‘…Your friend is a tart and you’re trying to excuse her,’ Dev shot back. ‘You’re blaming everyone else–‘
‘Not everyone else.’
‘Oh yes you are. You’re even trying to blame me, and I can’t for the life of me understand why.’
Daisy’s eyes blazed. She longed to punch him. It wasn’t fair, trying to argue with someone when you were drunk and they were stone-cold sober. And when they were disturbingly attractive and you had your wellies on the wrong feet.
(from Staying at Daisy’s, page 324 in the ARC)
Staying at Daisy’s is the latest novel by British author Jill Mansell to be republished in the U.S. by Sourcebooks. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this book, but it was worth it. Whenever I need a light read to help me recover from all those war novels I gobble up like candy, I know Mansell won’t let me down.
Like her previous novels, Staying at Daisy’s is both fun and serious with a cast of mostly loveable characters whose connections to one another provide much tension and entertainment. Daisy MacLean runs a high-end hotel owned by her father in the village of Colworth, England. Her best friend, Tara, one of the hotel’s chambermaids, stirs things up when her ex-boyfriend arrives at the hotel for his wedding, and the two are found in a compromising position. Tara insists she did nothing wrong, and Daisy’s willingness to back her up causes her to butt heads with the best man, Dev Tyzack, a former professional rugby player who is incredibly handsome and finds Daisy amusing. However, Daisy thinks she sees right through him, and after all the hurt caused by her late husband, she’s not about to get involved with a womanizer.
Mansell’s secondary characters are just as interesting as the main characters. Tara is so desperate to find true love that she tries too hard to get men to like her and believes everything they tell her. I love that she wants to be more like her homebody, no-need-for-men aunt, not realizing that Maggie is desperately in love with someone who views their relationship as an arrangement of convenience. There’s also Josh, Daisy’s fun-loving ex-boyfriend from college; Hector, Daisy’s father, who loves to hold embarrassingly awful sing-a-longs with his guests; Barney, an organ transplant recipient who moves to the village in search of a quieter life; and Mel, a single mom who harbors a secret that could squash her second chance at love.
Mansell has a way of making her characters’ flaws endearing, and I always find myself so involved in the tales she weaves that I laugh out loud at their bumbling antics. Mansell always manages to add a serious side to her novels that give them some depth, but she never goes overboard on the drama or the romance. Staying at Daisy’s is perfect for reading outdoors on those warm spring days that are just around the corner (at least in my neck of the woods).
Check out my reviews of other books by Jill Mansell:
An Offer You Can’t Refuse
Miranda’s Big Mistake
Millie’s Fling
Rumor Has It
Take a Chance on Me
Disclosure: I received a copy of Staying at Daisy’s from Sourcebooks for review purposes. I am an IndieBound affiliate and an Amazon associate.
© 2011 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
This sounds like such a great balance of characters, serious and fun!
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Yes! And Mansell does a great job blending them together.
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Sounds just like what I need right now.
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I hope you’ve had a chance to read it!
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I’ve never read a book by Mansell, but I have Miranda’s Big Mistake on my shelf. It sounds like her books have a good balance I would like.
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I hope you give one of her books a try soon!
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I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to Mansell’s characters – they’re flawed, but you just can’t help but like them. This sounds like another winner.
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They’re flawed in an endearing sort of way. 🙂
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It would have been a nice book to read outside 🙂 As soon as spring comes…weeks and weeks away
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It’s here now so I hope you’re enjoying your outdoor reading. 🙂
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What a good point about why I love Mansell! Her characters flaws are endlessly endearing – love that! I’m looking forward to reading this one soon.
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Looking forward to your thoughts.
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You stated perfectly why I enjoy her books so much!! Loved your review 😀
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Thanks, Staci!
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Your review is wonderful, Anna! If anyone hasn’t read Mansell’s books yet, they are missing out on a treat. Hopefully, you’ll see some real spring weather soon.
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Thanks, Kaye! It’s warm hear now, so I’ve been reading outside a little each day, usually while waiting for the train or to be picked up. It’s so peaceful with the birds singing. 🙂
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I read my first Mansell book last year and was pleasantly surprised as “chick lit” isn’t really my genre but I found her above average. And I just love her covers too!
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The covers have grown on me over time. I don’t usually read chick lit — I gave that up a long time ago when it seemed like the books were only about shopping and men — but Mansell is top notch in the genre. She covers so many things in her books that even while they’re light, there’s some depth there, too.
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I need to read Jill Mansell. Great review 😉
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Yes, you definitely do!
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Glad you enjoyed this one! I’ve read a few of Mansell’s works and liked them, so I’ll keep an eye out for this one.
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I hope you give this one a try!
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Thank you Anna! Again! So thrilled you enjoyed Daisy – it’s one of my own favourites, and I just love Barney. Also, the washing machine incident was based on a real-life happening a few years ago over here in the UK.
Thanks again for your lovely comments!
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Thanks for stopping by, Jill! The washing-machine incident was hilarious! Interesting to hear that it’s based on a true story.
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I really enjoyed this one as well. I didn’t want to comment before I finished the book. I really enjoy the main and secondary characters in Mansell’s books.
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I love how Mansell makes the secondary characters just as interesting as the main characters!
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