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Vrij spel
Twee jaar geleden heeft Bella Castle vanwege een verbroken liefde al haar schepen verbrand. Bij haar geliefde peettante Alice heeft ze een nieuw leven op weten te bouwen: een nieuwe baan, een nieuwe relatie. Inmiddels is Bella dol op haar werk en haar lieve vriend Nevil. Tenminste, daar is ze van overtuigd. Totdat Dominic Thane ineens op de stoep staat. Bella zal moeten besluiten waar – en bij wie! – ze nu eigenlijk echt thuishoort...
315 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
135 people are currently reading
1561 people want to read
About the author
Katie Fforde
96 books2,314 followersCatherine Rose Gordon-Cumming was born 27 September 1952 in England, UK, the daughter of Shirley Barbara Laub and Michael Willoughby Gordon-Cumming. Her grandfather was Sir William Gordon-Cumming. Her sister is fellow writer Jane Gordon-Cumming. Katie married Desmond Fforde, cousin of the also writer Jasper Fforde. She has three children: Guy, Francis and Briony and didn't start writing until after the birth of her third child. She has previously worked both as a cleaning lady and in a health food cafe.
Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."
Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.
Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."
Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
April 14, 2020
I don't know what it says about me or this book that I got all the way to the end without realising I'd read this before; absolutely no recollection of it whatsoever. Reading my review, I didn't enjoy it any more the second time around. I was also bemused at the 20-something heroine who behaved, thought and spoke like a middle-aged woman. Most odd. Clearly this lockdown has sent me quite loopy.
Meh.
I haven't read a Katie Fforde for ages, but I was bored with smut and fancy something frothy and easy to read and this was fairly undemanding, just as all of this author's books are, but it missed the mark for me I'm afraid.
There were two romances going on - and I use that word in the absence of another word to describe the indifferent coming together of four very uninteresting people - and a bizarre sub plot centering around the dodgy dealings of an oily estate agent that was quite daft.
Where I've enjoyed books from this author before the love interest has been a brooding, manly man, flashing his dark eyes at her angrily whilst she flits around being an absolute sweetie to all and sundry, but in this one, the love interest was easy going and reasonable from the start and spent next to no time with our plucky gal, so I didn't get to see whether there was a connection there, let alone wallow in the romance.
Not my favourite from this author - I preferred Stately Pursuits. Ah well.
Meh.
I haven't read a Katie Fforde for ages, but I was bored with smut and fancy something frothy and easy to read and this was fairly undemanding, just as all of this author's books are, but it missed the mark for me I'm afraid.
There were two romances going on - and I use that word in the absence of another word to describe the indifferent coming together of four very uninteresting people - and a bizarre sub plot centering around the dodgy dealings of an oily estate agent that was quite daft.
Where I've enjoyed books from this author before the love interest has been a brooding, manly man, flashing his dark eyes at her angrily whilst she flits around being an absolute sweetie to all and sundry, but in this one, the love interest was easy going and reasonable from the start and spent next to no time with our plucky gal, so I didn't get to see whether there was a connection there, let alone wallow in the romance.
Not my favourite from this author - I preferred Stately Pursuits. Ah well.
May 13, 2015
Two and a half stars
I have often enjoyed Katie FForde novels. They are chick lit and they are usually light and a fun read. So I approached The Perfect Match expecting to enjoy it. It is definitely chick lit and it is light and frothy. Yet somehow for me this one missed the mark a little. I suspect it was the main character, Bella who is an estate agent and involved with Nigel her boss that was the problem. Too often I found myself thinking Bella needed a good talking to about not being such a twit. I couldn’t believe the nonsense she put up with from Nigel and her compliance. Her excuses for putting up with them didn’t ring true to me.
As for Nigel it was obvious from the beginning he was a creep and hard to see why she wasted time on him. The author is at pains to point out that Bella really drifted into this relationship on the rebound after having her heart broken by Dominic Thane, which is why she had left her previous home and job and moved in with her godmother. Then Dominic moves to the town where she has set up her new life. You suspect what will happen.
I did like the other characters, Bella's godmother, Alice, Michael, the man Alice meets on the train and some of Bella’s clients we get to know through the estate agency. Bella has a kind heart and always wants the best for her clients, but even so I found her an unsatisfactory main character. However I still read it and will continue to read Katie Forde books even though this one wasn’t, in my opinion, up to her usual standard. Others may have a different opinion. I suspect it will depend on how much Bella either appeals or doesn’t.
I have often enjoyed Katie FForde novels. They are chick lit and they are usually light and a fun read. So I approached The Perfect Match expecting to enjoy it. It is definitely chick lit and it is light and frothy. Yet somehow for me this one missed the mark a little. I suspect it was the main character, Bella who is an estate agent and involved with Nigel her boss that was the problem. Too often I found myself thinking Bella needed a good talking to about not being such a twit. I couldn’t believe the nonsense she put up with from Nigel and her compliance. Her excuses for putting up with them didn’t ring true to me.
As for Nigel it was obvious from the beginning he was a creep and hard to see why she wasted time on him. The author is at pains to point out that Bella really drifted into this relationship on the rebound after having her heart broken by Dominic Thane, which is why she had left her previous home and job and moved in with her godmother. Then Dominic moves to the town where she has set up her new life. You suspect what will happen.
I did like the other characters, Bella's godmother, Alice, Michael, the man Alice meets on the train and some of Bella’s clients we get to know through the estate agency. Bella has a kind heart and always wants the best for her clients, but even so I found her an unsatisfactory main character. However I still read it and will continue to read Katie Forde books even though this one wasn’t, in my opinion, up to her usual standard. Others may have a different opinion. I suspect it will depend on how much Bella either appeals or doesn’t.
March 13, 2014
3 - Time Warp Stars (Warning Slight Spoilers Ahead).
It pains me to write a less than stellar review for The Perfect Match, but although I loved 50% of the storyline, the other 50% for me was a little disappointing. This is only my opinion, and as such would not stop me from recommending the book to other people, just this time it wasn’t wholly my cup of tea!
For me, the secondary characters and their storylines were absolutely adorable, they were the enjoyable part of The Perfect Match, and are exactly what I would expect from a Katie Fforde book.
I loved Alice and Michael’s love story, cake-baking Jane Langley, Mr & Mrs Agnew and the many and varied clients that Bella deals with in her line of work as an estate agent.
What I really didn’t like, and it really does pain me to say this, was Bella. In the world we live in today, I as a 30 something woman don’t really ever want to read of a female character meekly accepting it when a man insinuates that she is fat and intimates she is stupid and to be indulged, what is even worse is the man in question is her boyfriend/fiancé Nevil. Yes Bella does eventually come to her senses, but really this is meant to be an intelligent, modern woman....not-so-much in my opinion.
I also found several aspects of the story a tad sketchy, firstly as a supposedly intelligent, modern woman, would you really up sticks, leave your job and relocate to another area, just because the man you have a crush on at the office announces his wife is pregnant. Yes there was a one-off under the mistletoe kiss but other than that nothing happened between them. Now I have had plenty of office crushes, and yes a lot of them are married, but I have never felt the urge to up and move away just because it turns out that, yes as a married couple they are having sex and having children together. This would have been ok as the story goes, but not when it turns out that after you have relocated due to your “broken heart” you then up and get into a rebound relationship with your new boss Nevil, who is an absolute tool to put it mildly, comes across as all a bit contradictory for me!!
Unfortunately it doesn’t stop there, the guy you originally up and move your whole life to get away from due to your “crush”, then turns up unexpectedly. Now divorced from said wife (no longer pregnant, the child is 2 years old) and after initially being angry at you (no real explanation as to why he is at the time) you share a couple of passionate kisses. Again, as an intelligent, modern woman (I know I am harping on with this phrasing) would you then think it is acceptable behaviour to approach the ex-wife of your “crush “(a woman you don’t really even know) and extol to her the virtues of her ex-husband in an effort to help along his custody woes..... I mean seriously!!!
Don't get me wrong The Perfect Match is in the main an enjoyable read, and thankfully all of the aforementioned irregularities are pretty much cleared up in the last 5% of the book. But for all that, there were just too many things that made me feel like I was reading something that had been written back in the 60’s or 70’s, when women were happy to consider marrying a man in exchange for stability and a good house. And it was considered ok for your husband/partner to tell you that he thinks you are carrying a little excess baggage, so you can whip out the Jane Fonda exercise LP in between ironing and getting the dinner on the table, to make sure that you don’t become an embarrassment to him when you are out in public together....
This isn’t the first Katie Fforde book I have read, it won’t be the last, but it is the only one I can honestly say I didn’t truly love to bits, however I am sure that there will be plenty of other people that will, this time it just wasn’t 100% for me.
ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for the above honest review.
It pains me to write a less than stellar review for The Perfect Match, but although I loved 50% of the storyline, the other 50% for me was a little disappointing. This is only my opinion, and as such would not stop me from recommending the book to other people, just this time it wasn’t wholly my cup of tea!
For me, the secondary characters and their storylines were absolutely adorable, they were the enjoyable part of The Perfect Match, and are exactly what I would expect from a Katie Fforde book.
I loved Alice and Michael’s love story, cake-baking Jane Langley, Mr & Mrs Agnew and the many and varied clients that Bella deals with in her line of work as an estate agent.
What I really didn’t like, and it really does pain me to say this, was Bella. In the world we live in today, I as a 30 something woman don’t really ever want to read of a female character meekly accepting it when a man insinuates that she is fat and intimates she is stupid and to be indulged, what is even worse is the man in question is her boyfriend/fiancé Nevil. Yes Bella does eventually come to her senses, but really this is meant to be an intelligent, modern woman....not-so-much in my opinion.
I also found several aspects of the story a tad sketchy, firstly as a supposedly intelligent, modern woman, would you really up sticks, leave your job and relocate to another area, just because the man you have a crush on at the office announces his wife is pregnant. Yes there was a one-off under the mistletoe kiss but other than that nothing happened between them. Now I have had plenty of office crushes, and yes a lot of them are married, but I have never felt the urge to up and move away just because it turns out that, yes as a married couple they are having sex and having children together. This would have been ok as the story goes, but not when it turns out that after you have relocated due to your “broken heart” you then up and get into a rebound relationship with your new boss Nevil, who is an absolute tool to put it mildly, comes across as all a bit contradictory for me!!
Unfortunately it doesn’t stop there, the guy you originally up and move your whole life to get away from due to your “crush”, then turns up unexpectedly. Now divorced from said wife (no longer pregnant, the child is 2 years old) and after initially being angry at you (no real explanation as to why he is at the time) you share a couple of passionate kisses. Again, as an intelligent, modern woman (I know I am harping on with this phrasing) would you then think it is acceptable behaviour to approach the ex-wife of your “crush “(a woman you don’t really even know) and extol to her the virtues of her ex-husband in an effort to help along his custody woes..... I mean seriously!!!
Don't get me wrong The Perfect Match is in the main an enjoyable read, and thankfully all of the aforementioned irregularities are pretty much cleared up in the last 5% of the book. But for all that, there were just too many things that made me feel like I was reading something that had been written back in the 60’s or 70’s, when women were happy to consider marrying a man in exchange for stability and a good house. And it was considered ok for your husband/partner to tell you that he thinks you are carrying a little excess baggage, so you can whip out the Jane Fonda exercise LP in between ironing and getting the dinner on the table, to make sure that you don’t become an embarrassment to him when you are out in public together....
This isn’t the first Katie Fforde book I have read, it won’t be the last, but it is the only one I can honestly say I didn’t truly love to bits, however I am sure that there will be plenty of other people that will, this time it just wasn’t 100% for me.
ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for the above honest review.
December 28, 2020
Charming story. One of my first novels from Katie Fforde and I am sure it won't be my last. She has a wonderful, easy way of writing and as a result I charged through this book, despite it being nearly 400 pages. Her characters are on the whole really likeable and everything turns out okay in the end which is what you need from a book every now and again. I also adore books set in the countryside!
May 4, 2014
I've always enjoyed Katie Fforde's stories. They are humourous, have relateable characters and are a way to pass a couple of hours quite agreeably. However, The Perfect Match didn't come close to any of her others for me. It felt rather dull, I really didn't like the main character and there seemed to be more cases of characters repeatedly explaining things to the reader, instead of the author allowing us to make connections and infer motivation ourselves. Overall, a bit disappointing considering how much I've enjoyed her previous books.
April 15, 2020
It started slowly but I'm pleased I rarely give up on a book because it got better. Bella as a character grew on me particularly with her relationship with Dominic. I was extremely interested with the story between Bella and Dominic I could really connect to it. Alice was a good character I liked her from the start. I didn't connect with Nevil throughout the story. 3.5 stars
December 31, 2018
Heerlijk feel good boek.
October 16, 2025
loved this book.....totally different to my normal genre...but well written good story
March 7, 2019
This started well and fizzled out by the end for me.
After falling in love with a married man at work and a forbidden kiss under the mistletoe Bella Castle abruptly left her job and her home, moving away to avoid temptation. Three years later she is working for her boyfriend Nevil at a small estate agents ad living with her godmother Alice. Bella kids herself that she and Nevil are in love even though he wants her to pretend they aren't a couple while they are at work, he never listens to anything she says, he criticises her clothes and what she eats, he is patronising and belittles her.
As with all Katie Fforde heroines, Bella is special. Although she is an estate agent (often considered the lowest of the low), Bella has a gift for finding the right property for her clients and will cheerfully take them round hundreds of properties pointing out issues and generally being a Disney princess. On the other hand, if her clients are selling properties she will persuade them to do some minor improvements to help them achieve a better sale. One of her clients is Jane, who is living in a large house which is too much for her to manage but she doesn't want to sell. Originally sent to try to persuade Jane to sell, Bella now just visits Jane as a friend and helps out with some of the minor chores.
Jane's nephew comes to stay with her and turns out to be Bella's married crush from three years ago, Dominic Thane. Even worse, he has decided to move to the town and is looking for a home. Bella can barely ask about Dominic's wife and the baby they were expecting when she left.
So here we are, a love triangle between the rebound guy who is just plain nasty and the married man from her past. Also, as a bit of light relief, Alice meets a younger man on the train and begins an unlikely romance.
As I said, I quite enjoyed the start of this novel but by the end Bella had degenerated into an Enid Blyton teenager (something she kind of acknowledges) investigating nefarious deeds by Nevil and a mysterious man, she blunders around with no evidence whatsoever and is frankly TSTL. Also, I didn't buy into the Dominic love, either he behaved really badly while he was still married or Bella dreamed up a romance, then he is back in town and Wham! she is in love with him again. Someone pointed out in a review of another Katie Fforde novel that her heroes are always metaphorically patting her heroines on the head and telling them not to be silly,the big strong man will sort it out. Now while I agree that Bella was being silly, I found Dominic's condescension, especially when he hadn't declared himself, to be equally as obnoxious.
If you like Katie Fforde escapist romance I am sure you will like this too, just not my favourite.
After falling in love with a married man at work and a forbidden kiss under the mistletoe Bella Castle abruptly left her job and her home, moving away to avoid temptation. Three years later she is working for her boyfriend Nevil at a small estate agents ad living with her godmother Alice. Bella kids herself that she and Nevil are in love even though he wants her to pretend they aren't a couple while they are at work, he never listens to anything she says, he criticises her clothes and what she eats, he is patronising and belittles her.
As with all Katie Fforde heroines, Bella is special. Although she is an estate agent (often considered the lowest of the low), Bella has a gift for finding the right property for her clients and will cheerfully take them round hundreds of properties pointing out issues and generally being a Disney princess. On the other hand, if her clients are selling properties she will persuade them to do some minor improvements to help them achieve a better sale. One of her clients is Jane, who is living in a large house which is too much for her to manage but she doesn't want to sell. Originally sent to try to persuade Jane to sell, Bella now just visits Jane as a friend and helps out with some of the minor chores.
Jane's nephew comes to stay with her and turns out to be Bella's married crush from three years ago, Dominic Thane. Even worse, he has decided to move to the town and is looking for a home. Bella can barely ask about Dominic's wife and the baby they were expecting when she left.
So here we are, a love triangle between the rebound guy who is just plain nasty and the married man from her past. Also, as a bit of light relief, Alice meets a younger man on the train and begins an unlikely romance.
As I said, I quite enjoyed the start of this novel but by the end Bella had degenerated into an Enid Blyton teenager (something she kind of acknowledges) investigating nefarious deeds by Nevil and a mysterious man, she blunders around with no evidence whatsoever and is frankly TSTL. Also, I didn't buy into the Dominic love, either he behaved really badly while he was still married or Bella dreamed up a romance, then he is back in town and Wham! she is in love with him again. Someone pointed out in a review of another Katie Fforde novel that her heroes are always metaphorically patting her heroines on the head and telling them not to be silly,the big strong man will sort it out. Now while I agree that Bella was being silly, I found Dominic's condescension, especially when he hadn't declared himself, to be equally as obnoxious.
If you like Katie Fforde escapist romance I am sure you will like this too, just not my favourite.
July 31, 2014
I received this title free as a review copy, and was delighted to do so, having read most of Katie Fforde's previous novels.
The central heroine is Bella, she loves her job, her boss Nevil and living with her godmother Alice. However, all that is about to change as a result of an unexpected proposal and the re-appearance of Dominic. Dominic is not only the nephew of Jane, one of her favourite clients, but also the married man she fell in love with, which led her to run away to find the life she has now. In true Katie Fforde fashion, the course of true love never runs smooth, and we have to wait and see whether we’ll get the outcome both we and Bella wants.
What I particularly liked with this novel were the different relationships we encounter that give rise to the Perfect Match title. Not only could it apply to Bella and her relationship with Dominic, but also of that between Bella and her clients; her godmother Alice and her fledgling romance; and also the relationship between Jane and the solution to her house problem. Very often in books the sub themes and plots are merely fillers to the main story but for me with this book they were equally as important in that I wanted to have them all satisfactorily resolved, because the characters were real. I was particularly taken with the relationship between Alice and Michael, because as an older woman, her hopes and fears were something I could empathise with. Also because of the genre we know that the heroine will usually get what she wants, and that isn’t necessarily going to happen for other characters, so I really wanted to find out what happened.
I’d recommend this book for all women who want the ideal book for curling up on the settee with, for relaxing with on holiday or just for taking to bed on an early night. If you want a comfortable, warm read this book is a “Perfect Match”.
The central heroine is Bella, she loves her job, her boss Nevil and living with her godmother Alice. However, all that is about to change as a result of an unexpected proposal and the re-appearance of Dominic. Dominic is not only the nephew of Jane, one of her favourite clients, but also the married man she fell in love with, which led her to run away to find the life she has now. In true Katie Fforde fashion, the course of true love never runs smooth, and we have to wait and see whether we’ll get the outcome both we and Bella wants.
What I particularly liked with this novel were the different relationships we encounter that give rise to the Perfect Match title. Not only could it apply to Bella and her relationship with Dominic, but also of that between Bella and her clients; her godmother Alice and her fledgling romance; and also the relationship between Jane and the solution to her house problem. Very often in books the sub themes and plots are merely fillers to the main story but for me with this book they were equally as important in that I wanted to have them all satisfactorily resolved, because the characters were real. I was particularly taken with the relationship between Alice and Michael, because as an older woman, her hopes and fears were something I could empathise with. Also because of the genre we know that the heroine will usually get what she wants, and that isn’t necessarily going to happen for other characters, so I really wanted to find out what happened.
I’d recommend this book for all women who want the ideal book for curling up on the settee with, for relaxing with on holiday or just for taking to bed on an early night. If you want a comfortable, warm read this book is a “Perfect Match”.
March 17, 2014
I am a massive Katie Fforde fan and greedily devour her new book every spring but this one just felt rushed and flat. I didn't care about any character really, and Bella's back story was really weak. No love affair gone wrong or massive misunderstanding, it felt very contrived, which is so unlike Fforde. Bella herself was pretty unremarkable as was Dominic.
Never mind, the next book will be wonderful I'm sure.
Never mind, the next book will be wonderful I'm sure.
February 4, 2023
The title of this book is slightly misleading because it suggests a story where the main character might be in a relationship with someone lovely, but maybe just not right for her.
But no. Nevil, the guy Bella is dating at the start, is a prize fool. She’s not even happy. Surely it’s obvious he isn’t the one for her…I’m baffled that she stays with him for so long.
That aside, this was a sweet book, but I was a lot more invested in the storyline involving her 60 years young, single, fabulous stepmother Alice, who rediscovers love with handsome, slightly younger Michael, and has a bloody good (possibly saucy) time doing it!
This was a sweet story, bit of mystery and a happy ending. I wasn’t particularly grabbed the entire way through and there was the odd line that could have been edited better but overall it was ok. Sometimes a bit of chick lit is all I need. My second Katie Fforde book, and whilst I didn’t love this one, I’d try another.
But no. Nevil, the guy Bella is dating at the start, is a prize fool. She’s not even happy. Surely it’s obvious he isn’t the one for her…I’m baffled that she stays with him for so long.
That aside, this was a sweet book, but I was a lot more invested in the storyline involving her 60 years young, single, fabulous stepmother Alice, who rediscovers love with handsome, slightly younger Michael, and has a bloody good (possibly saucy) time doing it!
This was a sweet story, bit of mystery and a happy ending. I wasn’t particularly grabbed the entire way through and there was the odd line that could have been edited better but overall it was ok. Sometimes a bit of chick lit is all I need. My second Katie Fforde book, and whilst I didn’t love this one, I’d try another.
December 18, 2024
I have read a lot of Katie Fforde over the years, though not for the last few. Reading this reminded me why I have read so many of her books. She has a wonderful ability to build the characters, as she unfolds the story. This is not something I have always found in others of this genre. It is light, but engaging, well written and fun. Lots of love, lots of intrigue and lots of good endings.
March 23, 2014
Katie Fforde is an author whose books I always buy, and always look forward to. She’s the author of a staggering amount of novels, and I was super surprised to find that The Perfect Match is her twentieth novel! That is immense, and not a lot of authors can say they’ve passed what is a massive benchmark. Of her twenty novels I must have read at least a quarter of them, if not more, and I like that I ALWAYS know how a Katie Fforde book will go, I always know I will get a very happy ending. Sure, perhaps her writing is a bit more proper and, perhaps, old-fashioned than the newer Chick Lit authors on the scene, but that gives her books character, and you always know when you’re reading a Katie Fforde novel.
A Perfect Match tells the tale of two people, Bella and Alice. Bella is Alice’s god-daughter and after falling in love with a married man, has moved in with Alice for a fresh start and a new job in an estate agents, and has also found herself a new boyfriend in Nevil. So Bella’s in for quite the shock when her friend, and client, Jane’s nephew, who’s visiting and staying with Jane, turns out to be none other than the man Bella fell in love with – Dominic Thane. She’s sure she’s over him, but she can’t help thinking about him, and wondering why he’s suddenly popped back into her life again. Alice on the other hand is in her sixties, and the last thing she expects when she boards the train home from a day away, and ends up paying for a sandwich and drink of a man who’s forgotten his wallet, is to fall in love. At her age, it’s the last thing on her mind, but Michael is persistent and soon Alice is wondering if, indeed, you can fall in love at any age….
A Perfect Match is yet another wonderful little novel from Katie Fforde! There’s a note at the beginning of the e-book where Katie talks a little about the research she does for each job she gives her characters, and in this case, she made Bella an estate agent, but not your usual estate agent. I always got the feeling that Bella actually cared about matching the right home with the right owners and that made me feel all happy inside. She wasn’t all about the sell, and I absolutely adored the fact that she told Jane to not sell her house, under any circumstances, unless that was actually what she wanted to do. That she saw Jane as a friend, and was happy to go and water her plants and sit and just have a piece of cake. The care and patience she showed to the fussy Agnews. So unlike what you normally read of estate agents, and it rather endeared me to Bella, although there were instances where I wanted to shake her. Especially regarding her relationship with the hateful Nevil. Nevil was awful, and no woman should put up with being told she needs to lose weight, or told they’re going to get married, rather than asking. He was just awful, and the second he told Bella to lose weight, I wanted her to tell him to get lost!
Alice’s story was so lovely, I do enjoy reading about older people falling in love, and I do believe you can fall in love at any age, I would have happily moved into the house she and Bella shared, it sounded right up my street! I quite enjoyed The Perfect Match. I will be honest, it rather lacked the romance of Fforde’s earlier novels – I still remember in one novel, where the hero kidnapped the heroine, which sounds waaaaay more stalker-ish than it should, but it reads as very romantic, because they both loved each other, obviously. I was never utterly convinced about Dominic and Bella, because they didn’t really talk or interact as much as I would have liked. I want sweeping declarations! But, I enjoyed the read and the pages rather flew by for me! I really liked Bella and Alice, they were two lovely, warm, enjoyable heroines to read about, and I just wish Bella had better self-esteem issues, because she should have kicked the awful Nevil to the curb way quicker than she did, because she deserved SO much better than him and his patronising ways. This was a wonderful read, and I loved that Katie Fforde keeps me hooked, book after book, after book and The Perfect Match is one of her warmest.
A Perfect Match tells the tale of two people, Bella and Alice. Bella is Alice’s god-daughter and after falling in love with a married man, has moved in with Alice for a fresh start and a new job in an estate agents, and has also found herself a new boyfriend in Nevil. So Bella’s in for quite the shock when her friend, and client, Jane’s nephew, who’s visiting and staying with Jane, turns out to be none other than the man Bella fell in love with – Dominic Thane. She’s sure she’s over him, but she can’t help thinking about him, and wondering why he’s suddenly popped back into her life again. Alice on the other hand is in her sixties, and the last thing she expects when she boards the train home from a day away, and ends up paying for a sandwich and drink of a man who’s forgotten his wallet, is to fall in love. At her age, it’s the last thing on her mind, but Michael is persistent and soon Alice is wondering if, indeed, you can fall in love at any age….
A Perfect Match is yet another wonderful little novel from Katie Fforde! There’s a note at the beginning of the e-book where Katie talks a little about the research she does for each job she gives her characters, and in this case, she made Bella an estate agent, but not your usual estate agent. I always got the feeling that Bella actually cared about matching the right home with the right owners and that made me feel all happy inside. She wasn’t all about the sell, and I absolutely adored the fact that she told Jane to not sell her house, under any circumstances, unless that was actually what she wanted to do. That she saw Jane as a friend, and was happy to go and water her plants and sit and just have a piece of cake. The care and patience she showed to the fussy Agnews. So unlike what you normally read of estate agents, and it rather endeared me to Bella, although there were instances where I wanted to shake her. Especially regarding her relationship with the hateful Nevil. Nevil was awful, and no woman should put up with being told she needs to lose weight, or told they’re going to get married, rather than asking. He was just awful, and the second he told Bella to lose weight, I wanted her to tell him to get lost!
Alice’s story was so lovely, I do enjoy reading about older people falling in love, and I do believe you can fall in love at any age, I would have happily moved into the house she and Bella shared, it sounded right up my street! I quite enjoyed The Perfect Match. I will be honest, it rather lacked the romance of Fforde’s earlier novels – I still remember in one novel, where the hero kidnapped the heroine, which sounds waaaaay more stalker-ish than it should, but it reads as very romantic, because they both loved each other, obviously. I was never utterly convinced about Dominic and Bella, because they didn’t really talk or interact as much as I would have liked. I want sweeping declarations! But, I enjoyed the read and the pages rather flew by for me! I really liked Bella and Alice, they were two lovely, warm, enjoyable heroines to read about, and I just wish Bella had better self-esteem issues, because she should have kicked the awful Nevil to the curb way quicker than she did, because she deserved SO much better than him and his patronising ways. This was a wonderful read, and I loved that Katie Fforde keeps me hooked, book after book, after book and The Perfect Match is one of her warmest.
March 13, 2014
Katie Fforde is one of those authors who rarely disappoints. The Perfect Match is her 20th novel and I've read pretty much her whole back catalogue. Her style is fun and fresh, often with slightly more mature protagonists than in 'chicklit' titles but still with an emphasis on romance, community and friendship.
The Perfect Match introduces us to Bella Castle, an estate agent who ran away from her home town to escape the feelings she harboured for married man Dominic Thane. She's happy enough with her lot- country life with boyfriend Nevil- but when Dominic turns up looking to buy a house she starts to have doubts. Is she settling for less than what she really wants?
I loved this book! I found Bella a likeable character and I desperately wanted her to have a happy ending. And Dominic...I definitely developed a bit of a book crush on him. He isn't the perfect, clean cut type- he's a bit moody and enigmatic at times- but he won me over with his charm and I could totally understand why Bella found herself bewitched by him. The country setting of the book made for a cosy environment and I loved getting to nosy around other people's houses when Bella was doing the viewings. I am one of those weird (for weird read nosy) people who love looking around houses. I was actually a bit disappointed when we found the house we eventually bought as I knew that meant an end to my househunting adventures, so to find a book where I can see dated kitchens, decorating disasters and overgrown gardens was quite a thrill to my inner house-viewing geek.
I just love Katie Fforde. She deserves all the success she has for her beautiful, easy to read writing style- her books are accessible tales about believable characters. They are full of heart and spirit, and The Perfect Match is one of her best. Not only is she a wonderful writer but she is a genuinely lovely person-check her out on twitter @katiefforde.
The Perfect Match introduces us to Bella Castle, an estate agent who ran away from her home town to escape the feelings she harboured for married man Dominic Thane. She's happy enough with her lot- country life with boyfriend Nevil- but when Dominic turns up looking to buy a house she starts to have doubts. Is she settling for less than what she really wants?
I loved this book! I found Bella a likeable character and I desperately wanted her to have a happy ending. And Dominic...I definitely developed a bit of a book crush on him. He isn't the perfect, clean cut type- he's a bit moody and enigmatic at times- but he won me over with his charm and I could totally understand why Bella found herself bewitched by him. The country setting of the book made for a cosy environment and I loved getting to nosy around other people's houses when Bella was doing the viewings. I am one of those weird (for weird read nosy) people who love looking around houses. I was actually a bit disappointed when we found the house we eventually bought as I knew that meant an end to my househunting adventures, so to find a book where I can see dated kitchens, decorating disasters and overgrown gardens was quite a thrill to my inner house-viewing geek.
I just love Katie Fforde. She deserves all the success she has for her beautiful, easy to read writing style- her books are accessible tales about believable characters. They are full of heart and spirit, and The Perfect Match is one of her best. Not only is she a wonderful writer but she is a genuinely lovely person-check her out on twitter @katiefforde.
February 3, 2015
Katie Fforde is a solid pair of hands in the Chic Lit genre. This is her twentieth book and I’ve read and enjoyed quite a few of them.
The Perfect Match is the story of Bella who leaves her job and home because the married man she fancied was having a baby with his wife. And this is pretty much where this story all fell apart for me because I just couldn’t imagine anybody I know doing that! This is supposed to be a modern day story but it just felt as though it was an episode of Mad Men gone wrong!
As usual it is very well written and the other characters are lovely and beautifully described. I just found myself despising Bella and everything that she stood for and I couldn’t really put my finger on why she riled me so much. Don’t let this put you off but it just wasn’t for me.
Supplied by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
The Perfect Match is the story of Bella who leaves her job and home because the married man she fancied was having a baby with his wife. And this is pretty much where this story all fell apart for me because I just couldn’t imagine anybody I know doing that! This is supposed to be a modern day story but it just felt as though it was an episode of Mad Men gone wrong!
As usual it is very well written and the other characters are lovely and beautifully described. I just found myself despising Bella and everything that she stood for and I couldn’t really put my finger on why she riled me so much. Don’t let this put you off but it just wasn’t for me.
Supplied by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2020
I started reading this on kindle and got almost halfway through before I realised I own the paperback and I’ve read it before. I think that basically sums up how I felt about this book - forgettable. The main character was supposed to be in her twenties but I read her as being in her fifties. Strange. I loved the friendship between the two women but that was the best thing about this book by far. I didn’t care about the romances at all and that’s what I read Katie Fforde for. Disappointing, the author has written so many better books.
January 18, 2021
It has been a really long time since my last post due to my current studies! But I'm back and hopefully for the next month or so!
I just finished reading Katie Fforde's The Perfect Match, a book I borrowed from the library in the city center near my university. I was so happy to see there was a library with English books when I first came there. Back to the book... It looked like a fun and easy read, just a light romance. However, sad to say, I didn't really like the book. The story did not capture my attention and I flipped through the pages just wishing for it to end. It was not as good as I expected it to be. I am honestly disappointed and would not be recommending this book.
I rate this book 2.5/5 stars.
I just finished reading Katie Fforde's The Perfect Match, a book I borrowed from the library in the city center near my university. I was so happy to see there was a library with English books when I first came there. Back to the book... It looked like a fun and easy read, just a light romance. However, sad to say, I didn't really like the book. The story did not capture my attention and I flipped through the pages just wishing for it to end. It was not as good as I expected it to be. I am honestly disappointed and would not be recommending this book.
I rate this book 2.5/5 stars.
April 16, 2023
I was hate reading this by the end. The main character was so irritating. She burned her whole life because she had a crush on a married man. She dated a man for two years who had no redeeming features. I understand that he is not the one we were supposed to be rooting for but making her date someone so awful for so long damages her character.
Also interfering in your possible boyfriend’s custody arrangement- red flag!
There didn’t seem to be much chemistry between the two leads, their interactions were babysitting and mystery solving and even that was mainly done solo. I sort of liked the secondary romance but even that was weirdly fast moving, Michael was forcing that in a worrying way.
It was at least a fast read.
Also interfering in your possible boyfriend’s custody arrangement- red flag!
There didn’t seem to be much chemistry between the two leads, their interactions were babysitting and mystery solving and even that was mainly done solo. I sort of liked the secondary romance but even that was weirdly fast moving, Michael was forcing that in a worrying way.
It was at least a fast read.
May 27, 2024
3.75
I grabbed this book from my Nans bookshelf about 3 years ago and I’ve just got to picking it up!
Gentle read, not much happens - but I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately so this is exactly the type of book o needed
I wanted the main character to become angry (as I would have been) with her situation as it was quite wild but she didn’t.
I liked the setting and how cosy the book was! Made me want to take a trip to the Cotswolds
Even though I probably don’t fit the typical demographic for this author, I would read another book from her as it was all just good vibes, low stakes, and not many negative situations/emotions/general energy.
I grabbed this book from my Nans bookshelf about 3 years ago and I’ve just got to picking it up!
Gentle read, not much happens - but I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately so this is exactly the type of book o needed
I wanted the main character to become angry (as I would have been) with her situation as it was quite wild but she didn’t.
I liked the setting and how cosy the book was! Made me want to take a trip to the Cotswolds
Even though I probably don’t fit the typical demographic for this author, I would read another book from her as it was all just good vibes, low stakes, and not many negative situations/emotions/general energy.
May 2, 2021
Not as romance based as I was expecting, but still good. A wholesome story with a romantic ending, and a little bit of mystery thrown in. The main character, Bella, is likeable and you find yourself rooting for what she wants even before she knows it. I enjoyed Katie Fforde’s writing and will be reading more of her work!
January 7, 2020
Lovely and adorable. I'm sorry I'm not feeling the same enchantment from the first books but it was still a sweet story. Both couples stories: Bella/Dominic and Alice/Michael were adorable. I adore the way Katie Fforde writes, the stories she creates, her naive characters. There isn't any bad feelings, no evil in her stories and I love it.
October 27, 2020
Enjoyable light read.
January 20, 2021
I liked this book . Good storyline.
August 24, 2022
A great beach holiday read. I found it predictable but the perfect holiday book.
March 13, 2014
For a GIVEAWAY go to: http://onmybookshelf.blog.pl/2014/03/...
The Perfect Match is Katie Fforde's twentieth novel! I am very ashamed to admit that, apart from a short story From Scotland with Love, I've never come to read any of her titles. There is no particular reason why, I have Katie's books on my TBR pile, but as we all know, there are so many books and so little time. But it's absolutely going to change now and am going to read as many Katie's books as possible, as I have really enjoyed The Perfect Match.
Meet Bella, who is at present living with her godmother Alice and enjoying life as an estate agent. She is working with her boyfriend Nevil, who is also her boss at the estate agency. Bella should be really happy with her life, but lately there is something wrong with Nevil - he doesn't have time for her, he receives mystery phone calls and doesn't want to explain it to Bella. However, she doesn't have a lot of time to worry about it because she has a lot of work, and she loves her job. Finding a right house for her clients is a challenge for her and she loves matching people with houses. She knows that there is more than just four walls and a garden to her job. Then Dominic enters the scene. He is a nephew of one of Bella's favourite clients and actually he is the true reason of Bella leaving her previous job, town and moving in with Alice.
Bella's plot is not the only one in the book, although one of the most significant. There is also her godmother Alice, a cheerful, nice woman who meets Michael on a train and falls in love. Her problem is that she's already an elderly lady and she's older than Michael, and there are also his not - so - willing daughters to consider. I loved this plot, it shows that in every age we have right to fall in love and be loved, and the story of Alice and Michael was brilliantly written, with a lot of emotions and subtlety.
I have also really enjoyed the adventures of Bella in her clients - land. There were many different people, with different characters and different expectations and it was great to see how Bella tries to find them a perfect house.
I liked Bella a lot. She was a normal young woman, not too exaggerated, she always wanted all the best for other people and she wanted to be fair. I hated to see how she let Nevil patronise her - she knew this relationship is perhaps not working but still, she let him talk her into all he wanted. There were moments that I wanted to shake her and tell her to wake up. I had a feeling she feels uncomfortable in this relationship, and after seeing how Nevil is treating her and seeing him planning their future I felt uncomfortable as well. At the beginning I have thought Bella is a little meh, a little too soft for my liking, but in the end she showed that she has a character and proved that she has a sense of adventure.
I didn't like Nevil from the very beginning. Couldn't stop thinking about him Nevil - Evil. And, as it happened, my gut feelings were right. It took some time for him to show his real face and I really enjoyed the punishment that he met.
I have already mentioned that I enjoyed the story of Alice, and I liked her immensely. She was warm, funny and clever woman who knew what she wanted from life. Of course she was not sure about the relationship with Michael, who would be sure when in her shoes, but she was brave enough to give it a go, and even to face his daughters.
The descriptions of the gardens made me go out to my own garden to start planning what new I can do there. Of course I'll do nothing, garden is unfortunately not my speciality and the only flowers that like me are my orchids at home, but well, it was nice to do this little inspection and then read again about the beautiful gardens in the book. I can always imagine that my garden looks like one of those in the book:)
I have really enjoyed the book. This is a nice story told in a very engaging way. There is nothing forced in this book, everything flies smoothly, it's told in a gentle, subtle way. The characters are either good or bad ones but I found it good this time. The many sub - plots are equally important and they add a lot to the book. They are also not too rushed, they take their time and I have really enjoyed the nice, calm read. What I find a little too rushed was the end of the book, would personally like it more developed, but well, it's only me:) I find the writing very smooth, very nice, very clever and yes, maybe a little old - fashioned, but it suits the book wonderfully and it complements the book in a perfect way.
This is a read for every generation and my guess is that all, mothers, daughter, grandmothers would enjoy the read. I did and I really feel like reading more of Katie Fforde very, very soon.
Copy received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
The Perfect Match is Katie Fforde's twentieth novel! I am very ashamed to admit that, apart from a short story From Scotland with Love, I've never come to read any of her titles. There is no particular reason why, I have Katie's books on my TBR pile, but as we all know, there are so many books and so little time. But it's absolutely going to change now and am going to read as many Katie's books as possible, as I have really enjoyed The Perfect Match.
Meet Bella, who is at present living with her godmother Alice and enjoying life as an estate agent. She is working with her boyfriend Nevil, who is also her boss at the estate agency. Bella should be really happy with her life, but lately there is something wrong with Nevil - he doesn't have time for her, he receives mystery phone calls and doesn't want to explain it to Bella. However, she doesn't have a lot of time to worry about it because she has a lot of work, and she loves her job. Finding a right house for her clients is a challenge for her and she loves matching people with houses. She knows that there is more than just four walls and a garden to her job. Then Dominic enters the scene. He is a nephew of one of Bella's favourite clients and actually he is the true reason of Bella leaving her previous job, town and moving in with Alice.
Bella's plot is not the only one in the book, although one of the most significant. There is also her godmother Alice, a cheerful, nice woman who meets Michael on a train and falls in love. Her problem is that she's already an elderly lady and she's older than Michael, and there are also his not - so - willing daughters to consider. I loved this plot, it shows that in every age we have right to fall in love and be loved, and the story of Alice and Michael was brilliantly written, with a lot of emotions and subtlety.
I have also really enjoyed the adventures of Bella in her clients - land. There were many different people, with different characters and different expectations and it was great to see how Bella tries to find them a perfect house.
I liked Bella a lot. She was a normal young woman, not too exaggerated, she always wanted all the best for other people and she wanted to be fair. I hated to see how she let Nevil patronise her - she knew this relationship is perhaps not working but still, she let him talk her into all he wanted. There were moments that I wanted to shake her and tell her to wake up. I had a feeling she feels uncomfortable in this relationship, and after seeing how Nevil is treating her and seeing him planning their future I felt uncomfortable as well. At the beginning I have thought Bella is a little meh, a little too soft for my liking, but in the end she showed that she has a character and proved that she has a sense of adventure.
I didn't like Nevil from the very beginning. Couldn't stop thinking about him Nevil - Evil. And, as it happened, my gut feelings were right. It took some time for him to show his real face and I really enjoyed the punishment that he met.
I have already mentioned that I enjoyed the story of Alice, and I liked her immensely. She was warm, funny and clever woman who knew what she wanted from life. Of course she was not sure about the relationship with Michael, who would be sure when in her shoes, but she was brave enough to give it a go, and even to face his daughters.
The descriptions of the gardens made me go out to my own garden to start planning what new I can do there. Of course I'll do nothing, garden is unfortunately not my speciality and the only flowers that like me are my orchids at home, but well, it was nice to do this little inspection and then read again about the beautiful gardens in the book. I can always imagine that my garden looks like one of those in the book:)
I have really enjoyed the book. This is a nice story told in a very engaging way. There is nothing forced in this book, everything flies smoothly, it's told in a gentle, subtle way. The characters are either good or bad ones but I found it good this time. The many sub - plots are equally important and they add a lot to the book. They are also not too rushed, they take their time and I have really enjoyed the nice, calm read. What I find a little too rushed was the end of the book, would personally like it more developed, but well, it's only me:) I find the writing very smooth, very nice, very clever and yes, maybe a little old - fashioned, but it suits the book wonderfully and it complements the book in a perfect way.
This is a read for every generation and my guess is that all, mothers, daughter, grandmothers would enjoy the read. I did and I really feel like reading more of Katie Fforde very, very soon.
Copy received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
August 11, 2018
A lovely book, I didn’t need to engage my brain 🧠 to read it but sometimes that’s exactly what you want in a summer read!
It follows the exploits of Bella and her godmother and their romantic adventures. The pace is gentle and there are no major surprises and I was safe in the knowledge that nothing bad would happen to anyone. I would write a longer review but I’ve forgotten everything that happened in it already!
It follows the exploits of Bella and her godmother and their romantic adventures. The pace is gentle and there are no major surprises and I was safe in the knowledge that nothing bad would happen to anyone. I would write a longer review but I’ve forgotten everything that happened in it already!
December 23, 2021
Easy reading, enjoyable.
March 14, 2014
I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I'm more than happy to give.
Over the years I've read many Katie Fforde books and always enjoyed them so I knew this but be no exception. I was instantly drawn to the book by the beautiful cover - a cottage garden in full bloom, who wouldn't be drawn to that? This is Katie's twentieth novel and I was invited to be part of a blog tour to promote it - wow!! How lucky was I?
This has got to be chick-lit at its best! Parallel tales of love, loyalty and friendship as we follow both Bella and her godmother on separate journeys that intertwine again and again. Bella lives with her godmother, Alice after leaving home to escape a disastrous relationship. She is working as an estate agent and ends up engaged to be married to the owner Nevil only to have the man she escaped suddenly and unexpectantly come back into her life. Her godmother has an innocuous meeting with a man on a train and we're off!
This story was just beautiful, mainly set around Bella's job as an estate agent. Katie's descriptions of the houses and gardens were so vivid I could very well have been viewing them with each of the buyers as Bella did her upmost to perfectly match each couple to their dream house. Her love of her job was evident from the start and if I was moving again I'd want Bella as my estate agent.
Just like in real life sometimes roles are reversed and we see glimpses of Bella becoming 'parent like' as her godmother becomes impetuous - the journey even involving a trip to Marrakech - Katie you couldn't have picked a more vibrant, destination. I think of Marrakech and see vivid reds and golds, imagine warmth and love - aaahh, just perfect!!
This story had its share of villains and mystery as well as sunshine and love and the bad guys weren't always who you expect. But, as you would expect the wrongs are righted and Bella gets her knight in shining armour.
Such a lovely, lovely feel good book - perfect as we go from spring into summer. I'd highly recommend it to anyone wanting a book that makes you sigh with happiness when it's finished. Perfect for a sunday afternoon curled up in the garden with the birds and the scent of flowers all around you.
Over the years I've read many Katie Fforde books and always enjoyed them so I knew this but be no exception. I was instantly drawn to the book by the beautiful cover - a cottage garden in full bloom, who wouldn't be drawn to that? This is Katie's twentieth novel and I was invited to be part of a blog tour to promote it - wow!! How lucky was I?
This has got to be chick-lit at its best! Parallel tales of love, loyalty and friendship as we follow both Bella and her godmother on separate journeys that intertwine again and again. Bella lives with her godmother, Alice after leaving home to escape a disastrous relationship. She is working as an estate agent and ends up engaged to be married to the owner Nevil only to have the man she escaped suddenly and unexpectantly come back into her life. Her godmother has an innocuous meeting with a man on a train and we're off!
This story was just beautiful, mainly set around Bella's job as an estate agent. Katie's descriptions of the houses and gardens were so vivid I could very well have been viewing them with each of the buyers as Bella did her upmost to perfectly match each couple to their dream house. Her love of her job was evident from the start and if I was moving again I'd want Bella as my estate agent.
Just like in real life sometimes roles are reversed and we see glimpses of Bella becoming 'parent like' as her godmother becomes impetuous - the journey even involving a trip to Marrakech - Katie you couldn't have picked a more vibrant, destination. I think of Marrakech and see vivid reds and golds, imagine warmth and love - aaahh, just perfect!!
This story had its share of villains and mystery as well as sunshine and love and the bad guys weren't always who you expect. But, as you would expect the wrongs are righted and Bella gets her knight in shining armour.
Such a lovely, lovely feel good book - perfect as we go from spring into summer. I'd highly recommend it to anyone wanting a book that makes you sigh with happiness when it's finished. Perfect for a sunday afternoon curled up in the garden with the birds and the scent of flowers all around you.
December 19, 2014
Regular readers of my reviews may remember that I admit to having been a fan of Katie Fforde's writing since 1995. Picking up her latest novel is always a guarantee of finding a story to provide one with perfect relaxation reading, romantic plots with a feel good factor. 'The Perfect Match' is her twentieth romantic contemporary novel written in her inevitable warm and witty style with the sort of ending one has come to expect! Cannot say that this was a favourite though as it felt superficial with no depth to the storyline, although I did enjoy the characterisations, particularly of 'wimpy' Bella and 'fiesty' Alice. Bella irritated me no end with her behaviour, yet Alice I admired, maybe as being of a similar age I thought go for it girl!
I will just give you a brief synopsis of the storyline, to tempt you to pick up 'The Perfect Match' if this is a genre you enjoy. The female protagonists are Bella and Alice, the former is Alice's god-daughter and they share a delightful home together in the Cotswolds. Bella had moved in with her god-mother three years previously when she left her home town after a disastrous affair, if one could call it that. Now successfully working as an estate agent in the area and dating her boss, Bella may well have thought she was settled but the balance is about to be upset. She finds her boyfriend is not all she thought and her ex love turns up in the village! As for Alice, in contrast to Bella a much more likeable character, still single at 60 she suddenly finds herself falling for a younger man after a chance meeting. Alice finds the situation difficult especially when she has to meet her lovers adult children, but she is a strong lady, who proves it does not matter how old you are when you fall in love.
To say more would spoil the story line, so I just recommend to Katie Fforde fans and fans of the genre if you have not yet discovered her writing. Her novels are perfect for when you are in the mood for a touch of romance, presented in a readable novel with the inevitable happy ending that one can relax with.
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