Book review: The Mummyfesto by Linda Green

My edition: Paperback, published on 14 February 2013 by Quercus, 457 pages.

Description: When Sam, Jackie and Anna successfully campaign to save their children's school lollipop lady, they are asked by a TV reporter if they fancy standing in the general election.

It is, of course, a crazy idea: Sam's youngest son has an incurable disease, Jackie is desperate for another child and her mum is struggling with Alzheimers, Anna's teenagers - and marriage - are in danger of going off the rails.

But sometimes the craziest ideas turn out to be the best. And just think what they could do if they got to run the country...

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Book review: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

My edition: Paperback, to be published on 11 April 2013 by Penguin UK, 329 pages.

Description: Don Tillman is an odd, charming, highly successful Professor of Genetics, whose long history of 'not fitting in' has convinced him that he is not wired for romance. But at weekly dinners with his elderly neighbor and valued new friend, Daphne (Don can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand), she convinces him to re-evaluate his prospects.

And so, in the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches all things, he embarks upon The Wife Project, designing a questionnaire to help him find the perfect partner: a punctual, non-drinking, non-smoking female who will fit in with his regimented lifestyle.

When Rosie appears on the scene, it is clear that she fits none of his selection criteria: a spontaneous, outspoken barmaid who smokes and curses, and simply adjusts the time on Don's clock when he complains that they have fallen off his carefully planned schedule. Yet an unlikely partnership blooms when Don agrees to help Rosie search for her biological father.

As Rosie pushes Don out of his comfort zone again and again, he finds to his surprise that he may be having fun. But can a real relationship take root if Don isn't wired to feel emotion like everyone else?

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Book review: Could It Be I'm Falling In Love? by Eleanor Prescott

My edition: Paperback, published on 31 January 2013 by Quercus, 500 pages.

Description:This Valentine's Day, Roxy Squires is waiting for the phone to ring... Roxy is famous. At least, she used to be. She's a good-time TV presenter and, OK, so things haven't been going so well recently, but she knows her big break is just around the corner.

What she's really looking for is someone to propel her back to the big time. Enter Woody, one-time pop star and Roxy's ultimate dream date, now working as her window cleaner. He's the answer to her prayers - but for some reason, he doesn't want to be famous any more.

And it turns out that they're not the only celebs in the village. Roxy's living amongst a motley crew of former stars and fame survivors, who meet weekly to discuss their new lives.

Is this the reality check Roxy needs? Or maybe it's a chance to do the unthinkable and fall in love...?

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