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Lodes Chronicles #1
Lots Of Love
When Ellen Jamieson breaks up with her long-standing boyfriend, she plans to go travelling. But first she agrees to house-sit for her parents, who are trying to find a buyer for their idyllic cottage in the Cotswold village of Oddlode.
The village is full of quaint and eccentric characters, both blue-blooded and below the salt, and Ellen is the subject of much speculation. Under the wing of Ophelia ('Touch Pheely') Gently, an impoverished local sculptor, Ellen goes to an Auction of Promises village fundraiser and wins a mysterious lot of three wishes. These have been donated by Jasper Belling, the incredibly gorgeous prodigal son of the local lord of the manor. Falling in love with a notorious hell-raiser is the last thing Ellen intended, and the convoluted scandals of the villagers put many obstacles in the way of the young lovers. Several ancient skeletons come rattling out of various cupboards before a no-holds barred, loved-up finale.
The village is full of quaint and eccentric characters, both blue-blooded and below the salt, and Ellen is the subject of much speculation. Under the wing of Ophelia ('Touch Pheely') Gently, an impoverished local sculptor, Ellen goes to an Auction of Promises village fundraiser and wins a mysterious lot of three wishes. These have been donated by Jasper Belling, the incredibly gorgeous prodigal son of the local lord of the manor. Falling in love with a notorious hell-raiser is the last thing Ellen intended, and the convoluted scandals of the villagers put many obstacles in the way of the young lovers. Several ancient skeletons come rattling out of various cupboards before a no-holds barred, loved-up finale.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 30, 2021
This book, at the time patronisingly(?) called 'chick-lit' is a bit confusing in my records, as I remember it well, and remember getting quite into it, and my 2008 review concurred: 'Surprisingly complex, dark and compelling 'soft' romantic paperback.' - So why did I only give it 4 out of 12... because it was a romance? Maybe the ending? Is it too long at over 660 pages? Gah, I'll probably never know, but if I ever see it in a charity shop or book sale I'm sure to pick it up and revisit. One thing I do recall was an eclectic group of villagers as the supporting cast. 4 out of 12!
2008 read
2008 read
July 26, 2012
DNF.
I have read, and loved, several other books by Fiona Walker. I can't figure out where the magic went here: either my tastes have changed greatly in the intervening years, or this book doesn't come up to her usual best-seller standard.
The story dragged with slow pacing and, as mentioned in other reviews, the simmering attraction between Ellen and Spurs was stretched out for way too long. This is a 300 page book that lasts 530.
While the minor characters were fun, Spurs left me completely un-thrilled. Who the heck has grey eyes, anyway? Ellen's repeated "fanning of her T-shirt" irritated me too. Either this was characterization gone wrong, or the author ran out of ways to tell us the protagonist felt hot. Nor was I impressed that a book by a famous author from a respected publisher made it into print with typos.
Sorry to say, I gave up halfway through. But I'll still be trying other Walker novels.
I have read, and loved, several other books by Fiona Walker. I can't figure out where the magic went here: either my tastes have changed greatly in the intervening years, or this book doesn't come up to her usual best-seller standard.
The story dragged with slow pacing and, as mentioned in other reviews, the simmering attraction between Ellen and Spurs was stretched out for way too long. This is a 300 page book that lasts 530.
While the minor characters were fun, Spurs left me completely un-thrilled. Who the heck has grey eyes, anyway? Ellen's repeated "fanning of her T-shirt" irritated me too. Either this was characterization gone wrong, or the author ran out of ways to tell us the protagonist felt hot. Nor was I impressed that a book by a famous author from a respected publisher made it into print with typos.
Sorry to say, I gave up halfway through. But I'll still be trying other Walker novels.
November 7, 2011
I tried hard to restrain myself from closing the book and put it away. It bored me to death. The story plot is slow and long winded which make me as the reader wondering away from the story many atimes It is hard even for me to pick up the book to read it.
January 13, 2015
A bit of a hot mess, if I'm honest. I love this author. I adore her work in the most part. And Spurs Belling is a super hot stud in the same vein as Hugo from her other novels - wonderful to crush on. BUT this novel is all over the place. Things don't seem to follow entirely logically. And Pheely really is a bitch and a half - I cannot see any reason why Ellen would want to stay friends with her. The worst part was Walker's attempts to play on words. In other novels this has been done very well but here it happened to distraction, every time that Ellen and Spurs 'flirted'. It was utterly unrealistic in terms of dialogue and prevented my complete absorption in the novel.
October 28, 2018
My 12 year old shows more maturity than the characters in this book.
May 28, 2010
In a word... Spurs. This book made me laugh and cry. It was brilliant. While I like the other Oddlode books, I am disappointed that Walker hasn't really said anything else about Spurs and Ellen yet. I'm dying to read more about them!
September 14, 2014
I really loved all the books Walker wrote before this one. From this book onwards it just went downhill for me :(
November 20, 2010
Love Fiona Walker.
The thinking girls trash.
The thinking girls trash.
August 3, 2012
Dreadful
November 1, 2012
Not really my type of read. Very predictable.
September 30, 2020
I love Fiona Walker books as a rule. A friend gave me a copy of Snap Happy years ago which I still have an pick up when I need a pick me up. When I spotted this on sale on Amazon I was like "Yay, a Walker I haven't read yet" and nabbed it at a tasty 99p. And I was not disappointed. I liked Ellen, Spurs, and Pheely although Dilly was a bit much for me. I liked the setting and I liked the mishaps that kept the lovebirds apart until the end. However, it wasn't as funny as I'm used to from Walker and for that the book lost a star. If I find more of the Lodes Chronicles I'll be sure to pick them up - I've already been scouring the charity shops for more of her books - but unless the next one turns up on Amazon for 99p I doubt I'll read it for a while.
September 9, 2021
Lots of snooze. The book was too long and seemed to drag out. I was more interested in the minor characters than Ellen and Spurs who had me in despair.
I had to finish it as I’m one of those who has to see how it ends but it was predictable and underwhelming. Personally I also wasn’t a fan of Spurs a guys at least in his late 20s talking about an attraction to a 17year old kid…a little ‘yuk’ for me.
A few other reviews talk about the author having written some good books but unfortunately this has put me off trying any others.
I had to finish it as I’m one of those who has to see how it ends but it was predictable and underwhelming. Personally I also wasn’t a fan of Spurs a guys at least in his late 20s talking about an attraction to a 17year old kid…a little ‘yuk’ for me.
A few other reviews talk about the author having written some good books but unfortunately this has put me off trying any others.
April 18, 2020
I have loved Fiona Walker's other books, but I have to agree with others and say this book was a bit over the place. Don't get me wrong, the author managed to keep me engaged with the witty dialogue she's well known for, but a lot of the characters and scenes were OTT - and not in a good way.
January 28, 2025
The book was unbearably dull. Despite having seen countless films set in the British countryside, I struggled to picture the characters or the landscape. The writing was simply awful—clunky and uninspired, making it impossible to connect with the story.
June 19, 2017
Similar thoughts to others who gave average stars.
February 9, 2020
Just the right book in winter wet windy Sunday
April 24, 2021
I would have enjoyed this more if it hadn't become so overly dramatic.
June 27, 2022
Good bit of chick lit well worth a read even if I hated the character in the first few pages it turned out well
May 21, 2023
The characters were really well written, strong chemistry between all of the characters
December 27, 2023
A very light read but most enjoyable
Read
September 12, 2024DNF
December 16, 2024
Well, a no brainer end of the year read. I confess, I haven't read such books in my life, but for ones who like long but racy feel-good romances, this could be your next title.
March 17, 2025
Entertaining but not Fiona Walker's best work.
October 5, 2025
Not a bad little read. Read this on holiday so was a light read for me but I enjoyed it.
September 10, 2008
quotes#610832
Spurs turned to Ellen and smiled. "See what a good influence you are on me?"
She narrowed one eye speculatively.
"Do you still love me?" he asked, only a hint of mischief in his voice.
"A bit." She yawned. "You?"
"To death - anyone who brings me tea like this wins my heart." He took a long gulp.
"I didn't think you had one."
"Grew it back last night."
"I'll notify the tea ladies of Britain." p203
She breathed in the scent of freshly cut grass, which was perhaps the only smell, besides that of the sea, that could make her shudder with uncontrollable happiness the moment it hit her nose." p169
[comment: I can relate]
********************
quotes#542526
Then she dragged out the vacuum cleaner and sucked up enough Cornish sand from the upholstery and footwells to make a twenty-four-hour egg-timer. p412
"Nothing's happening," she said, goosebumps popping out on her goosebumps until she was convinced she must look like a figure in a Seurat painting. p339
Spurs turned to Ellen and smiled. "See what a good influence you are on me?"
She narrowed one eye speculatively.
"Do you still love me?" he asked, only a hint of mischief in his voice.
"A bit." She yawned. "You?"
"To death - anyone who brings me tea like this wins my heart." He took a long gulp.
"I didn't think you had one."
"Grew it back last night."
"I'll notify the tea ladies of Britain." p203
She breathed in the scent of freshly cut grass, which was perhaps the only smell, besides that of the sea, that could make her shudder with uncontrollable happiness the moment it hit her nose." p169
[comment: I can relate]
********************
quotes#542526
Then she dragged out the vacuum cleaner and sucked up enough Cornish sand from the upholstery and footwells to make a twenty-four-hour egg-timer. p412
"Nothing's happening," she said, goosebumps popping out on her goosebumps until she was convinced she must look like a figure in a Seurat painting. p339
June 24, 2013
I have only recently discovered this author and now I am on a mission to read everything she has ever written, thankfully there is lots of it! As this book is the 1st of a 4 book series called the 'Lodes Chronicles' I purchased the other 3 books immediately and am currently on the 3rd one of the series - can't put them down but don't want them to end!
Her style of writing is so intelligent, really descriptive and her word play is wonderful. This author is highly recommended!
Her style of writing is so intelligent, really descriptive and her word play is wonderful. This author is highly recommended!
June 4, 2011
I liked the build up of chemistry between Spurs and Ellen - towards the end I had goosebumps when she had them too. apart from that the story was at times longwinded (I found myself skipping over several paragraphs) and awfully predictable. also Ellen's misgivings about his x-factor and their subsequent mother of all romantic loves wasn't really conclusive to me.
October 29, 2016
This started out great, but went rapidly downhill in the second half.
All the skirting around and about turns were just incredibly stupid. Also, Spurs is an inconsistent asshole.
3 stars because I read and loved another Lodes book, and I liked seeing familiar characters. I also really like the setting, oddly enough.
All the skirting around and about turns were just incredibly stupid. Also, Spurs is an inconsistent asshole.
3 stars because I read and loved another Lodes book, and I liked seeing familiar characters. I also really like the setting, oddly enough.
September 19, 2011
apart from being very unrealistic at times i really enjoyed this book,it was an undemanding read, with a female character that was likable and a male lead that jumped off the page,he sounds so sexy:-D read another of the oddlode books before it so was apready familiar with a few of the characters!
August 1, 2013
My favourite chick lit book ever, it's the only paperback I can't bear to get rid of. I've read it so many times. I love Ellen and Spurs and their witty banter, and the supporting characters are a perfect accompaniment. Definitely worth reading!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews