It's great to be able to introduce you to Jane Risdon, co-author of Only One Woman, which will be published on November 23rd.
Two women, one love story.
June 1968. Renza falls head over heels for heartthrob
guitarist Scott. But after a romantic summer together they are torn apart when
Renza’s family moves away.
December 1968. On the night she believes to be her last,
Stella meets Scott at a local dance. He’s the most beautiful boy she’s ever
seen and if this one night is all they have, she’ll take it.
As the final colourful year of the sixties dawns, the
question is: can there be only one woman for Scott?
Jane is bringing us Renza's playlist from the Summer of 1968.
Renza: Thanks so much for inviting me here today to share some of my Playlist with you. It’s so exciting being able to compile a list of the songs which meant so much to me when I was separated from Scott for so long, and which he loved too. He used to sing the lyrics to me when we were together, and when we were apart they helped me get through the drudge of every waking minute until we could be together again.
The Marbles: Only One Woman – the title of our story (Scott, Stella and me, Renza) which Scott sang to me on every date. Actually he sang most of these to me when we were together.
The Grapefruit: Elevator– Narnia’s Children played with them at a country club soon after my Nan died, and I managed to see him whilst over from Germany for her funeral.
My playlist is on You Tube with lots more songs I’ve not shared here and of course Stella has a list too.
My Thoughts
There is so much nostalgia in this book, crammed with references to the popular culture of the late sixties and to wider world events, such as the American Moon Landings. I always enjoy reading a story from two different perspectives, especially when you realise that both are not privy to the whole facts. Stella and Renza come across as two different characters. Renza seems to be so much more naive and much younger. She is starstruck at meeting the band.You cringe along with her as her mother lays down the law but it demonstrates how innocent she actually is.
I did not take to Scott as a character. His affection for Renza seems sincere but you can't help but will him to back off. I found that the story moves on at a good pace. Both girls close their eyes to reality at times but hope for the best. There is a light hearted, adolescent feel about the story, as if this Summer of 68 will be remembered by all the participants. You feel the world changing, especially Women's part in it, as fashions change. With the advent of the Pill, women's attitudes towards sex and men's too for that matter, is undergoing flux. You feel the confusion that is being raised as attitudes alter and relationships are tested.
In short: a fun, and at times touching look at the Swinging Sixties.
About the Authors
Jane Risdon has spent most of her life in the international music business. Married to a musician she has experienced the business first hand, not only as the girlfriend and wife of a musician, but later with her husband as a manager of recording artists, songwriters and record producers, as well as placing songs on TV/Movie soundtracks for some of the most popular series and movies shown around the world.
Writing is something she has always wanted to do but a hectic life on the road and recording with artists kept those ambitions at bay. Now she is writing mostly crime and thrillers, but recently she’s collaborated with award-winning author Christina Jones, on Only One Woman. A story they’ve wanted to write together, ever since they became friends when Christina became Fan-club secretary for Jane’s husband’s band.
Christina Jones, the only child of a schoolteacher and a circus clown, has been writing all her life. As well as writing romantic comedy novels, she also contributes short stories and articles to many national magazines and newspapers.
She has won several awards for her writing: Going the Distance was a WH Smith Fresh Talent Winner; Nothing to Lose, was shortlisted and runner-up for the Thumping Good Read Award with film and television rights sold; Heaven Sent was shortlisted in The Melissa Nathan Comedy Romance Awards and won a Category Award; Love Potions won the Pure Passion Award; The Way to a Woman’s Heart was short-listed for the Rom-Com of the Year; and An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding won The Reviewer’s Choice Award.
Christina has written 21 romantic comedy novels:
Dancing in the Moonlight; Going the Distance; Running the Risk; Stealing the Show; Jumping to Conclusions; Tickled Pink; Nothing to Lose; Walking on Air; Lavender Lane; Honeysuckle House; Forever Autumn; Summer of Love; Hubble Bubble; Seeing Stars; Love Potions; Happy Birthday; Heaven Sent; Moonshine; The Way A Woman's Heart; Never Can Say Goodbye and An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding.
She has also written and/or contributed to 11 e-book-only novellas/short stories/compilations: Those Lazy, Hazy Crazy Days; Mitzi’s Midwinter Wedding; Bucolic Frolics; Happy Ever After; Snippets; Shiver; Holiday Fling; Wishing on a Star; Chicklit Lovers Vol One; Chicklit Lovers Vol Three; and the Milton St John Box-Set.
Her latest novel – the love and peace and rock’n’roll 1960s story: Only One Woman – co-authored with Jane Risdon, will be published in November 2017 and is currently available to pre-order on Amazon.
Her next novel – Marigold’s Magical Mystery Tour – will be published in September 2018.
All Christina Jones’ novels are currently available, either in paperback or e-book format, and after years of travelling, she now lives in rural Oxfordshire with her husband and several rescued cats.
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I loved Only One Woman. Great review.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. The story really evokes the 60's.
DeleteThanks so much, this is fab. I know we replied and shared but it seems odd that I cannot see the replies we made. I wonder if it is a Blogger thing? I had problems with Blogger in the past not liking Wordpress. But Madalyn thanks so much and thanks Marianne too, appreciated.
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