The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness

by Laura Kemp

'Witty, Warm, and Wonderful. I loved it!' Milly Johnson
Sometimes all it takes to make the world a better place is a small act of kindness...
'A truly wonderful and heartwarming read' Heidi Swain
'I loved it' Clare Mackintosh

The perfect feel-good read for fans of Milly Johnson, Lucy Diamond and Jenny Colgan

When Ceri Price arrives in the small seaside village in West Wales, she only means to stay for a couple of nights - long enough to scatter her mother's ashes, and then go back to her life as a successful make-up entrepreneur.

But when a case of mistaken identities means she lands a job as the barmaid in the local pub, she unexpectedly finds friendship, and perhaps a chance at love.

But when the plans for a new housing estate put the local woodland under threat, she fears the way of life here could disappear.

Then mysterious acts of kindness start springing up around the village - a string of bunting adorns the streets, a new village signpost appears out of nowhere and someone provides paint to spruce up the houses on the seafront. Who is behind these acts of kindness and can they help in the race to save the village from the faceless developers...?

Welcome to the Village of Love. Where friendship flourishes and love blossoms...

*********
Readers are loving this gorgeously feel-good uplifting novel:

'An absolute joy. Five stars' Isabelle Broom, Heat

'Heartwarming, wise, funny and romantic...this is a delight' Rachael Lucas, bestselling author of Wildflower Bay

'A truly wonderful and heartwarming read' Heidi Swain, Sunday Times bestselling author of Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair

'I absolutely loved it!' Cathy Bramley, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lemon Tree Cafe

'A perfect feel-good read that will lift your spirits no end' The Sun

'An adorable life-affirming book' Rowan Coleman

'I have completely and utterly fallen in love with this book; with the characters, the setting and the wonderfully written story. Beautifully brilliant. I love this book. Five stars'. Anne, Random Things Through My Letterbox

'This really is a wonderful book. With fabulous characters and a beautiful setting. This book will make you want to spread your own acts of kindness and make the lives of people that you meet just that little bit better. Absolutely loved it. Five stars.' Karen, Goodreads reviewer

'A beautiful book...I loved it...you can't help but feel better about life once you have read it. It puts a smile on your face. It is uplifting, shares the best of human kindness and makes you appreciate that life is so much more than material possessions. It really is a feel-good book, that is perfect for those cold winter evenings. Five stars.' Jo, Goodreads reviewer

'A very entertaining, page-turning book, that was just that little bit different character-wise, and with a lovely ending. Very enjoyable.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2017

About the author

Laura Kemp writes tender but hilarious romantic comedies which are unashamed love letters to the everywoman.
Her uplifting message - based on the notion that everything is research apart from the rude bits - is 'You Don't Know How Brilliant You Are!'.
A journalist who has written for The Guardian, The Daily Mail and The Sun amongst others, she is married with a son in Cardiff, where she pretends to be a domestic revolutionary so she doesn't have to do the ironing. Runs to eat crisps and drink wine, adores her mates and loves her dog, Lego and sweary cross-stitch.

What they say about Laura's books...

'Witty, warm and wise with the funniest one-liners - totally loved every page. Laura Kemp delivers another winner' MILLY JOHNSON.

'Warm, funny, sweet *and* spicy, what a fab read' LUCY DIAMOND.

'A warm-hearted, laugh-out-loud story of the things we do (or don't do) in pursuit of love. Sexy, witty and wise, with moments that will steal your heart, prepare to fall for Frankie Green!' MIRANDA DICKINSON.

'Gorgeous! Funny, clever, romantic and real, it's brilliant' Rachael Lucas.

'Read this book while on holiday - and loved it! I would highly recommend!' Rachel Abbott.

'Fun but with real heart' Fabulous Magazine
Fantastically funny - Allison Pearson, I Don't Know How She Does It
Brilliantly funny - Fiona Gibson, Mum on the Run author
Witty, brilliantly written - Fabulous mag
Funny and poignant - The Sun
Funny and gutsy - Sainsbury's mag

Her sixth book Bring Me Sunshine is coming 2019 - ebook in March and paperback in June.
Also published by Orion, A Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness is out now.
Other titles are The Late Blossoming of Frankie Green and Whatever Happened to Vicky Hope's Back Up Man?, with Head of Zeus and Mums Like Us and Mums on Strike, published by Arrow.
She is represented by Lizzy Kremer at David Higham.
For all her book news go to Laura Kemp Books on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheLauraKemp

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have completely and utterly fallen in love with this book; with the characters, the setting and the wonderfully written story. On dark November evenings it has felt like a sprinkle of magic, cheering me up and making me smile. The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness is like the fizz of prosecco, it's infectious and addictive and pure indulgence.

Ceri Price is grieving for her mother. A single mum who brought up her daughters in a house full of laughter, and fashion and cheer. With no father, only a crumpled photograph and stories told by her mother, Ceri's world revolved around her.

She is determined to carry out her mother's last wishes and scatter her ashes in the small Welsh town of Dwynwen. Ceri has come a long way from the small house she grew up in. Her hand-made make up range, and her YouTube tutorials have brought her wealth and riches that she could never have imagined and when she arrives in Dwynwen she finds a town that feels like the land that people forgot. No wi-fi or designer coffee. No Social Media celebrities or gin bars; just an almost empty pub, a few houses and a run down shop-come-cafe.

Despite the bleak outlook and the sense of despair coming from the locals, Dwynwen is a community and Ceri is welcomed into its heart, and cherished and appreciated. Whilst she does feel guilty for keeping secrets from her new friends, she enjoys the genuine warmth and friendliness.
When Dwynwen is threatened by developers, the town really come into force; determined to fight to keep their legacy, and Ceri finds herself in the middle of it all. Willingly, and happily. She feels as though she's come home.

Laura Kemp has created a cast of character that will delight every reader, just when you think she can't possibly introduce more, she introduces her reader to yet one more, and another, and another. From eco-loving Rhodri to nine-year-old genius Henry; each and every one of these characters are wholesome and real and incredibly lovable.

This is a book of secrets and reveals, of community and kindness. There's love, and betrayal, and discovery, it's a parcel of wonder that will delight the most cold-hearted of reader. It's warm, funny and shows the importance of finding a place that you belong in, and people that will love you.

Beautifully brilliant. I love this book.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and will not be the last at all as so well written and simply loved it from the first page. It was funny yet heartwarming and romantic also about find out what is best for her and what she thought was right wasn't. Also really lifts your spirits when you read it and wants you wanting more of the book.
Ceri has been caring for her mother with dementia and also working very successfully writing bogs about make up and things but when her mother passes she can't cope and seems to be moving further away from her sister so she decides to go to a small village in wet wakes to scatter her mums ashes as its where her mother loved going. She is only meant to stay a few nights but ends up much longer. When she pulls up in the village she thinks she has the wrong village as looks so run down and horrible but she can soon change that I'm sure. Someone gets the wrong end of the stick and thinks she's going for the job so she pretends she will work in the pub and gives a slightly different name as she doesn't want to be recognised and she thinks she's doing well. She finds friendship while working and she does wonder if love will follow. Mysterious acts of kindness keep starting to spring up and she begins to think new life can one into the village and can she be happy. Should she stay and find out more or go back to her old life. This is a really excellent read and highly recommend it.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the idea of a year with surprising acts of kindness, and loved the setting of this book too, a small forgotten village in West Wales.

The assorted villagers in Dwynwen soon crept into my hear, and I especially enjoyed Mel's story. And although I appreciated what Ceri was trying to do for most of the book it took me a while to warm up to her, and even by the end I still wasn't sure.

There are some good storylines in the book which did keep me reading, but having read other books by the author before, this one fell short for me. The descriptions of the village in Wales were incredible and I loved the many many colours that Mel sees the world in. Ultimately I think it was me not the book that wasn't quite right, I can't put my finger on it, as there is nothing whatsoever wrong with the book, it just didn't quite work for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Isabella May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've discovered a new favourite author!

Loved this hygge-style read from start to finish. Pure brilliance. Colourful characters, great storyline. I understand my Welsh friends now like never before!

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Year Of Surprising Acts Of Kindness is a romantic comedy.

Ceri Price is grieving for her mother who recently died. When her sister takes steps to empty the family home and make it ready to sell, Ceri finds it hard to let go. She heads to Wales where her mother asked to have her ashes spread.

The sleepy seaside village of Dwynwen has little appeal; it's no longer a tourist hotspot, so Ceri won’t be staying long. The lack of internet cuts her off from her old life, but soon the location and the villagers appeal more than returning to work. Can a village named after an ancient goddess of love still work magic against the odds of a modern world?

When I read the title of this book, I envisioned a story dominated by a year-long challenge of kind acts. This tale is quite different to my expectations; its main storyline revolves around Ceri and her journey through loss and grief and her hopes of finding love. The acts of kindness become part of the storyline, some obvious, others less so. Some seep from characters who care, while others evolve as the story moves forward.

This was a light read and fits the genre well, not quite what I was expecting but I was still keen to see how Ceri’s story evolved. Recommended for those who enjoy a contemporary style romance and Welsh seaside setting.

More reviews at https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/
Twitter @rosieamber1

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really. This book. "The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness". I have fallen utterly and completely in love with this story and I think this is Laura Kemp's best novel yet. I couldn't, and didn't want to, put it down. The writing style, and also the plot, reminded me so much of Jenny Colgan's novels but it was of course absolutely different and had it's own style and content. It was full of this so difficult to grasp charm and loveliness, it was funny and poignant at the same time, heart - warming and romantic. Uplifting and optimistic.

In this brilliant story that felt like a ray of sunshine we meet Ceri Price, who right now is trying to come to terms with her beloved mum's death and the fact that her sister is packing all her things without asking Ceri if there is something she'd like to keep for herself. Ceri drives to a little town of Dwynwen to spread her mother's ashes there and, due to misunderstanding, this young and successful businesswoman bags a barmaid job in the local pub. But there is much more that she's going to find there - friends and friendships, and she also finds herself falling in love with the place... and not only. So when plans for a new housing estate are made (built on the beautiful piece of woodland!) Ceri knows that she must join the villagers and fight for this what she's already holding dear.

There are relatively many characters in this story but guys, believe me, they all have their own place and the book wouldn't be the same without them. They're so different to each other and they complete each other brilliantly. There is this eco - warrior Rhodri, a little socially awkward but with a great passion for recycling, who so much wants to keep the natural beauty of the village but also make it welcoming place for the tourists, he was just so, so brilliant, or the nine - year - old genius Henry, the married couple who owned the pub, Mel who has grown so much on me, and actually all of them! I only had some great problems with Ceri's sister, as I couldn't understand her approach and the coldness towards her sister, and it bothered me so much, for a very, very long time. I was somehow disappointed with her and had a feeling she's just jealous of her sister's success and want to punish her somehow with her actions after their mother's death. Thank you Laura Kemp for letting me understand her better later on, when she visited Ceri - no need to say that I warmed to her then very, very much.
I loved how Ceri was finding so great friendships in this place, and doing so well, and counting her blessing, with the help of Dwynwen's villagers. My word, those people were gorgeous, and I loved all of them! I also loved Ceri, she was so normal even though she was such a successful businesswoman. I loved her determination, sense of humour, because she has a heart made of gold and she was, you know, this kind of character that didn't feel the need to lead on problems or troubles, she just wanted to live her life happily, to find her place and maybe love, even though she wasn't looking for it. There was this brilliant community spirit on the villagers and oh my, how they welcomed Ceri without one question, they appreciated her and they stand behind her, and each other, even if you were new to the village! Ceri has some secrets, and she feels guilty for keeping them from her new friends, especially as she feels so welcome and so well.

The village of Dwynwen, a seaside village in West Wales, was a brilliant, brilliant setting! I'm not sure if I'd man up to go and live there, to be honest, but nevertheless I adored this place, especially when it started to revive after the unexpected acts of kindness happening. It looked so run down, and so lonely, and so sad and horrible at the beginning but the people living there made up for it, and then is started to change, and it was just lovely.

I loved the errors and jumping to conclusions in this story, they were absolutely brilliant and made me laugh so much! The dialogues were brilliant, so straightforward and so honest, probably thanks to the characters who lived their lives so genuine, not spending their time on social medias but actually talking to each other.

This is a story about secrets, love, forgiveness, friendship and, of course, kindness. It is filled with so many feelings and emotions, and all of them so gorgeously and beautifully put into words, you truly discovers new shades of love, betrayal and hope and community. It's full of warmth and humour and also sadness and this all beautifully blended together, and you immediately feel like a part of this story. Sometimes a small act of kindness is really this all. It focused on the real meaning of life, showing what's really important and I loved it woth all my heart. Highly, highly recommended!

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Karen Mace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a charming and easy to read book that was a perfect escape on a rainy afternoon!

Ceri finds herself in Wales after the death of her beloved mother, in a place where she's never been before but immediately finds herself at home amongst the villagers and she finds this pace of life refreshing and comfortable. The more time she spends away from her old life, the more she finds herself and discovers there's more to life than the crazy world she lived in before.

I loved the setting and the variety of characters. There were secrets galore that were revealed along the way which made the journey Ceri faced really interesting. Loved the humour too! I would have liked more focus on the random acts of kindness as I often found that they were forgotten about and could have played a much bigger role in the story and impact on the village.

[Avigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like books that take me to new places that I've never have been and also I will never go, even though I would like to go.
Laura Kemp is a new author for me and the story is very interesting. It is a story about grief, about finding yourself and letting go of things that hold you back.
If you are a hoarder I will give you a trigger warning because one of the characters is a chronic hoarder.
It is a love story and a story that has a lot of themes very relevant to our modern world.
It is a book about true friendships, family relationships and being yourself.
I deducted a star because sometimes the pacing was a little bit slow.
I am certain that I will look for other books of the author because I really liked her writing.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness is such a beautiful book. It truly is, and it reminded me of what it is to be human. In a world that is dominated by social media, online followers and selfies, this story focussed on the real meaning of living life to the fullest. It's a stripping back life to the absolute basics, that of forming friendships and actually talking to people, and I loved it.

The story begins with us meeting Ceri Price, a thirty-year-old woman who has recently suffered a bereavement, that of her mother who had dementia. Ceri was her carer, and although a successful businesswoman in her own right, having single-handedly set up a make-up business from home using store cupboard ingredients, she feels that her life lacks meaning. We follow Ceri to Wales. as she leaves her married sister behind, to scatter her mum's ashes on her beloved shoreline of Dwynwen, a seaside village in West Wales. What follows is a funny, heart-warming and thought provoking read about the importance of friendship and caring for others.

This book is full of larger than life Welsh characters who you just can't help but love, and for me, I couldn't help but be smitten with Rhodri, the somewhat socially awkward bear of a man with a passion for recycling. He wants the village to be a welcoming place for visitors, and to keep the natural beauty of the area, but others in the village are less passionate and can't see a way to fight the investors who want to change the beauty and stillness of this seaside village. As an outsider, Ceri brigs a freshness and unique viewpoint to this small community. Although she had only planned to stay a few days. after a misunderstanding, she ends up staying a lot longer and becomes sucked into village life, and I loved this.

What I also enjoyed were the multiple points of view. This gave a greater depth to the story, as we read the thoughts and feelings of not only Ceri, but of those who had a huge impact on her life, who made her evaluate her life, and to consider what was truly important in her life. I sometimes find multiple POV confusing, but this was not the case with this book, as all voices were very distinctive.

The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness is a stunning story that truly encompasses the Welsh community spirit and you can't help but feel better about life once you have read it. It puts a smile on your face. It is uplifting, shares the best of human kindness and makes you appreciate that life is so much more than material possessions. It really is a feel good book, that is perfect for those cold winter evenings.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I am a firm believer that if you spread kindness and happiness you can reap the rewards. That is why I am always kind to everyone we meet.

In this world where people would rather burry their heads in the sand then to offer a kind smile, an ear to listen and a voice to talk to others. Sometimes that is simply all it takes.

The world we live in at the moment is a place of turmoil, hatred and anger. It is refreshing to read a book that encourages small acts of kindness to take place. Acts that could make the world that we live in today a happier place.

Meet Ceri Price a woman who is going through her own dramas at the moment arrives in the little town of Dwynwen to spread her mother’s ashes. Ceri never meant to stay in the villiage for long. But then she gets mistaken for a barmaid and offered a job working in the local pub. Needing healing and a place to escape to Ceri takes the job. It turns out to be more than she could have hoped for. Here she finds a friend and the possible flicker of something more.

But when the plans for a new housing estate are made clear indicating that they will be building on the woodland it is clear to all that they must act in order to save what they all hold dear.

It is at this point that surprising acts of kindness happen to pop up all around the village. Who is behind these surprising acts of kindness and can everyone club together to save their woodland from the building plans?

This really is a wonderful book. With fabulous characters and a beautiful setting. This book will make you want to spread your own acts of kindness and make the lives of people that you meet just that little bit better.

I suggest that we should keep these acts of kindness going and perhaps smile at a passing stranger or if someone randomly starts talking to you while you are out or waiting for a bus that we speak back to them instead of ignoring them. Hold doors open for people, say please and thank you. Offer to make your colleges a drink or bring in cookies for the team. Whatever you decide to do. I promise that it will make you feel good and leaving the person that you have done something for smiling from ear to ear. After all you might be the only person that person speaks to that day.

Let’s spread, happyness, kindness around like confetti and help make yours and other people’s lives that little bit better.

Wonderful book. Absolutely loved it.

[Claire Mc Partlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit this book initially caught my eye as developers are trying to build on a field at the edge of our lovely village at the moment and we are fighting it, so the fact that this story was also about fighting developers, this time building on woodland, really struck a chord with me - even though in the end the development story wasn't the main part of the story at all, and actually very little to do with it!

Ceri had recently lost her Mum after caring for her through dementia. Her half-sister is acting very uncaring in selling the house really quick and Ceri feels really on her own so decides to take time off work to scatter her Mother's ashes, as she had requested, in a little village in Wales where she had originally come from. Ceri had become very wealthy making her own cosmetics and blogs, which she had started at home whilst looking after her Mum.

Once there she can't understand why on earth her Mum would want to have her ashes scattered there as it is really run-down with eccentric people and she plans to leave as soon as she can. But through an initial confusion about who she was she ends up working behind the bar and as the time went on the little village really grew on her and she began to really feel at home and cared for and didn't want to leave.

Little acts of kindness then started springing up all over the village helping the place to come back to life and bringing in more tourists. It was very intriguing who was doing it all as you would assume it was Ceri as she had the money, but it wasn't revealed until towards the end of the book. There were some quite eccentric, interesting characters in this story, Rhodri and Mel two of the main ones, and I couldn't decide if I liked them or not initially as they were so different, but they really grew on me, and the reasons for the way they acted were slowly revealed throughout the story, especially with Mel.

There were some twists towards the end that I really didn't see coming too. A very entertaining, page-turning book, that was just that little bit different character-wise, and with a lovely ending. Very enjoyable.

[Book Gannet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely, heart-warming tale of new starts, old secrets, friendship, kindness and rediscovering yourself. Oh, and love. It is set in the Village of Love, after all.

Ceri is a great heroine. I couldn’t help but feel for her at the beginning as she grieves for her mother, with whom she was so very close, while her little sister just moves everything swiftly on. That sister! I hated the way she treated Ceri at the beginning, especially as her words didn’t seem to have much basis in fact. Yes, Ceri had become very successful very quickly, but it’s hard to see that it’d changed her so much when she spent so much time caring for her ailing mother.

Still, it definitely left me firmly on Ceri’s side as she heads west into Wales to the magical little village of Dwynwen, which doesn’t make the best first impression. But it’s packed with characters and history and such lovely kindness. Admittedly, most of the residents are a bit eccentric, but the more Ceri (and we) get to know them, the more there is to love.

It’s not just about Ceri though, there’s a development to fight, painful wounds to heal and some deep secrets to be uncovered. If anywhere is in need of a rescue and some random acts of kindness, it’s Dwynwen and it’s well deserving residents.

Uplifting, warm and delightful, this was a lovely read especially in the depths of winter. The whole book left me with a happy smile on my face. I will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

(Review copy from the publisher via Amazon Vine.)

[Charlene Wedgner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly a huge thank you to lauren at Orion for my proof copy which I admitted did squeal about when recieved the email ! It also come with a yummy Welsh cake so anything that comes with cake is Already amazing!

I adore laura kemp both as a writer and a person …well what I know from social media  so to have a new book from her in my hands felt like Christmas.

I devoured this and after I declared to my daughter that I was moving to Wales.

I love Wales anyway and the Welsh accent espenally if they are rather handsome.

I loved this book and everything it represented.

New beginnings ; in unlikely places.

Friendships in even unlikely  people.

Possibly even love??

This is warm cosy and full of hope.

Laura writing is full of humour .

It’s a story of what possibilities lie in store for us if we let go.

A fantastic read to set you up for 2018 and one I’m sure will be flying off the shelves !

[Petra Quelch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness by Laura Kemp
I have read Laura Kemp books a few years back, and I have enjoyed them enormously.
The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness is a little bit different to what I have previously read by Laura, but I must say it is a beautifully refreshing, uplifting, hopeful and magical book.
What can happen when you visit the town in the middle of nowhere? Well, Ceri would certainly know.
When our main heroine visits the little town on the edge of a Welsh cliff called Dwywen, she can't imagine that her mother uses to live there! But Ceri soon finds out that there is something very magical about this place.
I loved Laura vibrant use of words to describe the Welsh town and the surroundings. I could easily imagine myself there, and I could not help but bond very quickly with every character in this story, especially with Ceri.
There is plenty to keep us readers hooked on from the romance to the Welsh landscape and its colourful residents. I love every minute in the company of this book and can't wait for Laura's next book. Absolutely fabulous!

[Helen Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book, and although I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (thank you!), I will be buying my own copy.

I am from Wales, although I'm living in England at the moment, and this book made me think very fondly of the landscapes of my youth. I only have positive things to say about this book. Beautiful descriptions, and I loved all the characters. Romances nicely developed. The ending is just right. I enjoyed reading about St. Dwynwen, and the theme about surprising acts of kindness was just right in a world where only negative news seems to be reported. This book is a breath of fresh air.

[Janet Emson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ceri Price is mourning the loss of her mother. Intent on carrying out her wishes of spreading her ashes in her childhood home of Dwynwen in Wales, Ceri only plans on staying a few nights, then returning to Crewe to carry on her job as head of a successful make up business. However when she is mistaken for the new barmaid, what was going to be just a few days turns into a week, and then two. As the magic of the village and the warmth and friendliness of the locals takes over Ceri finds herself falling for Dwynwen, and for one local in particular. Then the village is threatened with plans for a new housing estate and random acts of kindness occur in the village. Who is behind those acts and can the new housing estate be stopped?

There is a lovely, cosy feel to this novel, this arises I think from the small, close-knit village and it’s quirky inhabitants, creating a village I would love to visit. The cast of characters is small, the village depicted so that it was easy to envisage and this all helped towards that cosy feel.

Laura Kemp has created a whole host of characters, each one adding something to the story. Ceri grew on me. She came across at first as a little spoiled and shallow but as the story progresses the reader sees that she has been caught up in the whirlwind success of her business and going to Dwynwen opens her eyes as to what she really wants from life. Then there are the locals. Gwil and Gwen, landlord and landlady at the local pub, The Dragon, are the catalyst for Ceri’s life change. When she steps in as barmaid she helps to transform the pub, breathing in new life and the couple bring comedy to the storyline. So too does Mel, who quickly becomes friends with Ceri. Mel holds onto an incident in her past which is making it impossible for her to move forward. The story sees Mel and Ceri helping each other, often times without even realising it. Then there are Rhodri and Logan, both of whom are interested in Ceri for their own reasons.

I had figured out who was behind the mysterious acts of kindness from early on in the story but it was nice to read about each one and to wonder what the next act would be.

There’s a warmth to the writing that draws the reader in. At the beginning of the story there were times when it felt a little flat (there were lots of references to bums!) but this soon picked up. There were also a couple of times when the point of Rhodri’s shyness and interest in recycling and the environment seemed a little laboured but again not enough to spoil my enjoyment of the story. There is a friendliness and fun feeling to the writing and that is reflected in the story.

A lovely way to spend a few hours, I’ll be interested to read more by Laura Kemp in the future.

[Zoe_reading_queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beautiful xx

[Karin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely bit of chick lit. Some fun characters and a feel good story. Perfect for the beach, a journey or, as in my case, recovering from the flu!

[Madeline Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant.

Initially thought it was going to be predictable like Mills & Boom but I very quickly changed my mind. The descriptions of places and scenery and colour were eye-opening.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming uplifting story just perfect for reading in gloomy February.

[Jo Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light and uplifting story
4 stars

This is a sweet and enjoyable tale that is more than a romance - it touches on subjects of grief, hope, love, friendship and belonging.

I really liked the character of Ceri although it did annoy me that she took such abuse from her sister in the first chapter. I mean, you’re not a bad person just because you make a lot of money and others around you are struggling. It wasn’t that Ceri didn’t try to help. This was just the explanation of why she took that first trip to Wales but it just irked me some. At least it made me root for Ceri, and angry on her behalf, rather than put me off her.

The story meandered along nicely. It’s a sweet tale with lots of interesting characters and lots of little twists and turns. The random acts of kindness made me smile and gave a nice little happy buzz to the book. Very uplifting.

The setting of a small, forgotten village in Wales is done nicely. I’m not sure if the author is Welsh but regardless, she clearly has a love of the country and people - but can make fun of them just as well. To be fair, I’m not Welsh, so I’m not sure if, for them, it would be as cringe as when I read a book set in Scotland or with Scottish people.

I could have done with things being wrapped up a little bit earlier than 5 bloomin’ pages before the end of the book - enough to give me anxiety. But by the end, I was smiling - and closed the book with a happy sigh.

This is a fun, light and easy-going book that I would recommend to chick-lit readers. It’s uncomplicated, not too deep but gives you enough story to get your teeth into. An enjoyable 4 star read.

[Pippa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I often try a new (to me) author if I think it might be my kind of book and is on offer at £0.99. “The year of surprising acts of kindness” was one of those books. It began well enough and although I doubted Laura Kemp would join the ranks of my favourite authors I did expect to finish it. Well I read the first 19 chapters but failed to make any real connection with the central characters and if you haven’t bonded with them you don’t care about them. I simply can’t be bothered to continue. I liked Mel and wished the book had been more about her instead of Ceri.

[Carol Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book, I very much enjoyed the setting and the story. It is definitely a feel good plotline and the village environment was lovely. The characters were well developed and some of them were especially endearing.

I recommend this book to anybody who wants a nice feel good read and maybe even to take the idea of the book into their own lives and start doing little acts of kindness yourself.

I was sent a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Steph Hayward-bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely story showing how kindness and friendship can change your life. A lovely uplifting read.

[PrettyFlamingo · Rating 3 out of 5]

What did I like about this book? Well, the basis of the story. Finding you are happy with simplicity and changing your life. The Welsh seaside village and how Dwynwen found its mojo again. The impetus to make the world a better place. The villagers themselves and their relationships. The cover – well I would, as it my favourite illustrator and it really captures the village. And who would have thought recycling would be an interesting topic for a love interest?

Ceri Price is a vlogger – yes she is – and very well off. She returns to the village in West Wales where her mother grew up to scatter her ashes following her tragic death from Alzheimers and finds herself captivated by the village. I read a book last year from 1978 called On Wings of Love, which featured Kestrel who was keen to protect and nurture a pair of marsh harriers so they could nest and breed. These plans seem to be scuppered by local developers who have set up a building site for the production of executive houses. Kestrel decides to galvanise the village into a campaign to get them to stop the work to save the birds. Of course, the builders’ agent is drop dead gorgeous, and this adds an extra layer to the story. That book had a lot to say about village life, communication, friendship and being true to your cause and to yourself whilst also discovering a lot about yourself. This is what Laura Kemp has tried to achieve with Ceri’s story and her love interest Rhodri, who’s been mercilessly teased – some would say bullied – by his brothers and property developer father for his commitment to the planet and recycling, and he takes against their plans to build a housing estate on local woodland.

What didn’t I like? I felt utterly queasy at Laura’s choice of similes and descriptions: “The thought sat like a turd in constipated bowels.” The local pub features a “turd-coloured bar” and the brickwork was “the colour of earwax.” No, no, no! Please stop it. This was revolting!

There were also too many coincidences, and one too many caricature characters for my tastes. I also felt the ending was far too cheesy. It was OK, and had a good heart, but it didn’t make me want to buy and read more books. Unfortunately, I can’t get those revolting descriptions out of my head.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I enjoyed this book!! It's another 5 star review from me for a good warm-hearted story with a happy ending, even if I am perhaps a bit generous with my stars sometimes. It was a lovely read thanks to Laura Kemp.

The whole idea of the acts of kindness was lovely.... , just what was needed to heal or repair this woman. She then was able to pay back in spades, herself. It was mostly positive and heartwarming as a result. Acts of kindness have their own ripple effect. Not everyone is as cynical and grasping as the news leads us to think, sometimes.

A foil for more serious reads, this book. There are just times when you need to get away from non-fiction or politics or history and read something lighter and friendlier. God knows, reading about women's lives is more interesting than reading about men...LOL!! That's the way it works for me, anyway.

So, I'm going to have a look at some other Laura Kemp books and possibly drop back to Marian Keyes or Nick Alexander. Might even re-read something from Douglas Kennedy such as The Woman in the Fifth for about the fourth time!!

A book with a happy ending, this!!! Why not? I hope you enjoy this too!!!!

[Petra Quelch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read Laura Kemp books a few years back, and I have enjoyed them enormously.
The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness is a little bit different to what I have previously read by Laura, but I must say it is a beautifully refreshing, uplifting, hopeful and magical book.
What can happen when you visit the town in the middle of nowhere? Well, Ceri would certainly know.
When our main heroine visits the little town on the edge of a Welsh cliff called Dwywen, she can’t imagine that her mother uses to live there! But Ceri soon finds out that there is something very magical about this place.
I loved Laura vibrant use of words to describe the Welsh town and the surroundings. I could easily imagine myself there, and I could not help but bond very quickly with every character in this story, especially with Ceri.
There is plenty to keep us readers hooked on from the romance to the Welsh landscape and its colourful residents. I love every minute in the company of this book and can’t wait for Laura’s next book. Absolutely fabulous!

[Lu Etchells · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lovely, fun and comfortable read, great for snuggling up in front of a fire on a cold and wet December day. However, it’s also one that will be easily forgotten now that I’ve finished the final page.

There’s something simple and endearing about a woman who finds herself questioning everything her life is based around. It’s certainly something that resonates, and for her to discover that her life can be more meaningful the less she has in it, is a message I think more people should hear.

However, at times the storyline felt rushed, almost as though Kemp realised she’d written 300 pages and still had 6 months to cover. Not only that, but there were parts that just didn’t make sense – whether it was typographical errors, or some poor editing, I had to re-read some paragraphs multiple times, and in the end had to pass on them because there was an utter lack of consistency.

Not a bad read at all, if all you want is something to keep you entertained for a few hours.

[Kirstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really I give this book 3.5 stars. At first I found it really all over the place and not quite entertaining enough to make me not want to put it down. It's title confused me 'The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness' sure there were some acts of kindness in the books but it was by no means the main storyline just a byline to so may other of the characters stories which made it a little less of 'the most heartwarming feelgood novel you'll read this year'.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with this book, it was light and easy to read but something about it just didn't work for me personally, it was only towards the last quarter of the book where I got the feeling of not wanting to put it down, up until that point I felt myself reading it just to finish it.
This book would be perfect for a holiday read.

[Jossie Solheim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really nice read that made me smile and got me thinking. Laura Kemp built interesting characters that were perfectly in-perfect. Many of them damaged by the struggles of life. She also played with complex relationships, while at the same time creating a whole host of lovable characters, a few laughs and some great twists. I highly recommend this book and would be interested in reading more by this author in the future.