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Nothing to Lose
Christina Jones specialises in robust yet romantic heroines, unusual situations like acrobatic flying or fairgrounds, and remarkable casts of supporting players who are highly realistic - indeed very similar to one's lunatic uncle for example - but rendered with great affection. As so many of her readers say - one always feels a great deal better for reading a Christina Jones novel. Here Jasmine Clark inherits on the death of her grandfather, various bits of his businesses, including to the horror of her family, his bookie's pitch at a local greyhound stadium, as well as his council-condemned beach-hut. The stadium may look rundown, but there are plans afoot and it's a prime site close to the sea-front. April Pagett, single mother, has been nursing her bar job, and any other work she can get, including debt collection, to survive until one day, in lieu of payment, she is given Cair Paravel, allegedly a champion greyhound. The owner scarpers and April is left to conceal the dog from her landlord. So is he a winner? Debt collectors and developers, posh relations and bookmakers, possible husbands, and bar-owners, the owners and the punters, and of course the girls and the greyhound are all involved in a wonderful chase - with nothing to lose.
Paperback
First published May 8, 2001
About the author
Christina Jones
85 books191 followersI've written all my life, but only became a published novelist in 1997. Before that, I wrote short stories and newspaper articles for pin money while doing a series of naff jobs. In fact I've had twenty seven jobs and been sacked from nineteen of them for writing when I should have been working. I've been, among other things, a shop assistant, waitress, cleaner, secretary, factory worker, market-researcher, nanny, bookseller, night-club dancer, civil servant, blood donor attendant, fruit-picker and barmaid. I'm now, apparently, a Real Writer.
Writing for a living is wonderful - a dream come true - and I now manage to combine writing novels, short stories and articles with not doing the housework, not doing the gardening, not cooking much, but at least attempting to look after my husband - the Toyboy Trucker - and my daughter and our 17 rescued cats.
I was born in Oxford and have lived in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Northumberland, London and Jersey. I blame my parents both for my itchy feet and my romantic soul. My Dad was a circus clown - Poor Billy, Prince of Laughter Makers - and my Mum who trained as a teacher, came from an army family, and had lived in six countries before she was 15. They met and fell in love while the circus was off the road and my Dad was working as Santa Claus in a department store. My Mum, at home for Christmas, was the fairy in his grotto. I was entranced by the way they met, that they were from such different backgrounds, and that their love for one another managed to survive every obstacle and objection thrown in its path. Every book I've written has their story at its core.
I grew up in a Berkshire village, in a tight, happy, secure and very working class community. My childhood was idyllically happy, and my friends from those days are still my best friends now. My novels reflect this community spirit, and all have small groups of people - crossing class, age and gender - who are friends and work together through the roller coaster ride of life. Also, because the women I grew up with were, by necessity, tough and go-getting with a sense of humour, my heroines are gutsy and strong. Real women in real situations. And the fact that the backgrounds to my books mirror my own past experiences is no coincidence, either.
My parents were great storytellers and avid readers, and taught me to read long before I started school, so I started writing my own stories at about five years old without thinking it in the least odd. Writing was an obsession, a friend, a way of life. I had my first short story published at 14, still blissfully unaware this was unusual. However, having a novel published was my life's ambition - and one that took another thirty writing years to achieve.
Having won a couple of awards for my short stories, I joined the Romantic Novelists' Association in 1993, and was lucky enough to be voted runner-up for the New Writers' Scheme Award at my second attempt in 1995. Dancing in the Moonlight was published by My Weekly Story Library, and as it didn't have an ISBN wasn't classed as a novel. I was, of course, ecstatic at this literary elevation - and it was at the RNA Awards Lunch that I was approached by an agent who suggested I should try writing full length commercial fiction. Going the Distance was the result, and amazingly it was sold to a publisher straight away and then, equally amazingly, chosen for the 1997 WH Smith Fresh Talent Promotion - and I haven't (touch wood and fingers and all other extremities crossed!) - looked back since.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Writing for a living is wonderful - a dream come true - and I now manage to combine writing novels, short stories and articles with not doing the housework, not doing the gardening, not cooking much, but at least attempting to look after my husband - the Toyboy Trucker - and my daughter and our 17 rescued cats.
I was born in Oxford and have lived in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Northumberland, London and Jersey. I blame my parents both for my itchy feet and my romantic soul. My Dad was a circus clown - Poor Billy, Prince of Laughter Makers - and my Mum who trained as a teacher, came from an army family, and had lived in six countries before she was 15. They met and fell in love while the circus was off the road and my Dad was working as Santa Claus in a department store. My Mum, at home for Christmas, was the fairy in his grotto. I was entranced by the way they met, that they were from such different backgrounds, and that their love for one another managed to survive every obstacle and objection thrown in its path. Every book I've written has their story at its core.
I grew up in a Berkshire village, in a tight, happy, secure and very working class community. My childhood was idyllically happy, and my friends from those days are still my best friends now. My novels reflect this community spirit, and all have small groups of people - crossing class, age and gender - who are friends and work together through the roller coaster ride of life. Also, because the women I grew up with were, by necessity, tough and go-getting with a sense of humour, my heroines are gutsy and strong. Real women in real situations. And the fact that the backgrounds to my books mirror my own past experiences is no coincidence, either.
My parents were great storytellers and avid readers, and taught me to read long before I started school, so I started writing my own stories at about five years old without thinking it in the least odd. Writing was an obsession, a friend, a way of life. I had my first short story published at 14, still blissfully unaware this was unusual. However, having a novel published was my life's ambition - and one that took another thirty writing years to achieve.
Having won a couple of awards for my short stories, I joined the Romantic Novelists' Association in 1993, and was lucky enough to be voted runner-up for the New Writers' Scheme Award at my second attempt in 1995. Dancing in the Moonlight was published by My Weekly Story Library, and as it didn't have an ISBN wasn't classed as a novel. I was, of course, ecstatic at this literary elevation - and it was at the RNA Awards Lunch that I was approached by an agent who suggested I should try writing full length commercial fiction. Going the Distance was the result, and amazingly it was sold to a publisher straight away and then, equally amazingly, chosen for the 1997 WH Smith Fresh Talent Promotion - and I haven't (touch wood and fingers and all other extremities crossed!) - looked back since.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 23, 2017
This book was really good. It was all about dog racing, which I know a bit about. But the whole personal life issues come up and intertwine. It's a good read.
December 14, 2015
After reading a few disappointing books and a few intense, but brilliant, books, I was in the mood for something lighter and fun. Christina Jones is always a good choice for this type of mood.
The story focuses on two women - Jasmine has just lost her grandfather, inherited his bookie pitch at the local greyhound racing stadium and can't decide whether to leave her long term fiancé. April is struggling to bring up her daughter alone while working two jobs, when she suddenly finds herself the owner of a greyhound. Both worlds will sort of collide.
To be honest, this isn't her best one. The two storylines were equally well-written, but only barely intertwined. There was a lot going on, but the story jumped in time a lot - you'd read the next chapter only to find weeks have gone past. While I didn't mind that happening, I did feel as if I wasn't truly getting to know the characters. However, I think I liked Jasmine more - I felt like screaming at April for not really getting a fix on her life.
But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will keep tracking down books by this author in the future.
The story focuses on two women - Jasmine has just lost her grandfather, inherited his bookie pitch at the local greyhound racing stadium and can't decide whether to leave her long term fiancé. April is struggling to bring up her daughter alone while working two jobs, when she suddenly finds herself the owner of a greyhound. Both worlds will sort of collide.
To be honest, this isn't her best one. The two storylines were equally well-written, but only barely intertwined. There was a lot going on, but the story jumped in time a lot - you'd read the next chapter only to find weeks have gone past. While I didn't mind that happening, I did feel as if I wasn't truly getting to know the characters. However, I think I liked Jasmine more - I felt like screaming at April for not really getting a fix on her life.
But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will keep tracking down books by this author in the future.
August 30, 2014
This author does not fail to please me - so glad that this book has been republished (with a nicer cover than this one too!) A bit different to some of her later books but it is still in her distinctive style. As usual, loved the humour in the book, however she also highlights the more serious side of greyhound racing. I fell inlove with the characters - and the setting too - I want to live in a beach hut in Ampney Crucis! Does this place exist? If so I want to go there - now! I always feel uplifted and in a happy haze after reading books by Christina Jones - keep on writing please!
not-for-me
February 28, 2015I remembered enjoying this when it first came out and grabbed it as an airplane read recently. Oh no. Both the female leads are somewhat directionless, aside from yearnings for a good life, and fall into being dog racing related entrepreneurs in a local, run down track. Their initial romances are awful men. It's all a bit depressing and perhaps too British of a very certain class and time period. I tossed it.
January 6, 2011
Another winner by Jones, this one set around the world of greyhound racing. She excels at loveable characters.
January 4, 2012
Another great rwead from one of my favourite authors, usual mix of heroines, villains, misunderstandings and happy endings!
September 3, 2014
Good fun read set in the world of greyhound racing, very relaxing.
July 20, 2024
Bit different
May 31, 2015
A really romantic and captivating book set in the dog race world.
November 12, 2015
I was in the right frame of mind to enjoy a nice, easy to read story. Had all the qualities of good, clean chick lit.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews