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John’s door opened just abruptly. And this time the driver had a gun in his hand, the silencer probably not necessary this far from any observers. Mrs. Holmes growled, it was the closest approximation John could think of to the noise of irritation. “The estate of which you are supposed to be unaware? That will be acceptable, Bond. I suppose there is no point in telling you not to eavesdrop.”
It sure is, my friend.’ I winked. ‘It may not look that pretty down there, but at least it smells divine.’ We are delighted to publish an extract from Bridgend-based Katy Cox’s debut novel, based on her own experiences of motherhood.
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Cox's main character Lucy is the mum friend you wouldn't hesitate to befriend at the school gates. Somehow it ends up with you both drinking too much caffeine and laughing about something silly because she is refreshingly frank and honest. John directed his attention to Mrs. Holmes. “That was the first I’d seen or heard of him. Mycroft said it was an assassination attempt.” He stood, rubbing at his wrists, and followed when the Quartermaster gestured to the door. They stepped through, continuing down a short hallway, and John kept his eyes focused ahead in an attempt to ignore the accusing glances. From the second I discovered this book existed, I had a feeling I was going to love it, and I wasn't wrong, although love isn't a strong enough word - it's a wonderful book.
But then she got married and had children, the job offers were harder to do with a husband in the same business and two very young children and the eldest as Lucy increasingly suspects could be Autistic. In a culture that assures us that the only way to be an “authentic” mom is to focus almost exclusively on the challenges and negative aspects of motherhood, it’s easy to fall into the trap of being afraid to speak out about the flip side of the coin: the truth that the joys and benefits of motherhood abound if only we have eyes to see them and the courage to proclaim them.
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The author's writing style is simple and easy to understand, making it ideal for children in the 4-8 year age range. The book covers a wide range of topics, from ancient Egyptian gods to famous pharaohs, to the daily lives of ordinary Egyptians. The author manages to convey all this information in a fun, entertaining manner, keeping children engrossed and interested. Brilliantly written, honest and poignant, Katy Cox’s warm-hearted tale about motherhood, family and love is not to be missed.
The car began to slow and John looked out the window to the type of nondescript lay by that occurred throughout the motorway system. Standing awkwardly near a side door, clad in one of his suits that hung poorly. His friend had clearly lost at least a few stone, probably weight that his thin form could barely afford. His hair was cropped shorter than John had ever seen and dyed a sallow golden color. Lucy has her hands full. Literally, with a cello and two young children, her musician husband is on tour, laundry pile, and a performance to prepare for, and she is out of bin bags. I hadn’t actually seen my fanny since conception and I was determined that, this time, she was going to look her best (unlike when I gave birth to Stanley and wound up in hospital with a seventies Disco Bush-ferno grooving out of my pants). Cox’s main character Lucy is the mum friend you wouldn’t hesitate to befriend at the school gates. Somehow it ends up with you both drinking too much caffeine and laughing about something silly because she is refreshingly frank and honest.The reveals that came later on were unsurprising, and it felt that they were staring Lucy in the face before she came to discover each reveal. The end of the book was done well I thought, no spoilers here, but it wasn't too saccharine and neat, and as a reader I felt satisfied with the ending.
From having worked with some children a bit like Stanley I get the feeling that this is rather authentic, and all the concerns Lucy expresses are realistic and valid. I find all of this made them very relatable too, and something that parents will especially enjoy reading, as I suspect they will see elements of their own experiences reflected in this. This comedic story had me laugh quite a few times out loud and earned me a quizzical look from strangers as I sat in a cafe reading. Cox has written a delightful and realistic view of life as a working parent. A struggling-to-manage-it-all working parent.
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This book is really funny and full of lots of laugh out loud moments, I enjoyed it so much I found it really hard to put down. It is not just a funny book, though as it is also the story of a mother's love for her family and how much she cares for them. The children in the story are delightful and very endearing. This book promised to be full of witty humour and sharp observations about life as a working parent but the humour was lost on me. It felt like it was trying too hard to be funny rather than making use of the natural comedy that life with children brings. I also feel increasingly frustrated about the depiction of mothers in so many books who are either stereotypes of a bumbling hot mess or selfish and neglectful. I rarely see the experiences of real mothers I know reflected in books and am quite disappointed this book didn't deliver on this in the way I had hoped. Mycroft finally spoke up. “In Sherrinford’s defense, the tactic was quite successful. Collapse of the remaining network was immediate and he should arrive at the estate shortly before us.” A truthful book that dives headfirst into the realities of motherhood that will make you laugh out loud and touch your heart in equal measure." IZZY JUDD
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