Dawn Ellis needs to escape from her painfully dull existence. Her unemployed husband spends all day complaining about life, moping around, or fixing lawnmowers on her kitchen table. The local writing class proves to be an adequate distraction with its eccentric collection of wannabe authors and, of course, the enigmatic Jason, who soon shows a romantic interest in her.
Dawn pours her inner frustrations into her first novel about the extraordinary exploits of Cinnamon Knight, an avenging angel -- a woman who doesn't believe in following the rules. Cinnamon is ruthless and wanton, inflicting suffering on any man who warrants it. Little does Dawn realise that soon the line between reality and fiction will blur. Her own life will be transformed, and those close to her will pay the price. Find out what happens in Just Add Spice by best-selling author Carol E Wyer.
"...No one has managed to track her down or interview her just yet. Mystery sells as much as sex it seems." commented Blake as he stacked up a pile of papers he had marked for the group.
"I bet she's over eighty years old and has a face like a slapped ass." said Craig.
...A fantastic combination of torture and pleasure. Carol E. Wyer dazzles readers with Cinnamon's insatiable appetite to inflict pain on cheats whilst arousing readers' interest (and more) all the same.
People who know me as a reviewer (a terrible, mean one), know that by reading thirty percent of their book, if I am not gripped, I send back an email stating why I can't write a review. This book already had me before two percent. I have read a lot of chick-lit, but none commencing with the lead learning to hotwire a car (thrilling!)
So Dawn is a middle-aged woman-no job, an unemployed husband who doesn't know of her existence, a son who's passed the moving out stage of his life and much too many sagging flesh. (You should see how Carol was vivid about all the sagging buttocks-sweet imagery).
Growing up, it hadn't been easy for Dawn. Pretty rough childhood with one parent dying and the other pushing all his woes into the bottle to have little time to cater for her.
Bored day in day out with her life by a husband who won't last more than twenty seconds in bed (see the saying about 'the older the merrier' is all a lie), she decides to take a writing class suggested by her son, Dan, to pen a novel and achieve something this once in her entire life.
Undergoing a series of writing classes with very hilarious characters-ones that put all their goods on display and ones that don't (so high-school), she takes in the lessons of instructor and best-selling author, Blake Ryder, who's advised them strongly to breathe, live their character to make them believable, Dawn is faced with the challenge of embodying her main, Cinnamon.
Apparently, Cinnamon isn't as sweet as her name suggests. Living the adage, Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned, Cinnamon is out to make all the dirty men in the world pay, including their 'other woman'. Before Dawn knows it (in patent-leather Prada kneeboots, of course) she is taking a kick-boxing class, exercising for a firmer ass and buying Viagra online to prevent her from making Cinnamon get an orgasm in twenty seconds (like she doesn't).
But there's a thin line between reality and imagination, and (even in patent-leather Prada kneeboots, of course) Dawn knows she's stepping over, but would she be able to pull herself out before it's too late (I mean,hotwiring first, daylight burglary next?).
This book is so worth gushing about. I adored it right from the onset
I adored Dawn right from the onset.
Beginning this blog, I have read so many funny books. And this is one of them. I am sure this book has added more years to my life because I really laughed a lot (at least that's what my GRUMPY says about laughter). From a funny lead, to the incredibly hilarious cast, Carol Wyer sure knows how to make people laugh. That gives her my first star.
I loved this title for some of the lessons it brought up. Lessons on infidelity, ageing, middle-age fitness, loss, love and... kick-boxing. This book touches on themes that struck a nerve, but portrayed so humorously there are very few crying moments. Don't get me wrong, the depth is there but what's a book that's going to keep you and your box of Kleenex wasted. Certainly not an economical one.
Just like one hunk Jason in this book, I am a sucker for older women, so I like how this book is aligned more to the lives of women who are 'supposed to be keeping it together' rather than women 'single and earnestly on the hunt'-second star.
Also, I wouldn't do justice to this review if I don't mention that it's brilliantly well-written. This story is incredibly light. There are more instances for this novel to be have been titled Just Add Spice and Other Stories, but though there are many stories running alongside the lead's (Cinnamon's and short stories from the members of the writing class), this novel was a really quick-read (just 184 pages). This fascinating feature earned it a star.
I loved, loved Cinnamon's story. It was fun to know you could fuse chick-lit with a psychological thriller. Though she's a bit rougher than her creator, Carol (or rather, Dawn) revealed an emotional side to her that got me both sympathizing and falling hard. But that's no surprise since I love women who come off hard (Hello, Angelina Jolie). This imaginary character's story had a fulfilling end that filled me with warmth (and this isn't because she ended up in Jo'burg)-third star.
And ooh, I have got to buy all the other characters their own novels. From the writing instructor Blake who would stare at the boobs of one student for half an hour and give out really informative tips about writing. To Craig the salesman who got me wondering 'what the hell is a car salesman doing in a writing class?'. To Geraldine who wouldn't do every assignment given because she's been suffering from Writer's Block for over a year (Credible tale). To Viv, the post woman who gets high on almost always catching Dawn in hilarious situations. To Jason, the HUNK, who loves animated movies. I could go on and on... I loved each and everyone of them to pieces-another star.
You would like this book for the numerous surprises in the form of Aahs, Oohs And OhsMG. It's breath-taking (literally). And Carol doesn't make you recover after throwing a punch. She keeps them coming like you can handle them, leaving you thinking "Oh, I never thought... ", "Ah, how come I never saw that coming." and "Ooh, that's some nice..."-final star.
There's just nothing wrong with this work. From start to finish is perfect. Trust me because I sighed contentedly. The resolution, is just so(ooo).... hey do some of you have to get to work? 'Cause I can go on and on.
This title oozes...
Just Add Spice is available on Amazon in both kindle format and paperback. Rush for your copies.
I recommend this title for anyone who's looking for something more mature. Anyone who believes fifty is the new thirty. Anyone who's a sucker for themes that struck raw nerves portrayed in a less tearful way. And just anybody, anybody, anybody this book is worth grabbing. I'd appreciate anyone who comes around to gush about Carol Wyer, a little Tea time with Just Add Spice.
If Carol's kick-boxing is as good as her writing ('live, breathe your character'), I wouldn't want to mess with her-even if she's in patent-leather Prada kneeboots
My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads.
