5 star review: Wild Water by @JanRuthAuthor

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Wild Water


Written by Jan Ruth



Genre: Contemporary Romance


Book Synopsis

Jack Redman, estate agent to the Cheshire set. An unlikely hero, or someone to break all the rules?

Wild water is the story of forty-something estate agent, Jack, who is stressed out not only by work, bills and the approach of Christmas but by the feeling that he and his wife, Patsy are growing apart. His misgivings prove founded when he discovers Patsy is having an affair, and is pregnant.

At the same time as his marriage begins to collapse around him, he becomes reacquainted with his childhood sweetheart, Anna, whom he left for Patsy twenty-five years before. He finds his feelings towards Anna reawaken, but will life and family conflicts conspire to keep them apart again?

Lyn's Rating





Lyn's Review


Apparently publishers were unsure where to `place' this novel when they were offered it a few years ago - which simply confirms my opinion that publishers often get it terribly wrong - they really should have fought to the death over this one!

Wild Waters' is a truly delightful tragi-comedy that will draw you into its enchanting world from page one and keep you engrossed to the last page. I defy you not to fall a little bit in love with the long-suffering Jack Redman and positively loathe his selfish, ungrateful and avaricious wife. Life, work, marriage and kids chuck all the slings and arrows imaginable at poor Jack, but he fends them all off with consummate skill, keeping him out of the victim class and well up there with the best and most memorable heroes. I would really love a sequel featuring this engaging character. Oh, and the dogs of course, who become endearing characters in their own right - take a big bow-wow Benson and Hooper!

Jan Ruth is a writer at one with her characters and her landscape and her amazing talent as a story-weaver makes the reader grow to know and love both aspects with equal passion. Her writing is intelligent, humorous and skillful and her story flows so well that there is no place to say `well this is a good place to stop for today and pick it up again tomorrow' - you just have to continue reading.

Her style is very slightly reminiscent of Clive James in what I always considered his best novel ('Brilliant Creatures') but - and sorry Mr James, I love you to pieces - rather more approachable. It isn't too highbrow but at no time does it ever become trite or predictable (well, maybe with the exception of the obnoxious Philipe's true nature and his revelations at the end - but then I think that was cleverly executed dramatic irony and we were meant to guess those quite early on anyway).

This story entertained me thoroughly and delightfully from start to finish. So top marks, Ms Jan Ruth - I can’t wait to read more of your work.

Review Disclaimer: This book was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. The above review was not influenced in any way, including financial.