4.5 delightful Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

What a fun journey this was literally and figuratively.... Connie is tired of being took for granted... so she packs up her well loved adorable car named Kermit and hits the road..... I really need to tack up a map of the UK somewhere in my house, I read so many books that take place there and I have no idea where anything is... I kept googling places because they all seem so lovely... I am taking a trip there sometime soon, But in the meantime I will visit through books....

Connie was so likable and so real... she was all of us.... some of the characters she met along her trip were so quirky and a few situations were a little over-the-top, but that made this even more fun.... Connie added a little sunshine to everybody‘s life she met along this trip.... and she took away a little knowledge from everybody herself....

I also really love the emails between Connie and her children back home... at first her kids were super concerned.... like who’s going to babysit their kids and how is poor dad going to cope with things such as vacuuming.... connie’s answers back were perfection.... she just told them that she was having an amazing journey and she’d be back soon enough....

So does Connie returned to her family.... do things change? Do they now appreciate their lovely mother? You really need to read this book and find out! Mom if you are reading this review, you would love this book!

Absolutely recommend to anybody who has ever felt undervalued and overwhelmed... filled with fabulous quirky characters, laugh out loud moments, and some teaching moments as well....

*** thank you so much too Bookouture and Net Galley for a copy of this lovely book ***

PS: looks like my mom is going to have a Bookouture Mother’s Day 🤫

I had a hard time keeping interested in this book. Maybe it was my mood so I hope to try it again soon. I have to thank #netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. #therunawaywife

4 brilliantly funny runaway stars to The Runaway Wife!

The Runaway Wife came highly recommended by my friend Sherri, and this was a refreshing delight of a read!

Connie McColl is tired. Tired of being in charge of everything, tired of all of life’s overwhelming responsibilities while her husband whiles away his time on the golf course.

When she’s finally had enough, she hops in her little green car and doesn’t look back. Quite the escapade awaits her and quirky characters abound. Is Connie going to drive off into the sunset, or will she return home on her own terms?

At times silly in the best way, Connie’s story is clever and engaging. She is a love of a character, and I would be thrilled to read more books with her!

Thank you to Dee MacDonald, Bookouture, and Netgalley for the ARC! The Runaway Wife is now available!

This is the first published book by Dee MacDonald. If there’s one thing I like it is discovering new authors. When I was invited to read and review ‘The Runaway Wife’, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. It was with some excitement that I opened the front cover and began to read so to speak. I really did enjoy reading ‘The Runaway Wife’ but more about that in a bit.
I think a lot of women will identify with Connie McColl. She has been married to her husband for quite a number of years and they have three children together. The marriage appears to have gone a bit stale to say the least. Her husband Roger well and truly takes her for granted. He assumes that she will act the dutiful wife and he tells her what she will do. For instance, he tells her to pick him up from the golf club when really he should have asked if she would mind picking him up. His manners seem to have flown out of the window. Connie’s children aren’t much more considerate as they assume that she will drop everything at a moments notice to help them out. For quite a while she has gone along with it but not any more. Connie feels as though she has lost her identity and she feels that she needs to go and find herself, to discover who she really is. Connie decides that she needs to go on one bit adventure to reconnect with her true self, so she makes plans to leave and go on this adventure. Connie isn’t sure where she is going exactly but she finds herself in Scotland. Whilst she is on this big adventure, she tries new things and things that are far outside her comfort zone. I totally got how she must be feeling because on the one hand she is apprehensive about doing certain new things but she realises that if she is going to lead the life she wants to lead, then it is only her that can do something about it and if that means trying new things then so be it. Connie has a tremendous amount of fun, she gets herself into some scrapes, she meets some lovely people and she certainly has a lot of laughs along the way.
I have to say that I found this book to be a seriously funny book and it had me chuckling away right the way through. In a way I did identify with Connie- not in the sense of being taken for granted but in the sense of wanting to try new things but not being sure if you have the confidence or drive to go out and do them. Then I remembered something a therapist said to me ‘if you want to live the life you want for yourself, then it is only you who do something about it.’ So the book really did strike a chord with me. Reading ‘The Runaway Wife’ became something of an addiction to me as I just had to read on and on to see if Connie found happiness in the end. I became so wrapped up in the story and in the characters that I genuinely did not notice how quickly the page numbers and the time were flying past. I seemed to race through the book and before I knew what was happening, I had finished the book, which I was so disappointed about because I was enjoying the story, the writing style and the characters so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
In short, I really did enjoy reading ‘The Runaway Wife’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. It is one of those books that will stay in my mind for a long time to come. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.

Well, this was just as fun as the cute cover suggested it would be! I enjoyed the quick pace, clever dialogue and "real" characters. Would definitely read this author again!

Connie has had enough of her family she is all round cook, bottlewasher, general dogsbody and not forgetting free babysitter, so she makes a sudden decision and she is out of there and they can cope on their own and maybe she will be appreciated a bit more! She packs a bag, gets in her car and heads for Scotland with no idea of where she is really going!

I loved this book so many women must be able to relate to Connie and wish they could do the same - I loved her adventures on route and all of the friends that she made on the way - definitely recommended!

What a wonderful little read this was! Connie is sick and tired of feeling like a housekeeper, a babysitter, and a slave to her family. She's had enough and after careful deliberation whilst bashing the potatoes for dinner into next week, Connie decides to do something for herself and live. No more being her husbands personal driver. No more having no plans to fit in with her daughter-in-law's ever-expanding social life so that she can babysit for her. No more! Instead, Connie packs a few essentials and sets off in Kermit to a destination she hasn't decided yet. You go girl!

Connie is the type of character you will pretty much fall in love with straight away. She reminds me of the sort of grandmother who, should she ever go to a posh dinner, would sit there and talk about sexual positions in great detail. Such a brilliant character.

I loved how the book mentioned Galashiels (which is where I live), and I loved how much detail the author went into when she was describing Edinburgh. It was so lovely to read a book and be all 'I'VE BEEN THERE. I KNOW THAT' like you're the local city groupie or something!

Connie's adventure had me laughing out loud, sitting with tears in my eyes, as well as becoming emotionally touched by who she met along the way. Sometimes in life we lose sight of who we are whilst other people take us for granted, with us having no confidence to tell them to shove off. I'm sure we have all been there. The fact that Connie was determined to not live the rest of her life in a shell, living life for everyone else, really did make me think. I mean, living life for YOU is in no way selfish, so why are people made to feel that way?

I disliked Roger from the get go and my opinion didn't change in a positive way, the more of him I got to know. In fact, I actually disliked him more by the time I got to the end of the book. What a self-absorbed man!! If he looked like Channing Tatum then yeah, I could see why he would think his bowel movements don't stink, but he isn't. Selfish dweeb!

For me personally, Connie was the star of the show and I was so glad she decided to go on her adventure the way that she did. At the age of 66, Connie knew fine well that she needs to live with no regrets in the time of life that she has left. Just look at Jeannie, bless her heart. It really brought home just how short life is and how we need to grab it by the Kermit before it's too late. I know that sometimes it's easier said than done, but like Connie proves, there is no wrong time to do something for you, as long as it isn't too late.

'The Runaway Wife' really warmed my soul and that ending, well, I think I snorted into my cup of tea more than once! Despite being a laugh out loud, carefree type of read, Dee MacDonald included some deep and meaningful topics along the way, making my mind think all that bit more.

I really do hope that Connie returns sooner rather than later as I cannot wait to follow her on yet another life-changing adventure. This book is truly something special, just like Connie, Jeannie and Kath. A wonderful, wonderful book that I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Well if there was ever a book worthy of being called a coming of age story then this would get first prize. OK it was coming a little later in life for Connie than it did most people but at 66 years young she had finally got there. There hadn’t really been a Connie for a long time just someone who wore different hats, wife, mother, cook, cleaner, baby sitter and taxi driver for her husband. But one day Connie simply put down her tools of being ‘someone else’ and set off to look for herself.
What a wonderful inspirational and fun story this has been to get lost in, especially as I am not too many years behind Connie myself. I literally giggled and tittered at her naivety, I loved her rebellious side and delighted in her finding the woman inside her that she never knew existed. I could see her gradually changing as each chapter ended and another one began.
What I really liked about this story too was the little glimpses back of how things were going on at home. The changes that were over time taking place there. When Connie first left her family, all they could see was the inconvenience to their lives her leaving made to them, not actually missing Connie for Connie. Very sad really. But the adventures that Connie got herself caught up in changed many lives for the better as well as her own.
There was an array of characters throughout the story that open Connie’s eyes to a world that she has been blinkered to before. It is almost as if she has been in a cocoon all these years and she is finally becoming the butterfly, a very beautiful one that never loses the caring side of herself but one that knows she matters too.
Highly recommended, a light and lovely read with some punch in the air moments from this little old lady reading it.
I wish to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for an e-copy of this book which I have honestly reviewed.

I loved reading this book. I needed a break from my usual psychological thrillers and this was perfect. We follow 66year old Connie as she leaves her husband and family to find herself with some great adventures on the way. I loved the ending and can’t wait to read of Connie’s further adventures

I really enjoyed this book. It's funny and gives you food for thought at the same time.
It was really good to read about the road to self-discovery of a senior woman.
The book is well written and the characters are really well designed.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley

Different story of rediscovery

Dee MacDonald's The Runaway Wife was a little unique as the main character Connie was in her 60s. Feeling unappreciated and forgotten by her husband and children she decides to go off on a road trip. Unfortunately, for me the trip really doesn't engage me till half way through the story, I do think the author had a lot of good ideas and I enjoyed some of the supporting characters. Though it starts off slow the book is definately worth reading for its imaginative format and there is a bit of a surprise at the end.
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

OMG! What a touching and inspirational book this is!! It made me howl with laughter and it made me sob my heart out. But most importantly it introduced me to one of the bravest, passionate and magnificent characters I have read about recently. Connie is my absolute hero and I loved her to pieces from the moment I met her!

I think many of us have wanted to escape from our own lives at one time or another, just a temporary “stop the world I want to get off” getaway for most of us, so it does mean that Connie becomes a relatable character very quickly indeed here. One day whilst mashing potatoes it all becomes too much for her and she decides to take some time out from her husband and her family to have some “me time”. At the grand old age of 66 she packs up her little green car and sets off on her adventure into the unknown. And what an amazing time she has! The people she meets along the way and the situations she finds herself in were a mixture of hilarious and bittersweet moments that felt as realistic as Connie herself who was finally being appreciated for the kind, thoughtful and generous woman she is. Not being taken for granted as a wife/cook/cleaner or a mother or a grandmother/babysitter but to have the time and space to do what she pleases soon becomes a reality for Connie and I absolutely adored every single step of her journey.

I quickly found myself swept away by the captivating exploits of this mature and plucky lady but found myself slightly envious at times as well. It’s HARD to put yourself first, especially when others around you seem determined to make you feel guilty, so I was mentally cheering Connie on every step of the way!! And I have to admit to not knowing how her personal quest would end but even so, there was a huge shock for me near the end that had my jaw dropping!! Just brilliantly well played Dee MacDonald! I would love to meet Connie again to catch up with her life so I hope she has some new adventures soon.

This is definitely one of my favourite books of the year so far. A memorable, feelgood treat for the soul! Highly recommended by me!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher, Bookouture for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Kim from Bookouture for organising the Blog Tour.

Connie McColl is a 66 year old wife, mother and grandmother. One evening, whilst mashing potatoes for dinner she decides she’s had enough. She packs her bag, gets in her little green car and goes. She isn’t entirely sure where she’s going but she knows it’s time she has a bit of time to herself. On her journey from her home in Sussex all the way up to Scotland, she meets up with old friends and makes many new friends along the way. Will she ever return home?

This book wasn’t what I expected at all. I expected a funny romantic comedy and whilst I did get that, I also got a book about love, friends, family and self-discovery. There were moments where you would laugh out loud, and then it would have you crying into a tissue. I loved the start with Connie making a life changing decision whilst mashing potatoes for her husband’s dinner. It just made me laugh so much that such an important decision could be made with a masher in her hand! Connie is such a lovely lady who has obviously been taken for granted for so many years. Her husband doesn’t really take much notice of her and is more interested what goes on down the golf club, and most of her children only want her when she is needed for babysitting the grandchildren.

To be honest, you can’t blame Connie for wanting to run away and have some time for herself, and I let out a huge cheer when she actually did. Her tales and exploits on her travels were interesting to read, although some may have been slightly far-fetched as I found it hard to believe that a lady of her age would sleep under the stars or go skinny dipping! The different characters she meets along the way are all interesting though and obviously there is a reason why she ends up meeting the people that she does. I also loved the different places that Connie passed through. Some places I knew and have been to and some I haven’t. Cleverly done, they all had a place in Connie’s heart for being places that she or members of her family had been to in the past. For me, this was really emotional and tugged at the heart strings!

I did enjoy this story and I loved Connie. I don’t think I felt any affection for any of the other members of Connie’s family and perhaps they were all taught a lesson with Connie leaving them to fend for themselves. Did Connie return to her family? Of course she did, but what happened when she returned was totally unexpected! A fun, life-affirming read! Well recommended!

Connie! How delightful to read a "finding herself" novel about a mature woman. Connie's decision to go on a road trip, leaving behind her husband, her house, and her pretty much ungrateful children and grandchildren is made spur of the moment but boy it's a good one. This is an entertaining novel, that gives you a nice taste of "travels through the UK". Connie's work through of her life and life decisions comes slowly but you'll feel her turn to strength. The end is a twist but a well done one. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Connie McColl, wife, mother, grandmother in her sixties, 66 to be exact was having a crisis. It couldn't be called a mid-life crisis, she was way past mid-life, but a crisis nonetheless. And so, after some thought, she decides she has had enough and decides to "run away." On the spur of the moment, before she loses courage, she packs up her old green Ford Escort and leaves home, telling no one where she is going or when she will be back. She is on a journey of self-discovery, with no itinerary, just meandering down the highway and going where the road takes her.

There were laugh out loud moments in this novel, there were quirky people along the way as Connie revisited some of her memories from the past, going to places and meeting up with people she once knew. All the while, trying to reconcile her life, her feelings about her relationship with her loved ones. The undercurrent was there all along, along with the humorous situations she became involved with while sorting out her future.

Traveling with her along the path through parts of Northern England into Scotland was amazing. The author did a superb job of vividly creating the scenic landscape, and hilariously providing that distinct Scottish accent...och it was loovely! Do you ken?

My thanks to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review. If not for them, I would have missed this wonderful story and the enjoyment it provided me.

This was a very enjoyable story about Connie, a wife and mother who'd had enough of being taken for granted by all her family, and set off on a road trip to 'find herself'. She really needed a break from her family and wanted to figure out if she really loved her husband enough to stay with him, or whether they were just in a rut that they needed to get out of.

She didn't tell anybody, just upped and went, which was very brave of her, especially since she'd been married and started her family young and was now 66 years old and hadn't done anything on her own before. Of course (most of) her family thought she was mad and wanted to know what she was playing at, but that was more because they didn't have anyone around to cook, clean, babysit etc. Right ungrateful lot they were, apart from her eldest single daughter Diana who cheered her on and thought it was a fabulous thing to be doing.

She had no idea where she was going, but started off from Surrey and managed to get to Scotland, stopping at various places along the way. She also managed to get into a variety of situations, including being nearly arrested in a protest she wasn't really in, being an extra in a Scottish soap, and even inadvertently getting roped into being a getaway driver after a robbery - well nearly - very funny! She met some lovely people on her journey, and camped out under the stars on more than one occasion in the little tent she'd bought herself. Connie was such a lovely, caring person and it was so nice to see her enjoying herself and doing what she wanted for a change.

Very enjoyable, funny (absolutely hilarious at the end!), quite sad in places, yet thought provoking story, proving it's never too late to make a change in your life if you're not happy. I look forward to reading more by Dee MacDonald in the future.

This is a wonderful book, it just flows along and takes you with it. It made me laugh and cry and laugh again, especially at the end. That was a little bit of genius!

The story follows Connie, a 66 year old mother and wife, who is used as a doormat by her family until one day she decides she's has enough and sets off on an adventure to find herself and work out what she wants to do with the rest of her life. She meets an array of new friends, catches up with old friends and has experiences she's never had before.

It was a joy to explore new parts of the UK through Connie's eyes, especially the wilds of Scotland and to be with her on her voyage of discovery. The book is beautifully written and the characters are lovingly drawn to make them come alive. I absolutely loved the ending, that really had me chuckling and I can't wait for the next instalment. Connie is such a lovable character, she's the sort of person you'd want to go on a road trip with!

Connie McColl is tired of solving one family crisis after another. It's time too take off her apron and start living again.

Connie packs her case, gets into her little green car she fondly calls kernit and drives off not really knowing where she is going. She just knows she has to get away from her family for a little while. She catches up with some old friends on her journey from England to Scotland and makes some new friends along the way. Some of the things that happen to Connie were just a little too far fetched, like the time she was the get away driver for a jewellery shop robbery. There was not one member of her family I felt sorry for, they were all a little pathetic. Does Connie return to her family? You will need to read the book to find out.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Dee MacDonald for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an escapism treat about a wife who does just that and this tells her adventure as she revisits memories throughout the uk. You will need to suspend some belief, as, all men fancy her and all women want to be her friend....and....the promised “laugh out loud” moments are there, but, it’s no side splitter of a tale and, in my opinion, the better for it.

I enjoyed it. A refreshing opportunity to share a mature woman’s adventure and I look forward to more!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for the opportunity to preview this book.

Review: So, this books is very different from what I am used to reading as the main character is 66 years old, however putting that aside it is a good read.

Connie has had enough and leaves her husband and home. She travels from England to Scotland and along the way meets up with friends from her past and makes new friends to. Connie has many little adventures along the way which evokes feelings and emotions to rise to the surface and she begins to find herself again.

Unfortunately, this book does start slow but get past the first forty percent of the book and you begin to see changes in the character and it makes for a more interesting read. This did make it a hard read for me but a little tweak of events and it would be fine. I still enjoyed this book and would recommend it as it is very funny.