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Saturday, May 11, 2019

Monthly pick of My Books




Zoe North by Joanne Rawson

Zoe North walked down the aisle, aware that all eyes were on her. She knew she should be savouring this moment, yet all she could focus on was the man at the altar, the man that, in a few minutes from now, would be promising to spend the rest of his life with her.

As the vicar starts the wedding ceremony, Zoe recalls her turbulent, two-year relationship with Dale Kennedy, literally, falling head over heels but not in love, when they first meet.

A night dancing at a salsa club leads to more than she bargained for. An ultimatum that could change Zoe’s life forever and a honeymoon she will never forget.

A witty, spicy, story of love, friendship and never expecting the inevitable.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Excerpt Zoe North By  Joanne Rawson

The church organist hit the first chord to the bridle march, whereupon the congregation instantly reared from their pews and turned around trying to catch their first glimpse of the leading person for todays’ show. That would be me by the way, Zoe North, and giving the finest performance of my life. 

Walking down the aisle, aware that all eyes were on me, I knew I should be savouring this moment; the smiling faces of approval of my couture gown; tears of joy from my mother, who thought that this day would never arrive; laughing at my friends, acting like teenagers as they pulled silly faces and gave me the thumbs up sign, as if it were my first date. Yet all I could focus on was the man at the altar the man that, in a few minutes from now, would be promising to spend the rest of his life with me.

I turned to pass my bouquet to my matron of honour. Is this really happening? Am I really getting married today, or is it all just a dream? God knows I have dreamt of this moment for what seems like a zillion years.

The vicar smiled at me and then addressed the congregation. “God is love, and those who live in love live in God.”

This is it; this is usually the moment I wake up. Feeling a hand clasp mine, I turned just to be sure, he was real. Sure enough, standing next to me, smiling nervously was the man who had asked me to marry him.

Oblivious to the organist striking up the hymn, Love divine, all I could think about was how it all started two years ago.

                                                                     * * * *

Typical of me, I was running late, again! I seem to have spent my whole life rushing to get somewhere. Rushing to school, rushing to work, rushing to get home to get ready for a date I was already late for. My mum always says, “That girl will meet herself coming back one day.”

Laughing to myself that this could never happen, I would probably be too late to meet myself. I bolted out of the front door of my flat like a tornado, and suddenly found myself falling head first onto the corridor floor. My reflexes were too slow to stop myself from falling and hitting my temple on something sharp. Naturally, my body seemed to follow a few minutes later, only to wince in pain as something jabbed under my ribs, knocking the air from my lungs. I lay dazed for a moment and my heart pounded like a big brass drum in my ears, from my soaring blood pressure. Breathless, I managed to utter to myself, “What on earth just happened?”

“I was just about to ask you the same question,” came a male voice. It was deep and masculine yet held a distinct tone of anger.

With my backside stuck up in the air, and my head resting on the cold tiled floor, I figured this was not a flattering position for anyone to find me. However, I was very grateful that at least someone had seen my predicament, and was offering some assistance, as I managed to mumble a feeble, “Thanks, I’m fine ... I think.”

“Do you intend to keep lying on my state of the art music system, or do I physically have to remove you myself? You clumsy, great lump.”

BUY


What the readers say about Zoe North
Good Book Alert
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon Review
Funny, painful and heartfelt all rolled into one.
Zoe North hooked me from the start. It felt as if I was in a movie theater watching a romantic comedy—a good one. Zoe is a spirited, single girl living with her best friend and business partner, Luke. She literally trips into Dale and begins a romantic fling with him. He’s the macho type of guy, into sports and hanging out at bars. Luke is more sensitive. He listens and is there for her emotional side. She has the best of both worlds…in two different guys. Like many girls, Zoe dreams of getting married in a winter wedding setting. Somehow that dream comes true. Or does it?
I love Zoe and her crazy life. She is so in love with finding love; she doesn’t see what’s right in front of her. It may sound like the typical love story, but Ms. Rawson does a wonderful job of creating the world of Zoe. The story is funny, painful and heartfelt all rolled into one.
 
Barb Pond Drew’s Random Chatter
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon Review
Great Story!!!
This is about having the love of your life right in front of you but you just can't see it, even when everyone else around you can. Zoe and Luke have been friends for years, they know everything about each other and can't live without each other in their lives.
This is a story about a true friendship that turns into more than a friendship but when one isn't ready to acknowledge those feelings, you have to move on right? This story has humor but also has heartbreak but when your true love has always been there for you, what happens if one day he isn't? I laughed but could feel the pain within this story.
Such wonderful writing. I could feel what the characters were feeling, good or bad or both. I had smile on my face while I was upset all at the same time. I love books like this! You are not sure what will happen next!
 
Readers' Favorite
5/5 Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan
In Zoe North, author Joanne Rawson takes readers into the exciting world of Zoe North herself. The story is about Zoe's chance meeting with Dale, to whom she is attracted, and they begin a fling. Her best friend and business partner, Luke, is more sensitive to her feelings and compared to him Dale is more of the playful type of guy. The story sees Zoe choosing the wrong person when the right man is in front of her. It's a story of heartbreak, friendship, pain and love. Will Zoe and Dale end up marrying and if they do, will they be happy with each other?
The book is an engaging read with some heartrending yet funny moments. The author's portrayal of Zoe North is commendable, and her free spirit and her crazy life is entertaining to read. All three main characters, Dale Kennedy, Zoe North and Luke Young, are different personalities and just reading how people handle life and romance in different ways makes the story interesting. Though it's a typical love story, the author manages to keep reader interest alive with some twists and turns and relatable characters. The fluidity in the writing style gives a good pace to the story and there are no boring moments as the story progresses. Zoe and her two different guys with different personalities have been sketched well. The author's narration will pull readers into the story and get them involved with Zoe's love life, and also leave them wondering whether Zoe will ultimately lead a happy life.
Odette Swan
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon Review
Joanne does it again!!!!
 Zoe is your typical single, girl who is very clumsy, which who isn't? She meets Dale, who at first seems too full of himself, but they get to know each other and fall in love. Zoe has a best friend, who tries to tell her it is too soon, but she doesn't listen. When something happens and it seems like her best friend was right, all you can think of while reading this amazing story is will Zoe get the man of her dreams or end up single forever?
 What I loved most about this amazing story, I was able to relate to Zoe and it makes you think, just like all of Joanne's wonderful stories do. Joanne has a way of writing her characters as strong, independent woman that a normal woman can relate to. You don't get that in just any book, which makes all of Joanne's a diamond in the rough, to read over and over again. This book will have you laughing and rooting for Zoe hoping she gets her happily ever after.
 Jill 
5/5 Goodreads review
 Amazing sexy-read, light-enjoyable-read
Joanne Rawson never fails to entertain! This was another fun, fast, and sexy read from Joanne Rawson. Zoe has been waiting her entire life for the magical wedding to her perfect man but perfection is never that easy. Zoe takes on a journey through meeting her fiance to the wedding with humor, introspection and realism in this short, fast read. Her prose is fun and enjoyable to read that will keep you wanting more.
BUY
 
 


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