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Honeysuckle House
After nearly twenty-five years of marriage, Rosa's life seemed to be falling apart. Her husband, Leon, was leaving, her three children were unsettled, even her beloved home, Honeysuckle House, was at risk. Without Leon, the family was going to find it hard to cope with the running of Cookery Nook, the busy restaurant they had built up over the years from a run-down tea-shop. However, although Rosa could never have imagined it, Leon's leaving wasn't an end but a new beginning...
336 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2003
13 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Christina Jones
85 books192 followersI've written all my life, but only became a published novelist in 1997. Before that, I wrote short stories and newspaper articles for pin money while doing a series of naff jobs. In fact I've had twenty seven jobs and been sacked from nineteen of them for writing when I should have been working. I've been, among other things, a shop assistant, waitress, cleaner, secretary, factory worker, market-researcher, nanny, bookseller, night-club dancer, civil servant, blood donor attendant, fruit-picker and barmaid. I'm now, apparently, a Real Writer.
Writing for a living is wonderful - a dream come true - and I now manage to combine writing novels, short stories and articles with not doing the housework, not doing the gardening, not cooking much, but at least attempting to look after my husband - the Toyboy Trucker - and my daughter and our 17 rescued cats.
I was born in Oxford and have lived in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Northumberland, London and Jersey. I blame my parents both for my itchy feet and my romantic soul. My Dad was a circus clown - Poor Billy, Prince of Laughter Makers - and my Mum who trained as a teacher, came from an army family, and had lived in six countries before she was 15. They met and fell in love while the circus was off the road and my Dad was working as Santa Claus in a department store. My Mum, at home for Christmas, was the fairy in his grotto. I was entranced by the way they met, that they were from such different backgrounds, and that their love for one another managed to survive every obstacle and objection thrown in its path. Every book I've written has their story at its core.
I grew up in a Berkshire village, in a tight, happy, secure and very working class community. My childhood was idyllically happy, and my friends from those days are still my best friends now. My novels reflect this community spirit, and all have small groups of people - crossing class, age and gender - who are friends and work together through the roller coaster ride of life. Also, because the women I grew up with were, by necessity, tough and go-getting with a sense of humour, my heroines are gutsy and strong. Real women in real situations. And the fact that the backgrounds to my books mirror my own past experiences is no coincidence, either.
My parents were great storytellers and avid readers, and taught me to read long before I started school, so I started writing my own stories at about five years old without thinking it in the least odd. Writing was an obsession, a friend, a way of life. I had my first short story published at 14, still blissfully unaware this was unusual. However, having a novel published was my life's ambition - and one that took another thirty writing years to achieve.
Having won a couple of awards for my short stories, I joined the Romantic Novelists' Association in 1993, and was lucky enough to be voted runner-up for the New Writers' Scheme Award at my second attempt in 1995. Dancing in the Moonlight was published by My Weekly Story Library, and as it didn't have an ISBN wasn't classed as a novel. I was, of course, ecstatic at this literary elevation - and it was at the RNA Awards Lunch that I was approached by an agent who suggested I should try writing full length commercial fiction. Going the Distance was the result, and amazingly it was sold to a publisher straight away and then, equally amazingly, chosen for the 1997 WH Smith Fresh Talent Promotion - and I haven't (touch wood and fingers and all other extremities crossed!) - looked back since.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Writing for a living is wonderful - a dream come true - and I now manage to combine writing novels, short stories and articles with not doing the housework, not doing the gardening, not cooking much, but at least attempting to look after my husband - the Toyboy Trucker - and my daughter and our 17 rescued cats.
I was born in Oxford and have lived in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Northumberland, London and Jersey. I blame my parents both for my itchy feet and my romantic soul. My Dad was a circus clown - Poor Billy, Prince of Laughter Makers - and my Mum who trained as a teacher, came from an army family, and had lived in six countries before she was 15. They met and fell in love while the circus was off the road and my Dad was working as Santa Claus in a department store. My Mum, at home for Christmas, was the fairy in his grotto. I was entranced by the way they met, that they were from such different backgrounds, and that their love for one another managed to survive every obstacle and objection thrown in its path. Every book I've written has their story at its core.
I grew up in a Berkshire village, in a tight, happy, secure and very working class community. My childhood was idyllically happy, and my friends from those days are still my best friends now. My novels reflect this community spirit, and all have small groups of people - crossing class, age and gender - who are friends and work together through the roller coaster ride of life. Also, because the women I grew up with were, by necessity, tough and go-getting with a sense of humour, my heroines are gutsy and strong. Real women in real situations. And the fact that the backgrounds to my books mirror my own past experiences is no coincidence, either.
My parents were great storytellers and avid readers, and taught me to read long before I started school, so I started writing my own stories at about five years old without thinking it in the least odd. Writing was an obsession, a friend, a way of life. I had my first short story published at 14, still blissfully unaware this was unusual. However, having a novel published was my life's ambition - and one that took another thirty writing years to achieve.
Having won a couple of awards for my short stories, I joined the Romantic Novelists' Association in 1993, and was lucky enough to be voted runner-up for the New Writers' Scheme Award at my second attempt in 1995. Dancing in the Moonlight was published by My Weekly Story Library, and as it didn't have an ISBN wasn't classed as a novel. I was, of course, ecstatic at this literary elevation - and it was at the RNA Awards Lunch that I was approached by an agent who suggested I should try writing full length commercial fiction. Going the Distance was the result, and amazingly it was sold to a publisher straight away and then, equally amazingly, chosen for the 1997 WH Smith Fresh Talent Promotion - and I haven't (touch wood and fingers and all other extremities crossed!) - looked back since.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 13, 2018
This is a very different read to those of Christina's that I have read before. I first found her novels when I read Heaven Sent and loved those,or those I have managed to read. I also like her series, Walking On Air. I wasn't sure whether I would in fact give this 5 because I knew it was more on the lines of a cross between Chick lit and the family saga. For me, this is a good thing as sometimes those who only read one of other of these genres may try this and thus find another author they love.
I never really write about plot etc as there are plenty of reviews that cover those and we could talk for hours about the characters, which are weak ,which are strong etc and I'm sure some people who have shared the story will have done so.
For me,this book reflects a lot of how modern life is for some people but this book managed to keep my interest and I found it well paced.
If a reader is looking for something easy to read on a holiday and enjoys chick lit and family saga then I'm sure this will satisfy them. I'm looking forward to reading the author's next one's which are released later this year and next.
I never really write about plot etc as there are plenty of reviews that cover those and we could talk for hours about the characters, which are weak ,which are strong etc and I'm sure some people who have shared the story will have done so.
For me,this book reflects a lot of how modern life is for some people but this book managed to keep my interest and I found it well paced.
If a reader is looking for something easy to read on a holiday and enjoys chick lit and family saga then I'm sure this will satisfy them. I'm looking forward to reading the author's next one's which are released later this year and next.
July 12, 2019
This book is well written, but it makes me feel unhappy most of the way through. It is a basic rule of human decency that you break up with one person before you have sex with another. Doubly so if you’re married. I’m a big fan of the author’s other books, but this one is not my cup of tea.
July 8, 2017
It was easy to read and very predictable. I was distracted by the numerous typographical errors and lack of continuity in places.
August 19, 2018
cute story recommended
Cute story, easy to read, absorbing, delightful. I enjoyed the writing, will look for another Christian Jones novel next time.
Cute story, easy to read, absorbing, delightful. I enjoyed the writing, will look for another Christian Jones novel next time.
January 1, 2020
One of my fave authors of all time! DEVOURED THIS IN A DAY!
October 7, 2013
I always feel torn with reviews like this, I sought out an easy to read romance book and I knew that Christina Jones excels at such books. However it wasn't as good IMO as her other books but it fulfilled all the requirements I wanted in a romance book. I liked the characters and she made a great accomplishment in not demonising any of them despite their poor decisions. Can't wait to read Seeing Stars- I just need to find it!
October 27, 2014
I usually love Christina's books, but this was far too sickly!
March 28, 2017
Brjilliant
This book has everything, laughter, sadness, romance, marriage all our together in a lovely captivating story, lovely read to sit and dream
This book has everything, laughter, sadness, romance, marriage all our together in a lovely captivating story, lovely read to sit and dream
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews