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Derek's Good Relations
Relations and Relationships - poor Derek has far too many of both - he has a book to write - a mother he has only just met - a wife about to give birth and a poodle who hates him. Life had been so different a year and a half ago. Back then it had been a life before ET and Mom and a heap of other people interfering with his good intentions. In Mac Black's fourth Derek book the plot thickens and Derek tries to be devious as he blunders from disaster to disaster making us laugh all the way!
298 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 27, 2014
Derek is back and in just as much trouble (if not more) than usual. Once again Mac Black has taken his readers on a journey into the mind of the unlikely hero/protagonist Derek and his mad family.
I liked this book even more than the last one. After the last book, where Derek made some great and important discoveries about himself and his family, this book continued on giving us information to fill in the gaps and get a better understanding of his position.
With goofy characters from previous books and new drama for Derek, this book is full of giggles and unbelievable situations that the author manages to make believable.
One of my favourite things about this series is the Scottish Dialogue Mac Black includes, and this book is no exception. Derek and his family keep me entertained and always looking forward to their next grand adventure.
I also appreciated that Derek had more than a small taste of success in this book (much deserved) but that things didn't go exactly as one would expect for a guy who has already been through so much.
The writing is easy to read and interesting, so turning pages is no problem. It is always a mystery to see what will happen to poor Derek next.
When you read these books, you get a sense of the author's personality. The funny things that happen between Derek and his wife prove that Mac Black is right in his author bio at the end of the book--he has been married a long time. I love that he can reflect his own experiences in his books.
I would happily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys comic relief and series about families and strong bonds.
The question remains...what can he possibly get himself into next, that Derek?
This review is based on a print copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.
I liked this book even more than the last one. After the last book, where Derek made some great and important discoveries about himself and his family, this book continued on giving us information to fill in the gaps and get a better understanding of his position.
With goofy characters from previous books and new drama for Derek, this book is full of giggles and unbelievable situations that the author manages to make believable.
One of my favourite things about this series is the Scottish Dialogue Mac Black includes, and this book is no exception. Derek and his family keep me entertained and always looking forward to their next grand adventure.
I also appreciated that Derek had more than a small taste of success in this book (much deserved) but that things didn't go exactly as one would expect for a guy who has already been through so much.
The writing is easy to read and interesting, so turning pages is no problem. It is always a mystery to see what will happen to poor Derek next.
When you read these books, you get a sense of the author's personality. The funny things that happen between Derek and his wife prove that Mac Black is right in his author bio at the end of the book--he has been married a long time. I love that he can reflect his own experiences in his books.
I would happily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys comic relief and series about families and strong bonds.
The question remains...what can he possibly get himself into next, that Derek?
This review is based on a print copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.
August 11, 2016
Derek's Good Relations continues the humorous adventures of Derek Toozlethwaite, in the Derek series. A single child brought up by his Gran and Grandad, Derek is suddenly surrounded by relatives. Re-united with his Mum, he's also discovered his Dad and he's found he has a sister too.
Derek's been trying to write a book for years and now he's been successful with his book on rock group Rabid Revenge. Publicity for the book takes him away from home as his wife goes into labour at the same time as his sister, but there are enough female relatives to hold the fort.
In fact the female relatives all form the Newingsworth Mafia: Ladies section. They welcome Josephine, Derek's publicist's representative into their group unknowing that she is the voluptuous Sophie Clerkenwell-Brown in disguise.
The book is selling like hot cakes until one reader contacts Derek, complaining aggressively about some of the material. in fact Derek finds himself under physical threat from the reader until he's saved by his mum.
The future is beginning to look rosy until a late birthday celebration has Derek returning to some controversial dressing habits, but its a trip to London for a boxing match which has Sally walking out on Derek once more.
Poor Derek, he really is an unfortunate chap as you'll see in this fourth book in the Derek series. British comedy still shining through in this latest episode in the life of Derek.
Derek's been trying to write a book for years and now he's been successful with his book on rock group Rabid Revenge. Publicity for the book takes him away from home as his wife goes into labour at the same time as his sister, but there are enough female relatives to hold the fort.
In fact the female relatives all form the Newingsworth Mafia: Ladies section. They welcome Josephine, Derek's publicist's representative into their group unknowing that she is the voluptuous Sophie Clerkenwell-Brown in disguise.
The book is selling like hot cakes until one reader contacts Derek, complaining aggressively about some of the material. in fact Derek finds himself under physical threat from the reader until he's saved by his mum.
The future is beginning to look rosy until a late birthday celebration has Derek returning to some controversial dressing habits, but its a trip to London for a boxing match which has Sally walking out on Derek once more.
Poor Derek, he really is an unfortunate chap as you'll see in this fourth book in the Derek series. British comedy still shining through in this latest episode in the life of Derek.
September 16, 2015
This is the fourth in the 'Derek' series of which I have read all. Derek is now maturing and settling into being a husband, writer and fairly quickly into this book becomes a father to little E.T. The whole 'Derek' story has now expanded into a new and much larger family since he quite accidentally found his mother, a new sister and a reluctant father in Derek's Revenge.
Derek's Good Relations is written with the same light hearted humour as the earlier books and is in much the same style of story with Derek always getting the 'mucky end of the stick'. The same old favourite characters are still around (Hammy, Hector and even P.C Andy (Pandy)) but are taking more of a backseat ride whilst the newer characters are playing a larger role in Derek's life.
I enjoyed this book just as much as the earlier Derek books but would now say that it's not really a stand alone story. You need to have read the earlier books to appreciate Derek's problems with Sally, Sophie and ladies clothing, and also as his family has grown it's best to have a background of his parentage and the rock group Rabid Revenge.
Derek's Good Relations is written with the same light hearted humour as the earlier books and is in much the same style of story with Derek always getting the 'mucky end of the stick'. The same old favourite characters are still around (Hammy, Hector and even P.C Andy (Pandy)) but are taking more of a backseat ride whilst the newer characters are playing a larger role in Derek's life.
I enjoyed this book just as much as the earlier Derek books but would now say that it's not really a stand alone story. You need to have read the earlier books to appreciate Derek's problems with Sally, Sophie and ladies clothing, and also as his family has grown it's best to have a background of his parentage and the rock group Rabid Revenge.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews