A Breath of Fresh Air

by Erica James

Charlotte Lawrence, widowed at 34, decides to return to the village of her childhood. It means moving into Ivy Cottage, pretty if overgrown, and suffering the attentions of her interfering sister Hilary. Most of all, it means Alex, Ivy Cottage’s drop-dead gorgeous tenant.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, British Literature, Womens Fiction, Grief

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

With an insatiable appetite for other people's business, Erica James will readily strike up conversation with strangers in the hope of unearthing a useful gem for her writing. She finds it the best way to write authentic characters for her novels, although her two grown-up sons claim they will never recover from a childhood spent in a perpetual state of embarrassment at their mother's compulsion.

The author of nineteen bestselling novels, and the winner of the 2006 Romantic Novel of the Year Award, Erica divides her time between Suffolk and Lake Como in Italy.

Reviews

[Chrissi]

I thought this book was light and easy to read, but it definitely isn't the best from Erica James.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light, feel-good and fluffy story that although was thoroughly predictable throughout, it didn’t require too much brain power to read - I think we all need something like this every now and again!

[Nelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of those books you have to read because your partner got it for you for your birthday...

[Sally Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this book would be an unchallenging quick read and I was not disappointed. Completely predictable but sometimes you just need that.

[Yashika Yadav · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is problematic and we need to talk about it.
I remember reading this book earlier when I was a teen and I found it pretty good. Re-read it in 2021 and was absolutely disgusted by the character's perspective of men. ON THE VERY FIRST PAGE, CHARLOTTE (Mc) IS SHOWN TO EXPECT TOXIC MASCULINITY FROM HER HUSBAND.

Spoiler ahead (Just a quote from the first page, won't spoil almost anything):
& I quote, "Charlotte passed him the box of tissues and tried to assimilate her own feelings. To her surprise, she felt indifference towards Peter, tinged with a hint of embarrassment. True, a man of the 1990s was allowed to cry - men were now allowed a full gamut of emotions, it was no holds barred, cards on the kitchen table; like women, men had emotions too. But when it was in their kitchen and over their table, it felt all wrong." end quote. While the author may not have meant it to come out that way, to me, this seems like a promotion of toxic masculinity. This spoiled the whole book for me.

The terrible fact is this was only one of the handful of references to problematic issues in the book.

[Parveen Harnam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple read. It's not too bad, although I do have to say that there are far too many characters. Yes, the many characters did confuse me, but, there was a loveliness to it, like they were all my friends, for the short while that I was reading the book. I like the realism of it, quite true to life, for what one would consider "chick-lit". Barry, the studious boy in the book was my favourite character, except for the religious aspect added on that I thought was very unnecessary. It felt a bit off. For the most part, it was a nice, light read. It's hard to find a good book in the vast sea of books. I think this book does manage to become that, a good book.

[Elisabeth Bibbings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Erica James' best, this one - a bit unbelievable, and in the case of Derek the lewd hairdresser, a bit too over-the-top. I got frustrated with the characters who behaved with somewhat boring consistency to their images - Hilary the interfering sister, Christina the seductive exotic foreigner, Iris the village bossyboots. The plot went round in circles when it was fairly obvious how it was going to end.
Normally I love Erica James' books, but this one isn't staying on the bookshelves.

[Sarah Argrave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not her usual standard

I dont usually write negative reviews of books as I'm so conscious of how personal that might be. But I wanted to put something here for anyone who might read this as their first Erica James book.

I've read many of Erica's books and almost exclusively adored them. This was her first novel and suffice to say she has come a long way. If you didn't enjoy this book, please don't let it put you off trying her more recent works.

[Maureen Vincent-Northam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shortly after Charlotte Lawrence asks her husband for a divorce, he's killed in an accident. She decides to move from Brussels and buys a place in the English village of her childhood where she acquires Alex, a sitting tenant. We know, of course, that they'll end up together but the twists and turns of their journey made for a good, often witty, read.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Charlotte's husband Peter dies she feels overwhelming guilt as she had just asked him for a divorce.
Needing a fresh start she gone home from Belgium to Hulme Welford back to her parents and her bossy, meddling sister Hilary who thinks the new man in the village, Alex Hamilton is JUST what Charlotte needs...
A lovely, village set story with nosy neighbours, broken hearts and family dramas, a wonderful romantic read.

[Sarah Truckell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It was interesting to see if this book written 30 years ago stood the test of time, thankfully it did. Charlotte Lawrence asks husband Peter for a divorce, he refuses, and then is killed in a car accident the same day. Charlotte moves back to the village where she grew up and starts a new life for herself. Her sister Hilary is keen to set Charlotte up with her tenant Alex. A good story but prefer Erica’s more recent books

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and immersed myself in the village of Hulme Welforde. I loved the growing romance between Charlotte and Alex and rooted for them! I can't wait to see what happens after this book is set in Time for a change which focuses on the other sister Hilary.

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on an Erica James kick right now, reading one story after another. This one, though, sounded very familiar as though I had read it before, yet I hadn't. It is a good read but not my favourite. I found Hilary over the top in her interference, but Alex and Charlotte very likeable.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet tale of starting over. Charlotte is a young widow decides to return to the country and the village where she grew up. Her sister is close by as is handsome Alex. Its a story of village life, family and quirky characters – its all there. Thoroughly enjoyable easy read.

[Renny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story about becoming a widow, moving back to the village where she grew up, coming to terms with guilt, life and finding a way how to move on. Great portrait of life in a small village and it's dynamics and rules.

Very easy read, beach/holiday book.

[Merryll · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy romantic read between more solid books. Predictable.

[Abby Nancarrow grimshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book it was a nice easy read! Can't wait to read the sequel.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 if I am honest. Has been a really easy read whilst sitting on my sun lounger over a glorious Bank Holiday weekend. Predictable but pleasing ☺

[Yolande Kretzmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy ready. With too many characters.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, light and happy read.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Erica James, I found it light, easy and enjoyable!

[Cerys Hepworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely feel-good book with an easy to follow storyline so doesn’t take much brain power. A nice book for the summer when you don’t feel up to reading something intense.

[Alison Barnicott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an nice easy read and a good story line.

[Juliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant book

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this book. Kept my interest.

[Mary Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://bookcrossing.com/journal/15750...

[Natalie Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down as wanted to know what was happening a good read

[Amanda Mankelow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, lightly humorous though a little predictable in places.