Well, these "old girls" might have been behaving "badly" but it was all for a good reason, and they weren't so misbehaved at all - unless you include Well, these "old girls" might have been behaving "badly" but it was all for a good reason, and they weren't so misbehaved at all - unless you include snooping around the rather grand house of the host, but, as I said, they have an excellent reason if justice is to be done. Gina, at 72, is the gofer, searching the house on Dorothy's behalf, who, at 89, is the instigator of their activities. An unlikely pairing, but it works so well. Gina, recently abandoned by her husband who needs to "find himself" is at a loss and, on seeing the ad in The Lady for a companion role for a week with a view to it becoming a permanent position, thinks what has she got to lose? She and Dorothy hit it off over a shared love for art, and so Gina is hired. The week concerned is for a family wedding taking place at the bride's uncle (Leonard) grand home, where close family members gather for activities and fun prior to the big day. Gina believes it'll be a case of giving medication and fetching slippers for the older woman, but Dorothy has other ideas. She believes Leonard was instrumental in the death, a year ago, of her husband Philip, whereupon he also stole a painting she believes he has somewhere in the house. And she wants Gina to track it down. So, begins the fun. Gina wonders what she has let herself in for, Dorothy cannot resist sniping at Leonard, and Leonard is simply the smuggest, most odious of show-offs who loves being the centre of attention. Add in some family members with secrets, a teenager with a tendency to record private conversations and who'd rather be anywhere else, and you have a really entertaining story that held my attention from start to finish. The author writes older characters really well, and is not afraid to throw in the unexpected now and then. Throughout, Gina and Dorothy become good friends, and unwittingly both help the other to move on (Dorothy from her grief and Gina from her marriage ending). It's a heart-warming story with lots of humour mixed in with real family issues. I'd like to think from how it ends that there is more to come from these two....more
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and as it was my first "Annie Valentine" book, I have plenty to catch up on. It can easily be read as a standalone, though, II thoroughly enjoyed it, and as it was my first "Annie Valentine" book, I have plenty to catch up on. It can easily be read as a standalone, though, I imagine that if you're new to the series, you'll quickly become enamoured with Annie and her family and friends. Annie is so likeable, very believable and so "normal". She walks the tightrope of life as a busy mum, knowledgeable career woman, loving wife and caring friend in precariously high high heels. It's not easy being everything to everyone and sometimes she makes matters worse but always with the best of intentions. Being as far removed from a fashionista myself as it's possible to be, I loved how each chapter opened with advice from the fabulous MM; she and Annie were destined to meet. A hugely entertaining read, one I didn't want to put down. This was a funny, optimistic, heart-warming and incredibly relatable story and I'm looking forward to reading up on Annie Valentine's life. ...more
Where better to start my foray into the cosy fantasy genre than at The Weary Dragon Inn? This was such an easy read, filled with a mix of character tyWhere better to start my foray into the cosy fantasy genre than at The Weary Dragon Inn? This was such an easy read, filled with a mix of character types - my favourite being Merv :) Things are already hard for the locals after a very dry season and the farmers are struggling to grow their crops and vegetables, and their troubles grow when sinkholes appear in the town leaving the residents naturally concerned. When Bev - the innkeeper - raises the matter at a local meeting, she suggests the local sheriff is perhaps not the best person to be leading the investigation and subsequently finds herself with the job. She's also playing host to a rather rude and joyless group of the queen's soldiers who insist on keeping their reason for being in town under wraps. Still, at least Bev is earning some money from their presence even if she can't wait for them to leave. Her investigation takes her on many a trip, not all successful, but finding who is causing the sinkholes proves more difficult and soon even Bev's fellow villagers are turning against her. She's forced follow a path that could prove dangerous for her but what choice does she have? She's not prepared to see the town, and especially her Inn, be swallowed up.
The story is fun, well-paced, and intriguing. Relationships and friendships are tested to save the town, and I long to find out more about Bev's past, a past she herself cannot remember. Bring on book two. ...more
As a frequent visitor to Hummingbird House, I was delighted to see what had happened to Betty and her friends/tenants in more recent times. True to foAs a frequent visitor to Hummingbird House, I was delighted to see what had happened to Betty and her friends/tenants in more recent times. True to form, this short (for me, too short and over too quickly) novella is a dual timeline glimpse at Betty, now in her 80s and still in her “happy place” at Hummingbird House, and a look back to 1968 and her good friend Sandra whose errant habits are the subject of this story. It’s like one of those moments when you catch up with old friends and it feels like only yesterday you last saw them.
A slower-paced story than most of the books I’ve read later, this has a subtler feel to it, as though Betty is personally telling you a story over a pot of tea in the garden. With familiar faces flitting in now and then, story focuses much more on Sandra and her relationships, particularly with her own mother and son. Betty is in a more reflective mood as she searches Sandra and is reminded of a prior search back in the 60s when she came to understand Sandra better and caught a some real insight in to a world with which she – unlike her companion of the time, Arthur, was naively unfamiliar.
In the present day story, it is Sandra’s son Jonty who must learn something about his mum, and it’s an opportunity for them all to reflect and reconsider how their life changes and adapts to meet new challenges as they occur. Nothing is ever too difficult that it cannot be made easier with the help of good friends and strong family bonds. Another heart-warming tale from Jane Harvey and I look forward to more stories about other residents in thefuture....more
I loved this – loved Ursula, Alfio, grumpy Fabio and even Ursula’s mam (who, if truth be told, brought a lot of what happened upon herself but finallyI loved this – loved Ursula, Alfio, grumpy Fabio and even Ursula’s mam (who, if truth be told, brought a lot of what happened upon herself but finally seemed willing to take some responsibility for that … ooh, I’ve digressed!)
So, back to the story – aside from two very lovely and typical families (one in Ireland, the other in Sicily) there was little that might have connected them until Ursula’s uncle “thought” he was helping by getting his niece somewhere to stay and work while she put her life back together again after a tough time. Bless him, but then again, he wasn’t wrong – as you’ll find out when you get pulled into this story as I was.
Beautiful Sicily, characters you’ll want to root for (apart from Stephan) and a charming blend of artisanship, family loyalties and what it means to be part of something that is bigger than yourself.
Thwarted romance, lost opportunities, old grievances and a chance to start afresh are what this story brings to the reader, proof if ever it were needed that there is something to be said for taking that leap of faith, trusting in yourself and sometimes letting your heart rule your head. I enjoyed how the author kept hurling obstacles at her characters, she didn’t make their choices easy, but she did make them believable … and compelling reading to boot. And if you’d never wanted to visit Sicily before, you will after reading this, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to read more from this author too....more
Yay, I’m back in “la belle France” with another of Gillian Harvey’s books, and the setting is as stunning as ever, the characters believable and relevYay, I’m back in “la belle France” with another of Gillian Harvey’s books, and the setting is as stunning as ever, the characters believable and relevant for women of a certain age, and the whole story as highly entertaining and full of hope as always. Katy’s life is pretty normal – at 49, she’s married with a grown-up daughter, and is going through the motions. Get up, work, cook, clean, got to bed. Thank heavens for her friends and their exercise group to break the routine, but when even that becomes part of the routine, you have to wonder what Katy is getting out of life. Is she happy? Has she ever asked herself that question? When change is thrust upon by her husband leaving her for a younger woman, and her daughter taking up a job in Australia, Katy’s world crumbles. What does she have left without her family? She enjoys her job, but she’s not passionate about it. Cue an intervention by her friends who whisk her away to France. Can they help her see that she is worthy of a happy life? Well, their holiday is not without friction – Katy is struggling to accept her new status quo, and her friends are treading on eggshells to not upset her further. But two weeks in a beautiful French village, rediscovering her love of painting, enjoying great food… and meeting Valentin, the host’s brother seems to be having an effect. Until her world is tipped upside down again. Will Katy go back to her former, dull but steady existence, or is she ready to take a chance on a new life? The answer will surprise you at first, but maybe the choice she makes is only the first step in finding herself and her own happy ever after. Fabulous setting, great friendships, real conversations, and tough decisions make for a wonderfully immersive read....more
What's not to love about The Spanish Cove? The setting is stunning - well, initially maybe the access to the house is a little difficult, but when theWhat's not to love about The Spanish Cove? The setting is stunning - well, initially maybe the access to the house is a little difficult, but when the solution is to travel into the cove by boat, then wow, that's pretty cool (when the sea is calm, of course). This book brings the area alive and Casa Palmito is a place where you can be free of those everyday pressures and be at one with the ocean and the beach. Conflict comes in the form of dealing with the past and getting on with the future, which selling the house - something not everyone is happy about. With interesting characters, a family secret (who was the mystery woman), plenty of romance, and new friendships to be made, this book offers escapism with a difference - and I'm not just talking turtles ;) The main character, Marina, arrives almost under duress, not wanting to return to the place that held such bad memories for her, yet over time everything she thought she knew about her past is turned on its head. For her, and others (Matí, primarily) this supposedly last trip to sell the house becomes something much more important, confirming the old adage that if you love the job you do, you'll never work a day in your life. A story about reflection and coming to terms with your past but with an eye on the future and proof that happiness can be found when and where you least expect it. ...more
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