My edition: Paperback, published on 23 April 2015 by Mills and Boon, 420 pages.Description: Claire Bixby grew up watching Doris Day films at her grandmother’s house and yearned to live in a world like the one on the screen – sunny, colourful and where happy endings with chiselled leading men were guaranteed. But recently Claire’s opportunities for a little ‘pillow talk’ have been thin on the ground.
Until she meets mysterious Dominic. Nic is full of secrets but their connection is instant. Could he help Claire finding the Hollywood ending she’s been searching for?
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…
Rating:
After Make My Wish Come True and The Little Shop of Hopes and Dreams this is the first non-festively themed title by the hand of Fiona Harper I have read, much more suited to the sweltering hot summer (or at least rain-free days, fingers crossed) coming up!
The book follows Claire Bixby, who works as a travel agent specialising in romantic destinations, which is ironic considering the fact that she's having no luck on the romantic front herself! Still, she's happy with her job and her friends, with whom she shares a love for actress Doris Day and so they regularly meet up for film evenings to relish the back catalogue of the inspiring woman.
The one thing not going according to plan in her life, after not finding a man to share it with of course, is her annoying downstairs neighbour who has reappeared and is being really inconsiderate; leaving a bike where she can trip over it and even stealing her milk. She spends an aggravating time exchanging notes with the man who becomes more rude with each passing message. But when Claire finally seems to have met a serious contender for Mister Right, not even her neighbour can get her off her happy cloud.
I'm very fond of novels that group together women of all ages as they meet over a shared passion after reading similarly structured novels such as The Vintage Tea Cup Club and The Meryl Streep Movie Club, which both were excellent in their execution - so The Doris Day Vintage Film Club had a lot to live up to! Unfortunately this one was was more focused on Claire and her storyline, rather than dividing it more equally between the women attending the film club, so while the novel's title is certainly enticing it was a bit misleading.
When the women were grouped together in scenes, however, they were certainly the strongest ones within the book; their friendship really shone off the pages and created a heartwarming and diverse story. I did like Claire and her progress throughout as well, but I found her connection with Nick a tad too predictable. Sure, there were some ups and downs thrown at them but ultimately the storyline was pretty obvious from the beginning and that is why I probably favoured the scenes with Kitty, Abby and the rest of the Doris Day Film Club.
Still, if you're looking for an escapism read to pick up on your next holiday or for a lazy Sunday afternoon at home, then The Doris Day Vintage Film Club will definitely be able to sweep you away to sweeter and simpler times.
You can purchase the novel from Waterstones, Amazon.co.uk or your own preferred retailer.
Would you like to know more about the author? You can connect with her online at:
Website: www.fionaharper.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fi.harper.author
Twitter: @fiharperauthor_
Many thanks to the publisher for copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
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