Joanne Phillips

I don't know why short stories, as a genre, aren't more popular: if the novel is the full meal, then the short story is the snack, the sandwich, or simply the welcome biscuit with a cup of tea.
Phillips provides a thoroughly satisfying 'menu' of these snacks: some quick and simple, others a little more complex. All can be considered 'modern British cooking': there is nothing here especially exotic, glamorous or pretentious. Instead, we meet ordinary people facing (mostly) ordinary challenges, show more described with skill and precision by the author.
A Life Unpredicted spoke to me on a personal level and will resonate with anyone who wonders if they have fulfilled the potential of their youth.
In Dear Jean, I was dimly but pleasantly aware of the deftness of the writing, as the protagonist's voice, attitude and likeability changed and grew.
My favourite, however, was Joy for its exceptionally effective use of minimal words to convey a scenario and character. This piece could easily serve as a textbook example of how to use the five senses to reach out, grab the reader, and pull them into another life.
I will be first in line to read the next volume of short stories from this writer. show less

The story of a single mother who loses her possessions in a fire and learns what is really important to her is a worthy one. But did the romance angle have to be so annoying? Too many instances of either hero or heroine jumping to conclusions and thinking the worst, instead of directly talking to each other. Ugh. I give their marriage six months at best.

With her second novel, Phillips has confirmed her talent for story-telling around the lives of real, everyday people. There are no designer products, exotic locations or glamourous jobs used to adorn this tale, instead, The Family Trap entertains through its skillful, perceptive account of the relationship issues faced by Stella Hill and those who love her. Since pregnancy and child-birth are not topics I'd usually choose to read about, I initially wondered how much I'd enjoy this plot. But, show more to the writer's credit, I barely noticed these elements and instead was drawn in by the family dynamics and emotional hurdles. And I loved the characters in the old people's home: how refreshing to find this age group portrayed with warmth and enthusiasm in a contemporary romance. You certainly don't have to have read [b:Can't Live Without|15712538|Can't Live Without|Joanne Phillips|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340101630s/15712538.jpg|19638221] to enjoy this sequel, but if you enjoyed CLW, on no account should you miss this. show less

i received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review and rated it 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

The first book in a new cozy mystery series, Murder at the Maples by Joanne Phillips, is an old fashioned mystery set in the British countryside. A quirky and well developed main character, strange and interesting secondary characters and the question of whether there was, or wasn’t, a murder kept me turning the pages. If you’re a fan of Elizabeth show more Peters, Agatha Christie or Charles Todd, I think this is a book you’ll want to check out.

Twenty nine year old Flora Lively has lost both of her parents and inherited the family business, Shaker’s Removers, during a challenging economic period. Burdened with Marshall, her father’s handpicked American manager, and her uncle’s stepson, Flora finds solace in her friendship with Joy, an elderly client she helped move into The Maples, the local retirement community. When strange and dangerous things begin to happen at the Maples, Flora finds herself conducting a private murder investigation.

Ms. Phillips does a very good job developing Flora’s character; she’s young, trying to make a success of her father’s dream (at the cost of her own) and trying to build a life of her own. Stuck with male employees who don’t really understand why a woman wants to run a “man’s” business, Flora is naturally a little bit defensive and determined to be in charge. She’s also trying to get over the emotional loss of her parents, which is still very fresh one year after their deaths.

The secondary characters, from Joy, an octogenarian with more get up and go than some forty year olds, to Marshall, whose obstinacy is really a disguise for his attraction to Flora, and the resident’s of The Maples are all well written and contribute a lot to the story. I also enjoyed Joy’s little dog, Otto, who has a personality of his own. While the story is told mostly from Flora’s viewpoint, Ms. Phillips covers a broad range of topics through Flora’s observations and musings; she learns about love, loss, grief, and the celebration of life as we age.

Will Flora discover who’s behind the series of “incidents” at The Maples? Will her newly inherited business be able to contend with their biggest rival? You’ll have to read Murder at the Maples to find out. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in this series. show less