Book Review: You’ve Got My Number by Angela Barton

You’ve Got My Number

by Angela Barton

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / 
Apple/ Google

Three isn’t always a magic number … 

There are three reasons Tess Fenton should be happy. One, her job at the Blue Olive deli may be dull, but at least she gets to work with her best friend. Two, she lives in a cosy cottage in the pretty village of Halston. Three, she’s in love with her boyfriend, Blake.

Isn’t she?

Because, despite their history, Blake continues to be the puzzle piece in Tess’s life that doesn’t quite fit. And when she meets intriguing local artist Daniel Cavanagh, it soon becomes apparent that, for Tess, love isn’t as easy as one, two, three …

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

… her mind awash with thoughts of how to finish with Blake. Perhaps she should explain in the Star Trek terminology he was familiar with. ‘I need space, this is the final frontier.’

Tess remembered she’d been mumbling expletives in panic. ‘Nothing that a pint can’t put right,’ she replied, trying to sound unfazed. ‘I’m waiting for a girlfriend. She’s late.’ Great! Now she sounded like a possessive alcoholic lesbian who suffered from a mild dose of Tourette’s. This wasn’t going well.

‘I suppose you could try internet dating.’ Tess couldn’t believe how her mouth was taking control of this conversation instead of her brain. What was she doing trying to enrol him at a dating agency? ‘Too scary. I’ve had friends who have dabbled in it. Apparently the odds are good, but the goods are odd!’

Recently he’d been pestering her to move in with him, but she’d no intention of leaving Halston. She couldn’t imagine sharing a house with his numerous diecast models and action figures of Captain Kirk and an army of Klingons. Models of the Starship Enterprise decorated any flat surface and it didn’t help that a poster of Mr Spock looked down on her whenever she sat on Blake’s toilet.

When it came to men, her friend’s attention span was as temporary as a bruise.

My Review:

I checked it three times to be sure, and this is the second time I have smirked my way through one of Angela Barton’s cleverly amusing missives, I adore her unique style of witty levity and wry humor. Her endearing characters were realistically drawn, imperfect, and quite entertaining to delve into, as were her pleasantly engaging and well-crafted storylines. I am eager to see what she conjures next and wonder if she can best her creation of a confused elder’s prideful explanation of her son’s gift of a “dignified camera,” (digital). ~ Snort! Not like I've ever made such a gaff - oh no, not me!

About The Author

Angela Barton lives in Nottingham and is a member of Nottingham Writers’ Studio and the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She has written three novels, all of which have passed through the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme and are now published. 

Her first novel was published in 2018. Its genre is historical fiction set in France, telling the story of how a farming family survived through WW2. Angela’s second and third books are contemporary women’s fiction.

Now busy writing her fourth book, also set in France during wartime, Angela’s new passion is to research real-life happenings and create fictional characters that live through these extraordinary events.

Along with other authors, Angela has helped to create two Facebook groups for book lovers. Apricot Plots and Love Forties Fiction.

Social Media Links 

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/authorangela.barton.3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/angebarton

Website: https://angelabarton.net

Instagram: angelacbarton

Book Review: Magnolia House by Angela Barton

Magnolia House

by Angela Barton

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU / B&N

Rowan Forrester has it all – the happy marriage, the adorable dog, the good friends, the promising business and even the dream home after she and her husband Tom win a stunning but slightly dilapidated Georgian townhouse in London at auction.

But in the blink of an eye, Rowan’s picture-perfect life comes crashing down around her and she is faced with the prospect of having to start again.

To make ends meet she begins a search for housemates, and in doing so opens the door to new friends and new beginnings. But could she be opening the door to new heartbreak too?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

He’s such a messy man, she thought. Was a messy man. The change of tense felt like an obscenity.

‘Last few things,’ said Ace, carrying a cactus through his new front door. ‘What on earth is that?’ said Rowan, pointing at the spiky plant. ‘It’s a bit …phallic.’ ‘This is Dick and you’d better not be laughing. He’s been a good friend to me and helped me out of a depression last year.’ … Ace placed the plant pot reverentially on his kitchen table. ‘When I was feeling low last year, my boyfriend bought Dick for me. And before you start questioning its name, it’s because my boyfriend was called Richard, okay? … He was sensitive and supportive when I couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed, wash or eat. We’re talking my boyfriend here by the way, not the cactus.’ … It really worked. It took some weeks but every time I glimpsed Dick sitting on my bathroom shelf, bulbous and proud – the cactus, not my boyfriend – it would make me smile.’

How can your impression of the man you’ve loved, change in an instant? It was as if she was viewing him through a distorted fairground mirror, where his image had changed beyond all recognition.

I never did like that Helen much. Likes to put her oar in but can’t row the boat.

‘You haven’t told me what the doctors have said about your pain. I heard you’d had stomach ache and were having a lobotomy.’ Libby giggled. ‘A laparoscopy.

Don’t talk to me about time flying. Every time I look in the mirror I see less of Enrique Iglesias looking back and more of Julio.

I’m relieved you’re on the mend now they’ve removed those trees from your oasis.’ ‘Endometriosis, idiot.’ ‘That’s what I just said.’

My Review:

Angela Barton is my new favorite author. I adored her sagacious use of clever levity, which handily balanced out the heavier storylines that were fraught with tension, angst, and indecision.  The busy plot was highly active, well populated, shrewdly paced, and held my interest throughout with several intriguing concerns and relevant issues. Ms. Barton’s writing was unfailingly engaging and tapped all the feels, frequently swinging between heart squeezing and wittily amusing within the same scene.  Her characters were uncommonly and deeply flawed yet they were also uniquely endearing, well drawn, and well-meaning while striving for betterment, although I might have wanted to give several of them a few sassy pinches at various times; except for Ace, who was the perfect comedic foil and had all the best lines and cleverest quips.    

Empress DJ

About the Author:

Angela Barton was born in London and grew up in Nottingham. She is married with three grown-up children and adorable four-year-old twin granddaughters. Angela is passionate about writing both contemporary and historical fiction and loves time spent researching facts for her novels. Having signed publishing contracts for three of her completed novels with Choc Lit’s new imprint, Ruby Fiction, Angela is excited to be working alongside such a lovely team.

Angela and her husband, Paul, recently moved to France and planted a lavender field. She’s looking forward to spending more time writing in the beautiful Charente countryside working from her new writing room, a beautiful shepherd hut. Angela is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and Nottingham Writers’ Studio.


Social Media Links –

Website: https://www.angelabarton.net

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/angela.barton3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/angebarton

Arlette’s Story: amzn.to/2lAyIlb

Magnolia House: smarturl.it/fttfc2