Product Description

On midsummer's day, Phoebe Bowler - star-sign demon - should have returned home an ecstatically happy new bride. Instead, she's been jilted at the altar. In need of sympathy, perhaps she could turn to her neighbour, the dishy Rocky Lancaster? But with problems of his own he's turned into Mr Grumpy and wants to be left alone. That is until Essie Rivers arrives on the scene, and then Phoebe and Rocky's paths seem destined to collide with a very big bump. Essie knows far more about astrology, personolgy, numerology - any 'ology' you care to mention - than Phoebe has ever heard of. But it is the secret magic of 'birthday-ology' that catches Phoebe's eye. Can she really use a birthday to find a perfect match or to set her and Rocky back on the path to happiness? Phoebe thinks so, but that's when things start to go really wrong...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23448 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Review
'H.E. Bates for the 21st Century' --Katie Fforde

'sexy...unputdownable...a heart-thumping read' --Company

'feisty tale of friendship and laughter, loyalty and love...engaging' --The Times

'sexy...unputdownable...a heart-thumping read' --Company

'feisty tale of friendship and laughter, loyalty and love...engaging' --The Times

About the Author
The only child of a schoolteacher and a circus clown, Christina Jones has been writing all her life. As well as writing novels, Christina contributes short stories and articles to national magazines and newspapers. Christina lives with her husband Rob and a houseful of rescued cats.

Customer Reviews

SUPERB ENTERTAINMENT!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY is yet another triumph from the incomparable CHRISTINA JONES. It is the 5th book in the magical village series which began with Hubble Bubble and continued through Seeing Stars, Love Potions and Heaven Sent. All are wonderful and the standard just keeps getting better and better. While each story stands alone, if you do read them in order you derive the maximum pleasure and enjoyment, meeting up with some familiar characters as well as meeting new ones who will swiftly join the favourite ranks. As usual, Ms Jones brings her unique humour and warmth to Happy Birthday, as well as the superb mix of characters young and old. Phoebe is an adorable heroine, picking herself up from one of life's cruel blows, moving on and finding that life is still worthwhile and love is still possible. Rocky is a gorgeous hero, misunderstood, rebuilding his life after a selfless act of bravery and finally getting the rewards he deserves. Ms Jones introduces us to the wonderful world of Twilights with its superb cast of residents and splendidly appalling owners!! There is so much scope here and I hope we see much of Twilights in future books. This is a book that delivers in every way and is full of emotion, laughter, tears, warmth and sheer joy. I never wanted it to end - and once it did, I had to read it again, something that happens with every Christina Jones book. If you want a book that will make you laugh and cry and laugh again and make you feel good to be alive, then Happy Birthday is for you. Brilliantly clever observations and the kind of characters you care so much about and wish were your friends, make this another very special book from Christina Jones. As ever, I cannot wait for the next instalment in this truly magical series. A joy, a triumph and a must-read book. It deserves to follow on the heels of past books in this series in winning awards and nominations by the bucket-load.

Brilliant!
I love the way Christina Jones includes characters from previous books so that you find out how life is treating them as well. It's almost like reading about people you know. Phoebe is jilted at the altar. At first she thinks she can never recover from the blow, but her friends are determined she will make the most of her life. In order to fill her lonely evenings Phoebe agrees to exercise her hairdressing skills at the nearby residential home - Twilights. Reminiscent of the TV series 'Waiting for God', the residents are far from at the end of their lives and the owners are awful. Phoebe makes friends with Essie - a reluctant resident with an encyclopaedic knowledge of astrology and the mystic arts. Phoebe herself has given up on all the ologies as they let her down over her wedding, but she is persuaded to give them another try. Soon she is much in demand for her astrology readings. Measnwhile, she needs to decide whether to stay in a flat she cannot afford with an upstairs neighbour - Rocky - who has just been in prison for GBH. But Rocky is not all he seems and Phoebe finds herself increasingly attracted.
This book sees the welcome return of YaYa Bordello - the drag artist from 'Heaven Sent', and the 3 Motions the undertakers. The scene at the summer fete is an absolute gem of its kind and I could see this book as a film. Only Christina Jones can get this mix of magic and eccentric characters right. Her books go from strength to strength and are a joy to read.

Truly Wonderful
Once again, Christina Jones has written a superb book, filled with colourful characters that absorb you immediately into their colourful world and revisting old friends, such as the fabulous, YaYa Bordello.

I couldn't wait to see how Phoebe dealt with Ben's insensitivity, and coped with the divine Rocky Lancaster living so closely to her. Their wonderful story, and that of the lovely Essie, with her birthday magic all made this an excellent read that I enjoyed from beginning to end.