A number of years ago, I discovered the fun of ordering British books for delivery to the U.S. The very first novel that arrived was one by Jill Mansell. I went on to order a number of others. So, I was quite delighted when Mansell’s books began to be released in the U.S. and there were no more shipping charges.

Mansell’s books offer comfort reads. The characters are likeable, the plots are as involving as they to be with the sense generally that all will end well. That is the case in this case in this story that has warmth and humor.

Janey is rather rudely awakened one day when her sister Maxine arrives along with the police. What is going on? Well, Maxine wants to stay for a while. Will she and Janey get along? Will they find the relationships and lives that they want? Readers can guess the answer; the fun is in getting there.

This book was originally published in the 90s and has been reissued. It and the other books by this author are always entertaining reads.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this title. All opinions are my own.

Sheer Mischief

Jill Mansell

Sourcebooks, Jul 2018

416 pages, kindle, paperback, audiobook, audio cd

Contemporary romance, second-chance romance, women’s lit

Provided, NetGalley

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The cover is that typical Jill Mansell cover with soft colors, flowers and no real person. Yes, there is a woman standing there, but you can’t see her feet or anything above her waist, so she’s not an actual person, just a body shape. She can’t be identified.

The story is that typical Jill Mansell story where everyone gets a second chance, well, except for Bruno. In her wonderfully real-to-life style, the author shares the stories of her characters with us. These are real people, as usual. Maxine is a b*tch, Janey is great, Guy is sweet, Alan is a slug and a user, and Bruno was a player until he played once too often in the same sandbox.

The story was told with the heartbeat-of-life pace that makes stories so realistic with the tension slowly building as events took you.

I loved Janey who was lost, befuddled, confused, and hurt by the disappearance of her husband, Alan. And she was such a nice person, so sweet. Being a florist was the perfect career for her, a giving type of job and one that deals in beauty.

Maxine was a user, as I said, a b*tch. She could use anyone, Janey, Thea, the kids, Guy, Bruno…and lie straight-faced without remorse. Oliver and Thea were a great couple. Wish they had had more time.

The relationship between Guy and Janey builds like a jigsaw puzzle as they each take steps to put the pieces in place until their whole picture fits together. Until Guy finally puts the two dozen pink roses on order and she delivers them to his door. This is definitely a one thousand piece puzzle!

Highly recommended for romance readers.

I am not sure what I was expecting from Sheer Mischief, but it never completely delivered. I really disliked most of the characters - even Janey, the most likable of the bunch, tried my patience. The story was really predictable, which would have been forgivable if it hadn't dragged in large sections.
It seemed to have a hard time deciding what it wanted to be - irreverent fun, family drama, or a madcap sister story. It ended up being a hodge podge that never completely gelled for me.

Jill Mansel writes great love stories and writes fantastic humor. When wit and romance collide it makes the best stories and she is at the top of her game!

Such a light, fun, romantic read yet there are several twists and turns that take you by complete surprise.

Maxine shows up one very early morning on her sister's doorstep and things in here quaint village is never to be the same.

Janey's husband up and disappeared so she's excited to have her sister back home, however, things aren't exactly smooth sailing when a handsome photographer is involved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. I've gone back and forth over whether this should be 3 or 4 from me. If I could give 3.5 I would. I liked it, it's a light hearted, beachy kind of read. Some of the additional plot lines drug it down a bit, and that's the main reason I gave it a 3. If you want a light hearted book, but are willing to get through a bit of a slow middle, you will enjoy this.

Always love Jill Mansell’s books! Glad to have been approved for an advanced copy of this title. Four stars!

As usual, Jill Mansell has come through with yet another light romance with lots of comedy.

I found this one to be a funny, cozy romance that I just sped through. I loved Maxine!! I thought she was a hoot and I loved some of her comebacks.

And Alan, someone should shoot him . . . twice.

Another, IMHO, great read by Mansell that I totally enjoyed.

Thanks to Sourcebooks and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

When you read as many thrillers as I do, it’s imperative to line up some lighter reads to break up the doom and gloom, and Jill Mansell is perfect for these. Her books are just the right amount of sugar without being too sweet.

Mansell has a way of writing characters that totally humanizes them in a light way. They are flawed and they are real, but they are also very funny and ridiculous at times which is why these books make me smile.

My single complaint would be that, at more than 500 pages, this one was a bit long winded, but never did it feel redundant.

I recommend this book to readers who are looking for a fun read, with some romance but light on the gushy stuff. Just a good, fun read.

Thank you for Netgalley, Jill Mansell and Sourcebooks for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful comedic romance that was fast paced and action filled. A lark to read, just plain fun and entertaining.

I love love love Jill Mansell. Any book of hers I’ll read

The characters is this one I fell in love with. Can’t wait to read more of this character

Jill Mansell's novels could so easily be made into romantic-comedy movies. This one is no exception, with a few outrageous characters and plot lines. I usually love Jill Mansell's novels - chick-lit with a lot of humor and clever dialogue. This one didn't have the depth of many of her books, but it looks like it was originally published 10 years or so ago (?), so I'm sure her writing was just not as mature then. It's very easy to figure out what will happen next and some of the characters are not as likeable as usual, but it's still a fun read - just what I needed during this very busy week. Many thanks to NetGalley and SourceBooks Landmark for the arc. 3.5 stars!

Another great story by hill. She's one of my favorites. Keep them coming!!

I really enjoyed this light read- definitely chick lit. I could really relate to Janey because I felt much like she did back in my single days and had a significant other disappear only to show back up unannounced. So I really saw myself in her and was happy with how her story turned out.