Slapper? Slut? Adulteress? Sophie Penhalligan's life and moral universe is turned upside down when rock star Dan proposes to her in full knowledge that she is already engaged. She has always loved Dan, in a remote-crush kind of way. She thinks she loves her fiancé, Tim. What is she to do?
It's all happening because her past has come to tempt her. Nine years ago, she met her teenage idol and rock star extraordinaire, Dan Hunter, up close and personal. Well, almost!
Now Dan has crash-landed back in her life just as Sophie is happily embroiled in a relationship with Tim, her boyfriend of two years. Until recently, she was confident Tim would eventually propose. But while his persistent inaction is beginning to cast a cloud over their relationship, Dan's sudden reappearance poses a whole new dilemma.
Having accompanied Dan's band to Paris, Sophie suddenly finds herself engaged to Dan while her erstwhile fiancé Tim is... well, doing whatever it is Tim does back in London. Torn between the dream-come-true and the sensible-thing-to-do, Sophie concludes her inadvertent journey of self-discovery with an ending that surprises herself, and everyone around her.
Sophie's Turn is a glamorous contemporary fairy tale that will make chick-lit and romance lovers laugh, cry and rock along every step of the way.
Nicky Wells writes captivating romance and breathtaking thrillers featuring famous (or infamous!) feisty heroes and extraordinary villains.
Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. She loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s hopelessly addicted to reading crime novels by the truck load.
Find Nicky on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and http://nickywells.com/ where she'd love to hear from you. Nicky is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and signed by Sapphire Star Publishing. Rock on!
Well, this wasn't at all what I expected. For the majority of the book I wanted to smack Sophie, and Dan AND Rachel. I was mad at myself for once again choosing a book that I knew had cheating as one of the major plot points. I'm irrationally opposed, and cannot stand a cheating hero or heroine, so I'm not sure why I continue to delude myself that this book wold be different. But, in fact this one actually WAS different! I don't want to give away too much, but I just want to give huge props to Nicky Wells for being the first author that I've read who has finally written the ending that I always wanted to see happen, but never have before. I can't wait to get the next installment!
‘Rock Guys are viagra for my soul’ – Sophie Penhalligan
Sophie Penhalligan is just like any other teenager growing up in her hometown of Newquay, Cornwall. Her bedroom walls are adorned with posters of her favourite rock band, TUSCQ, and her dreams revolve around one day meeting the singer, Dan, and making him all her own - the singer with a voice like velvet. Her musings however take an ornamental turn when her dream actually bares some truth at nineteen.
Attending a more ‘intimate’ gig in the Bristol area, Sophie manages to meet the band and also gets an invitation to join them in Edinburgh a few weeks later. When Dan starts to take an interest in Sophie, her dreams remain just that when she turns him down, as her dreams did not include one-off sex on a tour bus, and so holding onto her virtue and her heart, she leaves the next morning, never to contact the band again.
Ten years later, and now a journalist for Read London newspaper, Sophie is about to embark on a flight to New York for a conference, when she encounters Darren, the guitarist of TUSCQ, who advises her that the band have reformed, and are playing smaller venues in the London area and have renamed their little project, Splat! Darren’s news sparks Sophie’s interest, and she takes it upon herself to check out her old favourite band on her return.
Old feelings emerge and sparks fly between Dan and Sophie again, as he invites her out for dinner. All this sounds romantic and innocent enough, however Sophie is already in a relationship with Tim, an accountant, who is one minute loving, next minute sulky, and in all honesty, a little drab. On their second anniversary, instead of proposing like she thought, he had the sudden urge to protect his garden lettuces to the ever-invading slug population.
Tim, however, does propose eventually, and Sophie says ‘Yes’, after all, Tim is safe, trustworthy and hard-working – Perfect husband material.
Nevertheless, Dan isn’t giving up, and cunningly devises a plan for Sophie to go on the reunion tour with TUSCQ, and be the official tour news columnist, as her news desk job for Read London poses the perfect opportunity for her to spread her wings and become a well-respected journalist within the entertainment industry. Mission accomplished, now he just has to prove that Sophie is hiding her true colours, and Tim is no good for her, but he gets more than he bargained for when he falls in love, and puts an engagement ring on her finger – the same finger where Tim put his.
With the support from her best friend, Sophie knows she has a very difficult decision to make, but one that will question her morals, ethics, and a stunning realisation that who she thought she was, isn’t quite who she wants to be.
Follow this extraordinary journey, of a thirty-something English woman, who at times had me laughing my arse off. Her musings and personality reminded me very much of Bridget Jones and her love of cliché’s made me giggle, especially ‘what happens on tour, stays on tour,’ mentality.
This is an impeccably written novel which in turn is a fun, easy-read chick-lit that was very entertaining. As a girl deriving from London myself, it was a refreshing change to read something that I could totally relate to, as I also hail from the Tooting area. I will definitely read the sequel, Sophie’s Run, as it will be interesting to see what kind of a pickle she gets herself into next time.
Before starting my review on this amazing book, I have two things to confess: First I am a sucker for chick-lit books and second, I just love music and rockstars! So what happens when I see these two combined! THE INEVITABLE - I LOVE THE BOOK!
Sophie Penhalligan is a journalist working for the Read London. She has a steady relationship for two years with Tim, and is waiting for him to propose. Tim is everything a girl would possible want and life with him would be safe, secure, cozy. Wait a minute..is that what she really wants? Oh, there were times when she felt live and wild, times when she ended up following "Tusk" on their Tour. And Dan..the-yummy-wan't-to-die-for Dan! She still remembers him, even after ten years! But what happens when she sees him again? Is her comfortable relationship with Tim in danger? Could it be she still has feelings for Dan "The wild thing"? I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Through flash backs and virtuous past-present switching, Nicky Wells is going to entertain you and make you love her characters! Though this is her debut, I have to say Nicky did a great job in creating a funny, witty, warm modern romance story, full of twists and turns. I confess, I didn't like Sophie at the beginning but by the end of the book I felt I could understand her and her confusion, and actually imagine myself in her shoes. I loved her best friend Rachel and the relationship she has with her. As for my favorite character, it would definitely be DAN! Yummy, wild but warm..I really want to read about this rockstar more. And speaking of more, I overheard Nicky is working on the sequel, so keep your fingers crossed guys! Let's hope we will see more of Dan, I promise you, you will love him!
This surely is a very amusing and interesting book, and I highly recommend it to everyone! Oh wild thing, you make my heart sing!
I am proud to be an Associate Reader of Mrs Wells at loveahappyending.com and I am truly grateful for the copy of this book I received. To find out more about Mrs Wells, visit her page http://loveahappyending.com/nicky-wells/
This is a must read for all chick-lit lovers! It is an easy read with a fab plot that will keep you hooked all the way through.
Sophie's Turn is the debut novel by Nicky Wells and the first book in a rock-romance trilogy. The story is written from the point of view of the book's heroine, Sophie Penhalligon, who finds herself engaged to both rock-star Dan and city accountant Tim when we first meet her. I was instantly intrigued as to how she came to be in this predicament and through a series of flashbacks, we learn the story behind this and then follow her as she makes her final choice between them.
It's really well written with plenty of twists and turns. The characters are so well described and loveable (or sometimes not). Sophie's character is easy to relate to and you can't help but empathise with her as she makes her agonising decision.
I absolutely loved this book. The plot is funny, exciting, full of chemistry and I couldn't put it down. As others have commented, the ending will surprise you.... Looking forward to the sequel!
Book Quotes: Well, if it weren’t for the small matter of Tim, her actual finance’. And for the fact that Dan was a mega rock star. And for the fact that they had both drunk a little too much at the party after the big Parish gig. But he had said, ‘would you marry,’ hadn’t he, and indeed she would. In a different world. In a different lifetime. But, “yes, oh yes,” she shouted again, because he wasn’t serious, and it wouldn’t hurt to go along with the fantasy, would it? “Yes, I am. Look, he’s a great guy. He’s kind and caring and good looking. He’s got a good job and he adores me. he’s funny. No really, he can be. You just never get to see him like that. He’s intelligent and he likes reading books. We go to the opera and we go travelling. He would never let me down. He would never betray me.” I was breathless after this little tirade. “Will you listen to yourself:” Rachel asked, quietly. “Where is the love, the passion, the romance” Doing crazy, unpremeditated things on the hop?” As I was bolting out of the building trying to make good time for the Tube, I bumped smack-bang into Tim trying to get into the building. He was picking me up so that I could arrive at the train station composed and in style! “You see, I thought this was supposed to be a romantic treat,” he explained. “Telly doesn’t belong here. Instead, we’ll play Naughty Monopoly.” “I really, really meant to pop that question over the weekend. You know, propose.” “But you know what? I forgot the ring.” He let that hang for a few seconds, trying to gauge my reaction. …How was I supposed to react to that?...”So anyway, I forgot the ring and you can’t propose to the woman you love without a ring. And so that’s why I didn’t. I thought you might like to know.”…Inwardly, I screamed…Why TELL me such a thing? And so it came that I, Sophie Penhalligan from Newquay, changed into an expensive silky black dress and a string of pearls in the back seat of a black stretch limo outside one of the poshest hotels in the world. We picked up where we had left off at the Royal all that time ago: gazing at each other communicating by looks rather than words. My Review: At first I thought how could so many misspelled words get by a proofreader and then it came to me, like a cloud floating by, that I was reading a book by author ‘across the pond’ and I was intrigued even more by the story and my good fortune to be chosen by this author to review her book. I think we read and don’t think about the author behind the story and I realized that at that moment, the reading world opened up as a place to unite authors and readers from all over the world. This was a story that could have been plucked straight from the streets of London or small town USA. It’s funny. It is heart breaking, and it is honest. Sophie is living life on her own terms. She has a great job at a newspaper, best friend who keeps her grounded, and a long-term boyfriend. And, then there is Dan. Sophie has loved Dan, a member of the rock band TUSK, since she was a teenager. She first met him ten years before when she wrangled her way backstage after a concert. Since then, life has gone on and Sophie is in a long-term relationship with Tim, who at some point, Sophie hopes will propose to her. About the time that Tim finally gets his act together and proposes, Dan re-enters her life. Sophie soon finds herself engaged to both men and is face with the decision of figuring out who and what she needs to make her happy. It is a modern-day romance that any girl might like to find herself embroiled. As Ms. Wells says – “find out how Sophie gets into such an impossible situation and how she turns it around”. It is a delightful “chick-lit” book; definitely one you will not be able to put down.
Nicky Wells is a self-published author. When she contacted me to review Sophie’s Turn, I read the prologue which had me hooked instantly!
In the prologue, Sophie and Dan are in Paris while the band ‘Tusk’ are on tour and Sophie accepts Dan’s proposal. There’s only one problem with that …………what about her fiancée Tim back in London? I wanted to go back to the beginning to find out more about her relationship with Tim and what life was like for her. What had led her to this point?
In Part One we get to experience Sophie’s relationship with Tim. Tim is a very solid, dependable man who likes things to be exact and precise. I think the one thing that explained beautifully about his character (by inference) was in the restaurant when Sophie and Tim were celebrating their two year anniversary - the way he unwrapped his gift in the restaurant – it told me exactly what type of person he was! We also learn more about the closeness Sophie has with best friend Rachel. Their friendship is quite central to the story and I loved the way they supported each other and were open and honest.
Also in Part One we flashback to an earlier time in Sophie’s life – this is when she followed the rock band ‘Tusk’ to Edinburgh for their final gig and her relationship with Dan began. This worked really well as the author used a trigger to flashback so past and present fitted seamlessly together.
A key point in the story is at the airport – Sophie is flying to Manhattan to attend a conference. She notices Darren (from ‘Tusk’) and finds out the band are re-forming. When she’s back home in London, she finds out where they are next doing a gig and invites Tim and Rachel to go with her……………… and so she meets Dan again.
The attraction between Sophie and Dan is sizzling. There are some heart-thumping scenes between them – you can feel the heat coming off the pages! There are also some heart-wrenching scenes that may have you crying …………………
I found myself laughing out loud quite often, specifically I would like to mention the hotel room in Paris with Tim when room service arrives and a separate incident at home in London when Tim is gardening in the rain during the night and the police arrive. I have a smile on my face even now!
Sophie’s Turn is written in such a way that you feel included in her journey. It is easy to read and will keep your interest. A modern romantic fairytale ……………. but is the ending what you think it is going to be? I think you will be surprised – I was!
I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy to review.
I won a copy of this book a few months ago in a competition. I had recently read another 'rock star' type book, so wanted to wait a while before reading this one, as I had really enjoyed the previous book I'd read and didn't want to confuse the two. I need not have worried. They were very different. Sophie's story you could imagine having happened, if you were part of that music scene and a groupie. The original meeting 10 years previously wasn't so OTT that it was unbelievable. I immediately didn't take to Sophie's boyfriend, or the way in which he dealt with important events, or the way he shunned her and made her views seem unimportant. That doesn't mean I condone Sophie's actions, but many of us couldn't blame her for her choices and let's face it, who gets to 'meet' their idol and spend time with them as adults? Crossing the fine line between removing herself from the 'danger zone' and going to a gig alone, without her boyfriend in the end, as a meeting had come up, was a turning point - in the end, one of no return. Sophie's best friend egging her on and her boss putting her in a position where she didn't have a decision to make, but which put her in dangerous territory, were also well portrayed. I found the decadent lifestyle enjoyed by rock stars credible and it was clear the author had some knowledge of the music industry, whether through research or because she was a groupie/rock chick herself, who knows?! The additional complication of her fiance's ex-girlfriend and the way he reacted around her, simply added to the mind games and right up until the end I didn't know how she was going to choose. The characters were well depicted and diverse and although I didn't agree with all of Sophie's decisions, I liked her. I enjoyed the unpredictable ending, just the type I like - none of this foregone conclusion stuff! There's a sequel I believe, or next instalment, Sophie's Run. I haven't downloaded it yet, but I will be doing so soon. Sophie's Turn is well written and I read it in only a few days - always a good sign.
This is the perfect story to take with you for a weekend at the beach. Written in an easy, comfortable tone, you'll soon find yourself carried away into Sophie's world and unable to put the book down until you find out what happens next. I couldn't help but become envious of the main character, Sophie, as she finds herself engaged to two different yet wonderful men. I was right there with her thinking what would I do if this happened to me. Who would I choose? Why? What do any of us really want out of "happily ever after"? Nicky Wells has done a superb job creating this window into Sophie's life (journalist, girlfriend, rock music groupie, honest, passionate, average girl-next-door). No detail is left missing. And the pacing is spot on - definitely a page turner from half-way through to the end. Plus, as an American, I extra-specially liked the British-isms and somewhat different take on life than we usually read here in the states. This is simply a fun, quick read that I think anyone would enjoy.
OK, I have a confession to make. I've known Nicky for a number of years and I knew she had written a novel. When she first published it as an e-book, I didn't have a Kindle, but I felt that, as a duty towards a friend, I should make an effort to buy it. Maybe even read it. Even though chick lit is not at all my cup of tea. You can look through my lists and I doubt you will find more than a handful of chick-lit type books.
I expected to skim through it quickly and find a few polite things to say about the book, enough so as not to lose a friendship.
But, to my surprise, I greatly enjoyed the book. It is funny, sharp, endearing, with some great characters and unexpected twists and turns. I loved the culture clash between UK and US, the descriptions of luxury lifestyle that may turn a girl's head, the comedy moments. Sheer escapism and feel-good reading? Count me in!
When the next book comes out, I won't be reading it just to be polite, that's for sure! The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because it's not quite my genre, but I would say a strong 4.5.
Safe and boring? Or glamorous and risky? Which man would you choose?
I could totally empathise with each of Sophie's choices and difficult "should I, shouldn't I?" decisions.
All of the characters are memorable (some for all the wrong reasons!) and there are some truly hilarious laugh out loud moments, even in some of the more 'serious' scenes. I also think her mum is fabulous. :-)
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read, and I eagerly look forward to the sequel.
So Sophie is in a very boring relationship gets engaged. Meets up with a rock star she'd known albeit briefly 10years ago. Sparks fly. All of a sudden she's invited as a journalist to cover the band's revival tour?
Does that sound eerily similar to a more famous book that was released a year later? Not claiming anything here. The books aren't very similar in a lot of aspects but that whole premise was quite spot on.
What a great book! Definitely a must read! I was completely hooked and can't wait to read Sophie's Run! Sophie had boyfriend Tim and the "love" of her fantasies came back into the picture! I laughed out loud, was frustrated but mostly completely enthralled in this romantic story! I highly recommend, this a must read!
I loved the British humor and the whole idea of the heroine's rock star fantasy becoming reality. She had to deal with tough moral decisions and her choices reflect what a lot of women would choose. Great ending and over all a very fun chicklit book!
Not your usual chick lit. This is smart, funny, heartbreaking and much closer to life than a lot of other books I've read in this genre. The main character doesn't try to hide anything, is honest with both men in her life, and most importantly, is honest with herself.
First of all, what I am about to tell you is not a spoiler. It's a hook. I pulled this definition of "spoiler" from the Wikipedia website:
Spoiler is slang for any element of any summary or description of any piece of fiction that reveals any plot element which will give away the outcome of a dramatic episode within the work of fiction, or the conclusion of the entire work.
Let me start by saying I try never, ever to leak a spoiler when writing a book review - but I hardly think reporting a teeny-tiny event (okay, a HUGE event!) that takes place within the first few paragraphs of the prologue counts as a spoiler. I mean, come on. The author intended it as a hook. She wants as many people to know about it as possible - because if done correctly, the hook will, well, "hook" you into reading the book. So here goes. I'm going to open my review - not with a spoiler, but with the hook:
Rock star boyfriend, Dan, proposes to main character, Sophie Penhalligan, on an old-fashioned carousel, presenting her with a little box that contains a very big diamond.
Okay. I'm hooked. I mean, come on. A wedding proposal on a vintage carousel? Fiberglass horses riding up and down a pole? Accordion music? What's better than that?!
* the crowd gasps - a woman in the back screams, then faints*
My first thought: Sophie's up the creek without a paddle because Sophie's gone and gotten herself her two diamond rings! Uh-oh! Now whatcha gonna do, Sophie? Hhmmm?
Turns out, the hook worked. I was immediately intrigued, and read further.
Sophie's Turn is both tragic and sweet, a romantic tale of a woman in a very difficult predicament - the makings of a juicy story that makes fiction reading so fun. The story is told in first person point of view from the perspective of Sophie, a confused, hopeless romantic who must choose between Tim, the stable accountant and his promises of a fairytale life in the suburbs, and Dan, the rock star in a band called Tuscq and his promises of ... um ... Sophie's not sure, exactly.
I think Sophie's predicament is more common than we realize - there are many women (and men) caught in the trenches of having to decide which path to take in their lives. What I love so much about Nicky's book is the stark contrast between Dan and Tim because I think the two very different men and opposing lifestyles they'd bring underscores an important element in many women's lives when they are trying to choose between two men: Do I take the secure, stable, "safe" road with low risk or the wild, high-risk ride that excites me and drives my passion but might also hurt me?
And please don't think you already know how all of this will end. Because I was surprised that my assumptions at the beginning of the novel were all wrong by the end. Not only that, this is only the first book in a trilogy and while the story ending is satisfying for readers who will stop after the first book (although, I don't know why you'd do that) most readers will quit their day job and toss bags of frozen supper for their family into a crockpot so they can read the next two books without interruptions.
But that's just my opinion.
What pained me (in a good way) during the reading was that I liked both Tim and Dan - which helped me understand Sophie better. Rachel, Sophie's best friend from college helps to frame an opposing viewpoint of Tim, as she sees him as a 'perfectly nice bloke, just not for Sophie'. What I found to be quite telling was Rachel's opposition to Tim for not approving of Sophie's "wild-child" history which included her love of hard rock music. And then there's rock star Dan - and Sophie's fears that their love would be pure fiction. Try to imagine the risk of getting hurt and what it would feel like to be engaged to a rock star. My gosh. When I was reading, I wondered how often the author, Nicky, imagined that very conundrum because ... and this is something you may not know if you don't know the author, Nicky Wells, like I do. Nicky loves rock music. LOVES IT. I mean, really. She loooooooooves rock music. She does.
Have I ever told you Nicky Wells loves rock music? Well, she does.
Everywhere she goes in social media and in her personal life during her regular contributions to a radio station - embodies what it means to be a fan of this genre of music which makes her the perfect writer to write this trilogy of books - appropriately named, the Rock Star Romance trilogy. She brings us this paragraph (which I believe is a reflection of something that could happen to Nicky!) while Sophie's standing in line to board a train and a man catches her eye:
"Anyway, it must have been the eyes. Or the hair. Or the long, distressed leather coat over ripped jeans - how very 1980s. Or maybe, just maybe, it had been the bright red shiny guitar case on his trolley. My head would turn at the slightest hint of rock-stardom in any kind of bloke I met, presence of Tim in my life notwithstanding. Rock guys were Viagra for my soul. There had to be something latent and unresolved here ever since that fateful night in Edinburgh with Tuscq ... Oh, best not go there."
Not only is Nicky the perfect writer to capture the essence of rock in a romance, the pace of her writing is delightfully fast and exciting - with a prologue that moves us in circles during an engagement on a carousel right into a first chapter that opens with Sophie rushing out the door and later, onto a train to Paris. There is frequent back-and-forth between scenes and people in a storyline that is easy to follow but that moves around through time and place. (We revisit the scene from the prologue in chapter thirty-seven, only this time, with a lot more context.)
The narrative continues with this fast pace which makes the experience of reading Sophie's Turn really captivating. Nevermind the great hook and the joy of watching it all unravel - when a story tosses you head over tea kettle smack-dab in the middle of the action, you have no choice but to stand up, dust off your britches and say, "Okay. Rock on. Let's read this thing."
For more information about Nicky Wells and her books, visit my book blog: Julie Valerie's Book Blog at www.julievalerie.com
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Nicky Well’s is debut author, originally from Germany, now living in Bristol in England, with her husband and two sons. She has self published her first e- book Sophie’s Turn a classic chick lit novel. Nicky kindly sent me an e-book copy of her novel . Normally I don’t enjoy reading e-books, I’m pretty old fashioned and love the feel and smell of a reading a new book. After reading about Sophie’s Turn, however, I was excited to get started. I always enjoy reading novel’s by new and upcoming author’s and Sophie’s Turn was no exception.
Have you ever dreamed of being engaged to a man you have lusted after for many years who is also the lead singer of your all time favourite band? Well for Sophie Penhalligan, this isn’t just her dream its her reality. Dan the lead singer of Tusk has just proposed to her and she is over the moon. There’s just one issue she’s already engaged to her long term boyfriend Tim. You’re probably wondering how one girl can become engaged to two men at once, right? Well so was I when I read the prologue of Sophie’s Turn, after all its not the predicament you find yourself in every day. You’re also probably coming to many presumptions about Sophie already but wait, you have to read her story before you judge her. Once you start devouring the pages you will come to realise how Sophie has managed to land herself in this unlikely situation and along the way you will begin to not only fall in love with her but also perhaps envy her just a little bit. Not only do we come to realise that she has a conscience she also has many elements to her that we can all relate to.
Sophie’s Turn is split into three sections; Flashbacks, Playing With Fire and Showtime. The first looks at how Sophie managed to become engaged to two men at one time; reliable dependable Tim and roguish handsome Dan. The second looks at the progression of both of her relationships with both men, with the third leading us to how Sophie manages to get herself out of her predicament and the decisions she comes to make. I usually don’t enjoy flashbacks as a way of telling back stories, however in Sophie’s Turn Nicky Well’s manages to fit these flashbacks perfectly into the narration so that the novel does not become stilted but continues to flow. I loved the humour injected into this novel with the moment of Tim de-slugging his garden having me laughing out loud, leaving me receiving many strange looks from people around me. I also was thrilled to notice some British elements thrown in, resulting in much nostalgia for me with the mention of scotch eggs and sausage rolls, as I am originally from England and miss many of these elements about Britain. Many UK novelists tend to stay away from too many mentions of words and items only associated with England, fearing that they will isolate the American market, so I was delighted to see that Nicky Well’s had not shied away from this.
Will Sophie choose Tim or Dan? Well you’ll have to read the book to find that answer but let me tell you the ending might just surprise you.
In Sophie’s Turn Nicky Well’s mixes a style reminiscent of Lauren Weinberger’s ‘Last Night in Château Marmont’ with her unique British charm resulting in a honest, charming and slightly bitter sweet, romantic take on modern chick lit. Reading this novel feels as though you are hearing it directly from you’re best friend. I was able to devour this novel almost as fast as I tend to wolf down a chocolate bar when I‘m in need a sugar rush, even having to be literally dragged away from the novel at one point. Anyone who likes chick lit will love Sophie’s Turn just as much as I did.
I have just finished Sophie’s Turn by Nicky Wells on my kindle. I love the look of the cover of this book and I think it is the ideal cover for this book.
Plot Slapper, Slut, Adulteress. This is hardly the words that Sophie Penhalligan would normally use to describe herself. Yet this is exactly how she is behaving, all things considered, even if she isn’t quite married to Tim yet. Aged nineteen, she travelled halfway across the country to honour an invitation by her favourite rock band, Tusk, to join them for the last gig of their tour. And now her past is coming to tempt her... how could Tim ever stand a chance against Dan, the charming, handsome lead singer? Sophie now twenty-eight and a budding newspaper journalist, is happily embroiled in a relationship with Tim, her boyfriend of two years. Until recently, she was confident that Tim would eventually propose- probably as soon as he could get his act together. But just as Tim’s persistent inaction is beginning to a cast a cloud over their relationship, Dan’s sudden reappearance turn’s Sophie’s world upside down. Thus unfolds a roller-coaster of events including an ill-fated trip to Paris with Tim, a night of unfulfilled romance with Dan, Sophie and Tim’s engagement party gate-crashed by Dan, and Sophie’s professional secondment to accompany Dan’s band on their rival tour- at Dan’s special request and very much against her will. And then one fine day in Paris, Sophie suddenly finds herself engaged to Dan while her erstwhile fiancé Tim is ... well, doing whatever it is Tim does back in London. What is she to do now? Who wouldn’t give anything to meet their favourite star, let alone marry him? Find out how Sophie gets into this impossible situation, and how she turns it around in Sophie’s Turn.
My Opinion When I first started to read this on my kindle I was a little apprehensive as when we meet Sophie at the beginning of this book we don’t really know anything about her other than she is a cheat. I am not a fan of people who have affairs and I can never take to characters in stories who are having affairs. I am glad we persevered with this novel though as when we read on and get to know more about Sophie’s character I can see why it happened and I actually felt sorry for her as she seemed trapped and confused about what she really wants.
The novel flows at a comfortable pace without having any dull or low points where you usually feel like skimming the pages. I love the way this novel finishes it is not predictable and doesn’t finish like normal chick lit books which I think gives this novel an edge on similar books.
I found the storyline felt very realistic and the characters are developed so well we feel as if we really know each character.
I had to contact the author as I was a little spooked at one point in the book as something that happens to Sophie happened to me which was very strange to read and made the book feel more realistic to me.
I would defiantly recommend this book. I feel as though Nicky has a style of writing which makes it easy to read and also using more realistic scenarios which makes the books easier to relate to and enjoy. I found there were also some lovely humorous touches in this novel which were not predictable.
Thank you to Nicky Wells for sending me Sophie’s Turn to read. Nicky has also agreed to a book giveaway so if this book sounds like your kind of read keep an eye out for further information my blog is http://reabookreview.blogspot.com
I'm not sure what I expected from Sophie's Turn, but I got so much more than I expected from the book. I received entertainment for an afternoon an evening. I was taken to a world that was different from my own. But I also watched a woman deal with her issues by first not dealing with them and then tackling them. I watched a romance bloom. I toured with a band around Europe and stayed at 5-star hotels. And I enjoyed every minute. Ms. Wells knows how to write a story that fully immerses you in the experience of her characters and makes it very enjoyable.
Sophie was a great character. She is funny, witty, has a great best friend, a good boyfriend and a good life, so why are memories of a night spent with a band ten years ago coming back to her? And then the happenstance meeting with one of those band members in an airport that lands the band back in her life. Is it what she wants and will it turn her life upside down? Well of course the book needs some tension and conflict to proceed and this has it. But it also has great friends, romance, heartfelt insight, tender moments with parents and so much more. Sophie has a whole range of emotions and she goes through all of them. But not on a whim. Sophie is not a silly girl that you just want to slap, at least I didn't. I felt that she had a reason for each thing she did and each time she went through a range of emotions she had good reason. I just loved her, she was so real. She battled decision-making. Nothing was easy for her. Every time she thought it was, something else came up and showed her something else. Rachel also made a great supporting character and best friend. Rachel just wants the best for Sophie and she wasn't one of those mean girl friends that you get in some books. She honestly had Sophie's best interests at heart through the whole book. I loved her and I'm interested to see more of her in the next book. Tim, I'm not sure I can say I liked him, but he serves his purpose. Dan, now Dan is the man that could make me want the rock star fantasy again even though I'm pretty sure I got over that as a teenager. Dan is hot, he's sweet and he's the whole package. No he's not perfect, but his good seems to make up for the bad. I also can't wait to see more of him as well.
Sophie's Turn was a very hard-to-put-down book. While the plot was character-driven and I have gone over the characters, the plot move along at a fast pace. The book is divided into sections and nothing is dwelt on too much to make any part of the book drag on. I pretty much flew through the whole thing dying to know what would happen next. Ms. Wells has the timing of the book down to the science to keep the reader engaged with the right amount of information, romance and action.
I loved Sophie's Turn and cannot wait for Sophie's Run. Ms Wells expertly weaves a story based around Sophie and decisions she needs to make in her life and the two men in it, without making Sophie into a completely wishy-washy annoying woman. The dialog is witty and fun, the places and scenes keep the story fresh and Sophie herself kept me interested in the book the whole time. I loved the characters, the plot, the book as a whole. I think Ms. Wells did an excellent job and think that if you enjoy chicklit, romance or a good general fiction book that Sophie's Turn is a great choice for your next book.
One woman ... two very different men ... two proposals ... which one does she choose?
Sophie Penhalligan is a twenty-eight year old London newspaper journalist who has been in a two year relationship with the safe and steady accountant Tim, who has finally proposed to her. But then along comes a blast from the past when her teen idol and rock star heartthrob Dan Hunter from the band Tusk comes back into her life after ten years and proposes to her too! Sophie accepts both of their proposals and finds herself in a dilemma ... what's a girl to do?
Sophie's Turn is a sassy fun rockin' romance story that will keep your toes tapping! Written in a witty and humorous style and told in the first person narrative by Sophie, the reader is drawn into her romance story with two very different men, and the journey she embarks on to make a choice of which one will be the man of her dreams. The story is split into three sections: the first section is a flashback to how Sophie got herself into the dilemma of being engaged to two men at the same time; the second section is about the progression of Sophie's relationships with both men; the third section is about the dilemma and how Sophie gets herself out of the predicament and the decision she makes at the end. I really enjoyed how the author weaves this romantic tale within the three sections, it flows smoothly and has a nice balance of humor, emotion and romance in the mix, with so many twists and turns that will keep you guessing how it will turn out for Sophie, Tim and Dan.
The author has created a great cast of characters who are realistic, engaging and easy for the reader to relate to. You can't help but feel for Sophie, she's a sincere woman who battles with her conscience over the dilemma she finds herself in and agonizes over a decision, come on if you had two men in love with you could you make an easy decision? Luckily Sophie has a valuable BFF in Rachel who stands by her ready to listen, give advice and provide a shoulder to lean on. Then we have the two men: steady, dependable and anal accountant Tim; and sexy rock star Dan ... each have qualities that are appealing ... but what's a girl to do when she has to choose one or the other? As I followed Sophie's story, I found myself swaying back and forth between Tim and Dan, I'm glad I wasn't in Sophie's shoes because I don't know how I would make my choice.
Rich in detail and descriptions of the music scene and European settings, with witty character dialogue and interactions, passionate romance scenes, and a completely unpredictable ending, makes Sophie's Turn one heck of an entertaining read!
Sophie's Turn is the author's debut novel and first installment in the Rock Star Romance Trilogy. This modern day romance will captivate you from the start, keep you rockin' as you turn the pages and leave you wanting more!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Reading Addiction Blog Tours.
This book is just simply fabulous! It has all the right bells and whistles. From the prologue on I was immensely entertained! It’s a book about choices and some rather scandalous activities with those choices, but every word is delicious!
Sophie! Sophie! Sophie!! Ahhh… she is by far my favorite charcter. She has her little set of problems. Being engaged to a man that is far from her own version of Prince Charming. And then her version of Prince Charming shows up in her life again! What’s a girl to do? She’s quite literally swept off of her feet while trying to maintain a level head. I had to laugh at some of the mistakes she made but in the end she is a marvelous character who just has a rough go at the biggest decision of life.
Her friend Rachel is also a darling. She’s definitely not a level headed friend, the one where you go to for advice to actually KEEP you grounded. Oh no, Rachel does quite the opposite. She reminds Sophie, again and again, that you only live once and although your conscience may yell at you, you might as well have a heck of a fun time while living! Love this girl!
Tim and Dan are the two boyfriends. Oi… I can’t tell you who my favorite is here, you’ll have to pick for yourself, as does Sophie.
I do have to say, this was a remarkably easy read and full of flavor and fun! The plot flowed so well, character arcs and all. I laughed and cried and didn’t want this fabulous story to end. Even though the ending was well worth the ride! The entire thing was A+!! Even better, part two of this fabulous series is scheduled to be published Feb 7, 2013! YAY!!!
Although the above excerpt is awesome, I had to just give a little bit more of Sophie. She really is awesome…
Tim looked at me closely, rubbing my hand. “I really, really meant to pop that question over the weekend. You know, propose.”
Oh did I ever? O course I knew. I had been waiting for such a long time. I looked at him expectantly. Don’t say anything, I told myself sternly, don’t break the mood.
Tim gave a shaky laugh. “But you know what?”
What? What? What could he possibly say now except, “Will you marry me?”
“I forgot the ring.” He let that hang for a few seconds, trying to gauge my reaction. I had none forthcoming. How was I supposed to respond? Was he proposing, or was he not?
He obliged with a clarification. “So anyway, I forgot the ring, and you can’t propose to the woman you love without a ring. And so that’s why I didn’t. I thought you might like to know.”
I blinked at him. I could feel my eyes open and close slowly, like a cartoon character’s in slow motion. Open. Close. Open. Close. Blink. Blink. Blink.
Inwardly, I screamed. Why tell me? Why tell me such a thing? I was utterly lost for words.
**4.5 Stars** Sophie's Turn is such an apt title for this story of a young woman finding herself - and having a rock star romance along the way!
"All my life, I had been worried about becoming trapped in a mediocre life..."
Sophie Penhalligan's chief concern is living a mediocre life. And that's exactly what she's doing. She's a journalist working for a mediocre paper. She lives in a mediocre flat and is in a mediocre relationship. Sophie wasn't always dull. But she's thankful to have her 'wilderness' days behind her. She thinks she's ready for a solid, staid life with her boyfriend, Tim. (kinda reminds me of those Death Cab lyrics about 'staying together out of fear of dying alone'.) However, she can't seem to stop daydreaming about a time spent with her rock star crush, Dan Hunter.
Dan Hunter is the quintessential rock star. He's gorgeous, gregarious, suave - and he's ready to sweep Sophie off her feet. And he sets about doing everything he can to do just that! Then there's Tim. Stable, reliable, kind Tim. Tim's ready to make a commitment to Sophie. And he's been constant for the past two years. With two men vying for her affections, Sophie embarks on a soul-search of sorts. And in the process, makes some startling revelations about what she truly wants out of life.
What I loved about Sophie's Turn? I loved the passion - Sophie's passion for music, her writing, and for Tuscq, Dan's band. I loved seeing the tight bond of friendship between Sophie and her best friend, Rachel. I loved the romance between Sophie and Dan. But mostly, I loved watching Sophie have her turn. She begins as a 'soft' and uncertain young woman and blossoms into a more self-aware, self-assured woman. And that was lovely.
My only real frustration with the story came from Sophie, though. She made some questionable decisions. Decisions that were potentially hurtful to others. Although, in the end these decisions aided her in her self-discovery, I couldn't help being a little miffed with her about what I felt was her selfishness.
Ms. Wells has created an engrossing story. Her writing is vivid and made me feel as thought I was watching the story rather than reading it. This was particularly wonderful for me since the story is set in England, with a few jaunts to Paris, and although I've never been to these places, Ms. Wells painted brilliant images for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed Sophie's Turn and I can't wait to start Sophie's Run!
How many of us have dreamed of being proposed to by a rock star, especially one that we have idolised since our teenage years? For most of us that’s as far as it gets, but for Sophie Penhalligan it went further. Not only did she dream it but it actually happened to her. Dan from rock group Tusk is her dream come true, or is he? There is of course the small matter of her boyfriend Tim who has also proposed to her.
Sophie’s Turn is a delightful story of moral dilemma and conscience, throwing caution to the wind and reality checks told in a light hearted way with a great insight and understanding of human nature.
Sophie is a fun character who kept me amused and as the story unfolded, I got to know her better and found that there was a lot more to her than first appeared on the surface. She is a girl with a conscience that she is constantly battling with, trying to justify her actions with varying degrees of success. To help Sophie in true BBF style, Rachel is always there to offer advice and a shoulder to cry on. Then there’s the Accountant boyfriend; rock steady [yes the irony is intended] slightly anal Tim. And, of course, there is Dan the rock God, lead singer of Tusk who Sophie has loved from a far for over ten years. The two worlds of reality and fantasy collide and Sophie is stuck between the two until something far more important happens, the ripple effect of which brings her to a point where she has to face up to the good and the bad and take the right turn in life.
The book is set in three parts with the first setting the backdrop to the story by way of several flashbacks which, I have to admit, I wasn’t sure about initially but once I got into the story I was able to slip back and forth with ease. The flashbacks work because that part of Sophie’s life is not what the story is about but are essential to understand and move the plot forward.
I loved the second part of the book and how the relationships between Sophie and Tim and Sophie and Dan developed and evolved. Part three was just as good, giving rise to some moral dilemmas, making you route for Tim one minute and then Dan the next and made you wonder how you would handle the same situation.
The outcome, well what a great ending – not what I expected but totally satisfying. All in all a fab story told in a refreshing way.
Sophie Penhalligan is in a relationship with Tim Renfrew. She feels like the proposal is on the way,and she’s ready. Or, she thinks she is. She has a huge problem, though. Tim can do the most outrageously wonderful things, but Sophie can’t stop daydreaming about her past encounter with Dan Hunter, lead singer of her favorite rock band, Tuscq. Dan is completely in the past, though, and Tim is her future. Well, that’s what she keeps telling herself until Dan resurfaces in her life. Sophie finds herself playing both sides and with no clue what to do about it.
Sophie’s Turn grabbed my attention right from the start and never let go. This says a lot about the writing, because I found that I really didn’t like Sophie so much. Yet, I found myself caring about her. It has a nice smooth pace throughout and never drags. The characters were well-developed, and the plot was very unique.
So, Sophie is the big cheater. I found her seriously getting on my nerves before she even got close to doing the deed, though. Tim would do something completely amazing (like embarassing himself in front a whole restaurant) to make Sophie happy. Was Sophie happy? Well, maybe for a minute, but then she was back to daydreaming about Dan. Of course this just all got much worse. I didn’t particularly care for Tim, and yet felt he deserved so much better.
Now, despite disapproving of so much Sophie did (and didn’t do), I was surprised to find that I still cared for her. I still found myself encouraging her and rooting her on. I constantly found myself laughing out loud, too. I found Sophie, her bff Rachel, and Dan all amusing.
Now Dan, he was quite interesting himself. I saw so much potential, but still so much growing up that needed to be done. I felt in the end Sophie made the right decision, even if I think she lacked some in the remorse department. I’m very much looking forward to seeing where things lead for Sophie and Dan! I think I surprised myself at how much I liked the book after hating Sophie in the first few chapters!!!
So, 4 STARS!!!! I really liked the writing style, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I’m looking forward to Sophie’s Run and Sophie’s Encore!!! *I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Sophie Penhelligan has a great life., with her career being a journalist friends and a boyfriend Tim who has been there for two years, though her relationship with Tim turns her off time and again., she hopes that someday he will propose her..And then eventually does get engaged but then she gets engaged to the rock star Dan too...The book opens up with a flashback though a slow runner things got a lot better as I hung on to it...Tim is shy, can never really express himself always messes up things and tries hard to make it up to her at times forcing his way , he has a weird obsession with slugs, forgets his rings when he planned to propose later apoligising .....That is him a cross contrast of Sophie that makes her think something is definitely wrong somewhere...All along the way Sophie has been a great fan having a larger crush for Dan the rock star and a member of the famous rockband TUSK ..Dan is portrayed as every girl's dream and luckily for Sophie Dan re-entering her life, did I say re-enter?? well she did meet him back in her teenage years at back stage prior to one of his performance., and now she ends up being proposed, she is in cloud nine (obviously) with chorus of angels singing around her but the only trouble is that she is already engaged to Tim.... Kudos to Wells for bringing out the teenage adrenaline rush in Sophie .,when she meets Dan, those crazy moments are real fun to read...But for now she is with Dan too.,in short she is engaged to both men...Things take quite a roller coaster ride and before she gets a hang on things everything seems to fall apart..There is suspense, thrill, adventure around Sophie, never a dull moment with her.. Edinburg mystery was well done too...Sophie can get on nerves at times driving you to the edge ,in spite of her smartness she can act real stupid., but she is quick enough to reconcile and correct her mistakes but at times the situation itself don't go as she wants complications upon complications..Sophie keeps pushing her morale benchmark at times getting things right and at times losing it...The ending was a quiet unexpected one and I liked Wells for that..This book is a wonderful for a relaxing read....
Every girl (well, most girls) dreams of being swept off of her feet by the handsome rock star they idolise, but when it happens to Sophie Penhalligan it's not quite as perfect as she'd imagined. Sophie is a journalist, working in London and dating the steady and safe Tim. Things have been a bit lackluster between her and Tim, and Sophie finds herself rediscovering her favourite rock band, Tuscq- along with their alluring lead singer, Dan. Sophie is surprised by a proposal from Tim, but can't help but have some conflicted feelings towards Dan. Soon, Sophie is whisked away on Tuscq's revival tour. Can her relationship with Tim last when she's with Dan every day? Does she even want it to?
Sophie is really relatable and likable, I found that I could really empathise with her situation. She's fun and throughout the book we follow her journey as she tries to figure out exactly who she is and what she wants. Sophie only really seems to stay with Tim because she is comfortable and wants to settle, though of course she thinks she loves Tim. It was clear that Tim wasn't the one for Sophie though, as often pointed out by her dependable and outrageous best friend, Rachel. Dan was very much how you imagine a rock star to be- charismatic, delicious and a total ladies man. Sophie is swept into a whirlwind romance with Dan that seems idyllic, but may not be the right relationship for her.
I loved the journey Sophie takes throughout the story, she seems to grow into herself more. She definitely gains the confidence to make some hard decisions, that may just surprise you. Nicky Wells' writing is perfectly descriptive, you can imagine everything easily and vividly. I loved the parts when they're on tour, especially their time in Paris! There's fun moments, but the story has plenty of ups and downs and keeps your interest without difficulty. The ending was right for Sophie, and I'm looking forward to seeing what else will develop in her life!
*I received a review copy from the author, for my honest review. Thank you!
Sophie's Turn is the first novel written by Nicky Wells. Sophie Penhalligan is a 28-year-old journalist living in London. In a committed relationship to Tim, but worried that is doesn't seem to be going anywhere fast - why hasn't Tim proposed yet? An accidental meeting at the Airport of Darren the guitarist of band Tusk. The band she had travelled from Cornwall to Edinburgh to meet and go back stage with almost 10 years previous. The band that she had an enormous crush on the lead singer Dan, all those years ago. Darren invites her to a session they have coming up.
How can Tim every compare to the gorgeous Dan. The old feelings come flooding back to her and when she gets the opportunity to travel with them as an assignment for the newspaper there is no stopping her - after all it is work!
With the new excitement of Tim's (eventual!) proposal and the work assignment, everything seems to going great for Sophie! But how come after just a few days things have changed so much! "Slapper. Slut. Adulteress. These are hardly words that Sophie Penhalligan would normally use to describe herself." How can she suddenly find herself in Paris engaged to two men at the same time? What is she going to do? Who should she really be with? Can Tim compete with the man of her dreams, Rock Star Dan?
This is a great book and very easy to read. You start the story half way through and then return back to the past and retrace Sophie's steps when she met the Band and then her relationship with Tim. There are lots of very funny elements to this book and some great characters. A wonderful friendship between Sophie and her best friend Rachel. Packed full of heated highs but also some very sad lows that might have you reaching for a tissue. (Loved the ending) Nicky has written a perfect ChickLit book that easily stands up against the others available today in the shops.
Thank you so much Nicky for sending me a copy of this novel.