Best Maid Plans

Renovating Hearts #2

by Jody Klaire

Love in France is wonderful. Pippa Saunders has her true love Berne Chamonix nearby and spring is in the air. Nevermind that she and Rebecca don’t have jobs or money, still haven’t finished the house, and Rebecca is pining because Babs keeps disappearing on business trips. Rebecca is determined to prove she is a worthy match for Babs by impressing her family. To win them over, Pippa announces that they often renovate for one of the most successful businesses in Europe . . . only that business belongs to her ex-fiancé, Doug Fletcher. Oops. As a favor for his glowing reference, Doug wants Pippa to be his best maid at his wedding and renovate his future house. With Rebecca’s happiness in her hands, Pippa agrees, and summer in France becomes summer in a sleepy Welsh village. But as everyone knows, the best made plans with Pippa and friends never quite go as expected.

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2017

About the author

Jody has been everything from a serving police officer to working in kitchens before finding her home in writing. She can often be found chuckling to herself at her own jokes; being pounced by her golden retriever Fergus; eating cake or chocolate or preferably both, and sometimes, when Fergus hasn’t run off with her keyboard, she writes stuff.
Best Maid Plans is Jody’s first book independently published but you can find her other published works online or in most book stores (you’ll just need to order them in.)

Website: jodyklaire.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jodyklaireauthor
Twitter: @jodyklaire

Reviews

[Loek Krancher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two thumbs up!

The first one was great but this installment is excellent. I love Pip and her friends, the families, the battle between France and England, the golf match, the interaction, the laugh out loud moments and all the adorable surprises. How Jody portrayed the characters was more than outstanding and the whole story makes me really happy. It has everything I could wish for. Two thumbs up for this storyline.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've not read a Jody Klaire book before and this came up as a give away (at some point in the recent-ish past). What I didn't realise, as I started, was that this was book two. Which probably explains why the start is non-ideal and almost dnf'd at something like 10%. Persisted though, as I read someone else had an issue but found that it got better.
In the end, though, it didn't suit me. Personal preference I suppose. It is long and unwieldy at times, and the story just seems to meander along with the main POV engaged in farcical cock-ups, lots of smouldering looks, and an obsession with the stupidly rich and fashion. The humour is mostly farce and works well, albeit overdone at times and I really didn't invest that much in the characters.

Klaire can obviously write, but this is not for me. I would suggest that if you like this kind of romance, and many do, take a look inside, but maybe start with book one.

[Velvet Lounger · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!

Following directly on from her enchanting romcom “La Vie en Bleu” Jody Klaire delivers another light and breezy romance full of sexy French women and English humour.

Pippa and Rebecca have moved to France, one rekindling the love of her life, the other finding it. But of course, nothing is quite that simple. One must charm the super-rich super-protective parents of the woman she loves, the other must convince her lover that she isn’t running back to her ex fiancé just because she is returning to England to help him renovate a mansion and plan his wedding. Add in the politicking, shenanigans and jealousy of ex-girlfriends, unrequited lovers and a village full of unemployed tradesmen and the scene is set for another fast-moving comedy romance.

Pippa and Rebecca, Berne and Babs, along with family and friends, provide a full cast of delightful real-life figures we can relate to and empathise with, while envying their privileged lifestyles and enjoying the banter between them. The baddies are cyphers to move the plot along and the angst is non-existent. We never really doubt that love will prevail, golf matches will be won, parents will fall into line and projects, business’s and lifestyles will effortlessly materialise for all concerned.

The plot rolls along at pace, mansions repaired, houses renovated, wedding panned, while the players criss-cross the channel and pop down to Monaco for a visit. Hairdressers and stylists materialise along with lesbian decorators, classic cars and chocolate wedding cakes. All put together with a wonderful sense of style and corresponding elegant prose by a one of my favourite storytellers.

I said “La Vie en Bleu” would be a wonderful movie and “Best Maid Plans” would be an equally amusing sequel, think lesbian Bridget Jones; a Renee Zellweger type klutzy Pippa, and Hugh Jones as the clueless Doug, with a backing cast of gorgeous French women. Charming, easy to read and highly entertaining.

[isa Simonet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The review arrive soon

[Lisa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel to La Vie en Bleu. Unfortunately I have not read the first book, and so was not acquainted with the wonderful characters or story thus far. In light of this it took me a little longer to get into this book. It is a beautiful written story with some romance, comedy, a bit of angst, and a few surprises along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but would recommend reading the other book first to get full enjoyment. Recommended.

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Jody Klaire Best Maid Plans
1) Funny romance.  Well written and flowed easily. Loved all of the characters and found them very well developed.

[Julie Cohen]

A fun romp of a book with loveable characters and good laughs.