This is a keeper. Charming. Witty. Unforced.
593236
Sparkling effervescent dialogue. Laugh out loud situations that are nonetheless credible. I really enjoyed this. A charming gamine heroine almost overlooks her match while pining over and scheming to impress another.  All the characters were well defined and very droll. The dynamics of each relationship rang true and were integral to the story. If you loved Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase you will enjoy this too.
3886751
I'm terrible at writing reviews, so I will just say this: Read this book. It's fresh and fun, well written and clever. It's worth it. Trust me.
4866842
In a word, delightful. That Michael Thomas Ford can weave a great story should be no surprise to anyone who has read his work, but the ability to mix vampires, romance conferences, and an undead Jane Austen into something this joyfully fun will likely take you aback.

Jane Fairfax (the vampiric Jane Austen's current nom de plume) is in a rut at the beginning of the tale - her last manuscript has been rejected by publishers for centuries, her bookstore is selling puppets, her previous works are flying off the shelves - and earning her no royalties, and the only fellow in her life is her cat, Tom. It's enough to make a lady wonder if she still has anything to live - or unlive - for.

Success, fame, old flames and new flames, and jealous rivals are just the thing needed to get the blood pumping. Now all Jane has to do is survive.

The cleverness of this plot had me laughing out loud - something that garnered me a lot of odd looks as I was listening to this often on the bus rides to and from work. The narrator was phenomenal, carrying Austen's voice with a natural aplomb.

I can't wait for more.
1450473
This little gem of a romp is a wonderful example of the wit of Saranna DeWylde, a recent favorite author of mine.  Her characters have life and dimension and vitality, and her tales have a playfully sarcastic flavor.

Most of the characters in this story you have seen before, but you have never seen any of them like this.  A fresh new spin on some of our oldest friends.  I highly recommend this book and hope that you keep an eye on the career of this talented wordsmith.
3218061
Witty, original and well, cool.  Anyone over 30 needs one of these!
185210
Deep. Surprising. Beautiful. Charming. Ths novel is genius. IIf you are looking for a modern novel that isn't predictable or shallow, but rich and well-written, look no further. The characters in this book are people you see every day but don't really know. Get to know them. Everyone will find someone to identify with in this book. And everyone will fall in love with Ove.
3629951
The drawings are witty and whimsical. The premise never drifts into precious or twee. As a bonus, the text and commentary offer a very sly, and even a bit edgy, send up of Victorian mores and attitudes. It's not a one-trick pony, and benefits from rereading, which is an unexpected treat. It's even just the right length. The slight steampunk feel is fun. What a happy find.
1631895
What a charming yarn we have here. I've tried to read a couple other Ibbotson books and couldn't get through them--Platform 13 or something like that and another title I can't recall. I found those two books just a bit too young and sweetsie. Witch, however, held me from the get-go. I reckon what did it was the clever way that the author has a naturally good-hearted girl wanting to be bad. It never got old and I found it so delightful, this pretty and sweet, sweet girl so desperate to be bad like all the others in her village. Funny, and, of course, our heroine--no matter how desperately she strives--can never be as bad as she so desires. I won't go into plot details, as you can find them on other reviews, but just wanted to put my two cents in.
4205402
I don't even remember how I found this little gem but it is absolutely delightful, like a breath of fresh air.  A bit like an old black and white movie, a bit period comedy, poignant, off-beat...and a bit astonishing.  When I mentioned it to one of my best and most literate friends, she declared, "I love that book."  So read Fresh Air and pass the word on, for no other reason than for a fun change of pace!
4962648
You will not be disappointed in this book. It's clever. It's real. It's beautiful. I fell in love with the hero, which I rarely do anymore (at my age!).
4113947
I haven't written a review in ages, but I just had to write about this book, because i loved it so much. It was just completely charming. I laughed out loud several times. The writing and dialogue are so clever and original, and you just can't stop reading. The characters are just wonderful, very memorable and different in that everyone, even the villains, are fully fleshed out, believable and sympathetic. The plot is kind of an adventure and a mystery, and the hero and the heroine's story is very sweet and sexy. I was so pleased, and I've shared it with my daughter and she's shared it with a few friends of hers, and they all loved it, too. Hope the author writes many more.
4207175
This is such a charming little book. I purposely didn't read the back blurb and as such wasn't sure what to expect when I began the book (just had some vague memory of positive comments about the story) and I was continually surprised by the plot twists and turns. It's been far too long since I've read something that was pleasant through and through. I enjoyed Sophie's go with the flow attitude (can't say as I'd be nearly as accepting and pleasant as she initially was with her transformation!) and her quirky sense of humor. Howl, the cad, was a great character. Very selfish and self-centered and almost childishly funny at times, he managed to worm his way into my good graces by giving Michael & Sophie a home without conditions or questions.
440961
Masterful. Lapidary precision in creating the two main characters. Spare, evocative language, though one must become accustomed to it. The H/h are profoundly affected by the other in a situation utterly antithetical to anything either would've ever sought under normal circumstances. She's a strictly proper widow who needs a pregnancy pronto to forestall a predatory brother-in-law from inheriting her late husband's estate. The hero's a baronet's heir who is exiled to the country to mend his ways and who considers sex his greatest skill. She proposes to buy his seed over the course of a month - a pregnancy might produce a legitimate heir - and he agrees. Their regard for each other develops slowly despite this inauspicious beginning. Their business-like trysts play out with sly, biting wit, and slight, seismic rumblings eventually lead to more cataclysmic encounters.

In terms of history, I don't think I've read a better blending of historical context and fictional events in a Regency. The highly stylized manner of her self-reflection also reinforced a feeling of constraint and the weight of propriety that felt appropriate given the time and her rigid, remote character. Though perhaps her uptightness is more Victorian than Regency, which was a period with a strong undercurrent of 'what the hell.'

Speaking of which, despite all the author's literary restraint and stunning craft, I have to admit I found Martha to be an uptight, relentlessly preachy killjoy beyond bearing for most, no, almost all of the book. There were glimpses of something else warmer but...as far as I can tell, Theo simply decided he found her off-putting demeanor charming, challenging and arousing. And she does mean well, as any self-righteous killjoy does. This was made abundantly clear. Then there's Theo, the charming ne'er do well, who finds admirable purpose beyond being the widow's stud. I liked him from the first, throughout and to the end. The best explanation for why he tried so hard with her was this: "No [woman's] lust...was so gratifying to a man as the lust that blossomed only after esteem had taken root."

Possible spoilers:
But this is what I admired most about the story: I was disgusted by her attitude, as he must've been, when he was toiling away at sex and she just lay there night after night. Finally, he let slip he "may as well be swiving a propped-up corpse." I agreed with him and laughed aloud! I wondered, just as she did, whether or not he would return to her after that. Why should he? When he appeared the following day, and she loosened up enough to give a tiny morsel more of herself, I understood her desire to reward him for honoring their bargain and still knew how much it cost her to unbend. I felt his frustration and incomprehension over a woman resisting physical pleasure on principle; I understood her resisting pleasure from an act as dishonorable as it was necessary, (such a killjoy). I understood, but as I say, I didn't much like her rigidity in all things. Still, I did end up liking her enough to be happy for her.

And this is what makes the author's accomplishment so extraordinary, Martha is someone I don't particularly like -- as a person -- until I know her better. (Actually, I never did end up caring for her much but she was alive and very real to me.) How many fictional characters can one say that about?! This was a beautifully told story of two unlikely people finding love and their true natures together.
542397
This is such a clever, witty little novel!-I adore these people!!-I have to say at the beginning I thought, is this a "Shallow Hal", redux or what?-
And the author should admittedly point out there are major bits and pieces, ideas and thought processes in the book that do specifically lead one back to..."Shallow Hal." Though truthfully, in so doing that, creators and makers of "Shallow Hal", (and I know nothing of copyright law. Seriously. ((Probably getting little daggers thrown at me now by author, which is not my intention. It's just a point I'm merely mentioning.)), may have something to say? Not sure, really.

Ah well. All of life these days appears to be a permutation of somebody else's and so on and so forth; and so shall we, heaven help us, all of a sudden become just exactly like all the others. Box of crayons, anyone? Talk about food for the Creative Soul. Highly imaginative in many other ways besides aforemontioned movie reference...

So, this book, (-And it's "messages" about truth, Lust vs. Love, attraction and images forced upon us telling everyone in society, this is beauty, behold, worship, strive to become and if not do you even still exist in society?) is really special.

The cast of characters display massive amounts of unconditional love and unjudgy attitudes towards one another, it is truly refreshing.
The night of Murder, is hilarious. And I shouldn't say that, but it IS!-

I'm only half way through, but I can't put this book down. A rarity for this lackadaisical reader who admittedly finds MANY of today's books tediously uninventive, mind numbingly BORING and with either a clearly painted black line from beginning of plot to struggle to end, with no surprises. This is not that book. I would love to be a part of this Knights of Creation Club. Uber Cool.

Slowing down now, as I read this marvellously funny book, so as not to get to the ending. As any woman, (who struggles with all of the issues of trying to be attractive while: a1. Not looking like or resembling a supermodel, a2. not belonging to nor will ever be a part of the Selfie generation a3. Thinks Selfies are a bit Narcissistic to begin with and quite frankly feel wierd that they are SO popular when there are serious world problems needing solving! a4. Making her way through the world with just regular looks, leaning towards dowdy and dumpy and has learned to love herself ANYWAY, b. Has weight issues, c. Isn't getting any younger, and d. Would prefer to keep her clothes and self respect ON, wearing both at the same time,) knows, it's a very, very VAIN world out there today.

Though I don't yet know the ending, I'm sure it will be worth reading. A high-five to Amanda Filipachi for gamely jousting with the worst of all our demons; pop culture, marketing and advertisers, bedamned. Good on you Girl!
1274848
soulful, unpretentious, funny, sad.....tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating .... charming
4031842
Tender, funny, poignant. This book has it all. I am a sucker for a well developed story that doesn't insult my intelligence where honest yet sometimes confusing feelings are concerned. Abigale is not a "perfect" physical specimen which is a departure from the norm, but makes up for it with her wit and inteligence. Jamie's Pygmalion style role to bring Abigale to her full potential is romantic in it's poignancy and full of humor. This book was brought to my attention by a customer of mine. She has never led me wrong and this time is no exception. I am currently looking for Susan Wiggs sequal story of Abigal's sister Helena and other offerings by this new found (for me) author. Thank you, Susan Wiggs
2323911
Favorite Quotes:

Despite how frustrating he could be, there was something infection about Dylan's personality.  Infuriatingly, he was cool; there was no other word for him.  Everything he did, everything he said, was effortlessly charming and impressive.

Oh, it's still got about fifteen years' worth of dust in every room, the ovens are coated in enough grease and grime to waterproof a Viking longship and I've had to get an eviction order for the larger spiders... but I think it's ok.

If only I were a few years younger... I'd love to get a good rogering from that one. I hear he's quite energetic.

Yes, we're an item... No, she doesn't need a guide dog and she is quite sane, thank you.  Any more jokes you want to trot out about my suitability as a boyfriend...

Ruth appeared, teleported to the scene of new gossip like a magnet drawn to an iron girder.

My Review:

The Little Village Bakery was an entertaining and relevant read yet a bit heavier than I was expecting.  The story is a mixed genre - best described as humorous women's fiction... part British charm, part angst, part intrigue and secrets, part romance - while liberally sprinkled with fun banter and amusing humor.  This odd little English village feels very small town with tongues wagging and reputations turning on a dime.  Everyone tries to avoid the elderly gossip that seems a bit obsessed with talking of "rumpy-pumpy," yet she is always there in the thick of things.  Wanting a fresh start in life, a new resident arrives after purchasing an ancient bakery sight unseen.  She is more than dismayed to realize its state of decay and need for more renovation than she planned.  Imagine her surprise when the village of strangers springs to her aid, although a storm that seems to have followed her.  The story was laced with heart squeezes, interesting characters, and fun bits of Brit vernacular to add to my list.