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Cherry Dene #3
Colouring Outside The Lines
Meet Katie: she’s finally found her perfect match. The wedding's planned and a happy future awaits. Or so she thinks.
Having spent her twenties and thirties enjoying life with good friends and building a career she loves, it’s taken Katie until her forties to contemplate settling down. And she couldn’t be more delighted she waited.
So, why is her groom standing gawping at her, wearing mismatched socks and sweating buckets? This can’t bode well.
With her special day in tatters, Katie has a decision to make. Does she snatch back the reins of her old life and tighten her grip even more, or should she take a chance on change? Will she find the key to happiness at a Pilates class in a smelly old hall? Or is the curve ball heading her way too huge to handle?
If you like wry British humour and a flawed protagonist on an emotional journey, you’ll enjoy reading Amanda Paull’s latest novel, Colouring Outside the Lines – a thought-provoking tale of shattered dreams, self-discovery and finding love where you least expect it.
- GenresFamily DramaContemporary
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2023
4 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 13, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
‘I wish I’d had a cute brother. Our Simon gave my Barbie a crew cut and pinched the wheels off her car.’ She struggled to imagine him ever looking cute, even when he was young. He’d always had a face she felt like slapping. Or perhaps that was only because he’d been such a rubbish big brother. The image of her empty piggy bank flashed across her mind, and she had an urge to slap his grown-up face.
Katie stood in the doorway and gave a loud cough. Her parents both shot around, their expressions frozen in horror. They looked like a terrible photograph, snapped in the night following a rude awakening from a bright torch. The comedic aspect of this scene took the edge off Katie’s growing anxiety, and she had to bite the inside of her cheek not to laugh.
My Review:
I adore Amanda Paull, her unique tales and peculiar casts of players tickle my funny bone in the most merciless manner. She specializes in creating outlandishly obnoxious, selfish, and amusingly hideous family members and characters that are on the edge of vile, yet I have never failed to remain invested and engaged in their tales - if only to see that the one semi-normal family member comes out alive at the end. The humorous storylines annoyed, entertained, and kept me guessing. I wanted to give the main character numerous pinches as well as a few hugs before I reached the end, at least she did apologize for being “a bit deranged.” I am still smirking an hour after finishing and eager to see what Ms. Paull's magical pen conjures up next.
‘I wish I’d had a cute brother. Our Simon gave my Barbie a crew cut and pinched the wheels off her car.’ She struggled to imagine him ever looking cute, even when he was young. He’d always had a face she felt like slapping. Or perhaps that was only because he’d been such a rubbish big brother. The image of her empty piggy bank flashed across her mind, and she had an urge to slap his grown-up face.
Katie stood in the doorway and gave a loud cough. Her parents both shot around, their expressions frozen in horror. They looked like a terrible photograph, snapped in the night following a rude awakening from a bright torch. The comedic aspect of this scene took the edge off Katie’s growing anxiety, and she had to bite the inside of her cheek not to laugh.
My Review:
I adore Amanda Paull, her unique tales and peculiar casts of players tickle my funny bone in the most merciless manner. She specializes in creating outlandishly obnoxious, selfish, and amusingly hideous family members and characters that are on the edge of vile, yet I have never failed to remain invested and engaged in their tales - if only to see that the one semi-normal family member comes out alive at the end. The humorous storylines annoyed, entertained, and kept me guessing. I wanted to give the main character numerous pinches as well as a few hugs before I reached the end, at least she did apologize for being “a bit deranged.” I am still smirking an hour after finishing and eager to see what Ms. Paull's magical pen conjures up next.
August 11, 2021
Thank you who gave a copy of this book to me
Here’s my honest review for you to see….
Katie has, at last, met her man
They’ll marry tomorrow, that was the plan.
However on their wedding day
He questions if they both should stay.
Distraught that as the wedding is no more
Katie’s lists and plans she needs to ignore.
They aren’t relevant, so what should she do?
Her mother certainly hasn’t a clue!
With health scares and family drama,
Katie could do with keeping much calmer.
Maybe new exercise regimes and a new friend
Will prove just what she needs in the end?
This story gently percolates
As Katie adds new events and dates.
It’s all about daring to go off track
To discover what you need and who you lack.
Here’s my honest review for you to see….
Katie has, at last, met her man
They’ll marry tomorrow, that was the plan.
However on their wedding day
He questions if they both should stay.
Distraught that as the wedding is no more
Katie’s lists and plans she needs to ignore.
They aren’t relevant, so what should she do?
Her mother certainly hasn’t a clue!
With health scares and family drama,
Katie could do with keeping much calmer.
Maybe new exercise regimes and a new friend
Will prove just what she needs in the end?
This story gently percolates
As Katie adds new events and dates.
It’s all about daring to go off track
To discover what you need and who you lack.
Read
January 26, 2022I'm not rating this book. The writing was good - if not REALLY good in places - but there were some aspects I found very uncomfortable. It isn't humorous, or satirical or even heart-warming, which was the reason I downloaded it - please 'categorise' novels correctly! Thought provoking and heart-rending might be a better description? And it missed out the real category which I thought was sneaky.
I really dislike novels where decent, loving, kind men get cast aside while the women go on their merry way without giving them a backward glance, and, although this wasn't exactly like that, my heart ached for Connor. He deserved far far better.
I don't think I will trust this author again.
Not rating.
I really dislike novels where decent, loving, kind men get cast aside while the women go on their merry way without giving them a backward glance, and, although this wasn't exactly like that, my heart ached for Connor. He deserved far far better.
I don't think I will trust this author again.
Not rating.
August 9, 2021
An original, funny and touching read!
Katie is about to get married; in her forties and on a solid financial footing she is all ready for the big day, dressed in her finery when her fiance turns up not exactly dressed to match and dithering about commitment. With her life in tatters, Katie finds herself full of doubts about where her life is heading now . . .
There is such a lot going on in this book! I empathised with Katie’s organisational skills and her need to be on top of everything as I can be a bit (just a bit!) of a control freak myself. Her mother, however, could be the title character in any sitcom with her father playing the straight man; I laughed myself silly over some of the situations these two got themselves into but there is a really deeper, touching part of the story about Katie finding herself after all the ups and downs she has been through. All beautifully written by Amanda Paull making it a tender, enjoyable read which I’m happy to recommend and give 4.5*.
Katie is about to get married; in her forties and on a solid financial footing she is all ready for the big day, dressed in her finery when her fiance turns up not exactly dressed to match and dithering about commitment. With her life in tatters, Katie finds herself full of doubts about where her life is heading now . . .
There is such a lot going on in this book! I empathised with Katie’s organisational skills and her need to be on top of everything as I can be a bit (just a bit!) of a control freak myself. Her mother, however, could be the title character in any sitcom with her father playing the straight man; I laughed myself silly over some of the situations these two got themselves into but there is a really deeper, touching part of the story about Katie finding herself after all the ups and downs she has been through. All beautifully written by Amanda Paull making it a tender, enjoyable read which I’m happy to recommend and give 4.5*.
August 11, 2021
Reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
Many books I’ve read focus on protagonists who may have one or two quirks, but other than that, they are an obvious protagonist who readers are meant to fall in love with. But that is not at all the case when it comes to Katie.
With all of her lists and rules and guidelines that are meant to keep things “easier,” we learn that Katie may not always be the easiest protagonist to love. What seems like a miscommunication with her fiancé turns into a much larger, defining moment in her world, a potential chance at breaking out from within the confines of the walls she’s clearly set up for herself. But, does she really need to or want to? While I could understand the way she feels towards him, given the situation involved, I wasn’t sure if maybe she’d been too hasty, and quick to blame.
A continual question that is asked of Katie is, “Do you really think you’ve found your happily-ever-after?” It’s hard to answer. It’s obvious she has questions when it comes to her love life, her friendships, or even the potential friendships that might come from doing things like Pilates classes or outdoor races--events that aren’t the usual go-to for her. But I also didn’t see any real attempt on her part to find that sublime happiness that everyone else either seems to have found, talks about, or dreams about. Not at first, anyway. It may have made her less loveable, yet it certainly made her much more memorable. And likeable, too.
I think what I appreciated most is that those truths and realisms within Katie’s personality made her real. She’s not always the nicest, and she might not always make choices that others seem to think she needs to make to find that happily-ever-after, but it was refreshing to have a character who goes against the grain of everything. I really didn’t know which direction she’d choose to go in, and that was part of her charm, and the charm in reading Colouring Outside The Lines.
Many books I’ve read focus on protagonists who may have one or two quirks, but other than that, they are an obvious protagonist who readers are meant to fall in love with. But that is not at all the case when it comes to Katie.
With all of her lists and rules and guidelines that are meant to keep things “easier,” we learn that Katie may not always be the easiest protagonist to love. What seems like a miscommunication with her fiancé turns into a much larger, defining moment in her world, a potential chance at breaking out from within the confines of the walls she’s clearly set up for herself. But, does she really need to or want to? While I could understand the way she feels towards him, given the situation involved, I wasn’t sure if maybe she’d been too hasty, and quick to blame.
A continual question that is asked of Katie is, “Do you really think you’ve found your happily-ever-after?” It’s hard to answer. It’s obvious she has questions when it comes to her love life, her friendships, or even the potential friendships that might come from doing things like Pilates classes or outdoor races--events that aren’t the usual go-to for her. But I also didn’t see any real attempt on her part to find that sublime happiness that everyone else either seems to have found, talks about, or dreams about. Not at first, anyway. It may have made her less loveable, yet it certainly made her much more memorable. And likeable, too.
I think what I appreciated most is that those truths and realisms within Katie’s personality made her real. She’s not always the nicest, and she might not always make choices that others seem to think she needs to make to find that happily-ever-after, but it was refreshing to have a character who goes against the grain of everything. I really didn’t know which direction she’d choose to go in, and that was part of her charm, and the charm in reading Colouring Outside The Lines.
August 13, 2021
Colouring Outside the Lines is part of the linked Cherry Dene series however can be read as a standalone or out of order. It’s lovely to see all the different characters pop up though and get a snippet of how their lives are going by reading the different ones.
One of my favourite aspects of Amanda Paull’s writing is how she captures the North-East. It a delight to spot places such as Penshaw Monument and the Tyne Bridge in a book and I love being able to fully visualise places that I know so well. Amanda’s passion for the are and the people comes through so well too.
I loved the character of Katie and really felt for her but at the same time I could also feel and understand Connor’s frustration. Amanda always writes completely realistic characters, and she hits the nail on the head again with Connor and Katie. Both sweet characters on their own way but both needing to work through some issues and maybe not as compatible as they first though. Katie’s parents add some real comedy value to the novel too and really represent a real-life family. I loved the relationship Katie had with her brother despite how selfish he was a t times. For me it represented a very realistic sibling relationship.
Amanda’s writing is always enjoyable and it’s easy to become lost in her stories. She writes stories with depth and emotion but still manages to keep them humorous, heart-warming and light. When I’m reading an Amanda Paull you can often find me sniggering or chuckling out loud.
A wonderful and amusing novel that is perfect to get lost in. Highly recommended.
One of my favourite aspects of Amanda Paull’s writing is how she captures the North-East. It a delight to spot places such as Penshaw Monument and the Tyne Bridge in a book and I love being able to fully visualise places that I know so well. Amanda’s passion for the are and the people comes through so well too.
I loved the character of Katie and really felt for her but at the same time I could also feel and understand Connor’s frustration. Amanda always writes completely realistic characters, and she hits the nail on the head again with Connor and Katie. Both sweet characters on their own way but both needing to work through some issues and maybe not as compatible as they first though. Katie’s parents add some real comedy value to the novel too and really represent a real-life family. I loved the relationship Katie had with her brother despite how selfish he was a t times. For me it represented a very realistic sibling relationship.
Amanda’s writing is always enjoyable and it’s easy to become lost in her stories. She writes stories with depth and emotion but still manages to keep them humorous, heart-warming and light. When I’m reading an Amanda Paull you can often find me sniggering or chuckling out loud.
A wonderful and amusing novel that is perfect to get lost in. Highly recommended.
August 12, 2021
Real life versus the idealised version of romance which is to be found in romcoms is the central idea in Amanda Paull's romance. Katie seems to have everything on target to marry and all her checklists have been double checked. She thinks she has sorted out her life and is set for an uneventful if unexciting marriage. However, there are some revelations coming her way and she has to face up to some truths about what she actually wants.
I found the humour in the book to be quite visual. You can see the events unfolding. Katie's family also made me smile, with her mother in particular causing a degree of mayhem. Despite her organisation, Katie's life seems to descend into chaos, not helped by her family but in the end, I found it to be an endearing story, mostly because of the character of Katie herself.
In short: Can lists and check sheets sort out Katie’s messy life?
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book
I found the humour in the book to be quite visual. You can see the events unfolding. Katie's family also made me smile, with her mother in particular causing a degree of mayhem. Despite her organisation, Katie's life seems to descend into chaos, not helped by her family but in the end, I found it to be an endearing story, mostly because of the character of Katie herself.
In short: Can lists and check sheets sort out Katie’s messy life?
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book
August 9, 2021
My book tour post has been a little delayed today, as my organisational skills do not match up with the protagonist of this beautiful story. Covering various topics, including personal growth, love, loss, and being able to find the best in any situation. Although there is a lot thrown into this plot, it did not feel overwhelming.
This book has comedy weaved through it, and I found myself reading this with a smile throughout. The characters are written really well and in particular, I found Katie to be a very amusing leading lady, despite all her heartache, and life experiences.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and recommended summer read and is ideal for anyone looking for a light read in the sun.
Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for a place on this book tour, and apologises once again that this was not posted this morning!
This book has comedy weaved through it, and I found myself reading this with a smile throughout. The characters are written really well and in particular, I found Katie to be a very amusing leading lady, despite all her heartache, and life experiences.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and recommended summer read and is ideal for anyone looking for a light read in the sun.
Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for a place on this book tour, and apologises once again that this was not posted this morning!
August 7, 2021
OCD Woman Lives Life
This is an interesting story that does not easily fit into a category. A rather OCD woman begins to realize that she is a bit obsessive when she has a panic attack. It does not help when everything in her immediate world is in flux. Some of the story is very funny, some is very sad. The characters are great and come across as very real. This is an excellent mental movie. This author always produces an excellent story and this one did not disappoint.
This is an interesting story that does not easily fit into a category. A rather OCD woman begins to realize that she is a bit obsessive when she has a panic attack. It does not help when everything in her immediate world is in flux. Some of the story is very funny, some is very sad. The characters are great and come across as very real. This is an excellent mental movie. This author always produces an excellent story and this one did not disappoint.
August 10, 2021
There’s something about Katie, you see. Her life is both messy and super organized, a dichotomy that pushed my reading boundaries–always a good thing–and intrigued me.
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
September 19, 2021
When the worst thing that could happen to you is the start of a new chapter
Katie never really felt any butterflies in her stomach, or saw sparks fly around when kissing someone. But she does know that she truly loves Connor, and is ready to start their lives together. Yes, there is a small age difference, and while Connor has ‘romance’ written all over the place and Katie absolutely doesn’t, but when you love each other truly, all those differences don’t matter. However, when on the wedding day Katie is ready to say ‘I Do’, Connor appears to have second thoughts, and the perfect wedding is suddenly off… Now Katie has to decide what to do… will she go back to her old life, keeping people at distance and taking no chances? Or is this her opportunity to dare to take that leap of faith? I found this an utterly entertaining story! Of course, the start isn’t a happy one because Katie finds herself being dumped practically at the altar. And to be honest, I didn’t understand why Connor was acting that way. He knew how Katie was, and everyone has a own vision of how to act romantically. So what if Katie didn’t understand why someone would swoon over the ending of Bridget Jones Diary? Each person is different and is allowed to feel the way they feel.
But of course, if Connor would go through with the wedding, we wouldn’t have been able to read this beautiful story about how Katie is rediscovering herself, and thanks with the help of her friend is daring to step out of her comfort zone. Katie is easy to like, even if sometimes she is in a dark place. But her feeling down, made me feel like I truly understood her. She isn’t this perfect character without doubts, fearless for some new adventures. No, she is wary of even going to just a class of Pilates, doesn’t easily accept new people and just the idea of doing something adventurous… In so many aspects, Katie is recognizable, with all her fears and doubts. Even the relationship with her parents and brother isn’t a perfect one, no matter how much she loves them. And her love for her parents is putting her in protective mode, even from her own brother.
It was not only fun to read how Katie is picking up the pieces after her non – wedding, but it somehow also made me realize that a change or taking a chance can be amazing. And yes, you may fall flat on your face in some cases, but most of the times, you discover a whole different side of yourself that is easy to like.
Yes, there is some romance in this story, and I found it wonderful how it was a bit different than what I expected to be. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it! The author managed to give it a beautiful twist, but showing us that love is love, and that’s what matters. But this book is in my opinion about finding yourself, not being afraid and daring to colour outside the lines!
I know I am repeating myself, but for just one last time: I found this a beautiful story, with a strong message, and I love reading every bit of it!
Katie never really felt any butterflies in her stomach, or saw sparks fly around when kissing someone. But she does know that she truly loves Connor, and is ready to start their lives together. Yes, there is a small age difference, and while Connor has ‘romance’ written all over the place and Katie absolutely doesn’t, but when you love each other truly, all those differences don’t matter. However, when on the wedding day Katie is ready to say ‘I Do’, Connor appears to have second thoughts, and the perfect wedding is suddenly off… Now Katie has to decide what to do… will she go back to her old life, keeping people at distance and taking no chances? Or is this her opportunity to dare to take that leap of faith? I found this an utterly entertaining story! Of course, the start isn’t a happy one because Katie finds herself being dumped practically at the altar. And to be honest, I didn’t understand why Connor was acting that way. He knew how Katie was, and everyone has a own vision of how to act romantically. So what if Katie didn’t understand why someone would swoon over the ending of Bridget Jones Diary? Each person is different and is allowed to feel the way they feel.
But of course, if Connor would go through with the wedding, we wouldn’t have been able to read this beautiful story about how Katie is rediscovering herself, and thanks with the help of her friend is daring to step out of her comfort zone. Katie is easy to like, even if sometimes she is in a dark place. But her feeling down, made me feel like I truly understood her. She isn’t this perfect character without doubts, fearless for some new adventures. No, she is wary of even going to just a class of Pilates, doesn’t easily accept new people and just the idea of doing something adventurous… In so many aspects, Katie is recognizable, with all her fears and doubts. Even the relationship with her parents and brother isn’t a perfect one, no matter how much she loves them. And her love for her parents is putting her in protective mode, even from her own brother.
It was not only fun to read how Katie is picking up the pieces after her non – wedding, but it somehow also made me realize that a change or taking a chance can be amazing. And yes, you may fall flat on your face in some cases, but most of the times, you discover a whole different side of yourself that is easy to like.
Yes, there is some romance in this story, and I found it wonderful how it was a bit different than what I expected to be. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it! The author managed to give it a beautiful twist, but showing us that love is love, and that’s what matters. But this book is in my opinion about finding yourself, not being afraid and daring to colour outside the lines!
I know I am repeating myself, but for just one last time: I found this a beautiful story, with a strong message, and I love reading every bit of it!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews