Victoria BernadineBesprekingen

This slow burning romance story is engrossing. I would want to keep reading another page, then another, then another, before I put it down because I got caught up in the characters. I think that was because I could tell the two main characters needed each other, but the story takes a while for them to accept that. Read and find out how fate brought them to their first meeting, then how fate entertwines….or not.... their lives. It's a good read.

I don’t read much contemporary romance, like, at all, so I was a little surprised to be approached to review this story. However, I am pretty open about my mental health issues, and I found that angle intriguing enough that I said yes. I’m so glad I did!

I am really not a fan of the insta-love that substitutes for a real relationship in so many new books. Maybe that’s because it’s primarily YA, but I *so* don’t want to read about a couple who meet, fall in love, and fall into bed. I’m not into those books. If you are, hey, good for you, but I want real people who have time to get to know one another before they fall.

So this book was a breath of fresh air for me. I loved the MCs – Ferrin was just so appealing, with his crazy family and optimistic attitude. I can see why Lou fell for him – he’s just a great guy. And Lou, she’s so real and so much stronger than she has given herself credit for being. I liked that she didn’t magically overcome her panic attacks. The pacing felt pretty realistic. The bad guy is just human garbage and I was glad to see them get what they deserved.

If you are looking for a good romance with a great small town setting, I would definitely recommend this one. The author says she’s been writing for a long time, and it shows. Recommended.

A case of mistaken identity leads wealthy Ferrin Macon-Jones to a job as a handyman for agoraphobic Lou Upjohn in a small town in Saskatchewan. Ferrin is the type of guy likes to make things better and he quickly (and anonymously) involves himself in the dreams and aspirations of his new friends in town. He also sets out to bring Lou of out her self-imposed prison.
A gentle romance that develops slowly. They becomes non-antagonists, then friends, then possibly more. Of course secrets have the potential to tear them apart and Lou has to accept to some hard truths about what is real and right before the inevitable happy ending. A good small town romance with a lot of interesting characters.

Along came Jones is a story about how Benjamin Ferrin Macon-Jones of Toronto and Lou Upjohn of Saskatchewan cross paths. Ferrin leaves Toronto to travel in the hopes that time and distance will heal the heart break caused by the refusal of his long term girlfriend of his marriage proposal. He ends up in Saskatchewan – a destination that was clearly not in the plan. He is hired by Ike, who is the only friend of the town’s recluse- Lou Upjohn, to run her errands and do her yards work.
Ferrin soon befriends Lou, who is feeling lost after her best friend, Ike moves to Vancouver post marriage, much against her will. After a series of events Lou finds out that nothing is as they seemed to be.
The book was nice to read and there were lot of scenes that brings a smile to ones face. It was lovely the way the author described the town. It is good book for a one time read.

After fleeing Toronto and a broken romance Ferrin Macon-Jones is taken for a spendthrift drifter. He leaves the Macon out of his name, takes on a labourer’s job and taking care of Lou, an agoraphobia, and settles into town and his new life, hiding the fact he is a very wealthy man. His relationship with Lou grows until it all blows up. An entertaining story but the ending was an easy guess from the beginning,

The book would have flowed better if the editor had been more deligent., e.g. the sweater was described far to often. At the end of the book the author assigns actors to play most of her characters. Perhaps they would have been more rounded if she had thought of them as people not actors.

I received this book through the Members Giveaway.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was such a charming story, I was hooked from page 1. This book is about Ferrin. After his girlfriend turns down his marriage proposal he is brokenhearted. He runs away and ends up in the middle of nowhere. There he helps a young woman overcome her agoraphobia. Ferrin is a very kind guy and I love his character. This book was funny and entertaining. I couldn't help but smile while reading. I'm looking forward to read more by this author!

I enjoyed the book. It's about a woman who gets tired of her life, quits her job and goes on a traveling adventure with a handsome stranger. I liked Manny and how she broke out of her shell. The other stories with her sisters were good as well. My only gripe is I was very disappointed that Manny and Zeke didn't hook up or get romantically involved. So much sexual tension between the two of them and not even a kiss?? I know its basically them building a friendship but come on! She found him attractive and he was finally finding her attractive as well. Sigh... Ending was okay but could've been better with what I mentioned above.

If Manny had not been passed over for a promotion, she and Zeke would not have met. A Life Less Ordinary, by Victoria Bernadine, is the story of why and how their paths cross and what happens afterwards. Forty-five year old Manny does something radical, for her anyway. She quits her job and plans to embark on a six month road trip, but she doesn't want to go alone. After Zeke, a blogger, answers Manny's ad for a traveling companion she chooses him to accompany her. What he doesn't tell her is that he will be posting his observations about Manny and the trip on his blog. Early on it becomes obvious that the two of them don't know what to make of each other. Manny wants to experience life- she wants to feel alive. Zeke's original mission is to paint this trip as a middle aged woman's pathetic attempt to be young and free. The more time they spend together, Zeke begins to struggle with how his attitude towards Manny is changing and he doesn't understand why. Something is taking shape. Is it love or friendship?
There are well developed secondary characters who are interesting in their own right. Perhaps the most unusual is Harvey who is Manny's imaginary friend. Their conversations are priceless. The trip takes some unexpected turns as do the lives of the characters. A lot can happen in six months and in this story it does. It's possible that Manny's trip yielded a lot more than anyone expected.
I found this to be a well written and an appealing story.

I received this book for free and I give this review of my own free will.

In her debut novel, A Life Less Ordinary, author Victoria Bernadine weaves an entertaining story of self-discovery that will keep the reader in stitches!

Forty-five year old Rose "Manny" Mankowski's life is stuck in a rut. After working for fifteen years at the same company, Manny is passed over for a promotion that she deserved. Feeling tired and worn out with her ordinary life, she's had enough. Giving in to her mid-life crisis, Rose quits her job, cashes in her pension, sells her house, and decides that she is going on a six month road trip to destinations unknown that will challenge her to meet new people and try new things, get her outside of her comfort zone, help her rediscover herself, and put some spark back into her life. But she doesn't want to go on the adventure alone, so she places a personal ad online for a male travelling companion who can pay his own way and share in the expenses.

Ezekiel "Zeke" Powell is a thirty-five year old freelance blogger with the e-magazine "What Women Want." Zeke's publisher wants him to go on the road trip and document Manny's adventure on his blog along with Manny guest blogging updates on her journey. Zeke thinks that Manny is a prudish, boring, and repressed middle-aged woman, and that the adventure will be a non-story, because he doesn't think Manny will go on the road trip, let alone be able to survive six months on the road. Will the six month road trip adventure challenge Manny and Zeke to discover who they really are, and teach them that they can live a life less ordinary?

This was a fun story to read, it kept me entertained as I followed Manny and Zeke on their road trip. What made their story even more entertaining is Manny's imaginary fantasy man Harvey, who is outspoken and engages Manny in an ongoing humorous banter. Manny and Zeke's adventure turns out to be a journey of self-discovery that will change both of their lives. While Manny and Zeke are away, their families and friends are dealing with their own complicated life issues. I found it interesting that the author would interweave the various characters' individual storylines so that her novel actually turns into a story within a story that kept me on my toes.

A Life Less Ordinary is a lighthearted and thoroughly entertaining story about learning to rediscover yourself and live an adventurous and less ordinary life.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Buy The Book Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-life-less-ordinary-by-victor...

I enjoyed this book a great deal. The storyline was easy to follow and the plot was strong. The characters were identifiable and well-rounded. I highly recommend it.

I loved this book. It was light and easy to read, with a couple of plot twists and a good open ending. The characters were well formed and the story was clean and crisp. I'll be on the lookout for more by Victoria.

(I did receive this book from the author, but that in no way affected my opinion!)

A Life Less Ordinary is the story of Manny Mankowski, a women in her 40s who undergoes a self diagnosed midlife crisis after being passed up for a promotion at the job she's held for the past 15 years. She cashes in her pension and goes on a 6 month road trip, and has placed a wanted ad to find a traveling companion. In doing so, she meets Zeke, an author of the blog What Women Want, who is tasked with joining her on this roadtrip to increase readership. What results is a very entertaining journey across the US and Canada, and the friendships that are made along the way.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a great beach read that I couldn't put down. The characters are well developed, and I really enjoyed the storylines of the "supporting" characters- TJ and Leah, Daisy, and Rebecca. I would have liked a longer ending, but maybe that's because I didnt wan't the story to end. I hope the author considers writing a "Part 2", possibly going deeper into the other characters' stories, because I felt drawn to the characters and want to know more!

I won this book as a part of LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.½

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the chemistry between Zeke and Manny and how their relationship came to be. I loved the stories of everyone else involved too. All the characters were great and well thought through. I kept reading this way longer than I should have (probably was a zombie some days at work) but it was uplifting and makes you realize you can't be defined by certain things in your life. Great read for any age woman.

A tale of travel, personal rediscovery, and friendship - with a sprinkling of romance and plenty of good humour, Victoria Bernardine's A Life Less Ordinary is a delight to read. Snag this one for your next trip to the beach and enjoy!

This was a great book. I liked the risked that Manny took and the adventure she went on. The book kept on moving, I felt like I couldn't wait to get to Manny and Zeke's next destination. I would recommend this book for those who just want to read to have a good time.½

A Life Less Ordinary is the first book published by Victoria Bernadine.

Starting out at 'minus 31 days', we meet Manny Mankowski, a 45 year-old woman, who feels unmotivated and unattractive. She sticks to her routines like clockwork. Goes to work, goes home, repeat process.

To get her through the boring trivialities of life, she's created an imaginary beau- Harvey. Her Mr. Perfect. Harvey acts as her inner voice. Not just a conscience, but also a true reveal of her inner thoughts, some selfish and dark, some reassuring and hopeful. He is her sounding board.

He helps her get through the days, but when she's passed over for a promotion at a job she's been doing for fifteen years, it tips the scales. Now off balance, she's thinking hard about her life. The missed promotion is a wake-up call and just puts emphasis on the 'dead-end' aspect of her career. But the deciding factor comes when she is faced with the prospect of another fifteen years working the same job at the same place, and she quits.

She's decided to have her mid-life crisis (her words, not mine) in the form of selling her house and most of her belongings and departing on a six month road-trip around the States and Canada. But she doesn't want to travel alone, so she puts out an ad for a travelling companion and awaits the results, much to the shock of her sister, Daisy and best-friend, Rebecca.

Zeke Powell works for an e-magazine called 'What Women Want'. He's a blogger famous for rocking the boat. He can be arrogant and fancies himself a ladies man, but is a good guy when push comes to shove. His boss, Leah, is also the wife of his best-friend, TJ, and she suggests he reply to Manny's ad and go with her on the trip. All for the purposes of their blog. They want to expose her 'mid-life crisis' to the world and try to gain popularity for their e-zine by doing so. He wants a scoop and he doesn't mind being a little cruel to get it.

Of course, he doesn't tell Manny that. So, off they go, choosing the next destination from a hat (or plastic bag in this case), with Zeke (unbeknownst to Manny) blogging about her actions and his reactions along the way. He sees her as vulnerable and unaware and doesn't want to hurt her, but of course it won't stop him from writing, so he has to tone down the level of harshness usually present in his work.

They spend the time sight-seeing and generally exploring everything they can, all down to Manny's itinerary. The point of the trip for Manny, is to get out of her comfort zone and learn how to connect with people again. To be comfortable with strangers and start enjoying life. Zeke may just learn something along the way too.

Meanwhile, Rebecca is struggling with changes of her own. Thirty years ago (when she was sixteen) her (then) boyfriend got her pregnant, changing her life forever. He abandoned her, her parents disowned her and if it wasn't for Manny and Daisy's parents, her life would've just about ended there.

Now her daughter, Jaime, is a grown woman, going through a divorce of her own. Mother and daughter don't have the best relationship, but Rebecca finds herself looking after Tris, Jaime's ten year-old daughter, as Jaime sets out to find the father she never knew.

At the same time, Daisy's marriage is failing. She spends her nights at the casino. Her husband, Hub, is an estranged partner and father to their two teenage kids, and is rarely around. She labels herself a 'married, single parent'. They're already unhappy marriage is put to the test when Daisy discovers something Hub has been keeping secret.

Finally, Tj and Leah are trying for a baby, but are having complications. They're taking fertility tests to see if there's an actual biological reason why they're having such a hard time.

As you can tell, there are quite a few storylines going on in this book. All connected through theme, they focus on the complications of life- in all meanings of the word. There are many forms a journey can take, and many endings and beginnings to them. Change can be for the better or worse, through a decision we've made or something we had no control over, but in the end, it is what we choose to make of it. So many sub-plots can be confusing, but it works here, and each one is just as interesting and meaningful as the others. The focus is on Manny's journey, but the other stories aren't any less significant.

The description of travelling is beautifully done, namely the emotions experienced. The wonder of a new place, the almost child-like joy and excitement. The curiosity, a little nervous tension and the anticipation all mixed up with good old-fashioned fun. How the journey differs when you share it with another, even just a stranger met along the way. It's so addictive and infectious that I'm almost tempted to take off on my own six month adventure.

The characters are complicated and unique. They're not infallible. The relationships and conversations between them are enjoyably witty and very wry, especially between Manny and Harvey and Manny and Zeke. Harvey is more of a safety blanket. He's a constant figure, but is only ever constantly present, when Manny is stressed, afraid or nervous.

The relationship between Manny and Zeke is oddly endearing. Somehow, with all the confidence he shows and she lacks, Zeke comes across as the older of the two. Sometimes. Manny's friendly personality and honesty open people up to her. Zeke, however, while not necessarily dishonest (depending) is a closed-book. He won't straight out lie, but he will emit details or refuse the question. But it leads to quite hilarious interactions between the two.

The characters are well-rounded and well-written. And you know what? I'm actually going to miss them. As odd as it sounds, they've grown on me. It's always sad when one journey ends, but you just have to keep looking forward to the next, and you'll always have the memories.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. To the point that I had trouble putting it down, and only managed it when (at 6 am) I was facing sheer exhaustion. What kept me reading so obsessively? In short, the characters. I've commented on why I think they're great characters, but I'm not sure I can so easily pinpoint why exactly I liked them so much. They're very real, and the way they interact with each other is as though they've been friends forever (which in many cases they have), and they pull you right into that inner circle. They make you their friend. They're not necessarily the most original characters, but when I'm with my own friends, or meeting someone new, I don't compare them to others, I don't find fault in similarities or unoriginality, I just see them for them. And that's what these characters are to me- just them.

A rather subtle ending, with a call-back to the beginning. Such small things can be so big, while such big things can be so small. Life is scary. We all know it. They're will always be things we wish we could run away from, forget or change. But strength comes in not letting fear win. In standing up and fighting back. Yeah, life is scary, but it's real, and what more could we hope for? What better reason do we need to live purely for the sake of living? To come out of our shells and be who we really are, to let people see us as we really are. What better motivation do we need to do something a little less ordinary?

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.

A life Less Ordinary by Victoria Bernadine is a delightful book about a life in transition. The characters are believable and it was easy to make a connection to the lead character. There was quite a bit of time spent on supporting characters, which would probably make for great television. The story line followed the twists and turns of a discovery journey and left the reader hopeful without actually tying up all the loose ends. Very true- to life and a fun summer read.

I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. I was really surprised by it. Liked the characters, the plot, everything except the ending. I am not a huge fan of open endings...I admit to liking resolution and just was a little sad. Did Rebecca attempt to gain custody of her granddaughter? What happened with Daisy? Did Manny and Zeke get together? Ugh...too many questions left open when you are invested in the characters.

Manny, after 15 years of hard work, misses out on a promotion, because her company hires a younger and hotter women. So she quits. She takes off on a road trip for 6 months to rediscover herself. Her traveling partner is Zeke. A younger man, a blogger, and a cynic. Unbeknownst to Manny, Zeke is blogging about her midlife crisis and not really painting her in a flattering light, until she surprises him.

I loved this book! I loved the story, the adventure, the characters and the way it all worked out! I could easily identify with "Manny's" need to chuck it all and find herself and loved the unique approach she took. The story hooked me from the beginning and I ended up reading until 2am the night I finished it. Just couldn't put it down without knowing the ending. Speaking of which, it couldn't have ended any other way. Perfect! I found myself wishing all of the characters the very best in their future endeavours. Read it. You won't be sorry.

I received a free copy of this book from Love of Words Publishing however the opinion expressed in this review is entirely my own.
A Life Less Ordinary by Victoria Bernadine is a great read! I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book as I was worried that it was a story that has been told many times before, but I was quickly hooked.
The characters are really well developed and I came to love each and every one of them. The writing is well paced and each time I put the book down, I would look forward to picking it up again as soon as I had time to keep reading.
I found it interesting to read the author’s notes at the end of the book describing how it came to be. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, easy read for the holidays.½

Usually, I'm not a fan of "chick-lit", but after a few pages I was hooked. Manny is 45, hates her job, got passed by for promotion (again), so she quits her job, sells her house and gets all the money out of the bank and goes on a roadtrip for six months. Before she left, she posted an ad in the newspaper for a male companion, preferably one with a fast sports car. Once they go on the road, the story gets exciting and I couldn't put the book down.
The author's name, Victoria Bernadine, is a pseudonym, and I don't know who the real name is, but the writing is focused and polished, so it has to be someone established I would think.
Anyhow, read this book; I liked it and so will you.

A Life Less Ordinary by Victoria Bernadine
This story got me in straight away. It was easy to read and there were enough unexpected twists and turns to keep me guessing and turning the pages.

Manny is a mature single woman who has dedicated her life to her career. Just when she thinks she is going be promoted she is passed over for a much younger and less capable woman. She is expected to carry on and train the new girl but she spits the dummy and quits her job. Manny decides to take off on a 6 month holiday to rebuild her life. She cashes in her home and puts out an ad for a travelling companion.

Zeke, a much younger man, is coerced by his boss into applying for the side kick gig so that he can write in his blog about the sorry trials of a pathetic middle aged woman trying to find herself. Despite this hidden agenda he is the most appealing candidate and they are off on their journey.

I enjoyed the way the two main characters got to know each other and the development of their relationship. Zeke intended to show Manny up to entertain readers of his blog, but in the process he revealed much more about himself and his own shortcomings. We hear about the blog indirectly through the other characters.

It's worth a read to see how the journey turned out. This book was funny and entertaining.

I received a free copy of this book from Love of Words Publishing

With all these April showers, it is clear that summer is right around the corner. Have you started your pool-side reading list yet? Is ‘A Life Less Ordinary’ on it? No? What are you waiting for?
I was hooked on this book pretty much from page one. Manny is the type of character readers can relate to, whether they have anything in common with her or not. Forty-five year old Manny quits her job and recruits a virtual stranger to accompany her on a six-month road trip across Canada and the US. Whether you’ve ever wanted to chuck it all away or not, it will be hard not to find yourself cheering for Manny. Victoria Bernadine does a brilliant job at tying together the lives and trials of each of the characters, and she does it without rushing, keeping a steady pace and not dragging on (unlike this last sentence!). Although Bernadine had her work cut out for her having to tie in the obstacles for 5 separate characters/families (always such a challenge), she did so with ease.
Fans of Jennifer Weiner and Sarah Mlynowski will enjoy this novel and eagerly wait for Bernadine's next one.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you would like to chuck it all and experience life? Somewhere life becomes monotonous and dull and you’re not even sure how you got there? You realize you are just going through the motions, pushing through yet not really feeling anything? If you are shouting Yes! Yes! Than A life less ordinary… is for you.
This novel takes the reader along the ride with Manny, a forty something woman, on a journey of self discovery. My favorite lines in the novel, pg. 81 and I quote: “She wanted to stand on a rooftop-or hell, here in the middle of the street –and scream at the sky at the top of her lungs about how this isn’t how her life was supposed to be. She wanted to sob and rage and stamp her feet and demand that somebody somewhere give her something more! Whatever that something might be. At the same time, she wanted to fall to her knees and sob with fear. Fear of what, exactly she didn’t really know, or couldn’t accurately describe. Fear of everything really, she thought ruefully, but mostly she was afraid of the very thing she so desperately wanted: life.”
So, if you are looking for something fun, light, and an escape read… journey along with Manny and her co-traveler (Zeke the secret blogger of What Women Want) as they re-discover themselves and learn to live again. The writer also nicely weaves in characters and their lives along in the story. Overall a fun escape, and a book about how complicated or not relationships can be.

A LIFE LESS ORDINARY tells the story of Many, who at the ripe old age of 45 decides to leave her job and see the country in an attempt to find herself once more. Along the way, Many discovers new friends in unusual places and finds things about herself she'd long forgotten possible.
In the beginning the story is a little slow, but once Many and Zeke hit the road, things pick up. Wherever they go, Many seems to meet the "misfit toys" and make good friends of them, although she doesn't really see this. She has been so busy at work for the past fifteen years, that she is unable to see the good about herself. In addition, she is speaking to Daisy and Rebecca daily and dealing with issues in their lives. All the while, Zeke is taking notes and slowly beginning to see the real problems in his own life, as Many shocks him on every turn of the trip.
Although the three main characters are in their mid to late forties, I found myself thinking of them as being much older as the story to me, is not just about mid life crisis and finding "yourself." It also tells us how we, without realising it, keep people at arms length so that we don't get hurt when they leave for whatever reason.