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A Springtime Affair
A wonderfully romantic novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Rose Petal Summer and A Country Escape.
It’s the season of new beginnings for Helena and Gilly.
Gilly runs her own B&B business from her much-loved family home, which she doesn’t want to part with – at any price.
But that's before she meets handsome estate agent Leo, and soon she begins to wonder whether selling up might not be such a bad idea after all.
Meanwhile Gilly's daughter Helena has a budding romance of her own. A talented weaver, she's becoming very close to her new landlord, Jago, who's offered to help her at an upcoming craft fair.
It’s what friends do, and they are just friends. Aren’t they?
With spring in full bloom, Helena and Gilly begin to ask themselves the same question:
Might their new loves lead to happily ever after?
It’s the season of new beginnings for Helena and Gilly.
Gilly runs her own B&B business from her much-loved family home, which she doesn’t want to part with – at any price.
But that's before she meets handsome estate agent Leo, and soon she begins to wonder whether selling up might not be such a bad idea after all.
Meanwhile Gilly's daughter Helena has a budding romance of her own. A talented weaver, she's becoming very close to her new landlord, Jago, who's offered to help her at an upcoming craft fair.
It’s what friends do, and they are just friends. Aren’t they?
With spring in full bloom, Helena and Gilly begin to ask themselves the same question:
Might their new loves lead to happily ever after?
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2020
641 people are currently reading
1471 people want to read
About the author
Katie Fforde
95 books2,306 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 352 reviews
July 17, 2020
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
Cor, it’s a good job that reading doesn’t make you put on the calories! The amount of biscuits – namely, shortbread – cakes, puddings and all things edible, that are consumed in this book, had me wanting to nibble and graze through the 450-odd pages. Thank goodness for being distracted enough by Fforde’s writing, that the characters did the eating for me! Although, technically, surely they should be the size of a house by now?!
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
Cor, it’s a good job that reading doesn’t make you put on the calories! The amount of biscuits – namely, shortbread – cakes, puddings and all things edible, that are consumed in this book, had me wanting to nibble and graze through the 450-odd pages. Thank goodness for being distracted enough by Fforde’s writing, that the characters did the eating for me! Although, technically, surely they should be the size of a house by now?!
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
April 15, 2021
There were two generations of romance stories going on in this with the twenty-something daughter and her divorced, b&b landlady mum both finding romance with, what I'm afraid to say were rather 'meh' chaps.
I miss the cantankerous, taciturn, alpha heroes this author used to write (Stately Pursuits and Highland Fling were my faves) but in her last few books the heroes have been a bit, well, wet. They are sweet enough but a bit ordinary.
There's actually quite a few sub plots all happening at once in this including whether it's possible to make enough stock for a craft show (the jeopardy) and trying to get Mrs B&B pensioned off and into a granny annexe all of which rather absorbed me and helped distract me from the fact that neither romance generated much in the way of romantic feels.
I also struggled with Helena the younger character. She spoke, behaved and thought like a middle-aged woman and yet was 27; I'm afraid I wasn't buying it. Her mum, Gilly was a much more believable character, albeit I could have done with hearing about her shortbread a little less. Despite that, I feel like I've spent time with a friend and I enjoyed reading about her.
This book is not my favourite from this author, but an absorbing enough read if you're not fussed about a lack of romance.
Complete story. Thanks to the publisher via netgalley for the arc.
I miss the cantankerous, taciturn, alpha heroes this author used to write (Stately Pursuits and Highland Fling were my faves) but in her last few books the heroes have been a bit, well, wet. They are sweet enough but a bit ordinary.
There's actually quite a few sub plots all happening at once in this including whether it's possible to make enough stock for a craft show (the jeopardy) and trying to get Mrs B&B pensioned off and into a granny annexe all of which rather absorbed me and helped distract me from the fact that neither romance generated much in the way of romantic feels.
I also struggled with Helena the younger character. She spoke, behaved and thought like a middle-aged woman and yet was 27; I'm afraid I wasn't buying it. Her mum, Gilly was a much more believable character, albeit I could have done with hearing about her shortbread a little less. Despite that, I feel like I've spent time with a friend and I enjoyed reading about her.
This book is not my favourite from this author, but an absorbing enough read if you're not fussed about a lack of romance.
Complete story. Thanks to the publisher via netgalley for the arc.
March 30, 2020
It’s official. Katie will never be one of my go-to light romance authors (Kinsella and Keyes ftw!) I’ve been trying to put my finger on why for a few books, and I think it’s the dialogue. People don’t talk like this, imo. It just doesn’t feel natural :(
March 14, 2020
I love all of Katie Fforde’s books and this one was no exception. It had all the elements I love hobbies, baking, family relationships and romance.
It was such a lovely book to read that I read it very quickly in fact I read it in a day as I wanted to find out how it ends and, of course it ends on a happy note which is always good.
I always look forward to reading her books and was pleased when this one came through. There are a few I haven’t read but I will be catching up on these in the future.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
It was such a lovely book to read that I read it very quickly in fact I read it in a day as I wanted to find out how it ends and, of course it ends on a happy note which is always good.
I always look forward to reading her books and was pleased when this one came through. There are a few I haven’t read but I will be catching up on these in the future.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
February 15, 2020
Katie Fforde is an author I always turn to if I want a read that will provide me with a nice storyline, likeable characters and a few moments of will they/won't they before we reach some sort of resolution, be it good or bad. That's exactly what I got from her new book A Springtime Affair. It's a book that can easily be read in one or two sittings as it is entertaining and flits between two women, mother and daughter, Gilly and Helena as they battle with what the romantic aspect of their lives is throwing at them. It's an uplifting, sweet read that has short snappy chapters with lots of splashes of romance thrown in and of course a few baddies to throw things ever so slightly off kilter. After all despite the lovely cover and the blurb suggesting plenty of budding romance it can't be all fun and games on the path to true love.
It was great to see a middle-aged woman as one of the main characters as I think I am going beyond the point of always wanting to read of very young women who seem totally clueless when it comes to the romance department and in general are just a bit silly. Gilly was a woman with life experiences, some good, some bad, and having been through a nasty divorce she is now safely out the other side and enjoying running her house as a B&B. Her two children Martin and Helena are now adults themselves and she feels that she has plenty of independence.
Gilly was a real homemaker and must have been a fantastic mother to her children as they were growing up as I could see she still carried those characteristics with her into later life and the running of her business. She was a talented cook and loved to keep everything in ship-shape order for her guests. So everything appears to be ticking along nicely for her, that is until she is called to Sunday dinner with Martin and his wife Cressida. Helena is also invited and they know that this is unusual and not something they look forward to as Cressida is a health freak and so strict and set in her ways right down to her daughter Ismene. Gilly wonders just what are the pair up to? Martin and Cressida were characters I never liked. Their ulterior motives although they make them out to Gilly as being advantageous for her were nothing of the sort, they wanted a nice cushy lifestyle and were using Gilly to get it.
Why should Gilly have to sell her beautiful home, the home she herself was reared in and also especially after she fought so hard in her divorce to keep it? All so Martin and Cressida can move to a bigger house and provide her with a granny annex and in turn they would have ready made babysitting on tap. I mean for goodness sake Gilly was only in her fifties and they practically had her dead and buried or consigned to a small area to suit their needs. I desperately hoped that Gilly wouldn't become a pushover for at times the way she acted, and the fact she took quite a long time to stand up for herself, suggested she might. I couldn't fathom how she just couldn't stand up for herself and simply say no - end of. I understand Martin was her flesh and blood but what he was expecting was unreasonable. You'd say something if Gilly was ill or just not able to cope on her own but she was thriving and only had even more room for improvements for herself and perhaps romance was first on the list. The fact she even considered the offer put to her was a complete and utter joke.
Then Leo arrives on the scene seemingly out of nowhere and oh what luck he was able to give her a valuation for her house and a pretty good one at that. Instantly it all just seemed so handy and so easy but I knew from the outset that Leo was a bit shady, shift and sneaky. I didn't like his forceful personality and I thought he was dominating Gilly. As she goes on several dates with him I thought she was rushing things big time and she just seemed totally enamoured with the first sign of male affection that had been shown to her in quite some time. Don't they say it's better to sit back and wait and see what could come along further down the line. Don't just jump at the first opportunity that presents itself. Maybe for Gilly there was something better out there for her and suffice to say another aspect of love, passion and kindness does present itself in a surprising way. But it's up to Gilly what choice she makes both in terms of her professional life and affairs of the heart.
Helena was a likeable enough character too and, similar to her mother, she faces a few issues when it comes to relationships. She is a weaver and works happily away in a barn she rents near the main farmhouse. But her six month warning as to the lease running out is up and now she must look for somewhere else to carry out her work. It was evident that Helena loved her craft and put so much time and interest in it and it was great to see a different and more unusual profession feature in a book and at this stage this is what Katie Fforde is known for. I enjoyed the scenes where Helena goes to trade shows to show her wares but initially I did think would things work out in terms of finding a new space?
As new landlord Jago, despite being kind and helpful, wasn't at first leaping to offer an alternative solution. Helena also likes keeping track of what is going on in her mother's life but in a good way. I didn't find her at all interfering or with ulterior motives as with Martin. She showed genuine compassion and concern for what was happening to Gilly and she didn't want her racing headlong into a decision that she may later come to regret. Likewise Gilly was a great support for Helena, always there with a word of praise or advice not to mention lots of supplies in terms of food, stews, crumbles and lots more delights. They were constantly being mentioned making me quite hungry whilst reading.
The Springtime Affair of the title was fairly obvious when it came to Gilly but it was like I had missed a chapter or two as things appeared fairly cemented and she was very much in someone's pocket before I even knew it. I had to go back and check had I actually skipped pages or was it just simply not mentioned? The element of confession of one's feelings and the dancing around each other never materialised or else as I said I totally bypassed it. It left me quite unsettled with my reading of the story for a number of chapters, then I just had to put it out of my head and accept it had happened and move on with the story. When Gilly feels she has to go and get to the bottom of something to find out is this love and relationship meant for her there was a little surprise thrown is as to why someone has been keeping secrets. I could totally understand the reasons why this person did this but the scenes set in Wales just seemed extra to requirements and the story would have worked perfectly well without them. As for the speed at what happens to both Gilly and Helena it came across as being unnecessarily fast but maybe that was just the way it came across in the writing.
A Springtime Affair was a very pleasant read and one which would be perfect if you were looking for a quick, straightforward, uncomplicated story after reading perhaps a quite heavy book. It's not my favourite from Katie Fforde but I enjoy her books so I wouldn't have missed out on reading this one. There's lots of warmth, some humour and a little tension as to will they/won't they? It's perfect for anyone looking for something nice to curl up with for an afternoon.
It was great to see a middle-aged woman as one of the main characters as I think I am going beyond the point of always wanting to read of very young women who seem totally clueless when it comes to the romance department and in general are just a bit silly. Gilly was a woman with life experiences, some good, some bad, and having been through a nasty divorce she is now safely out the other side and enjoying running her house as a B&B. Her two children Martin and Helena are now adults themselves and she feels that she has plenty of independence.
Gilly was a real homemaker and must have been a fantastic mother to her children as they were growing up as I could see she still carried those characteristics with her into later life and the running of her business. She was a talented cook and loved to keep everything in ship-shape order for her guests. So everything appears to be ticking along nicely for her, that is until she is called to Sunday dinner with Martin and his wife Cressida. Helena is also invited and they know that this is unusual and not something they look forward to as Cressida is a health freak and so strict and set in her ways right down to her daughter Ismene. Gilly wonders just what are the pair up to? Martin and Cressida were characters I never liked. Their ulterior motives although they make them out to Gilly as being advantageous for her were nothing of the sort, they wanted a nice cushy lifestyle and were using Gilly to get it.
Why should Gilly have to sell her beautiful home, the home she herself was reared in and also especially after she fought so hard in her divorce to keep it? All so Martin and Cressida can move to a bigger house and provide her with a granny annex and in turn they would have ready made babysitting on tap. I mean for goodness sake Gilly was only in her fifties and they practically had her dead and buried or consigned to a small area to suit their needs. I desperately hoped that Gilly wouldn't become a pushover for at times the way she acted, and the fact she took quite a long time to stand up for herself, suggested she might. I couldn't fathom how she just couldn't stand up for herself and simply say no - end of. I understand Martin was her flesh and blood but what he was expecting was unreasonable. You'd say something if Gilly was ill or just not able to cope on her own but she was thriving and only had even more room for improvements for herself and perhaps romance was first on the list. The fact she even considered the offer put to her was a complete and utter joke.
Then Leo arrives on the scene seemingly out of nowhere and oh what luck he was able to give her a valuation for her house and a pretty good one at that. Instantly it all just seemed so handy and so easy but I knew from the outset that Leo was a bit shady, shift and sneaky. I didn't like his forceful personality and I thought he was dominating Gilly. As she goes on several dates with him I thought she was rushing things big time and she just seemed totally enamoured with the first sign of male affection that had been shown to her in quite some time. Don't they say it's better to sit back and wait and see what could come along further down the line. Don't just jump at the first opportunity that presents itself. Maybe for Gilly there was something better out there for her and suffice to say another aspect of love, passion and kindness does present itself in a surprising way. But it's up to Gilly what choice she makes both in terms of her professional life and affairs of the heart.
Helena was a likeable enough character too and, similar to her mother, she faces a few issues when it comes to relationships. She is a weaver and works happily away in a barn she rents near the main farmhouse. But her six month warning as to the lease running out is up and now she must look for somewhere else to carry out her work. It was evident that Helena loved her craft and put so much time and interest in it and it was great to see a different and more unusual profession feature in a book and at this stage this is what Katie Fforde is known for. I enjoyed the scenes where Helena goes to trade shows to show her wares but initially I did think would things work out in terms of finding a new space?
As new landlord Jago, despite being kind and helpful, wasn't at first leaping to offer an alternative solution. Helena also likes keeping track of what is going on in her mother's life but in a good way. I didn't find her at all interfering or with ulterior motives as with Martin. She showed genuine compassion and concern for what was happening to Gilly and she didn't want her racing headlong into a decision that she may later come to regret. Likewise Gilly was a great support for Helena, always there with a word of praise or advice not to mention lots of supplies in terms of food, stews, crumbles and lots more delights. They were constantly being mentioned making me quite hungry whilst reading.
The Springtime Affair of the title was fairly obvious when it came to Gilly but it was like I had missed a chapter or two as things appeared fairly cemented and she was very much in someone's pocket before I even knew it. I had to go back and check had I actually skipped pages or was it just simply not mentioned? The element of confession of one's feelings and the dancing around each other never materialised or else as I said I totally bypassed it. It left me quite unsettled with my reading of the story for a number of chapters, then I just had to put it out of my head and accept it had happened and move on with the story. When Gilly feels she has to go and get to the bottom of something to find out is this love and relationship meant for her there was a little surprise thrown is as to why someone has been keeping secrets. I could totally understand the reasons why this person did this but the scenes set in Wales just seemed extra to requirements and the story would have worked perfectly well without them. As for the speed at what happens to both Gilly and Helena it came across as being unnecessarily fast but maybe that was just the way it came across in the writing.
A Springtime Affair was a very pleasant read and one which would be perfect if you were looking for a quick, straightforward, uncomplicated story after reading perhaps a quite heavy book. It's not my favourite from Katie Fforde but I enjoy her books so I wouldn't have missed out on reading this one. There's lots of warmth, some humour and a little tension as to will they/won't they? It's perfect for anyone looking for something nice to curl up with for an afternoon.
January 12, 2023
2.5 stars. A nice, cozy story which was OK. Glad that I got it through the current 2-month 99¢ Kindle Unlimited special offer.
June 8, 2022
Not quite romance; not quite chick-lit.
It was a quick fun read, but it lacked depth to really pull the reader in. Every time the author had a chance to go deeper either with the plot or character development, she backed off.
Don't get me wrong, it was fun, but I wasn't wowed. I had heard so much about this author, I somehow expected more.
It was a quick fun read, but it lacked depth to really pull the reader in. Every time the author had a chance to go deeper either with the plot or character development, she backed off.
Don't get me wrong, it was fun, but I wasn't wowed. I had heard so much about this author, I somehow expected more.
February 7, 2020
I have enjoyed books by this author in the past and this was no exception. Really enjoyable.
Gilly runs her own B&B which she loves. But Gilly's son Martin, and his wife would love Gilly to sell her home and buy a mansion with them (and move in). Then Gilly meets a handsome estate agent, Leo, and he convinces her that maybe it is time to sell and move on. She clearly has some decisions to make about her future.
Meanwhile Gilly's daughter Helena, is about to be evicted from her little cottage, but in the midst of it all, finds a budding romance.
With all of the stories intertwined, Fforde takes us on a sweet and fun journey about family, relationships and love, in her usual style. This was such an easy and fun read, keeping me entertained throughout.
Gilly runs her own B&B which she loves. But Gilly's son Martin, and his wife would love Gilly to sell her home and buy a mansion with them (and move in). Then Gilly meets a handsome estate agent, Leo, and he convinces her that maybe it is time to sell and move on. She clearly has some decisions to make about her future.
Meanwhile Gilly's daughter Helena, is about to be evicted from her little cottage, but in the midst of it all, finds a budding romance.
With all of the stories intertwined, Fforde takes us on a sweet and fun journey about family, relationships and love, in her usual style. This was such an easy and fun read, keeping me entertained throughout.
July 25, 2020
I love how every time I read a Katie Fforde book I come away having learnt about a new profession or craft. In the case of A Springtime Affair it is weaving on looms, which I can honestly say is something I have never considered or given any thought to in the past. Yet in this novel it sounded really lovely and something that if I ever had time to take up a craft could be interesting to look into - silk weaving that is due to being allergic to wool!
I enjoyed Helena and Jago's newfound friendship, Jago sounds like a real keeper, he is just so caring towards Helena and animals, I really enjoyed their dynamic, and I was also really impressed with Helena's special skill, which doesn't seem to give her much pleasure but does have some interesting applications.
Then there is Helena's mum Gilly, who is a real feeder, there is a lot of food in this book - and she is being pressured by her son, Martin, to sell her B&B and use most of the money on funding Martin a new house. Which Gilly isn't really sure about, and then she meets slick tongued property valuer Leo, and they really hit it off.
There is a lot of various plot lines weaved into this merry tale, and I really enjoyed all of them, and seeing just what is in Jago and Leo's pasts. And there is the new hobby that Gilly becomes interested in, which was exhilarating to read about.
This is just what I have come to expect from the author, a warm and cosy story that I really did enjoy.
Thank you to Cornerstone and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily..
I enjoyed Helena and Jago's newfound friendship, Jago sounds like a real keeper, he is just so caring towards Helena and animals, I really enjoyed their dynamic, and I was also really impressed with Helena's special skill, which doesn't seem to give her much pleasure but does have some interesting applications.
Then there is Helena's mum Gilly, who is a real feeder, there is a lot of food in this book - and she is being pressured by her son, Martin, to sell her B&B and use most of the money on funding Martin a new house. Which Gilly isn't really sure about, and then she meets slick tongued property valuer Leo, and they really hit it off.
There is a lot of various plot lines weaved into this merry tale, and I really enjoyed all of them, and seeing just what is in Jago and Leo's pasts. And there is the new hobby that Gilly becomes interested in, which was exhilarating to read about.
This is just what I have come to expect from the author, a warm and cosy story that I really did enjoy.
Thank you to Cornerstone and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily..
February 24, 2020
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
A Springtime Affair is about B & B owner Gilly and her grown up daughter Helena.
Helena was a talented weaver and lived in a studio flat near her best friend Amy. However her new landlord wanted the property back and Helena had six months to find somewhere else to live.
One afternoon Helena was surprised when a man turned up needing help to rescue his cat. He introduced himself as her new landlord Jago, He explained he was a builder and was in the middle of renovating the whole house.
They quickly became friends and had dinner every night together. and they hit it off straight away. When Helena explained that she happy being single, Jago said they should pretend to be a couple to their friends and family.
As the friendship developed Helena moved in with Jago and he helped her with upcoming craft exhibition. Soon Helena found herself wanting to be more than friends., However she soon discovered that Jago was hiding a tragic secret.
Gilly was running her house as a b & B after divorcing her husband Sebastian. However her son Martyn and daughter in law Cressida wanted her to sell her house. Martyn wanted Gilly to use the money to help them purchase a huge house with a granny flat attached.
Gilly was thinking about selling the house to help Helena by her own flat. By chance she met Leo a property valuer who said it was worth a substantial amount. Leo was an attractive older man and they began dating. However when Gilly introduced him to Martyn it appeared they already knew each other. Was Leo trying to con Gilly out of her money?
I am a big fan of Katie Fforde and I am always excited when she releases a new a book. I especially like summery artwork on her front covers.
The book had some great personalities. I liked Helena and she obviously adored Gilly. The protagonists in Katie`s books always have varied occupations. I thought weaving sounded quite interesting and Helena`s artisan craft fayre sounded lovely.
I personally preferred Gilly`s story. I disliked her son Martyn and thought he was a bully. I thought the description of Cressida was brilliant and could picture her as a wafer thin yummy mummy. I knew what Leo was bad news from the first paragraph and hoped Gilly would not be taken in by his charm.
I was glad Gilly had her accountant friend William to look after her. I loved his army of aunts who were a breath of fresh air.
I highly recommend this book.
A Springtime Affair is about B & B owner Gilly and her grown up daughter Helena.
Helena was a talented weaver and lived in a studio flat near her best friend Amy. However her new landlord wanted the property back and Helena had six months to find somewhere else to live.
One afternoon Helena was surprised when a man turned up needing help to rescue his cat. He introduced himself as her new landlord Jago, He explained he was a builder and was in the middle of renovating the whole house.
They quickly became friends and had dinner every night together. and they hit it off straight away. When Helena explained that she happy being single, Jago said they should pretend to be a couple to their friends and family.
As the friendship developed Helena moved in with Jago and he helped her with upcoming craft exhibition. Soon Helena found herself wanting to be more than friends., However she soon discovered that Jago was hiding a tragic secret.
Gilly was running her house as a b & B after divorcing her husband Sebastian. However her son Martyn and daughter in law Cressida wanted her to sell her house. Martyn wanted Gilly to use the money to help them purchase a huge house with a granny flat attached.
Gilly was thinking about selling the house to help Helena by her own flat. By chance she met Leo a property valuer who said it was worth a substantial amount. Leo was an attractive older man and they began dating. However when Gilly introduced him to Martyn it appeared they already knew each other. Was Leo trying to con Gilly out of her money?
I am a big fan of Katie Fforde and I am always excited when she releases a new a book. I especially like summery artwork on her front covers.
The book had some great personalities. I liked Helena and she obviously adored Gilly. The protagonists in Katie`s books always have varied occupations. I thought weaving sounded quite interesting and Helena`s artisan craft fayre sounded lovely.
I personally preferred Gilly`s story. I disliked her son Martyn and thought he was a bully. I thought the description of Cressida was brilliant and could picture her as a wafer thin yummy mummy. I knew what Leo was bad news from the first paragraph and hoped Gilly would not be taken in by his charm.
I was glad Gilly had her accountant friend William to look after her. I loved his army of aunts who were a breath of fresh air.
I highly recommend this book.
April 27, 2020
I am a big fan of rom-coms, I love the escapism they offer. Their predictability is not an issue, this only adds to the light and easy enjoyment. However, this one just didn't do it for me. I felt it lacked substance and any actual storyline.
I felt for a novel set in a modern age the male characters held extremely draconian opinions when it came to the female protagonists. This in particular, along with the constant referencing to Gilly as an old granny in her early 50s, really grated on me throughout.
This is the first book I have read by Katie Fforde, although I probably won't rush to read another I haven't been completely put off. But I'd more than likely start with some of her older work.
I felt for a novel set in a modern age the male characters held extremely draconian opinions when it came to the female protagonists. This in particular, along with the constant referencing to Gilly as an old granny in her early 50s, really grated on me throughout.
This is the first book I have read by Katie Fforde, although I probably won't rush to read another I haven't been completely put off. But I'd more than likely start with some of her older work.
March 4, 2020
This book was not for me.
The story unfolds at the beginning and that is it.
Nothing much changes throughout.
If I flipped from 1/4 of the book to the end, it would have been fine , not much missed.
Glad it’s finished.
The story unfolds at the beginning and that is it.
Nothing much changes throughout.
If I flipped from 1/4 of the book to the end, it would have been fine , not much missed.
Glad it’s finished.
June 1, 2021
What an absolute load of shite.
March 26, 2021
Ik ben een echte Katie Fforde fan naar jemig wat was dir boek saai en langdradig....
May 1, 2021
Lovely book. Katie never disappoints her books are always beautifully written and make me feel happy.
May 3, 2020
Helena is the archetypal Katie Fforde heroine, a self-employed weaver she is about to be turfed out of her studio in a barn by her wicked property developer landlord, or so she thinks until she meets him (a total meet-cute involving a kitten). Her landlord Jago turns out to be an ethical property developer who wants to convert the barn into affordable housing (dreamy sigh). Helena and Jago cook up the romantic comedy staple, fake romance, to stop friends and family nagging them about being single, but as always life starts to imitate fiction.
Meanwhile, Helena's saintly mother Gilly, who has run a fabulous B&B in the Cotswolds single-handedly since her bullying husband left her, meets a charming estate agent called Leo just at the time that her son Martin and his wife Cressida are trying to persuade her to sell the B&B and use the money to help them buy a larger house with a granny annex. As Gilly is around my age (early to mid 50s) I feel indignant on her behalf, heck I'm still waiting to be a grown-up!
This was charming quintessential Katie Fforde from start to finish, no surprises but glorious gentle romance set in the idyllic English countryside with craft fairs and eccentric old ladies (not Gilly). However, fair warning, Gilly likes to feed people and unless you have a very strong will you could end up piling on the pounds because reading about all the biscuits and cakes and breakfasts that she feeds her family and guests will make you ravenous, I swear that's why I put shortbread on this week's Ocado shop. Loved it and perfect reading during COVID-19 lockdown.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Meanwhile, Helena's saintly mother Gilly, who has run a fabulous B&B in the Cotswolds single-handedly since her bullying husband left her, meets a charming estate agent called Leo just at the time that her son Martin and his wife Cressida are trying to persuade her to sell the B&B and use the money to help them buy a larger house with a granny annex. As Gilly is around my age (early to mid 50s) I feel indignant on her behalf, heck I'm still waiting to be a grown-up!
This was charming quintessential Katie Fforde from start to finish, no surprises but glorious gentle romance set in the idyllic English countryside with craft fairs and eccentric old ladies (not Gilly). However, fair warning, Gilly likes to feed people and unless you have a very strong will you could end up piling on the pounds because reading about all the biscuits and cakes and breakfasts that she feeds her family and guests will make you ravenous, I swear that's why I put shortbread on this week's Ocado shop. Loved it and perfect reading during COVID-19 lockdown.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
July 16, 2024
Halverwege het lezen van dit boek kwam ik erachter dat ik eerder iets van deze schrijfster gelezen had. En mijn mening was ook toen niet heel positief. Dit boek was wederom niet iets voor mij. Opnieuw twee sterren voor een suf verhaal, waarbij je niks voelt, geen verwachtingen, geen humor, geen spanning, geen romantiek, geen nieuwsgierigheid. De enige emotie die het los maakte was irritatie. Ik irriteerde me aan de karakters, met name de sneue vrouwen met allerlei angsten en zeer dienstbaar zonder nee te durven zeggen.. Ook nog eens met grote meningen die ze graag uitten over een familielid. Het hele boek is verder emotieloos geschreven en kabbelt naar een einde zonder graag uitgelezen te willen worden. Ik heb dat toch gedaan om eerlijk te kunnen recenseren.. Twee sterren dus, meer kan ik er niet van maken. En note to myself: lees nooit meer iets van Fforde!
May 12, 2023
Well there isn't a lot to say ,it's a simple book with a simple plot .You won't expect too many twists to it it's quick to read through ,basic writing I suppose and a nice quick story and ending .Not really unique book it's average if your looking for a quick nice story and happy ending .
William is such a gentleman honestly!!and Jago aswell love them so much !! Helena is an amazing character too ,and Gilly is a sweetheart.Hated Leo and Sebastian just no red flags -and Martin needs to grow up and mind is damn business :)
William is such a gentleman honestly!!and Jago aswell love them so much !! Helena is an amazing character too ,and Gilly is a sweetheart.Hated Leo and Sebastian just no red flags -and Martin needs to grow up and mind is damn business :)
March 8, 2022
A Springtime Affair is such a lovely story about second chances and finding the backbone to love again.
Definitely a story I needed after reading a few thrillers that had me on edge!
Overall, if you are in the mood for a heartwarming, cute read, this is the book you should consider picking up.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Definitely a story I needed after reading a few thrillers that had me on edge!
Overall, if you are in the mood for a heartwarming, cute read, this is the book you should consider picking up.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
August 28, 2024
Definitely a light-read. Loved it, right from the start to the end.
July 12, 2022
Wow, that was just awful. I have to rant about it. I was excited to see many of this authors books on Kindle Unlimited. The covers are lovely and it seemed as though I would enjoy them. Sadly, no. I wasn’t just bored, I was annoyed. It’s not cute. It’s not charming. It’s not sexy. At all it’s not funny. At all. It’s not touching. What is the attraction that this book has such high ratings and this author is so popular? I’m scratching my head. It’s very British, to the point that words were used that I had never heard before. Like “budgie thumpers”. What? The word “pudding” is on nearly every page. It could be a drinking game. It also uses words like “obvs”, “totes”, and “deffo”. Is this really what the English language has been reduced to? I’ve never heard young people speak like this, and I’ve certainly never seen it in print. Then there is the story itself which revolves around the mother being bullied by her grown son and horrible DIL to sell her house so they can have their half of what they think of as their inheritance before she dies. And she actually considers doing it. This is a concept that dropped my jaw. Is this a British idea? No one I have ever known thinks that half the value of their parents’ house belongs to them. These days the kids never move out of their parents’ house, but they certainly don’t claim ownership! She’s only 50 years old. She may live another 50 years. She may need that equity to support herself in her old age. The same horrible son uses terrible tactics of manipulation to get his way. Sends a total stranger to seduce her into selling her house by getting her to move in with him. What?? When she sees through him and refuses, her son throws a fit, invites her ex to lunch without her permission to bully her for him. What does she do? She moans about how she hates being on the outs with her son and maybe she should do what he wants just to keep him happy. Are you freaking kidding me? He was HORRIBLE and she’s upset because he’s angry, not by his actions? She actually tells her boyfriend he can’t move in because her grown son won’t like it. Honest to God. I can’t stand these people. Any of them. The romance between Helena and Jago took a back seat to all the Gilly nonsense. So boring, I barely noticed. The other thing that annoyed me beyond bearing were the constant mentions of drinking and driving. I mean, not a chapter was without a scold about not drinking and driving. It felt like it was on every page. I’ve had half a glass of wine, I can’t drive home! I had two glasses of wine with lunch, I’m falling down drunk. Give me a break! I hate that I wasted my time on this garbage, but at least I didn’t pay for it. I’m going back to my historical British romances. At least I can understand the language of the 19th century, and the heir had the decency to wait until the father died to inherit.
May 10, 2020
*****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review****
Unfortunately, this followed the recent pattern of Fforde novels of having too much plot, not enough character development and just generally not feeling very real. Helena and her mum Gilly are both quite wet and all the men are high-handed and a little bit irritating. You never really understand what Helena sees in Jago beyond him being attractive. Gilly is incapable of standing up for herself in the face of a string of awful men, and even the one she ends up with has his moments, despite being mostly nice. The awful men mean it's really hard to see a satisfactory resolution for Gilly's part of the story, and as far as Helena goes, although she gets her man, and with it somewhere to put her loom, because there is so much plot her business seems to fall by the wayside somewhere in the book, meaning it feels like her personality has been subsumed by Jago.
All of which made me quite sad - I've been reading Katie Fforde for 15 years, after discovering her in my final year at uni and reading all of her back catalogue to help me get through the stress of finals, and she was an auto-buy author for me for years and years, but recently something seems to have changed. As Fforde has got older she's had trouble writing younger heroines - they never sound real, but there's more than that going on here. Contrast this novel with Stately Pursuits, which has another mysterious hero, or any of the novels where the heroines have a career and they manage to find love *and* get some progress in their chosen field. They also have one main plot alongside the romance, and not eleventy billion little ones.
Unfortunately, this followed the recent pattern of Fforde novels of having too much plot, not enough character development and just generally not feeling very real. Helena and her mum Gilly are both quite wet and all the men are high-handed and a little bit irritating. You never really understand what Helena sees in Jago beyond him being attractive. Gilly is incapable of standing up for herself in the face of a string of awful men, and even the one she ends up with has his moments, despite being mostly nice. The awful men mean it's really hard to see a satisfactory resolution for Gilly's part of the story, and as far as Helena goes, although she gets her man, and with it somewhere to put her loom, because there is so much plot her business seems to fall by the wayside somewhere in the book, meaning it feels like her personality has been subsumed by Jago.
All of which made me quite sad - I've been reading Katie Fforde for 15 years, after discovering her in my final year at uni and reading all of her back catalogue to help me get through the stress of finals, and she was an auto-buy author for me for years and years, but recently something seems to have changed. As Fforde has got older she's had trouble writing younger heroines - they never sound real, but there's more than that going on here. Contrast this novel with Stately Pursuits, which has another mysterious hero, or any of the novels where the heroines have a career and they manage to find love *and* get some progress in their chosen field. They also have one main plot alongside the romance, and not eleventy billion little ones.
June 7, 2024
Милая чиклит-жвачка с приятным вкусом, очень летняя и расслабляющая всеми этими семейными отелями, ткацкими станками и выставками, процессом ремонта и реновации. Видимо, мне вообще нравится тема с удовольствием от результатов ручного труда, от печенья и мягких подушек для гостей до сотканных своими руками вещей и жизни в отремонтированном своими руками доме. Очень живо написано, в кои-то веки реалистичные и не раздражающие диалоги, действительно приятные романтические интересы для мамы и дочки, неплохой фон из всяких рукодельностей и поиска себя. Всё портят сюжет и сами героини.
Сюжет малость смутил меня тем, что держит внимание не развивающимися отношениями, хотя они достаточно приятные и комфортные, а вызываемым желанием побомбить от антагонистов, причём даже не от них самих, а от отношения героинь к ним. Часть этого отвращения достигается немного странно, вроде смеха над полуголодной диетой увлечённой фитнесом невестки, очень уж странно выписаны её советы насчёт правильного питания в пику любви к вкусным жирным сэндвичам и песочному печенью протагонисток, да и высказывания её мужа написаны в лучших традициях троллинговых постов на реддите. Вообще, не совсем понимаю эту конфронтацию питания. Ну хочешь ты быть печенькой с начинкой из булочек с колбасками, любишь покушать и поваляться на диване с книжкой, вперёд! Ну хочешь ты быть спаржинкой в кроссовках, любишь побегать по утрам с книжкой в наушниках, вперёд! Хочешь сочетать, в зависимости от настроения, погоды и лунного цикла, ещё лучше! Зачем вся эта дихотомия с “мы печеньки - молодцы, у нас друзья и леденцы! ” и “вы унылые диетки, все усохшие креветки”? Расчёт на специфическую аудиторию, которая предпочитает первый вариант? Ну и проблемы, вторгающиеся в отношения, тоже скорее смешны, и, к сожалению, не в хорошем смысле. В обычной современности внезапно возникает дар главной героини запоминать и вспоминать абсолютно все лица, даже если она видит их в горнолыжном шлеме? Используется ровно два раза для разгона ДрамаЛламы на новых кавалеров? Уже почти всё хорошо, готовим финальную вечеринку по случаю почти-что совместной помолвки? Срочно нужно напугать читательниц! Как насчёт внезапной попытки изнасилования? Точно, это придаст перчинки финалу! Ну фу же. Плюс все эти восхваления героинь за нитакушесть. Ооо, она ест десерты и не сидит на диете, вот это женщина! Ооо, она не хочет пафосную свадьбу, а маленькую, человек на пятьдесят в собственном фруктовом саду, вот это женщина! Всё это немного странно сочетается с "Как это ты хочешь пойти на вечеринку по случаю собственном помолвки без новой стрижки и в старом любимом платье? Да кому ты там нужна нестриженой плохоодеткой! Это не правильная нитакая женственность, стыдно должно быть, женщинись лучше!"
Кроме того, не понравились героини. Они какие-то такие ждуньи. Им все всё приносят на блюдечке, а они только мямлят, что им неудобно отказываться от того, что не хочется, и ждут, пока жизнь их насильно отхэппиэндит. Даже вспомнились старые сюжеты любовных романов, когда хотеть героя было стыдно, поэтому он приходил и мужественно брал героиню своей маскулинной силой. Вот так и тут так же, только это насильное впихивание счастья относится скорее к хорошему партнёру и любимой работе. Серьёзно, ткачиха любительница, готовящаяся к небольшой местной выставке, ноет, что ей подарили супер редкое и дорогое место на выставке с покупателями побогаче? При этом она страдает, потому что её за полгода предупредили, что ей надо будет переехать, а она сознательно завела в съемной квартире слишком большой ткацкий станок, а не маленький, как её подруга, и теперь даже не пытается искать новое место, а только жалуется? Её мама не может сказать уже неприятному ухажёру, что он ей надоел, на всё соглашатся, а потом расстраивается, что тот понял её “да” как “да”?
И мне не понравилось их отношение к своим мужчинам. Здесь мало чувственности, и проявляется она в основном в еде, так что проявления любви должны выглядеть как-то иначе. Судя по количеству помощи героиням, у автора основной язык любви - оказание услуг. Ну окей, но это ведь должно быть и принятие, и отдача, но они всю книгу только принимают, а всё, что отдают - это либо оплаченные услуги, либо еда. С едой прям перебор, даже для меня, её постоянно впихивают все всем, как-будто они рождественские гуси, честное слово. А ведь я очень люблю читать про всякие вкусности! Но в сочетании с вилланизацией правильного питания, это смотрится уже как-то не очень.
Да и отношение мамы к дочке тоже странное. Она доказала мне, что мой ухажёр чуть её не убил, сидел в тюрьме за финансовые махинации с недвижимостью, и теперь похоже пытается облапошить и меня, фу быть такой Мешательницей Счастью! Да что она о себе возомнила, встать между мной и моей Великой Любовью двухнедельной давности! Ой, что-то он мне разонравился. Ладно, невежливо расстраивать мужчину, буду молча страдать и злиться на всех вокруг. Пусть сами меня спасают! Как-то вот совсем не хочется болеть за хэппиэнд для таких мямлей.
При всём этом, в целом дослушала не заскучав и не запутавшись в персонажах, фон и хорошо описанные приятности жизни сгладили раздражение, да и Наталья Мартынова - это автоматические полбалла в плюс любой книге. Думаю, попробую послушать у автора ещё что-нибудь под настроение, если появится в хорошей озвучке. Вдруг это только здесь не самый удачный сюжет, а стиль меня вполне устроил.
Сюжет малость смутил меня тем, что держит внимание не развивающимися отношениями, хотя они достаточно приятные и комфортные, а вызываемым желанием побомбить от антагонистов, причём даже не от них самих, а от отношения героинь к ним. Часть этого отвращения достигается немного странно, вроде смеха над полуголодной диетой увлечённой фитнесом невестки, очень уж странно выписаны её советы насчёт правильного питания в пику любви к вкусным жирным сэндвичам и песочному печенью протагонисток, да и высказывания её мужа написаны в лучших традициях троллинговых постов на реддите. Вообще, не совсем понимаю эту конфронтацию питания. Ну хочешь ты быть печенькой с начинкой из булочек с колбасками, любишь покушать и поваляться на диване с книжкой, вперёд! Ну хочешь ты быть спаржинкой в кроссовках, любишь побегать по утрам с книжкой в наушниках, вперёд! Хочешь сочетать, в зависимости от настроения, погоды и лунного цикла, ещё лучше! Зачем вся эта дихотомия с “мы печеньки - молодцы, у нас друзья и леденцы! ” и “вы унылые диетки, все усохшие креветки”? Расчёт на специфическую аудиторию, которая предпочитает первый вариант? Ну и проблемы, вторгающиеся в отношения, тоже скорее смешны, и, к сожалению, не в хорошем смысле. В обычной современности внезапно возникает дар главной героини запоминать и вспоминать абсолютно все лица, даже если она видит их в горнолыжном шлеме? Используется ровно два раза для разгона ДрамаЛламы на новых кавалеров? Уже почти всё хорошо, готовим финальную вечеринку по случаю почти-что совместной помолвки? Срочно нужно напугать читательниц! Как насчёт внезапной попытки изнасилования? Точно, это придаст перчинки финалу! Ну фу же. Плюс все эти восхваления героинь за нитакушесть. Ооо, она ест десерты и не сидит на диете, вот это женщина! Ооо, она не хочет пафосную свадьбу, а маленькую, человек на пятьдесят в собственном фруктовом саду, вот это женщина! Всё это немного странно сочетается с "Как это ты хочешь пойти на вечеринку по случаю собственном помолвки без новой стрижки и в старом любимом платье? Да кому ты там нужна нестриженой плохоодеткой! Это не правильная нитакая женственность, стыдно должно быть, женщинись лучше!"
Кроме того, не понравились героини. Они какие-то такие ждуньи. Им все всё приносят на блюдечке, а они только мямлят, что им неудобно отказываться от того, что не хочется, и ждут, пока жизнь их насильно отхэппиэндит. Даже вспомнились старые сюжеты любовных романов, когда хотеть героя было стыдно, поэтому он приходил и мужественно брал героиню своей маскулинной силой. Вот так и тут так же, только это насильное впихивание счастья относится скорее к хорошему партнёру и любимой работе. Серьёзно, ткачиха любительница, готовящаяся к небольшой местной выставке, ноет, что ей подарили супер редкое и дорогое место на выставке с покупателями побогаче? При этом она страдает, потому что её за полгода предупредили, что ей надо будет переехать, а она сознательно завела в съемной квартире слишком большой ткацкий станок, а не маленький, как её подруга, и теперь даже не пытается искать новое место, а только жалуется? Её мама не может сказать уже неприятному ухажёру, что он ей надоел, на всё соглашатся, а потом расстраивается, что тот понял её “да” как “да”?
И мне не понравилось их отношение к своим мужчинам. Здесь мало чувственности, и проявляется она в основном в еде, так что проявления любви должны выглядеть как-то иначе. Судя по количеству помощи героиням, у автора основной язык любви - оказание услуг. Ну окей, но это ведь должно быть и принятие, и отдача, но они всю книгу только принимают, а всё, что отдают - это либо оплаченные услуги, либо еда. С едой прям перебор, даже для меня, её постоянно впихивают все всем, как-будто они рождественские гуси, честное слово. А ведь я очень люблю читать про всякие вкусности! Но в сочетании с вилланизацией правильного питания, это смотрится уже как-то не очень.
Да и отношение мамы к дочке тоже странное. Она доказала мне, что мой ухажёр чуть её не убил, сидел в тюрьме за финансовые махинации с недвижимостью, и теперь похоже пытается облапошить и меня, фу быть такой Мешательницей Счастью! Да что она о себе возомнила, встать между мной и моей Великой Любовью двухнедельной давности! Ой, что-то он мне разонравился. Ладно, невежливо расстраивать мужчину, буду молча страдать и злиться на всех вокруг. Пусть сами меня спасают! Как-то вот совсем не хочется болеть за хэппиэнд для таких мямлей.
При всём этом, в целом дослушала не заскучав и не запутавшись в персонажах, фон и хорошо описанные приятности жизни сгладили раздражение, да и Наталья Мартынова - это автоматические полбалла в плюс любой книге. Думаю, попробую послушать у автора ещё что-нибудь под настроение, если появится в хорошей озвучке. Вдруг это только здесь не самый удачный сюжет, а стиль меня вполне устроил.
April 27, 2020
I am a huge fan of Katie Fforde’s books and have read them all; some many times over as my favourite ones are the reading equivalent of comfort food (Paradise Fields, Highland Fling, Wild Designs and Artistic Licence).
In A Springtime Affair two threads are woven together – the stories of Gilly, who runs a boutique B&B, and her daughter Helena, a weaver. It is refreshing in a work of romantic fiction to have a main character who is older. When Gilly’s son, Martin, encourages her to sell up, it is sobering to realise that she is in her fifties, not in her eighties, running her own successful business, and not ready for the rocking chair just yet.
Having survived an abusive relationship and acrimonious divorce, Gilly has turned the home she loves into a successful B&B; she enjoys making everything just right for her guests, and is always cooking and baking shortbread. Out of the blue, her son suggests that Gilly sells her property and lives in his granny annexe, so that she would be available to babysit her grand-daughter. The sheer selfishness and greed of this plan beggars belief. I can’t believe she is even willing to consider it. However, Gilly only wants the best for her children, and does wonder if she should agree, and then she could also help Helena get her foot on the property ladder.
Unlike Martin, Helena would never dream of agreeing to this; she is an independent woman making a living as a craftsperson. When property consultant Leo turns up, Gilly is flattered by his attention to begin with, until she comes to her senses and finds out that he is in league with Martin. Alarm bells begin to ring when Helena (who is a super-recogniser) tells her where she has seen Leo before.
Jago is Helena’s landlord; she helps him rescue a kitten, and, as neither of them is looking for romance, they agree to be each other’s plus-one to stop their friends matchmaking. Of course, this is a Katie Fforde novel so we all know how it will end; the interesting part is how we get there.
A Springtime Affair is well written with believable characters and realistic dialogue. I really loved William’s eccentric aunts – they are great fun and added so much humour to the story.
For each novel, Katie has always researched some craft or occupation for her main characters; this time it was weaving, and we also learned a bit about gliding and running a B&B. This helps to make them more interesting, and other writers now seem to be following her lead (I read one recently about artisan gin, and another about being a museum curator).
I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Springtime Affair and, as always, look forward to her new book early next year. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy in a exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2020
Gilly runs her own B&B business from her much-loved family home, which she doesn’t want to part with – at any price. But that’s before she meets handsome estate agent Leo, and soon she begins to wonder whether selling up might not be such a bad idea after all. Meanwhile Gilly’s daughter Helena has a budding romance of her own. A talented weaver, she’s becoming very close to her new landlord, Jago, who’s offered to help her at an upcoming craft fair. It’s what friends do, and they are just friends. Aren’t they? With spring in full bloom, Helena and Gilly begin to ask themselves the same question: Might their new loves lead to happily ever after?
Okay so this is never going to set the world alight but this is a sweet, light-hearted read that provided laughter and entertainment, what more could you want?!
Once again, Fforde has set the book in a pretty village. I read this in January and there is nothing like reading a book set in warmer weather in cold weather to make you feel better so full marks for that. If I am honest I think I enjoyed the location more than the read.
Anyway, the plot is entertaining as I have said, I enjoyed getting to know Gilly and Helena and the various people around them and all their quirks. I am not going to lie, this is a cliché but sometimes that is okay to result in a feel good read.
You might be able to tell I have not got much more to say other than the plot is light-hearted and humorous, the characters are entertaining and overall I enjoyed the read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Century for an advance copy.
Okay so this is never going to set the world alight but this is a sweet, light-hearted read that provided laughter and entertainment, what more could you want?!
Once again, Fforde has set the book in a pretty village. I read this in January and there is nothing like reading a book set in warmer weather in cold weather to make you feel better so full marks for that. If I am honest I think I enjoyed the location more than the read.
Anyway, the plot is entertaining as I have said, I enjoyed getting to know Gilly and Helena and the various people around them and all their quirks. I am not going to lie, this is a cliché but sometimes that is okay to result in a feel good read.
You might be able to tell I have not got much more to say other than the plot is light-hearted and humorous, the characters are entertaining and overall I enjoyed the read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Century for an advance copy.
May 6, 2020
= Read this book from NetGalley UK in exchange for a fair review. =
I’ve been a longtime reader of her books. From Living Dangerously to A French Affair. Somehow I hadn’t picked up her more recent titles till now.
The main characters are all very adorable. Plot feels all over the place, keeping up with the love lives of mother and daughter. I can’t tell who is suppose to take center stage, Helena or Gilly? Probably both.
Having nasty and hostile characters peppered throughout isn’t my thing. I dread it so much thinking something will happen to my favourite people in the book. They got off easy for whatever they did!
The ending felt messy? Yeah, story-wise it isn’t all that great.
I will miss William and Jago though!
2 stars
I’ve been a longtime reader of her books. From Living Dangerously to A French Affair. Somehow I hadn’t picked up her more recent titles till now.
The main characters are all very adorable. Plot feels all over the place, keeping up with the love lives of mother and daughter. I can’t tell who is suppose to take center stage, Helena or Gilly? Probably both.
Having nasty and hostile characters peppered throughout isn’t my thing. I dread it so much thinking something will happen to my favourite people in the book. They got off easy for whatever they did!
The ending felt messy? Yeah, story-wise it isn’t all that great.
I will miss William and Jago though!
2 stars
July 10, 2022
Honestly when the book started with a description of how small Helena is compared to her love interest I thought that was the first red flag. The writing style was undeveloped and cringy. The two generations of narrative would have been lovely, had they been built up more. The whole book was very predictable and badly written.
July 14, 2021
I have really loved every minute of this book. Katie Fforde has written a truly lovely read with some great characters. I adored jago and Helena, but the standout character was the marvellous gilly- I loved the gliding scene.
This book Is my first 5 ⭐️ read in a while .
This book Is my first 5 ⭐️ read in a while .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2020
Lovely comfort reading from a Queen of the romantic novel! Perfect reading matter to escape the turbulent times we live in. An interesting heroine (loved the weaving detail) in Helena, and , I guess a second in Gilly, her mother. Add in the weak brother and dominating sister-in-law and a brooding hero with a secret and you have a great book. Oh yes, two happy endings complete the treat! My only teeny criticism - why do accountants are always expected to be boring? I hope I am the more exciting sort, just like William!
Thoroughly recommended if you need an escape at the moment.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this review copy.
Thoroughly recommended if you need an escape at the moment.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this review copy.
January 25, 2021
A beautiful weekend read ☺️
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