The Sweetest Thing

Talyton St. George #3

by Cathy Woodman

If only everything in life was as simple as baking a cake...Jennie Copeland thought she knew the recipe for a happy life: marriage to her university sweetheart, a nice house in the suburbs and three beautiful children. But when her husband leaves her, she is forced to find a different recipe. And she thinks she's found just what she needs: a ramshackle house on the outskirts of the beautiful Talyton St George, a new cake-baking business, a dog, a horse, chickens...But life in the country is not quite as idyllic as she'd hoped, and Jennie can't help wondering whether neighbouring farmer Guy Barnes was right when he told her she wouldn't last the year. Or perhaps the problem is that she's missing one vital ingredient to make her new life a success. Could Guy be the person to provide it?

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Ebooks, Roman, Contemporary, Animals

400 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2011

About the author

I began my working life as a small-animal vet. Like turning the pages in a book, I was never quite sure what was going to happen at the surgery next. From the sausage dog who swallowed a sewing needle to the telly addict of a rabbit who lost an eye to infection, there was never a dull moment.

I have always loved to read, escaping into all kinds of novels during those long nights on call, but I didn’t have much time to pursue writing until after my children were born and I gave up full-time work to look after them. I joined a creative writing group and entered all the writing competitions I could find.

My break into becoming a published author came in 2002 when I was joint winner of the Harry Bowling First Novel Award. At the award ceremony, I met Laura Longrigg of MBA Literary Agents who signed me up on delivery of a finished manuscript.

In April 2003, Laura rang to say that Headline were offering me a two book deal. I had to dial 1471 to check she really had called me and I wasn’t dreaming.

My first novel, Under The Bonnet, was published in November 2004. My second, Our House, was published in 2005, the third, Family Matters in 2006, and the fourth, The Boy Next Door in 2007.

Since then, I’ve been working on an exciting new project, a series of novels about The Otter House Vets, a fictional practice set in a quiet Devonshire market town. Trust Me, I’m a Vet, which will be published in paperback by Arrow Books in April 2010, closely followed by the second book in September 2010.

Since I last updated my website, my menagerie of animals has grown, much to my family’s delight. We now share our lives with two cats, three mad Border Terriers, two ponies and two pet rats which we found abandoned to starve in a cage in the woods nearby. You should have heard my husband’s sigh of resignation when I told him we were bringing them home!

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Sweetest Thing is a book about a divorced woman with three children who starts a baking service and finds out that animals aren't terrifying, that she can get by on her own, and that she'd rather have a man to share the troubles.

It's an at-times funny book, with no high-flown ideas. It's perfect for reading on the beach (but then again, I could and would read anything on the beach, including War and Peace or some equally heavy tome). Better say, it's perfect for reading in line for the dentist's office or waiting for tickets or before the movie starts— simple enough to pick up again without losing track of what's just happened and which character has just met whom.

I found Adam, Jennie's eldest child, interesting in that he's something of the universal teen, isn't he? As a homeschooled child, I never quite understood the ridiculous 'I hate my parents/life/situation' that so many teens are supposed to have. And Adam has this exact outlook for quite some time in the book, delving into unsuitable activities, lashing out… I couldn't quite understand him. Yes, he is a secondary character, but whereas his mother is falling in love with Guy, he's got a palpable dilemma, which the girls don't really have.

And I loved Guy, by the way. The fact that he had to get up for the cows every morning at 5 am was lovely. The fact that it was shown all the time might have been a bit grating, but it wasn't. And I loved that he called the cows 'the ladies.'

Like I said, a good book, satisfying for a 'beach' read, whatever that means to you.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

There’s just something about this book that draws you right in. Or at least it did me. I was hooked on Jennie’s story from the very first page.

This isn’t a story of high drama or rich billionaires, it’s a quiet story about people taking the courage to pick up their dreams and start over. Everyone in this tale is starting over and finding a new path in life; all the kids and all the adults.

That turns out to include Jennie Copeland’s ex-husband David, who spends most of this story in the throes of what looks a selfish midlife crisis.

You could say it’s Jennie's and David’s divorce that starts this story. But really, it’s Jennie’s dream of being independent, combined with rose-tinted memories of childhood holidays in Devon that lead to her purchase of Uphill House.

“Uphill” is the right name for the place, because the road to Jennie’s happiness is definitely going to be an uphill climb.

The house is definitely a “fixer-upper”. Jennie needs to economize, because her settlement will only go but so far. Living in the country will be much cheaper than living in London, or so she hopes.

But it will also be away from the support network that she has come to rely on, and far from the routine that her three children are used to. Adam, Sophie and Georgia feel uprooted and lost. It may be Jennie’s dream to start a cake baking business in the country, but it isn’t theirs.

So Jennie comes to Talyton St. George to start over. It takes a lot of guts and a huge amount of determination. Jennie seems to have a pair of rose-colored glasses firmly fixed in place; no one seems to think she has a real chance, not her new neighbors in the country, not her old friends in the city, not her kids, and certainly not her ex. But then, that was part of the point of the thing at the beginning.

But never the entire point. This is really about Jennie’s ability to persevere no matter how many roadblocks she faces, or how many times she discovers that her rosy vision doesn’t match the reality.

Rooting for Jennie to not just succeed, but to also get her happy ending, makes Jennie’s story a very sweet read.

Escape Rating B+: The Talyton St. George series is mostly about the veterinarians in the small Devon community, but in The Sweetest Thing, the vets only showed up to treat the various animals that Jennie and her children acquired along the way to adapting to their new life.

Which made this book a perfect way to get into the series without having read any of the other books, no prior knowledge was required.

In The Sweetest Thing, we have the story of a 40-ish newly divorced woman starting over with three kids; a resentful teenaged boy, and two girls, one a pre-teen and the other in elementary school. Adam, Georgia and Sophie.

The breakup is still painful for everyone, and they are all still acting out to some extent, including Jennie. Moving from London to the Devon countryside if you are London born-and-bred definitely counts as acting-out.

The divorce was over the husband’s repeated infidelity, except this time he wants to marry his inamorata. Jennie was a stay-at-home mother, so starting a new life in London would have been expensive. She has the vision and the talent to start a baking business on a shoestring, but practicality, not so much.

We see her grow from all of her trial and error, in every possible direction. But we also see that as she becomes more absorbed in making a go of her new business, there is less time for her to listen to her kids' need to make the adjustment. The girls have an easier time of it, not just because they are younger, but because they find activities in the country that work for them.

Adam is cut off from his old friends and resentful. At sixteen, he’s also just being a teenager, but he is definitely lost in this new place.

Adam withers while Jennie blossoms with all her new challenges. Even while she finds herself frustrated and scared and exhausted.

Watching the family navigate their surprising journey is fun and absorbing. There is also a love story, but Jennie finding love is the icing on the cake for her, rather than the whole cake. Love is wonderful, but not the solution to her problems or a rescue from her difficulties.

It's also sweet that the new love of Jennie's life needs her to sweep the cobwebs out of his life every bit as much as she needs his help with some of the unexpected challenges in hers.

[Clare Coffey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. The book started out fine but I found it quite boring and predictable towards the end.

[Haajara Milan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story...

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathy Woodman, writes feel good. books, that are perfect for curling up with, om a Spring day or night, well anytime really.
The Sweetest Thing, tells of Jennifer Copeland ( recently divorced) and her thee children, Adam, Sophia and Georgia, moving from the hustle and bustle of busy London, to the calm, beautiful countryside of Devon.
Chickens, dogs, ponies, a hunky farmer and cakes!
The perfect mixture, sprinkled with humour and romance, to keep the readers smiling as they turn the pages..

[S.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual trope of romance books. Will they, won't they get together... it's okay but you always know how it will end. I guess it wouldn't be a romance if it didn't. And it all ties up too quickly and easily in the end, as always...

[AJourneyWithoutMap · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sweetest Thing by Cathy Woodman is a beautiful story about a single mother who moves to the countryside from London and sets up her own bakery business. Soon she falls in love with her next-door farmer neighbor. It is a good story, and as you follow them you keep turning the pages. The Sweetest Thing is delightful and makes you feel good all throughout the story, and at the end. You won’t be disappointed.

[Talli Roland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable, entertaining read.

[Susan Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly enjoyable book! If u want a story that involves baking, sexy farmers & country-life than this is the book for you.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never read the blurb or reviews in advance of reading a book. This can be a good or bad habit, depending on how the book goes. In this case it was in-between.

I was expecting another vet story. Instead I got a fairly classic townie moves to the country with naive, idealistic and romantic ideas of setting up a business and enjoying village life, due to having wonderful childhood experiences on holiday.

Enter Jennie, dragging her three children away from family and friends in London, to a remote village in Devon.

Typically, has the first disastrous encounter with a local, who turns out to be the neighbour and, obviously, becomes the love interest.

Then, mistake after mistake on all aspects of rural life, but miraculously it all turns out well, mainly due to others sorting out her problems.

All in all, though, an ok chick lit.

[Michele Northwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but found parts a bit slow. Also when the MC is complaining to her son that she has no money, she then goes out and buys her daughter a pony plus all the riding tackle. Where does she get the cash?
It's an easy read and would make a good book for a holiday. You can put it down, then pick it up and you're straight back into the story.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐ =Good.
This is the third in the series, and this one veered slightly away from the main focus of a veterinary practice. I thoroughly enjoyed the light-hearted, yet nit too 'airy' storyline.
The only very slight irritation was that the protagonist did often come across as a little pathetic!

I'll certainly read the next in the series.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story of Jennie and her family. Recently divorced she decides to move from London to a small town in Devon. A rundown house, a neighbour who doesn’t seem very friendly and 3 upset children. Jennie plans to start a baking business and has added a dog, chickens and a pony to the family as per the children’s wishes. Needless to say she has a lot going on. It’s a delightful read.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy it as much as book #2. Not enough drama, the character of Adam just didn't ring very true for me, and I didn't like everyone's taking to calling it "Jennie's Folly" instead of "Uphill House". Good story, otherwise, though.

[Pippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is book #3 in the series it can be read without having read the first two, some of the characters from the earlier books appear but it doesn't really matter. I adore this series and having read the first 3 back-to-back I will be diving straight into book #4.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy comfortable read not brain tasking at all. Just what you need on a wet weekend snuggled indoors with a mug of tea. Pleasing characters and story lines with romance, cakes and animals thrown in the mix.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh dear what happened to the vet story? I won't continue with this series.

[LeseSprotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

ein bisschen schwächer als die beiden vorgänger, trotzdem ein wohlfühlbuch für alle die gern chicklit lesen und tiere mögen

[Dawn Probert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely quick overnight read. Sweet book
In the series and boy do I love a series of book. Ready to read the next one now.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, maybe as I love baking. The story was good with the characters working well. I hope the characters appear in other books in this series.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read. Took me back to the country and I really related to it.

[Jenna Coyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely light read though miss the vets

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok really enjoying this series by Cathy woodman. She writes such lovely characters , with mishaps , love and those outstanding animals who steal the book every time.

[Helen Pomfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

feel good chick lit.

[Sonulik Slonikova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Totally and hopelessly naive.

[Jane Holton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read. It was obvious how it was going to end but a nice happy story

[Azla hamza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light and comfortable read. Of course this book is sweet jus as much as the title. I jus loved the country life atmosphere , Jennie’s passion for baking , the way they adopt for the new place, their pets, and how each and every chapter is focused on a type of cakes. A beautiful read ❤️

[Lorraine Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a lightweight book, but pleasant enough - a definite holiday read.

[primeballerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cathy Woodmans neuester Roman “Schnupperküsse”, erschienen im Blanvalet Verlag, entführt uns wieder einmal aus der Großstadt London auf das schöne, gemütliche, aber auch chaotische Land, nach Talyton St. George.

Nach der Trennung von ihrem Mann zieht Jennie gemeinsam mit ihren drei Kindern in ein altes, aber charmantes Farmhaus. Sie hat sich in das Häuschen sofort verliebt, doch für ihren 14-jährigen Sohn bedeutet es die völlige Abschottung vom Großstadtleben und seinen Freunden. Die jüngeren Mädchen sind da schon leichter zu begeistern – die Aussicht auf ein Pony, einen Hund und Hühner muntert sie sichtlich auf. Doch die Umstellung von Stadt- auf Landleben gestaltet sich weitaus schwerer als gedacht – im Haus und im Garten muss vieles noch gemacht werden, eine eigene und rentable Kuchen-Back-Firma ist nicht ganz so leicht auf die Beine zu stellen wie gedacht, die neu angeschafften Tiere müssen versorgt und gepflegt werden und nebenher muss sich Jennie noch um die Kinder kümmern. Kein leichter Job, da ist es doch ganz praktisch, dass ihr einziger Nachbar der nette Milchfarmer Guy Barnes ist, der Jennie mehrmals aus der Patsche hilft…

Die Handlung klingt interessant und unterhaltsam, was sie auch zum größten Teil tatsächlich ist. Allerdings wirkt die gesamte Handlung auf mich teilweise sehr langatmig, da stellenweise oft so gut wie gar nichts aufregendes passiert, wenn die Protagonistin beispielsweise ihren Gedanken nachhängt. Wo schon der nächste Punkt kommt: der Schreibstil der Autorin erinnert an der ein oder anderen Stelle im Buch an Tagebucheinträge, was zwar nicht unbedingt etwas Negatives sein muss, mich aber persönlich ein wenig verwirrt hat. Auch hatte ich das Gefühl, die Autorin versucht mit aller Macht am Ende eines Kapitels Spannung zu erzwingen – wodurch, kann ich nicht einmal genau beschreiben, es war lediglich ein durchgehender Eindruck. Was mir sehr gut gefallen hat, waren die niedlichen Kapitelüberschriften, die alle das Gebäck, die Törtchen oder den Kuchen enthielten, welche im darauffolgenden Kapitel erwähnt wurden. Ein schönes, zusätzliches Extra wäre es gewesen, wenn die Autorin noch im Anhang die Rezepte dieser ‘Überschriften’ hinzugefügt hätte – die Zubereitung wurde in der Handlung oft grob beschrieben und da ich selbst gerne backe, hätte ich das ein oder andere Rezept allzu gerne nachgebacken.

Des Öfteren springt die Autorin bei Jennie sehr plötzlich von der Gegenwart in ihre Vergangenheit – da denkt Jennie eben noch über das bald anstehende Abendessen nach und auf einmal schwelgt sie in Erinnerungen an den Abend, als ihr (Ex-)Mann ihr eröffnet hat, dass er sich in eine andere Frau verliebt hat. Diese Rückblenden sind zwar in der Tat sehr interessant und tragen maßgeblich zur plastischen Handlung bei, allerdings geschehen diese Sprünge zu plötzlich und ohne Vorwarnung – hier hätte ich mir wenigstens einen kleinen Absatz gewünscht, der Gegenwart und Vergangenheit zumindest optisch trennen würde, da man sonst oft ein paar Zeilen hindurch verwirrt ist.

Die Charaktere sind dafür ausnehmend sympathisch und vielseitig. Jennie ist war eine typische Mutter, hat aber auch noch ihren eigenen Kopf und das nötige Selbstvertrauen, durch welches sie sich überhaupt traut, alleine mit drei Kindern mehrere Autostunden entfernt von Freunden und Familie, aufs Land zu ziehen. Ihre Kinder könnten verschiedener nicht sein: der 14-jährige Adam ist ein typischer, pubertierender Junge, der sich gegen alles Familiäre auflehnt, die Mädchen, Sophie und Georgia, dafür sind noch liebevoll und zauberhaft begeistert vom Landleben, mit Hühner, Kühen und dem eigenen Pony. So herrschen im Hause Copeland nie Langeweile und alle Launen, die es nur geben kann. Der Nachbar Guy Barnes ist mir persönlich am sympathischsten – tüchtig, verletzbar, aber auch stark, sehr hilfsbereit, mit einer harten Schale, aber einem weichen Kern, so dass er Jennie und die Kinder wunderbar ergänzt. Lustiger wird es stellenweise noch durch Jennies Freundin Summer, die kein Blatt vor den Mund nimmt oder durch Jennies miesepetrige Schwester.

Im Großen und Ganzen – und vor allem trotz obriger Kritikpunkte – hat mir “Schnupperküsse” ganz gut gefallen, da es doch eine etwas andere Geschichte war, die nicht nur unterhalten, sondern auch berührt hat. Wegen der kleinen, aber feinen Kritikpunkte meinerseits, bekommt der Roman trotzdem leider Abzug bei der Bewertung. Nichtsdestotrotz: allen, die mal von der großstädterischen Frauenunterhaltung aufs Land abtauchen wollen, kann ich “Schnupperküsse” wärmstens empfehlen! [3/5 Sterne]

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year I read and loved Cathy Woodman’s first two novels in her Talyton St. Georgie series: Trust Me, I’m A Vet and Must Be Love. So I was thrilled when I learned Cathy was working on a new novel. And while The Sweetest Thing is set in Talyton St. Georgie, the focus has moved from Maz and her vet’s clinic to a new character, Jennie. I was thrilled to receive an early copy to review and sat down one Saturday afternoon when I was feeling a bit low to devour it. I wanted to make it last over the entire weekend but I finished it the Saturday night I started it, much to my own chagrin for wanting to make it last.

Like I said, The Sweetest Things switches focus from Maz, Alex and Otter House Vets and we’re introduced to Jennie Copeland who, after her divorce, has decided to move to Talyton St. George to open up a cake-making business and make her and her three kids life better. Jennie soon finds out that life in Talyton is anything but quiet and peaceful and soon finds herself with a menagerie of animals to look after including a dog, a horse and numerous hens. As Jennie struggles to get her cake making business going, the only thing making her new life bearable is her friendship with Guy, her gorgeous neighbour. I commented in my Must Be Love review that reading that book was like putting on a comfy pair of slippers and the same goes for The Sweetest Thing. Yes, we’re introduced to new characters but Maz and Alex pop up along with other Talyton St. George residents and, of course, the book is set in Talyton St. George which we all know well.

I absolutely love Cathy’s books. Her books are very reminiscent of Katie Fforde’s novels as I know what I’m going to get – despite the fact I’ve only read two of Cathy’s novels until The Sweetest Thing. Her characters are wonderful and her stories are incredibly sweet. Woodman has hit on a niche market, with her tales of animals and people and rural life and I know exactly what I’m going to get when I read the Talyton St. George novels. The plot probably isn’t particularly unique with Jennie moving after her divorce and falling for neighbour Guy but Woodman’s storytelling abilities make it easy to get lost in the world of her characters and you’re desperate for them to have their happy endings.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the cast of the novel. Despite being twice my age (before people panic, thinking Jennie may be ancient, she’s not; I’m 20, she’s 40), Jennie was a brilliant main character and I warmed to her immediately as she falls in love with the house that will become Jennie’s folly. I loved Guy immediately, too. He sounded very swoon-worthy and I loved his relationship with Jennie, even if they did get off to a difficult start (Jennie called him a bumpkin!). I loved Jennie’s kids, too. Adam got on my wick at times but I loved Georgia and Sophie and they seemed like such sweet kids. Basically those are the only characters who occur regular as well as Jennie’s horrible ex David and the less said about him the better!

I did think the teenage angst of Jennie’s son Adam was a bit annoying, but it was understandable. I just thought he was a bit ungrateful. Mostly, though, I breezed through the novel. I loved getting lost in Talyton St. George again, and I’d love to live there if it was a real place! Seeing Maz again, though only fleetingly, was brilliant. As the book is told entirely from Jennie’s point of view, it made it very easy to get into the story and I couldn’t help hoping she’d get her happy ending, she’d get everything she wanted and her cake business would be a success. I for one can’t wait to see what the next Cathy Woodman novel brings. It’s due out in November and I sincerely hope it stays in Talyton and I definitely wouldn’t object to seeing Jennie again. The Sweetest Thing is a must-read for fans of the other two novels though it can also be read as a stand-alone as there are no spoilers for the previous two books!