Bring Me Home

by Alan Titchmarsh

An involving family mystery set in the Scottish highlands, perfect for readers of Kate Morton It seems a perfect afternoon in the Highlands. Standing at the door of the lochside castle that has been his family's home for generations, Charlie Stuart welcomes his guests to the annual summer drinks party. Conversation, laughter, and the clinking of glasses soon fill the air as friends and neighbors come together to toast the laird's happiness and prosperity. But Charlie sees the truth behind the faç the sacrifices made to safeguard the estate; the devastating losses that have haunted him for decades; the guilt that lies at the heart of it all. And in a few hours, he knows, the perfect afternoon will come to an end. The past, with its dark secrets of love, death, loyalty, and betrayal, is about to catch up with him. And it could finally tear his family apart.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Romance

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 13, 2014

Reviews

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow it took me two days to read this book, very enjoyable. I found it was like lying in the sunshine or in a comfy bed. Such a easy read and one I couldn’t put down. Another good one from Mr Titchmarsh.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story in a wonderful Scottish setting, read by the author himself. I love Alan Titmarsh novels, they are so relaxing. It reminded me of the D E Stevenson novels set in Scotland, but this story takes place at the end of the 20th century.

[Arunayan Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story. I enjoyed it.

[Faizan · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay okay..
review soon

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Despite a few annoying discrepancies in the uncorrected proof version I received, "Bring Me Home" by Alan Titchmarsh was surprisingly entertaining and easy to read.

The characters are likeable - or deliberately not so. While my dislike for certain characters (ok, one in particular) grew during the course of the book, my affection for the others didn't change at all. A shame really, as there certainly seems to be scope for them to earn a little more feeling.

The writing is comfortable, and, as I said earlier, easy to read. The plot is twisted enough to keep your interest, but a bit unbelievable at the end - meaning I've dropped the book down a star because I really don't like ending a book with the thought "Yeah, right!".

I'd recommend this book as a light, summer read, when you don't want your brain to become too involved.

[Christine Ottaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read that brings the Scottish Highlands to life with enough spice and intrigue to take you happily on to the last page.

Alan Titchmarsh tells a good tale and my only 'beef' is that the start of the book introduces us to Charlie's daughters and dubious sons-in-law and this was their first and last appearance. The blurb on the back of the paperback doesn't quite match the story but neither of these detract from a good yarn.

Characters come and go and reappear but the thread throughout is Charlie Stuart and Caste Sodhail and in the end the Castle and Stuart clan stand immoveable as only Scottish lairds should.

[Abbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was nothing amazing about this book, but there’s also not a lot to hate (apart from the abrupt and slightly unbelievable ending). The characters were easy to like and understand, the feelings of the protagonist easy to follow and the plot itself was a generally slow and calm pace. I found that I began to like Charlie more once we’d gone in to the past as opposed to the slight confusion of being thrown into the first chapter. This book spans 40 years of Charlie’s life, and the reader can really start to bond with a character given that kind of time frame.

For more on this book go to my blog.

[Paula Sealey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the beautifully crafted, gentle story of Charlie Stuart. Bought up in his family home on the Scottish highlands, we follow Charlie on his life path through friendships, loves, losses and intrigue.

Alan's superb writing style draws you into the story and the wonderful characters, who I'll admit to thinking I would have no affinity with at the beginning. I dare you not to take an instant dislike to Step-Mother Charlotte, or to feel a lurch in your heart during Charlie's fathers later years.

Another thoroughly enjoyable offering from Mr Titchmarsh!

*I recieved this book free to review through Goodreads.

[Lainey Jacqueline Neale · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m so disappointed with the read of this book. I started Bring Me Home and was so looking forward to it as I love Alan in TV, but gave up after 20 pages. I feel like Alan has sat with a thesaurus trying to change ever work possible to something better but he didn’t have to. It would have read perfectly like most authors do with simple language. If it’s a good story you doesn’t need to impress the reader with words we have to decode or stumble in. Put the thesaurus away and just write the story. Sorry I read a lot and this just stopped me constantly with stumbling over unnecessary words.

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that I really enjoyed reading and one that I am glad I picked up. Alan titchmarsh is more then a presenter on tv. I can say that all his books are easy to read and hard to put down. This had me hooked from the first page and shows how someone can cope after losing the one person they love.

[Bookfan36 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief synopsis from the book cover:

You really are the perfect family aren't you?'

Charlie Stuart the owner of a Scottish castle and disappointed father of a brood of grown-up children took in the full irony of his guest's comment at a Sunday house party. His family - and his life - were far from perfect.

He had longed since childhood to inherit the Castle on the loch. He had fallen in love with the landscape and the wildlife that surrounded it and looked forward to the responsibilities that came with it but his mother's devastating death while he was away at school and his father's remarriage to an unwelcome stepmother had swept away any easy path to fulfilling his destiny.

Charlie has to grow up quickly but along with his inheritance and the discovery of the love of his life come unexpected complications that involve espionage deceit and a mysterious death.

Now - thirty years since finally becoming the castle's guardian - his past had caught up with him. It was about to tear his 'perfect' family apart.

My rating:

Plot: 3 out of 5 stars
Writing: 3 out of 5 stars
Character development: 3 out of 5 stars
Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

General Fiction



Review:

What I liked most about this book was the beautiful description of the rugged highlands of Scotland and the love for the land and his home the main character portrayed. The scenery is described in great detail; this gives it a realistic feel. However the overall plot is simple and a bit uneventful, the story is nice but is missing a bit of zing. The writing is good but the pace is a bit slow and uneventful at times. This made it less captivating then some of the other books I have read from this author.

[Eowynselixure_book Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bring Me Home is what Titchmarsh himself calls a Lilo read, which is essentially just a really good story.

The book opens on Charlie Stewart the main character, standing outside the castle he inherited with his four adult children inside and in a minute he's got to go in and tell them something that is going to shock and horrify them.

We then go back to his childhood and experience his life story up to the point when he goes inside the castle and after.

This is the second time I've read this book and actually I found this read dragged a bit, to the point where I put it down for a couple of months.

The location of the book in the Isles of Scotland is absolutely stunning and described beautifully. The characters are (for the most part) deep and complex and utterly endearing.

The themes of love, loyalty and duty shine through the novel like a lavender light but darker topics like grief and greed are fully explored.

But the real action doesn't really start until p150. On a first read I don't think it's noticeable but on a second read it really was and I struggled but perhaps this was also down to my own mood.

But Alan Titchmarsh has a rather humbling, beautiful way of writing about real people with real problems and emotions. Especially of middle aged men, all of whom I always fall totally in love with.

This is a perfect Lilo read and if your anything like me a bit of a tear jerker but I do think he's written better books.

I would recommend his audio books and he narrates them all himself.

[Janet Rosfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extraordinary novel about life and love and friendship and just doing your duty in a quiet, no fuss way. Alan Titchmarsh is a master at constructing warm, real characters that will stay with you for a long while. Charlie Stuart is the Laird of Castle Sodhail and this is his story. Of how he had to take over the stewardship at a young age and his love for Eleanor, the girl next door, his friendship with Gordon, his college roommate and his strained relationship with his father. He even has an evil step-mother Charlotte, who proves to be his nemesis. There are great descriptions of the Scottish landscapes. You can tell Titchmarsh has a great love for the natural world. His characterizations of the local people living near the castle are funny, insightful and down to earth. Charlie's relationship with his Uncle Murdo is a joy. This book made me feel hopeful.

[Roz Radmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Stuart even as a small boy knows that one day he will inherit Castle Sodhail in the Scottish Highlands . He grows to love his home as much as his father always has . Life is good until his father falls in love with a woman most unsuitable to live life here at the castle . She succeeds in making everyone's life a misery and Charlie hates to see the look of misery on his father's face. This was not a match made in heaven .
The years roll by and in July 2000 Charlie looks back on his life and family and the sacrifices made to keep Castle Sodhail in the family . There has been much joy and love , also upset and intrigue .Has everything been worth it to keep this little patch of heaven ?
Alan Titchmarsh writes a very good story . I loved this book !

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So a first for me from Alan Titchmarsh. I found it difficult to get into at the start,hence the almost 2 months from starting to finishing. However, when I picked it up again at the weekend I got well and truely stuck in and couldn't put it down. I finished it between Sunday and Monday. The plot well and truely thickens the further in you get, and the big announcement which we are told of in Chapter one is always looming. You change your mind on what that could be several times, however, the ending certainly ends with a damp squib, not what was expected at all. It even feels that the ending was rushed. A bit disappointing after the build up, but an ok read.

[Anna Butler-Whittaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Alan Titchmarsh books.
His style is so gentle, but eloquent and clever, and not contrived in any way. It’s very strange reading or listening to a story written by someone you grew up with watching on tv as a gardener, but I really do enjoy his work, and his style has evolved over time.
This book was warm and satisfying, although it had darker moments. I felt the storyline regarding the students could have been concluded a little more fully, and the part running up to the ending was perhaps not that likely in real life, but I still really enjoyed it. I loved the idea of the two friends so different, but supporting each other in their own way.

[June Staff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had wanted to read an Alan Titchmarsh book, being a fan of his gardening makeover shows. At first I wasn't sure - half way through the first chapter I was considering ditching the book, due to the opening 'flowery' writing (pardon the pun) but I am stubborn and hate to be beaten by a book, so stuck with it and a few chapters later I was pleased I did. It blossomed (sorry couldn't resist) into an enjoyable story, with interesting characters and a couple of unexpected surprises along the way. Well worth a read.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book started with so much potential and I was instantly hooked but I became slightly confused by the narrative and the speeding of time with some of the characters. It felt that the characters could have been fleshed out a little more and I felt disappointed by the ending. It all felt very rushed. I'm not sure this is his best novel so far as I know that as an author, he is very popular but maybe one of his earlier titles might be more fun.

[Lorna Dykstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 is probably a fairer score but Goodreads doesn't do half stars ...
This book was ok. The blurb made it sound darker and more melodramatic than it actually was. I thought that Charlie the protagonist, came across as rather naive and maybe a bit too good to be true. The climax of the story felt rather flat, hurried and highly improbable. A bit bland but the Scottish Highlands and some of the characters, like Gordon Mackenzie and Murdo, helped spice it up a little.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became completely absorbed in this tale of a young man who gains his inheritance when he was just starting out his married life. We get to know Charlie Stuart as we find out a bit about his school days, the acquaintances and friends he met there and how his father's second marriage impacted him.
Charlie's uncle and aunt are very helpful as he faces the challenges ahead and the problems that arise.
I'm glad my friend recommended this one to me.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐ =Good.
Hardback.
What a lovely read. I know that the word nice is a bit nondescript, but nice is the word that sums this book up.
A gentle story with miminal trauma and a book that is a pleasure to pick up. The characters were interesting and rounded.
Only downside, without giving too much away- I thought that there was going to be one thread of the book that was going to take us down another path. This didn't happen.

[David Potter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slight praise?

This book will be memorable for the fact that it will soon be forgotten. It is just so dull, so predictable. The only thing that was in the least surprising was what happened to the body. But why should I spoil the story. Titchmarsh does better working on his garden than writing in it.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase Bring Me Home here for just $12!

Alan Titchmarsh's new novel moves to the Scottish Highlands and has an involving family mystery at its heart. The perfect escapist read!

Olly-The Book Grocer

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a pleasant time reading the book as it provides lovely descriptions of the Scottish landscape and Sodhail Castle. It shows that the inheritance of such a place gives a high responsibility to the owner.
The narrative contains enough turns to keep you captivated. It is a good book to enjoy during a holiday.

[Nina Levison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading many of his books but I struggled through this one. The plot seemed laboured and didn't flow well at all. There are still moments of delightful prose throughout but I didn't really enjoy the story and found the characters slightly unbelievable.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the Highlands of Scotland, Charlie is the son of the laird of an estate. Through his college days, doing favours for his friend Gordon, his return to the estate and all the happenings thereafter make this a good read.

[Julie Pw · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read

Rather an abrupt ending ... nothing too taxing about the book. Sadly not one of Mr Ts best. Has written far better.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Alan's books have a great range of interesting vocabulary but the stories remain accessible and gripping - they are an easy read, without being linguistically insulting to the brain.

[Angela Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

He doesn't fail to bring the goods, gets better. Plenty to entertain nicely.
Here we follow the life of Charlie Steward, heir to a castle and its estates in the highlands.

[Alison D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, hadn't realised the author wrote so many books, loved the story the ups & downs really was an in depth story