The American Woman – review (AD)
I was kindly given an advanced electronic copy of The American Woman by R J Gould in exchange for an honest review*.
The American Woman book blurb
When it’s impossible to forget is it possible to forgive?
Jennifer is stuck doing dead end waitressing jobs, her naïve dream of Hollywood stardom in tatters.
Gareth, an IT consultant on a temporary contract, is the unlikely customer at Giulio’s Diner in the downbeat part of Los Angeles where she is now working.
It shouldn’t be a perfect match, the attractive, outgoing waitress from Idaho and the shy, good looker from Wales, but when it comes to relationships nothing is predictable, is it?
My overall thoughts on The American Woman
Having thoroughly enjoyed Nothing Man, Dream Café and Darren, Andrew and Mrs Hall I was looking forward to getting stuck into The American Woman.
The American Woman can be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel, however it is part of The Dream Café series and I would definitely recommend reading them all!
It was great to be back with the usual crowd – Emma, Kelly, Darren, Andrew, Bridget and David.
Jennifer is a newbie to the Muswell Hill crowd and is an American who found herself living in this little part of London.
The story flip flops between the present day and the past.
I liked Jennifer and totally related to her feeling lonely and wanting to make friends in a strange place, I was rooting for her throughout the story.
We learn about Jennifer’s only real love a Welshman and IT consultant Gareth and the painful breakdown of their relationship through the flashback chapters.
And we are transported between Muswell Hill, Los Angeles and various American cities as well as Wales while we learn more about this American woman and why she ended up in London.
As usual in Gould’s Dream Café series the Muswell Hill gang feature throughout the present day chapters.
It was great to see how the others have been getting on and to see that the Dream Café continues to go from strength to strength.
I won’t share any spoilers but I thoroughly enjoyed The American Woman and I can’t wait to read the next instalment of Dream Café series.
A huge thank you to Richard for his generosity in sending me an electronic copy of The American to read, enjoy and review.
About the author
Richard writes under the pseudonym R J Gould and is a (rare male) member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA).
His first novel was shortlisted for the Joan Hessayon Award following his participation on the RNA New Writers’ Scheme.
Having been published by Headline Access and Lume Books, he now self-publishes.
He writes contemporary literary fiction about relationships, loosely though not prescriptively within the Romance genre, using both humour and pathos to describe the tragi-comic journeys of his protagonists in search of love.
Dream Café is his sixth novel, following The Engagement Party, Jack and Jill Went Downhill, Mid-life follies, The bench by Cromer beach and Nothing Man. [It is a rewrite of A Street Café Named Desire].
Ahead of writing full time, Richard led a national educational charity.
He has been published in a wide range of educational journals, national newspapers and magazines and is the co-author of a major work on educating able young people.
He lives in Cambridge, England.
Follow R J Gould
Website: www.rjgould.info
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*Disclaimer
This review has been written with 100% honesty.
I was not financially compensated for this post. I was given a copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are completely my own based on my own experience.
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Thanks for such a lovely review, Rachael. I’m so glad you enjoyed it having taken the time to read the novel ahead of publication.