Poppy's Seed

by Bethany Askew

Retirement comes too early for Peter and Emily Stanchester. He misses his routine and the feeling of being important and useful. She misses her freedom and her friends at work.
Trapped together in their tiny retirement home in Lyme Regis their once happy marriage begins to fall apart.
When they meet local artist Poppy James they both fall under her spell.
But is Poppy really who she says she is? And what exactly does she want from them both?

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2016

About the author

Bethany Askew is the author of nine novels: The Time Before, The World Within, Out of Step, Counting the Days, Poppy’s Seed, I Know You, Don’t I?, The Next Step, Three Extraordinary Years:The Coleridges at Stowey and The Two Saras: Coleridge in Cumbria (Runner Up in the Bookends Prize for Literature and Poetry, Lakeland Book Of the Year 2021)
Bethany likes to write about women’s lives, their role in society, their position as wife and mother and the impact of marriage, children and divorce on family dynamics.
Bethany has another women’s fiction novel being published in 2023 and she is currently working on a new one.
Bethany lives in Somerset where she was born and brought up. She is married and has four grown-up children and seven grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoys reading, listening to music, walking, the theatre, voluntary work and keeping fit.
www.bethanyaskew.co.uk
Twitter: @AskewBethany
Facebook: BethanyAskewNovelist

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I recognized a lot about early retirement in this story! Set in Lyme Regis, with short forays to Taunton, I recognized the places and the Cobb, for once, wasn't centre stage. There's more to life than making do, isn't there?

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter and Emily struggle to settle into their new way of life once retired to Lyme Regis. However they both encounter an artist in the small town, who is about to affect both their lives. Although this book had somewhat of a slowish start, mainly with some necessary scene setting, it is worth it. The story begins to unfold and the well drawn and believable characters reveal themselves.

I found this a very enjoyable read with a believable and interesting storyline. Its also refreshing to read about someone I can relate to - over 50 - where the story is not about terminal illness, dementia or death!

Thanks to Net galley for the advance copy.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be an interesting concept on life after retirement.
A definitely different but shocking prospective, if you uproot when you retire from your employment and leave friends, job and any family.
An eye- opener!