Living Dangerously, by Katie Fforde

This early novel from the prolific Fforde follows her standard formula. As ever, her characters are engaging and her topics well researched – giving the story more depth than your average romance, although it is perhaps less polished than her later books. Her heroines are usually 30-something, with interesting careers or prospects, not virgins, but not too experienced (we can’t possibly have a slut!). They are set among the British upper middle classes, often in the Home Counties or just beyond and almost totally shun modern technology – mobile phones and computers seldom intrude on or contribute to the plot. We are generally introduced to the bloke she will end up with very early on – it is just a question of following the inevitably tricky path to true love. In Living Dangerously, 35-year-old Polly is an aspiring potter who works in a café to make ends meet. Her friends are keen for her to ‘couple-up’, but will she choose toy boy journalist Tristan or the reserved widower David, a wealthy wine merchant? The title of this one is a bit of a stretch, as there is precious little danger on offer, and the underlying topic of urban renewal versus greedy property developers is treated a little perfunctorily. But the journey to the inevitable conclusion is enjoyable and entertaining, even if the predictable conclusion is boringly conservative. Just occasionally it might be fun if one of Fforde’s heroines did live dangerously and choose the bad boy, but that would not fit the template that her loyal legion of fans are undoubtedly happy with.