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Finding Home
She might not have much in this world, but it cost nothing to be kind…
Meet Miranda Brown: you can call her Mim. She’s jobless, homeless and living in her car… but with a history like hers she knows she has a huge amount to be grateful for.
Meet Beatrice and William Howard: Bill and Bea to you. The heads of the Howard family and owners of Venhallow Hall, a sprawling seaside Devonshire estate… stranded in a layby five hours from home the night before their niece’s wedding.
When fate brings the trio together, Mim doesn’t think twice before offering to drive the affable older couple home. It’s not like she has anywhere else to be. But as the car pulls into the picturesque village of Littlemead, Mim has no idea how her life is about to change…
An uplifting story of found family and true love perfect for fans of Fern Britton and Veronica Henry.
Meet Miranda Brown: you can call her Mim. She’s jobless, homeless and living in her car… but with a history like hers she knows she has a huge amount to be grateful for.
Meet Beatrice and William Howard: Bill and Bea to you. The heads of the Howard family and owners of Venhallow Hall, a sprawling seaside Devonshire estate… stranded in a layby five hours from home the night before their niece’s wedding.
When fate brings the trio together, Mim doesn’t think twice before offering to drive the affable older couple home. It’s not like she has anywhere else to be. But as the car pulls into the picturesque village of Littlemead, Mim has no idea how her life is about to change…
An uplifting story of found family and true love perfect for fans of Fern Britton and Veronica Henry.
364 pages, Paperback
Published April 16, 2021
110 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
April 20, 2021
A beautiful story about found family. Mim is seriously down on her luck she lost her job, lost her home, and she is now sleeping in her car. When she happens across Bill and Bea Who are in need of a way home, Mim figures why not? Mim’s act of kindness, a five hour car trip, leads to a new life. Bill and Bea welcome Mim into their affluent family. But Mim is a little skeptical about the couple and her new found circumstances. What follows is a lovely story sure to tug on your heartstrings.
Mim was a great character and I loved her growth throughout the story. She was always so concerned about people judging her about her pass, and yet she spent a lot of time passing judgment. The story was set in such a gorgeous seaside town that I would love to visit. All the characters in the story were so well developed and so warm and welcoming just made me feel all warm and gooey. This book was a warm hug on a cold day! It was also a warm hug on a warm day, it hasn’t really been all that cold around here lately. Anyways this is a story guaranteed to make you feel good!
*** Big thank you to One More Chapter for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
Mim was a great character and I loved her growth throughout the story. She was always so concerned about people judging her about her pass, and yet she spent a lot of time passing judgment. The story was set in such a gorgeous seaside town that I would love to visit. All the characters in the story were so well developed and so warm and welcoming just made me feel all warm and gooey. This book was a warm hug on a cold day! It was also a warm hug on a warm day, it hasn’t really been all that cold around here lately. Anyways this is a story guaranteed to make you feel good!
*** Big thank you to One More Chapter for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
April 20, 2021
This book was a picturesque as the cover itself. Set on the coast of Devon, Field’s book offered perfect escapism. I felt transported with Mim to Littlemead and was as bemused as she with her interactions with the wealthy Howards.
One thing is for sure, the stark difference between the Howards and Mim is immense. Mim feels incredibly out of the place when it is clear how wealthy the family are. They do not want for anything but, rather than being stuck up and stand-offish, they are warm and loving. Immediately accepting Mim into the fold of the family, Mim suddenly experiences being wanted and feeling safe. Prior to meeting the Howards, she has been living out of her car, desperately trying to make ends meet. Therefore, it was like a Cinderella moment when Mim has the opportunity of starting afresh in a new place with even a decent bed to snuggle in to at night.
Like Mim, I warmed to the Howard family and loved all the different characters. They are so different and likeable at the same time. So bubbly and friendly, it was pleasant to see that Mim was not going to resist their genuine friendship for too long. Without needing to depart from Devon again, Mim soon finds herself settling down with the Howards. Working in the local deli and pub, Mim makes swimming friends and even helps the Howards establish a life-changing project that will help those in a similar situation to Mim.
There are so many touching scenes in this book, with Fields demonstrating the importance of family and love. I really liked the Shakespearean and Cinderella references, adding to the comfort that both book and characters offer. I could understand Mim attempting to resist settling down in Littlemead, but it is clear to readers that the appeal is difficult to ignore. Indeed, as it becomes clear how important she is to the Howards, I loved watching her grow and settle in such a positive place.
One of the key themes in this book is wealth and identity. For too long, Mim has suffered judgements based on her past and background. Significantly, however, she finds herself doing this to the Howard family, casting assumptions because of their massive wealth. Frequently, Mim reminds her new friends that there are certain things she cannot do due to her lack of finances. Although I found it slightly irritating, I think Field was demonstrating how Mim has become defined by her struggles. On the other hand, she stereotypes members of the Howard family because of how they behave. Over time, she realises the importance of getting to know people properly before such impressions can be made.
Whilst some aspects of the plot were obvious, I still liked reading the progression of the story. Field illustrates how one’s past can influence your judgements but that it is still important to learn from them to make you a stronger person. This is certainly personified with Mim’s character. The wealth divide is a little awkward at first but I think Mim overcomes this to reflect how this does not shape a person. In other words, the love and friendship that Mim finds herself surrounded by, from both the Howard family and her friends, is unconditional and an indication of how much they value her. For Mim, this is a tricky lesson to learn.
I really enjoyed this sweet story and loved watching Mim grow. The setting helps to make this an even more enjoyable story and I appreciated the importance that Field’s places on treasuring connections – both family and beyond.
With thanks to One More Chapter, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One thing is for sure, the stark difference between the Howards and Mim is immense. Mim feels incredibly out of the place when it is clear how wealthy the family are. They do not want for anything but, rather than being stuck up and stand-offish, they are warm and loving. Immediately accepting Mim into the fold of the family, Mim suddenly experiences being wanted and feeling safe. Prior to meeting the Howards, she has been living out of her car, desperately trying to make ends meet. Therefore, it was like a Cinderella moment when Mim has the opportunity of starting afresh in a new place with even a decent bed to snuggle in to at night.
Like Mim, I warmed to the Howard family and loved all the different characters. They are so different and likeable at the same time. So bubbly and friendly, it was pleasant to see that Mim was not going to resist their genuine friendship for too long. Without needing to depart from Devon again, Mim soon finds herself settling down with the Howards. Working in the local deli and pub, Mim makes swimming friends and even helps the Howards establish a life-changing project that will help those in a similar situation to Mim.
There are so many touching scenes in this book, with Fields demonstrating the importance of family and love. I really liked the Shakespearean and Cinderella references, adding to the comfort that both book and characters offer. I could understand Mim attempting to resist settling down in Littlemead, but it is clear to readers that the appeal is difficult to ignore. Indeed, as it becomes clear how important she is to the Howards, I loved watching her grow and settle in such a positive place.
One of the key themes in this book is wealth and identity. For too long, Mim has suffered judgements based on her past and background. Significantly, however, she finds herself doing this to the Howard family, casting assumptions because of their massive wealth. Frequently, Mim reminds her new friends that there are certain things she cannot do due to her lack of finances. Although I found it slightly irritating, I think Field was demonstrating how Mim has become defined by her struggles. On the other hand, she stereotypes members of the Howard family because of how they behave. Over time, she realises the importance of getting to know people properly before such impressions can be made.
Whilst some aspects of the plot were obvious, I still liked reading the progression of the story. Field illustrates how one’s past can influence your judgements but that it is still important to learn from them to make you a stronger person. This is certainly personified with Mim’s character. The wealth divide is a little awkward at first but I think Mim overcomes this to reflect how this does not shape a person. In other words, the love and friendship that Mim finds herself surrounded by, from both the Howard family and her friends, is unconditional and an indication of how much they value her. For Mim, this is a tricky lesson to learn.
I really enjoyed this sweet story and loved watching Mim grow. The setting helps to make this an even more enjoyable story and I appreciated the importance that Field’s places on treasuring connections – both family and beyond.
With thanks to One More Chapter, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2021
Mim is homeless and living in her car until she meets Bill and Bea and does them a favor that changes her life. Finding herself welcomed into their large, well-to-do family, Mim is overwhelmed by their generosity. Can she forget her past, allow herself some happiness, and start a new life?
This is a fun, easy romance with the theme of reaching out to those who need a helping hand. I was happy to meet the well written characters, and the sandy beaches of Devon (South West England) make for a captivating setting. This is straightforward book with a simple message. There is no complicated plot and and no mystery to figure out, but in this case that is not a bad thing. This is a very positive book about helping others, receiving help, and giving back.
I would recommend this book to all, because helping others is a universal message.
I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins UK (One More Chapter) via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
This is a fun, easy romance with the theme of reaching out to those who need a helping hand. I was happy to meet the well written characters, and the sandy beaches of Devon (South West England) make for a captivating setting. This is straightforward book with a simple message. There is no complicated plot and and no mystery to figure out, but in this case that is not a bad thing. This is a very positive book about helping others, receiving help, and giving back.
I would recommend this book to all, because helping others is a universal message.
I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins UK (One More Chapter) via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
December 23, 2020
Miranda lost her job and her home when the owner of the hotel where she works dies and his daughter sells the premises.
She is now living in her car because she has very little savings.
One evening an older couple ask for her help when their car breaks down and she offers to drive them home to Devon a five hour drive from the city where she lives.
This decision will alter Miranda’s future.
A feel good novel with some good characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
She is now living in her car because she has very little savings.
One evening an older couple ask for her help when their car breaks down and she offers to drive them home to Devon a five hour drive from the city where she lives.
This decision will alter Miranda’s future.
A feel good novel with some good characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I chose this book based on the cover and I ended up really liking it, thank goodness. :) It was kind of slow to get into for me but picked up about a quarter of the way through and I was able to stay interested throughout the rest of the book. I liked the characters, I loved the setting, and I really liked the author's writing style. Normally, I am unable to fully get into British books for some reason but the setting and the people within the book more than made up for any awkwardness at the beginning. :) Mim is a selfless person who acted on an impulse to help a stranded couple and her whole life changed because of it. Who doesn't love a story like that? I would completely recommend the book to other readers who love a little romance and I would read other works by this author if given the chance :)
April 8, 2021
I loved this sweet story. I was instantly transported to Devon right from the start, I loved all the descriptions of the caravans and the different characters and how kind most people were to Mim. I was hoping for her to fall in love eventually so I’m glad this had a happy ending. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
September 15, 2023
A heartfelt story set in Devon with sandy beaches and a sweet romance. It’s was about family and acceptance and so much more.
Thanks Harper Collins UK via NetGalley.
Thanks Harper Collins UK via NetGalley.
May 29, 2021
*** Disclaimer : I received e-copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to One More Chapter. ***
uplifting and feel-good women’s fiction.
↪revolved around Mim’s journey to find home, love and family.
↪story was about belongingness, home, family, love, friendship, kindness, lifestyle differences between wealthy and homeless and poor and assumptions people make based on it, and following your heart.
↪Writing was lucid, lovely, and captivating
↪Setting of Littlemead village, Devon was vivid and beautiful.
↪incredible characters. They were all realistic, relatable and developed.
↪loved dynamics of Howard family.
↪Best things in the book were close-knit community, fossil walk, history of Devon coast, Easter Monday event, 2k and 4K sea swim challenge, As You Like Like it holidays caravan project, and Bea and Bill’s love story.
↪it's not a romance book. It's something Mim discovered along the way.
↪Mim and Corin’s relationship was slow and steady growing that started with misunderstanding, assumptions, and friendship with a bit communication trope.
Overall, Finding Home was fluffy, heart-warming and wonderful women's fiction that contemporary readers would surely enjoy. I read one book by Jenny Colgan and this had similar vibes.
read full review by following this link- https://booksteacupreviews.com/2021/0...
uplifting and feel-good women’s fiction.
↪revolved around Mim’s journey to find home, love and family.
↪story was about belongingness, home, family, love, friendship, kindness, lifestyle differences between wealthy and homeless and poor and assumptions people make based on it, and following your heart.
↪Writing was lucid, lovely, and captivating
↪Setting of Littlemead village, Devon was vivid and beautiful.
↪incredible characters. They were all realistic, relatable and developed.
↪loved dynamics of Howard family.
↪Best things in the book were close-knit community, fossil walk, history of Devon coast, Easter Monday event, 2k and 4K sea swim challenge, As You Like Like it holidays caravan project, and Bea and Bill’s love story.
↪it's not a romance book. It's something Mim discovered along the way.
↪Mim and Corin’s relationship was slow and steady growing that started with misunderstanding, assumptions, and friendship with a bit communication trope.
Overall, Finding Home was fluffy, heart-warming and wonderful women's fiction that contemporary readers would surely enjoy. I read one book by Jenny Colgan and this had similar vibes.
read full review by following this link- https://booksteacupreviews.com/2021/0...
January 31, 2021
A lovely read.
After finding herself jobless and h0meless, Mim finds herself agreeing to take an elderly couple home when they have car trouble. She then finds herself in the midst of a family who have her life organised before she knows it. She finds new work and ways to help the couple who are showing her the way to turn her life around. There is a real sense of community and family about the book and you feel a part of it all. She finally has a space to call her own, people who care about her if she can allow herself to believe it and a future to look forward to.
I absolutely loved all the elements of this book. The characters are all vividly drawn and come to life and the setting is blissful. I am keen to read more from Kate Field.
After finding herself jobless and h0meless, Mim finds herself agreeing to take an elderly couple home when they have car trouble. She then finds herself in the midst of a family who have her life organised before she knows it. She finds new work and ways to help the couple who are showing her the way to turn her life around. There is a real sense of community and family about the book and you feel a part of it all. She finally has a space to call her own, people who care about her if she can allow herself to believe it and a future to look forward to.
I absolutely loved all the elements of this book. The characters are all vividly drawn and come to life and the setting is blissful. I am keen to read more from Kate Field.
May 6, 2021
This is a heart-warming read full of wonderful characters whose individual personalities create an entertaining tale.
Mim has developed into a very independent woman and is used to looking after herself, so when she meets a loving family in a supportive community, it takes time for her to accept that her life could be different in the future. As she starts to get used to a new location and allows herself to enjoy some of the changes she is experiencing, another unexpected surprise has her wondering if she is doing the right thing after all.
I really enjoyed the development of Mim’s character as she discovers new possibilities in her life and faces the challenges they present. As always, Kate Field creates a community of real people for whom the reader will feel empathy and hope, which adds another level of involvement in this uplifting and satisfying story.
Mim has developed into a very independent woman and is used to looking after herself, so when she meets a loving family in a supportive community, it takes time for her to accept that her life could be different in the future. As she starts to get used to a new location and allows herself to enjoy some of the changes she is experiencing, another unexpected surprise has her wondering if she is doing the right thing after all.
I really enjoyed the development of Mim’s character as she discovers new possibilities in her life and faces the challenges they present. As always, Kate Field creates a community of real people for whom the reader will feel empathy and hope, which adds another level of involvement in this uplifting and satisfying story.
April 8, 2021
Mim is homeless and living in her car until she meets Bill and Bea and does them a favor that changes her life. Finding herself welcomed into their large, well-to-do family, Mim is overwhelmed by their generosity. Can she forget her past, allow herself some happiness, and start a new life?
This is a fun, easy romance with the theme of reaching out to those who need a helping hand. I was happy to meet the well written characters, and the sandy beaches of Devon (South West England) make for a captivating setting. This is straightforward book with a simple message. There is no complicated plot and and no mystery to figure out, but in this case that is not a bad thing. This is a very positive book about helping others, receiving help, and giving back.
I would recommend this book to all, because helping others is a universal message.
I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins UK (One More Chapter) via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
This is a fun, easy romance with the theme of reaching out to those who need a helping hand. I was happy to meet the well written characters, and the sandy beaches of Devon (South West England) make for a captivating setting. This is straightforward book with a simple message. There is no complicated plot and and no mystery to figure out, but in this case that is not a bad thing. This is a very positive book about helping others, receiving help, and giving back.
I would recommend this book to all, because helping others is a universal message.
I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins UK (One More Chapter) via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
April 18, 2021
Home is where the heart is in this sweet charming seaside novel from an author I’ve not encountered before. Finding Home is essentially a rags to riches (not necessarily monetary) storyline, a modern day Cinderella type tale that is uncomplicated, inoffensive and a good, if predictable piece of escapism. Demanding nothing more of the reader than to sit back and relax, Kate Field takes you to the stunning Devonshire coastline where kindness, friendship, love and a welcoming family show our protagonist Miranda Brown what it truly means to belong.
Miranda or Mim as she is more commonly known comes to the rescue of Bea and Bill Howard when their car brakes down in Lancashire, miles from their Devonshire home. Homeless, jobless and currently living in her car Mim, on a whim, offers to drive these strangers back toVennhallow in the village of Littlemead in time for a family wedding. The journey back is long enough for both parties to become reasonably acquainted with the Howards and their posh southern accents making Mim hyper aware of her working class northern roots. Yet it quickly becomes apparent that the non judgemental Bea and Bill are happy to assume the role of fairy godmother and father, inviting Mim into the bosom of their family without delay. With daughter Lia immediately taking Mim under her wing, our resilient, resourceful and hard working protagonist is blown away by the kindness of these strangers. Having been raised in foster care from a tender age, Mim is used to being fiercely independent, grateful for her friendship with mentor Gordon, owner of the hotel she has worked in for ten years. However when the sudden death of her boss leads to the sale of the less than profitable hotel Mim finds herself completely alone once more. With nothing in Lancashire to head back to, Mim accepts the Howard’s invitation to stay in Devon, living in one of their dilapidated caravans, part of one family project in a line of many that’s fallen by the wayside. Naturally this is where Mim’s transformation begins, shedding her bad luck as well as her hastily formed assumptions of the rich and privileged amidst the shingle and bracing sea air of the Jurassic coastline. From a homeless, friendless and unemployed nobody to a somebody holding down two jobs, making new friends, one enemy and arousing the interest of son and heir to the Howard fortune, Corin, Mim finally finds her feet. Really that’s about as complicated as this storyline gets and meeting Mim and the Howards and all the other lovely peripheral characters that populate these pages is a pleasurable way to de stress, unwind and chill out. A book to enjoy in the sunshine, with a glass of wine by your side. Aaahhh, what bliss!
This novel is full of goodness and suffused with heartwarming sentiments. As Mim becomes more involved with the Howards lives, enjoying the relative comforts of caravan living and sea swimming with new friends, she learns the importance and true value of family and the beauty of belonging, losing her heart to her surroundings and the people that have welcomed her with open arms. Taking charge of a new venture involving not only the Howards but the whole community, the benefits of helping those less fortunate, of paying a kindness forward reaps dividends in the long term and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving person than Mim.
Finding Home is a lighthearted, easy to read romance that is sprinkled liberally with fairy wand magic, blowing away any cobwebs of doom and gloom to envelop you in a warm, comforting embrace. It’s impossible to say a bad word about Kate Field’s writing because she’s delivered exactly what any reader expects from first perusing the cover to opening the first page. With no shocks or horrible surprises the storyline may be slightly cheesy but who cares? For all of you who ever dreamed of growing up and finding your Prince Charming, this one is for you! My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
Miranda or Mim as she is more commonly known comes to the rescue of Bea and Bill Howard when their car brakes down in Lancashire, miles from their Devonshire home. Homeless, jobless and currently living in her car Mim, on a whim, offers to drive these strangers back toVennhallow in the village of Littlemead in time for a family wedding. The journey back is long enough for both parties to become reasonably acquainted with the Howards and their posh southern accents making Mim hyper aware of her working class northern roots. Yet it quickly becomes apparent that the non judgemental Bea and Bill are happy to assume the role of fairy godmother and father, inviting Mim into the bosom of their family without delay. With daughter Lia immediately taking Mim under her wing, our resilient, resourceful and hard working protagonist is blown away by the kindness of these strangers. Having been raised in foster care from a tender age, Mim is used to being fiercely independent, grateful for her friendship with mentor Gordon, owner of the hotel she has worked in for ten years. However when the sudden death of her boss leads to the sale of the less than profitable hotel Mim finds herself completely alone once more. With nothing in Lancashire to head back to, Mim accepts the Howard’s invitation to stay in Devon, living in one of their dilapidated caravans, part of one family project in a line of many that’s fallen by the wayside. Naturally this is where Mim’s transformation begins, shedding her bad luck as well as her hastily formed assumptions of the rich and privileged amidst the shingle and bracing sea air of the Jurassic coastline. From a homeless, friendless and unemployed nobody to a somebody holding down two jobs, making new friends, one enemy and arousing the interest of son and heir to the Howard fortune, Corin, Mim finally finds her feet. Really that’s about as complicated as this storyline gets and meeting Mim and the Howards and all the other lovely peripheral characters that populate these pages is a pleasurable way to de stress, unwind and chill out. A book to enjoy in the sunshine, with a glass of wine by your side. Aaahhh, what bliss!
This novel is full of goodness and suffused with heartwarming sentiments. As Mim becomes more involved with the Howards lives, enjoying the relative comforts of caravan living and sea swimming with new friends, she learns the importance and true value of family and the beauty of belonging, losing her heart to her surroundings and the people that have welcomed her with open arms. Taking charge of a new venture involving not only the Howards but the whole community, the benefits of helping those less fortunate, of paying a kindness forward reaps dividends in the long term and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving person than Mim.
Finding Home is a lighthearted, easy to read romance that is sprinkled liberally with fairy wand magic, blowing away any cobwebs of doom and gloom to envelop you in a warm, comforting embrace. It’s impossible to say a bad word about Kate Field’s writing because she’s delivered exactly what any reader expects from first perusing the cover to opening the first page. With no shocks or horrible surprises the storyline may be slightly cheesy but who cares? For all of you who ever dreamed of growing up and finding your Prince Charming, this one is for you! My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
April 16, 2021
After a lifetime of not belonging, Mim had found home once before – a man who kindly took her under his wing, a place to live, a job at a hotel – but she now finds herself jobless and homeless once more, sleeping in her car, her life packed away in the boot. When she comes across Bill and Bea, their car broken down in her usual overnight lay-by, who need to get home from Lancashire to Devon for a family wedding, she doesn’t hesitate in offering to drive them there. On arrival, she finds they live in the kind of luxury she could never have imagined – but with no room in the large house with all the wedding guests, they offer her a dilapidated caravan in the grounds to spend the night. That turns into a spell of waitressing for the wedding caterers, the idea that she really has no real reason to return North immediately, a job in the village shop so she can pay her way, a family who treat her with warmth and love – and then a perfect charity project to make use of those caravans in the grounds.
Don’t you just hate it when reviewers insist on telling you the story?! But this is very much the bare bones – it doesn’t begin to touch on the reasons why I found this a story so filled with warmth and love, a totally gorgeous read that had me entirely hooked from that first encounter in the lay-by. Mim herself is a wonderful character, and her initial act of kindness tells you all you need to know about her capacity for caring, despite her own difficult journey through life – although she’s considerably more reluctant to accept the kindness of others. I really liked, and understood, her spikiness: there’s a lot in this book about not judging people and making assumptions, and that works both ways, as she mistrusts the motives of the sprawling Howard family who are happy to make her part of their lives and begins by rejecting their many acts of generosity and kindness. But she has a big heart too – and shows it, when that germ of an idea for the development of the caravan site turns into a project that draws the community of Littlemead together.
The characters in this book are just wonderful – Mim herself with all her insecurities and excitement as she begins to embrace her new life and experiences, but also everyone else who crosses her path. I simply loved the Howard family, all the adult children with the Shakespearean names (Mim’s real name is Miranda, so she fits in well) – with a particular soft spot for Lia (that’s Cordelia, if we’re being formal), their ditsy and over-enthusiastic daughter. And then there’s their first-born, Corin, kicking back against the obligations and privileges of family, showing Mim that there can just be a downside to belonging. And I really have to mention Janet, the horrendous woman who runs the village shop – such a superb character.
The whole setting – the Venhallow estate, the village of Littlemead, the beach where Mim loves to swim and Corin introduces people to the joy of fossil collecting – is quite beautifully drawn, brought vividly to life. And then there’s the quite lovely romance – perhaps more obvious to the reader than the couple themselves at first, one of those supportive friendships that slowly grows, and I found it both convincing and very real.
This is one of those books with a perfect emotional touch – the warmth is palpable throughout, there’s a gentle humour, the conflict in the story feels entirely real, and I loved that focus on family and belonging. I really didn’t want it to end – and there were some tears before I got there, one of those perfect conclusions that leaves you totally uplifted and hoping for happiness for characters you’ve entirely taken to your heart. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every book I’ve read from Kate Field, but this one was something rather special. I recommend it most highly – I really loved it.
Don’t you just hate it when reviewers insist on telling you the story?! But this is very much the bare bones – it doesn’t begin to touch on the reasons why I found this a story so filled with warmth and love, a totally gorgeous read that had me entirely hooked from that first encounter in the lay-by. Mim herself is a wonderful character, and her initial act of kindness tells you all you need to know about her capacity for caring, despite her own difficult journey through life – although she’s considerably more reluctant to accept the kindness of others. I really liked, and understood, her spikiness: there’s a lot in this book about not judging people and making assumptions, and that works both ways, as she mistrusts the motives of the sprawling Howard family who are happy to make her part of their lives and begins by rejecting their many acts of generosity and kindness. But she has a big heart too – and shows it, when that germ of an idea for the development of the caravan site turns into a project that draws the community of Littlemead together.
The characters in this book are just wonderful – Mim herself with all her insecurities and excitement as she begins to embrace her new life and experiences, but also everyone else who crosses her path. I simply loved the Howard family, all the adult children with the Shakespearean names (Mim’s real name is Miranda, so she fits in well) – with a particular soft spot for Lia (that’s Cordelia, if we’re being formal), their ditsy and over-enthusiastic daughter. And then there’s their first-born, Corin, kicking back against the obligations and privileges of family, showing Mim that there can just be a downside to belonging. And I really have to mention Janet, the horrendous woman who runs the village shop – such a superb character.
The whole setting – the Venhallow estate, the village of Littlemead, the beach where Mim loves to swim and Corin introduces people to the joy of fossil collecting – is quite beautifully drawn, brought vividly to life. And then there’s the quite lovely romance – perhaps more obvious to the reader than the couple themselves at first, one of those supportive friendships that slowly grows, and I found it both convincing and very real.
This is one of those books with a perfect emotional touch – the warmth is palpable throughout, there’s a gentle humour, the conflict in the story feels entirely real, and I loved that focus on family and belonging. I really didn’t want it to end – and there were some tears before I got there, one of those perfect conclusions that leaves you totally uplifted and hoping for happiness for characters you’ve entirely taken to your heart. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every book I’ve read from Kate Field, but this one was something rather special. I recommend it most highly – I really loved it.
April 17, 2021
Finding Home by Kate Field was a contemporary take on a well-known lesson ~ “Kindness always goes a long way.” Reading this novel was a lovely ride from beginning to end. Mim’s story was so realistically written; it echoed the struggles of underprivileged people in the best way possible. In just 300 pages, I learned so much about the power of kindness and love. I’ll keep the messages of Finding Home locked in my heart forever. 💜
Books set at the backdrop of a scenic location never fail to uplift my mood. I feel the same way about Finding Home! I was (fictionally 😭) transported to Devonshire and I loved being there! The author plotted down the storyline in such a simple yet beautiful manner. I couldn’t help but be drawn towards how Mim crafted a new life in Devon. The friendships, the community spirit, the generosity of people, and the implementation of the found-family trope in the book were everything I needed right now.
Mim was such a strong protagonist. Her selfless nature and independent attitude made me fall in love with her instantly! Seeing her grow throughout the story was just the best thing ever. Mim’s journey towards self-discovery was the highlight of reading Finding Home for me. I loved how she didn’t shy away from being brutally honest and sugarcoat situations at all. She was judgmental at times about the Howards’ posh life, which I realized was necessary for the story at the end. When people are bought up without privileges, they grow up with a different belief system too. I really appreciated how the author bought up the topic of how external appearances can’t define the real nature of a person.
Even though the romance wasn’t the central focus of the book, it was very sweet and thoughtfully written. Corin was the perfect addition to Mim’s life ~ I loved their conversations and moments together. The side characters were really charming too! Bea, Bill, and Lia won my heart.
I felt like the story was a bit slow at the beginning, which is why I rated the book with 4.75 ⭐ Other than that, everything about the book was admirable.
Books set at the backdrop of a scenic location never fail to uplift my mood. I feel the same way about Finding Home! I was (fictionally 😭) transported to Devonshire and I loved being there! The author plotted down the storyline in such a simple yet beautiful manner. I couldn’t help but be drawn towards how Mim crafted a new life in Devon. The friendships, the community spirit, the generosity of people, and the implementation of the found-family trope in the book were everything I needed right now.
Mim was such a strong protagonist. Her selfless nature and independent attitude made me fall in love with her instantly! Seeing her grow throughout the story was just the best thing ever. Mim’s journey towards self-discovery was the highlight of reading Finding Home for me. I loved how she didn’t shy away from being brutally honest and sugarcoat situations at all. She was judgmental at times about the Howards’ posh life, which I realized was necessary for the story at the end. When people are bought up without privileges, they grow up with a different belief system too. I really appreciated how the author bought up the topic of how external appearances can’t define the real nature of a person.
Even though the romance wasn’t the central focus of the book, it was very sweet and thoughtfully written. Corin was the perfect addition to Mim’s life ~ I loved their conversations and moments together. The side characters were really charming too! Bea, Bill, and Lia won my heart.
I felt like the story was a bit slow at the beginning, which is why I rated the book with 4.75 ⭐ Other than that, everything about the book was admirable.
April 16, 2021
My first encounter with Kate Field's writing, and I really hope it's not my last!
Miranda Brown, known as Mim, hasn't always had an easy life but never fails to look on the bright side and be grateful for the little she has. Living in her car, she unexpectedly meets Bea and Bill Howard, far from home and needing to get back for their niece's wedding the following day. Mim doesn't hesitate to offer to take them home but she has no idea the impact her kind gesture is going to have on her life.
This is such a lovely read which will warm the cockles of even the most hard-hearted reader. A story of family, generosity of spirit and a wonderful reminder that there are still unselfish people in this world. The characters are realistically drawn, each with their own flaws and beautifully developed. There is a thread of kindness running throughout this novel - and I'm a great believer in spreading a little kindness. It's not a saccharine read, but rather a warm, uplifting one which definitely put a smile on my face. Really enjoyable, and one I'm happy to recommend and give 4.5*.
Miranda Brown, known as Mim, hasn't always had an easy life but never fails to look on the bright side and be grateful for the little she has. Living in her car, she unexpectedly meets Bea and Bill Howard, far from home and needing to get back for their niece's wedding the following day. Mim doesn't hesitate to offer to take them home but she has no idea the impact her kind gesture is going to have on her life.
This is such a lovely read which will warm the cockles of even the most hard-hearted reader. A story of family, generosity of spirit and a wonderful reminder that there are still unselfish people in this world. The characters are realistically drawn, each with their own flaws and beautifully developed. There is a thread of kindness running throughout this novel - and I'm a great believer in spreading a little kindness. It's not a saccharine read, but rather a warm, uplifting one which definitely put a smile on my face. Really enjoyable, and one I'm happy to recommend and give 4.5*.
April 26, 2021
I always cry at the end of Kate Field’s books and this was no exception! The resolution is perfect and the build-up to it had me turning the pages late into the night. The characters and their backstories are so well done – I loved the subtle nuances in Corin’s relationship with his family and of course Mim’s stoicism and independence. A lovely uplifting novel – highly recommended.
April 19, 2021
I loved the premise of this book as soon as I read the blurb and I think I would have picked it up, even if I’d never heard of the author before. I’ve never made any bones about my immense love for the writing of Kate Field so, this coupled with the promise of the story meant I was really looking forward to reading it.
This is a story about how a chance encounter can change the course of your life entirely, about the kindness of strangers, how family can mean more than just those people you are related to by blood, and what it really means to find a home. When we meet the main character, Mim, she is about as down on her luck as it is possible to get. She has lost her home, her job and the only person in the world who cared about her and is sleeping in her car. When she meets Bill and Bea and agrees to do them a favour, she has no idea how completely it will change her life and how her kindness will be repaid a hundredfold.
When I first encountered Min, I thought she was an old lady – I think because of her name which is quite old-fashioned – but it soon becomes clear that she is only in her thirties but has had a very difficult life that has lead to her current circumstances. This has made her quite hard-shelled and suspicious in some ways, but we can see from the beginning a softer underside peeking out, which makes her a much more likeable and relatable character than she might have been otherwise. This is one of Kate’s specialities, and the reason I adore her writing, she is extremely skilled as creating complex, difficult characters who have interesting stories and redeeming features that mean you can’t help falling in love with them and wanting the best for them.
The Howard family are very different. They seem to lead gilded lives and have every advantage that anyone could wish for. What could they possibly have in common with Mim? More than she could expect in the end. The book explores the idea that we are all too quick to judge other people according to superficial information in this life and, if we only just give people a chance and put aside our preconceptions, we might be pleasantly surprised. Although Mim hates to be judged by her past herself, she is particularly prone to make snap judgements about people – a lesson she learns during the course of the novel.
The story here is beautifully crafted and realised. I loved everything about it. Aside from the characters, the setting in Devon is a tempting place to visit. The life that Mim begins to build is heartwarming and uplifting, and the people she meets are all gorgeous. I fell in love with all of it, and I know you will too. But the real genius here is the way that the author tugs at your heartstrings. I’ve yet to come away from one of this author’s novels without having shed a tear at some point, and this was no different. Here is an author who really understands human emotion and relationships and knows exactly how to mine and manipulate them to cause maximum reaction in her reader. I always come away from her books feeling like I’ve made new friends and fallen in love.
If I have one complaint about this book it is about the cover. It doesn’t do the book justice, relate to the story, or really communicate to me what the heart of the book is and is too generic. I would probably skim past this on a shelf and that would be a crying shame. The book deserves better and this publisher normally wows me with its covers, which is probably why I am disappointed. This is definitely one book you should not judge by its cover, it is absolutely wonderful.
This is a story about how a chance encounter can change the course of your life entirely, about the kindness of strangers, how family can mean more than just those people you are related to by blood, and what it really means to find a home. When we meet the main character, Mim, she is about as down on her luck as it is possible to get. She has lost her home, her job and the only person in the world who cared about her and is sleeping in her car. When she meets Bill and Bea and agrees to do them a favour, she has no idea how completely it will change her life and how her kindness will be repaid a hundredfold.
When I first encountered Min, I thought she was an old lady – I think because of her name which is quite old-fashioned – but it soon becomes clear that she is only in her thirties but has had a very difficult life that has lead to her current circumstances. This has made her quite hard-shelled and suspicious in some ways, but we can see from the beginning a softer underside peeking out, which makes her a much more likeable and relatable character than she might have been otherwise. This is one of Kate’s specialities, and the reason I adore her writing, she is extremely skilled as creating complex, difficult characters who have interesting stories and redeeming features that mean you can’t help falling in love with them and wanting the best for them.
The Howard family are very different. They seem to lead gilded lives and have every advantage that anyone could wish for. What could they possibly have in common with Mim? More than she could expect in the end. The book explores the idea that we are all too quick to judge other people according to superficial information in this life and, if we only just give people a chance and put aside our preconceptions, we might be pleasantly surprised. Although Mim hates to be judged by her past herself, she is particularly prone to make snap judgements about people – a lesson she learns during the course of the novel.
The story here is beautifully crafted and realised. I loved everything about it. Aside from the characters, the setting in Devon is a tempting place to visit. The life that Mim begins to build is heartwarming and uplifting, and the people she meets are all gorgeous. I fell in love with all of it, and I know you will too. But the real genius here is the way that the author tugs at your heartstrings. I’ve yet to come away from one of this author’s novels without having shed a tear at some point, and this was no different. Here is an author who really understands human emotion and relationships and knows exactly how to mine and manipulate them to cause maximum reaction in her reader. I always come away from her books feeling like I’ve made new friends and fallen in love.
If I have one complaint about this book it is about the cover. It doesn’t do the book justice, relate to the story, or really communicate to me what the heart of the book is and is too generic. I would probably skim past this on a shelf and that would be a crying shame. The book deserves better and this publisher normally wows me with its covers, which is probably why I am disappointed. This is definitely one book you should not judge by its cover, it is absolutely wonderful.
April 8, 2021
Finding Home is a gorgeous read which I enjoyed immensely from the very first page. It’s obvious straightaway what a kind and selfless person Mim is when she offers to drive stranded couple Bill and Bea Howard home in time for their niece’s wedding. This isn’t just a quick drive across town. No, this is a five hour drive from Lancashire to Devon. Mim is really down on her luck, has been living in her car for a couple of weeks in fact and the contrast between her life and the Howards couldn’t be greater. The Howards are the owners of a large house, Vennhallow, on a big seaside estate and have quite a large and exuberant family. This family takes Mim to their hearts (as did I) and her life changed in ways she could never have imagined.
The difference kindness makes is evident throughout this book. Mim has had a difficult life and she really appreciates any small kindnesses shown to her. On the other hand, I did feel there was more than a touch Lizzie Bennet’s pride about her at times which made her defensive, even rather prickly. When you know what she’s been through, you realise that this is a defence mechanism from someone who didn’t expect much from life. At times though, this pride did make her rather over-react to some of the opportunities which came her way but I could understand why she behaved this way. Her own determination to make life better for people in similar situations to those she had experienced was heart-warming.
As much as Mim didn’t like people making assumptions about her and people like her, she was sometimes rather quick to judge others herself. Over the course of the book though she came to learn that different kinds of families bring different kinds of opportunities, challenges and pressures and that everything was not always as rosy as it appeared. Many people in the book learned valuable lessons about not judging others on preconceived ideas or first impressions. As Bea and Bill’s son Corin pointed out, ‘None of us choose our background.’
The romance in the book was rather beautifully done. It is a relationship which is probably obvious to the reader from early on but it was lovely to read about the slowly developing love between two people who were from quite different backgrounds on the face of things but who actually had much more in common than you’d think.
Kate Field’s books are a joy to read and Finding Home is no exception. It is a warm hearted and uplifting read about kindness and finding your place in the world. I loved it!
The difference kindness makes is evident throughout this book. Mim has had a difficult life and she really appreciates any small kindnesses shown to her. On the other hand, I did feel there was more than a touch Lizzie Bennet’s pride about her at times which made her defensive, even rather prickly. When you know what she’s been through, you realise that this is a defence mechanism from someone who didn’t expect much from life. At times though, this pride did make her rather over-react to some of the opportunities which came her way but I could understand why she behaved this way. Her own determination to make life better for people in similar situations to those she had experienced was heart-warming.
As much as Mim didn’t like people making assumptions about her and people like her, she was sometimes rather quick to judge others herself. Over the course of the book though she came to learn that different kinds of families bring different kinds of opportunities, challenges and pressures and that everything was not always as rosy as it appeared. Many people in the book learned valuable lessons about not judging others on preconceived ideas or first impressions. As Bea and Bill’s son Corin pointed out, ‘None of us choose our background.’
The romance in the book was rather beautifully done. It is a relationship which is probably obvious to the reader from early on but it was lovely to read about the slowly developing love between two people who were from quite different backgrounds on the face of things but who actually had much more in common than you’d think.
Kate Field’s books are a joy to read and Finding Home is no exception. It is a warm hearted and uplifting read about kindness and finding your place in the world. I loved it!
May 8, 2021
Miranda (Mim) has had a rough life: after being placed in care at age 8, and not knowing her father, her mother disappeared, and she’d been moved about frequently: learning to keep a ‘box’ of essentials and never attach. Lucking into a job with Gordon, and finding friendship, acceptance and a job at the small hotel gave her stability until Gordon’s death and his daughter’s ill-conceived and specious allegations. Now staying in her car, she’s pulled into a layby to sleep and wait for the next day to start looking for work, again.
Not to be ignored, Bill and Bea have car troubles and need to be back home by the next day for a family wedding. Having Mim parked next to them, with no mechanical skills but plenty of heart, turned out to be a lifesaver – as she agrees to drive them home. Sleeping in her car after being somewhere she’d only heard of isn’t a horrible way to spend the New Year.
Bill and Bea are not to be put off by Mim’s reluctance to ‘be one of them’ at all – they integrate her so smoothly into their life: managing (or meddling – depending on perspective) to get her some stability and pushing her, ever so gently, into the sightlines of their eldest son. With plenty of back and forth, lots of judgment and quick assessments, and a chance to finally find a family of birth not simply a family that is collected (or collected her) - Mim’s story is one of perseverance and determination, and plenty of self-assessment. A lovely story of second chances, family, acceptance and new starts.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Not to be ignored, Bill and Bea have car troubles and need to be back home by the next day for a family wedding. Having Mim parked next to them, with no mechanical skills but plenty of heart, turned out to be a lifesaver – as she agrees to drive them home. Sleeping in her car after being somewhere she’d only heard of isn’t a horrible way to spend the New Year.
Bill and Bea are not to be put off by Mim’s reluctance to ‘be one of them’ at all – they integrate her so smoothly into their life: managing (or meddling – depending on perspective) to get her some stability and pushing her, ever so gently, into the sightlines of their eldest son. With plenty of back and forth, lots of judgment and quick assessments, and a chance to finally find a family of birth not simply a family that is collected (or collected her) - Mim’s story is one of perseverance and determination, and plenty of self-assessment. A lovely story of second chances, family, acceptance and new starts.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
April 15, 2021
Thank you author Kate Field, NetGalley, and One More Chapter (HarperCollins) for giving me a free E-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
Ever since I read "A Dozen Second Chances" last year, I have been a huge fan of this author. She has a wonderful way of making a compelling story and relatable characters. So when I saw author Kate Fields was set to publish another book, I knew I had to request a copy and was excited to get one.
This book allows the reader to take a journey of family, hope, and love.
Miranda Brown, is a 34 year-old woman, who finds her self living in her car, jobless, and not many valuables in this world. One night, Mim happens to offer an elderly couple, Beatrice and William Howard, a ride home after their car broke down. What started out as an act of kindness will turn into Mim finding a home in the little village of Littlemead.
I loved Mim as a character! While she has not had the easy life, she has not let in turn her cold towards the world. She is such a hard-worker and wants to owe no one anything. Her relationship with the Howard family was exactly what she had been missing all her life. The Howard family was willing to help her as well as included her as part of the family. Other secondary characters really helped create a sense of community for the readers. I came to care for the residents of the different villagers throughout the story. The slow romantic relationship between the Howard heir and Mim was so well developed and a well satisfying HEA. Overall, this was another great feel good story! I can't wait for author Kate Field's next book.
5 stars
Ever since I read "A Dozen Second Chances" last year, I have been a huge fan of this author. She has a wonderful way of making a compelling story and relatable characters. So when I saw author Kate Fields was set to publish another book, I knew I had to request a copy and was excited to get one.
This book allows the reader to take a journey of family, hope, and love.
Miranda Brown, is a 34 year-old woman, who finds her self living in her car, jobless, and not many valuables in this world. One night, Mim happens to offer an elderly couple, Beatrice and William Howard, a ride home after their car broke down. What started out as an act of kindness will turn into Mim finding a home in the little village of Littlemead.
I loved Mim as a character! While she has not had the easy life, she has not let in turn her cold towards the world. She is such a hard-worker and wants to owe no one anything. Her relationship with the Howard family was exactly what she had been missing all her life. The Howard family was willing to help her as well as included her as part of the family. Other secondary characters really helped create a sense of community for the readers. I came to care for the residents of the different villagers throughout the story. The slow romantic relationship between the Howard heir and Mim was so well developed and a well satisfying HEA. Overall, this was another great feel good story! I can't wait for author Kate Field's next book.
November 16, 2020
Finally! A British romance, written by a British author, that actually has romance in it.
I can't tell you how many so-called British "romances" I've read that were anything but, so I'm glad this one lived up to expectations.
The setting of a small seaside town is so cute, and I loved all the secondary characters, especially the Howard family. They're a family of means, and like to help, but sometimes meddle a lot.
When Miranda meets Bea and Bill Howard, she's living in her car and doesn't have a job, or any other prospects. But, despite her hard life, Miranda is a kind soul and she helps them, which brings about a lot of change in her life.
Corin is the oldest son and heir and Miranda has some preconceived notions about him at first. I enjoyed seeing how they turn friends and fall in love, and the ending was super cute.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
I can't tell you how many so-called British "romances" I've read that were anything but, so I'm glad this one lived up to expectations.
The setting of a small seaside town is so cute, and I loved all the secondary characters, especially the Howard family. They're a family of means, and like to help, but sometimes meddle a lot.
When Miranda meets Bea and Bill Howard, she's living in her car and doesn't have a job, or any other prospects. But, despite her hard life, Miranda is a kind soul and she helps them, which brings about a lot of change in her life.
Corin is the oldest son and heir and Miranda has some preconceived notions about him at first. I enjoyed seeing how they turn friends and fall in love, and the ending was super cute.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
April 15, 2021
What a lovely story! This is my first time reading Ms. Field and I'll be adding her to my list of must read mores. I loved Mim. Loved her perspective and how she came to realize that judging and misconceptions go both ways. The Howard family is great too. Very much individuals but still a close family with plenty of foibles. The setting of Devon was wonderful. I've never been but it made me want to see and experience it for myself. The beach sounds very intriguing as I'm used to sandy beaches across the pond. LOL! The romance was subtle and very sweet. Loved that Mim learned that home is more than a place or a family. Wonderful feel good story all the way through.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it
November 18, 2022
Finding Home - Kate Field
Mim has lost her job, her home and is sleeping in her car in a Lancashire layby. She meets Bill and Bea Howard whose car has broken down, and drives them to their home in a beautiful seaside village in Devon. There follows the story of how she turns her life around and eventually finds home.
Wow - I LOVED this book! I raced through it and loved the story, the characters, absolutely everything! What a fantastic read - very highly recommended and one of my best books of the year (out of 70!) I've already discovered the author has written other books so I'm off to buy them now. And I really hope she writes others about the family and the village in Finding Home as I'm missing them!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Mim has lost her job, her home and is sleeping in her car in a Lancashire layby. She meets Bill and Bea Howard whose car has broken down, and drives them to their home in a beautiful seaside village in Devon. There follows the story of how she turns her life around and eventually finds home.
Wow - I LOVED this book! I raced through it and loved the story, the characters, absolutely everything! What a fantastic read - very highly recommended and one of my best books of the year (out of 70!) I've already discovered the author has written other books so I'm off to buy them now. And I really hope she writes others about the family and the village in Finding Home as I'm missing them!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
October 28, 2020
I loved a dozen second chances so was so excited to read finding home!
What can I say the most beautiful love story ever! A real life rags to riches fairytale but not in the monetary sense but one of belonging and family and of coming home!
Based in beautiful Devon,gorgeous beaches, wonderful new friends,an exciting charitable venture and the most welcoming family ever make this book a total delight from start to finish, sometimes all it takes to change your life is a little kindness and help and with determination and sheer hard work the most wonderful of benefits can be gained leading to a new more fulfilled life and a multitude of opportunities!This book will stay with me for a long time and I will highly recommend to all.
Thank you net galley for this early read.
What can I say the most beautiful love story ever! A real life rags to riches fairytale but not in the monetary sense but one of belonging and family and of coming home!
Based in beautiful Devon,gorgeous beaches, wonderful new friends,an exciting charitable venture and the most welcoming family ever make this book a total delight from start to finish, sometimes all it takes to change your life is a little kindness and help and with determination and sheer hard work the most wonderful of benefits can be gained leading to a new more fulfilled life and a multitude of opportunities!This book will stay with me for a long time and I will highly recommend to all.
Thank you net galley for this early read.
May 17, 2021
Couldn’t put this one down. Was hooked from the start. A very sweet story that keeps the reader engaged throughout. Loved all the little village details and side characters. Would love to read more about this family and village.
Read this is one day after starting it. Would make a great beach read or comfy read to snuggle up with some tea.
Read this is one day after starting it. Would make a great beach read or comfy read to snuggle up with some tea.
January 8, 2022
A gorgeous, uplifting story by one of my favourite authors.
November 17, 2020
Pour yourself a cup of milky tea and grab a slice of lemon drizzle cake because you’ll want to read Kate Field’s ‘Finding Home’ all in one sitting! To be published April 16, 2021, this heartwarming novel explores the idea that it costs nothing to be kind.
Bill and Bea Howard’s vehicle broke down at the most inconvenient time. It’s the day before New Year’s Eve and they have places to be and people to see. Now they are stuck in a layby when they should be heading back for a wedding tomorrow.
Mim, upset that there’s a vehicle in the layby spot where she’s been parked for the past 14 nights, has just settled down for another cold night in her car. Suddenly, there’s a knock at her car window and a couple in their 60s, the Howards, introduce themselves and explain their predicament. Mim’s heart aches and she immediately thinks that if they were her parents she’d be glad of someone coming to their rescue. Without considering the cost, Mim offers to drive them the 500 miles back to Littlemead Village. This thoughtful gesture changes the rest of her life.
Field explores the idea that it costs nothing to be kind. Mim already knows this, but in exemplifying it, she softens the heart of the seaside villagers and pretty soon everyone in the Devonshire estate at Venhallow Hall is considering the less fortunate. Kindness has a rippling effect. Additionally, through her characters, Field demonstrates that we are too hasty in judging others based on appearances and stereotypes. I loved reading about the lessons her friend and former boss taught Mim; never look back and remember that everyone is entitled to be judged on what they did today, not on the past. Each day we have a fresh opportunity for growth and to show kindness. Equally as thought provoking was Mim’s response when asked if she was a half-full or half empty glass kind of girl – “I’m one of those relentlessly poor people and I’m always grateful to have a glass.” Central to the theme of this charming novel is the idea of true love and found family. How lovely to read a clean romantic novel set in a charming English village.
Thank you to Kate Field, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Bill and Bea Howard’s vehicle broke down at the most inconvenient time. It’s the day before New Year’s Eve and they have places to be and people to see. Now they are stuck in a layby when they should be heading back for a wedding tomorrow.
Mim, upset that there’s a vehicle in the layby spot where she’s been parked for the past 14 nights, has just settled down for another cold night in her car. Suddenly, there’s a knock at her car window and a couple in their 60s, the Howards, introduce themselves and explain their predicament. Mim’s heart aches and she immediately thinks that if they were her parents she’d be glad of someone coming to their rescue. Without considering the cost, Mim offers to drive them the 500 miles back to Littlemead Village. This thoughtful gesture changes the rest of her life.
Field explores the idea that it costs nothing to be kind. Mim already knows this, but in exemplifying it, she softens the heart of the seaside villagers and pretty soon everyone in the Devonshire estate at Venhallow Hall is considering the less fortunate. Kindness has a rippling effect. Additionally, through her characters, Field demonstrates that we are too hasty in judging others based on appearances and stereotypes. I loved reading about the lessons her friend and former boss taught Mim; never look back and remember that everyone is entitled to be judged on what they did today, not on the past. Each day we have a fresh opportunity for growth and to show kindness. Equally as thought provoking was Mim’s response when asked if she was a half-full or half empty glass kind of girl – “I’m one of those relentlessly poor people and I’m always grateful to have a glass.” Central to the theme of this charming novel is the idea of true love and found family. How lovely to read a clean romantic novel set in a charming English village.
Thank you to Kate Field, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2021
A really lovely story.
It is about Mim who has never known a home life and has never really made any friends over the years.
She meets Bea & Bill in a lay-by where they have broken down she offers to take them back to their house in Devon, they are a couple that are very much family is everything.
They offer her accommodation free in the caravan they have at their home are things looking up for Mim, she makes friends and is happier than she has been for a long time.
It is a very sweet book.
It is about Mim who has never known a home life and has never really made any friends over the years.
She meets Bea & Bill in a lay-by where they have broken down she offers to take them back to their house in Devon, they are a couple that are very much family is everything.
They offer her accommodation free in the caravan they have at their home are things looking up for Mim, she makes friends and is happier than she has been for a long time.
It is a very sweet book.
April 16, 2021
One Sentence Summary: Mim has lost everything except her car, until a chance encounter with a sweet, yet wealthy couple gives her the option of a new life and more than she ever dreamed of having.
Finding Home is one of those saccharine fluffy novels I normally avoid, but this is described as an uplifting read and just sounded so sweet that I decided to give it a try. I must admit there was one, or two, times I was tempted to quit or put it down and never pick it back up because it was fairly predictable, but I'm glad I soldiered on because it turned out to be sweet, but in the best possible way.
The Plot: One Woman's Journey to Finding Family
After the unexpected death of her boss, Mim is both out of a job and a home because her boss's daughter hates her. Stuck with living out of her car, at least until the new year when she can look for a new job, she unexpectedly comes across Bea and Bill Howard, a wealthy couple from Devon. They're in desperate need to get home, but their car has broken down. Mim offers to drive them, unaware of how drastically this one kind gesture will change her life.
Yes, Bea and Bill are disgustingly wealthy, but they have big hearts, and so do their four grown children: Corin, Ros, Olly, and Lia. They all take to Mim and include her as one of their own. But, after years of being on her own, Mim is dead set on making her own way. At the same time, there's just something about this family that makes it difficult to say no to them.
Told from Mim's perspective, Finding Home really is a sweet, uplifting story without being cute. If anything, perhaps the Howards were a bit too perfect, but that doesn't mean they didn't have their own problems. Anyways, it's really the beautiful story of a thirty-something woman who essentially has nothing, but who gains everything through the course of the story.
At the beginning, I admit I was a little bored. It all seemed very predictable, especially the love interest. Usually, I abandon those kinds of stories, especially if they're romances because predictable doesn't keep me interested. But, since the publisher had offered this one to me, I felt obligated to keep reading. I'm actually very glad I did because it absolutely was an uplifting read of true love and found family. Everything the description promised, it gave.
I did go in expecting the romance to be at the forefront, in all the ways that makes romance romance. But Finding Home didn't actually do that. It was amazing how well it managed to skirt around the romance while also providing a rather realistic love story. I thought it was amazingly well done, and was just so sweet and beautiful. I also loved reading Mim's journey, which overtook the romance, so I missed all the formulas of romance to really enjoy a story about people and the goodness in their souls.
That's really what this book is about: the good in people. The Howards have all this money, but no real direction. It's clear they each want to do something more, something better, to prove they're not rich and spoiled, but they needed Mim because she's so down to Earth, so beaten down without having her spirit beat out of her. I loved that both the Howards and Mim needed each other, and the inherent kindness in each of them just came out so easily. I also appreciated all the wrenches thrown in their ways because it proved just how strong they all are, how big and caring their hearts are.
Finding Home is a lovely, fluffy story, but, looking deeper, there's an incredible, rich story of people, and I did find myself enjoying it by the end.
The Characters: A Hardworking Woman and a Wealthy Family
Finding Home is Mim's story, so it's centered around her. Raised mostly in care, she never had a stable home until hired to help run a hotel for ten years. But that ended abruptly, leaving Mim living out of her car. Mim, though, does what she does best and survives. She knows only to rely on herself and work hard. I really loved that Mim felt like an older, seasoned human being. She's seen the good and the bad and endured it all. Hers is a hearty spirit, and, despite having things torn from her throughout her life, she's still cheerful and so witty. I couldn't help but be charmed by her. I especially like that she's in her thirties, so she comes across as mature, steady, and thoughtful with a fierce loyalty.
Finding Home also has some incredible secondary characters, from the Howards to two ladies Mim takes to swimming with to all the people of Littlemead. They were all well-crafted and played their roles to perfection. The Howards behaved suitably wealthy, but with really beautiful hearts under all that money. The villagers, most of them, were charming and friendly and really took to Mim. I did get confused more than once between the two women Mim swims with, though. As for the love interest, he is, in every way, a perfect match for Mim. It's almost too perfect, but he himself isn't, which made their relationship really lovely.
The Setting: By the Sea
Finding Home is set in a lovely idyllic village on the sea. Everything about it felt beautiful and wonderful, and it all thoroughly charmed me. I loved how present the sea was in the story. It did make things feel a little chilly weather-wise, but I did love the sense of being right by the ocean. The village wasn't exactly well-described, but it felt like a typical charming English village, so it was easy to fill in the gaps.
Much of the story, though, is set at Vennhallow, the Howards' home. Described as a massive place, it did indeed feel massive, both inside and outside. It clearly came off as the home of a wealthy family, but the family itself was so warm and inviting that only their naivete about what ordinary people go through brought out the social divide. Mim lives on the grounds on Vennhallow in a caravan, one of many that play a role in the story, and I couldn't help but picture a lovely little meadow.
Overall: Everything it Promised to Be
Finding Home is a sweet, fluffy story, but, underneath, it's also something more. Uplifting and heartwarming, absolutely. Light on the romance, surprisingly. I loved how it focused on Mim's journey, making it more than just a light, fluffy read. It is a quick read, though. The writing is tight and the pace perfectly even, so it's easy to just breeze through it. Finding Home is a perfect light read with a lovely balance of story and romance, and absolutely delivers on everything it promised.
Thank you to Claire Fenby from One Chapter More and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Finding Home is one of those saccharine fluffy novels I normally avoid, but this is described as an uplifting read and just sounded so sweet that I decided to give it a try. I must admit there was one, or two, times I was tempted to quit or put it down and never pick it back up because it was fairly predictable, but I'm glad I soldiered on because it turned out to be sweet, but in the best possible way.
The Plot: One Woman's Journey to Finding Family
After the unexpected death of her boss, Mim is both out of a job and a home because her boss's daughter hates her. Stuck with living out of her car, at least until the new year when she can look for a new job, she unexpectedly comes across Bea and Bill Howard, a wealthy couple from Devon. They're in desperate need to get home, but their car has broken down. Mim offers to drive them, unaware of how drastically this one kind gesture will change her life.
Yes, Bea and Bill are disgustingly wealthy, but they have big hearts, and so do their four grown children: Corin, Ros, Olly, and Lia. They all take to Mim and include her as one of their own. But, after years of being on her own, Mim is dead set on making her own way. At the same time, there's just something about this family that makes it difficult to say no to them.
Told from Mim's perspective, Finding Home really is a sweet, uplifting story without being cute. If anything, perhaps the Howards were a bit too perfect, but that doesn't mean they didn't have their own problems. Anyways, it's really the beautiful story of a thirty-something woman who essentially has nothing, but who gains everything through the course of the story.
At the beginning, I admit I was a little bored. It all seemed very predictable, especially the love interest. Usually, I abandon those kinds of stories, especially if they're romances because predictable doesn't keep me interested. But, since the publisher had offered this one to me, I felt obligated to keep reading. I'm actually very glad I did because it absolutely was an uplifting read of true love and found family. Everything the description promised, it gave.
I did go in expecting the romance to be at the forefront, in all the ways that makes romance romance. But Finding Home didn't actually do that. It was amazing how well it managed to skirt around the romance while also providing a rather realistic love story. I thought it was amazingly well done, and was just so sweet and beautiful. I also loved reading Mim's journey, which overtook the romance, so I missed all the formulas of romance to really enjoy a story about people and the goodness in their souls.
That's really what this book is about: the good in people. The Howards have all this money, but no real direction. It's clear they each want to do something more, something better, to prove they're not rich and spoiled, but they needed Mim because she's so down to Earth, so beaten down without having her spirit beat out of her. I loved that both the Howards and Mim needed each other, and the inherent kindness in each of them just came out so easily. I also appreciated all the wrenches thrown in their ways because it proved just how strong they all are, how big and caring their hearts are.
Finding Home is a lovely, fluffy story, but, looking deeper, there's an incredible, rich story of people, and I did find myself enjoying it by the end.
The Characters: A Hardworking Woman and a Wealthy Family
Finding Home is Mim's story, so it's centered around her. Raised mostly in care, she never had a stable home until hired to help run a hotel for ten years. But that ended abruptly, leaving Mim living out of her car. Mim, though, does what she does best and survives. She knows only to rely on herself and work hard. I really loved that Mim felt like an older, seasoned human being. She's seen the good and the bad and endured it all. Hers is a hearty spirit, and, despite having things torn from her throughout her life, she's still cheerful and so witty. I couldn't help but be charmed by her. I especially like that she's in her thirties, so she comes across as mature, steady, and thoughtful with a fierce loyalty.
Finding Home also has some incredible secondary characters, from the Howards to two ladies Mim takes to swimming with to all the people of Littlemead. They were all well-crafted and played their roles to perfection. The Howards behaved suitably wealthy, but with really beautiful hearts under all that money. The villagers, most of them, were charming and friendly and really took to Mim. I did get confused more than once between the two women Mim swims with, though. As for the love interest, he is, in every way, a perfect match for Mim. It's almost too perfect, but he himself isn't, which made their relationship really lovely.
The Setting: By the Sea
Finding Home is set in a lovely idyllic village on the sea. Everything about it felt beautiful and wonderful, and it all thoroughly charmed me. I loved how present the sea was in the story. It did make things feel a little chilly weather-wise, but I did love the sense of being right by the ocean. The village wasn't exactly well-described, but it felt like a typical charming English village, so it was easy to fill in the gaps.
Much of the story, though, is set at Vennhallow, the Howards' home. Described as a massive place, it did indeed feel massive, both inside and outside. It clearly came off as the home of a wealthy family, but the family itself was so warm and inviting that only their naivete about what ordinary people go through brought out the social divide. Mim lives on the grounds on Vennhallow in a caravan, one of many that play a role in the story, and I couldn't help but picture a lovely little meadow.
Overall: Everything it Promised to Be
Finding Home is a sweet, fluffy story, but, underneath, it's also something more. Uplifting and heartwarming, absolutely. Light on the romance, surprisingly. I loved how it focused on Mim's journey, making it more than just a light, fluffy read. It is a quick read, though. The writing is tight and the pace perfectly even, so it's easy to just breeze through it. Finding Home is a perfect light read with a lovely balance of story and romance, and absolutely delivers on everything it promised.
Thank you to Claire Fenby from One Chapter More and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 18, 2020
This is the first book that I have read by this author, Kate Field. I adore her writing style and the world she created. The plot is fabulous! The characters were well developed and I immediately cared about all of them. She describes the scenery and situations so well, that I felt a part of the story, not just reading it.
The main plot of the story is about what makes up a family. They can be blood related, or they can be a chosen family, comprising of the people that you treasure and the ones that love you unconditionally. Also, the story is about having determination, drive and striving to be a better person in spite of a difficult past.
I absolutely loved this book! At a time that the world suffering through Covid, this book was an uplifting, sunny spot. It was a wonderful escape and I highly recommend it. I will definitely be reading the other books that Kate Field has written. I have a new author to add to my favorite’s list.
I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
The main plot of the story is about what makes up a family. They can be blood related, or they can be a chosen family, comprising of the people that you treasure and the ones that love you unconditionally. Also, the story is about having determination, drive and striving to be a better person in spite of a difficult past.
I absolutely loved this book! At a time that the world suffering through Covid, this book was an uplifting, sunny spot. It was a wonderful escape and I highly recommend it. I will definitely be reading the other books that Kate Field has written. I have a new author to add to my favorite’s list.
I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
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