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All She Ever Wished For
The number one Irish bestseller!
‘An emotional rollercoaster’ Irish Independent
‘A brilliantly readable, funny novel’ Fabulous magazine
A gorgeous story of chance meetings and unexpected friendships. Because sometimes what you’ve always wished for isn’t necessarily what life has in store . . .
Ten weeks at the top of the Irish charts!
The new bestseller from Claudia Carroll
Marriage. It’s a dream come true. Isn’t it?
One wet winter night, two women meet on a bridge. One is Tess Taylor, a personal trainer on the way to meet her boyfriend for date night. The other is Kate King, a celebrity married to a handsome billionaire who just happens to make her cry. In the cold dark evening, there is nothing to link them together but the bridge they shiver on. Little do they know they’ll both hold the key to each other’s future marriage…
All She Ever Wished For tells the story of what happens when your dream is about to come true. And what happens when that dream turns into a bit of a nightmare…
Claudia Carroll brings you a Christmas gift filled with second chances, fateful encounters and a lesson in what true love means.
‘An emotional rollercoaster’ Irish Independent
‘A brilliantly readable, funny novel’ Fabulous magazine
A gorgeous story of chance meetings and unexpected friendships. Because sometimes what you’ve always wished for isn’t necessarily what life has in store . . .
Ten weeks at the top of the Irish charts!
The new bestseller from Claudia Carroll
Marriage. It’s a dream come true. Isn’t it?
One wet winter night, two women meet on a bridge. One is Tess Taylor, a personal trainer on the way to meet her boyfriend for date night. The other is Kate King, a celebrity married to a handsome billionaire who just happens to make her cry. In the cold dark evening, there is nothing to link them together but the bridge they shiver on. Little do they know they’ll both hold the key to each other’s future marriage…
All She Ever Wished For tells the story of what happens when your dream is about to come true. And what happens when that dream turns into a bit of a nightmare…
Claudia Carroll brings you a Christmas gift filled with second chances, fateful encounters and a lesson in what true love means.
496 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2016
85 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Carroll
42 books454 followersClaudia was born in Dublin and is a graduate of UCD, the College of Music and of the Gaiety School of Acting. Since then she has worked extensively as an actress on the Irish stage, but is probably best known for her role as TV’s Nicola Prendergast in the long running Dublin soap opera, ‘Fair City.’
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 20, 2019
I will start my review with a warning: Don't let the cover full you! This is not a festive read. I repeat: THIS IS NOT A FESTIVE READ.
Judging by it's releasing day and the cover, you probably think this is a beautiful Christmas story, but, unfortunately, it's not.
Whoever designed this cover did an amazing job when it comes to appearance, but it's so misleading. I mean, they even put snowflakes on the cover!
Why would you do that, when there's no winter, no Christmas in the story whatsoever?
This year I read Carroll's short story In A New York Minute and complitely fell in love with her writing style. That short story was the best read I had in JUly and I knew I wanted to read more of her work.
When I saw All She Ever Wished For on Netgally and my reading request was approved, I was beyond happy.
I would lie if I told you my expectations for this novel weren't high.
However, I don't think that my expectations have much to do with my impressions.
The story was just not interesting enough for me to like it more.
I was bored many times while reading and characters didn't help the case either.
All She Ever Wished For follows stories of two women who's lives intertwine.
Kate had some hard time. She had an ugly divorce and now she's proving her right ownershinp of the painting her ex husband bought her as a birthday present while they were still together.
She's being called gold-digger by media but we get to see her side of the story.
Tess is getting married, but she also has to attend the court as a juror. While she has so much things to do to make sure everything goes right on her big day, with their families not on good therms, time spent on court at first comes as burden, but after some time, being in court jury makes her forget about all the obligations for a while and she starts to rethink her decision...
Kate's story was so much more interesting then Tess'.
After all, Kate was the one who was fighting for her rights.
This is the story that describes many happenings at court.
And in whole honesty, those parts were simply boring.
There is also one side character who has a big role in the story: Will. I just couldn't like him, no matter how hard I tried. I thought he was too nosy, asking questions and saying things that weren't his business and it was all okay because he's a writer. I get that writers are curious, and I get that there are people like him all over the world, but telling someone you only just met (wait, not even met properly, but only just saw because you are in the same room together) that the song she chose to have for her first dance on her own wedding is stupid, and suggesting her to go with another one is just plain rude. Oh and mind you, he knew what song she chose because he was listening to her phone call, which is also rude.
This is just one of the situations that made me came to conclusion that Will is simply rude.
The writing style was really good, it was the best part of the book.
Nevertheless, not even a good writing style can help the boring story make more interesting.
As I already said, it was pretty boring at times and in my opinion, too long.
I couldn't connect with characters, especially with Tess. With Kate I couldn't help but emphatize and feel for her as a woman.
The ending was good and satisfying.
Overall, I think this book just wasn't my cup of tea, but I'm looking forward to read more books by Claudia Carroll because I really like her writing style.
I already bought Meet Me In Manhattan and I plan to read it soon.
Note: I got this book for free via Netgalley in an exchange for my honest review. Thank you Avon.
Read this and more reviews on my blog: https://bookdustmagic.com
Judging by it's releasing day and the cover, you probably think this is a beautiful Christmas story, but, unfortunately, it's not.
Whoever designed this cover did an amazing job when it comes to appearance, but it's so misleading. I mean, they even put snowflakes on the cover!
Why would you do that, when there's no winter, no Christmas in the story whatsoever?
This year I read Carroll's short story In A New York Minute and complitely fell in love with her writing style. That short story was the best read I had in JUly and I knew I wanted to read more of her work.
When I saw All She Ever Wished For on Netgally and my reading request was approved, I was beyond happy.
I would lie if I told you my expectations for this novel weren't high.
However, I don't think that my expectations have much to do with my impressions.
The story was just not interesting enough for me to like it more.
I was bored many times while reading and characters didn't help the case either.
All She Ever Wished For follows stories of two women who's lives intertwine.
Kate had some hard time. She had an ugly divorce and now she's proving her right ownershinp of the painting her ex husband bought her as a birthday present while they were still together.
She's being called gold-digger by media but we get to see her side of the story.
Tess is getting married, but she also has to attend the court as a juror. While she has so much things to do to make sure everything goes right on her big day, with their families not on good therms, time spent on court at first comes as burden, but after some time, being in court jury makes her forget about all the obligations for a while and she starts to rethink her decision...
Kate's story was so much more interesting then Tess'.
After all, Kate was the one who was fighting for her rights.
This is the story that describes many happenings at court.
And in whole honesty, those parts were simply boring.
There is also one side character who has a big role in the story: Will. I just couldn't like him, no matter how hard I tried. I thought he was too nosy, asking questions and saying things that weren't his business and it was all okay because he's a writer. I get that writers are curious, and I get that there are people like him all over the world, but telling someone you only just met (wait, not even met properly, but only just saw because you are in the same room together) that the song she chose to have for her first dance on her own wedding is stupid, and suggesting her to go with another one is just plain rude. Oh and mind you, he knew what song she chose because he was listening to her phone call, which is also rude.
This is just one of the situations that made me came to conclusion that Will is simply rude.
The writing style was really good, it was the best part of the book.
Nevertheless, not even a good writing style can help the boring story make more interesting.
As I already said, it was pretty boring at times and in my opinion, too long.
I couldn't connect with characters, especially with Tess. With Kate I couldn't help but emphatize and feel for her as a woman.
The ending was good and satisfying.
Overall, I think this book just wasn't my cup of tea, but I'm looking forward to read more books by Claudia Carroll because I really like her writing style.
I already bought Meet Me In Manhattan and I plan to read it soon.
Note: I got this book for free via Netgalley in an exchange for my honest review. Thank you Avon.
Read this and more reviews on my blog: https://bookdustmagic.com
June 12, 2017
Two and a half stars
The book opens with a woman crying on a bridge. She is Kate King, famous ex model and married to Damien. Together they are the rich glamourous couple with oodles of money and a lifestyle many would envy. That is, until the time when things go wrong. Tess Taylor encounters Kate crying on the bridge. Tess is busily planning her own wedding to Bernard, who has to be one of the most boring characters ever created. Even coming to him on the rebound it is hard to see how Tess has talked herself into believing she could marry him and they would be happy. A summons to jury duty throws all her carefully laid wedding plans into disarray but brings Kate King back into her orbit. A courtroom case unfolds.
The book gives both Kate’s story as to how she got to this place in life and also Tess with her wedding plans and jury duty. It is an easy read, very much in the chick lit realm as pretty much heralded by the cover. I found some of the dialogue and sentence structure awkward, eg. ‘My pal is a hairdresser who does a friend of Kate’s hair,’ is one example that sounded odd to me. It sounded like her hair had a friend. And some of the dialogue between what Tess and one of the other jurors call’ the old biddies’ is annoying and added nothing to the plot or to characterisation. The line ‘I throw my eyes frustratedly across to Ruth,’ conveyed strange visual images to me. A reviewer on the cover called this book, ’Hilarious, effervescent, heart- warming.’ I found it mildly amusing at times but annoying at others.
I was never convinced about the feeling between Tess and Bernard. Anyone who thinks calling their loved one 'sausage' as a term of endearment deserves to be ignored. I quite enjoyed the court case although even that went on a bit and wasn’t convinced about the supposed twist in the end. Overall, readable so long as you are not looking for anything more than a beach or light read but not memorable. If you are keen on chick lit you may enjoy it more than I did.
The book opens with a woman crying on a bridge. She is Kate King, famous ex model and married to Damien. Together they are the rich glamourous couple with oodles of money and a lifestyle many would envy. That is, until the time when things go wrong. Tess Taylor encounters Kate crying on the bridge. Tess is busily planning her own wedding to Bernard, who has to be one of the most boring characters ever created. Even coming to him on the rebound it is hard to see how Tess has talked herself into believing she could marry him and they would be happy. A summons to jury duty throws all her carefully laid wedding plans into disarray but brings Kate King back into her orbit. A courtroom case unfolds.
The book gives both Kate’s story as to how she got to this place in life and also Tess with her wedding plans and jury duty. It is an easy read, very much in the chick lit realm as pretty much heralded by the cover. I found some of the dialogue and sentence structure awkward, eg. ‘My pal is a hairdresser who does a friend of Kate’s hair,’ is one example that sounded odd to me. It sounded like her hair had a friend. And some of the dialogue between what Tess and one of the other jurors call’ the old biddies’ is annoying and added nothing to the plot or to characterisation. The line ‘I throw my eyes frustratedly across to Ruth,’ conveyed strange visual images to me. A reviewer on the cover called this book, ’Hilarious, effervescent, heart- warming.’ I found it mildly amusing at times but annoying at others.
I was never convinced about the feeling between Tess and Bernard. Anyone who thinks calling their loved one 'sausage' as a term of endearment deserves to be ignored. I quite enjoyed the court case although even that went on a bit and wasn’t convinced about the supposed twist in the end. Overall, readable so long as you are not looking for anything more than a beach or light read but not memorable. If you are keen on chick lit you may enjoy it more than I did.
January 29, 2017
Claudia Carroll is a new author to me and l enjoyed her style of writing very much...This story is very engaging with good strong likable characters.Must admit I could have done without all the court room stuff... it did go on a bit ...and i found myself skimming though some of these chapters...but all in all and summing it up Your Honour l enjoyed it and will be reading more of Miss Carroll in the future.
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October 31, 2016Review: This book was completely different from what I was expecting. I suppose that's why you should never judge a book by its cover and also why I should read blurbs before reading a book. I was expecting a love story in the snow but what I got was part fabulous gossip magazine and partly the story of so many people who have fallen out of a bad relationship and had to move back home with their parents (I know I've been there!). I really enjoyed this book. This was written from the perspective of Kate King, former supermodel and wife of a wealthy media mogul and Tess, a personal trainer who is weeks away from her wedding and suddenly finds her world turned upside down in more ways that one when she has to attend during duty.
I really enjoyed the fact that this book was structured in this way. We got to see Tess in her life an the way she perceived the court case she was on and then we got to hear snippets from Kate's life through the medium of gossip columns or former gathering and parties that she had been involved in. It was always clear who we were talking about and which chapter was which and so the time shifts were not in any way confusing and were in fact the cohesion that held the story together. Loved this and it was part of the enjoyment of this book for me!
I really really identified with Tass. She was a little scatterbrained and couldn't seem to see the situations she was getting herself into as she went bumbling through her life but aren't those the best kind of heroines. I loved her honesty and I loved the way she dealt with everything that was thrown at her. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to be spoilery in anyway but she was just so real and I really enjoyed spending time in her world. We really get to know Kate through what is said about her more than her own thoughts and actions and this changes and evolves as the book goes on and so could have been a whole novel in itself. I really loved the way her character was crafted and felt myself warming to her as much as I did Tess. Because of the way this was written, I also felt like another member of the jury on this case-brilliant.
Of course there are some fab supporting characters in this novel too. We have some love interests but to talk about them would b giving far to much away but the real stars for me in terms of secondary characters were the others members of the jury on the court case that Tess was on. They were absolutely hilarious and so well sketched out that I could picture meeting, sitting down and chatting to each and every one of them. I loved hearing this authors voice throughout the book and it was definitely a real change of storyline for me. This book was refreshing and riveting and had a real heart-warming ending, definitely a must-read!
I really enjoyed the fact that this book was structured in this way. We got to see Tess in her life an the way she perceived the court case she was on and then we got to hear snippets from Kate's life through the medium of gossip columns or former gathering and parties that she had been involved in. It was always clear who we were talking about and which chapter was which and so the time shifts were not in any way confusing and were in fact the cohesion that held the story together. Loved this and it was part of the enjoyment of this book for me!
I really really identified with Tass. She was a little scatterbrained and couldn't seem to see the situations she was getting herself into as she went bumbling through her life but aren't those the best kind of heroines. I loved her honesty and I loved the way she dealt with everything that was thrown at her. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to be spoilery in anyway but she was just so real and I really enjoyed spending time in her world. We really get to know Kate through what is said about her more than her own thoughts and actions and this changes and evolves as the book goes on and so could have been a whole novel in itself. I really loved the way her character was crafted and felt myself warming to her as much as I did Tess. Because of the way this was written, I also felt like another member of the jury on this case-brilliant.
Of course there are some fab supporting characters in this novel too. We have some love interests but to talk about them would b giving far to much away but the real stars for me in terms of secondary characters were the others members of the jury on the court case that Tess was on. They were absolutely hilarious and so well sketched out that I could picture meeting, sitting down and chatting to each and every one of them. I loved hearing this authors voice throughout the book and it was definitely a real change of storyline for me. This book was refreshing and riveting and had a real heart-warming ending, definitely a must-read!
October 19, 2016
Oh wow. Really. I think that with every book Claudia Carroll is only getting better and better! Also, her stories are so different to each other, which only makes waiting for her new releases more and more exciting. Yes, I must admit, I was afraid that this book won't capture my attention as in my opinion it was a real slow burner. It gathered pace only in the courtroom and this is when the book really started to feel incredibly exciting and thrilling, but till that moment I was already panicking and asking myself what's happening? Let's be honest, it dragged a little on and it was hard to see what this story is really going to be about, but as soon as we entered the courtroom and experienced what the case is going to be about, the book became unputdownable for me!
Tess and Bernard are getting married, even though many other people, including Tess's family are of opinion that they just don't make the perfect match. Nevertheless, the wedding should take place at Tess's family home and this what looked like a really great idea starts to cause more and more problems. Moreover, Tess has just been called for jury duty and even though she has tried everything and every excuse to wriggle out of this obligation, she need to do her duty - she must also put her wedding organization aside and soon she needs to make some decisions that may change her life. Because suddenly she really has a lot of decisions to make, and to be honest, yes, I was wondering what she sees in Bernard, the more I read into this story, but then I thought, oh well, love cannot be compelled, right? I just couldn't help thinking that they are totally not suitable, even though Tess was absolutely sure they belong together. And for my liking the hesitation, the questioning, it happened too sudden, too out of the blue and made me a little sceptic.
Enter Kate and Damien King, the golden couple of Ireland, young, successful, beautiful, who kept the whole nation with bated breath when reading about their life. However, as their marriage came to an end, now it's time for the very public battle in the court, that is becoming a new media folly. What happened? What did go wrong in this marriage?
This is a story about two very different women who, in the end, want the same thing. I absolutely loved how very complex and vague the author made Kate King. She firstly lets us to know her worst side (supposedly) of her, and tell her story mostly in flashbacks, usually through the eyes of journalists who have already judged her, or through the eyes' of Damien's lawyer, and to tell that the things told about her were not positive would be an understatement, and then slowly started to reveal her real personality. I must admit, it annoyed me that Kate was so calm and she's never said a single word in her defence, but on the other hand I totally admired her calmness, serenity, balance and the way she was. I think it must cost a lot of strength to be like Kate in such situation. Though - not everything is so obvious! There were also moments at the end of the book that the author made it so unclear, that I myself, the person who was supporting Kate no matter what, started to doubt if her intentions were really so innocent - thanks to Claudia Carroll for making this so thrilling and not straightforward!
Actually, all of the characters are brilliantly drawn and all are memorable people. All of them are so different and the author captured the differences and the little details that made them so exceptional and so realistic in a brilliant way. Tess and her family were great, and what's important, they were really honest with each other. Sure, her parents, or especially her mum, were paying great attention to the appearances and it was important to them what's outside, that what the other people see is clear and immaculate, but they also didn't give a shit to the fact that they were not as well educated as for example Bernard's family, who, in my opinion, couldn't be more boring with their never - ending conversations about opera, lectures and "high" art. Is it a wonder that those two families just didn't "get" each other?
And let's not forget the jury members! They were the most colourful, entertaining bunch of characters ever! Tess was one of the youngest, and we had a mum of a few children there, a young car - salesman, some pensioners, and Will... Oh my word, Will. I won't say anymore, please read the book for yourself, then you will understand what I mean about Will. But back to the jury - a group of totally different people that destiny thrown together and who must stitch together, no matter what now. There were some brilliant moments involving the jury, especially they trips to lunches, and I loved their interaction and how easily they found a common ground.
The two heroines are so different, and their perspectives as well, and I loved how their paths become entwined. They were both strong and determined, proud and they knew their worth and very quickly I found myself rooting for them - even though, let me admit, at the beginning, what with the story being on the slow side, I was not so sure of them both! But mea culpa, because in my opinion they both turned out to be different women to this what I thought about them, and hats off to the author for making them so complex and ambiguous.
This story is like one big jigsaw, like matching the puzzle elements, and I absolutely loved how the information were slowly revealed, and every new thing was like a new puzzle piece. There are many of them, however I never felt confused and I didn't have problems to follow the flow of the story. It is also a story of two relationship, two very different relationships but both of them so incredibly interesting! "All she Ever Wished For" is a powerful, thought - provoking read showing that things are not always as straight - forward or so obvious and that there is always a hidden agenda and that it is worth to dig deeper and deeper to know the truth. It is funny and at the same time it is poignant and yes, I had a problem to get into it, but quickly it had me glued to the pages and I was desperate to know what's going to happen and how it's going to develop. Claudia Carroll's writing is better and better with her every new book, it is engaging and she has a great way with the words, describing feelings and emotions, characters and their personalities, places and situations in the most engaging, genuine way. The storyline was complex and really clever and I really wasn't sure where it's heading, taking me on a great journey full of surprises.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
January 6, 2021
4 stars from me only because the way the cover looks, makes the book look like a Christmas holiday novel, which it is not, which is one of the reasons why I bought it thinking that it was and for it's ending. Just wish the ending had more.
Most of it is set up in a court room with a separated couple fighting over a renaissance painting. At first you think Kate is only after the money but that's not it at all. I got a chuckle out of the jury members that mostly consisted of elderly ladies complaining of their health woes and liked to gossip. Tess(whom tried to get out of dreaded jury duty), who is also on the jury ,is planning her wedding during all this. She meets Wil on the jury and they soon become friends. I must mention Tess met her fiance while on the rebound from a nasty break up.
All in all a good storey that kept me reading wondering what was going to happen next.
Most of it is set up in a court room with a separated couple fighting over a renaissance painting. At first you think Kate is only after the money but that's not it at all. I got a chuckle out of the jury members that mostly consisted of elderly ladies complaining of their health woes and liked to gossip. Tess(whom tried to get out of dreaded jury duty), who is also on the jury ,is planning her wedding during all this. She meets Wil on the jury and they soon become friends. I must mention Tess met her fiance while on the rebound from a nasty break up.
All in all a good storey that kept me reading wondering what was going to happen next.
April 19, 2016
Tess and Bernard are getting married and the wedding preparations are in full swing. Choosing to have the event at Tess's family home seemed like a good idea at the time but as the date approaches, the bride-to-be encounters many obstacles, not least the fact that her family don't like Bernard and Bernard's family are not overly-keen on her. To make matters worse, Tess has been called for jury duty and all the wedding plans are side-tracked.
Kate and Damien King were Ireland's golden couple and held the whole country in rapture with their lavish lifestyle. Now the tides have turned, with their bitter court battle becoming the new media folly. Just how can a marriage go so badly wrong?
The two women's lives come with different sets of expectations and realities, yet they both want the same thing. A new beginning and a chance at happiness. Courtrooms can be more than an arena for judgment...
This is Claudia Carroll's thirteenth novel and she once again captures the essence of friendship, comedy and a little romance with her signature wit and humour. The two main characters are Tess and Kate, but these are supported by an amazing cast of memorable personalities. Tess's fiancee, Bernard is an absolute howl, with his parents tendency to overwhelm everyone with their academic lifestyle and attitudes causing many a giggle. Their family home is one we have spotted on every tree lined street, with overgrown garden, cranky cat and a air of disrepair despite it's affluent location. The Prendergasts just don't care. On the other side of the coin is Tess's family. Salt of the earth, living in an immaculately maintained three-bed-semi, they are throwing themselves into preparing their home for the wedding day. Tess just wishes they 'got' Bernard and Bernard 'got' them.
Kate and Damien are living the life most of us could only dream of. A country mansion, straight out of the pages of VIP or Hello magazines, extravagant parties, luxurious holidays and a well-connected circle of friends. However, all this is irrelevant to Kate. There are some things that money can't buy. When their marriage disintegrates, she hits Damien where it hurts hardest; landing herself in court.
As the drama unfolds daily, the jury are thrown together and what a bunch they are. Tess is one of the youngest, by a few decades, and the matriarchal group are like the panels of a patchwork quilt; all stitched together, despite their differences. There are some cringe-worth moments, dodgy hypochondriac monologues and entertaining pensioner tensions. Everytime they convene to their waiting room, the comedy balances the structure of the court system. The jurors take their roles very seriously and the verdict lies in their hands. Tess needs to put her wedding woes aside and make a decision that may change her own life as well as deciding the fate of Kate King.
This is a book that relaxes the soul and warms the heart. At the end of a busy day there is nothing better than switching off, relaxing with a light read and escaping into a world that can do you no harm. The humour is a constant presence throughout the novel and the interactions of the jury are just brilliant. In contrast, the life of the Kings is drip fed and the reader builds a picture of how they ended up on either side of a Dublin Courtroom. An idyllic holiday read, or a tonic at the end of a more demanding day. Highly recommended contemporary fiction.
Kate and Damien King were Ireland's golden couple and held the whole country in rapture with their lavish lifestyle. Now the tides have turned, with their bitter court battle becoming the new media folly. Just how can a marriage go so badly wrong?
The two women's lives come with different sets of expectations and realities, yet they both want the same thing. A new beginning and a chance at happiness. Courtrooms can be more than an arena for judgment...
This is Claudia Carroll's thirteenth novel and she once again captures the essence of friendship, comedy and a little romance with her signature wit and humour. The two main characters are Tess and Kate, but these are supported by an amazing cast of memorable personalities. Tess's fiancee, Bernard is an absolute howl, with his parents tendency to overwhelm everyone with their academic lifestyle and attitudes causing many a giggle. Their family home is one we have spotted on every tree lined street, with overgrown garden, cranky cat and a air of disrepair despite it's affluent location. The Prendergasts just don't care. On the other side of the coin is Tess's family. Salt of the earth, living in an immaculately maintained three-bed-semi, they are throwing themselves into preparing their home for the wedding day. Tess just wishes they 'got' Bernard and Bernard 'got' them.
Kate and Damien are living the life most of us could only dream of. A country mansion, straight out of the pages of VIP or Hello magazines, extravagant parties, luxurious holidays and a well-connected circle of friends. However, all this is irrelevant to Kate. There are some things that money can't buy. When their marriage disintegrates, she hits Damien where it hurts hardest; landing herself in court.
As the drama unfolds daily, the jury are thrown together and what a bunch they are. Tess is one of the youngest, by a few decades, and the matriarchal group are like the panels of a patchwork quilt; all stitched together, despite their differences. There are some cringe-worth moments, dodgy hypochondriac monologues and entertaining pensioner tensions. Everytime they convene to their waiting room, the comedy balances the structure of the court system. The jurors take their roles very seriously and the verdict lies in their hands. Tess needs to put her wedding woes aside and make a decision that may change her own life as well as deciding the fate of Kate King.
This is a book that relaxes the soul and warms the heart. At the end of a busy day there is nothing better than switching off, relaxing with a light read and escaping into a world that can do you no harm. The humour is a constant presence throughout the novel and the interactions of the jury are just brilliant. In contrast, the life of the Kings is drip fed and the reader builds a picture of how they ended up on either side of a Dublin Courtroom. An idyllic holiday read, or a tonic at the end of a more demanding day. Highly recommended contemporary fiction.
October 12, 2016
4.5 Stars
I actually have no idea how on earth I am supposed to review this. I want to tell you about the story, which although is briefly mentioned in the blurb, the actual methods used and the way everything is shown to the reader feels quite different, but yet I fear mentioning the specifics could be a spoiler.
So lets see what I can safely say..
Tess and Kate meet briefly on a rainy evening on the Ha'Penny Bridge, and then two years later their lives entwine in an unexpected way.
The majority of Kate's story is told in flashbacks, often with accompanying newspaper articles, since she is a celebrity. Tess's story is told in the present and we follow on her journey, of wedding planning, the mixing of two sets of parents and the event she just can't get out of, no matter how hard she tries.
The story telling was intriguing as the whole time there were some unanswered questions about Kate and her husband, and even at the end I still wasn't completely convinced understood some of the reasoning behind key decisions. Can't help but wonder whether there may just be a sequel to this book.
All She Ever Wished For is really the story of two relationships, Kate's and Tess' with their respective partners, but also Kate with her best friend, and Tess with her family, as well as a whole group of new strangers, one of which in particular stands out. Over a two week period Tess has a lot of decisions to make, and Kate's life will completely change too.
I really did enjoy the book, and was hooked early on, and as the story progressed, I just wanted to be reading and not doing other things, as I was very curious as to how everything would turn out in the end. All She Ever Wished For has secured one thought in my mind though, is that the newer Claudia Carroll books are so much more accomplished than her earlier ones.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
I actually have no idea how on earth I am supposed to review this. I want to tell you about the story, which although is briefly mentioned in the blurb, the actual methods used and the way everything is shown to the reader feels quite different, but yet I fear mentioning the specifics could be a spoiler.
So lets see what I can safely say..
Tess and Kate meet briefly on a rainy evening on the Ha'Penny Bridge, and then two years later their lives entwine in an unexpected way.
The majority of Kate's story is told in flashbacks, often with accompanying newspaper articles, since she is a celebrity. Tess's story is told in the present and we follow on her journey, of wedding planning, the mixing of two sets of parents and the event she just can't get out of, no matter how hard she tries.
The story telling was intriguing as the whole time there were some unanswered questions about Kate and her husband, and even at the end I still wasn't completely convinced understood some of the reasoning behind key decisions. Can't help but wonder whether there may just be a sequel to this book.
All She Ever Wished For is really the story of two relationships, Kate's and Tess' with their respective partners, but also Kate with her best friend, and Tess with her family, as well as a whole group of new strangers, one of which in particular stands out. Over a two week period Tess has a lot of decisions to make, and Kate's life will completely change too.
I really did enjoy the book, and was hooked early on, and as the story progressed, I just wanted to be reading and not doing other things, as I was very curious as to how everything would turn out in the end. All She Ever Wished For has secured one thought in my mind though, is that the newer Claudia Carroll books are so much more accomplished than her earlier ones.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
October 19, 2016
This was such a romantic, heartwarming story. I loved both the plot and the writing style, which was unusual but effective. There's present story, flashbacks, news articles. It was all very original and well put together.
(Not a Christmas story)
(Not a Christmas story)
March 3, 2018
I absolutely loved this book maybe even more because I listened to the audio version brilliantly narrated in the lovely Irish accent, Tess is called up in Ireland for jury service at the worst possible time for her, the story of Kate and Damian unfold during the trial , but this well written story made me laugh so much, the rest of the jury were so funny, I loved it.
September 26, 2016
3.5 Stars
Probably wrongly, I feel a little bit misled by this book. Based on the cover, the title and the release date of October I kind of thought that this was going to be a Christmas romance and unfortunately it's not. I no doubt should have paid a bit more attention to the blurb but I just got too excited about a Claudia Carroll Christmas story. I absolutely loved Meet Me In Manhattan: A sparkling, feel-good romantic comedy to whisk you away from it all and would probably rate it as one of my all time favourite Christmas romances.
Alas in this case it was not to be. That's not to say this is not a great story, because it is. It's the story of two women, Kate and Tess who are at very different points in their lives. Kate's marriage to billionaire Damien King is over and Tess is planning her wedding to art historian Bernard. Their lives intersect one day on the Ha'penny bridge, when Tess comes across Kate in tears, and then a couple of years later when Tess is called for jury duty and ends up embroiled in a legal dispute between Kate and Damien over a painting.
The chapters alternate between Tess and Kate for the most part (Bernard gets a couple of chapters) with Tess's chapters set in the present and telling the story of her wedding plans, the court case and her relationship with Bernard, his family and hers. Kate's chapters are mostly flashbacks, telling the story of her relationship with Damien from their first meeting to the events that resulted in them in court battling over custody of a painting.
I have to admit that initially I found the story a little on the slow side and this wasn't helped by the fact that I didn't really take to either Tess or Kate. Both came across as quite weak characters, with Tess particularly frustrating me with her blindness to the fact that she and Bernard were a complete mismatch.
Where the story really picks up however is when the court case begins. I really enjoyed Tess's attempts to get out of jury duty and loved some of the conversations between the jurors who are primarily composed of pensioners.
I don't think I ever took to Kate unfortunately and this is probably the main reason why I rated it as I did. The flashbacks were interesting but as a lot of them were in the form of newspaper articles it was kind of difficult to get that connection. She felt a bit absent to me and honestly I don't think I cared what the outcome of the case would be.
Bernard and his family were also a little bit annoying to me. They were just that little bit too stereotyped as socially awkward, eccentric, intellectuals. I think I spent most of the story waiting for Tess to come to her senses and call the wedding off which I suppose in a way did keep me reading.
As a Claudia Carroll book it is well written and there is some fantastic dialogue but it just seemed to be missing that little spark for me.
Overall, therefore I'd say good rather than great.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Probably wrongly, I feel a little bit misled by this book. Based on the cover, the title and the release date of October I kind of thought that this was going to be a Christmas romance and unfortunately it's not. I no doubt should have paid a bit more attention to the blurb but I just got too excited about a Claudia Carroll Christmas story. I absolutely loved Meet Me In Manhattan: A sparkling, feel-good romantic comedy to whisk you away from it all and would probably rate it as one of my all time favourite Christmas romances.
Alas in this case it was not to be. That's not to say this is not a great story, because it is. It's the story of two women, Kate and Tess who are at very different points in their lives. Kate's marriage to billionaire Damien King is over and Tess is planning her wedding to art historian Bernard. Their lives intersect one day on the Ha'penny bridge, when Tess comes across Kate in tears, and then a couple of years later when Tess is called for jury duty and ends up embroiled in a legal dispute between Kate and Damien over a painting.
The chapters alternate between Tess and Kate for the most part (Bernard gets a couple of chapters) with Tess's chapters set in the present and telling the story of her wedding plans, the court case and her relationship with Bernard, his family and hers. Kate's chapters are mostly flashbacks, telling the story of her relationship with Damien from their first meeting to the events that resulted in them in court battling over custody of a painting.
I have to admit that initially I found the story a little on the slow side and this wasn't helped by the fact that I didn't really take to either Tess or Kate. Both came across as quite weak characters, with Tess particularly frustrating me with her blindness to the fact that she and Bernard were a complete mismatch.
Where the story really picks up however is when the court case begins. I really enjoyed Tess's attempts to get out of jury duty and loved some of the conversations between the jurors who are primarily composed of pensioners.
I don't think I ever took to Kate unfortunately and this is probably the main reason why I rated it as I did. The flashbacks were interesting but as a lot of them were in the form of newspaper articles it was kind of difficult to get that connection. She felt a bit absent to me and honestly I don't think I cared what the outcome of the case would be.
Bernard and his family were also a little bit annoying to me. They were just that little bit too stereotyped as socially awkward, eccentric, intellectuals. I think I spent most of the story waiting for Tess to come to her senses and call the wedding off which I suppose in a way did keep me reading.
As a Claudia Carroll book it is well written and there is some fantastic dialogue but it just seemed to be missing that little spark for me.
Overall, therefore I'd say good rather than great.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2016
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Planning your wedding is supposed to be an exciting experience isn't it? Well, stressful too, but you would think that when your upcoming wedding was being spoken about, you would show more happiness as opposed to....nothing, right? I have watched many episodes of Say Yes To The Dress and Don't tell the Bride to understand that anger or uncertainty, are two feelings that would only appear if your other half has annoyed you...and NOT because of someone asking you whether you're excited to be getting married.
Meet Tess, a personal trainer who is planning her wedding to a man that is her polar opposite who thinks his reputation is far more important than anything else.
Meet Kate, a celebrity who is married to a man she thought would be her 'one', her 'happily ever after', funny how things can change isn't it?
I revealed the cover of this book on my blog the other month, so when I realised that I was able to review it too, I became rather excited! I didn't know what to expect at all but I rather looking forward to finding out.
As soon as the story begins it seems as though we're gaining a puzzle piece because of the first scenario we come across. To what that puzzle piece represented, I didn't know, yet, but it seemed as though that first puzzle piece was a vital piece of information for the story.
The storyline itself switches between Tess' and Kate's lives and how they got to where they are now, and more I read, the more puzzle pieces I collected. I gave up trying to work out where the storyline was heading as there was so much information and enjoyable situations, I didn't want my mind to be taken away from the overall story. I wanted to enjoy it for what it was instead of trying to be Sherlock. Both Tess and Kate were brilliant characters to follow as their personalities were so very different yet they were still quite similar ladies. I found the storyline to be quite complex as there was a lot going on and I was taken on such an emotional journey, absolutely loved it.
'All She Ever Wished For' is such a powerful and poignant read, it truly opened my eyes to the bigger picture in general. I thoroughly enjoyed going with the flow with this book and letting myself enjoy every single moment of Claudia's enchanting words. I couldn't believe where the storyline headed as it was totally unexpected, that said, it made for an even better read.
Such a wonderful book that will have you siding with a heroine or two. I got lost in Claudia's majestic storyline and was rather disappointed when the book had to end. I absolutely cannot wait to see what Claudia has up her sleeve for her next book!
Thank you to Avon for my ARC.
Planning your wedding is supposed to be an exciting experience isn't it? Well, stressful too, but you would think that when your upcoming wedding was being spoken about, you would show more happiness as opposed to....nothing, right? I have watched many episodes of Say Yes To The Dress and Don't tell the Bride to understand that anger or uncertainty, are two feelings that would only appear if your other half has annoyed you...and NOT because of someone asking you whether you're excited to be getting married.
Meet Tess, a personal trainer who is planning her wedding to a man that is her polar opposite who thinks his reputation is far more important than anything else.
Meet Kate, a celebrity who is married to a man she thought would be her 'one', her 'happily ever after', funny how things can change isn't it?
I revealed the cover of this book on my blog the other month, so when I realised that I was able to review it too, I became rather excited! I didn't know what to expect at all but I rather looking forward to finding out.
As soon as the story begins it seems as though we're gaining a puzzle piece because of the first scenario we come across. To what that puzzle piece represented, I didn't know, yet, but it seemed as though that first puzzle piece was a vital piece of information for the story.
The storyline itself switches between Tess' and Kate's lives and how they got to where they are now, and more I read, the more puzzle pieces I collected. I gave up trying to work out where the storyline was heading as there was so much information and enjoyable situations, I didn't want my mind to be taken away from the overall story. I wanted to enjoy it for what it was instead of trying to be Sherlock. Both Tess and Kate were brilliant characters to follow as their personalities were so very different yet they were still quite similar ladies. I found the storyline to be quite complex as there was a lot going on and I was taken on such an emotional journey, absolutely loved it.
'All She Ever Wished For' is such a powerful and poignant read, it truly opened my eyes to the bigger picture in general. I thoroughly enjoyed going with the flow with this book and letting myself enjoy every single moment of Claudia's enchanting words. I couldn't believe where the storyline headed as it was totally unexpected, that said, it made for an even better read.
Such a wonderful book that will have you siding with a heroine or two. I got lost in Claudia's majestic storyline and was rather disappointed when the book had to end. I absolutely cannot wait to see what Claudia has up her sleeve for her next book!
Thank you to Avon for my ARC.
September 23, 2016
Heartwarming, romantic, and laugh-out-loud funny.
This story is told from two different perspectives. One is that of Tess, an energetic young woman in the throes of planning her dream wedding to the older, slightly dull, Bernard. And the other is Kate, a beautiful celebrity who finds herself in a malicious legal battle with her estranged, billionaire ex-husband. Although these women come from completely different backgrounds and lead completely different lifestyles it isn't long before their paths intersect and their lives become entwined.
The writing is flawless. The characterization is spot on. The two heroines are strong, determined, motivated, and likeable. The supporting characters are varied, colourful, and quirky. And Will, well Will is the perfect man, tall, dark, handsome, and caring.
This is an intriguing story brimming with humour, romance, mystery, friendship, and family. It made me laugh, it made me smile, and it made me want more!
If you are a fan of rom coms or chick-lit, this book is definitely for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially HarperCollins UK - Avon, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
This story is told from two different perspectives. One is that of Tess, an energetic young woman in the throes of planning her dream wedding to the older, slightly dull, Bernard. And the other is Kate, a beautiful celebrity who finds herself in a malicious legal battle with her estranged, billionaire ex-husband. Although these women come from completely different backgrounds and lead completely different lifestyles it isn't long before their paths intersect and their lives become entwined.
The writing is flawless. The characterization is spot on. The two heroines are strong, determined, motivated, and likeable. The supporting characters are varied, colourful, and quirky. And Will, well Will is the perfect man, tall, dark, handsome, and caring.
This is an intriguing story brimming with humour, romance, mystery, friendship, and family. It made me laugh, it made me smile, and it made me want more!
If you are a fan of rom coms or chick-lit, this book is definitely for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially HarperCollins UK - Avon, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
October 17, 2016
A nice mixture of courtroom drama and chick lit. How can an ordinary girl and superrmodels lives become entwined?
I found it easy to relate to both the main characters, Kate and Tess, and both their stories were realistic. I loved the idea of part of Kate's story being told through newspaper clippings.
Although both these characters were great, it was the pensioners serivn jury duty with Tess that stole the story for me. At times they made me laugh out loud, I especially loved the scene in which they were comparing alilments, hilarous!
Although this book is chick lit, there is plent of heart, and an important message. I also really appreciated that this was a clean read. There is nothing within these pages to make you blush.
Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book.
I found it easy to relate to both the main characters, Kate and Tess, and both their stories were realistic. I loved the idea of part of Kate's story being told through newspaper clippings.
Although both these characters were great, it was the pensioners serivn jury duty with Tess that stole the story for me. At times they made me laugh out loud, I especially loved the scene in which they were comparing alilments, hilarous!
Although this book is chick lit, there is plent of heart, and an important message. I also really appreciated that this was a clean read. There is nothing within these pages to make you blush.
Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book.
April 24, 2017
I have read every book by Claudia Carroll and loved each of them. BUT this one, I couldn't finish. I got as far as 50% and just had to give it up. Too much of the book was about the court case that Kate King is involved in during her celebrity marriage which goes wrong. Tess is engaged to Bernard who is older than her and a fuddy duddy! Hated the words between them. He uses old fashioned words and calls her stupid names. Hate giving up half way through a book but it didn't flow at all for me or keep me interested enough to finish it.
November 20, 2016
I am a huge fan of Claudia Carroll so it comes as no surprise that I loved every page of this book. Although its not as deep as some of her others, but still it is amazing how she takes a subject and gives it her all. This book is also brilliant as its a total court case. Hearing the side from someone called to be on a jury is amazing and so different. I can honestly say i loved this book and really felt i was at the court every day.
October 5, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I thought the author did a wonderful job with this book. I loved the story and how genuine the characters were. I really enjoyed getting swept up in this story and hated to see it come to an end. I would love to see another story on these characters. A great read that I highly recommend!
April 25, 2016
Loved this ending,, I won't give any spoilers. Miss Carroll has done it yet again :)
March 12, 2017
This book was completely different from what I was expecting. I suppose that's why you should never judge a book by its cover.
I was expecting a love story in the snow but what I got was part fabulous gossip magazine and partly the story of so many people who have fallen out of a bad relationship and had to move back home with their parents.This was written from the perspective of Kate King, former supermodel and wife of a wealthy media mogul and Tess, a personal trainer who is weeks away from her wedding and suddenly finds her world turned upside down in more ways that one when she has to attend during duty.
I really enjoyed the fact that this book was structured in this way. We got to see Tess in her life an the way she perceived the court case she was on and then we got to hear snippets from Kate's life through the medium of gossip columns or former gathering and parties that she had been involved in. It was always clear who we were talking about and which chapter was which and so the time shifts were not in any way confusing and were in fact the cohesion that held the story together. Loved this and it was part of the enjoyment of this book for me!
Tess was a little scatterbrained and couldn't seem to see the situations she was getting herself into as she went bumbling through her life but aren't those the best kind of heroines. I loved her honesty and I loved the way she dealt with everything that was thrown at her. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil the story in anyway but she was just so real and I really enjoyed spending time in her world. We really get to know Kate through what is said about her more than her own thoughts and actions and this changes and evolves as the book goes on and so could have been a whole novel in itself. I really loved the way her character was crafted and felt myself warming to her as much as I did Tess. Because of the way this was written, I also felt like another member of the jury on this case-brilliant.
Of course there are some fab supporting characters in this novel too. We have some love interests but to talk about them would be giving far to much away but the real stars for me in terms of secondary characters were the others members of the jury on the court case that Tess was on. They were absolutely hilarious and so well sketched out that I could picture meeting, sitting down and chatting to each and every one of them. I loved hearing this authors voice throughout the book and it was definitely a real change of storyline for me. This book was refreshing and riveting and had a real heart-warming ending, definitely a must-read!
I was expecting a love story in the snow but what I got was part fabulous gossip magazine and partly the story of so many people who have fallen out of a bad relationship and had to move back home with their parents.This was written from the perspective of Kate King, former supermodel and wife of a wealthy media mogul and Tess, a personal trainer who is weeks away from her wedding and suddenly finds her world turned upside down in more ways that one when she has to attend during duty.
I really enjoyed the fact that this book was structured in this way. We got to see Tess in her life an the way she perceived the court case she was on and then we got to hear snippets from Kate's life through the medium of gossip columns or former gathering and parties that she had been involved in. It was always clear who we were talking about and which chapter was which and so the time shifts were not in any way confusing and were in fact the cohesion that held the story together. Loved this and it was part of the enjoyment of this book for me!
Tess was a little scatterbrained and couldn't seem to see the situations she was getting herself into as she went bumbling through her life but aren't those the best kind of heroines. I loved her honesty and I loved the way she dealt with everything that was thrown at her. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil the story in anyway but she was just so real and I really enjoyed spending time in her world. We really get to know Kate through what is said about her more than her own thoughts and actions and this changes and evolves as the book goes on and so could have been a whole novel in itself. I really loved the way her character was crafted and felt myself warming to her as much as I did Tess. Because of the way this was written, I also felt like another member of the jury on this case-brilliant.
Of course there are some fab supporting characters in this novel too. We have some love interests but to talk about them would be giving far to much away but the real stars for me in terms of secondary characters were the others members of the jury on the court case that Tess was on. They were absolutely hilarious and so well sketched out that I could picture meeting, sitting down and chatting to each and every one of them. I loved hearing this authors voice throughout the book and it was definitely a real change of storyline for me. This book was refreshing and riveting and had a real heart-warming ending, definitely a must-read!
August 28, 2018
>> REVIEW SUMMARY <<
It was pretty good! Confused love story plus a bit of mystery and some really good comedy on the side. I liked it and found the Granny Brigade to be so hilarious I even ended up in tears 😂 But one thing I really didn't like is some issues left behind. A lot of why's from Damien and Kate. Why did Damien fight so hard for the bloody painting anyway? Was it really just because of Harper? And why did Kate hang on to it so tightly as well? Was it really just as Mo said, for security? And seriously, was that all that Bernard knew?
>> CHARACTERS <<
Tess Taylor seems to be the average female, working her but off to earn her keep. She's honest and faithful. She's been hurt but she's strong enough to overcome it. I thought her character was weak at first, coz she seems to be getting dragged and piled on by the wedding stuff and her fiancee, but she managed to handle it all quite well. Good support from her family really helped as well.
Will Kearns. Now I don't know how writers really live and what they're really like, but this guy was pretty mysterious. To me it felt like that the jurors were all from the same status of life, you know, average, not poor but not rich either. But then this guy lives on a penthouse, and then his car is like the bat mobile. But his personality is A+. He's charming, funny, very witty indeed which I think is only right for a writer, and he's got a real good sense of the people around him which is also probably due to him being a novelist.
Kate Lee, definitely not King. I liked her from the start. What she went through must have been very painful, I can't even imagine. 3 miscarriages and a cheating husband. I doubt he even loved her for real. I hate those kind of people who'd probably die if they weren't given much notice, and this guy wins on being an attention seeker. Kill them by ignoring them, ha! I admire Kate's strength for staying in that relationship for as long as she did, and even tried to "fix" herself so that he'd like her again. And she had the good sense of giving up alcohol when she noticed it being her go-to. Stupid male species making women think they're inferior, not all of course, but a lot of these men are self-centered idiots.
>> FAVORITE QUOTE/PHRASE <<
"Fresh, simple and unaffected."
It was pretty good! Confused love story plus a bit of mystery and some really good comedy on the side. I liked it and found the Granny Brigade to be so hilarious I even ended up in tears 😂 But one thing I really didn't like is some issues left behind. A lot of why's from Damien and Kate. Why did Damien fight so hard for the bloody painting anyway? Was it really just because of Harper? And why did Kate hang on to it so tightly as well? Was it really just as Mo said, for security? And seriously, was that all that Bernard knew?
>> CHARACTERS <<
Tess Taylor seems to be the average female, working her but off to earn her keep. She's honest and faithful. She's been hurt but she's strong enough to overcome it. I thought her character was weak at first, coz she seems to be getting dragged and piled on by the wedding stuff and her fiancee, but she managed to handle it all quite well. Good support from her family really helped as well.
Will Kearns. Now I don't know how writers really live and what they're really like, but this guy was pretty mysterious. To me it felt like that the jurors were all from the same status of life, you know, average, not poor but not rich either. But then this guy lives on a penthouse, and then his car is like the bat mobile. But his personality is A+. He's charming, funny, very witty indeed which I think is only right for a writer, and he's got a real good sense of the people around him which is also probably due to him being a novelist.
Kate Lee, definitely not King. I liked her from the start. What she went through must have been very painful, I can't even imagine. 3 miscarriages and a cheating husband. I doubt he even loved her for real. I hate those kind of people who'd probably die if they weren't given much notice, and this guy wins on being an attention seeker. Kill them by ignoring them, ha! I admire Kate's strength for staying in that relationship for as long as she did, and even tried to "fix" herself so that he'd like her again. And she had the good sense of giving up alcohol when she noticed it being her go-to. Stupid male species making women think they're inferior, not all of course, but a lot of these men are self-centered idiots.
>> FAVORITE QUOTE/PHRASE <<
"Fresh, simple and unaffected."
December 11, 2016
I loved this book. Tess is crossing a bridge,one of those bridges where lovers place a lock as a symbol of their love. She notices a young woman standing by herself as if visiting a padlock belonging to a lost love. She seems too well dressed to be in the area and as Tess wonders about her she notices how upset she is. As she approaches her she recognises her as a well know celebrity but still stops to ask if she is okay.
Tess, who is getting married to the much older Bernard is in the middle of her wedding preparations when she is called to serve on a jury. This part of the book gives us some really funny moments as Tess feels she's far to busy to do her jury duty and tries to get out of it. The other members of the jury are all described so well and give us some more laughs.
Unfortunately the court case is against Kate,the woman on the bridge. It has to do with her settlement on her divorce from her ex.Damien. We then hear the story of their relationship and I began to love Kate and was rooting for her all through the book.
Why Tess is marrying Bernard is a mystery as he is the very opposite of her and his family are so pompous compared to Tess's family who are down to earth and lovely. Bernard is not very dynamic but what you might call a harmless character.
Tess and Kate come from different worlds and only meet fleetingly but each have helped each other even if they don't know it. I love a good ending and an epilogue and this book had both. I forgot to mention Will who serves on the jury...keep an eye on him.
Another winner from Claudia Carroll.
Tess, who is getting married to the much older Bernard is in the middle of her wedding preparations when she is called to serve on a jury. This part of the book gives us some really funny moments as Tess feels she's far to busy to do her jury duty and tries to get out of it. The other members of the jury are all described so well and give us some more laughs.
Unfortunately the court case is against Kate,the woman on the bridge. It has to do with her settlement on her divorce from her ex.Damien. We then hear the story of their relationship and I began to love Kate and was rooting for her all through the book.
Why Tess is marrying Bernard is a mystery as he is the very opposite of her and his family are so pompous compared to Tess's family who are down to earth and lovely. Bernard is not very dynamic but what you might call a harmless character.
Tess and Kate come from different worlds and only meet fleetingly but each have helped each other even if they don't know it. I love a good ending and an epilogue and this book had both. I forgot to mention Will who serves on the jury...keep an eye on him.
Another winner from Claudia Carroll.
November 30, 2025
I absolutely devoured this book. Tess is such a gorgeous character — genuinely warm and endlessly likeable. Bernard, on the other hand… if he’d called her “sausage” one more time, I think I’d have wanted to give him a good bash myself!
And Kate — honestly, why did she ever marry Damien? He’s a complete knob. I did find myself getting a little confused during the court case, though. The whole focus was on whether Kate was legally entitled to the painting, rather than where it came from or its history, so I got a bit muddled there.
That said, the ending was exactly what I hoped for, even if it did leave me wanting more. I can’t help wondering if there’s a sequel out there.
I’d absolutely recommend this book if you’ve got a day or two to relax — in bed, on the sofa, anywhere cosy — because once you start, you truly won’t want to put it down.
And Kate — honestly, why did she ever marry Damien? He’s a complete knob. I did find myself getting a little confused during the court case, though. The whole focus was on whether Kate was legally entitled to the painting, rather than where it came from or its history, so I got a bit muddled there.
That said, the ending was exactly what I hoped for, even if it did leave me wanting more. I can’t help wondering if there’s a sequel out there.
I’d absolutely recommend this book if you’ve got a day or two to relax — in bed, on the sofa, anywhere cosy — because once you start, you truly won’t want to put it down.
June 23, 2020
All She Ever Wished For, by Claudia Carroll, is a magical Dublin adventure encompassing love, suspense, humour, loss, and new beginnings. Two strangers, with nothing in common, make important differences to each other's lives. Kate King, a media darling, is married to a handsome billionaire. She seems to have the world-by-the-tail, until it all comes crashing down around her ears. Tess Taylor, a busy upbeat personal trainer, is about to get married to the absolutely kindest man. Is this staid, older lecturer (truly) the one for her? Tess's family doesn't think so. As the wedding plans ramp up, with pre-wedding stress at its height, these two lives intersect in an unimagined way. All She Ever Wished For is a lovely summer read. Gwendolyn Broadmore, author, Life Came to a Standstill.
April 10, 2019
This is really as story of two couples, Kate and Damien, the rich celebrities, and Tess and Bernard, who become involved in a court case which revolves around the first couple. Tess, who is planning her wedding to boyfriend Bernard, is called to jury duty in a high profile case. Kate and Damien King have split up, and end up in court. Tess tries to get out of her jury duty, but ends up fascinated and finding her life is changing at the same time. Will she go through with her wedding? What will happen to the beautiful but sad Kate King? I found this a good read, particularly liking Tess's co-jurors. I would certainly read more from this author.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
October 2, 2019
Interesting story line & I generally like books that switch between different characters as it gives a richer perspective of the story. Although this one was so predictable that I was really hoping there would be some sort of twist ending, but unfortunately there wasn't. The main character, Tess, was very unlikable at first (so whiny!), but I warmed up to her a little by the end. A decent attempt at describing court proceedings, although some aspects were clearly inaccurate. Overall it was a decent, light read.
November 12, 2021
This is the second book of Claudia Carroll's that I have read, and while I thought they had good plots and characters, I won't be reading any more of them. I kept stumbling over grammatical and punctuation errors - there were dozens of them - and both books don't appear to have been proofread. What a waste of good writing - how do publishers get away with this slackness these days? It does a disservice to the industry.
July 30, 2017
A nice enough story with interesting characters but it left too much unanswered about the painting. It was almost like Kate had a complete lobotomy.
The romantic side of it between "sausage" (how did she ever put up with that?) Bernard and Will was great but the rest of it felt empty and unfinished.
The romantic side of it between "sausage" (how did she ever put up with that?) Bernard and Will was great but the rest of it felt empty and unfinished.
October 9, 2024
I just love the style of this author. The story goes back and forth between different characters so you don’t get bored but also learn their own stories. I did fly through the first 2/3 but found myself slightly slowing towards the end and the ‘twist’ wasn’t quite what I expected so why I gave 4* but a great read nonetheless.
December 27, 2016
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All She Ever Wished For is everything I love about Chick Lit novels. Great characters, an engaging story, a little bit of romance, and a happy ending. A fun read for sure!
All She Ever Wished For is everything I love about Chick Lit novels. Great characters, an engaging story, a little bit of romance, and a happy ending. A fun read for sure!
October 5, 2018
This is a terrific read!
This is the second Claudia Carroll novel that I've read, thoroughly enjoying both, so much so, I'm going to look for a third! This book is warm hearted and easy to read and completely satisfying - enjoy!!
This is the second Claudia Carroll novel that I've read, thoroughly enjoying both, so much so, I'm going to look for a third! This book is warm hearted and easy to read and completely satisfying - enjoy!!
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