Claiming Victory is a funny contemporary romantic comedy that will appeal to every woman who still believes fairy tales can come true…
…”So let me get this straight Admiral. Your plan is to somehow get the most famous actor in the world, to fall in love with your daughter Victory, who we both love dearly, but – and please don’t take offence Sir – who you yourself admit is built generously across the aft, and whose face is unlikely to launch the Dartmouth ferry, let alone a thousand ships…”
Victory Shackleford is a spinster, or at least well on the way to becoming one. She is thirty two years old, still lives with her father – an eccentric retired Admiral, and the love of her life is a dog.
She thinks her father is reckless, irresponsible, and totally incapable of looking after himself. He thinks his daughter is a boring nagging harpy with no imagination or sense of adventure and what’s more, he’s determined to get her married off.
Unfortunately there’s no one in the picturesque yachting town of Dartmouth that Tory is remotely interested in, despite her father’s best efforts.
But all that is about to change when she discovers that her madcap father has rented out their house as a location shoot for the biggest blockbuster of the year. As cast and crew descend, Tory’s humdrum orderly existence is turned completely upside down, especially as the lead actor has just been voted the sexiest man on the planet…
Full of romantic humour, Claiming Victory is a must for fans of funny love stories – especially quirky British Romantic comedies.
"For readers of light romance or comedy, this would be a great afternoon read. "
Reviewer: Reader for Bookangel.
Victory Britannia Shackleford (her retired Admiral father idolised Nelson), is a perfectly normal thirty-something in Dartford who has just found out about her father's relationship - and isn't pleased. So her father hatches a plan to marry her off, despite her wishes. Of course, only the most famous actor in the world will do for his little girl. Getting the target here is easy: with a historic house ideal for filming the latest movie, wangling it as a location is simple. Unfortunately any relationship they have will progress over the hatred of his co-star, ex-girlfriends, Tory's own insecurities, a disastrous first meeting and the envious hatred of most of the female population...and the press.
This is a light romantic comedy of utter disasters, at times bordering on farce. The actions all follow, the reasoning is sound, and the results make you cringe and laugh at the same time. The author's style is light and engaging, and her characters have clear and very distinct voices (in Tory's case quite often exasperation). Tory is intelligent, likeable, and an interesting mix of vulnerable and paranoid - and given her father's constant conniving, who wouldn't be? The writing speaks of long familiarity with the area, and the scenes and locations are vividly described. In the author's notes, the author even apologises for not working the steam railway in. I can't fault the layout or presentation.
If you enjoyed Beverly Watt's first book, An Officer and a Gentleman Wanted (originally titled Worse Things Happen at Sea) you will probably love this book, although Claiming Victory is a more conventional romance. For readers of light romance or comedy, this would be a great afternoon. Locals in Dartford might want to buy it simply to location-spot. Rating:4
I am not really sure what it is, but anytime something is described as an "afternoon" activity I usually find it enjoyable, and so this might be something to keep an eye on. I do have some lazy afternoons that I can spare, so thanks for this.
It wasn't as funny as her first book, *An Officer and a Gentleman Wanted*, but it had enough highjinks to keep me reading. Goes great with coffee and cake!;)
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