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I'm Dreaming of a Wilde Summer
It's a week before Christmas and Jack Harris feels down trodden; partly because his family and doctor are pleading with him to take things easy following a recent heart scare, but mainly because he is not looking forward to spending another Christmas alone, without a partner.
However, his best friend Harry MacDonald, a cancer recoverer - who seems to live every day as though it were his last, is having none of it. Together they are about to have the most outrageous, almost insane, adventures in the seven days ahead - hell bent on having the best Christmas ever. Harry is also determined that Jack will not be alone on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, Jack's glamorous next door neighbour, Gladys Wilde, a single woman who also doesn't relish the thought of spending Christmas alone, is being steam-rolled into unlikely dates by her best friend Wendy, who is on a mission to see that Gladys isn't alone for Christmas.
Before long, both parties of friends figure that the obvious match for Jack and Gladys are each other. But for all his efforts, Harry soon finds that Jack, in the presence of Gladys, turns into a jittery, bumbling and clumsy nervous wreck, resulting in Frank Spencer-que catastrophes; Jack will either drop, trip, break, smash or generally ruin anything within sight of her.
Gladys feels that Jack is a serious liability and is anxious to keep her distance. But every time Jack feels he has blown his chances, Harry would fearlessly step in to set up the next encounter - normally involving himself - and the results are hilarious.
With Christmas Day looming, can Jack finally overcome his inhibitions to win the heart of Gladys Wilde?
However, his best friend Harry MacDonald, a cancer recoverer - who seems to live every day as though it were his last, is having none of it. Together they are about to have the most outrageous, almost insane, adventures in the seven days ahead - hell bent on having the best Christmas ever. Harry is also determined that Jack will not be alone on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, Jack's glamorous next door neighbour, Gladys Wilde, a single woman who also doesn't relish the thought of spending Christmas alone, is being steam-rolled into unlikely dates by her best friend Wendy, who is on a mission to see that Gladys isn't alone for Christmas.
Before long, both parties of friends figure that the obvious match for Jack and Gladys are each other. But for all his efforts, Harry soon finds that Jack, in the presence of Gladys, turns into a jittery, bumbling and clumsy nervous wreck, resulting in Frank Spencer-que catastrophes; Jack will either drop, trip, break, smash or generally ruin anything within sight of her.
Gladys feels that Jack is a serious liability and is anxious to keep her distance. But every time Jack feels he has blown his chances, Harry would fearlessly step in to set up the next encounter - normally involving himself - and the results are hilarious.
With Christmas Day looming, can Jack finally overcome his inhibitions to win the heart of Gladys Wilde?
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2012
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 16, 2018
Depending on your sense of humour this is either a laugh a minute book or a roll your eyes groaning every minute sort of book. There is masses of great banter that goes off at a million tangents, and once you get accustomed to it, is actually really clever.
I didn't particularly laugh reading this but I was amused by the whole story, especially the solution to Jack's case not turning up in Acapulco which has inventive and fabulous.
There isn't too much description of Acapulco but rather the mickey is taken out of Mexicans and Spanish a lot, although it may have been nice to get a better idea where most of the book was set.
Two sets of best friends are on holiday in Mexico, they happen to both be in the same resort, despite booking separately and Jack and Gladys are a couple, albeit a rather rocky one. Jack doesn't want Gladys to know he is there too, and the assorted situations all 4 of them find themselves in go from the bizarre to the ridiculous.
What I will say is this is a wonderfully light hearted story, it is easy to read, its highly entertaining, and I suspect that if I read the next book in the series I may enjoy it even more as I would be accustomed to the writing style.
I didn't particularly laugh reading this but I was amused by the whole story, especially the solution to Jack's case not turning up in Acapulco which has inventive and fabulous.
There isn't too much description of Acapulco but rather the mickey is taken out of Mexicans and Spanish a lot, although it may have been nice to get a better idea where most of the book was set.
Two sets of best friends are on holiday in Mexico, they happen to both be in the same resort, despite booking separately and Jack and Gladys are a couple, albeit a rather rocky one. Jack doesn't want Gladys to know he is there too, and the assorted situations all 4 of them find themselves in go from the bizarre to the ridiculous.
What I will say is this is a wonderfully light hearted story, it is easy to read, its highly entertaining, and I suspect that if I read the next book in the series I may enjoy it even more as I would be accustomed to the writing style.
December 27, 2013
I can't remember laughing so hard with a book before and I made the big mistake of reading it on the train and didn't know where to hide my face - such was the hilarity. Jack and Harry are just a wonderful double-act - the dialog between them is fast, clever, and absolutely hilarious. Absurd as it may sound, the scenario of Jack becoming 'Jacqueline' for twelve days so that he could keep a watchful eye out on his girlfriend Gladys, was very believable, and I loved the unexpected bond that grew between them. Rhona T Pinkleton has written a comedy masterpiece. If you enjoyed I'm Dreaming of a Wilde Christmas, or even just enjoy a good laugh, then you will love this book.
Merged review:
I can't remember laughing so hard with a book before and I made the big mistake of reading it on the train and didn't know where to hide my face - such was the hilarity. Jack and Harry are just a wonderful double-act - the dialog between them is fast, clever, and absolutely hilarious. Absurd as it may sound, the scenario of Jack becoming 'Jacqueline' for twelve days so that he could keep a watchful eye out on his girlfriend Gladys, was very believable, and I loved the unexpected bond that grew between them. Rhona T Pinkleton has written a comedy masterpiece. If you enjoyed I'm Dreaming of a Wilde Christmas, or even just enjoy a good laugh, then you will love this book.
Merged review:
I can't remember laughing so hard with a book before and I made the big mistake of reading it on the train and didn't know where to hide my face - such was the hilarity. Jack and Harry are just a wonderful double-act - the dialog between them is fast, clever, and absolutely hilarious. Absurd as it may sound, the scenario of Jack becoming 'Jacqueline' for twelve days so that he could keep a watchful eye out on his girlfriend Gladys, was very believable, and I loved the unexpected bond that grew between them. Rhona T Pinkleton has written a comedy masterpiece. If you enjoyed I'm Dreaming of a Wilde Christmas, or even just enjoy a good laugh, then you will love this book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews