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A Rose Petal Summer
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO FALL IN LOVE...
Caro Swanson has taken a job in a remote part of Scotland.
She’s answered an ad in The Lady: being a companion to an elderly gentleman who lives in a country estate could be perfect! Surely it's time to make a change and do something different for a while?
The fact that she may also see Alec, the young man who she met some years previously and who she has always thought of as her ‘one who got away’, is of course purely incidental.
Soon Caro is falling in love - not only with Alec but with the stunning country house she's now living in. But the estate is in financial difficulties, and Caro soon realises there's only one way to rescue it.
So begins a magical romantic summer, one that will take Caro from Scotland to London and the south of France, in search of a classic lost perfume that might just restore all their fortunes.
Unknown Binding
First published February 21, 2019
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About the author
Katie Fforde
96 books2,312 followersCatherine Rose Gordon-Cumming was born 27 September 1952 in England, UK, the daughter of Shirley Barbara Laub and Michael Willoughby Gordon-Cumming. Her grandfather was Sir William Gordon-Cumming. Her sister is fellow writer Jane Gordon-Cumming. Katie married Desmond Fforde, cousin of the also writer Jasper Fforde. She has three children: Guy, Francis and Briony and didn't start writing until after the birth of her third child. She has previously worked both as a cleaning lady and in a health food cafe.
Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."
Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.
Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."
Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 366 reviews
April 8, 2019
I read all of Katie’s books but this was such a disappointment. The storyline was completely unbelievable, verging on the ridiculous.
June 16, 2023
I'm so done with this author. I've read a few of hers now, and they don't work for me. In fact, I'd go as far as to say, what a load of rubbish.
There's so many romances in this book, and they are all as flat as a pancake.
The main romance between Caro and Alec is ridiculous. There's no chemistry here and even less romance. Both characters felt one dimensional and weren't fleshed out at all.
The romance between David and Scarlett felt underage. While there's an age difference between the characters, Scarlett felt like a teenager with a crush on a celebrity. What a cringe fest.
And don't even get me started on Skye and Joe.
I read this in paperback format, and I'm sad for the trees that got cut down to produce it.
One star.
There's so many romances in this book, and they are all as flat as a pancake.
The main romance between Caro and Alec is ridiculous. There's no chemistry here and even less romance. Both characters felt one dimensional and weren't fleshed out at all.
The romance between David and Scarlett felt underage. While there's an age difference between the characters, Scarlett felt like a teenager with a crush on a celebrity. What a cringe fest.
And don't even get me started on Skye and Joe.
I read this in paperback format, and I'm sad for the trees that got cut down to produce it.
One star.
April 21, 2022
EXCERPT: Suddenly they saw car lights coming along the coast road. It was her cab,dawn was breaking and she had to go.
In the cab on the way to the ferry she realised that tears were trickling out of the corners of her eyes. She'd met a man she felt totally connected with, in every day, and they hadn't even exchanged contact details. How could she have let that happen? And would she regret it for the rest of her life?
ABOUT 'A ROSE PETAL SUMMER': Caro Swanson has taken a job in a remote part of Scotland.
She’s answered an ad in The Lady: being a companion to an elderly gentleman who lives in a country estate could be perfect! Surely it's time to make a change and do something different for a while?
The fact that she may also see Alec, the young man who she met some years previously and who she has always thought of as her ‘one who got away’, is of course purely incidental.
Soon Caro is falling in love - not only with Alec but with the stunning country house she's now living in. But the estate is in financial difficulties, and Caro soon realises there's only one way to rescue it.
So begins a magical romantic summer, one that will take Caro from Scotland to London and the south of France, in search of a classic lost perfume that might just restore all their fortunes.
MY THOUGHTS: Initially I was enchanted by A Rose Petal Summer, but my interest started to dim after the halfway point. In a nutshell, this was simply too long to carry the content of the plot.
There's a few bizarre things thrown into the storyline which added nothing to it, e.g. an dismissed estate manager who has sold off land that the family are trying to buy back. If you're going to write chic-lit, and it's something Katie Fforde normally does very well, keep it simple. A Rose Petal Summer is over complicated by this unnecessary storyline.
My other beef is Alex's ex-wife being a caricature. There is nothing at all realistic about her and reading sections of the book that contain her was absolutely painful.
I did enjoy the character of Murdo, and I would have liked him to have taken a larger role.
This could have been a humorous and enjoyable read. That's certainly the way it started out. Had the author concentrated on the Alec & Caro story, it would have been fine. And shorter. Instead this is a decidedly average read.
⭐⭐.5
#ARosePetalSummer #Bookouture
I: @ffordekatie @bookouture
T: @KatieFforde @Bookouture
#chic-lit #contemporaryfiction #rom-com
THE AUTHOR: Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming was born 27 September 1952 in England, UK, the daughter of Shirley Barbara Laub and Michael Willoughby Gordon-Cumming. Her grandfather was Sir William Gordon-Cumming. Her sister is fellow writer Jane Gordon-Cumming. Katie married Desmond Fforde, cousin of the also writer Jasper Fforde. She has three children: Guy, Francis and Briony and didn't start writing until after the birth of her third child. She has previously worked both as a cleaning lady and in a health food cafe.
Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Rose Petal Summer by Katie Fforde for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage
In the cab on the way to the ferry she realised that tears were trickling out of the corners of her eyes. She'd met a man she felt totally connected with, in every day, and they hadn't even exchanged contact details. How could she have let that happen? And would she regret it for the rest of her life?
ABOUT 'A ROSE PETAL SUMMER': Caro Swanson has taken a job in a remote part of Scotland.
She’s answered an ad in The Lady: being a companion to an elderly gentleman who lives in a country estate could be perfect! Surely it's time to make a change and do something different for a while?
The fact that she may also see Alec, the young man who she met some years previously and who she has always thought of as her ‘one who got away’, is of course purely incidental.
Soon Caro is falling in love - not only with Alec but with the stunning country house she's now living in. But the estate is in financial difficulties, and Caro soon realises there's only one way to rescue it.
So begins a magical romantic summer, one that will take Caro from Scotland to London and the south of France, in search of a classic lost perfume that might just restore all their fortunes.
MY THOUGHTS: Initially I was enchanted by A Rose Petal Summer, but my interest started to dim after the halfway point. In a nutshell, this was simply too long to carry the content of the plot.
There's a few bizarre things thrown into the storyline which added nothing to it, e.g. an dismissed estate manager who has sold off land that the family are trying to buy back. If you're going to write chic-lit, and it's something Katie Fforde normally does very well, keep it simple. A Rose Petal Summer is over complicated by this unnecessary storyline.
My other beef is Alex's ex-wife being a caricature. There is nothing at all realistic about her and reading sections of the book that contain her was absolutely painful.
I did enjoy the character of Murdo, and I would have liked him to have taken a larger role.
This could have been a humorous and enjoyable read. That's certainly the way it started out. Had the author concentrated on the Alec & Caro story, it would have been fine. And shorter. Instead this is a decidedly average read.
⭐⭐.5
#ARosePetalSummer #Bookouture
I: @ffordekatie @bookouture
T: @KatieFforde @Bookouture
#chic-lit #contemporaryfiction #rom-com
THE AUTHOR: Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming was born 27 September 1952 in England, UK, the daughter of Shirley Barbara Laub and Michael Willoughby Gordon-Cumming. Her grandfather was Sir William Gordon-Cumming. Her sister is fellow writer Jane Gordon-Cumming. Katie married Desmond Fforde, cousin of the also writer Jasper Fforde. She has three children: Guy, Francis and Briony and didn't start writing until after the birth of her third child. She has previously worked both as a cleaning lady and in a health food cafe.
Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Rose Petal Summer by Katie Fforde for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage
April 7, 2019
I’m sometimes partial to a bit of chick lit. Sometimes you just want to read something easy and light that doesn’t require too much attention but ultimately make you feel uplifted etc. However this latest offering from Katie fforde is very disappointing. I’ll admit I haven’t read anything of hers for a while but I didn’t enjoy this book. It’s a tale of a missed opportunity for love many years ago that bizarrely could be reignited when the heroine of the novel, Caro takes a job in Scotland looking after an elderly gentleman who owns a beautiful but run down estate. His son, Alec, just happens to be the young boy Caro fell in love with all those years ago. Then begins a story full of sketchily drawn characters that seem to spend most of their time either booking flights here there and everywhere alongside a great deal of tea and whisky drinking. Any problems ie Alec making a bespoke perfume for an American would be starlet, a hastily arranged marriage at the Scottish estate, buying back land that mysteriously had been sold are all solved within a couple of sentences. I’m afraid this wasn’t at all to my liking.
June 1, 2019
Absolutely awful. Deeply disappointing as have loved many of her previous books. Have noticed this trend over her last few books. One dimensional characters. Skye character is a joke - you’re telling me that no-one would challenge her behaviour? I’d want to slap her. And Caro who is so limp and pathetic. Then there’s the far-fetched scenarios. The meeting in the department store springs to mind followed by them all becoming best buddies within minutes. Rushed, badly written, ending seen miles ahead - very poor. What a shame as I used to love her books.
July 30, 2019
Honestly, I don't know why I bore with it until the end. The plot, the story building was so bad that I skipped several pages at more than one part. There are also many unnecessary comments about how the main heroine is worried about how her crush thinks of her, what will be the next action and so on.
Not recommended at all.
Not recommended at all.
Read
March 20, 2019Not her usual standard
I usually thoroughly enjoy the comforting read of a Katie Fforde book - however I felt the plot to meet the starlet was too contrived and found myself feeling very little for the characters.
I usually thoroughly enjoy the comforting read of a Katie Fforde book - however I felt the plot to meet the starlet was too contrived and found myself feeling very little for the characters.
March 12, 2020
Another amazingly brilliant book from Katie she never disappoints her writing is so well done and her characters are amazing will plenty about family's and love and it's such a warm read and brilliant to read from the first page.
Caro takes a job in Scotland looking after an elderly gentleman who needs caring for she decides to take it up while her daughter goes to see her father out in Australia. She heads up to the house in Scotland and as soon as Caro walks in the house she sees the man she met years ago in Greece and fell in love with and he doesn't recognize her and what will she do especially as she can see herself fling for him again so will it be a wonderful summer for her or not. It will be a summer of second changes and wedding preparations and love but will it all work out or not.
Caro takes a job in Scotland looking after an elderly gentleman who needs caring for she decides to take it up while her daughter goes to see her father out in Australia. She heads up to the house in Scotland and as soon as Caro walks in the house she sees the man she met years ago in Greece and fell in love with and he doesn't recognize her and what will she do especially as she can see herself fling for him again so will it be a wonderful summer for her or not. It will be a summer of second changes and wedding preparations and love but will it all work out or not.
November 22, 2019
This was a genuinely solid bit of chick-lit...until the final two pages. That aside, I loved the concept of this book; the fact that it was a bit more of a slow burn than most other chick-lits that I've read recently. Very cutesy. I'd like to live on a barge. Or maybe in a castle in Scotland. The French village setting had me desperate to get back to the little French village I used to live in too! A good, cute, fun read.
March 26, 2019
I really needed a whimsical story to get out of my reading slump. But even with that in mind I can’t pretend this wasn’t terrible haha.
February 24, 2020
It was an enjoyable read, but the two main characters didn’t have any chemistry together...
April 15, 2022
3.5 stars
I missed a character I could relate to. The characters could have been better worked out, more depth in their personalities.
Overall it was a nice and simple 'in between' read.
I missed a character I could relate to. The characters could have been better worked out, more depth in their personalities.
Overall it was a nice and simple 'in between' read.
September 6, 2021
I’ve marked this as ‘read’, but, truth be told, I only got about 2/3 of the way through it before I gave up and just sort of skimmed the rest.
I love a bit of ‘chick lit’ (surely that phrase a bit outdated?...) but this was just a bizarre book. I’ve been meaning to try Katie Fforde for a while now, since people rave about how fun and well-written her stories are, but I do not see the appeal, based on this book anyway. Maybe I’ll give her another try at some point, but I’m in no hurry, based on this experience.
I thought we were going to get a story of mature romance and second chances set in a charming old estate in Scotland...what we get is a glimpse of the aforementioned estate, then it’s off to London, then off to France, then back to London, then back to Scotland, then back to France and so on... all while floundering through a few very contrived and ridiculous storylines. This book somehow manages to breeze through what could have been interesting scenes far too fast, while at the same time dragging the convoluted ‘plot’ out for far too long with awkward dialogue and useless scene description. Six weeks of the story is summed up in a few sentences, while three paragraphs are spent describing a kitchen. Seriously. The dialogue feels stiff and unnatural, the characters have no depth, and the main characters have zero chemistry.
I don’t often write reviews, but I just wanted to spare anyone else who might feel the urge to read this. At least it was only £4.50 at Morrison’s.
And I don’t feel too bad for writing a negative review, cuz it’s only my opinion- clearly Katie Fforde has a lot of fans and is doing rather well for herself. And if anyone has a better book of hers to recommend, I’m happy to give her another try.
I love a bit of ‘chick lit’ (surely that phrase a bit outdated?...) but this was just a bizarre book. I’ve been meaning to try Katie Fforde for a while now, since people rave about how fun and well-written her stories are, but I do not see the appeal, based on this book anyway. Maybe I’ll give her another try at some point, but I’m in no hurry, based on this experience.
I thought we were going to get a story of mature romance and second chances set in a charming old estate in Scotland...what we get is a glimpse of the aforementioned estate, then it’s off to London, then off to France, then back to London, then back to Scotland, then back to France and so on... all while floundering through a few very contrived and ridiculous storylines. This book somehow manages to breeze through what could have been interesting scenes far too fast, while at the same time dragging the convoluted ‘plot’ out for far too long with awkward dialogue and useless scene description. Six weeks of the story is summed up in a few sentences, while three paragraphs are spent describing a kitchen. Seriously. The dialogue feels stiff and unnatural, the characters have no depth, and the main characters have zero chemistry.
I don’t often write reviews, but I just wanted to spare anyone else who might feel the urge to read this. At least it was only £4.50 at Morrison’s.
And I don’t feel too bad for writing a negative review, cuz it’s only my opinion- clearly Katie Fforde has a lot of fans and is doing rather well for herself. And if anyone has a better book of hers to recommend, I’m happy to give her another try.
April 11, 2019
I've read all of her books, and was excited for this one...only to be super disappointed. :/ The story didn't make sense, it felt rushed and slapped together. Her characters usually feel real, as do their lives, but these were so cheesy! How many times do we need to hear about a "special nose" and the character is 41...but she was either acting like some super old lady or like a teenager, being ridiculous talking about smelling things through the TV, or being dramatic about a man she just met. I hope K.F. puts a bit more thought into her next book.
February 24, 2019
Absolutely adored this amazing book. I really would love this to be a series, as I would love to find out what the fantastic cast of characters do next. Loved it.
June 7, 2020
Lazy writing.
April 13, 2020
Listened to in audio format.
Caro Swanson decided on a change of scenery after her daughter went backpacking in Australia. She quickly found a job as a companion to an elderly gentleman called Murdo. Murdo was the laird to a country estate called Glen Liddell. Part of her applied for the job because as a teenager she met a boy in Greece who mentioned Glen Liddell. They both met on the beach one night and spoke until the early hours. Caro had felt a connection but sadly return home the same day without swapping names and numbers.
In Scotland she quickly charmed her `charge`, a curmudgeonly old man called Murdo. Caro was shocked that his son David was the boy she met years earlier in Greece. David was divorced from his wife Skye and they had teenage daughter called Rowan.
Caro quickly made friends with Rowan who had been home schooled and very naive. She wanted to go to art school but Skye was reluctant to let her go alone. In desperation Rowan ran away one night to stay on Caro`s barge in London. Caro returned to London to look after Rowan, during her visit Rowan met a Hollywood star called Scarlett and her fiance.
I am a big fan of Katie Fforde and her books always scream summer to me. This was a feel good book during these trying times.
I agree that Caro and David didn't have any chemistry. However I liked young Rowan and especially the unstarry Scarlett. The story about Scarlett`s perfume made an interesting backdrop to the plot.
I enjoyed reading about Caro`s visit to France and the making of bespoke perfume.
This was another win from Katie Fforde.
Caro Swanson decided on a change of scenery after her daughter went backpacking in Australia. She quickly found a job as a companion to an elderly gentleman called Murdo. Murdo was the laird to a country estate called Glen Liddell. Part of her applied for the job because as a teenager she met a boy in Greece who mentioned Glen Liddell. They both met on the beach one night and spoke until the early hours. Caro had felt a connection but sadly return home the same day without swapping names and numbers.
In Scotland she quickly charmed her `charge`, a curmudgeonly old man called Murdo. Caro was shocked that his son David was the boy she met years earlier in Greece. David was divorced from his wife Skye and they had teenage daughter called Rowan.
Caro quickly made friends with Rowan who had been home schooled and very naive. She wanted to go to art school but Skye was reluctant to let her go alone. In desperation Rowan ran away one night to stay on Caro`s barge in London. Caro returned to London to look after Rowan, during her visit Rowan met a Hollywood star called Scarlett and her fiance.
I am a big fan of Katie Fforde and her books always scream summer to me. This was a feel good book during these trying times.
I agree that Caro and David didn't have any chemistry. However I liked young Rowan and especially the unstarry Scarlett. The story about Scarlett`s perfume made an interesting backdrop to the plot.
I enjoyed reading about Caro`s visit to France and the making of bespoke perfume.
This was another win from Katie Fforde.
March 8, 2020
This is classic Katie Fforde contemporary romance, albeit the heroine Caro is 41 years old.
Set partly in a Scottish castle, partly on a barge in London and partly in a French chateau we see Caro take on the temporary role as companion to an irascible Scottish laird, act in loco parentis to a fey young woman hell-bent on seeing London and the rest of the world, and hobnobbing with a famous Hollywood director and his delightful fiance.
Of course there were niggles, typical Katie Fforde 'features' like Caro having an uncanny understanding of smells, she can even 'smell' things she sees on TV FFS. Also, Caro's romantic interest spends at 80% of the novel apparently disinterested in her, until he declares his undying love of course. And the villain of the piece is clearly signalled from a great distance. But overall, I really enjoyed this, these were only minor niggles and I really liked all the characters, it was a fun, sweet, humorous read, perfect for a holiday.
Set partly in a Scottish castle, partly on a barge in London and partly in a French chateau we see Caro take on the temporary role as companion to an irascible Scottish laird, act in loco parentis to a fey young woman hell-bent on seeing London and the rest of the world, and hobnobbing with a famous Hollywood director and his delightful fiance.
Of course there were niggles, typical Katie Fforde 'features' like Caro having an uncanny understanding of smells, she can even 'smell' things she sees on TV FFS. Also, Caro's romantic interest spends at 80% of the novel apparently disinterested in her, until he declares his undying love of course. And the villain of the piece is clearly signalled from a great distance. But overall, I really enjoyed this, these were only minor niggles and I really liked all the characters, it was a fun, sweet, humorous read, perfect for a holiday.
March 13, 2020
It kept with the usual naïve charm present in Katie Fforde's books but I'm sorry to say that, in 'The Rose Petal Summer' I found a part of it also silly. Caro and Alec made an adorable couple but everything concerning to Scarlet and David was too much... well, silly and unbelievable.
I liked that the story happened both in Scotland and England, also a bit in a french castle (this, I would like to visit).
I liked that the story happened both in Scotland and England, also a bit in a french castle (this, I would like to visit).
April 9, 2019
Always love Katie fford. This one is set in the highlands, which is a place I love, adding to its appeal. Lovely easy read.
January 19, 2022
Katie Fforde is an author I turn to when I am in need of romantic escapism. I have been reading her novels since 1995 when she was first published, so can safely call myself a long time fan of her writing.
Our heroine Caro has taken a job in Scotland as an elderly gentleman’s companion, as she feels in need of a change from living on her barge in London whilst her daughter is away travelling. So, begins a magical and romantic summer that takes her from London to Scotland and back plus trips to the South of France. The latter in search of a classic lost perfume with plenty of love and romance in the mix.
Another 4* read from an author that knows how to lift a reader’s spirits, definitely this reader anyway. The storyline may be a somewhat cute and unlikely scenario but honestly is this not what we want from this author? A feel good read that I am sure her many fans will enjoy, just don’t read if you are looking for something deep and meaningful.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
Our heroine Caro has taken a job in Scotland as an elderly gentleman’s companion, as she feels in need of a change from living on her barge in London whilst her daughter is away travelling. So, begins a magical and romantic summer that takes her from London to Scotland and back plus trips to the South of France. The latter in search of a classic lost perfume with plenty of love and romance in the mix.
Another 4* read from an author that knows how to lift a reader’s spirits, definitely this reader anyway. The storyline may be a somewhat cute and unlikely scenario but honestly is this not what we want from this author? A feel good read that I am sure her many fans will enjoy, just don’t read if you are looking for something deep and meaningful.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
September 21, 2019
It's been a while since I've read a Katie Fforde but as someone who used to love her books I thought I should give this one a go. Unfortunately I kind of wish I hadn't bothered as I'm sorry to say it's just not that good.
The story jumps around all over the place and tries to do too much, the characters are either dull or so over the top as to be ridiculous, the dialogue is clunky and the romance is almost non existent. I was tempted a few times to dnf but pushed through and honestly wish I hadn't. The ending is far too sudden, completely unbelievable and leaves far too much unresolved.
I could probably go on with my rant, including how ridiculous the MCs claim that she can smell things through the TV is, how bizarre I found it that despite being so very close to her daughter she is she never speaks to her for the entirety of the book or how so much emphasis is put on appearance I wanted to throw things but I'll try to resist.
I think this may be my last book by Fforde I'm afraid.
The story jumps around all over the place and tries to do too much, the characters are either dull or so over the top as to be ridiculous, the dialogue is clunky and the romance is almost non existent. I was tempted a few times to dnf but pushed through and honestly wish I hadn't. The ending is far too sudden, completely unbelievable and leaves far too much unresolved.
I could probably go on with my rant, including how ridiculous the MCs claim that she can smell things through the TV is, how bizarre I found it that despite being so very close to her daughter she is she never speaks to her for the entirety of the book or how so much emphasis is put on appearance I wanted to throw things but I'll try to resist.
I think this may be my last book by Fforde I'm afraid.
March 30, 2020
Not one of my favourite Katie FForde books to be honest.
I found that there were too many characters, too many changes of setting and too many plot strands.
I very much enjoyed the book when Alec and Caro were in France as this was one of the few times I felt there was chemistry between them. Also when Rowan stayed with Caro in London, due to the slower pace. The characters of Scarlet and David seemed very superfluous until very near to the end, as did Joe. The character of Aaron was just unneeded.
While the idea was good the entire story line felt rushed and chaotic and I craved some quiet time with the protagonist where she simply collected her thought and explained how she felt about things.
Not terrible (as i finished it) but definitely won't be recommending to others.
I found that there were too many characters, too many changes of setting and too many plot strands.
I very much enjoyed the book when Alec and Caro were in France as this was one of the few times I felt there was chemistry between them. Also when Rowan stayed with Caro in London, due to the slower pace. The characters of Scarlet and David seemed very superfluous until very near to the end, as did Joe. The character of Aaron was just unneeded.
While the idea was good the entire story line felt rushed and chaotic and I craved some quiet time with the protagonist where she simply collected her thought and explained how she felt about things.
Not terrible (as i finished it) but definitely won't be recommending to others.
June 16, 2020
I like a good fairy tale chick-lit when I need an escape (like the last Fforde book I read) but this one had me rolling my eyes far too many times.
There were too many plots, locations, and annoying characters. About half way through, I was ready for our leading lady to grab a mask and cape and proclaim her secret superhero identity- is there anything she can't do?
As soon as we were conveniently whisking back home in a friend's Daddy's private jet, I had had enough of everything being handed out on a silver platter. I was beginning to think this book was written to take the p*ss out of this genre.
There were too many plots, locations, and annoying characters. About half way through, I was ready for our leading lady to grab a mask and cape and proclaim her secret superhero identity- is there anything she can't do?
As soon as we were conveniently whisking back home in a friend's Daddy's private jet, I had had enough of everything being handed out on a silver platter. I was beginning to think this book was written to take the p*ss out of this genre.
February 29, 2020
The book got better as I read it but I can’t say it’s my favourite of Katie Fforde’s books.
I really liked Caro , Scarlett , Roman - three very good female characters . I feel Alec needed a bit more depth to him and that they needed to be more focus on the past meeting between him and caro!
I loved the perfume storyline , especially in France , so romantic in so many ways ,
I really liked Caro , Scarlett , Roman - three very good female characters . I feel Alec needed a bit more depth to him and that they needed to be more focus on the past meeting between him and caro!
I loved the perfume storyline , especially in France , so romantic in so many ways ,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2020
I cannot BELIEVE this book was written last year. The old fashioned and dated view of women is so boring. Like I know this author has a formula and you can’t really expect much else, but at least update the kind of narrative for women a bit.
January 27, 2021
Struggled with this one . Nowhere near as good as her other books .
April 11, 2021
Just a really lighthearted easy read.
July 24, 2021
I should start off by saying that I have read several Katie Fforde books in the past and really enjoyed them. Having read quite a bit of gritty crime fiction of late I thought I would go for a light read and chose this as it sounded perfect.
Alas I found it slow and really quite dull. The characters felt two dimensional and seriously the events and coincidences in this story were just too unbelievable.
In the finish I gave up reading less than halfway through as I simply had no interest in what happened to the characters. I hate giving up on a book and always try to see it through to the end but this just seemed a waste of time. Having read other reviews I know I am not alone in my feelings about this book, though equally some have loved it. May be I will go back and re-read some of the authors earlier books that were so much better with strong stories and interesting characters.
Alas I found it slow and really quite dull. The characters felt two dimensional and seriously the events and coincidences in this story were just too unbelievable.
In the finish I gave up reading less than halfway through as I simply had no interest in what happened to the characters. I hate giving up on a book and always try to see it through to the end but this just seemed a waste of time. Having read other reviews I know I am not alone in my feelings about this book, though equally some have loved it. May be I will go back and re-read some of the authors earlier books that were so much better with strong stories and interesting characters.
October 2, 2023
fucking dreadful!
i never thought a book could be so random. honestly. 1 star is reserved only for absolute nightmares of books, but still, my giving this 2 stars is generous. so, why don’t i dive into why this book is terrible.
first and foremost, the writing was just bad. it was so bland, didn’t give me the faintest idea of what the characters looked like. and not 2 characters had chemistry between them. the writer talked about how caro was madly in love with alec but i can’t even pretend i saw it. the writing conveyed no emotions, no excitement.
also, this was just about the most random plot known to mankind. let me just explain it to you real quick. 20 years prior man meets woman on a greek island (never specified which, just always referred to it as the one evening on a greek island), they part ways, woman takes a job to care for an old man whose grandson is the previously mentioned man, he doesn’t remember her, woman goes back to london, meets famous actress who magically is in need of a custom perfume, and as it turnes out, man makes perfume, woman and man go to france to make perfume, go back to scotland and actress and her director fiancé have their wedding at man’s estate. the end. and guess what? there was not one word about the perfume making on the back of the book. not one.
i never thought a book could be so random. honestly. 1 star is reserved only for absolute nightmares of books, but still, my giving this 2 stars is generous. so, why don’t i dive into why this book is terrible.
first and foremost, the writing was just bad. it was so bland, didn’t give me the faintest idea of what the characters looked like. and not 2 characters had chemistry between them. the writer talked about how caro was madly in love with alec but i can’t even pretend i saw it. the writing conveyed no emotions, no excitement.
also, this was just about the most random plot known to mankind. let me just explain it to you real quick. 20 years prior man meets woman on a greek island (never specified which, just always referred to it as the one evening on a greek island), they part ways, woman takes a job to care for an old man whose grandson is the previously mentioned man, he doesn’t remember her, woman goes back to london, meets famous actress who magically is in need of a custom perfume, and as it turnes out, man makes perfume, woman and man go to france to make perfume, go back to scotland and actress and her director fiancé have their wedding at man’s estate. the end. and guess what? there was not one word about the perfume making on the back of the book. not one.
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