully predictable. everything fell into place far too easily that i was starting to wonder if there was really a need for a plot, it felt like the concept of the story was just there to move the plot along. there were some very just-so-happen-to-be-there plot devices that were so predictable that it made the story very bland and dull.
i wished the magical realism was more fascinating, as having it blandly just as love potions to conveniently solve problems wasn’t very engrossing, especially when the problems were very superficial.
i did enjoy the description of the surrounding area of little villages in England and the english slang, very relatable haha.
none the less, a 2 star read for me. i don’t think chick lit is for me 😅😂
October 5, 2017
This is probably the silliest book I have ever read, but having said that I did want to finish it! Such stupid names for the characters and such an improbable story too.
January 24, 2018
A fun and light-hearted read full of quirky characters, lovely English villages, and lots of magic from a overgrown cottage garden, with a few love triangles thrown in for good measure!
July 30, 2021
A fabulous heart warming read as always.
May 10, 2021
An interesting and slightly kooky tale of romance with some magical realism thrown in there, so much so I might even be tempted to try it myself! The story is very well-written and structured, and she is great at describing the village and the seasons, one of my very favourite things. “.. without a breath of wind, the air filled with birdsong, and blossoms fluttering against the blue of the sky, petals gently swirling around her as she wandered, like pastel confetti” – what a perfect spring day!
The leading character Sukie, a beautician turned aromatherapist, has just returned home from a training course to find a strange – and naked - guy in her bed. Home is a cutesy chocolate-box cottage named Pixie’s Laughter, which formerly belonged to her godmother Aunt Cora, who we discover was adept at aromatherapy herself, often using these skills to procure love and marriage among the villagers following the Second World War. Once Sukie discovers this, there is plenty of scope for madness, mayhem and meddling with often amusing results. Sukie was extremely close to Cora and misses her immensely, as she was “the person I loved most in the whole world.”
Sukie has fallen for her surprise B&B guest on sight, so when he starts going out with her housemate Milla, she suffers the anguish of unrequited love. At the same time, her new aromatherapy business is taking off. But hang on – Cora would have the answers, wouldn’t she? I’m not so comfortable with the way Cora used her skills to matchmake back in the 1940s – fixing up people who normally wouldn’t have given one another the time of day. As Topsy muses to Sukie “... I knew I didn’t love him like he loved me, and Cora kept giving me top-ups and we bumbled along together for the next 30-odd years. And no I don’t regret it. It was better than being alone”. Is this really fair? I think I’d prefer to be alone than with the wrong person, even with the depleted supply of guys during and after the war ……
But apart from being around with Milla, and turning up unexpectedly and helping Sukie pick herbs from the garden and make aromatherapy essences, the love interest Derry doesn’t feature in the book sufficiently for me to really know him and know what Sukie feels for him. It seemed to be lust, as I didn’t feel they interacted enough to really fall in love with one another, certainly not so quickly. (I’m not giving away the game here – it’s apparent from the back cover what the outcome is).
The magical realism was believable to a very good extent, but what wasn’t was the far-too-twee names – of villages AND people which is often really overcooked in chick lit. Yes, we get that the villages are olde-worlde and charming, but some of the names were beyond belief and stretched credibility too much for my tastes. I don’t do cutesy character names very well, I’m afraid.
No unkindness, intrigue, bitching or backstabbing (unless Marvin is counted in that!!)
Many of the characters are well into old age or at least middle age. Sukie (age 28) notes that “because we’re young, we’re so sure we’re immortal, aren’t we? I mean to us they’re just old people who have always been old people. We don’t think we’ll be like that, but we will.” And Derry agrees with her: “Yes we will. But inside we’ll still be young, like they are. The only difference will be that we’ll have a lifetime of memories and experience to draw on – like they have. And there will still be new things to look forward to. Different things, but there will still be a point to being alive even when we’re very old.” An octogenarian leads a dance troupe rather like the Tiller Girls and puts on a good display herself. I really like this positive portrayal of older people.
The book is 11 years old, and it was refreshing not to see Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Facetime mentioned! As Chelsea tells Sukie about her unrequited crush from school “I even looked him up on Friends Reunited but he wasn’t even registered on there”. I love the now old-fashioned references to out of date social media and women coming in the pub looking like the cast of Footballers’ Wives. This sets the books in their time and I find it amusing to reminisce.
This is the 8th in the series of books set in these quaint Berkshire villages, so if you prefer some background reading and scene setting, and an amusing read, of course, then give them a go. Me? I’m off to mix up some aromatherapy recipes.
4.5.
The leading character Sukie, a beautician turned aromatherapist, has just returned home from a training course to find a strange – and naked - guy in her bed. Home is a cutesy chocolate-box cottage named Pixie’s Laughter, which formerly belonged to her godmother Aunt Cora, who we discover was adept at aromatherapy herself, often using these skills to procure love and marriage among the villagers following the Second World War. Once Sukie discovers this, there is plenty of scope for madness, mayhem and meddling with often amusing results. Sukie was extremely close to Cora and misses her immensely, as she was “the person I loved most in the whole world.”
Sukie has fallen for her surprise B&B guest on sight, so when he starts going out with her housemate Milla, she suffers the anguish of unrequited love. At the same time, her new aromatherapy business is taking off. But hang on – Cora would have the answers, wouldn’t she? I’m not so comfortable with the way Cora used her skills to matchmake back in the 1940s – fixing up people who normally wouldn’t have given one another the time of day. As Topsy muses to Sukie “... I knew I didn’t love him like he loved me, and Cora kept giving me top-ups and we bumbled along together for the next 30-odd years. And no I don’t regret it. It was better than being alone”. Is this really fair? I think I’d prefer to be alone than with the wrong person, even with the depleted supply of guys during and after the war ……
But apart from being around with Milla, and turning up unexpectedly and helping Sukie pick herbs from the garden and make aromatherapy essences, the love interest Derry doesn’t feature in the book sufficiently for me to really know him and know what Sukie feels for him. It seemed to be lust, as I didn’t feel they interacted enough to really fall in love with one another, certainly not so quickly. (I’m not giving away the game here – it’s apparent from the back cover what the outcome is).
The magical realism was believable to a very good extent, but what wasn’t was the far-too-twee names – of villages AND people which is often really overcooked in chick lit. Yes, we get that the villages are olde-worlde and charming, but some of the names were beyond belief and stretched credibility too much for my tastes. I don’t do cutesy character names very well, I’m afraid.
No unkindness, intrigue, bitching or backstabbing (unless Marvin is counted in that!!)
Many of the characters are well into old age or at least middle age. Sukie (age 28) notes that “because we’re young, we’re so sure we’re immortal, aren’t we? I mean to us they’re just old people who have always been old people. We don’t think we’ll be like that, but we will.” And Derry agrees with her: “Yes we will. But inside we’ll still be young, like they are. The only difference will be that we’ll have a lifetime of memories and experience to draw on – like they have. And there will still be new things to look forward to. Different things, but there will still be a point to being alive even when we’re very old.” An octogenarian leads a dance troupe rather like the Tiller Girls and puts on a good display herself. I really like this positive portrayal of older people.
The book is 11 years old, and it was refreshing not to see Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Facetime mentioned! As Chelsea tells Sukie about her unrequited crush from school “I even looked him up on Friends Reunited but he wasn’t even registered on there”. I love the now old-fashioned references to out of date social media and women coming in the pub looking like the cast of Footballers’ Wives. This sets the books in their time and I find it amusing to reminisce.
This is the 8th in the series of books set in these quaint Berkshire villages, so if you prefer some background reading and scene setting, and an amusing read, of course, then give them a go. Me? I’m off to mix up some aromatherapy recipes.
4.5.
May 15, 2015
Sommernachtszauber- Christina Jones
Erschienen: 2008
Verlag: Goldmann
Seiten: 378
Preis: 7,95 Euro
Klappentext
Komisch, turbulent und zauberhaft romantisch – das ganz normale Chaos der Liebe
Als Sukie Ambrose einen nackten Mann in ihrem Bett vorfindet, ist sie ein wenig irritiert. Wurden ihre heimlichen Wünsche endlich erhört? Leider stellt sich heraus, dass Derry ein Mitbringsel ihrer attraktiven Mitbewohnerin ist und eigentlich für sie tabu. Aber seit Sukie Duftöle mischt und verkauft, geschehen merkwürdige Dinge in ihrem kleinen englischen Dorf. Liebe liegt in der lauen Sommerluft – und mit einem kleinen Zauber lässt sich vielleicht auch Derry diskret erobern…
Meine Meinung
Sukie lebt in einem kleinen Cottage, das Pixies Laughter heißt. Beruflich ist sie Kosmetikerin, die eine Fortbildung in Richtung Aromatherapie absolviert hat. Der Name ihres Cottages ist allerdings Programm, denn in dessen Garten wachsen so allerlei magische Gewächse. Sie lebt außerdem noch mit Milla zusammen, die eher eine Karrierefrau ist und kurz vor dem Traualtar von ihrem Fast-Ehemann sitzen gelassen wurde. Milla ist es auch, die Derry nach Hause bringt, in den sich Sukie sofort verliebt. Schon ist das Dreiecksdrama perfekt!
Ich habe einen locker leichten Chick-Lit Roman erwartet als ich zu diesem Buch gegriffen habe und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Ich habe die Atmosphäre der englischen Kleinstadt aus dem Buch förmlich aufgesogen und jeden Besuch der Protagonisten im Pub genossen. Der Klappentext verschweigt nämlich, dass es zwei Protagonisten gibt: Sukie und Joss. Joss ist seit Jahren in einer unglücklichen Ehe gefangen und trifft auf Sukie, die ihre große Liebe ebenfalls nicht finden kann. Die beiden Schicksale werden dann unaufdringlich miteinander verknüpft und ich konnte mich während des Lesens nicht entscheiden wen ich lieber mochte, Sukie oder Joss. Ich habe sie beide absolut ins Herz geschlossen, weil es zwei wirklich liebenswerte Charaktere sind. Beide Handlungsstränge sind interessant und ich war nicht genervt, wenn die Geschichte wieder zu einer anderen Figur umgeschwenkt ist.
Christina Jones hat einen locker leichten Schreibstil, der dieses Buch zu einem absoluten Wohlfühlbuch gemacht hat. Ich hatte genau dasselbe Gefühl beim Lesen wie beim Schauen der Serie „Gilmore Girls.“ Die Autorin hat es mühelos geschafft den Charme einer englischen Kleinstadt und deren Bewohnern auf die Seiten zu bannen. Der magische Anteil in der Geschichte ist gering und ich als Fantasy Leserin störe mich auch nicht wirklich daran. Es ist eine herzerwärmende Geschichte, die zwar nicht allzu tiefgründig ist, aber zu unterhalten weiß. Außerdem liebe ich Geschichten, die in Cottages spielen und verschrobene Charaktere haben. Davon gibt es in diesem Buch nämlich einige.
Fazit:
Dieses Buch hat mich bestens unterhalten und mich eingehüllt wie eine warme Decke. Ich habe die Charaktere wirklich sehr ins Herz geschlossen und wenn es eine Fortsetzung gäbe, würde ich sie mir sofort kaufen. Man darf beim Lesen keine tiefgründigen Dialoge erwarten, an manchen Stellen scheint das Buch auch rosarot eingefärbt zu sein, aber genau das braucht mein Leserherz ab und an mal.
Das war bestimmt nicht mein letztes Buch von Christina Jones!
„Sommernachtszauber“ bewerte ich mit 4 Sternen und hole die beiden Bücher, die ich noch auf meinem Sub von der Autorin habe aus den Untiefen meines Regals und stelle sie weiter nach Vorne!
Erschienen: 2008
Verlag: Goldmann
Seiten: 378
Preis: 7,95 Euro
Klappentext
Komisch, turbulent und zauberhaft romantisch – das ganz normale Chaos der Liebe
Als Sukie Ambrose einen nackten Mann in ihrem Bett vorfindet, ist sie ein wenig irritiert. Wurden ihre heimlichen Wünsche endlich erhört? Leider stellt sich heraus, dass Derry ein Mitbringsel ihrer attraktiven Mitbewohnerin ist und eigentlich für sie tabu. Aber seit Sukie Duftöle mischt und verkauft, geschehen merkwürdige Dinge in ihrem kleinen englischen Dorf. Liebe liegt in der lauen Sommerluft – und mit einem kleinen Zauber lässt sich vielleicht auch Derry diskret erobern…
Meine Meinung
Sukie lebt in einem kleinen Cottage, das Pixies Laughter heißt. Beruflich ist sie Kosmetikerin, die eine Fortbildung in Richtung Aromatherapie absolviert hat. Der Name ihres Cottages ist allerdings Programm, denn in dessen Garten wachsen so allerlei magische Gewächse. Sie lebt außerdem noch mit Milla zusammen, die eher eine Karrierefrau ist und kurz vor dem Traualtar von ihrem Fast-Ehemann sitzen gelassen wurde. Milla ist es auch, die Derry nach Hause bringt, in den sich Sukie sofort verliebt. Schon ist das Dreiecksdrama perfekt!
Ich habe einen locker leichten Chick-Lit Roman erwartet als ich zu diesem Buch gegriffen habe und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Ich habe die Atmosphäre der englischen Kleinstadt aus dem Buch förmlich aufgesogen und jeden Besuch der Protagonisten im Pub genossen. Der Klappentext verschweigt nämlich, dass es zwei Protagonisten gibt: Sukie und Joss. Joss ist seit Jahren in einer unglücklichen Ehe gefangen und trifft auf Sukie, die ihre große Liebe ebenfalls nicht finden kann. Die beiden Schicksale werden dann unaufdringlich miteinander verknüpft und ich konnte mich während des Lesens nicht entscheiden wen ich lieber mochte, Sukie oder Joss. Ich habe sie beide absolut ins Herz geschlossen, weil es zwei wirklich liebenswerte Charaktere sind. Beide Handlungsstränge sind interessant und ich war nicht genervt, wenn die Geschichte wieder zu einer anderen Figur umgeschwenkt ist.
Christina Jones hat einen locker leichten Schreibstil, der dieses Buch zu einem absoluten Wohlfühlbuch gemacht hat. Ich hatte genau dasselbe Gefühl beim Lesen wie beim Schauen der Serie „Gilmore Girls.“ Die Autorin hat es mühelos geschafft den Charme einer englischen Kleinstadt und deren Bewohnern auf die Seiten zu bannen. Der magische Anteil in der Geschichte ist gering und ich als Fantasy Leserin störe mich auch nicht wirklich daran. Es ist eine herzerwärmende Geschichte, die zwar nicht allzu tiefgründig ist, aber zu unterhalten weiß. Außerdem liebe ich Geschichten, die in Cottages spielen und verschrobene Charaktere haben. Davon gibt es in diesem Buch nämlich einige.
Fazit:
Dieses Buch hat mich bestens unterhalten und mich eingehüllt wie eine warme Decke. Ich habe die Charaktere wirklich sehr ins Herz geschlossen und wenn es eine Fortsetzung gäbe, würde ich sie mir sofort kaufen. Man darf beim Lesen keine tiefgründigen Dialoge erwarten, an manchen Stellen scheint das Buch auch rosarot eingefärbt zu sein, aber genau das braucht mein Leserherz ab und an mal.
Das war bestimmt nicht mein letztes Buch von Christina Jones!
„Sommernachtszauber“ bewerte ich mit 4 Sternen und hole die beiden Bücher, die ich noch auf meinem Sub von der Autorin habe aus den Untiefen meines Regals und stelle sie weiter nach Vorne!
December 12, 2011
Who knew love with a little magic could be so sweet? Christina Jones's book is another in her series about mad villages where magic is possible. In Love Potions, Sukie, an aroma therapist who was mentioned in the previous book, Seeing Stars, is the main heroine of the story. She comes across a naked man in her bad upon her return from an aromatherapy convention. Come morning, she finds out this hunk of a man belongs to Milla, her glamorous room mate, therefore making him unavailable to her.
When her best friend Chelsea accidentally gives her expensive oils to Fern and Tim, who are on their way to get married, Sukie has to prepare a new set of oils from real ingredients, which have surprising results on the villagers.
I liked how quickly the book flowed and how it wasn't all about Sukie. The good thing about Christina Jones's books are that they are nothing like any of the other books I've seen which deal with a village and its inhabitants. You don't have the bonkfests and all sorts of nasty intrigue going on. I'm not saying that the stories are bland or that there aren't some going ons, but its not every character. Christina Jones just has a way of writing that whisks me away into whatever village she's writing about.
When her best friend Chelsea accidentally gives her expensive oils to Fern and Tim, who are on their way to get married, Sukie has to prepare a new set of oils from real ingredients, which have surprising results on the villagers.
I liked how quickly the book flowed and how it wasn't all about Sukie. The good thing about Christina Jones's books are that they are nothing like any of the other books I've seen which deal with a village and its inhabitants. You don't have the bonkfests and all sorts of nasty intrigue going on. I'm not saying that the stories are bland or that there aren't some going ons, but its not every character. Christina Jones just has a way of writing that whisks me away into whatever village she's writing about.
September 7, 2015
Since I don't seem to be having much luck with books that I have actively bought to read and then struggled to get into, I've gone back to the Random Number Generator and it chose #32, which is this one: a chick-lit romance. We will see how I get on with it...
-----------------------------------------------
2.5 stars.
I'm really picky with my chick-lit. I like authors like Paige Toon and Belinda Jones who focus a good 80-90% of the story on the main characters and their romance.
This was probably 30%, which was a big disappointment. I wanted more of Derry. He appeared in the book probably about 5 times total, which was rubbish.
The only good thing in my opinion was the Joss thing. I'm so glad she got rid of Marvin, the insensitive, manipulative old sod. Admittedly I was doing a little happy dance when they met in London and she told him how it was now. Go Joss!
Other than that though, I was disappointed. I read books for the romance and for me, there wasn't much between our main characters.
Not a book I'm likely to keep.
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2.5 stars.
I'm really picky with my chick-lit. I like authors like Paige Toon and Belinda Jones who focus a good 80-90% of the story on the main characters and their romance.
This was probably 30%, which was a big disappointment. I wanted more of Derry. He appeared in the book probably about 5 times total, which was rubbish.
The only good thing in my opinion was the Joss thing. I'm so glad she got rid of Marvin, the insensitive, manipulative old sod. Admittedly I was doing a little happy dance when they met in London and she told him how it was now. Go Joss!
Other than that though, I was disappointed. I read books for the romance and for me, there wasn't much between our main characters.
Not a book I'm likely to keep.
May 19, 2016
Dieses Buch habe ich nach dem ersten Kapitel abgebrochen. Ich wollte mal was anderes probieren und meine Erwartungen habe sich (leider) erfüllt.
Es ist einfach nur ein simpler Groschenroman. Dummchen findet nach Geschäftsreise (Aromatherapie-Kurs!!!) schlafenden nackten!!! Mann in ihrem Bett vor. Geht's bitte noch schlimmer? Ja.
Kleine Kostprobe: Sie... trat mit abgewandtem Blick zurück, für den Fall, dass er splitternackt war. War er nicht. Zumindest nicht ganz. Er hatte es geschafft, ausgewaschene Jeans anzuziehen, in denen sein toller Körper noch mehr zur Geltung kam.
Spätestens hier schaltet sich bei mir der Selbstschutz ein und ich bin nicht mehr in der Lage, auch nur noch eine Wort zu lesen.
Empfehlen würde ich das Buch Leserinnen mit einem fröhlichen, unternehmungslustigen Östrogenspiegel. Ich bin definitiv raus.
Es ist einfach nur ein simpler Groschenroman. Dummchen findet nach Geschäftsreise (Aromatherapie-Kurs!!!) schlafenden nackten!!! Mann in ihrem Bett vor. Geht's bitte noch schlimmer? Ja.
Kleine Kostprobe: Sie... trat mit abgewandtem Blick zurück, für den Fall, dass er splitternackt war. War er nicht. Zumindest nicht ganz. Er hatte es geschafft, ausgewaschene Jeans anzuziehen, in denen sein toller Körper noch mehr zur Geltung kam.
Spätestens hier schaltet sich bei mir der Selbstschutz ein und ich bin nicht mehr in der Lage, auch nur noch eine Wort zu lesen.
Empfehlen würde ich das Buch Leserinnen mit einem fröhlichen, unternehmungslustigen Östrogenspiegel. Ich bin definitiv raus.
August 20, 2015
While I quite enjoyed the reading experience in that it was very light and therefore summery despite the autumnal setting, I can't give it more than 2 stars. The plot was extremely predictable and the characters did not seem very real to me. Also, it was a bit on the soppy side at times, even for chick lit. I did like all the descriptions of village life and Cora's garden, though, and do not regret picking this up. It was, well, OK - which is what 3 stars are for me - enjoyable, yet lacking in several fronts.
October 4, 2011
Chick lit isn't usually my thing. However this was recommended to me by a friend so I decided to give it a go. It was adorable! I throughly enjoyed reading about Sukie and the rest of the gangs antics...
I would consider reading more by Christina Jones, and I think I will look out for more of her books at charity shops and such.
Read this if you want a bit of fluff in between serious reads.
I would consider reading more by Christina Jones, and I think I will look out for more of her books at charity shops and such.
Read this if you want a bit of fluff in between serious reads.
February 21, 2012
This was a merry, frothy read with a nice warm ending and a punch the air moment for downtrodden housewife Joss (much deserved).
I enjoyed the main character Sukie and Derry K was gorgeous ... but ... and it's an honest but. I'd honestly have liked to have a bit more on Derry on the page. But I certainly couldn't complain with a full cast of madcap supporting characters it's a jam packed cosy read.
I enjoyed the main character Sukie and Derry K was gorgeous ... but ... and it's an honest but. I'd honestly have liked to have a bit more on Derry on the page. But I certainly couldn't complain with a full cast of madcap supporting characters it's a jam packed cosy read.
June 12, 2014
I have enjoyed reading quite a few of Christina Jones books, with her quirky characters set in Fiddlesticks. For some reason though it took me a long time to get into this one. I tried reading it back in 2012, and put it down! Tried again this year and finished it. It is pleasant and along the same lines as her others but it just didnt have the same spark! I will read more by this author though, as they are always an enjoyable read.
February 27, 2009
So I've finally read up this series...a gentle, mildly humourous story with a slightly old-fashioned romantic feel. The character of Sukie was less likable at first than some of the others I've read and she is a little wishy-washy...her need to go to the awful shack pub didn't make sense other than to fit the plot, but overall I've found these books likable.
October 2, 2012
hmmm I liked the premise and the story and all. But I felt it was just a bit too messy for my liking, the story wasn't tight enough, maybe because it delved a bit too deeply into the stories of relatively more minor characters. And I guess the writing was passable only while the first ten chapters or so was quite trying to read though. A pretty average book on the whole.
February 16, 2016
Of course I am going to be biased and say I love this book, so I will! Christina again dreams up the characters you know you want to meet and makes them so real you think you know them. In my case I do.
Of all the books by Christina Jones this one holds a very special place in my heart and just looking at the cover makes me smile.
Of all the books by Christina Jones this one holds a very special place in my heart and just looking at the cover makes me smile.
September 19, 2013
This was the first book I read by this author - some years ago now, and it remains one of my favourites written by her. It captured my imagination because I am interested in aromatherapy myself, and use essential oils...although no where near as much as the heroine in the story! An amusing fun read and generally uplifting story.
May 24, 2015
Really good. So warm and lovely. No more lonely souls. Oh I want the camomile and jasmine potion..distressed. to think that derry used a potion on her was so sweet. Cheers to u christina jones. I'll be reading more of u..
November 12, 2007
this book got me right from the start! fairy tale ending. a bit hard to believe but who cares?! and I don't mind waking up with a gorgeous naked guy in my bed. haha.
April 20, 2010
Ok, it's not rocket science - but reasonable chic lit which has a few laughs and is an easy read. Increase the rating if you like chic lit :)
January 6, 2011
Yet another book set in the quaint English countryside around Berkshire. The characters are delightful and the mix of magic and romance well handled.
Read
August 12, 2011found it pretty hard
September 28, 2011
I have just finished this book and like a few of the other sweetly slushy romance books I've read, it's another mediocre read that I enjoyed but wouldn't pick up again.
May 5, 2012
An enjoyable read by an accomplished author. It needed much more of Derry on the page however and there was a surfeit of characters.
March 10, 2013
A wonderful, romantic romp! Light and deliciously frothy...
April 4, 2014
Wäre schön, wenn es die Zauber im Buch auch in Echt geben würde...
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