Review: A promising 3 1/2 stars : Good debut
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 11 20, 2011
I received a gift copy of A New Set of Rules by Stacia CarltonThis is Julianne's story, a mother of two, who finds herself separated from her husband Ewan.  Ewan has a girlfriend who is pregnant - Julianne has had and has a toy boy.  Life, however isn't simple - but when is it really?  She thinks she's happy but boy she couldn't be more wrong.  Her current beau, Charlie, has been promoted, at the very same company she works for.  Julianne meets with him at a restaurant as he has something to tell her.  Of course, this kind of request immediately alerts you to the fact that it can't be good.  He's been seeing someone and, well - she fits his life. Julianne practically leaves everything behind for a few days and heads off to New York where surprise, surprise, she meets someone else - such is the story of her life.  After barely two nights she receives a call and is needed back home.  A family crisis has arisen - her  father has had a heart attack.  Once back home though, the familiarities of family gatherings even at such a tender time can be hectic, but oh so good for the soul.  Julianne hadn't realised how much she'd missed not being with her family and in particular, with her brother Dan and sister Di.  They can be quite a riot.  In retrospect, Julianne begins questioning this life of hers, where it's been and where it's headed.  What does she need?  What is missing?  I think it's everything we all want - true happiness.  She hasn't really had that, and by no means am I relating this to her family, her children or even Ewan.  There's a hole that needs and wants to be filled.  So far, it's all been very much like a  yo-yo, up and down, but she's finally come to realise that what she really wants is someone who will love her for who she is - not the typical "toy boy" she has been having affairs with who honestly, at the end of the day just take and take.  Life is all about give AND take.  It's not one sided and those that believe it is, will be in for a rude awakening - sooner or later.A New Set of Rules is contemporary romance/chic lit.  It's a fairly easy read but if you're like me "the emotional type" it will make your brain mull over a lot of things throughout the book.  I always try and relate - especially with books such as these - to real life.  Looking at someone from the outside, you may think they are just happy go lucky people but behind closed doors, it's an entirely different matter.  I enjoyed this story and Stacia Carlton has not only brought humour to this family - she has also highlighted realistic relationship issues.  Her main and secondary characters are an interesting and sometimes crazy bunch of people.  I believe that most of us can relate to Julianne's family!Wonder what's in store for Julianne in the future?  I personally hope that she finally finds the happiness she craves and eventually settles down with one man! We will have to read her story further in the second instalment. My rating is a promising 3  stars.  A good debut by this author.