NEW RELEASE
A Storm in a Teacup - Lucy Cavendish (2010)
In this third instalment about Samantha Smythe, the mother of four is still overwhelmed by her life. Everyday she must take care of her children, clean, cook, shop and make time for her husband, John, as well. How can one woman do it all? Especially when Samantha's youngest boy, Jamie, starts wearing little girl's dresses and starts trying to intentionally hurt children at school. When she voices concerns to her husband, he just says she is worrying too much. Then the opportunity pops up for the family to spend the summer at a beach house in Devon. Samantha sees this as a great chance for her family to spend time together and work through their issues. But at the last minute John announces he must work and leaves Samantha once again to care for all the children and chores on her own. But perhaps the day will be saved by a quirky elderly man named Noah who lives nearby. Immediately Samantha sees a change in Jamie, who takes to Noah like a moth to a light. Samantha soon immerses herself in the village life and is even organising a fete to help save an old manor house. The only problem now is oldest son Edward who's taken to hanging around with Noah's goth grand-daughter who teaches him to drink Barcardi Breezers and get into trouble. Soon the holiday that had seemed so pleasant is now full of fights and deception. Whether you have children or not, this story surely will entertain and resonate with many readers. Samantha is like many women today - overworked, tired and in desperate need of time for herself and her story is one that readers won't want to put down until the end. (AS)
British mum Samantha Smythe returns and takes her family on a beach holiday in Lucy Cavendish's third instalment, A Storm in a Teacup. The summary says: "Samantha Smythe is time poor. With six mouths to feed, she doesn't even have time for a bath and, in a bid for some undemanding company, has started to talk to the flowers in the garden. She's sure things will get better with some holiday sea air. It will be perfect - rock-pooling and chips on the beach. But things are never that simple and soon eldest son Edward is experimenting with Bacardi Breezers and girls in G-strings, middle son Bennie doesn't want to wear any clothes and why is Samantha's husband never there when she needs him? Does Samantha have more to worry about than sand in the bed and yummy mummies on the beach or is it all just a storm in a teacup?"