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Fly Me to Moongate Manor
Amanda's world falls apart when her mother passes away. Stuck with a non-committal boyfriend and a soulless job, she has never felt more alone in New York.
Ever since his girlfriend left him broke and heartbroken, Simon has been riding his motorcycle around England all summer looking for a distraction.
Diana, the enigmatic lady of Moongate Manor, has not been seen by the locals in decades, fueling the town's gossip on her secret past.
When unexpected circumstances bring them all to Moongate Manor with the common mission of restoring its once beautiful garden, can three strangers find new starts in the most unexpected of places?
Ever since his girlfriend left him broke and heartbroken, Simon has been riding his motorcycle around England all summer looking for a distraction.
Diana, the enigmatic lady of Moongate Manor, has not been seen by the locals in decades, fueling the town's gossip on her secret past.
When unexpected circumstances bring them all to Moongate Manor with the common mission of restoring its once beautiful garden, can three strangers find new starts in the most unexpected of places?
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First published April 13, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
April 9, 2023
Amanda can't help but feel that the universe has change in store for her. First, her beloved Mother passes from a brain tumour, then she loses her job and gets an eviction notice. The last thing she expects to find is that her Mother entered a competition to win an English Manor... and won.
Simon faced a shocking betrayal in London and lost everything. Now, riding around the country on his motorcycle, he's stunned at the beauty of Moongate Manor and is surprised to be offered a job restoring the gardens. He knows he can't run forever... but one summer wouldn't hurt.
Diana, the current lady of Moongate Manor, is getting older with no heirs to take on the estate. After deciding on who should win her family home, she flys Amanda to England to assume her responsibilties. But there is more to Diana than meets the eye and she's desperate to keep her secrets hidden.
Together, will they bring back the beauty that was once held by the Manor and its gardens? Or will the secrets between them cause an irrevocable combustion?
I love a dual timeline and appreciated that we got to learn Diana's history as each memory arose. The story was so full, and I could really feel the pain each character had experienced and how healing restoring Moongate Manor's gardens was. There were unexpected twists throughout and I was rooting for Amanda and Simon to find each other (as were the other characters in the book). It's a clean/closed door romance but it really focused on the actions in each of their pasts and how they intertwined and became the Manor's future.
Thank you to Author Kate Forster, Head of Zeus & Netgalley for providing me with this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Simon faced a shocking betrayal in London and lost everything. Now, riding around the country on his motorcycle, he's stunned at the beauty of Moongate Manor and is surprised to be offered a job restoring the gardens. He knows he can't run forever... but one summer wouldn't hurt.
Diana, the current lady of Moongate Manor, is getting older with no heirs to take on the estate. After deciding on who should win her family home, she flys Amanda to England to assume her responsibilties. But there is more to Diana than meets the eye and she's desperate to keep her secrets hidden.
Together, will they bring back the beauty that was once held by the Manor and its gardens? Or will the secrets between them cause an irrevocable combustion?
I love a dual timeline and appreciated that we got to learn Diana's history as each memory arose. The story was so full, and I could really feel the pain each character had experienced and how healing restoring Moongate Manor's gardens was. There were unexpected twists throughout and I was rooting for Amanda and Simon to find each other (as were the other characters in the book). It's a clean/closed door romance but it really focused on the actions in each of their pasts and how they intertwined and became the Manor's future.
Thank you to Author Kate Forster, Head of Zeus & Netgalley for providing me with this ARC. All opinions are my own.
March 20, 2023
Mild spoilers ahead
Honestly I would’ve given up on this book if it hadn’t been an ARC and I weren’t so incredibly behind on my reading goal. Now I’m feeling like I just should’ve DNFed considering how little I enjoyed reading it.
Simon and Amanda’s relationship did not develop at all in my opinion and they had no reason to want each other romantically. They were just two sad people who were recently single and in close proximity. I could not understand where she was coming from at all when she was fighting about what a future with him. And don’t you even get me started on the ridiculous third act break up.
The whole twist with Diana and Amanda was way too obvious and in my opinion just not done super well. I felt like none of these characters were developed at all. The plot of this simultaneously dragged and skipped over way too many things.
I’m honestly trying to think of things I liked about this book and I guess I liked the concept? But obviously the execution was just not good. I feel bad for having such a negative review but this just was not for me at all, which sucks because the summary reminded me of Twice Shy (which I ADORE) so I was hoping to have a similar experience and just did not get that at all.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Honestly I would’ve given up on this book if it hadn’t been an ARC and I weren’t so incredibly behind on my reading goal. Now I’m feeling like I just should’ve DNFed considering how little I enjoyed reading it.
Simon and Amanda’s relationship did not develop at all in my opinion and they had no reason to want each other romantically. They were just two sad people who were recently single and in close proximity. I could not understand where she was coming from at all when she was fighting about what a future with him. And don’t you even get me started on the ridiculous third act break up.
The whole twist with Diana and Amanda was way too obvious and in my opinion just not done super well. I felt like none of these characters were developed at all. The plot of this simultaneously dragged and skipped over way too many things.
I’m honestly trying to think of things I liked about this book and I guess I liked the concept? But obviously the execution was just not good. I feel bad for having such a negative review but this just was not for me at all, which sucks because the summary reminded me of Twice Shy (which I ADORE) so I was hoping to have a similar experience and just did not get that at all.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
February 6, 2023
Fly me to moongate manor is a wonderfully entrancing tale of three very different lost souls who coincidentally all end up at the magical moongate manor and in doing so become whole again, healed,loved and rejuvenated along with the manor and its wonderful gardens!
Told between the 1960s and the present day we hear Diana’s story a poignant memoir of growing up in an affluent family with many expectations and behaviours to abide by and the long term repercussions of that.
In New York we meet the lovely Amanda who has been sacked from her job after the death of her mother who she nursed to the end,whilst clearing out their home she finds a winning raffle ticket for a house in the UK, with nothing keeping her in New York she flies to London to claim her prize then travels north to claim her house moongate manor having no idea of the history and significance of her win!
Simon a lonely traveller on his trusty motorbike recovering from being jilted at the altar by his fiancée who had been having an affair with his best friend and business partner, meets Diana and is invited to become her Gardner at moongate manor a totally different role for him but nonetheless one that offers a healing therapeutic environment to lick his wounds and recover!
These three very different individuals brought together, in the most unusual of circumstances flourish, laugh, and heal as they become intertwined with each other and form the most wonderful cohesive little family unit.
A really special read that I would thoroughly recommend to all!
Thank you netgalley for this early read!
Told between the 1960s and the present day we hear Diana’s story a poignant memoir of growing up in an affluent family with many expectations and behaviours to abide by and the long term repercussions of that.
In New York we meet the lovely Amanda who has been sacked from her job after the death of her mother who she nursed to the end,whilst clearing out their home she finds a winning raffle ticket for a house in the UK, with nothing keeping her in New York she flies to London to claim her prize then travels north to claim her house moongate manor having no idea of the history and significance of her win!
Simon a lonely traveller on his trusty motorbike recovering from being jilted at the altar by his fiancée who had been having an affair with his best friend and business partner, meets Diana and is invited to become her Gardner at moongate manor a totally different role for him but nonetheless one that offers a healing therapeutic environment to lick his wounds and recover!
These three very different individuals brought together, in the most unusual of circumstances flourish, laugh, and heal as they become intertwined with each other and form the most wonderful cohesive little family unit.
A really special read that I would thoroughly recommend to all!
Thank you netgalley for this early read!
February 12, 2023
Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this. Amanda's last few weeks have been a blur since losing her mother. When she finds out that her mother entered a contest and won a house in Britain, she is unsure what to do. She decides to take a leap of faith and go. I could not put thus book down.
April 8, 2023
This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. Like the other book by Kate Forster I read, Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross, Fly Me to Moongate Manor takes its readers to the ups and downs of life and teaches us that you can find family and yourself when you least expect it.
Amanda is all alone in NYC after her mother died. However, she finds out she won a manor in an English town, so she flies across the globe to see it. Here she meets Diana, a lovely old lady who was the previous owner of the manor and was looking for fresh blood to take over as it takes quite an effort to maintain it. Amanda falls in love with the manor and accepts to renovate it. Simon, he's been travelling all over the UK since his business partner and his ex-fiancee betrayed him. By chance he passes in front of Moongate Manor and falls in love with its gardens. He accepts the temporary job from Diana to be the gardener for a few months. Amanda and Simon don't get along, but working together brings them closer and they start healing from their own trauma and find a closure. But finding closure can break them apart when the truth about the manor comes to light.
Amanda is all alone in NYC after her mother died. However, she finds out she won a manor in an English town, so she flies across the globe to see it. Here she meets Diana, a lovely old lady who was the previous owner of the manor and was looking for fresh blood to take over as it takes quite an effort to maintain it. Amanda falls in love with the manor and accepts to renovate it. Simon, he's been travelling all over the UK since his business partner and his ex-fiancee betrayed him. By chance he passes in front of Moongate Manor and falls in love with its gardens. He accepts the temporary job from Diana to be the gardener for a few months. Amanda and Simon don't get along, but working together brings them closer and they start healing from their own trauma and find a closure. But finding closure can break them apart when the truth about the manor comes to light.
February 10, 2023
This is a wonderful story of transformation. Amanda at the beginning of the book is living a half-life, going to a job she does not like or want, has recently lost my mother to cancer (and she was her mother's caregiver), and has no other family. She is a wonderfully cheerful sparkly person, and she spreads sunshine wherever she goes. I took an immediate liking to her and wanted her to achieve all her dreams. Without giving away any of the plot, I will just say that her life is guided by coincidences/fate/angels, that guide her on the correct path. Although this is a work of fiction, I do believe this can happen in life. If you keep your eyes open, there is wonder and guidance all over.
Simon, who was recently dumped by his girlfriend, is a lost soul, wandering, trying to heal. He happens upon Moongate Manor, as does Amanda and the rest is a lovely tale.
I adore books with characters of various ages, and especially if there is one or more of the older population. This book undeniably has that feature! There are several older characters full of wisdom, knowledge and love to share.
I enjoyed this book so much. This was the first book I have read by Kate Forster. I enjoyed her writing style, her unique plot and the delightful characters. I definitely recommend this book!
A huge thank you Aria & Aries and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
Simon, who was recently dumped by his girlfriend, is a lost soul, wandering, trying to heal. He happens upon Moongate Manor, as does Amanda and the rest is a lovely tale.
I adore books with characters of various ages, and especially if there is one or more of the older population. This book undeniably has that feature! There are several older characters full of wisdom, knowledge and love to share.
I enjoyed this book so much. This was the first book I have read by Kate Forster. I enjoyed her writing style, her unique plot and the delightful characters. I definitely recommend this book!
A huge thank you Aria & Aries and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
March 6, 2023
Not a bad read but very predictable. The dialogue was odd, stiff and formal. Some contractions wouldn’t have gone amiss. Real people speaking so stiffly is something I have never encountered in real life.
March 13, 2024
Belíssimo ❤️ wonderful 😍
November 8, 2024
4.5 ⭐️’s! This was such a cute book! The cover does not do it justice. I really enjoyed the story.
March 13, 2025
Nice little story but the editing needs work. Words missing or wrong ones inserted. Very annoying when reading, just seemed to be waiting for next one to crop up which distracts from the story.
May 9, 2024
Fly Me to Moongate Manor is a cosy small town romance with an English countryside setting and whimsical characters.
We meet our three main characters through their own POV chapters: Amanda, who is not only struggling with grieving her mother but has also been evicted and fired on the same day, Simon who is nomading around England in the wake of being left at the altar when his business partner steals his fiancée and bankrupts him, and Diana, the aging owner of stunning Moongate Manor with a torrid past.
When Diana, who cannot manage the sprawling grounds and upkeep, puts the Manor up as a prize in a competition, it is Amanda’s mothers ticket that is chosen and sends her on journey to find a new beginning in Foxfield. And when Simon accepts a short term position as gardener from Diana, the two young people are destined to meet.
It’s hard not to fall in love with the quaint village and sweet ‘found family’ themes in this contemporary yet magical tale. Diana gives me Fairy Godmother vibes and I loved the flashbacks, which only made me love her more. This is such a lovely, positive story, that is not without its ‘feeling’ moments but was such a great read.
We meet our three main characters through their own POV chapters: Amanda, who is not only struggling with grieving her mother but has also been evicted and fired on the same day, Simon who is nomading around England in the wake of being left at the altar when his business partner steals his fiancée and bankrupts him, and Diana, the aging owner of stunning Moongate Manor with a torrid past.
When Diana, who cannot manage the sprawling grounds and upkeep, puts the Manor up as a prize in a competition, it is Amanda’s mothers ticket that is chosen and sends her on journey to find a new beginning in Foxfield. And when Simon accepts a short term position as gardener from Diana, the two young people are destined to meet.
It’s hard not to fall in love with the quaint village and sweet ‘found family’ themes in this contemporary yet magical tale. Diana gives me Fairy Godmother vibes and I loved the flashbacks, which only made me love her more. This is such a lovely, positive story, that is not without its ‘feeling’ moments but was such a great read.
July 25, 2023
A great light read. Predictable, but a lovely feel good story. Perfect for a bit of summer reading.
January 9, 2023
A sweet and funny story . Few days after her mothers death Amanda she is jobless and is evicted from her apartment and she discovers she won a house in England . With nothing to lose she goes to her new house near Newcastle . It a manor but she will have to take care of the garden . The owner of the manor is a older lady Diana who can't take care of the manor anymore so from now she will live in the gatehouse . While passing by the manor with his motorbile Simon he stops to look at the most beautiful manor he ever saw . The owner ask him to be her garderner for the next three months and he accepts . When Amanda arrives she is becoming friends with Diana and Simon . Together the young people try to fix the garden and ask the help of the village gardening club .
While working on the garden and also on their personal problems they come close and love finds them .
I just Loved the connection between Diana and Amanda .
I received this book from netgalley and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .
While working on the garden and also on their personal problems they come close and love finds them .
I just Loved the connection between Diana and Amanda .
I received this book from netgalley and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .
March 16, 2023
This was a cute second chance book. I really liked the main character and she gets this beautiful place in moongate manor with a garden, this guy comes along and is looking for a job so he becomes the gardener he has his own issues with his ex girlfriend he wants a fresh start so he goes to moongate manor as a gardener there. and there was mystery to it about diana. I loved diana and amanda, also how others come to help in this story. I recieved this book as a netgalley arc!
January 28, 2023
Sweet story about finding your people, who may or may not be your blood family. Sometimes losing people and "things" can help you find the things and people you need in life. I really enjoyed how the three separate character's stories tied together.
Thank you Netgalley and Arias & Aries for the ARC!
Thank you Netgalley and Arias & Aries for the ARC!
February 1, 2023
Duel timeline story following 3 people. Slightly stiff in places but beautiful garden descriptions which appeals to me. Nicely finished. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy
March 3, 2023
Another beautiful book by Kate Forster. Absolutely lovely, really beautifully written and heartwarming.
April 14, 2023
Amanda Cox, 26, and her mother, Wendy, had always been close living together in an apartment in New York. One day, her mother fell and tests showed she had a terminal brain tumor. Refusing treatment, she passed away not long after. While ill, Wendy kept entering contests hoping to win something for Amanda.
Now, two months later, Amanda has lost her job and her apartment lease. But she opens mail one day to learn that she has been the winner of a contest Wendy entered and is now the owner of a home called Moongate Manor in the village of Foxfield near Newcastle upon Tyne in England. Worried that it’s not legit, her friend pushes her to go to England and check out her prize.
Simon Herald made a vast wealth with the stock market software he invented along with his partner, Charlie. Engaged to Anika, they were planning an elaborate wedding. But, she left him standing at the altar when she ran off with his partner who stole all of his money as well. Shocked and saddened, he has been wandering around from different places on his motorbike making money doing odd jobs. When he drives into Foxfield, he is taken with a beautiful home. He talks to the owner, Diana Graybrook-Moore, the elderly spinster owner of Moongate Manor. She has moved into the Gatehouse and offers him the job of gardener for the summer and he can stay in the gardener’s house on the estate. Diana can no longer care for the home and has offered it as a prize.
When Amanda arrives, she falls in love with the Manor and she and Simon immediately set in to do everything they can to return the gardens to their former glory.
What a totally beautiful and heartwarming novel. I loved the characters and their interaction with one another. There’s close friendships and beautiful descriptions of the Manor and the gardens. Don’t miss this one. The story will stay with you for a long time to come.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Now, two months later, Amanda has lost her job and her apartment lease. But she opens mail one day to learn that she has been the winner of a contest Wendy entered and is now the owner of a home called Moongate Manor in the village of Foxfield near Newcastle upon Tyne in England. Worried that it’s not legit, her friend pushes her to go to England and check out her prize.
Simon Herald made a vast wealth with the stock market software he invented along with his partner, Charlie. Engaged to Anika, they were planning an elaborate wedding. But, she left him standing at the altar when she ran off with his partner who stole all of his money as well. Shocked and saddened, he has been wandering around from different places on his motorbike making money doing odd jobs. When he drives into Foxfield, he is taken with a beautiful home. He talks to the owner, Diana Graybrook-Moore, the elderly spinster owner of Moongate Manor. She has moved into the Gatehouse and offers him the job of gardener for the summer and he can stay in the gardener’s house on the estate. Diana can no longer care for the home and has offered it as a prize.
When Amanda arrives, she falls in love with the Manor and she and Simon immediately set in to do everything they can to return the gardens to their former glory.
What a totally beautiful and heartwarming novel. I loved the characters and their interaction with one another. There’s close friendships and beautiful descriptions of the Manor and the gardens. Don’t miss this one. The story will stay with you for a long time to come.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 10, 2023
This book has three points of view: Amanda, Simon and Diana. Amanda Cox is a New Yorker who wins a beautiful country house in Britain in a raffle. She finds out while cleaning out her house after the death of her mum and being sacked from her job. ‘What have you got to lose?’ asks her friend, so after some convincing she takes the plane to Great Britain.
Simon in the meantime is escaping his own horrors by traveling the country on a motorcycle after he finds out on his wedding day that his fiancée had an affair with his best friend and business partner. So of course he’s very angry and feels stupid for being duped by them both. Diana hired him as a gardener.
Diana is the elderly lady who used to own the house but decided to give up her house.
The book continues to jump from the present (Amanda, Simon) to the past (Diana in her teens), so it basically tells three stories, that all come together in the end. I guessed the reason for the addition Diana’s history pretty early on, and although some might find that it slowed down the story of Amanda and Simon, it adds another level to the book that most will find beautiful.
This is a lovely story about three people who all have lost someone, are hurt, but decide to start over and find love and happiness along the way.
I received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and I am grateful for this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Simon in the meantime is escaping his own horrors by traveling the country on a motorcycle after he finds out on his wedding day that his fiancée had an affair with his best friend and business partner. So of course he’s very angry and feels stupid for being duped by them both. Diana hired him as a gardener.
Diana is the elderly lady who used to own the house but decided to give up her house.
The book continues to jump from the present (Amanda, Simon) to the past (Diana in her teens), so it basically tells three stories, that all come together in the end. I guessed the reason for the addition Diana’s history pretty early on, and although some might find that it slowed down the story of Amanda and Simon, it adds another level to the book that most will find beautiful.
This is a lovely story about three people who all have lost someone, are hurt, but decide to start over and find love and happiness along the way.
I received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and I am grateful for this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 26, 2023
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion*
I loved following Amanda on her journey from lost and grieving New Yorker to optimistic and open to new adventures as the owner of Moongate Manor. She might have been a little heavy-handed with her declaring her and Simon friends, but she probably did need to push like that in order to get him to accept he wasn't alone. I also loved seeing how Amanda and Diana's relationship developed even before Amanda knew the entire truth of what was going on. Getting to see Diana develop new friendships was also very satisfying - she had closed herself off after what her parents had done so it was good to see her getting a chance to reclaim some part of her life. My only complaint about this book Simon's big confrontation with Anika and Charlie toward the end of the book is done completely off-page. We have followed Simon through his recovery from their betrayals and then we don't even get to see the moments when he gets his say with both of them. This isn't really a complaint about the story, but there were so many typos in this book it made me wonder if anyone had checked it before publication - there are misspellings, missing words in sentences, and just the completely wrong word for the sentence. This is actually something I've noticed in the last few books I have read.
I loved following Amanda on her journey from lost and grieving New Yorker to optimistic and open to new adventures as the owner of Moongate Manor. She might have been a little heavy-handed with her declaring her and Simon friends, but she probably did need to push like that in order to get him to accept he wasn't alone. I also loved seeing how Amanda and Diana's relationship developed even before Amanda knew the entire truth of what was going on. Getting to see Diana develop new friendships was also very satisfying - she had closed herself off after what her parents had done so it was good to see her getting a chance to reclaim some part of her life. My only complaint about this book Simon's big confrontation with Anika and Charlie toward the end of the book is done completely off-page. We have followed Simon through his recovery from their betrayals and then we don't even get to see the moments when he gets his say with both of them. This isn't really a complaint about the story, but there were so many typos in this book it made me wonder if anyone had checked it before publication - there are misspellings, missing words in sentences, and just the completely wrong word for the sentence. This is actually something I've noticed in the last few books I have read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2023
Let me start by saying that this is a dual-timeline book, which, if done well, works. This was not one of those times.
I chose this book based on the NetGalley blurb, which reads: Amanda Cox is living in New York with a non-committal boyfriend and a student loan that threatens to crush her. That is, until she enters a raffle for a manor house in the British countryside of Northumberland – and wins...
I was intrigued. I had visions of The Money Pit mixed in with Grand Designs and some romance.
Instead, I got a dual timeline with stiff, almost formal, writing, and characters that were not fully fleshed out. The relationship between the two main characters felt very rushed and was definitely an afterthought. Although pegged as a romance, this is more in line with women’s fiction.
The ending was predictable, and the book was cute enough for me to finish. I have not heard of this author before, perhaps this is a debut novel?
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
I chose this book based on the NetGalley blurb, which reads: Amanda Cox is living in New York with a non-committal boyfriend and a student loan that threatens to crush her. That is, until she enters a raffle for a manor house in the British countryside of Northumberland – and wins...
I was intrigued. I had visions of The Money Pit mixed in with Grand Designs and some romance.
Instead, I got a dual timeline with stiff, almost formal, writing, and characters that were not fully fleshed out. The relationship between the two main characters felt very rushed and was definitely an afterthought. Although pegged as a romance, this is more in line with women’s fiction.
The ending was predictable, and the book was cute enough for me to finish. I have not heard of this author before, perhaps this is a debut novel?
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
May 20, 2023
A very special book with a wonderful story! I suspected the outcome but it was even better than I had thought. A delightful book with wonderful characters.
Amazon synopsis:
A surprise raffle ticket.
A beautiful manor in the British countryside.
Three strangers looking for a place to call home.
Amanda's world falls apart when her mother passes away. Stuck with a non-committal boyfriend and a soulless job, she has never felt more alone in New York.
Ever since his girlfriend left him broke and heartbroken, Simon has been riding his motorcycle around England all summer looking for a distraction.
Diana, the enigmatic lady of Moongate Manor, has not been seen by the locals in decades, fueling the town's gossip on her secret past.
When unexpected circumstances bring them all to Moongate Manor with the common mission of restoring its once beautiful garden, can three strangers find new starts in the most unexpected of places?
Amazon synopsis:
A surprise raffle ticket.
A beautiful manor in the British countryside.
Three strangers looking for a place to call home.
Amanda's world falls apart when her mother passes away. Stuck with a non-committal boyfriend and a soulless job, she has never felt more alone in New York.
Ever since his girlfriend left him broke and heartbroken, Simon has been riding his motorcycle around England all summer looking for a distraction.
Diana, the enigmatic lady of Moongate Manor, has not been seen by the locals in decades, fueling the town's gossip on her secret past.
When unexpected circumstances bring them all to Moongate Manor with the common mission of restoring its once beautiful garden, can three strangers find new starts in the most unexpected of places?
June 23, 2023
Fly Me to Moongate Manor by Kate Forster
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Aria and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Amanda Cox is living in New York with a non-committal boyfriend and a student loan that threatens to crush her. That is, until she enters a raffle for a manor house in the British countryside of Northumberland – and wins...
My Opinion
Following the death of her mother, Amanda is in need of an escape - this comes in the form of winning a raffle. The prize for the raffle just so happens to be a manor in England. This book is told in two different timelines but it is very easy to follow as the timeline set in the past is clearly labelled.
This was an enjoyable, quick read. This is the third book I have read by Kate Forster and I have to say that I love the writing style. A nice, heart-warming read as Amanda learns the real truth about her family.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Aria and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Amanda Cox is living in New York with a non-committal boyfriend and a student loan that threatens to crush her. That is, until she enters a raffle for a manor house in the British countryside of Northumberland – and wins...
My Opinion
Following the death of her mother, Amanda is in need of an escape - this comes in the form of winning a raffle. The prize for the raffle just so happens to be a manor in England. This book is told in two different timelines but it is very easy to follow as the timeline set in the past is clearly labelled.
This was an enjoyable, quick read. This is the third book I have read by Kate Forster and I have to say that I love the writing style. A nice, heart-warming read as Amanda learns the real truth about her family.
Rating 4/5
February 23, 2023
Life is bleak for Amanda, she is dealing with a bereavement and her life isn’t how she hoped it would be. The surprise lottery win ignites something in her and she decides to go and see what life would be like in an English manor house. Diana, the previous owner of the manor house, is friendly but reserved. Amanda senses there are things she’s not being told. Then there is Simon, the casual garden helper, who knows nothing about gardening. What is there in his past that he has run away from?
A treat for anyone who enjoyed The Secret Garden. There is a definite feeling that both the garden and the people are transforming. Easy and enjoyable reading. I loved it!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a complimentary digital copy of this ebook in exchange for a full, frank and honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
A treat for anyone who enjoyed The Secret Garden. There is a definite feeling that both the garden and the people are transforming. Easy and enjoyable reading. I loved it!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a complimentary digital copy of this ebook in exchange for a full, frank and honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
March 11, 2023
This was quite a heartwarming story. It features betrayal, love and happiness.
Simon has been betrayed by both his fiancé and best friend. He ends up working in the gardens of Moongate Manor for Diana.
Diana lives in the Gatehouse near Moongate. Her story is told in two timelines, present day and the 1960's.
Amanda has recently lost her mum and needs to find purpose so after 'winning' Moongate Manor in a raffle she heads to England.
I loved how the characters interacted. Amanda is a go getter and charms people into helping her with the garden.
Diana is a very intriguing character with many layers. I really enjoyed her back story.
The whole setting sounded gorgeous and I would love to live there.
I received this free digital copy from the publishers Zeus/ Aria and Aries in return for an honest review. Thanks to them and Netgalley
Simon has been betrayed by both his fiancé and best friend. He ends up working in the gardens of Moongate Manor for Diana.
Diana lives in the Gatehouse near Moongate. Her story is told in two timelines, present day and the 1960's.
Amanda has recently lost her mum and needs to find purpose so after 'winning' Moongate Manor in a raffle she heads to England.
I loved how the characters interacted. Amanda is a go getter and charms people into helping her with the garden.
Diana is a very intriguing character with many layers. I really enjoyed her back story.
The whole setting sounded gorgeous and I would love to live there.
I received this free digital copy from the publishers Zeus/ Aria and Aries in return for an honest review. Thanks to them and Netgalley
May 26, 2023
Amanda is practically destitute. Her mother has recently died from brain cancer, her boyfriend is non-committal, she has just lost her job and to top it all off she has been evicted from her tiny New York apartment. Out of the blue, she receives notice that her mother has won a competition, and the prize goes to her. Amanda has won a house in a small village near Newcastle in her mother's home country (England). Amanda travels to her new home, Moongate Manor, and takes on the massive task of restoring the estate's gardens. But it's not just a house and garden, her new adventures result in her meeting a potential romantic partner. Simon the heartbroken gardening assistant, Diana, the former owner of the estate and plenty of friendly locals. This is a delightful, feel-good story. Great holiday reading.
December 30, 2023
There is a lot more to this book than first impressions may give, and I loved it all the more for it.
This whole book had a warm and cosy vibe to it, and was a lovely story on face value about restoring a garden to its former glory.
But it's also about new friendships, coming to terms with loss, and in the case of Diana, putting to rest ghosts of her past.
And Diana's past story from the 60s, was gripping and painful at the same time. But it leads to such a fabulous set of revelations that I loved it all the more for it.
I found this a very quick book to read, and read it in two sittings, in only a few short hours. I was gripped and smiling and generally loving it.
Another fabulous book from Kate Forster.
Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
This whole book had a warm and cosy vibe to it, and was a lovely story on face value about restoring a garden to its former glory.
But it's also about new friendships, coming to terms with loss, and in the case of Diana, putting to rest ghosts of her past.
And Diana's past story from the 60s, was gripping and painful at the same time. But it leads to such a fabulous set of revelations that I loved it all the more for it.
I found this a very quick book to read, and read it in two sittings, in only a few short hours. I was gripped and smiling and generally loving it.
Another fabulous book from Kate Forster.
Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
March 17, 2023
This was my first Kate Forster novel, but it won't be my last. She does a great job bringing the characters to live.
Betrayal, heartbreak , grief, friendships, and family drama, can all be found in this novel.
Three people who have been hurt in the past come together at Moongate Manor. Diana who owns Moongate Manor, hires Simon to work for her for the sumer. Soon Amanda shows up at Moongate. Can they overcome the hurt and move forward? Or is the hurt to hard to deal with? As more secrets are revealed, being at Moongate causes second thoughts just as tragedy happens, but is it too late?
Pre-order this book today so that you can read it and enjoy it as much as I did. You won't be disappointed.
I received an advanced copy of this novel for my honest review. I gave it 4 stars
Betrayal, heartbreak , grief, friendships, and family drama, can all be found in this novel.
Three people who have been hurt in the past come together at Moongate Manor. Diana who owns Moongate Manor, hires Simon to work for her for the sumer. Soon Amanda shows up at Moongate. Can they overcome the hurt and move forward? Or is the hurt to hard to deal with? As more secrets are revealed, being at Moongate causes second thoughts just as tragedy happens, but is it too late?
Pre-order this book today so that you can read it and enjoy it as much as I did. You won't be disappointed.
I received an advanced copy of this novel for my honest review. I gave it 4 stars
April 24, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
The blurb made it sound as though this was just the sort of book I like to read, although I haven't read anything else by this author. The ARC had numerous mistakes in spelling, punctuation and grammar although this might have been rectified by now. I thought the narrative style was a little odd, sometimes stilted and intermittently simplistic. With 2 main female characters the story was along dual timelines, with a fairly predictable outcome, but pleasant nonetheless. The characters were heartwarming and interesting and the romance built slowly but I thought Amanda was a little too good to be true. An average read.
The blurb made it sound as though this was just the sort of book I like to read, although I haven't read anything else by this author. The ARC had numerous mistakes in spelling, punctuation and grammar although this might have been rectified by now. I thought the narrative style was a little odd, sometimes stilted and intermittently simplistic. With 2 main female characters the story was along dual timelines, with a fairly predictable outcome, but pleasant nonetheless. The characters were heartwarming and interesting and the romance built slowly but I thought Amanda was a little too good to be true. An average read.
May 31, 2025
This book started out well, seeming to have mystery and magic awaiting us on the pages. However, it fell flat. The mystery was predictable. The love interest was not well-developed, although the friendships were lovely. Amanda is far too reactionary, which I suppose can be explained by her being rather young still, but I found myself rolling my eyes.
I'm also getting so tired of authors inserting political views into their stories. It may seem like a small detail, but it was too in-your-face. Janet and Carole were a lovely couple, and it could have been left at that, no problem. I didn't need to know all of the activist groups that Janet supported. I almost stopped reading right there in chapter 14.
I'm also getting so tired of authors inserting political views into their stories. It may seem like a small detail, but it was too in-your-face. Janet and Carole were a lovely couple, and it could have been left at that, no problem. I didn't need to know all of the activist groups that Janet supported. I almost stopped reading right there in chapter 14.
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