The Mistress by Martine McCutcheon | Book Review

 "He took one last long look at her before walking away and disappearing into the night. At that moment, Mandy knew her life would change forever . . .

Mandy Sanderson is turning thirty and has everything going for her – dark ebony hair, flashing black eyes, flawless skin and a job she loves – yet, so far, true love has eluded her. Then, on the night of her birthday party, surrounded by friends she adores, Cupid strikes as Mandy and the gorgeous Jake Chaplin lock eyes across the restaurant and fall for one another in an instant.

Jake is confident, successful, oozing with sex appeal and utterly irresistible. He is also married, with two children, and Mandy has always sworn not to break her own golden rule: never encourage a man to play away. Jake is used to getting what he wants, and this time it is Mandy he’s determined to win, and with Jake, seduction comes in more ways than one."

Blurb Taken from: Amazon

What a saucy read!

I couldn't believe how much criticism this book received. Generally, celebs create their own sickly sweet perfume or release some deafening pop song to gain more exposure. Martine McCutcheon, the much loved actress from Love Actually, decided to write a book.

The book follows Mandy Sanderson as she enters her thirties. She goes out for a glamorous birthday meal in London with her closest friends where she meets Jake Chaplin, a successful and gorgeous business man with one slight complication... he has a ring on his finger - and two children.

The two know how wrong it is to be entering into this sinful relationship but the love and lust they share for one another is too difficult to ignore.

This is their love story - steamy, heart-wrenching and simply delectable. 

You couldn't imagine the ending that Martine McCutcheon gave this story - it is completely unexpected and knocks you off balance a little. I wasn't sure whether to be happy, disappointed or just completely and utterly confused. Perhaps I was all three at once.  The ending felt rushed and cut short - I wished that she had elaborated on the path and life that the key character (Mandy,) decided to choose.

It is an easy book to get lost in - enjoyed best while on holiday or killing time at the airport, which lets face it, I seem to be doing a lot of these days.

It was really hard for me to pick this book up - let alone finish it. Being in love and involved with a married man (unknowingly) is (unfortunately) something very close to home for me. I chose to read this book because of the book that I am busy writing with a similar storyline, minus the children and glam London lifestyle. Although my book is fiction - it is built on the bones of my experience with a man I deeply loved and who I shared some absolutely beautiful moments with - but whom I lost... whom I never really had to begin with.... and that, my friends, was the hard part to accept. Cue that beautiful and sad melodic song posted in my previous post to best define just how I feel:

 http://bohemianmuses.blogspot.com/2014/04/christina-aguilera-say-something.html

Both Martine McCutcheon's story and my own just goes to show that sometimes the people (call them what you like: mistresses, seducers, home-wreckers..) that you are led to judge and hate are often the ones that were not in the wrong. Many times, our stories need to be belted out to the world.

Empowerment of those who have been burned and rubbed the wrong way.
This is by all means a fabulous read for anyone who has ever felt that way.

It has taken me a long time to be able to finally start writing my new book again but now I am finally ready and I am absolutely loving it. I'm sure you'll all hear about it soon - but for now it is still being created and my first book, Walk With Me, is selling like crazy.

All of that is my explanation as to why I have been quieter than usual lately. I have been reading and writing my absolute bloody heart out (pardon the pun) - as well as cramming in the odd airplane ride and spontaneous trip around South Africa to keep my travel junkie soul entertained. 

Loving life in the bubble of words, pages, ink and literature that I have wrapped myself in!

Peace and love until a later date...

Jade

March Shopping Haul!

 There's nothing quite like a little bit of a shopping splurge after pay day is there? I'm not exactly what you would call a shopaholic but every now and then I do like to spoil myself with a little something. This month - retail therapy was needed and so these were my little finds!

 

These adorable rose-gold rings came in a little pack that also had necklaces and earrings in it. I just loved the bird - I couldn't leave the store without it! 

They are from Mr. Price at an absolute bargain of a price: R49.99

I then bought two dresses, both of which I have already taken out for nights out on the town. 

The floor length black and white striped dress in my absolute favorite. It is so figure hugging and versatile, you could wear it anywhere. I also don't have many floor length dresses so when I saw this one, I just fell in love. 

You can grab this dress from Mr. Price (like the rings) for a steal of a price too.. It was under R 100.00

The white half sleeved dress with black swirly writing is also extremely figure hugging and shows off my legs. This is definitely one I'd wear for wintery cocktail parties. I already wore it out to my mum's 50th birthday dinner which was held at a very la-dee-da restaurant.  

This dress is from a store where I do often drool over their dresses: Legit. 

It was R149.99 as far as I can remember.

I got two novels from the secondhand book store. If possible, I always try to only buy secondhand books because I adore the fact that someone else has read it before me. I especially love it if you find little marks, comments or even letters in the pages. It gives a book history and character. 

I got The Mistress by Martine McCutcheon, who is an author that I have never heard of before. I bought this book for inspiration as my second novel is about falling in love with a married man and how that planned out. I haven't even researched previous book reviews on it so who knows... I hope it is good though as it really grabbed my attention. 

The second novel I bought was a hardback copy of The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes. Marian Keyes is infinite. I adore her writing. Whenever I feel like a good old girly read I always start to crave her words. I find them quick and easy reads, extremely enjoyable and just so easy to get lost in as a female wanting an escape route from the calamity of my life for a while. 

You know what this means right?? Some new book reviews will be coming up!

For my new Shoes of the Month post, I bought these pair of blue wedges. I loved the color first and foremost of these shoes, closely followed by the comfort I found in them unlike heels that usually leave in in agony halfway through the day.

Lastly, I did a little bit of shopping for my home... or should I say future home? Hint hint!

I don't have much space in my room right now as I am residing back with the rentals until I take the plunge and move out of Knysna - but that hasn't stopped me from falling in love with a few certain things in home decor shops and refusing to leave without them! 

With that being said, I have a huge obsession with candles. I think candles add such a warm atmosphere to a house (they also smell divine) and these are the one's I picked up in Mr. Price Home this month: 

I love these sort of things. I used to have them dangling all over my cottage. They are just so cute and pretty to look at. Place a little tea-light candle inside the heart and let it light your room up with pretty scattered amber light.

I also loved this one because it was different. I love the fact that it is silver and would pretty much match anything, anywhere! It also smells like really soft vanilla.

This is the one I fell head over heels in love with. It's a big white, heavy pot with palm wax from Malaysia inside. It burns for 50 hours and I loved the heart on the side of the pot!

I absolutely love all of my new little goodies - the reason that I am doing this post now though is because I definitely can't afford anything else this month!!! I think I went slightly overboard... but I was sad and when a woman is sad, retail therapy really does help. 

Have you bought any new things this month??