What do you think?
Rate this book
Tindledale
The Great Village Show
Tindledale is in a titter. The Village Show competition is coming around again and after last year’s spectacular failure, the villagers are determined to win. Meg, teacher at the local school, is keen to help and to impose some much-needed order.
After a terse encounter with a newcomer to the village, Meg discovers that it is celebrity chef and culinary bad boy, Dan Wright. Meg thinks he is arrogant and rude but rumour has it that Dan is opening a new restaurant in the village which could really put Tindledale on the map!
As things come together, villagers old and new all start to come out of the woodwork, including new arrival Jessie, who seems to have it all. But first impressions can be deceptive and Meg discovers that when it comes to Tindledale – and Dan – nothing is ever quite as it seems…
After a terse encounter with a newcomer to the village, Meg discovers that it is celebrity chef and culinary bad boy, Dan Wright. Meg thinks he is arrogant and rude but rumour has it that Dan is opening a new restaurant in the village which could really put Tindledale on the map!
As things come together, villagers old and new all start to come out of the woodwork, including new arrival Jessie, who seems to have it all. But first impressions can be deceptive and Meg discovers that when it comes to Tindledale – and Dan – nothing is ever quite as it seems…
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2015
74 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
About the author
Alex Brown
26 books469 followersAlex Brown is an International No.1 bestselling author of fourteen books including A Postcard from Italy, the Carrington’s series, The Secret of Orchard Cottage, The Great Christmas Knit Off, The Wish, A Postcard from Paris and the Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery series. Her books are loved worldwide and have been translated into twenty languages.
Alex lives by the sea on the south coast of England with her family and two glossy black Labradors. When she isn’t writing, she can be found walking on the beach, binge-watching a boxset or enjoying a French martini cocktail. She loves chatting to her readers on social media @alexbrownbooks and you can sign up to her newsletter on her website www.alexbrownauthor.com to receive a free short story, The Beach Walk, and also be the first to hear about new books, free extracts and giveaways.
Alex lives by the sea on the south coast of England with her family and two glossy black Labradors. When she isn’t writing, she can be found walking on the beach, binge-watching a boxset or enjoying a French martini cocktail. She loves chatting to her readers on social media @alexbrownbooks and you can sign up to her newsletter on her website www.alexbrownauthor.com to receive a free short story, The Beach Walk, and also be the first to hear about new books, free extracts and giveaways.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
January 30, 2018
Aah what a shame. 'The great village show'' was definitely not as magic as the first book in this series. It wasn't magical at all, actually.
Instead, I was more preoccupied with all those clumsy attempts of emotional interactions between people. Or of to and fro dilemmas discussed with oneself. So unromantic and dull.
For example, there are about 6 pages of repeatedly picking up and placing back down a bouquet of flowers whilst arguing in endless loops about whether to let the guy cook lunch for you before the flowers are finally put into a vase and the cooking begins. Could have been settled in 2 pages with the same content. It seemed like the author forgot what she wrote on the previous page or so. And that situation was not an exception. Similar moments happened all the time.
Apart from this 'style' of writing, the main storyline was medium/ okay. At least the save-the-village-school-and-show stuff and the part about newcomer Jessie and her family.
The so-called development of Meg and her prince Charming's love story was really bad, though. Ugh. The majority of it didn't make any sense.
Instead, I was more preoccupied with all those clumsy attempts of emotional interactions between people. Or of to and fro dilemmas discussed with oneself. So unromantic and dull.
For example, there are about 6 pages of repeatedly picking up and placing back down a bouquet of flowers whilst arguing in endless loops about whether to let the guy cook lunch for you before the flowers are finally put into a vase and the cooking begins. Could have been settled in 2 pages with the same content. It seemed like the author forgot what she wrote on the previous page or so. And that situation was not an exception. Similar moments happened all the time.
Apart from this 'style' of writing, the main storyline was medium/ okay. At least the save-the-village-school-and-show stuff and the part about newcomer Jessie and her family.
The so-called development of Meg and her prince Charming's love story was really bad, though. Ugh. The majority of it didn't make any sense.
December 22, 2017
Welcome back to Tindledale! This time, the story follows Meg, who teaches at the local school.
There's the annual village show competition in Tindledale soon, so the whole village, including some new arrivals are determined to help and make Tindledale number one on the list. And then rude but famous TV-chef Dan appears and turns Meg's head...
Well, that was a very fast read! But I cannot say, that I loved everything about this book. Of course, I was more than happy to be going back to the lovely Tindledale, that's for sure. But I expected something different from the story, something more maybe? Because I wanted it to be about the village show and everyone's ideas and products and everything. I wanted to read about how they all work together to create a marvellous event. But I didn't. Not really. Of course there parts in the story about the event, but not enough.
Then there was new arrival Jessie from London with her not so pleasant husband. Her story was just not my thing. I actually didn't really like her at all. Neither her husband of course.
I'm constantly wondering why those serious topics always have to play a part in nice little village-chic-lit books? So annoying and spoiling the fun.
I do have to say that I absolutely adored the epilogue. You could really see what happened to all of the improtant people in Tindledale and it was just so cute and lovely and wonderful! ♥
But the rest still makes it impossible for me to give a five star rating. But four stars would be too harsh, as I did really like the book, nonetheless. 4.5 stars!
There's the annual village show competition in Tindledale soon, so the whole village, including some new arrivals are determined to help and make Tindledale number one on the list. And then rude but famous TV-chef Dan appears and turns Meg's head...
Well, that was a very fast read! But I cannot say, that I loved everything about this book. Of course, I was more than happy to be going back to the lovely Tindledale, that's for sure. But I expected something different from the story, something more maybe? Because I wanted it to be about the village show and everyone's ideas and products and everything. I wanted to read about how they all work together to create a marvellous event. But I didn't. Not really. Of course there parts in the story about the event, but not enough.
Then there was new arrival Jessie from London with her not so pleasant husband. Her story was just not my thing. I actually didn't really like her at all. Neither her husband of course.
I'm constantly wondering why those serious topics always have to play a part in nice little village-chic-lit books? So annoying and spoiling the fun.
I do have to say that I absolutely adored the epilogue. You could really see what happened to all of the improtant people in Tindledale and it was just so cute and lovely and wonderful! ♥
But the rest still makes it impossible for me to give a five star rating. But four stars would be too harsh, as I did really like the book, nonetheless. 4.5 stars!
July 28, 2015
Really this review should just be four words GO BUY IT NOW but I suppose I should explain the reasons why. The Great Village Show was easily one of my most anticipated releases this year, I had been dying for this book to be released ever since I spent a blissful afternoon devouring book one in the series during my Christmas holidays. This is the second in the Tindledale series and follow up to the brilliant The Great Christmas Knit Off. Alexandra Brown has simply outdone herself quickly endearing me once again to the small village in which live a wonderful cast of characters that bring such joy to each page. I thought the Carrington's series was excellent but now after reading this new release I really feel this is way better and that's saying something considering the success of Georgie and co. With a great title and cheerful cover I didn't even bother reading the blurb I was just too excited and eager to discover the new characters and story lines the author had in store for her readers.
The map included at the beginning of the book is a great addition as it helps you to visualise the layout of the village and all its houses and shops. Then in the prologue we are introduced to Jessie Cavendish as she stands on a hillside overlooking the village. She is relocating from London with her husband Sebastian and triplets - Millie, Max and Olivia. We get the impression that she is reluctant to move and she has misgivings about leaving her friends, family and basically her support system. She is optimistic about the change but you knew from her demeanour and thoughts she was hiding something and I hoped Tindledale would work its magic on her, helping her to find peace within herself. I thought the majority of the focus of the book would be on Jessie but not so.
Instead we meet Meg Singer acting headmistress at the local school. Straight away I just loved Meg, she was full of energy and had a great zest for life. I was easily able to identify with her being a teacher myself and loved the use of her 'scary teacher voice or face' as I'm well used to employing that myself when needed. Meg was someone you would aspire to be. She took on so much but always wanted to achieve perfection or as near to as she could. A single mum to Jack, she is now experiencing empty nest syndrome as he has left for university. Her job with Jack may be for the most part completed so she channels her energies into village life. She has her school and its future at the heart of everything she does and is doing her best to prevent the school from being shut down. I know that feeling when inspectors arrive unexpectedly and strike the fear of god in you. That dreaded feeling if you don't have enough pupils you will lose a teacher or in this case close for good. Alex presents a clear, realistic picture of school life and the juggling act it entails and I would have been disappointed if she had painted the picture in any other way.
Meg is an all rounder, warm, welcoming, a genuinely nice person with no hidden agendas. The residents of the village could see that and that's why they were so willing to give their time for her cause. Tindledale is a beautiful place to live but it is starting to suffer. The villagers are getting older with not a huge influx of new young residents. The shops are not doing as well as they once did considering the new retail park recently opened several miles away. So the genius idea of the village show brings the villagers together in a determined effort to achieve some notoriety and help put Tindledale back on the map. Saving businesses, the school and making the village the place to be, well that is their hope anyway. It was brilliant to see all the villagers work together to achieve something as a community and several characters we had met in book one made a reappearance and bits of info were casually slipped in so we know what they have been up to since we last left them. Of course it's not all plain sailing in the run up to show day but that's what makes this a great read, no one wants to read a story where everything goes to plan. Reading of the ups and downs, problems, fun moments and some romance thrown in make for a much more exciting, gripping read.
You may think this is the usual chick lit. It's not by any means and Alex is well capable of dealing with topical, serious issues but not in an overpowering way that took from the flow of the novel. Instead the problems with Jessie were dealt with in the correct way keeping in mind the light hearted tone of the book. Jessie is going through a tough time, one which unfortunately many women will identify with. Her confidence is at an all time low but you could see underneath a strong woman was waiting to emerge. The community spirit, friendship and togetherness that Tindledale offers may just help her through this. Also there were a lot of characters mentioned but they were slipped in at nice regular intervals and we were given only the briefest of info that was needed. Unlike another book I had read recently where I was bombarded with way too many characters which were then never mentioned again. Here Alex gets it just right and in such a way you hope there will be plenty more to come from Tindledale as there are several characters that seem to me to be just waiting in the background to share their stories with us.
Alexandra Brown can't write quick enough for me and in this new book she continues to set a high standard with excellent writing and a storyline that begs you to keep turning the pages or tapping the Kindle. This is a sure fire Summer hit that has to go straight to the top of the best seller lists .The feel good camaraderie factor is high and Alex as herself mentions in her acknowledgements 'I really hope it puts a smile on your face and warmth in your hearts'. Well your wish has come true Alex because The Great Village Show certainly did that for Me as well as having me laughing aloud quite often. Oh if only Tindledale were real I'd move there in the morning as Alex has created such a wonderful setting with characters you feel are old friends.
Sadly it looks like we'll have to wait until 2016 for our next Tindledale fix, The Mystery of Orchard Cottage, as no Christmas offering from Alex this year. In the meantime sit back and enjoy this charming, delightful read. You won't be sorry you bought it, Tindledale is a special place and so are Alex's books.
The map included at the beginning of the book is a great addition as it helps you to visualise the layout of the village and all its houses and shops. Then in the prologue we are introduced to Jessie Cavendish as she stands on a hillside overlooking the village. She is relocating from London with her husband Sebastian and triplets - Millie, Max and Olivia. We get the impression that she is reluctant to move and she has misgivings about leaving her friends, family and basically her support system. She is optimistic about the change but you knew from her demeanour and thoughts she was hiding something and I hoped Tindledale would work its magic on her, helping her to find peace within herself. I thought the majority of the focus of the book would be on Jessie but not so.
Instead we meet Meg Singer acting headmistress at the local school. Straight away I just loved Meg, she was full of energy and had a great zest for life. I was easily able to identify with her being a teacher myself and loved the use of her 'scary teacher voice or face' as I'm well used to employing that myself when needed. Meg was someone you would aspire to be. She took on so much but always wanted to achieve perfection or as near to as she could. A single mum to Jack, she is now experiencing empty nest syndrome as he has left for university. Her job with Jack may be for the most part completed so she channels her energies into village life. She has her school and its future at the heart of everything she does and is doing her best to prevent the school from being shut down. I know that feeling when inspectors arrive unexpectedly and strike the fear of god in you. That dreaded feeling if you don't have enough pupils you will lose a teacher or in this case close for good. Alex presents a clear, realistic picture of school life and the juggling act it entails and I would have been disappointed if she had painted the picture in any other way.
Meg is an all rounder, warm, welcoming, a genuinely nice person with no hidden agendas. The residents of the village could see that and that's why they were so willing to give their time for her cause. Tindledale is a beautiful place to live but it is starting to suffer. The villagers are getting older with not a huge influx of new young residents. The shops are not doing as well as they once did considering the new retail park recently opened several miles away. So the genius idea of the village show brings the villagers together in a determined effort to achieve some notoriety and help put Tindledale back on the map. Saving businesses, the school and making the village the place to be, well that is their hope anyway. It was brilliant to see all the villagers work together to achieve something as a community and several characters we had met in book one made a reappearance and bits of info were casually slipped in so we know what they have been up to since we last left them. Of course it's not all plain sailing in the run up to show day but that's what makes this a great read, no one wants to read a story where everything goes to plan. Reading of the ups and downs, problems, fun moments and some romance thrown in make for a much more exciting, gripping read.
You may think this is the usual chick lit. It's not by any means and Alex is well capable of dealing with topical, serious issues but not in an overpowering way that took from the flow of the novel. Instead the problems with Jessie were dealt with in the correct way keeping in mind the light hearted tone of the book. Jessie is going through a tough time, one which unfortunately many women will identify with. Her confidence is at an all time low but you could see underneath a strong woman was waiting to emerge. The community spirit, friendship and togetherness that Tindledale offers may just help her through this. Also there were a lot of characters mentioned but they were slipped in at nice regular intervals and we were given only the briefest of info that was needed. Unlike another book I had read recently where I was bombarded with way too many characters which were then never mentioned again. Here Alex gets it just right and in such a way you hope there will be plenty more to come from Tindledale as there are several characters that seem to me to be just waiting in the background to share their stories with us.
Alexandra Brown can't write quick enough for me and in this new book she continues to set a high standard with excellent writing and a storyline that begs you to keep turning the pages or tapping the Kindle. This is a sure fire Summer hit that has to go straight to the top of the best seller lists .The feel good camaraderie factor is high and Alex as herself mentions in her acknowledgements 'I really hope it puts a smile on your face and warmth in your hearts'. Well your wish has come true Alex because The Great Village Show certainly did that for Me as well as having me laughing aloud quite often. Oh if only Tindledale were real I'd move there in the morning as Alex has created such a wonderful setting with characters you feel are old friends.
Sadly it looks like we'll have to wait until 2016 for our next Tindledale fix, The Mystery of Orchard Cottage, as no Christmas offering from Alex this year. In the meantime sit back and enjoy this charming, delightful read. You won't be sorry you bought it, Tindledale is a special place and so are Alex's books.
July 18, 2020
Possibly one of the worst written romances I have ever read, absolutely no chemistry, proper build up, tension or actual romance between the main character and love interest. Only compounding some of the annoying traits of Meg, the main character, whose continuous habit of jumping to the wrong conclusions rather seemed to propel the plot. The subplots felt let down by poor writing and lack of depth. The abusive relationship plot could have been so much more if given more time within the novel- the addition of three (roughly) alternate POV chapters from the victim felt a poor add on, only emphasising the lack of attention to that story-line. It ended up being an entirely underwhelming and slightly boring novel about a village show.
July 1, 2015
A lovely return to Tindledale where we catch up with all the residents as they get together to plan the Village Show. They want to raise the village profile in a hope that they can rescue the village school from closure. Meg the Headteacher comes up with lots of ideas to impress the inspectors and encourage people to start sending their children to the school- so that the numbers reach the level they need to keep it open.
It had a real community feel about it- everyone pulling together to help out and throw in a celebrity chef who has come to visit the village but doesn't seem very happy to be there. Meggie finds him difficult- but is there an attraction there?
A gorgeous book to spend a very sunny afternoon with.
With many thanks to Net Galley for a wonderful read.
It had a real community feel about it- everyone pulling together to help out and throw in a celebrity chef who has come to visit the village but doesn't seem very happy to be there. Meggie finds him difficult- but is there an attraction there?
A gorgeous book to spend a very sunny afternoon with.
With many thanks to Net Galley for a wonderful read.
December 28, 2021
ugh.
I wanted to love this book- I adore Tindledale and really enjoyed the first book in the series. The villagers are delightful and I did feel like the book gave enough attention to building the town and characters. However, the main character, Megan, was, to put it politely, a chore to listen to and get to know. Her Family Guy-esque tangents upon tangents left me dizzy and really detracted from the central story. The attempted romance was instead a few small scenes and way too much internal monoglue about nothing of consequence. I trudged through and was only somewhat interested about 80% through, which was a false alarm. Don't recommend to anyone who wants interesting characters, chemistry or an enjoyable read.
I wanted to love this book- I adore Tindledale and really enjoyed the first book in the series. The villagers are delightful and I did feel like the book gave enough attention to building the town and characters. However, the main character, Megan, was, to put it politely, a chore to listen to and get to know. Her Family Guy-esque tangents upon tangents left me dizzy and really detracted from the central story. The attempted romance was instead a few small scenes and way too much internal monoglue about nothing of consequence. I trudged through and was only somewhat interested about 80% through, which was a false alarm. Don't recommend to anyone who wants interesting characters, chemistry or an enjoyable read.
September 9, 2015
More 3.5 than 3
I enjoyed it and it was cute. But it was very predictable. A nice easy read after a couple of heavy reads. A bit twee......but like able characters
I enjoyed it and it was cute. But it was very predictable. A nice easy read after a couple of heavy reads. A bit twee......but like able characters
November 2, 2018
Read upto chapter 10couldnt Read anymore so boring similar to a Miss Read book but Miss Read books were better sorry folks just my opinion
May 25, 2018
Gorgeous story! So much detail, so beautifully described - I’m desperate to move to a village now! So summery too.
September 7, 2015
Originally reviewed on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/2...
I was originally introduced to the charming village of Tindledale back in 2014, when I had the pleasure of reading The Great Christmas Knit-Off (you can find my review here!) From the moment I stepped foot in Tindledale, the setting was brought completely to life for me with Alexandra's gorgeous descriptions, and it didn't take me long at all to feel at home. With such a warm, engaging group of characters coupled with the entertaining circumstances that arose, I felt as if I, myself, were a part of this wonderful community, and fell in love with the village instantly. Despite both of these books being set in Tindledale, they aren't a series, so each can be read as a standalone.
In the latest Tindledale story, Alexandra introduces us to Meg, teacher at Tindledale's local school and single mother to Jack, who has just taken off to University. Left behind, Meg begins to feel a little lost. It had always been she and Jack together and now, without him, she's not quite sure of what to do with herself. That soon changes though, when news of the Great Village Show rolls around and alongside the villagers, Meg throws herself into the preparations. She's determined that Tindledale is going to put on one hell of a show, and I, for one, couldn't wait! Of course, things are rarely so simple, and a fair few obstacles pop up along the way that could potentially knock Meg off course. As well as preparations for the Great Village Show taking over, there's also the issue of the school inspectors poking around, a newcomer who isn't all she appears to be, and the one and only Dan Wright, celebrity chef, making an appearance and sweeping Meg right off of her feet with his damn good looks and infuriatingly bad manner. It really is all going on in Tindledale this time round!
As expected, Tindledale was as charming and as cosy as ever. The villagers were completely fantastic, drawing me right into each of their lives and ensuring that my interest remained firmly held as the novel progressed. I adored, as I did in the first Tindledale story, how swept up I became in the preparations for the show, Meg's own personal troubles, and just about everything else that was included. Alexandra writes her characters so wonderfully, it's hard to not feel for them or cheer for them whenever anything goes in or against their favour. The highs and lows, the ups and downs, they all worked together to create a fun and entertaining story that I couldn't get enough of.
Even though the villagers of Tindledale played such a starring role within The Great Village Show and effortlessly added a warm, hearty atmosphere to Tindledale, Meg is who we spend the majority of the novel with, seeing Tindledale and the villagers through her first person narrative. It didn't take long for me to warm to Meg at all. She was fiercely protective of the things which she loved most, and truly got into her stride when it came to the village show, emphasising her determination to succeed and keep hold of what she held so dear to her heart. She clearly adored her surroundings and the people who surrounded her too. Her love for her son Jack was incredibly endearing and during the moments when she'd look back on the time when he'd been a little boy, it became clear just how much she missed him. Meg was kind, considerate and most certainly the type of woman you'd want to confide in, because you just know that she'd make you feel better, even if she has got her own problems to contend with. Meg, to me, was a woman with a heart of gold who everyone loved and admired. What I enjoyed most about Meg though, was the feisty side that simmered to the surface whenever she was around Dan Wright. It was such a fantastic contrast to her stern-teacher-face side, and even amusingly childish which we are all more than capable of becoming when faced with someone who brings it out in us so easily. During any scenes where Meg and Dan were together, I wore the most ridiculous smile, which these characters drew from me. The tension, the banter and the physical attraction was fantastic, adding a whole new dimension of romance to Meg's world, romance that she hadn't been witness to for such a very long time.
All in all, it was an utter delight to be back in the gorgeous village of Tindledale, alongside the wholly entertaining villagers, newcomers and sheer excitement for the upcoming show! This was undeniably cosy, mischievous and sprinkled with that unique Alexandra Brown glitter that I've come to love so much!
Becca's Books is awarding The Great Village Show by Alexandra Brown with FOUR SCRUMPTIOUS CUPCAKES! I already can't wait to revisit Tindledale in the future. It's such a comforting feeling to know that it's there, fictional or not, and I can just imagine, after finishing reading, the characters' lives continuing on, until we return once more.
I was originally introduced to the charming village of Tindledale back in 2014, when I had the pleasure of reading The Great Christmas Knit-Off (you can find my review here!) From the moment I stepped foot in Tindledale, the setting was brought completely to life for me with Alexandra's gorgeous descriptions, and it didn't take me long at all to feel at home. With such a warm, engaging group of characters coupled with the entertaining circumstances that arose, I felt as if I, myself, were a part of this wonderful community, and fell in love with the village instantly. Despite both of these books being set in Tindledale, they aren't a series, so each can be read as a standalone.
In the latest Tindledale story, Alexandra introduces us to Meg, teacher at Tindledale's local school and single mother to Jack, who has just taken off to University. Left behind, Meg begins to feel a little lost. It had always been she and Jack together and now, without him, she's not quite sure of what to do with herself. That soon changes though, when news of the Great Village Show rolls around and alongside the villagers, Meg throws herself into the preparations. She's determined that Tindledale is going to put on one hell of a show, and I, for one, couldn't wait! Of course, things are rarely so simple, and a fair few obstacles pop up along the way that could potentially knock Meg off course. As well as preparations for the Great Village Show taking over, there's also the issue of the school inspectors poking around, a newcomer who isn't all she appears to be, and the one and only Dan Wright, celebrity chef, making an appearance and sweeping Meg right off of her feet with his damn good looks and infuriatingly bad manner. It really is all going on in Tindledale this time round!
As expected, Tindledale was as charming and as cosy as ever. The villagers were completely fantastic, drawing me right into each of their lives and ensuring that my interest remained firmly held as the novel progressed. I adored, as I did in the first Tindledale story, how swept up I became in the preparations for the show, Meg's own personal troubles, and just about everything else that was included. Alexandra writes her characters so wonderfully, it's hard to not feel for them or cheer for them whenever anything goes in or against their favour. The highs and lows, the ups and downs, they all worked together to create a fun and entertaining story that I couldn't get enough of.
Even though the villagers of Tindledale played such a starring role within The Great Village Show and effortlessly added a warm, hearty atmosphere to Tindledale, Meg is who we spend the majority of the novel with, seeing Tindledale and the villagers through her first person narrative. It didn't take long for me to warm to Meg at all. She was fiercely protective of the things which she loved most, and truly got into her stride when it came to the village show, emphasising her determination to succeed and keep hold of what she held so dear to her heart. She clearly adored her surroundings and the people who surrounded her too. Her love for her son Jack was incredibly endearing and during the moments when she'd look back on the time when he'd been a little boy, it became clear just how much she missed him. Meg was kind, considerate and most certainly the type of woman you'd want to confide in, because you just know that she'd make you feel better, even if she has got her own problems to contend with. Meg, to me, was a woman with a heart of gold who everyone loved and admired. What I enjoyed most about Meg though, was the feisty side that simmered to the surface whenever she was around Dan Wright. It was such a fantastic contrast to her stern-teacher-face side, and even amusingly childish which we are all more than capable of becoming when faced with someone who brings it out in us so easily. During any scenes where Meg and Dan were together, I wore the most ridiculous smile, which these characters drew from me. The tension, the banter and the physical attraction was fantastic, adding a whole new dimension of romance to Meg's world, romance that she hadn't been witness to for such a very long time.
All in all, it was an utter delight to be back in the gorgeous village of Tindledale, alongside the wholly entertaining villagers, newcomers and sheer excitement for the upcoming show! This was undeniably cosy, mischievous and sprinkled with that unique Alexandra Brown glitter that I've come to love so much!
Becca's Books is awarding The Great Village Show by Alexandra Brown with FOUR SCRUMPTIOUS CUPCAKES! I already can't wait to revisit Tindledale in the future. It's such a comforting feeling to know that it's there, fictional or not, and I can just imagine, after finishing reading, the characters' lives continuing on, until we return once more.
April 19, 2018
Different from the books I normally read but I gave it a go and was plesently suprised. It had romance in it but not too much and a look into villiage life which has made me want to live in one all the more. It was a happy book which left me feeling peaceful and rested. Great little summer read.
July 31, 2015
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
Did you fall in love with the charming village of Tindledale in The Great Christmas Knit-Off? Or do you have a soft spot for the delightful Carrington's series, also by the hand of brilliant author Alexandra Brown? Then The Great Village Show is one book release you absolutely can not miss this summer! And even if you are not yet familiar with Tindledale or Alex's wonderful books... guess what? Her latest novel is a stand-alone so the perfect opportunity to dive into her gorgeous writing and discover a new author that will soon be one of your firm favourites – trust me on that one.
Meg is the acting head of the primary school in Tindledale. She adores her job and the children she works with, so when the school is at risk of getting closed down she makes it her mission to stop this from happening. But on top of missing her son Jake – who has just left the parental home for university; getting distracted by a pompous newcomer; and taking on part of the organisation of the annual Great Village Show, will Meg be able to focus on creating an exciting and diverse lesson plan that will convince the inspectors that the village school is an unmissable part of the community?
Jessie is new to Tindledale and she hopes that village life will provide a must-needed change for her and her family. Her husband is often away on lengthy business trips overseas, so Jessie is determined to make friends in the village, enrol her four-year-old triplets into the local school and reignite her passion for keeping bees. But the fresh start she's been longing for is easier said than done, and unless things change drastically and she makes some difficult choiches, her life in Tindledale will be just as unhappy as it was back in London.
It was such an utter joy to return to the charming town of Tindledale! I fell head over heels in love with this amazing place and its incredible inhabitants in The Great Christmas Knit-Off, and so The Great Village Show felt very much like catching up with an old friend from childhood; someone who you can be your complete self with as they already know everything about you. And because it's about a whole new set of characters – with our favourites from the first book occasionally making cameos – it's a great way for new readers to discover this incredible series as well.
Initially I wasn't sure about the focus on Meg and Jessie as I love Sybs, Dr Ben, Basil and Cher so very much, however Alexandra Brown has done it again and created some fantastic characters that you can't help but love and root for from the moment they appear on the page. Alex has a warm and enchanting voice in which she details the story and her settings, and this shines through in her captivating characters as well. They really become the reader's friends over the course of the novel and even though they might get a happy ending, it's almost sad to be turning that final page as it feels like a farewell – and one where you're not sure when you'll have the opportunity to catch up with these friends again in a whole new story (this is a not-so-subtle hint to Alex that I want more Tindledale, please!).
The Great Village Show isn't just great, it is wonderful! Incredibly charming and captivating, it's not only the feel-good story within its pages that will delight readers, but it's the lovely characters and the idyllic village of Tindledale as well. Novels like this is what makes reading such an utter pleasure and the perfect escape from the hectic every-day life.
Did you fall in love with the charming village of Tindledale in The Great Christmas Knit-Off? Or do you have a soft spot for the delightful Carrington's series, also by the hand of brilliant author Alexandra Brown? Then The Great Village Show is one book release you absolutely can not miss this summer! And even if you are not yet familiar with Tindledale or Alex's wonderful books... guess what? Her latest novel is a stand-alone so the perfect opportunity to dive into her gorgeous writing and discover a new author that will soon be one of your firm favourites – trust me on that one.
Meg is the acting head of the primary school in Tindledale. She adores her job and the children she works with, so when the school is at risk of getting closed down she makes it her mission to stop this from happening. But on top of missing her son Jake – who has just left the parental home for university; getting distracted by a pompous newcomer; and taking on part of the organisation of the annual Great Village Show, will Meg be able to focus on creating an exciting and diverse lesson plan that will convince the inspectors that the village school is an unmissable part of the community?
Jessie is new to Tindledale and she hopes that village life will provide a must-needed change for her and her family. Her husband is often away on lengthy business trips overseas, so Jessie is determined to make friends in the village, enrol her four-year-old triplets into the local school and reignite her passion for keeping bees. But the fresh start she's been longing for is easier said than done, and unless things change drastically and she makes some difficult choiches, her life in Tindledale will be just as unhappy as it was back in London.
It was such an utter joy to return to the charming town of Tindledale! I fell head over heels in love with this amazing place and its incredible inhabitants in The Great Christmas Knit-Off, and so The Great Village Show felt very much like catching up with an old friend from childhood; someone who you can be your complete self with as they already know everything about you. And because it's about a whole new set of characters – with our favourites from the first book occasionally making cameos – it's a great way for new readers to discover this incredible series as well.
Initially I wasn't sure about the focus on Meg and Jessie as I love Sybs, Dr Ben, Basil and Cher so very much, however Alexandra Brown has done it again and created some fantastic characters that you can't help but love and root for from the moment they appear on the page. Alex has a warm and enchanting voice in which she details the story and her settings, and this shines through in her captivating characters as well. They really become the reader's friends over the course of the novel and even though they might get a happy ending, it's almost sad to be turning that final page as it feels like a farewell – and one where you're not sure when you'll have the opportunity to catch up with these friends again in a whole new story (this is a not-so-subtle hint to Alex that I want more Tindledale, please!).
The Great Village Show isn't just great, it is wonderful! Incredibly charming and captivating, it's not only the feel-good story within its pages that will delight readers, but it's the lovely characters and the idyllic village of Tindledale as well. Novels like this is what makes reading such an utter pleasure and the perfect escape from the hectic every-day life.
January 23, 2016
This was an interesting read for me. I tried to read it when it first came out, but I couldn't got the life of me get into it. I don't know why, I think I just didn't click with the book, really. But I spotted it in my library and picked it up, determined to give it another go in case it was just tiredness that stopped me reading before, and it must have been, because I quite enjoyed it this time around. Yes, I still had some issues - mainly the fact that the thirty-something Meg seemed very fuddy-duddy, very prim and proper, and a bit too old for how old she actually was, but I eventually warmed to her. It was actually Jessica's story that kept me reading, because I was so intrigued by it, and I kind of wish there had been more made of it, as there's only very sporadic chapters from that third-person point of view.
The Great Village Show is a sequel to Alex's first Tindledale book The Great Christmas Knit-Off, but you could very easily read it as a stand-alone as it features brand new characters, and while Sybs does pop up, it's not completely spoiler-y if you hadn't read the first book. I actually like that in sequels because if you read the sequel so long after its prequel, you forget stuff, so to be introduced to new characters eases that a little bit I find.
Meg took a bit for me to warm to her, but I did. I loved her passion for her school, for her village, for the kids at her school. That really shone through the pages, and I was desperate for her to succeed in her mission, anyone with such a passion deserves a payoff, because people like Meg make the world go around, and without such passionate people, the world would be a duller place, with much less things to enjoy. Dan, on the other hand, baffled the living daylights out of me. He was written like a Katie Fforde hero - arrogant, rude, but with none of the charm, and I truly didn't understand what his appeal was. More time needed to be spent explaining it. One minute, Meg can't stand him, the next they're fake-kissing in front of her mother, and it just didn't make sense, because Meg didn't like him! At all! Maybe he was a lovely fella, and he did try to explain himself, but it was too late for me. With a hero you need to be on board from the offset, and Dan just didn't excite me in the slightest, sadly.
Overall, I quite enjoyed the book. As I said, it was Jessica's story that kept me reading, and I'm slightly curious why she got shoe-horned into Meg's book, instead of her own story because that could have been a pretty powerful novel (maybe that's why - as Alex is more known for her lighter reads), but I would have read it. Meg was lovely, don't get me wrong, and as I said, I loved that she had a cause and she was willing to go down fighting for her school, that's some pretty amazing spirit right there, and that's why I'm glad I kept reading, because I love to read about passionate characters, and the whole village of Tindledale really impress me actually because they're all so passionate about their village. I'm curious who is next up in the upcoming The Secret of Orchard Cottage, I reckon the lovely Kitty deserves a book at some point, she's certainly got a story to tell.
The Great Village Show is a sequel to Alex's first Tindledale book The Great Christmas Knit-Off, but you could very easily read it as a stand-alone as it features brand new characters, and while Sybs does pop up, it's not completely spoiler-y if you hadn't read the first book. I actually like that in sequels because if you read the sequel so long after its prequel, you forget stuff, so to be introduced to new characters eases that a little bit I find.
Meg took a bit for me to warm to her, but I did. I loved her passion for her school, for her village, for the kids at her school. That really shone through the pages, and I was desperate for her to succeed in her mission, anyone with such a passion deserves a payoff, because people like Meg make the world go around, and without such passionate people, the world would be a duller place, with much less things to enjoy. Dan, on the other hand, baffled the living daylights out of me. He was written like a Katie Fforde hero - arrogant, rude, but with none of the charm, and I truly didn't understand what his appeal was. More time needed to be spent explaining it. One minute, Meg can't stand him, the next they're fake-kissing in front of her mother, and it just didn't make sense, because Meg didn't like him! At all! Maybe he was a lovely fella, and he did try to explain himself, but it was too late for me. With a hero you need to be on board from the offset, and Dan just didn't excite me in the slightest, sadly.
Overall, I quite enjoyed the book. As I said, it was Jessica's story that kept me reading, and I'm slightly curious why she got shoe-horned into Meg's book, instead of her own story because that could have been a pretty powerful novel (maybe that's why - as Alex is more known for her lighter reads), but I would have read it. Meg was lovely, don't get me wrong, and as I said, I loved that she had a cause and she was willing to go down fighting for her school, that's some pretty amazing spirit right there, and that's why I'm glad I kept reading, because I love to read about passionate characters, and the whole village of Tindledale really impress me actually because they're all so passionate about their village. I'm curious who is next up in the upcoming The Secret of Orchard Cottage, I reckon the lovely Kitty deserves a book at some point, she's certainly got a story to tell.
February 6, 2016
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an honest and fair review. Thank you!
As a massive fan of The Great Christmas Knit Off, I was excited to see that Alexandra’s next book, we would be back visiting the idyllic village of Tindledale. It was lovely to return to Tindledale where we catch up with the residents of the village as they plan together the village show.
The main character is Meg, who is acting head of the village school. who is faced with the prospect of the school closing down, due to lack of students attending. Meg is a extremely likeable character, you can’t help but warm to her, passionate about her job, doesn’t give up without a fight. She has a big heart. We hear about her son who is at University. She throws herself into planning the village show. Comes up with loads of ideas to impress the schools inspectors and the judges for the village show.
One of the new arrivals in the village is Jessie Cavendish, along with her husband and triplets move to Tindledale, she appears to have the perfect life, but she doesn’t have an easy one, because of the situation she is in. Her story touches a very serious topic, but not in a huge amount of detail. When Meg meets Jessie she soon can see that things aren’t quite what they seem with Jessie and her family.
The other new arrival is Dan Wright, celebrity chef. Who seems to have a bit of a crush on Meg. Always winding her up. No one can work out why he is in Tindledale in the first place. took a while for me to like him, he is an unpredictable character, offering great generosity and ideas but in the next breath he was sharp, arrogant and rude.
The villagers of Tindledale, do what they do best and throw themselves wholeheartedly into the challenge of putting on the best village show, fabulous display of community spirit. We do see glimpses of Sybs, Hettie and Dr. Ben who were featured in her last book, along with a load of new characters.
I recommend this fabulous book. I loved reading it, very easy, quick book to read. I really can’t for her next book about Tindledale (I really hope there is going to be one) to be released. I fell in love with the village all over again.
Looking forward to Alexandra's next release.
As a massive fan of The Great Christmas Knit Off, I was excited to see that Alexandra’s next book, we would be back visiting the idyllic village of Tindledale. It was lovely to return to Tindledale where we catch up with the residents of the village as they plan together the village show.
The main character is Meg, who is acting head of the village school. who is faced with the prospect of the school closing down, due to lack of students attending. Meg is a extremely likeable character, you can’t help but warm to her, passionate about her job, doesn’t give up without a fight. She has a big heart. We hear about her son who is at University. She throws herself into planning the village show. Comes up with loads of ideas to impress the schools inspectors and the judges for the village show.
One of the new arrivals in the village is Jessie Cavendish, along with her husband and triplets move to Tindledale, she appears to have the perfect life, but she doesn’t have an easy one, because of the situation she is in. Her story touches a very serious topic, but not in a huge amount of detail. When Meg meets Jessie she soon can see that things aren’t quite what they seem with Jessie and her family.
The other new arrival is Dan Wright, celebrity chef. Who seems to have a bit of a crush on Meg. Always winding her up. No one can work out why he is in Tindledale in the first place. took a while for me to like him, he is an unpredictable character, offering great generosity and ideas but in the next breath he was sharp, arrogant and rude.
The villagers of Tindledale, do what they do best and throw themselves wholeheartedly into the challenge of putting on the best village show, fabulous display of community spirit. We do see glimpses of Sybs, Hettie and Dr. Ben who were featured in her last book, along with a load of new characters.
I recommend this fabulous book. I loved reading it, very easy, quick book to read. I really can’t for her next book about Tindledale (I really hope there is going to be one) to be released. I fell in love with the village all over again.
Looking forward to Alexandra's next release.
November 2, 2015
As you can see from my review of it, I loved The Great Christmas Knit-Off by Alexandra Brown. I loved the world more than almost anything, but I also loved the rich characters and their complicated emotional lives. Brown digs deeper than most chick-lit authors, and I appreciate the emotional impact of it along with the light humor she infuses her books with.
We're back in the idyllic village of Tindledale, and I couldn't be more glad of it. I, as you know, am a fan of Trisha Ashley's, and I always enjoy visiting places I've been before, or heard mentioned, and spending more time with characters I've met thoroughly or been introduced to. Brown handles this device well, and it doesn't seem like a device. It's like binge-watching a great series such as Downton Abbey... you can't wait to go back for more, and you know it won't end with the first installment.
The story rotates from Sybs (and her lovely dog) and her love interest Ben to feature a new heroine this time around. Meg, a schoolteacher and temporary principal of the local school. She fights for the school in a way she might not even fight for herself because of a love of the community and a commitment to the kids. As a PTA mom and community activist, I immediately identified with her. She's smart, resourceful, and likable.
I love books that revolve around food and cooking, so I was in for a treat when celeb chef Dan showed up on the scene. He's everything you'd imagine a chef to be at first... cocky, petulant, and... hot. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but all my book boyfriends are arrogant on the outside.
I appreciate that Meg has other relationships, apart from just chasing the man. She grows close with Jessie, an outsider who has her hands full and could use some support.
I love that Brown isn't afraid to allow her characters to suffer or get in hot water. There are surprises, and a bit of mystery. it's not your pat Rom Com, with a heroine who's daffy and one-dimensional.
I love the portrayal of English village life. I wish I could transport myself into this book and get to know all the people of Tindledale personally. It was a great escape for me, imagining living this cozy life. Recommended.
We're back in the idyllic village of Tindledale, and I couldn't be more glad of it. I, as you know, am a fan of Trisha Ashley's, and I always enjoy visiting places I've been before, or heard mentioned, and spending more time with characters I've met thoroughly or been introduced to. Brown handles this device well, and it doesn't seem like a device. It's like binge-watching a great series such as Downton Abbey... you can't wait to go back for more, and you know it won't end with the first installment.
The story rotates from Sybs (and her lovely dog) and her love interest Ben to feature a new heroine this time around. Meg, a schoolteacher and temporary principal of the local school. She fights for the school in a way she might not even fight for herself because of a love of the community and a commitment to the kids. As a PTA mom and community activist, I immediately identified with her. She's smart, resourceful, and likable.
I love books that revolve around food and cooking, so I was in for a treat when celeb chef Dan showed up on the scene. He's everything you'd imagine a chef to be at first... cocky, petulant, and... hot. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but all my book boyfriends are arrogant on the outside.
I appreciate that Meg has other relationships, apart from just chasing the man. She grows close with Jessie, an outsider who has her hands full and could use some support.
I love that Brown isn't afraid to allow her characters to suffer or get in hot water. There are surprises, and a bit of mystery. it's not your pat Rom Com, with a heroine who's daffy and one-dimensional.
I love the portrayal of English village life. I wish I could transport myself into this book and get to know all the people of Tindledale personally. It was a great escape for me, imagining living this cozy life. Recommended.
March 20, 2016
I thoughly enjoyed this book!! Like the first book (the great Christmas knit off) I found myself unable to put this down at first I do admit when I found out it wasn't continuing from Sybs story I was a little disappointed having loved it so much but I soon came to realise this was just as good set still in tindledale this main storyline was focused on meg's story and jessies. What's brilliant is all the favourite characters are still there and making appearances so you can see how their lives have moved on which was really nice. The new characters I instantly warmed to and it was a really good plot line like the first book. I can't wait for thd third installment☺☺
August 6, 2015
A lovely feel-good tale of village life, friendship and love. Alexandra Brown dealt well with some challenging moments and relationships. I didn't realise that this was the second book in a series - it flowed without having to know the characters at all.
With the start of the Great British Bake-off imminent , this will resonate with fans of the show too! A light hearted easy read, recommended!!
I received a free copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
With the start of the Great British Bake-off imminent , this will resonate with fans of the show too! A light hearted easy read, recommended!!
I received a free copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 19, 2015
This was such a lovely heart warming story, it is a book that you wont want to put down with it's well written story, loveable characters and perfect ending. This book does follow on from The Great Christmas Knit off which I have yet to read but can be read as a stand alone. I love how all the villagers rally round to help Meg set up the Village show. Tindledale sounds such a lovely little village which you can just imagine yourself there.
October 12, 2016
A gentle, fluffy read, but something was off for me - the POV was inconsistently switched (for my liking), and all the characters (except the general) seemed to be the same age, when they weren't. The celebrity chef's link to the village wasn't adequately explained, which bugs me!
Easy, beach/holiday reading.
Easy, beach/holiday reading.
January 4, 2016
I finished it but I found it a chore. I really enjoyed the great Christmas knit off ( I am a sucker for Christmas stories) but this failed to grab me. Nice enough gentle read but all so very unbelievable it doesn't make you want to turn the pages.
January 11, 2020
Welcome to the pity party. Did not at all care for the main character, Meg. I loved the first book in this series, gave it five stars so this one was a huge disappointment.
January 24, 2020
I was looking forward to reading this book, but found a bit disappointing. It was okay, but not as enjoyable as the first book in the series The Great Christmas Knit-off.
May 6, 2018
Some spoilers ahead, read with caution. Marked with three stars like this: ***
First, I LOVED The Great Christmas Knit Off. It was simple and cozy and perfect for the holidays.
That said...this second Tindledale book almost seemed like it was written by someone else entirely.
The constant rehashing of the conflict and cycling round and round through the same thoughts and emotions...it felt like Brown was trying to stretch a much shorter story out to meet some kind of arbitrary word count.
The dialogue was all...odd? Lots of info dumping (and not just in the dialogue, but in every paragraph, pretty much). Endless details that didn't matter and didn't add to the atmosphere or world building at all. Sometimes things were mentioned that seemed like they should be explored more (***like Meg's relationship with her mother, which was at first described as pleasant and typical, but then there was an odd inner diatribe about how Meg felt abandoned by her and her mother appeared to have a drinking problem, but then after the Big Major Conflict was resolved, everything was fine?).
***The entirety of chapter eighteen (and yes, that seems nitpicky, but this is just an example) could have and should have been condensed into one short phone call about Dan. The rest of it was just rehashing (again!) the issues the village was facing. Honestly, we don't need to be reminded what the problems are 80% through the book.
This main character had a history with the village. So there seemed to be a compulsion to fill in that background and affirm it almost constantly, when it really wasn't necessary. Trust the reader more. You say there's history and memories here, okay, I believe you. Throw in a few through the whole book, not every other page, and leave it at that.
I love Tindledale, so I'll be continuing to the next book, but I was really disappointed by this one.
First, I LOVED The Great Christmas Knit Off. It was simple and cozy and perfect for the holidays.
That said...this second Tindledale book almost seemed like it was written by someone else entirely.
The constant rehashing of the conflict and cycling round and round through the same thoughts and emotions...it felt like Brown was trying to stretch a much shorter story out to meet some kind of arbitrary word count.
The dialogue was all...odd? Lots of info dumping (and not just in the dialogue, but in every paragraph, pretty much). Endless details that didn't matter and didn't add to the atmosphere or world building at all. Sometimes things were mentioned that seemed like they should be explored more (***like Meg's relationship with her mother, which was at first described as pleasant and typical, but then there was an odd inner diatribe about how Meg felt abandoned by her and her mother appeared to have a drinking problem, but then after the Big Major Conflict was resolved, everything was fine?).
***The entirety of chapter eighteen (and yes, that seems nitpicky, but this is just an example) could have and should have been condensed into one short phone call about Dan. The rest of it was just rehashing (again!) the issues the village was facing. Honestly, we don't need to be reminded what the problems are 80% through the book.
This main character had a history with the village. So there seemed to be a compulsion to fill in that background and affirm it almost constantly, when it really wasn't necessary. Trust the reader more. You say there's history and memories here, okay, I believe you. Throw in a few through the whole book, not every other page, and leave it at that.
I love Tindledale, so I'll be continuing to the next book, but I was really disappointed by this one.
August 13, 2023
Meg is the temporary head teacher in Tindeldale village. There aren't enough children for a full school and Meg is afraid of the inspectors closing it down.
Meg is a single mother.Her son,Jack, is 18 and a student at the Leeds university.
A new family, the Cavendishes, move to the village from London.Sebastian is a banker, working mostly in Zurich. He is a bully and wife abuser. Jessica (Jessie) was alienated from her friends by him.They have triplets (two girls and a boy, almost 5 years old). Jessie is afraid of leaving her husband as he could take her kids from her. But she has Sam, her friend.
The village wants to win the area village show.So all the villagers do their best (food, houses, gardens etc).
Dan is a famous London chef .When hne and Meg meet, he is rude to her .But he also has some good suggestions for the village show.
The book reminded me Jenny Colgan's books. This is the second book in the series (there are 4 or 5 books, I think) .
There are several themes : small village and its survival, battered wife, single parents and much more.
Meg is a single mother.Her son,Jack, is 18 and a student at the Leeds university.
A new family, the Cavendishes, move to the village from London.Sebastian is a banker, working mostly in Zurich. He is a bully and wife abuser. Jessica (Jessie) was alienated from her friends by him.They have triplets (two girls and a boy, almost 5 years old). Jessie is afraid of leaving her husband as he could take her kids from her. But she has Sam, her friend.
The village wants to win the area village show.So all the villagers do their best (food, houses, gardens etc).
Dan is a famous London chef .When hne and Meg meet, he is rude to her .But he also has some good suggestions for the village show.
The book reminded me Jenny Colgan's books. This is the second book in the series (there are 4 or 5 books, I think) .
There are several themes : small village and its survival, battered wife, single parents and much more.
March 2, 2017
Another Best Seller In My Mind!
I just love Alex's books. They are about a whole host of characters whose lives intermingled. They are multifaceted, you care about them, their jobs, children and friends and I am always hooked by the end of the first chapter. This particular one I thought that Jessie was going to be the main character but it is Met who is the linchpin of the village. She is trying to reassess her life as her son has gone off to university and she is suffering from empty nest syndrome. Her job as 'acting' headmistress links her to the rest of the village plus she has lived there all her life. Her drive throughout the book is the potential closure of the village school and to top it off she ends up organising the National Village Show Competition. As for her relationship with Dan, well you will just have to read the book! Go on, it's fab!
I just love Alex's books. They are about a whole host of characters whose lives intermingled. They are multifaceted, you care about them, their jobs, children and friends and I am always hooked by the end of the first chapter. This particular one I thought that Jessie was going to be the main character but it is Met who is the linchpin of the village. She is trying to reassess her life as her son has gone off to university and she is suffering from empty nest syndrome. Her job as 'acting' headmistress links her to the rest of the village plus she has lived there all her life. Her drive throughout the book is the potential closure of the village school and to top it off she ends up organising the National Village Show Competition. As for her relationship with Dan, well you will just have to read the book! Go on, it's fab!
October 17, 2017
I really enjoyed the Great British Knit Off so was looking forward to reading another by the same author.
Sadly disappointed. It was probably a 2.5 but I'm feeling mean 'cos the ending annoyed me so much.
There were a lot of sub-plots that seemed promising, but felt like the writer got bored of and abandoned. The can-we-save-our-school saga was vaguely interesting, and the Jessica backstory more so, but I was less than gripped by the 'romance'. Perhaps it's just me, but in real life do people declare undying love after speaking on a handful of occasions, especially when one of them is 99% obnoxious on each of those encounters?
It was okay-ish enough to speed through, but I was less engaged with the plot and 'hero' than I was in studying the map and wondering why people were suggesting catching buses / taxis when they could have walked from A to B in about 5 minutes.
Sadly disappointed. It was probably a 2.5 but I'm feeling mean 'cos the ending annoyed me so much.
There were a lot of sub-plots that seemed promising, but felt like the writer got bored of and abandoned. The can-we-save-our-school saga was vaguely interesting, and the Jessica backstory more so, but I was less than gripped by the 'romance'. Perhaps it's just me, but in real life do people declare undying love after speaking on a handful of occasions, especially when one of them is 99% obnoxious on each of those encounters?
It was okay-ish enough to speed through, but I was less engaged with the plot and 'hero' than I was in studying the map and wondering why people were suggesting catching buses / taxis when they could have walked from A to B in about 5 minutes.
February 2, 2020
Probably 3.5 stars. Very quick read. Mostly told in the first person from the point of view of Meg Singer the head teacher at the local school, with occasional chapters in the third person about Jessie, a newcomer to Tindledale. Meg is concerned about the possible closing of the school, unless more children suddenly appear in town — and luckily Jessie has young triplets. But Jessie has marriage problems, while single-mother Meg's son recently left for university. To get the town on the map, as it were, she gets involved in promoting the Village Show. But a chance meeting with famed chef — and bad boy — Dan Wright unnerves her in more ways than one. Is he really attracted to her? And is he serious about helping out with the Show? Only time will tell . . . .
December 26, 2022
Summary: Tindledale is in a titter. The Village Show competition is coming around again and after last year's spectacular failure, the villagers are determined to win. Meg, a local teacher is keen to help and impose some much-needed order. After a terse encounter with a newcomer, she discovers that it is celebrity chef and culinary bad boy, Dan Wright. Meg thinks he is arrogant and rude but rumour has it that Dan is opening a new restaurant in the village which could really put Tindledale on the map! As things come together, villagers old and new all start to come out of the woodwork, including new arrival Jessie, who seems to have it all. But first impressions can be deceptive and Meg discovers that when it comes to Tindledale - and Dan - nothing is ever quite as it seems.
July 6, 2018
Tepid entry in the Tindledale series. Local schoolteacher Meg hates/falls for Dan, celebrity chef and fictionalization of Gordon Ramsey; in return Dan falls for/puts Meg's pigtails in the inkwell. In the end, they enact a live-action version of "Do you like me? Check one: ⬜ Yes ⬜ No" There's also a subplot about domestic violence that's treated in a superficial way, and other problems (the potential closing of the school, protests against expansion of the village) either get resolved in an unlikely way or just don't get mentioned again.
January 31, 2025
Sort of a romance, sort of a nice vacation in an English village. Meg is the head of a local school. The government is decideing whether it should be shut down for lack of enrollment. Oh. Look! There is a contest for the ten best villages in England. If Meg and her friends can win maybe the school can stay open. Then there is the hot celebrity chef staying at the B&B. Is it time for Meg to try love again? Fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews