Friday 17 April 2015

Book Review - The Doris Day Vintage Film Club by Fiona Harper

Amazon UK

Title: The Doris Day Vintage Film Club
Author: Fiona Harper
Format reviewed: E-book
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Mills & Boon
Publication Date: 23rd April 2015
Rating: 4 Stars


Claire Bixby grew up watching Doris Day films at her grandmother’s house and yearned to live in a world like the one on the screen – sunny, colourful and where happy endings with chiselled leading men were guaranteed. But recently Claire’s opportunities for a little ‘pillow talk’ have been thin on the ground.
Until she meets mysterious Dominic. Nic is full of secrets but their connection is instant. Could he help Claire finding the Hollywood ending she’s been searching for? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…

Claire Bixby is president of the Doris Day Vintage  Film Club, they meet once a month to watch and discuss the films starring Doris Day,  and to discuss her life. They decide to hold a Doris Day "festival" and meet more frequently for the summer months, watching 12 films in 12 weeks. 

Claire is a travel agent, specialising in Romantic escapes, and the travel agency is situated near to the Hopes and Dreams proposal agency (that was featured in Fiona Harper's previous book The Little Shop of  Hopes and Dreams) and Peggy who works there, just happens to be one of Claire's best friends and also a member of the Doris Day film club.

The last thing Claire needs when coming home one night is to find a bike blocking the entrance to her building, meaning that her downstairs neighbour is in residence. She isn't too happy about this and its the last straw, so she writes him a letter on her best stationary and leaves it for him to find.  He responds with a snarky letter, and they continue to exchange letters for a while, which are all very amusing.

Claire, has been sworn off men, thanks to her ex-husband, and then she meets Nick. Nick is gorgeous, witty, and has a tendency to rush into things without thinking. Nick is also hiding something. 

The story between Nick and Claire, is full of misunderstandings, where the reader is in full possession of all the facts, and I found I was willing them to sort themselves out.

I loved how every chapter started with a reference to a Doris Day film, and the descriptions of some of her films within the club. Abby starts going to the club, in order to learn how to be more of a girl, and the members take her under their wings, and use Doris Day's life and style, to help Abby. This is a lovely sub plot, which just shows how even the golden generation of Hollywood films, can still have relevance.

I found The Doris Day Vintage Film Club, somewhat reminiscent of parts of the plot of the film "You've Got Mail", and I think the book could be turned into an entertaining rom-com if Hollywood ever got their hands on it. There is a lot of assumptions, talking at cross purposes and a few lies by omission!

I really enjoyed this story, and the more of Fiona Harpers books I am reading, the more I am liking them.  Very entertaining story, that I didn't want to end.

The Doris Day Vintage Film Club is out on Thursday.

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