Rumours

by Freya North

Everybody’s talking - but what’s really going on?

Rumour has it that Stella Hutton landed her new job thanks to family connections. She’s guarded about her past and private about her new life.
Over in Long Dansbury, there’s always a rumour circulating about Xander – but the eligible bachelor shrugs off village gossip.
Then a rumour starts that Longbridge Hall is up for sale. Home to the eccentric Fortescues, it has dominated Long Dansbury lives for centuries.
Stella is summoned to sell the estate. But Xander grew up there. His secrets and memories are not for sale. He’ll do anything to stand in Stella’s way. Anything but fall in love.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Womens Fiction

441 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Freya North is the author of many bestselling novels which have been translated into numerous languages. She was born in London but lives in rural Hertfordshire, where she writes from a stable in her back garden. A passionate reader since childhood, Freya was originally inspired by Mary Wesley, Rose Tremain and Barbara Trapido: fiction with strong and original characters. To hear about events, competitions and what she’s writing, join her on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

Reviews

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am trying to read less 'chick-lit' these days but this author is a particular favourite of mine and her books are not as trashy as many out there so definitely one to pick up in the library. She always develops her characters well and so you want to read on to find out what happens to them. I liked the conceit that this one is centred around the sale of a stately home. An easy but entirely delightful read.

[Milly Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the whole, I very much enjoyed this story. The characters were well crafted, rounded and loveable. There were no great surprises or twists and turns, but there was real life drama.
I will admit that I don't enjoy sex scenes. I don't fi d them necessary to the plot and just have no desire to read about him putting his fingers in her sex or her grabbing his member etc. These passages could quite easily hAve been cut out without diminishing the story, the characters or the book as a whole. That's why I find the. Annoying, they are there simply for the point of being there, contributing nothing to the story. I very nearly didn't read the book, simply for the prologue. But I did, and I'm glad I pursued the book. I would definitely read more from this author.

[BestChickLit.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed by this book - I've not read Freya North before and had heard she wrote exciting juicy romps. This wasn't nearly as juicy as I thought it would be. I really liked the idea of the story being centred around the sale of an old manor house, the effects it would have on the people living and working there, plus the local village as a whole. The fact that it wasn't all about love and heartache was refreshing, although there are of course these elements to the story but its just background filler. Xander and Stella getting together was obvious but, again because it wasn't the main focus of the story, I didn't mind that I knew it was coming. I loved Lady Lydia's character, she was perfect for Longbridge Hall; pompous, batty and full of the 'proper' way of doing things, she only ever softens a minuscule towards the end. She was by far my favourite character.


There are a couple of lines in the book I thought where quite vulgar and would make me blush just repeating them, I don't think the book needed it. Overall this was a satisfying read, the last two chapters saved it for me, and it was a nice easy book for beside the pool on my holiday! I don't believe this is a typical Freya North; I think her books have more punch so I am keen to give her another go.

Reviewed by Francesca Verbeeten on behalf on BestChickLit.com

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Can't say I've ever been drawn to Freya North as a writer before, but am glad I was sent this proof to read. The story starts off in a relatively clichéd, and simple manner, but builds nicely with some unexpected twists to a satisfying conclusion. It does contain some pretty raunchy sex scenes in the latter half of the book, but in a world where 'Fifty Shades of Grey' can become a bestseller, this is not a bad thing. The characters were nicely drawn, and convincing the description of Longbridge Manor makes you want to go find the place and take a look around, and the whimsical dialogue between the heroine and the statue of the man who originally built the Manor house are quite lovely. Well worth reading.

[Erika]

I used to be a massive chick lit fan but am trying to broaden my reading horizons. I was really looking forward to reading this but immediately this book made me so angry. The whole plot was obvious from the beginning. I always finish my books and am so glad to have finished it. Definitely getting rid of it fast!!

[CP Feerick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I couldn't put it down!

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The trouble with rumours, thought Stella, is that once the seed is planted, roots spread and the whole thing rampages like ground elder.'

Stella Hutton is starting her new job working at her uncle's estate agency. She previously worked in the art world but due to the recession things have taken a downturn, and she's starting afresh after her marriage has ended, embarking on a new life as a single mum and standing on her own two feet. Her young son Will lives with her in a house owned by Stella's brother Alistair. She meets with suspicion initially at the agency, with most of the other estate agents taking a dislike to her due to her lack of experience, and the fact she has got the job through family connections. So Stella has a job on her hands to prove her ability.

Xander Fletcher lives in the lovely old village of Long Dansbury in Hertfordshire, renting one of a row of three cottages which are part of the large Longbridge Hall estate which owns a lot of the land and property in the village. Xander grew up around Longbridge, his mother having worked at the Hall, and it is a place close to his heart. After his previous long-term relationship with partner Laura ended, Xander has been avoiding love and commitment in favour of short-term fulfillment.

An unwelcome rumour begins to circulate amongst the worried residents of Long Dansbury that Longbridge Hall, home to the ageing Lady Lydia Fortescue and to generations of her family since 1790, is going to be put up for sale. Xander immediately dismisses this as nothing but idle gossip and nonesense. He loves the place and would hate to see it sold to an outsider, or worse, broken up. He cherishes many memories of the place. But then he sees the estate agent around that he has previously, literally, run into, and beings to wonder if there is truth to the rumour. Sure enough, Stella has been asked to evaluate the estate with a view to it being sold.

This is the first novel I have read by this author; although I was aware of her novels I hadn't yet picked one up to read. I'm glad I read this one - it is a heartwarming romantic read, with a well-developed storyline and very likeable main characters in Stella and Xander. There is a lovely supporting cast of characters who add to the story and bring the places described to life; Lady Lydia 'the irascible dowager' who lives in and owns Longbridge Hall, is ostensibly an old battleaxe, but beneath the surface, there lie secrets which explain why she has developed her tough exterior. Then there is Mrs Biggins 'the cantankerous housekeeper', and Art at the Hall, Xander's old friend Caroline, Stella's brothers and their partners and offspring, and the other agents at the estate agency, plus other residents of the village. They are all wondering what is truth and what is rumour:

'And so the rumour mill swung fully into action, grinding down the tiniest nibs of information into a powder so insubstantial it was carried easily on the prevailing gossip winds of Long Dansbury, where ficitno mutated easily into fact and fed the tongues that wagged.'

Xander is an appealing romantic lead; he has imperfections but comes across sympathetically, and as a good man. The romance, when it comes, is lovely if rather inevitable, offering two people who have both been hurt before, a wonderful second chance at love. There is a clear passion between them, and there are a few sex scenes between the two lovers which go into detail. Ultimately it becomes such a feel-good story, but it is entertaining to read how it develops along the way, especially the first few encounters between the two.

The depictions of the village and the large house and estate are detailed and conjure up the places vividly, with the various outbuildings and craftsmen working there giving a taste for how old estates like this used to operate. The charm and character of the place is evident, and is something which makes a strong impression on Stella the more time she spends there, until she realises that it is 'so much more than bricks and mortar.' I liked the rather bawdy, amusing opening sequence to the novel which took us briefly back to 1790 to meet the original Lord Fortescue, whose statue presides over the Hall in the present day, and has a slightly magical element to it whenever Stella is around! There is tension in the story, as we wonder what will happen to all the inhabitants if the estate is indeed sold. I enjoyed the mention of many locations in Hertfordshire that are familiar to me.

There are some delightful turns of phrase employed by the author, two in particular I liked: 'But Top End had always been know as such because here the finer, larger houses sat spruce and proud, like dapper Georgian gentlemen keeping an eye on things.' And 'It was as if Longbridge Hall had sat down so firmly, so emphatically, directly at the the centre of the village, that the road to either side had been pushed upwards; rather like a portly old unlce settling himself right in the middle of a sagging sofa.'

The author writes with real warmth and humour about life, relationships and people, and has crafted a sweet love story featuring appealing characters. This is an enjoyable, entertaining romantic novel with a depth to the plot; this would be a perfect light and entertaining book for summer days in the garden or an engrossing read on the beach; it whisks you away to discover the rumours rife in the village of Long Dansbury and offers a little taste of the past served with a large helping of modern romance.

[Sarah Wakeford · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel this book dragged on a bit too much. Typical boy meets girl and falls in love plot. Only kept going because I have a bad habit of needing to finish a book and not leaving it half finished.

[Siobhan Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everybody's talking - but what's really going on?

Rumour has it that Stella Hutton landed her new job thanks to family connections. She's guarded about her past and private life.

Over in Long Dansbury, there's always a rumour circulating about Xander - but the eligible bachelor shrugs off village gossip.

Then a rumour starts that Longbridge Hall is up for sale. Home to the eccentric Fortescues, it has dominated. Long Dansbury lives for centuries.

Stella is summoned to sell the estate. But Xander grew up there. His secret and memories are not for sale. He'll do anything to stand in Stella's way. Anything but fall in love.

I loved the front cover straight away. The black is really striking and works well with the soft pinks, and makes it a book you will definitely want to pick up and find out more about. I hoped that the story would be full of juicy rumours and things going on as the title would suggest, but sadly I felt this was one area where the book was really lacking - what a shame!

Stella Hutton has just got a new job as an estate agent - not her dream job but she has to put a roof over the head of herself and her young son Will. She finds herself lumbered with having to sell the ancient Longbridge Hall in the small village of Long Dansbury, which starts the small community talking about what the owner Lady Lydia is thinking of. Lydia's young friend Xander is concerned about the antics of the estate agents, and the welfare of his friend, and so decides to get involved in the sale of Longbridge Hall without thinking twice. Will Xander be able to stop Stella from selling the hall from Lady Lydia and why is Stella so keen to keep returning to Long Dansbury?

I have to be honest and say it took me a while to get me into this book. I found North's way to storytelling to be a bit rambly in parts, it did go on when I longed for it to get to the action a bit more and get going! I found the character of Stella to be quite likeable. She wants to do the best for herself and her son, and finds herself to be a natural at her new job, despite the opposing opinions of her new colleagues who don't seem that pleased to welcome their new recruit. I loved the relationship between Stella and Will, and loved that they are really close, North writes this relationship particularly well and Will is a well-adjusted little boy. There's a bit of mystery around his father for the duration of the novel, which I quite enjoyed and it kept me guessing.

Xander, a shortened version of Alexander, is the male lead of the book and I couldn't help but like him a lot! He's close to Lady Lydia, an old family friend and I liked how he looked out for her, especially when he thought Stella was up to no good with her and Longbridge Hall. I liked the antagonistic relationship between he and Stella as well - North really does write relationships and her characters very well, and they always seem so realistic, despite the pretty quaint setting of this book. I imagined Long Dansbury to be a beautiful picturesque little village, and I have to say I love books with settings like this - makes a change from all the London/New York ones out there!

My biggest gripe with the book was that I felt it was a bit too long. There was a lot of heavy description in there, ranging from Stella and her home life, to Xander and his, and finally to Lady Lydia and all things related to the house and the sale. While it was necessary for the movement of the book, I did feel at times that I was bogged down with it, and had to give myself a quick pep talk to keep going! I love a good narrative as much as the next person, but there was something about this in parts which just seemed to drag. Also, despite the storyline of the house sale, it didn't feel like a huge amount happened in the book - it was fairly obvious where it was going (which I didn't mind at all) but I guess I was hoping for a few more twists and turns along the way. It's a nice read to settle into. I'll be looking forward to North's next book

[Rea Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed books by Freya North with last year’s release Chances being my favourite so when I was asked if I would like to review an early copy of Freya North’s new book Rumours I immediately jumped at the chance.

Stella has had to change careers so as she can bring in a secured regular income to support herself and her son Will after her bitter marriage has come to an end. She begins working as an estate agent but she is soon the talk of the village when rumours start that she is involved with the sale of Longbridge.

Lydia has grown up in the family estate and it holds a vast amount of memories, some good and many emotionally heartbreaking. Lydia now feels the time has come to sell Longbridge as the house is just to much for her now but as the sale of the estate moves along it is not only Lydia who will be in need of a new home., but other residents who have lived on the estate for many years such as the gorgeous, single Xander.

With Stella needing to sell Longbridge for the commission it will bring, will there be a happy ending for all involved?

This really was a charming read. The book sets off at a slow pace as we are introduced to a variety of characters which I was a little worried about in case I started to lose track of who was who but as the book progressed and the characters developed I soon became familiar with each character.

My favourite character by far was the adorable little Will who is Stella’s son. He brought some great humour to the book, he seemed to have an old wise head on his shoulders and I was constantly looking forward to his character re-appearing in this book. The relationship that grows between Stella and Xander felt very realistic they both have had a very difficult pasts when it comes to relationships and so they don’t jump in feet first.
There wasn’t a huge indepth storyline to Rumours which made it a quick and easy yet enjoyable read. The descriptive use of writing that always enjoy from Freya North is seen again in this book especially when talking about Longbridge house and grounds I actually feel as though I have visited this place after reading this book.

Freya North has yet again brought us a delightful read full of humour and loveable characters, I am sure this is one you will want to get your hands on.

[Isabel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd love to say I enjoyed reading this book. But, it was 'just' OK.
I picked it up, intrigued by the summary while browsing through piles of books during a fair and bought it without thinking twice. Encouraged by lovely reviews, I put it in my bag and brought it to the beach since I had thought it would be a light romance and a real life situation that would be very interesting to read.

However, there is way too much description. My eyes hurt when I see twenty pages of describing something instead of showing it through dialogue. I have a feeling the characters barely spoke throughout the book and I can't convince myself to rate it with more than two stars. Actually, I couldn't wait to finish reading because I was bored out of my mind.

It's painful to even write that because I know it's hard to please everyone and as much as I understand the writer, I cannot say the book is well-written.

The plot is... well, not too original but not too cliche or cheesy either. So, I'd give it 3 out of 5. For the writing style, definitely 2/5 because, as previously mentioned, the lack of dialogue is too obvious. You can see the writer is experienced, but I couldn't get over the book itself. The main characters are very believable, 4/5 and yet they barely talk to each other.

All in all, I'd recommend this book to someone who likes lengthy books but also doesn't enjoy being involved in the story by 'listening' to the conversation the characters are leading. This is for those who want to know every detail and it barely leaves something for the reader to create in his/her own mind.

[Lisa Redmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rumours is a delightful new novel by bestselling author Freya North.
Set in and around the quaint English village of Long Dansbury and Longbridge Hall the seat of the Earls of Barbary. The novel is peopled with a wonderful array of characters young and old.
I have read five of Freya’s previous novels and her latest does not disappoint. Stella is an art historian who has reinvented herself as an estate agent tasked with the sale of Longbridge Hall. Lydia is the Lady of the Manor growing old as the Hall crumbles around her. Xander is a lifelong resident of the village who grew up around the Hall. All are tied to the future of Longbridge and the village and as rumour spreads about what will happen and who the new owners will be so the cast of characters are brought together.
As always in a Freya North novel there are a number of unashamedly raunchy scenes, these she writes with style and panache, helping to bring alive the character growth and the growing relationship between the two romantic leads; Stella and Xander.
However there is much more to this novel than romance and raunch there are realistic portraits of the tangled web of village life, of the pain of love lost, of grief and the reality of growing older.
If you haven’t read Freya North before then start now, perfect whether you enjoy Jilly Cooper or Joanna Trollope, Freya provides the perfect slice of English life with a dash of spice.

[Rosie Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taken from my blog @ www.rosiereview.wordpress.com

Another excellent offering from Freya North. It will make you smile, laugh out loud and maybe even cry. As with Freya’s other novels this one starts slow and steady, but still keeps you interested whilst it builds momentum throughout the book coming to a big ending. The story line is fantastic. Freya is such a good writer, she weaves an intricate story which at the same time is easy to follow. I really enjoyed it. This book has everything I look for in a book. I fell in love with Longbridge as well as the characters – my favorite would be Will, he has quite small part in the book but when he meets Lady Lydia for the first time it’s hilarious! There are a few unpredictable moments in the book – which I wont give away but it’s nice to read a book where you haven’t guessed the ending, or one where you’ve guessed what’ll happen but carry on reading to found out how it pans out. This book keeps you guessing throughout, so people might be more perspective than me but I’d like to think that I can spot an obvious ending when I see one – this book doesn’t have an obvious ending at all!

Such an entertaining read – no wonder Radio 4 chose it do be adapted into their Book at Beachtime series recently. This book has inspired me to go back and read Freya’s earlier work again – so more Freya reviews coming soon!

I’m rating this as a must read

Follow me on Twitter! @rosiereview

[Josephine Barly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved some of Freya North's books (see Pip; Love Rules; Home Truths) and have been a bit disappointed by others (see Pillow Talk; Polly), but this is Freya at her finest. The characters are beautiful and complex and I absolutely loved them. Lady Lydia is wonderful, Stella is doing a great job at keeping her life together (finally, a heroine who does her work and raises her child, with help from others, but isn't an absolute mess), Xander is a delight, and all the friends and family of these characters are wonderful (Will particularly so). I could particularly relate to the concept of every friend and family member trying to get Stella and Xander on blind dates, and it's always refreshing to find yourself relating to characters for realistic reasons. Once you've gotten to know the characters, the story flows with great rhythm, and I ended up reading the whole book in two days, only because I had to work. There are a few twists and other more expected things, but it's a lovely story. There are steamy scenes as well, but that's Freya's style; if you're into chick lit with a bit of raunchiness, this is a must.

[Emma Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I'm honest (and I do try to be!)I loved it! I've read all of Freya's so far and I have really enjoyed them all.

I'm not one for overly sappy love stories, but Freya's novels have a comedy aspect that is refreshing, from sarcastic comments made by some of the characters to some slightly barbed (and just as funny) comments made by others.

With 'Rumours', I was engrossed from the start, I just didn't want to put the book down. I wanted to read on, just to see what was going to happen next, and that is a fantastic quality in any novel.

'Rumours' is a book that makes you want to believe in happy endings, especially for those out there who have loved and lost, been hurt before by a partner and vowed never to love again. It has made me believe there's someone out there for me and I'm wholly glad about that!

I'd really recommend 'Rumours' for those of you that enjoy a good laugh whilst soaking up the atmosphere of rural village life all mixed together with a good mix of love and families with a sprinkling of laughter for good measure!

Another must read from Freya North! Amazing!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I jumped at the chance to get the latest Freya North book, you can rely on her to write a good story with likeable characters. Its a nice light-hearted read about Stella, who starts work at the estate agents run by her uncle. She is looking for a new start for herself and her son Will. The other two main characters are Lydia, who owns Longbridge Hall and is looking to sell it, and Xander, who is fiercely protective of Lydia and is sure Stella is trying to take advantage of her. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and to see how all their lives become entwined. As suggested by the title rumours and gossip feature highly in the story as Lydia's plans to sell become known and the villagers wonder how their lives will be affected. An enjoyable story and recommended as a summer holiday read.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual Freya North has written a lovely novel. I have been reading this on a 4.5 hour train journey and it has been a charming and entertaining read.
The main characters Stella and Xander were awkwardly funny from the onset and it was a joy to see their relationship blossom over the pages.
for me the outstanding characters were Will, Stella's son who had me chuckling continuously. The feisty termagant Lady Lydia was just wonderful as she caused havoc, matchmaked and made sure she got what she wanted by the end of the novel.
I could imagine village life like this easily. well done Freya, another great read.

[Barbara Elsborg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read everything she's written, liked some books more than others and this was one that I liked but didn't love. The story follows a similar pattern - MCs look as though they/re never going to get together, but of course they do. I just never quite felt the connection I'd hoped for with the MCs which was a pity. But nevertheless it was an enjoyable read. Xander was more interesting to me than Stella, though the contrived split between the pair when he raced off toward the end was a bit weak in my opinion. I also didn't find so much humor in this book as others. Except for the parts with Will - who I loved!!!! A really good show of a little boy.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I'd read one of my Freya North books (I have them all in one format or another) but I'm always drawn to how real her characters are, how quickly I warm to the good ones and want to shout at them when they can't see exactly what's right under their noses!

Rumours was no different, it took me a few chapters to size up the charcters as they were new to me, unlike Cat or Fen etc but I soon had my favourites and despite appearances I quickly fell in love with "Lady Lydia" and loved seeing how her story was told and how it was interwoven into the lives of everyone around her.

A really good read, and Will was a delight to get to know!

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on something of a Freya North back catalogue marathon this week.

This one was ok, took longer than usual to get into it, I didn't find the characters very interesting. The other thing that bothered me was the child - a seven year old boy. My son is seven so when I read some of the stuff this seven year old came out with, it just really jarred with me. The behaviour was that of a younger child but his speech that of an older child. Not sure what was going on there.

Impeccable sex scenes as usual though - Freya North is just so very rude!
Onto the next one...

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing I loved most about this book is that you think you have it sussed out but by the end of the book you kinda give up guessing. Whilst the story does have a happy ending it's not what I expected and I liked that. It was a really nice easy read, with real and easy to relate to characters.

There's a few different characters but your not bombarded by their details that you start forgetting who is who.

Set in a fictional village in England it covers a range of emotions and lifestyles, it had me giggling and tearing up.

Well worth a read, not just your average chick lit.

[Rystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not really sure what to make of this book! I read it very quickly in the car ! I liked all the chracters and the history of the village life however I felt like there was just a bi too much faff! I also thought that some of the big secrets in the book had too much build up but when I found out these secrets it was a bit like oh was that it! However this book is three stars because I thought the romance was really cute but yet again this book has a bit too much sauciness for my liking!'

[Lumie Gashout · Rating 3 out of 5]

well, this was my first freya north book even thou it's not really my favorite it wasn't exciting enough, but i did like the details which the story was full off.
the story as a whole was good, for me it was a happy story till the end, the kind of happy and support you would wish your life had after a bad past. stella and xander that is just cute :) and little will , i loved the characters everyone of them especially Lady Lydia

[Karschtl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect too much as I picked up this book from the shelf in the hotel lobby where I spent my holiday. But I was delightfully surprised when I got reading. Likable characters (didn't seem so at first, but they got there) and a nice enough (love-)story make a good holiday read for me. The solution they find for the estate in the end was very satisfying and a good closure. Perfect!

[Sarah Staddon-Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read although a little drawn outo at times. I felt the pace needed to move along quicker. Great characters but found that Stella didn't always behave in the way she had been drawn, acting out of character. Beautiful descriptions of the lovely old house and all aspects of life and emotions covered.

[Bekki Pate · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an easy read, perfect for a quick chick lit story. It was a bit predictable at times and there were a few typos but it was a nice love story. The detail with the house and the gardens was interesting too.

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book at Beach Time

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really lovely. Reminds me more of Chloe than some of her other novels, which is a good thing.

[Lara Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

another cracking freya north book, freya north is definitely one of my favourite authors!

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow to start...new characters introduced with little information. Ended in a bad place in my opinion. Very sudden ending.