Hattie's Mill

by Marcia Willett

Hattie Weatherall's heart leapt when she first saw Abbot's Mill, and with her dog and an assortment of wild fowl for company she sets about renovating the mill. Sarah Farley feels a pang of envy for Hattie's freedom. For over twenty years, Sarah has tolerated her husband's infidelities - and her love for him is about to be tested again...As Hattie settles into life at the mill, she befriends two young boatmen. Toby is recovering from a broken marriage and, when he has a another chance at happiness, Hattie is glad welcome his new family into the fold. Joss's problems are not so easily solved, but when he turns to Hattie for help, the motherly love that blossoms in her heart enables them both to heal old wounds...

Genres: Romance, Fiction, British Literature, Relationships

416 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

About the author

Marcia Willett began her career as a novelist when she was fifty years old. Since that first novel Marcia has written twenty more under her own name as well as a number of short stories. She has also written four books under the pseudonym "Willa Marsh", and is published in more than sixteen countries.
Marcia Willett's early life was devoted to the ballet, but her dreams of becoming a ballerina ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. She had always loved books, and a family crisis made her take up a new career as a novelist - a decision she had never regretted.

Reviews

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Marcia Willett because she is one of the few writers I've discovered who actually writes about middle-aged and occasionally old people as if they were real people with real feelings . . . Oh, wait!
This book is one of her best, only loosely related to other novels (and I use the word loosely intentionally, because the connection is Cass Wivenhoe) but possibly the most appealing setting, rural Devon at a place called Abbot's Mill.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about relationships.
Favorite quotes:
1. Opposites may attract but -- after the novelty has worn thin -- they can also irritate.
2. There have to be rules and regulations or society would fall apart... And once you start breaking rules for one person then the rot sets in and lots of damage can be done.
3. Confession might well be good for the soul but it put a terrible pressure on the confidant.

[patricia mctaggart · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great story I loved it and wanted more, indeed I did and wonder at a follow su please If Marcia is reading this . Please follow on to this story . It would be wonderful. I loved Joss and James homecoming. Thanks

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - everything about it from the setting, to the characters. It was a sheer pleasure - I couldn't put it down, but was sad when it ended.

[Janey Dicker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely easy read

My first Marcia Willett book. A really Lovely easy story to read. Very enjoyable. I look forward to the next one.

[Mrs G.E. Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

First time I've read Marcia Willett but it won't be the last, a beautiful easy read lovely people thank you

[Katie Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another old favourite

[Otto Testla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tmf

[Donna Mcnab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another heartwarming story set in the beautiful countryside of England.

[Quentin Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this book. As usual gritty and uncomfortable topics are dealt with in a gentle way. A really enjoyable read.

[Kathy Spann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of a group of characters living by a creek. Hattie buys a restored mill with two cabins. Joss, Toby, Miggy, Daisy, and others grow close.

[Bernie Whittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent story by Marcia Willett. I never tire of re-reading her books again and again.

[Jane Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beach read-ability

[Mrs Nicole M Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely lovely book

Like all her books, a marvellous tale of families, friendships, good deeds and sinning a bit. Great story on to the next.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hattie is leaving the Navy nursing corps and looking for a place to retire to, she decides on a remote mill with some outbuildings which she wants to convert into long term lets. Set on the shores of an idyllic river she soon makes friends with the local boatmen and one in particular, Joss, ex-army.

There are other people who live nearby and as the story develops so does their story too, as they all become friends, together with the people Hattie lets the cottages to. Each person has found their way to Hattie Mill with a back story, Hattie is the central lynch pin which holds everyone together and helps them solve their problems.

Of course, there's Admiral Jellicoe too, always there for a cuddle!

I loved this book, one which I'd happily read several times over. Some characters appear in future books by this author.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, it was better than meh, but it took me 10 days of reluctant, somewhat bored reading to get through this initially promising book. It didn’t really hold my interest until I was 2/3 of the way through. I liked the character of Hattie, and her speeches of advice and wisdom to herself and others saved the story for me. I didn’t love the voice that told the story. Often I read an author’s book and think, “wow, I’d like to meet her”, or “ I think I could be friends with this author”. Not to be unkind, just being honest here, but I’ve never felt that way about Marcia Willett. Her stories seem to be told by and about people who are of a higher class than the reader, always wealthy, snobbish, and posh. Hattie, in this story, was an exception, being a retired, single, childless nurse, who made a smart investment in country riverside property, subsequently living amongst the other characters who pepper this story. This book was published in 2011, so fat-shaming was not yet a thing, but I really bristled at the repeated(3 or 4 times!) descriptions of the teenage Georgia as being “sullen and overweight”, definitely undesirable traits in her father’s( and the author’s?) eyes. The author apparently prefers slim tall and attractive people, preferably with old money. Anyhow, not a terrible read, with great landscape descriptions of a lovely setting, with supernatural undertones of a seeming cursed sailing vessel, and a mix of various types of characters, just a bit slow, tedious, hence a bit boring. Now I’m on to my next read.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

[Caro (carosbookcase) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hattie turned into the narrow lane and started the descent to the creek. As she rounded a bend she gave a cry of pleasure and braked for a moment, gazing down at the scene below; the water of the creek glinting and shivering in the sun, the trees that appeared to be paddling in its shallows, the high wooded promontories topped by sunlit fields. Hattie took a deep, deep breath, let in the clutch and drove on.” — Hattie’s Mill by Marcia Willett

To date, I’ve read 18 of Marcia Willett’s novels and this one may be my favourite thus far.

Hattie Weatherall is a retired nurse with two goals for her retirement: to get a dog and to buy a house on the water. The dog came first, in the form of a great big Newfoundland called Admiral Jellicoe. Now she just needs the house…

It’s love at first sight when she sees Abbot’s Mill. Impulsively, she puts in a cash offer on the spot and tells the estate agent that she must have an answer that evening. “She would die if she had to wait any longer.”

This book is about a group of people who are drawn together by Abbot’s Mill and by Hattie herself. It’s heartfelt and lovely and at times a little spooky too. The character’s find love, and not just the romantic kind, though there is some of that, but also familial love and friendship. Most prominently, Hattie, a woman who claims to have never known love, is proven wrong on that score.

This book is slow paced and a bit meandering, like the river in which Hattie’s Mill is set, but it also manages to be propulsive. Despite being a slow reader, I raced through this book in two days. It’s a lovely read for anyone who fantasizes about living by the water and is looking for something light about an assortment of people coming together and finding home.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly love Marcia Willett's writing, you enjoy her characters and they become friends. The story takes place at Abbot's Mill, Hattie Weatherall buys the mill along with the two cottages that sit on it's property. Shr turns the mill into her home, she is retired and has never married but has a wonderful Newfoundlander dog called Admiral Jellycoe. Her neighbor is Toby who is recovering from a broken marriage, he gets a second chance at happiness when he meets Miggy and eventually her daughter Daisy. This is just the beginning there are other characters that you will get to know and love. Enjoy

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hattie buys an old mill-house and starts to take in lodgers. The book is about her interactions with the people she meets. Good characterisations and lots of interesting sub-plots. Quite a pleasant read over several days. Refers a couple of times to situations and people in other books by this author, but is complete in itself.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my MW fsavourites. Love Hattie and her dog and cast of characters. Laugh and cry with them. Love to re-read this one.

[Diane Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, loved it... warm characters, descriptive local, set in England... Will read more by Marcia Willett...

[Valerie]

Loved it

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this as much as her later books,this was published in 1997. I recently read 'The Birdcage and thought it was much better. However, still a reasonable read.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books from one of my favorite authors in a lifetime of reading! I enjoy everything MW has written but this gem stands out for me among all her other “diamonds”.

[Eva Holmberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still love it!