Going the Distance

Christina Jones

Average Rating 8/10 (2 Reviews)

Chaotic, likeable Maddy Beckett lives in Milton St John where horses, trainers and jockeys outnumber the rest of the inhabitants.

Fully recovered from a disastrous love affair and running a successful small business, she is 'her own woman' - until she meets deliciously tall, dark and wealthy Drew Fitzgerald. All is going swimmingly until his cool and impossibly elegant wife appears on the scene. Maddy desperately wants Drew - but does she want him enough to become the 'other' woman in his life? Morally it's out of the question, but physically…

Has their relationship got what it takes to go the distance?

Review by Jackie Raine (310712) Rating (9/10)
Review by Chrissi (300401) Rating (7/10)

Review by Jackie Raine
Rating 9/10
First book I read from Christina Jones, I loved it especially the Dinner party. A lovely way to spend the time. Have read every book by her since. Well Done.
Jackie Raine (31st July 2012)

Review by Chrissi
Rating 7/10
This was Christina's first full length novel, set around the horse racing community of Milton St John.

Maddy Beckett runs a cleaning business, working for different people around the village, and so knows that Peapods, a nice old house opposite her own home, is about to have a new occupant.

The new occupant is Drew Fitzgerald, moving from Jersey to open his horse racing stable, although he and his wife appear to spend more time apart than together. Maddy and Drew find themselves becoming closer, but Maddy feels that it is wrong to go behind anyone's back, and tries not to become too involved. This becomes more complicated when Maddy meets Drew's wife Caroline, and finds that she quite likes her.

It all gets very complicated for Maddy, especially with the interference of her ex-boyfriend, a bit of an entrepreneur, who divides the village with his new scheme.

I particularly enjoyed the characters in this, for example, we have the batty lady in the village shop, whose business is not so much about providing provisions as passing on gossip. There is Maddy's sister, a young jockey with whom she lives, and her parents, who will remind you of someone that you know, I am sure.

One of the things that I really like about all of Christina's writing is that she really likes her characters, and it helps you to like them, too. Even those that are on the periphery of the story are written in such a way that they are real, if not essential. This is well illustrated in the episode of the riding boots - you will know it if you read it.
Chrissi (30th April 2001)