What do you think?
Rate this book
Bumpkinton Tales #2
Bittersweet
This is an alternate cover edition for B00HFRRJ50
When Venetia was a little girl, her grandpa would regale her with magical tales of the shop he used to own in the mysterious village of Bumpkinton. But when he died, the tales died with him.
Thirty years later, Venetia and her husband chance upon an old photograph in the attic. It ignites a spark within Venetia, and she resolves to buy the shop.
As the inhabitants of Bumpkinton welcome the newcomers with open arms, why is Amelia, the resident busybody, interested in the shop? And why is it so important that it doesn’t become a burger bar?
Bittersweet is the first Bumpkinton novella and is set after the short story Last Christmas.
When Venetia was a little girl, her grandpa would regale her with magical tales of the shop he used to own in the mysterious village of Bumpkinton. But when he died, the tales died with him.
Thirty years later, Venetia and her husband chance upon an old photograph in the attic. It ignites a spark within Venetia, and she resolves to buy the shop.
As the inhabitants of Bumpkinton welcome the newcomers with open arms, why is Amelia, the resident busybody, interested in the shop? And why is it so important that it doesn’t become a burger bar?
Bittersweet is the first Bumpkinton novella and is set after the short story Last Christmas.
65 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2013
2 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Drzymala
7 books42 followersMy name is Matthew Drzymala, and I am the author of the award-winning humorous book series, The Bumpkinton Tales.
There are currently two Bumpkinton stories available, The Bumpkinton Tales: Volume One, and the follow-up novel, The Fantastical Gregory Shortbread,
I'm currently working on a children's book, and when I'm not writing... well, I'm writing, because I'm a freelance copywriter in my day job.
Morning, noon and night - writing is what I do.
There are currently two Bumpkinton stories available, The Bumpkinton Tales: Volume One, and the follow-up novel, The Fantastical Gregory Shortbread,
I'm currently working on a children's book, and when I'm not writing... well, I'm writing, because I'm a freelance copywriter in my day job.
Morning, noon and night - writing is what I do.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 22, 2013
This is the delightful tale of a village and the history of a family. Venetia remembers her Grandpa Eddie telling her stories about the shop he used to run in the little village of Bumpkinton. She decides she’d like to go back and run the shop if it’s for sale. It is and she and her malleable husband Timothy buy it. The village is packed with wonderful characters and most of them don’t like the idea of ‘townies’ coming in to their village.
I live in a village too, and enjoyed this story which is light hearted and feel-good. The author uses some great turns of phrase - I started highlighting them but then realised there were too many and I’d be wasting good reading time! I understand there are more books planned in this series. I shall be looking out for them!
I live in a village too, and enjoyed this story which is light hearted and feel-good. The author uses some great turns of phrase - I started highlighting them but then realised there were too many and I’d be wasting good reading time! I understand there are more books planned in this series. I shall be looking out for them!
June 21, 2014
Bittersweet is the second Bumpkinton story, a novella, which I really enjoyed.
Bumpkinton is an olde worlde village that is very difficult to find - you won’t find it on any map. Quaint but quirky, it is the sort of place that is stuck in a time warp and where some of the locals don’t like outsiders coming in, especially outsiders who are buying empty village shops and renovating them. Heaven forbid they should have a “McRonalds” in the village!
It is a smashing little tale that can be read in an hour or so, with some cracking characters that really made me chuckle. Amusing and witty, it didn’t quite leave me with a tear in my eye, like Last Christmas (the first Bumpkinton story), but I did feel kind of all gooey inside.
Bumpkinton is an olde worlde village that is very difficult to find - you won’t find it on any map. Quaint but quirky, it is the sort of place that is stuck in a time warp and where some of the locals don’t like outsiders coming in, especially outsiders who are buying empty village shops and renovating them. Heaven forbid they should have a “McRonalds” in the village!
It is a smashing little tale that can be read in an hour or so, with some cracking characters that really made me chuckle. Amusing and witty, it didn’t quite leave me with a tear in my eye, like Last Christmas (the first Bumpkinton story), but I did feel kind of all gooey inside.
April 17, 2014
I loved reading this book. From the first page there is a tension and anticipation that is bubbling away in the background while you are being introduced to some wonderful, very quirky english characters. There are some good points of humour, they are slightly racy but nothing you'd be embarrassed to read - think seaside postcard humour. All the while you are reading this delightfully simple story wondering what is going to happen at the end. I was thankful that the book wasn't a paperback as I would have very naughtily skipped to the back page to find out the secret before going back to the page that I was on and reading the rest of the story.
The author in his bio talks about how he likes to drink tea and scones, it sums this book up perfectly. Find yourself a shady spot in a sunny english garden, brew yourself a cup of tea, take a plate of freshly cooked scones laden with Jam and clotted cream and sit on a picnic rug enjoying your treats whilst reading this delightful story.
If you have read MC Beaton's work this has a similar feel in terms of being a character driven story that you find yourself thinking that reminds me of so and so that I know.
The author in his bio talks about how he likes to drink tea and scones, it sums this book up perfectly. Find yourself a shady spot in a sunny english garden, brew yourself a cup of tea, take a plate of freshly cooked scones laden with Jam and clotted cream and sit on a picnic rug enjoying your treats whilst reading this delightful story.
If you have read MC Beaton's work this has a similar feel in terms of being a character driven story that you find yourself thinking that reminds me of so and so that I know.
February 25, 2014
Lovely little book. Grandads and Grandchildren is always a good start for a tale. Some of the Characters, and there are always a few in village life, are quite reminiscent of Little Britain, so a good laugh too. Especially the bit about the contents of the vicar's bin bag...... that was a lol!! (if you want to know what's in there - you'll have to read the book)
As this is the second of a series - I have now downloaded his first writing - Last Christmas.
As this is the second of a series - I have now downloaded his first writing - Last Christmas.
December 30, 2013
I really enjoyed the book.
June 17, 2016
Bittersweet is my first novella in the Bumpkinton Tales series of stories and tells the talr of Venetia and Timothy Ashurst as they hunt for a very special shop.
As the couple finally find Venetia's grandpa's old shop and move to the village which doesn't seem to appear on any map, they are welcomed with opened arms by all, except for the busybody Amelia Goose and her lacky, Marjorie Fairfax. Amelia is against the "townies" coming in and spoiling their village by opening a "burger bar" which could not be further from the truth.
Bittersweet was a joy to write and dips a toe into the strange, silly little village which gets funnier, bitchier and stranger as the novella's go along.
I hope you enjoy it.
Matthew Drzymala
As the couple finally find Venetia's grandpa's old shop and move to the village which doesn't seem to appear on any map, they are welcomed with opened arms by all, except for the busybody Amelia Goose and her lacky, Marjorie Fairfax. Amelia is against the "townies" coming in and spoiling their village by opening a "burger bar" which could not be further from the truth.
Bittersweet was a joy to write and dips a toe into the strange, silly little village which gets funnier, bitchier and stranger as the novella's go along.
I hope you enjoy it.
Matthew Drzymala
November 26, 2014
Bittersweet is the second in the Bumpkiton Tales by Matt Drzymala and is set in the village we were introduced to in the short story, ‘Last Christmas’. This novella provides an enjoyable insight into Bumpkinton village and the characters who live (and irritate each other) there, while also giving the author a larger platform to develop and expand his writing skills.
Some naughty humour and double entendre's in true 70s sitcom style spice up the story-line and a special mention needs to be made for the charming names of the inhabitants of Bumpkinton e.g. Venetia Hopscottle and Mrs Summers-Day, again a whimsical throwback to an age that older readers will remember.
Some naughty humour and double entendre's in true 70s sitcom style spice up the story-line and a special mention needs to be made for the charming names of the inhabitants of Bumpkinton e.g. Venetia Hopscottle and Mrs Summers-Day, again a whimsical throwback to an age that older readers will remember.
April 30, 2015
This story was absolutely delightful. From the very beginning I felt drawn into the story by the authors warm and inviting writing style. The events were funny and the village and its inhabitants were quirky. I just enjoyed every second of reading this. I loved the fact that the author kept what Venetia and her husband were going to do with the shop a secret and I couldn't wait to find out the answer! Absolutely charming and I will definitely be reading the others very soon!
September 12, 2015
Really wonderful story centering around Bumpkinton and the local shop once owned by Venetias family.
I enjoyed how this little book flowed.
I enjoyed how this little book flowed.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews