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Saving Saffron Sweeting
~~ Quarter finalist, 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award ~~
Grace Palmer’s British friends all think she’s living the American Dream. But her design business is floundering and when she discovers her husband is cheating with her best client, she panics and flees home to England.
The tranquil village of Saffron Sweeting appears to be a good place for Grace to lick her wounds, but the community is battling its own changes. Reluctantly, Grace finds herself helping her new neighbours as they struggle to adjust and save their businesses. However, not everyone has the same opinion on what’s good for the village. The charismatic new man in her life may have one speculative eye on Grace, but the other is firmly on profit. How will she navigate the tricky path between her home and her happiness?
With gentle humour and generous helpings of British tea and cake, Saving Saffron Sweeting explores one woman’s need to define herself through her career and community, before she can figure out who should be by her side.
Grace Palmer’s British friends all think she’s living the American Dream. But her design business is floundering and when she discovers her husband is cheating with her best client, she panics and flees home to England.
The tranquil village of Saffron Sweeting appears to be a good place for Grace to lick her wounds, but the community is battling its own changes. Reluctantly, Grace finds herself helping her new neighbours as they struggle to adjust and save their businesses. However, not everyone has the same opinion on what’s good for the village. The charismatic new man in her life may have one speculative eye on Grace, but the other is firmly on profit. How will she navigate the tricky path between her home and her happiness?
With gentle humour and generous helpings of British tea and cake, Saving Saffron Sweeting explores one woman’s need to define herself through her career and community, before she can figure out who should be by her side.
309 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2013
120 people are currently reading
897 people want to read
About the author
Pauline Wiles
7 books85 followersBritish by birth, Pauline Wiles is now a contented resident of California, although she admits to occasional yearnings for afternoon tea and historic homes.
Although she hopes some day to publish more books, at the moment she's having the time of her life creating beautiful, strategic websites for other authors. Visit paulinewiles.com to see examples.
Pauline's debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, reached the quarter final of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Three further romantic comedies set in the same village are also available, along with a free collection of short stories. Pauline has also published Indie With Ease, to help other independent authors conquer stress and boost productivity.
When not writing, Pauline can often be found running, reading, or searching for her next venue to enjoy tea and a slice of cake.
Although she hopes some day to publish more books, at the moment she's having the time of her life creating beautiful, strategic websites for other authors. Visit paulinewiles.com to see examples.
Pauline's debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, reached the quarter final of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Three further romantic comedies set in the same village are also available, along with a free collection of short stories. Pauline has also published Indie With Ease, to help other independent authors conquer stress and boost productivity.
When not writing, Pauline can often be found running, reading, or searching for her next venue to enjoy tea and a slice of cake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
October 19, 2014
Story rating ~ 4.5 Stars! Wonderful debut book!
After realizing that her husband cheated on her and not willing to hear anything he has to say, Grace packs her bags, leaves California on the spur of the moment, and heads back home to England to sort out her life. Not sure what she’s going to do, and knowing she can’t stay with her brother and sister-in-law forever, she decides to settle in Saffron Sweeting, a small town that is on the verge of financial collapse. While it’s close to a large American company and that should bring people to the town to shop, they choose to go to the larger cities for their needs. Grace starts to offer the town's shop owners advice on how to lure the Americans to their shops.
I loved this story! Without even realizing what she’s doing Grace lends the shop owners her expertise on what Americans are looking for in a foreign country. While many of the Americans are all but willing to embrace a new culture and small town life, they miss some of the creature comforts of home and find themselves heading to the larger towns to shop. Being that Grace lived in the states for many years she is able to bring new life to this small town through her suggestions on how make the shops more appealing to the transplants. She's so kind and sweet, a very endearing and charming character, easy to relate too. She's also a dog lover, and she won me over when she befriends what she thinks is a stray.
Not only do the Americans appreciate the small changes, the locals enjoy them too. Once they understand that the town is suffering the American residents rally around the town they now call home. The American residents unite with the locals, and use their brains and resources for a town that has a hold on their hearts. This whole sense of community is something that I enjoy in a read and it was at the core of this story. The author did a great job connecting the reader to the residents and their plight, I just couldn't help but root for them. There are some characters that I would love to go back and re-visit with and wonder if they have a story to tell.
While she's unconsciously saving Saffron Sweeting, Grace is also finding herself. She looks at her past and what she left behind and realizes that she might be able to save more than a town. She meets someone else while she's in Saffron Sweeting, and while their relationship is sweet and sexually charged, there is something missing. Grace needs to decide whether she will start over with someone new, or if her marriage to James is worth saving.
I’m not a fan of cheating storylines, but this one worked for me in a big way. The focus of the plot was mostly on Grace and her journey, and how moving to Saffron Sweeting brought purpose to her life and gave her the time to contemplate on how to move forward. Ultimately she needed to dig deep and see if her marriage was worth salvaging. The author put a lot of thought into the ending, and while I was somewhat surprised where it was going, in the end it felt right! Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to find your way back to the top!
Narration rating ~ 3 Stars!
Narrated by: Lesley Parkin
Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
While Lesley Parkin was able to bring a distinguishable voice to each of the characters, the narration was without emotion and almost too refined for this read, most particularly for Grace’s voice, she came off as stuffy when she was anything but. There were so many fun moments that could have had more zing had the narration been more animated and not quite so rigid.
So, is it better to listen or to read the written word? I’m going to have to go with reading the written word. While the narration wasn’t horrible, it lacked the emotion and spirit that this story was trying to illustrate. The fun was missing and with a wonderful cast of quirky characters at her disposal, Lesley Parkin didn’t embrace their personalities as much I would have liked.
Final thoughts
Saffron Sweeting, is an amazing debut book. The fact that I’m not a fan of the cheating storyline, but liked this story, speaks volumes about the author’s writing and storytelling! But, don’t listen…read it instead!
*A copy of the audio version was provided by Audiobook Jukebox in exchange for an honest review*
September 2, 2013
The story begins with Grace Palmer, a down-on-her-luck interior designer, she's a Brit living in San Francisco with her husband James. Before you can say "Keep Calm and Carry On", Grace finds out James cheated on her with her - only - client, confronts him, packs up her bags and goes back to England.
My initial reaction was "Wait a sec, let the man talk! Don't be hasty!" but as soon as Grace arrives in England I thought "James Who?". The way Pauline describes her home-coming is like an insider re-discovering her roots. The narrative is so detailed and intimate that I felt like I was experiencing things, like the chaos of Heathrow, as an every day occurrence.
Grace decides to live in the country for awhile and by chance ends up in a small town called Saffron Sweeting - I Googled it, the town doesn't exist, darn - nevertheless, this place will turn out to be exactly what she needed!
She begins to form a life, get a place to live and work, meet new friends and she finds her niche. Turns out, the town is full of extremely homesick American ex-pats and Grace is the bridge between the Americans who want to spend $$ and the English who wouldn't mind the ££ to keep their business afloat and thriving.
Here is where I get conflicting emotions, as an ardent anglophile I want her to stay in England, describe more of her life and sigh while I imagine myself there. As a romantic, I get worried she is being too hard on James and I feel for him, during the course of the story he keeps popping up. He's very sorry and truly wants her back, my heart breaks for him and I get concerned because Grace is trying to move on and actually begins dating!
The story is full of nuggets of interesting details, adorable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing what will Grace decide at the end. This is a great debut novel by Pauline Wiles, I am very grateful for the advance copy I received and be assured that my love for this book is truly my own.
My initial reaction was "Wait a sec, let the man talk! Don't be hasty!" but as soon as Grace arrives in England I thought "James Who?". The way Pauline describes her home-coming is like an insider re-discovering her roots. The narrative is so detailed and intimate that I felt like I was experiencing things, like the chaos of Heathrow, as an every day occurrence.
Grace decides to live in the country for awhile and by chance ends up in a small town called Saffron Sweeting - I Googled it, the town doesn't exist, darn - nevertheless, this place will turn out to be exactly what she needed!
She begins to form a life, get a place to live and work, meet new friends and she finds her niche. Turns out, the town is full of extremely homesick American ex-pats and Grace is the bridge between the Americans who want to spend $$ and the English who wouldn't mind the ££ to keep their business afloat and thriving.
Here is where I get conflicting emotions, as an ardent anglophile I want her to stay in England, describe more of her life and sigh while I imagine myself there. As a romantic, I get worried she is being too hard on James and I feel for him, during the course of the story he keeps popping up. He's very sorry and truly wants her back, my heart breaks for him and I get concerned because Grace is trying to move on and actually begins dating!
The story is full of nuggets of interesting details, adorable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing what will Grace decide at the end. This is a great debut novel by Pauline Wiles, I am very grateful for the advance copy I received and be assured that my love for this book is truly my own.
November 25, 2021
Cute chick lit. Likable characters, quirky setting.
Finding out her husband cheated sends the heroine home to England from San Francisco. She settles in a quirky little village that’s not quite ready for the influx of Americans relocating for a growing local industry. She finds herself helping the locals navigate changes to accommodate the Americans without losing their English identity.
She even starts to move on with a new man, but he’s turns into the story’s villain. And, throughout the story her husband is in the background, hoping she’ll talk to him and let him explain, he made a drunken mistake at a work conference with a woman who had been in hot pursuit, with huge regrets that he broke both their hearts. He loses his job when he hacks the email system at work to provide deleted emails between him and the OW. The little time he has with her he’s apologizing and desperately wants her back.
There’s a Gift of the Magi feeling at Christmas when she goes back to San Francisco, but he’s sublet their apartment and moved back to England in the hope to reconcile. They find their way back to one another.
It’s a satisfying read, but a little too long.
Finding out her husband cheated sends the heroine home to England from San Francisco. She settles in a quirky little village that’s not quite ready for the influx of Americans relocating for a growing local industry. She finds herself helping the locals navigate changes to accommodate the Americans without losing their English identity.
She even starts to move on with a new man, but he’s turns into the story’s villain. And, throughout the story her husband is in the background, hoping she’ll talk to him and let him explain, he made a drunken mistake at a work conference with a woman who had been in hot pursuit, with huge regrets that he broke both their hearts. He loses his job when he hacks the email system at work to provide deleted emails between him and the OW. The little time he has with her he’s apologizing and desperately wants her back.
There’s a Gift of the Magi feeling at Christmas when she goes back to San Francisco, but he’s sublet their apartment and moved back to England in the hope to reconcile. They find their way back to one another.
It’s a satisfying read, but a little too long.
November 27, 2021
4.5⭐️!
Loved this one. British women’s lit about a gal separated from her Hubs after his drunken ONS. She returned to England after years in the US and found her footing, professionally and personally. Solid steady, low-key groveling from Hubs who earns his way back into her heart. Docked half a star for some inconsistencies-computer security guy can’t recover deleted emails that would shore up his side of the story? 🤷🏼♀️she flies to California and discovered Hubs sublet their apartment but she didn’t call him on his cell?🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
Anyhoo, minor quibbles with a sweet story. 💗💗💗
Loved this one. British women’s lit about a gal separated from her Hubs after his drunken ONS. She returned to England after years in the US and found her footing, professionally and personally. Solid steady, low-key groveling from Hubs who earns his way back into her heart. Docked half a star for some inconsistencies-computer security guy can’t recover deleted emails that would shore up his side of the story? 🤷🏼♀️she flies to California and discovered Hubs sublet their apartment but she didn’t call him on his cell?🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
Anyhoo, minor quibbles with a sweet story. 💗💗💗
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2013
Pauline Wiles is on tour now with CLP Blog Tours and Saving Saffron Sweeting. I thought this was such a good book! Our main character is Grace Palmer who is living the American Dream…or at least was. A Brit living in the US with her dashing husband, Grace is running her own design business and trodding along quite happily – until she realizes her one and only client is sleeping with her husband. Unable to stomach the betrayal Grace flees back to her homeland, and somehow lands in the clutches of the quaint village of Saffron Sweeting. She manages to land a job that she thoroughly enjoys and even catches the eye of a handsome man while she adjusts to her new life. But with her husband incessantly apologizing and the loneliness settling in, Grace wonders how long her new arrangement will last. When she realizes the town could desperately use her assistance, she focuses her energy towards Saving Saffron Sweeting – and herself in the process.
I really enjoyed this novel because Grace is such a fabulous leading lady. She gets hurt and takes off, but she always has that air of independence which I love, a “you can’t bring me down” spirit about her. I never worried much about her because I knew that whatever got thrown her way she would handle and handle well. It was so fun watching her settle into Saffron Sweeting and even better to read about her finding her passion. It was interesting to read about her love interest, and I never quite knew how her love life was going to end because her husband was not giving up on her. This novel offered a lot of perspectives on marriages and commitment, and was a great addition to an already terrific read. One I recommend!
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this novel because Grace is such a fabulous leading lady. She gets hurt and takes off, but she always has that air of independence which I love, a “you can’t bring me down” spirit about her. I never worried much about her because I knew that whatever got thrown her way she would handle and handle well. It was so fun watching her settle into Saffron Sweeting and even better to read about her finding her passion. It was interesting to read about her love interest, and I never quite knew how her love life was going to end because her husband was not giving up on her. This novel offered a lot of perspectives on marriages and commitment, and was a great addition to an already terrific read. One I recommend!
4.5 stars
September 3, 2015
Chic lit is not normally one of my favourite genres but this book won me over. There were so many things to like about it. The first thing that grabbed me was the writer's sense of humour, which I found very entertaining. Although the heroin is faced with dire circumstances, and there were some poignant moments, the author still manages to show the funny side of certain situations. Pauline Wiles is obviously a skilled author who had me routing for the heroin straightaway, and hoping that things would work out for her. Any book that can have me so emotionally invested, and bring laughter as well as tears, deserves five stars.
September 25, 2025
If you are looking for a funny chick lit book that mixes in a dash of marriage in trouble / second chance romance then this is the book for you. Set in a quaint small English villiage where the fmc flees after her husband cheats on her. Shes lived in LA for a few years and acts as the local town American liason for the American transplants.
Typically books with infidelity are angsty but this is more light hearted amd humorous.
Typically books with infidelity are angsty but this is more light hearted amd humorous.
July 7, 2013
Grace was trying to get her business going in the States, but when her husband cheated with her client, it was time to go home to England. Once there, she looked for a small village to hide and recuperate for awhile, and Saffron Sweeting fit the bill. But before she knew it, she had adjusted to small-town life. Now she is trying to balance a new relationship with saving her new home.
An awesome debut from Pauline Wiles, this light, contemporary fiction novel explores the difference between the British and Americans. First, Grace is the newcomer while living in San Francisco, and then she has to readjust when she returns to England. In Saffron Sweeting, they are being overrun by Americans who have transferred with their company. The villagers feel their way of life is being threatened by the horde of loud Americans, who in turn want to fit in but do not know how.
At the same time, the novel also explores marriage, love, and the aftermath of betrayal. At the beginning of the novel, I could imagine Grace's pain when she didn't know how to tell people what had happened, and only wanted to be alone to deal with the hurt. It was a joy to follow along as she began to heal and get on with her life.
This novel is just full of wonderful characters who seem as real as my own neighbors. Life in Saffron Sweeting was so clearly described that I could see it as clearly as if I had been there.
I must admit that the ending was not as I had hoped. I can't say more than that without a spoiler, so I'll let it go, but it's not a bad ending. It just isn't the resolution I expected. Still, this is a fantastic first novel, and would be perfect reading by the pool or at the beach this summer.
5 stars
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
An awesome debut from Pauline Wiles, this light, contemporary fiction novel explores the difference between the British and Americans. First, Grace is the newcomer while living in San Francisco, and then she has to readjust when she returns to England. In Saffron Sweeting, they are being overrun by Americans who have transferred with their company. The villagers feel their way of life is being threatened by the horde of loud Americans, who in turn want to fit in but do not know how.
At the same time, the novel also explores marriage, love, and the aftermath of betrayal. At the beginning of the novel, I could imagine Grace's pain when she didn't know how to tell people what had happened, and only wanted to be alone to deal with the hurt. It was a joy to follow along as she began to heal and get on with her life.
This novel is just full of wonderful characters who seem as real as my own neighbors. Life in Saffron Sweeting was so clearly described that I could see it as clearly as if I had been there.
I must admit that the ending was not as I had hoped. I can't say more than that without a spoiler, so I'll let it go, but it's not a bad ending. It just isn't the resolution I expected. Still, this is a fantastic first novel, and would be perfect reading by the pool or at the beach this summer.
5 stars
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 19, 2013
The sounds of click, click, click fell into place as Grace Palmer realized her husband was having an affair. Not only has he been with sleeping with someone else, it's her friend and client. Deciding she is not ready to talk it out and make decisions, she flees to the little village of Saffron Sweeting. Grace finds herself making friends, helping others save their businesses and reassessing what is truly important in her life.
I thought this was a unique story, when we meet Grace she is married and just beginning to launch her career, but you also get that she has been kind of floundering trying to find her way. I liked that she was a real character and reacted as I think many in the same situation would react. Refreshing and inspirational, I really found Grace identifiable and relished every moment of her journey.
I thought this was a unique story, when we meet Grace she is married and just beginning to launch her career, but you also get that she has been kind of floundering trying to find her way. I liked that she was a real character and reacted as I think many in the same situation would react. Refreshing and inspirational, I really found Grace identifiable and relished every moment of her journey.
June 19, 2020
3.5 stars
October 11, 2023
Cute romantic chick lit. When Grace discovers her husband cheated on her with a coworker, she flees to her homeland - UK. She needs time to think and regroup. Embarking on a new life and career leads her to rediscover what she wants and needs.
April 29, 2013
Oh, my. Definitely one of my favorite books as I read my way through 52 books in 52 weeks. This book was so stinking charming, I was completely swept away by it. No wonder the book has climbed to the quarter finals in the romance category of the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. (More information: amazon.com/abna) I loved every single moment. The characters were charming, their lives were charming, the town of Saffron Sweeting was charming. It was so charming, I wanted to climb into the pages as I read and live among the characters. I wanted to walk into Grace Palmer's English cottage, "put the kettle on" and sit with her and tell her everything will be okay.
The richness of the book reminded me a lot of Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes and the books by Peter Mayle set in Provence. If you love books set in a quirky little town with villagers that stake their claims on the story and a main character that struggles with internal conflict while falling in love with the beautiful but flawed surroundings of a town she haphazardly found her way to, then this is the book for you.
Grace Palmer certainly received a punch in the stomach (not literally) in the opening pages when she learns of her husband's affair. But she picks herself up, dusts herself off, and returns to her home country of England only to find herself in the turmoil of changing times in the town of Saffron Sweeting.
The people Grace meets in the town of Saffron Sweeting are all so wonderful as characters in a book. Each play a different role in Grace's life and each bring different elements to the storyline. What is so captivating about the story of this town is the mingling of two cultures. An American bio-tech firm is relocating American workers to Saffron Sweeting and the villagers who have always called Saffron Sweeting home are trying to adapt. Because Grace Palmer is the only person in town with insights into both cultures, she is quickly placed in the heart of the small town and must play the role of assistant, consultant and guide.
I finished reading this book while on a weekend trip to Boston. I told everyone I saw on this trip about the book, even the passengers sitting on the plane beside me, imploring them to pick up a copy and start reading. It was that enjoyable, from cover to cover.
Highly recommended. Run, don't walk. Or better yet, click. A link to Amazon is provided below so go get yourself a copy and cancel your plans for whatever it was you were planning to do over the next few days. You'll want to snuggle up with this book, a cup of tea, a cozy blanket and a comfortable chair. Don't worry, the world will wait for your return.
A more complete review of this book and Pauline Wiles can be found on my book blog, Chick Lit Chit Chat found at www.julievalerie.com
The richness of the book reminded me a lot of Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes and the books by Peter Mayle set in Provence. If you love books set in a quirky little town with villagers that stake their claims on the story and a main character that struggles with internal conflict while falling in love with the beautiful but flawed surroundings of a town she haphazardly found her way to, then this is the book for you.
Grace Palmer certainly received a punch in the stomach (not literally) in the opening pages when she learns of her husband's affair. But she picks herself up, dusts herself off, and returns to her home country of England only to find herself in the turmoil of changing times in the town of Saffron Sweeting.
The people Grace meets in the town of Saffron Sweeting are all so wonderful as characters in a book. Each play a different role in Grace's life and each bring different elements to the storyline. What is so captivating about the story of this town is the mingling of two cultures. An American bio-tech firm is relocating American workers to Saffron Sweeting and the villagers who have always called Saffron Sweeting home are trying to adapt. Because Grace Palmer is the only person in town with insights into both cultures, she is quickly placed in the heart of the small town and must play the role of assistant, consultant and guide.
I finished reading this book while on a weekend trip to Boston. I told everyone I saw on this trip about the book, even the passengers sitting on the plane beside me, imploring them to pick up a copy and start reading. It was that enjoyable, from cover to cover.
Highly recommended. Run, don't walk. Or better yet, click. A link to Amazon is provided below so go get yourself a copy and cancel your plans for whatever it was you were planning to do over the next few days. You'll want to snuggle up with this book, a cup of tea, a cozy blanket and a comfortable chair. Don't worry, the world will wait for your return.
A more complete review of this book and Pauline Wiles can be found on my book blog, Chick Lit Chit Chat found at www.julievalerie.com
May 1, 2013
Grace Palmer is living the American Dream, the young Brit has a fledgling interior design business that she is building in Silicon Valley, California. But her dreams are shattered when her husband James sleeps with her client. Humiliated and heartbroken, Grace flees back to her homeland where she starts her life anew in the quaint little English village of Saffron Sweeting. While Grace gets settled in her new surroundings, the community of Saffron Sweeting is fighting their own battles against the greed of developers who want to change its tranquility and destroy the village's landmarks. Grace is encouraged to become active in the village community and help them adapt to the changes coming to Saffron Sweeting. Grace embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will guide her to live a new life, find her passion, and have a second chance at love.
In her debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, author Pauline Wiles weaves a delightful tale written in the first person narrative of one woman's journey of self-discovery while helping a community save its quaint village from greedy developers.
The reader is transported between Silicon Valley, California and the village of Saffron Sweeting in Great Britain, where they follow Grace Palmer as she picks up the pieces of her life and forms a strong bond with the community of Saffron Sweeting as they navigate the changes to their village.
This entertaining story has a nice mixture of humor, charm, sass and romance. The author provides her readers with a story full of witty British phrases and mouth watering treats that makes you want to visit the village of Saffron Sweeting.
Grace's story draws the reader in as she starts her life over with a sassy sense of humor and independence that is admirable. I loved the portrayal of life in the quaint English village setting, and its quirky inhabitants are colorful and provided a lot of laugh-out-loud moments.
Saving Saffron Sweeting is a lighthearted, witty, fun and thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy that will leave a smile on your face.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
In her debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, author Pauline Wiles weaves a delightful tale written in the first person narrative of one woman's journey of self-discovery while helping a community save its quaint village from greedy developers.
The reader is transported between Silicon Valley, California and the village of Saffron Sweeting in Great Britain, where they follow Grace Palmer as she picks up the pieces of her life and forms a strong bond with the community of Saffron Sweeting as they navigate the changes to their village.
This entertaining story has a nice mixture of humor, charm, sass and romance. The author provides her readers with a story full of witty British phrases and mouth watering treats that makes you want to visit the village of Saffron Sweeting.
Grace's story draws the reader in as she starts her life over with a sassy sense of humor and independence that is admirable. I loved the portrayal of life in the quaint English village setting, and its quirky inhabitants are colorful and provided a lot of laugh-out-loud moments.
Saving Saffron Sweeting is a lighthearted, witty, fun and thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy that will leave a smile on your face.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
July 14, 2013
When she finds out that her husband has cheated on her, Grace leaves him and their life in the States to return home to England. She starts the process of recovery by settling in the quiet village of Saffron Sweeting, and becomes an unwitting catalyst in the regeneration of the village, helping local businesses to reach out to new clients and reviving the village’s heart. Will she be able to revive her own?
The book gets off to a great start with the moment of Grace’s realisation of her husband’s infidelity, and from the get-go you want to know how things are going to play out. However, although the will they/won’t they get back together question drew me in, I didn’t wholeheartedly warm to Grace herself. I think this originated in her decision to escape to England without allowing her husband to explain the circumstances of his huge betrayal of their marriage and without letting him know where she is living. It works brilliantly for the plot but not for my ability to relate to her. In fact in a scene where she meets her husband in London for a few hours it was her husband who my heart went out to and not her.
Saffron Sweeting contains a wonderful assortment of characters. I could picture them all. The way the author describes how Grace tumbles by chance into helping the village, and the way in which her unofficial role as champion of the village develops, is a joy to read. The book is also full of mouth-watering descriptions of the heaps of delicious English food that Grace takes such delight in.
The writing is smooth, the tone light and warm, making this very easy to read. I may be wrong here, but as a Brit I sense this book is written primarily for an American audience. That doesn’t take anything away from the book, but I do think that you’ll experience a different read depending on which side of the Atlantic you live on. Wherever you are from, there’s so much to enjoy in this charming comedy.
The book gets off to a great start with the moment of Grace’s realisation of her husband’s infidelity, and from the get-go you want to know how things are going to play out. However, although the will they/won’t they get back together question drew me in, I didn’t wholeheartedly warm to Grace herself. I think this originated in her decision to escape to England without allowing her husband to explain the circumstances of his huge betrayal of their marriage and without letting him know where she is living. It works brilliantly for the plot but not for my ability to relate to her. In fact in a scene where she meets her husband in London for a few hours it was her husband who my heart went out to and not her.
Saffron Sweeting contains a wonderful assortment of characters. I could picture them all. The way the author describes how Grace tumbles by chance into helping the village, and the way in which her unofficial role as champion of the village develops, is a joy to read. The book is also full of mouth-watering descriptions of the heaps of delicious English food that Grace takes such delight in.
The writing is smooth, the tone light and warm, making this very easy to read. I may be wrong here, but as a Brit I sense this book is written primarily for an American audience. That doesn’t take anything away from the book, but I do think that you’ll experience a different read depending on which side of the Atlantic you live on. Wherever you are from, there’s so much to enjoy in this charming comedy.
September 6, 2019
Audio
I did not like the narrator for this.
Maybe I would have liked the story better if there was a different reader?
I love a story where a woman stands up strong and survives the changes in her life after a trauma.
The husband cheats in this story and I thought it was handled well in the beginning. (Although I drive myself crazy when they don't say what I would have said.)
The husband gets drunk and sleeps with a co-worker. We are told it was ONLY ONE TIME. Like I give a shit how many times he slept with her. And the excuse of being drunk? I don't give a shit. This, ONLY ONE TIME, is repeated over and over again.
Then her family questions whether or not she's being too hasty in leaving him. What? Is she not deserving of a faithful husband? By now I'm thinking the author probably cheated on her spouse and is trying to down-play how effing devastating it is.
Then the wife starts dating which is ridiculously far-fetched for how soon it is and of course, the guy turns out to be a dick. I'm really rolling my eyes at this point.
*I don't think this is a spoiler because you can see it coming a mile away.*
Husband sends wife some emails (which by the way he gets fired for; boy he must REALLY love her) between he and the co-worker that he had an affair with. They show that he did not pursue the other woman and thought it was a mistake. And POOF, thats all it took! WOO-HOO!! Now everything is ok.
They get back together like nothing ever happened. No trust issues. No Nothin' All cuddly and cute together.
He tells her the only reason he took his wedding ring off is because she was seeing someone. AND SHE SAYS SORRY!
Then he apologizes again and she says "IT'S OK" WTF??
The moral of the story is that cheating is really no big deal.
Eff you Pauline Wiles
I did not like the narrator for this.
Maybe I would have liked the story better if there was a different reader?
I love a story where a woman stands up strong and survives the changes in her life after a trauma.
The husband cheats in this story and I thought it was handled well in the beginning. (Although I drive myself crazy when they don't say what I would have said.)
The husband gets drunk and sleeps with a co-worker. We are told it was ONLY ONE TIME. Like I give a shit how many times he slept with her. And the excuse of being drunk? I don't give a shit. This, ONLY ONE TIME, is repeated over and over again.
Then her family questions whether or not she's being too hasty in leaving him. What? Is she not deserving of a faithful husband? By now I'm thinking the author probably cheated on her spouse and is trying to down-play how effing devastating it is.
Then the wife starts dating which is ridiculously far-fetched for how soon it is and of course, the guy turns out to be a dick. I'm really rolling my eyes at this point.
*I don't think this is a spoiler because you can see it coming a mile away.*
Husband sends wife some emails (which by the way he gets fired for; boy he must REALLY love her) between he and the co-worker that he had an affair with. They show that he did not pursue the other woman and thought it was a mistake. And POOF, thats all it took! WOO-HOO!! Now everything is ok.
They get back together like nothing ever happened. No trust issues. No Nothin' All cuddly and cute together.
He tells her the only reason he took his wedding ring off is because she was seeing someone. AND SHE SAYS SORRY!
Then he apologizes again and she says "IT'S OK" WTF??
The moral of the story is that cheating is really no big deal.
Eff you Pauline Wiles
May 23, 2013
From the moment you start reading Pauline Wiles’ first novel you can’t shake the impression that she is a genuinely lovely person. Reading someone’s work might not be the best way to get to know them, but it certainly leaves a lasting impression and Saving Saffron Sweeting makes you wish you were friends with the protagonist, Grace from the outset. The story focuses on this young woman as she reaches a climax in her life. Discovering her husband has cheated on her, she leaves her home and business in favour of the familiar British countryside. The story epitomises everything we love about England, from tea and cakes to grumpy Post Masters.
This book has come at the perfect time as summer is finally making an appearance and you can settle down with a pitcher of Pimms and read it from cover to cover. I’d recommend it for anyone struggling in a relationship, recovering from a breakup or simply wondering what love really is. It is the story of a woman knocked off her feet, who learns to appreciate her own skills and the value of a loving community to propel her through the bad times. We could all learn a lot from Grace’s journey.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Wright on behalf of BestChickLit.com
This book has come at the perfect time as summer is finally making an appearance and you can settle down with a pitcher of Pimms and read it from cover to cover. I’d recommend it for anyone struggling in a relationship, recovering from a breakup or simply wondering what love really is. It is the story of a woman knocked off her feet, who learns to appreciate her own skills and the value of a loving community to propel her through the bad times. We could all learn a lot from Grace’s journey.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Wright on behalf of BestChickLit.com
July 14, 2013
I don't know. Maybe 2.5 would have been more accurate.
I liked the writing and Grace was ok as a main character as well as the residents of Saffron Sweeting.
BUT. I didn't quite get the story. It started, it ended, but the things in the middle? Was it supposed to be just a romance story ? Or was there supposed to be an actual story too? There were a lot of things happening, but nothing was quite finalized.
- Amelie had a drinking problem? Based on what?
- DID they save the Saffron sweeting?
- Why on earth would a whole village change their British ways to be nicer to Americans? If I move abroad I'm not expect everything to be as it is in my homeland..
- Was Grace really the only woman from Britain ever to visit USA? Seems like that since only she has all the answers about American likings and dislikes?
So. Not for me.
I liked the writing and Grace was ok as a main character as well as the residents of Saffron Sweeting.
BUT. I didn't quite get the story. It started, it ended, but the things in the middle? Was it supposed to be just a romance story ? Or was there supposed to be an actual story too? There were a lot of things happening, but nothing was quite finalized.
- Amelie had a drinking problem? Based on what?
- DID they save the Saffron sweeting?
- Why on earth would a whole village change their British ways to be nicer to Americans? If I move abroad I'm not expect everything to be as it is in my homeland..
- Was Grace really the only woman from Britain ever to visit USA? Seems like that since only she has all the answers about American likings and dislikes?
So. Not for me.
May 6, 2013
I received a copy of Saving Saffron Sweeting by Pauline Wiles in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really cute story about Grace and the challenges she faces when she discovers her husband James is cheating on her. I really liked Grace and she was someone I could relate to on so many levels. Her whole world is rocked by James’ infidelity and unable to deal with it, she runs away to a small English town to figure out what to do next.
She finds herself in Saffron Sweeting and meets some very interesting characters, some of whom become good friends and a good support system. But during her struggles she finds what is important and realizes that sometimes not everything there are some grey areas in life that you have to work through.
This was a really cute story about Grace and the challenges she faces when she discovers her husband James is cheating on her. I really liked Grace and she was someone I could relate to on so many levels. Her whole world is rocked by James’ infidelity and unable to deal with it, she runs away to a small English town to figure out what to do next.
She finds herself in Saffron Sweeting and meets some very interesting characters, some of whom become good friends and a good support system. But during her struggles she finds what is important and realizes that sometimes not everything there are some grey areas in life that you have to work through.
April 30, 2013
Saving Saffron Sweeting is a wonderful read. Memorable, likeable characters and a fast paced story line meant I was hooked from the very first chapter. A Quarter Finalist in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, Saving Saffron Sweeting is light-hearted with laugh out loud moments in its incredibly accurate portrayal of British village life. The book gently explores the themes of true love and whether you really can have it all as the protagonist navigates a difficult path between her home and her happiness. Saving Saffron Sweeting is one of those books that you become so engaged with, you almost hate to see it end!
April 12, 2013
Saving Saffron Sweeting by Pauline Wiles was a breath of fresh air. I compliment the author for her ability to transform the written word to magnificent images of the mind! How I enjoyed traveling the English countryside with a variety of well-developed,well thought out characters.I felt like if I closed my eyes I would be right in the thick of the journeys of heartache, discovery, searching(and oh what fun that was:), and friendship. A book that deserves to be read cover to cover in one weekend.
August 26, 2013
Cleverly written, witty and humorous. I loved the flow of the novel. I'm all for strong female characters and Grace certainly falls into that category. When she discovers her husband is sleeping with the only person keeping her design business afloat she decides to head back to the place she once called home.
The descriptiveness of this cutesy little town and all the people in it are a big part of what makes the story great! Love, betrayal, romance, balancing your hopes and dreams and a lot of laughing out loud is what you'll get with this book!
Nicely done Pauline!
The descriptiveness of this cutesy little town and all the people in it are a big part of what makes the story great! Love, betrayal, romance, balancing your hopes and dreams and a lot of laughing out loud is what you'll get with this book!
Nicely done Pauline!
April 15, 2014
I had great hopes for this one! And I made it about 68% of the way through before I just couldn't take it anymore. Not only did Grace, the main character, quickly become unrelatable, the infidelity in the book seriously bothered me. Perhaps if I had stuck it out and finished, it would have shaped up better, but I really do believe that life is too short to waste on bad books!
May 3, 2013
Loved this book! I was easily able to connect with Grace and her charm. It was definitely fun to read about all the quirky characters in Saffron Sweeting. This book made me want to travel to England so much more! A definite must read.
June 28, 2013
"Saving Saffron Sweeting" is such a charming and lovely book. I adored the mix of American and British vernacular, and you can't help but fall in love with Grace, her friends and her new town. This is such a polished and excellent read, and I can't wait for more from Pauline Wiles.
June 5, 2017
4.5 Stars!
Back in March I reviewed "Sweet Pursuits" by this author and really liked it. I wanted to read more by Pauline and my wish came true!
Well that was one super cute book! Can one woman (heartbroken, angry, and just looking to get away form her current situation) single-handedly save a whole town? Well... yes they can, and she did - one business at a time.
I love Saffron Sweeting! I want to go there! What a great town. The more I read about this quaint English town the more I fall in love with it and its people.
"Saffron Sweeting. Well, that’s an excellent omen,’ she declared. One thing I find amusing about Jem is her belief in omens, horoscopes and reading tea leaves. ‘It is?’ I yawned back, starting to arrange pillows on the sofa. ‘Grace, it’s perfect! It’s a village named after sugar. Definitely give it a try. After all,’ she beamed at me, ‘how bad can it be?"
Great character development. I loved Grace and all her new friends in Saffron Sweeting. I loved the way Grace helped the small businesses with American customs and holidays to get them into their stores etc. It made me wonder if other countries really do this, target American visitors.
It did have a great ending - its just not what I would have done. Maybe she it a better person than I. But just because I would have done it differently doesn't mean it wasn't what was right for Grace and it did make for the perfect ending. Smiles all 'round! :-)
So now that I have read book 1 and book 3 - I think I need to read book 2, don't you think?
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from the author - Thank You!
Back in March I reviewed "Sweet Pursuits" by this author and really liked it. I wanted to read more by Pauline and my wish came true!
Well that was one super cute book! Can one woman (heartbroken, angry, and just looking to get away form her current situation) single-handedly save a whole town? Well... yes they can, and she did - one business at a time.
I love Saffron Sweeting! I want to go there! What a great town. The more I read about this quaint English town the more I fall in love with it and its people.
"Saffron Sweeting. Well, that’s an excellent omen,’ she declared. One thing I find amusing about Jem is her belief in omens, horoscopes and reading tea leaves. ‘It is?’ I yawned back, starting to arrange pillows on the sofa. ‘Grace, it’s perfect! It’s a village named after sugar. Definitely give it a try. After all,’ she beamed at me, ‘how bad can it be?"
Great character development. I loved Grace and all her new friends in Saffron Sweeting. I loved the way Grace helped the small businesses with American customs and holidays to get them into their stores etc. It made me wonder if other countries really do this, target American visitors.
It did have a great ending - its just not what I would have done. Maybe she it a better person than I. But just because I would have done it differently doesn't mean it wasn't what was right for Grace and it did make for the perfect ending. Smiles all 'round! :-)
So now that I have read book 1 and book 3 - I think I need to read book 2, don't you think?
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from the author - Thank You!
May 27, 2018
Reading this book is like curling up with a soft, luxurious cashmere blanket. Grace, the main character in this quiet and calm story, seeks comfort in just such a beautiful blanket when her life hits a perilous crossroads. Does an affair mean the end of the road?
Grace moved with her husband to the Silicon Valley area, for his career. When Grace discovers her husband had a fling, her first thought is to bolt back to her home country, England. Her plan is to take time to sort out her feelings. “We Brits don’t really do therapy; we just put the kettle on.”
She retreats to a charming town near Cambridge, Saffron Sweeting. There she meets a wonderful assortment of townsfolk, as well as newly transplanted Americans.
She begins to find herself as she develops an interesting job that fully uses her talents. She also meets an intriguing gentleman. Should she reconcile with her husband?
Grace is a likable character and her new friend and boss in Saffron Sweeting, Amelia, is a scene-stealer. I wouldn’t have handled things the way Grace did, but I enjoyed reading about her.
The author presents a balanced view of British and American life and culture. If you are an Anglophile, this is the book for you.
The book also appealed to me because it presented some positive life lessons in an entertaining way. The author writes with a warm, friendly voice, the book version of a cashmere blanket.
Grace moved with her husband to the Silicon Valley area, for his career. When Grace discovers her husband had a fling, her first thought is to bolt back to her home country, England. Her plan is to take time to sort out her feelings. “We Brits don’t really do therapy; we just put the kettle on.”
She retreats to a charming town near Cambridge, Saffron Sweeting. There she meets a wonderful assortment of townsfolk, as well as newly transplanted Americans.
She begins to find herself as she develops an interesting job that fully uses her talents. She also meets an intriguing gentleman. Should she reconcile with her husband?
Grace is a likable character and her new friend and boss in Saffron Sweeting, Amelia, is a scene-stealer. I wouldn’t have handled things the way Grace did, but I enjoyed reading about her.
The author presents a balanced view of British and American life and culture. If you are an Anglophile, this is the book for you.
The book also appealed to me because it presented some positive life lessons in an entertaining way. The author writes with a warm, friendly voice, the book version of a cashmere blanket.
June 30, 2019
This was an enjoyable read. Even more impressive, it was the first novel from Pauline Wiles. Several authors I have read have been on their third or fourth novel before they got to this quality.
Wiles mainly set this novel in Saffron Sweeting, a fictional English Village. I believe she set her next couple of novels there too and they will be on my to read list. I have long been a fan of novels set in villages, no doubt starting with Rebecca Shaw's Turnham Malpas series.
As I live in England, (but a large city suburb not a village) the English setting was more familiar than the sections set in Silicon Valley. A large part of this novel features Grace interpreting American behaviours to the village resident. I can't help wondering if Wiles has or will write a novel featuring the chunk of time when Grace and James first went to America and how they initially adapted there. Did Grace have a Grace of her own who helped her adapt?
One thing I loved most about this novel is how the story kept it real, there were no incidents where a character was being a blind idiot. I have read so many chic-flic novels written in this way. Yes, Grace explored relationships with people and not everyone's behaviour was commendable. Equally nobody was a monster.
The biggest test I always have when I read a novel is am I ready for this book it to end? No, I didn't I wanted to read on and find out more about these characters, which I hope I can do soon!
Wiles mainly set this novel in Saffron Sweeting, a fictional English Village. I believe she set her next couple of novels there too and they will be on my to read list. I have long been a fan of novels set in villages, no doubt starting with Rebecca Shaw's Turnham Malpas series.
As I live in England, (but a large city suburb not a village) the English setting was more familiar than the sections set in Silicon Valley. A large part of this novel features Grace interpreting American behaviours to the village resident. I can't help wondering if Wiles has or will write a novel featuring the chunk of time when Grace and James first went to America and how they initially adapted there. Did Grace have a Grace of her own who helped her adapt?
One thing I loved most about this novel is how the story kept it real, there were no incidents where a character was being a blind idiot. I have read so many chic-flic novels written in this way. Yes, Grace explored relationships with people and not everyone's behaviour was commendable. Equally nobody was a monster.
The biggest test I always have when I read a novel is am I ready for this book it to end? No, I didn't I wanted to read on and find out more about these characters, which I hope I can do soon!
June 28, 2017
This is a sweet chick lit story about an Englishwoman living in America, who basically panics and moves back to England when she finds out her husband has cheated on her. Too proud to stay with her parents or impose on anyone else, she finds a small village to stay in, Saffron Sweeting, and ends up falling in love with the place. It's near Cambridge, where lots of Americans have been moving due to pharmaceutical jobs, so she finds a niche in helping the Americans fit in. I liked it quite a bit aside from the ending, and the alternate love interest seemed very two dimensional.
April 9, 2018
3.5 stars. Sometimes I find some really nice jewels among the dross in Kindle Unlimited. This was great--I enjoyed it thoroughly. Going to go find more by this author.
KU doesn't have the hugest selection, but the subscription model frees me to be a more adventurous in trying new-to-me and/or unreviewed authors. With KU, I feel no compunction in trying something, reading a few pages, then dumping it if not to my taste. On the flip side, it makes me happy when I randomly come across something (like this) which was just what I wanted.
KU doesn't have the hugest selection, but the subscription model frees me to be a more adventurous in trying new-to-me and/or unreviewed authors. With KU, I feel no compunction in trying something, reading a few pages, then dumping it if not to my taste. On the flip side, it makes me happy when I randomly come across something (like this) which was just what I wanted.
July 11, 2019
At first, I was afraid this was going to be about an over dramatic woman’s reactions to being cheated on. Instead, the main character actually turned out to be smart and witty, strong and very likable. She had a series of reflective moments that shaped into someone wiser and more confident. I think what I liked most was being able to compare her unsure character in the beginning of the book and how she was able to realize her own value once she found her own element to grow. I really enjoyed this book.
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