Are Times are Changing? (Time For A Change - Erica James)

Member Name: brittle1906

Product:	Time For A Change - Erica James
Date:	05/07/09 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A well paced novel with good storyline

Disadvantages: Definitly female fiction - probably would not appeal to men

Review of Time For A Change, a novel by Erica James.

I am reviewing the paperback version of the book.
Genre:- Modern Fiction - ISBN: 752843400, 333 pages, jacket price £6.99.
First Published by Orion in 1997, reissued in 1998.

~~The Plot~~

The story is set in an English village, in the late 1990's. The novel is written in a very fast moving style, the characters are well drawn and believable and the plot has several twists and turns to keep you turning the pages!
Hilary Parker lives in a small village with her husband David and her children, Phillip and Becky. Hilary is a happy, organised lady, her husband is kind, caring and works very hard as an estate agent. They have a lovely home and their son is a pleasant bright boy who has just started secondary school, their daughter is a handful, a mischievous, willful child.


Hilary has immersed herself in village and family life, her mother and father live nearby and they run an antique shop. Her sister Charlotte runs the village florist and Hilary has many friends and acquaintances in the village of Hulme Welford, her home since childhood. An active member of the PTA of the village school that Becky attends, Hilary has her finger on the pulse of everything going on in Hulme Welford.

One fateful Monday morning, Hilary's comfortable world is faced with disaster when she discovers that all is not well in her marriage. She hears David muttering in his sleep. He says "Catherine, Hilary must never find out!". Hilary realises that her husband is having an affair with a woman called Catherine. Hilary is aware that her husband's secretary is called Catherine. Hilary then finds a restaurant receipt for a meal for two people, the receipt is dated for the previous evening. David had claimed to be attending a Rotary club dinner, this seems to be completely damning evidence of David's infidelity.

Hilary confides in a few friends and receives conflicting advice, one friend, an ardent feminist called Georgia advocates kicking David out, whilst her neighbour, Cindy, advises Hilary to do nothing and wait and see. Hilary is torn between wanting to scream and shout and needing to retain her composure.

Amid all the drama and crisis going on around her, Hilary continues to carry on her normal day to day life, attends her French language evening classes, PTA meetings, Church functions and other village commitments. She decided that she will confront David after Christmas.


Whilst Hilary is in turmoil, other events are building up, a war against pornography in the village newsagents, Charlotte's Christmas Eve wedding to Alex, an exploding boiler in the church during the wedding ceremony and a very traumatic Christmas visit from David's parents are all added to the mix of humour, village life and daily routines.
I won't reveal anymore of the plot here for fear of spoiling the novel for other readers.


~~The Author and Publisher~~


Erica James has penned several bestselling novels. She was born in 1960 and grew up in Hampshire, England. Erica James now lives in Cheshire with her two sons. For her latest novel Gardens of Delight she won from the Romantic Novelists Association the Romantic Novel of the Year Award in 2006.

More information and a bibliography can be found on Erica James' website, the source of my research about the author.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/j/erica-james/

Published by Orion Books Ltd
5 Upper Saint Martin's Lane
London
WC2H 9EA
Publisher's website:-
www.orionbooks.co.uk


~~Availability and Price~~

I purchased my copy for the knock down bargain price of £1 in Asda. They were having a stock clearance of novels and this one caught my eye. The jacket price is £6.99 and the book can be ordered used or new from www.amazon.co.uk A used copy starts at 0.01p.


~~My Thoughts and Conclusion~~

I have to be honest here and say that I have read other novels by this author that I wasn't too impressed with, but this one is a winner. A good plot with a strong storyline, enhanced by an eclectic range of characters, melded together with a very readable writing style have produced a modern novel which packs a light hearted, yet gutsy punch.
I enjoyed this novel and whilst it is definitely female fiction, would recommend to others wanting an absorbing yet 'easy reading' novel. .

Thank you for reading.
© brittle1906
Also posted on ciao.co.uk

Summary: Enjoyable novel with a modern twist to a well used theme.