This is the best book by Milly Johnson that I have read. I loved reading about all the characters, May, Lara and Clare and their lives. All three friends May, Lara and Clare are desperate for some time away. Will these three friends have the break that they all needed? I do not want to give any spoilers away.

Review: something completely different again for Milly Johnson. She seems to have the ultimate gift for discovering something that hasn't been covered in Women's fiction and writing about it. This books deals with the weird and wonderful, but at the centre of it still has that lovely heartwarming tale of three women just trying to get the best out of their lives that Milly Johnson does so well! I was completely drawn into this book from the word go, it literally travelled everywhere with me! It starts out telling you all about the dramas that are going on in the lives of May, Lara and Clare. As always these things are completely realistic and something which a lot of busy working women will be able to relate to. Not having time to have coffee with my friends is something I suffer from too. They are all unlucky enough and then find themselves unlucky in holidays too, when they wind up at the worn holiday destination, something which I'm sure one or two of us have inadvertently done too! The tale which follows is somewhat unusual but entirely captivating and definitely a page-turner! These characters are Johnson's usual strong women with loud voices and big ambitions in life. I found Clare's struggle with what was obviously depression hard to read at some points, but I found I could relate to all three of the women and I am sure that there will be something for everyone amongst these three women somewhere. The male characters in the book were certainly that-real individual characters. Each of them added humour to the story and were very easy to picture from the descriptions the Johnson gave of these intriguing men! Something else which was well described was the setting. It is set in a seaside town which meant lost of wonderful descriptions of the ocean, the bay and of the course the smell of the sea air. The cottage which the women stay in is also well described and I would have loved to have curled up in one of the comfy beds in the cosy cottage where they spend their week. Without giving too much away in old say this is a wonderful summer read for anyone looking for something light and fun with a strong wholesome message thrown in for good measure. Whether you are a fan of this amazing author or not, I am sure that you will enjoy all this book has to offer. Although it is a long one, it is definitely worth popping in your handbag or your suitcase this August. You will find wonderful characters, and intriguing storyline and plentiful smilies to keep you smiling from start to finish. Another hit for this fabulous author!

It's Raining Men is a little bit of a change for Milly, it features her trademark gritty Northern humour, and some fabulous leading characters, but added to the mix in this novel is a little hint of magic. I'll admit that at first I wasn't sure if I would like the magical element, but am happy to say that she's nailed it, and nailed it down pretty hard and fast! Three best friends, successful women who work hard and are all having a bit of an emotional roller-coaster of a time with their love lives. May, Lara and Clare decide that it's time for some me-time, they need to get away from the relentless working routine, from their partners and from the City. They need a break, somewhere where they can relax and be pampered, somewhere that is out of the way but will still provide the little luxuries that they deserve. The spa that they book sounds perfect and they have ten whole days to spend chilling out and catching up on life. They find themselves in Ren Dullem - this is not the spa resort that they booked. This is a strange little village, with very few women, the sun doesn't shine and the locals are far from friendly. And so begins their adventure in a village that wouldn't look out of place in a horror movie. Dealing with three very different brothers, some very anti social shopkeepers and maybe a witch too! Milly Johnson has served up a fabulously fun and quirky summer read that will delight her fans, add a little magic to mix of strange, but wonderfully drawn characters and let yourself be sucked in by the story. I loved the description of the village Ren Dullem - it's almost a character in it's own right. Recommended as a great get-away-from-it-all story that will have you giggling and smiling.

Three friends, May, Lara & Clare who, despite working in the same company don't get to see each other very often so they decided to have a holiday away. A beautiful ten days in an expensive spa, rest, relaxation and chat, what could go wrong. They end up in Ren Dullem, the wrong village, no spa in sight and the locals are very hostile. The girls are all going through some personal issues and the last thing they need is aggression and rudeness. However, the more time they spend in the village the more they notice. There aren't many females, the locals seem to be on edge and there is more to this wee village than the girls could have imagined. I do enjoy reading Milly Johnson, she is definitely the kind of author you can just race through the story. The women are good friends although initially they are reluctant to divulge the recent changes in their relationships and put a face on to have a good holiday. The villagers are mostly hostile and rude to the girls which, I think, most of us can relate to from at least one of our past holiday experiences. Clare bonds with one of the elderly residents within the town and slowly discovers some of the town secrets. There are other characters who play different important parts to the story but, as I don't do spoiler reviews it is hard to go into any kind of depths with them. It is a good paced story with lots of wee shocks, secrets and revelations along the way. If your looking to try a new author I would recommend Johnson, light, easy to read but has substance even though it would be filed as a chick lit and this is as good a book to start with as any. 4/5 for me this time and I will be reading more of this author.