Weak at the Knees by Jo Kessel (4 stars) -- Review and Giveaways

About Weak at the Knees

“We got so busy living life that we forgot to live our dreams.”

Danni Lewis has been playing it safe for twenty-six years, but her sheltered existence is making her feel old ahead of time. When a sudden death plunges her into a spiral of grief, she throws caution to the wind and runs away to France in search of a new beginning.

The moment ski instructor Olivier du Pape enters her shattered world she falls hard, in more ways than one.  Their mutual desire is as powerful and seductive as the mountains around them. His dark gypsy looks and piercing blue eyes are irresistible.  Only she must resist, because he has a wife – and she’d made a pact to never get involved with a married man.

But how do you choose between keeping your word and being true to your soul? 

Weak at the Knees is Jo’s debut novel in the new adult, contemporary romance genre – a story about love, loss and relationships, set between London and the heart of the French Alps.

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Review

Danni Lewis has always taken the safe path in life and love. But a devastating loss forces her to reevaluate everything. On a whim, she heads to France looking for change and leaves behind her safety net to take a chance.

Once she's there she meets Olivier du Pape and throws caution to the wind, falling for a married man--something she swore she would never do. But love isn't always what you expect it to be? Still, does this love stand a chance?

At first, I was a bit bored with Danni. I wanted to yell at her to take a chance and do something. But then her world was rocked by loss, and Danni took charge. The story took off then, too, because the author did an amazing job of crafting a heartbreaking situation that led this main character to a heart-filled love story. Plus, there's something so endearing about Danni; she battles her conscience and struggles with right and wrong instead of just feeling something and going for it.

Weak at the Knees is a mature romance with emotional depth. As much as I wanted to see Danni in love, I wanted more to see her grow as a person and believe in her instincts. I cared about her, and that is the hallmark of a good read in my humble opinion.

Take a chance on Weak at the Knees, and don't give up early on. Danni, and the story, really grow on you.

Rating: 4 stars

About the Author

Jo Kessel qualified as a lawyer before moving into journalism, working for the BBC and reporting and presenting for ITV on holiday, consumer and current affairs programs. She writes for several national newspapers in the UK including the Daily Mail, the Telegraph, the Guardian and the Express and was the anonymous author of the Independent’s hit column: Diary of a Primary School Mum.

When Jo was ten years old she wrote a short story about losing a loved one. Her mother and big sister were so moved by the tale that it made them cry. Having reduced them to tears she vowed that the next time she wrote a story it would make them smile instead. Happily she succeeded and with this success grew an addiction for wanting to reach out and touch people with words. Jo lives in London with her husband and three children. She loves traveling and since becoming a mother anything even remotely sad makes her cry. She’s a sucker for a good romance and tearjerker movies are the worst. She’s that woman in the cinema, struggling to muffle audible wails as everyone else turns round to stare.

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P.S Jo’s pretty certain one of her daughters has inherited this gene. 

Other books by Jo Kessel: Lover in Law

Enter to win

There is a tour-wide giveaway for a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape! 

 

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a gloriously rich (and expensive) red wine produced in the Rhone wine region in southeastern France. It is a wine that should be drunk to celebrate a special occasion. It's velvety, full-bodied and divine and features very strongly in Weak at the Knees by Jo Kessel. 

 

Must be a resident of the US or Canada and be 21 yrs of age or older to enter.  One entry per household.  Winner will be randomly selected on Monday, Oct. 26, 2013 and will be notified by email.

 

Enter here

and

Enter to win a Paperback or eCopy of Weak at the Knees
US/Canada only
Contest ends Friday, 10/4/13 at 5pm EST

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Thanks to TLC Book Tours for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Please visit other stops on the Weak at the Knees blog tour page.