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Restoring Grace
A witty and sparkling romance about two very different women who come together to help each pregnant Ellie needs a place to stay; Grace needs a lodger in her large and beautiful but crumbling inherited home. Then the engaging Flynn Cormack arrives on the scene apparently determined to help them both.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
141 people are currently reading
1726 people want to read
About the author
Katie Fforde
96 books2,312 followersCatherine Rose Gordon-Cumming was born 27 September 1952 in England, UK, the daughter of Shirley Barbara Laub and Michael Willoughby Gordon-Cumming. Her grandfather was Sir William Gordon-Cumming. Her sister is fellow writer Jane Gordon-Cumming. Katie married Desmond Fforde, cousin of the also writer Jasper Fforde. She has three children: Guy, Francis and Briony and didn't start writing until after the birth of her third child. She has previously worked both as a cleaning lady and in a health food cafe.
Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."
Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.
Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."
Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
December 31, 2016
Sometimes you just want a book that will be light reading and entertain you for a while. If that is the case, you might like this one. It is the story of Grace Soundly, recently divorced and struggling to maintain the stately but derelict old house left to her by her godmother. Her sister and brother are just as determined she should sell it and split the proceeds from the sale with them. But Grace cannot bear to part with Luckenham House. Then to her door comes Ellie Summers, an artist who loves painting pictures of pretty or interesting houses. Despite being very different, Grace and the single and pregnant Ellie hit it off and become friends.
Together they try and come up with ways for Grace to raise money so she can keep the house. These include wine tastings as Grace is used to writing about wine in her wine column. Flynn McCormack comes to this first wine tasting. Having been hurt by and still pining for her ex-husband, Grace seems determined to ignore Flynn’s willingness to help her. Then Demi, Grace’s stepdaughter from her marriage to Edward, comes looking to move in. Despite initial protests from Edward and his first ex-wife Hermia, Demi moves into Luckenham House.
Admittedly I suspect you have to be in the mood for this kind of book and at the time I was. I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read, although at times I did think the author wittered on a bit. Still, it made for a good holiday read, not overly taxing on the brain and good for a laugh at times.
Together they try and come up with ways for Grace to raise money so she can keep the house. These include wine tastings as Grace is used to writing about wine in her wine column. Flynn McCormack comes to this first wine tasting. Having been hurt by and still pining for her ex-husband, Grace seems determined to ignore Flynn’s willingness to help her. Then Demi, Grace’s stepdaughter from her marriage to Edward, comes looking to move in. Despite initial protests from Edward and his first ex-wife Hermia, Demi moves into Luckenham House.
Admittedly I suspect you have to be in the mood for this kind of book and at the time I was. I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read, although at times I did think the author wittered on a bit. Still, it made for a good holiday read, not overly taxing on the brain and good for a laugh at times.
August 4, 2008
Please only read Katie Fforde in the summer and two years apart. She can write at a good pace, the plots are ok, the settings great - the Cotswolds. Some of the author's ethical decisions are admirable. In Grace the restoration of the gardens, the mockery of the millionaire and model terrific, the resolution just right -- but too much like a lemon souffle. I think there's an old word that applies 'air headed' -- Not terrrible, but surfacey. I'm not being crabby, I enjoyed Restoring Grace, just demanding more from writers and readers.
July 10, 2013
Hmm, I used to love Katie Fforde's writings.
But this one, this one, it makes me feel draggy all over. I was thinking, when would the action happens? When will be the climax?
None.
Because the author keep writing and writing at a snail pace rate, that I was like.. OK, Grace's story is like THISSSSSSSSSSS, and Ellie's story is like THATTTTTTTTT.. Notice the longgggggggggg word, because I feel draggy all over. GAH!
I am giving this up.. after more than 60% progressing.
Seriously, this book can be jam packed to just 200 pages, not 338 pages.
So basically, the plot is about restoring Grace's ancestral home and raising the money to restore it. THE END.
But this one, this one, it makes me feel draggy all over. I was thinking, when would the action happens? When will be the climax?
None.
Because the author keep writing and writing at a snail pace rate, that I was like.. OK, Grace's story is like THISSSSSSSSSSS, and Ellie's story is like THATTTTTTTTT.. Notice the longgggggggggg word, because I feel draggy all over. GAH!
I am giving this up.. after more than 60% progressing.
Seriously, this book can be jam packed to just 200 pages, not 338 pages.
So basically, the plot is about restoring Grace's ancestral home and raising the money to restore it. THE END.
April 17, 2015
Chick lit in the extreme. Hard to believe plot developments. Convenient characterizations. Rather silly.
November 2, 2021
I enjoyed the friendship between Ellie and Grace and how both their lives are restored through shared interests- Luckenham House and some beautifully painted panels.
March 3, 2015
This was another of Katie Fforde's easy read romances great escapist reads especially when one is feeling down in the depths of winter.
Divorcee, Grace Soudley owns an old 17th century house, left to her by her great aunt. Ellie Summers is an artist who is struck by the house's beauty and paints it. As a result she meets Grace and comes to lodge with her along with Grace's ex-stepdaughter, Demi or Demeter. In the course of restoring the house a set of old painting are discovered and Ellie signs on with a picture conservator to learn the art of restoring them. Of course, pregnant Ellie falls in love with the picture conservator, Randolf Frazier and Grace, who does wine tasting evenings falls in love with a wine expert and a property developer.
The plot revolves around getting the painting panels assessed for value, looking after Demi, the young, renegade teenager, and both Grace and Ellie getting over their previous relationships to trust the new men on the scene. A good read, recommended for an uplifting experience although, as always, I have slight reservations over the moral codes demonstrated.
Divorcee, Grace Soudley owns an old 17th century house, left to her by her great aunt. Ellie Summers is an artist who is struck by the house's beauty and paints it. As a result she meets Grace and comes to lodge with her along with Grace's ex-stepdaughter, Demi or Demeter. In the course of restoring the house a set of old painting are discovered and Ellie signs on with a picture conservator to learn the art of restoring them. Of course, pregnant Ellie falls in love with the picture conservator, Randolf Frazier and Grace, who does wine tasting evenings falls in love with a wine expert and a property developer.
The plot revolves around getting the painting panels assessed for value, looking after Demi, the young, renegade teenager, and both Grace and Ellie getting over their previous relationships to trust the new men on the scene. A good read, recommended for an uplifting experience although, as always, I have slight reservations over the moral codes demonstrated.
September 10, 2009
In parts very funny and very witty, I think this book is a good read if you are looking for something light to read...
However, if you are looking for something a little deep and with point-making capacity, stay as far away from this one as possible!
However, if you are looking for something a little deep and with point-making capacity, stay as far away from this one as possible!
July 25, 2013
Like some other reviewers, I had a hard time getting into this book. I gave it 160+ pages, but just couldn't find any depth in the characters or the plot. I will rarely give up on a book, but just couldn't force myself to finish this one.
March 29, 2014
Silly book.
August 7, 2019
I laughed, I cried, I totally devoured this book.
July 8, 2018
Divorcee Grace has inherited a family mansion with no furniture. (Her brother and sister inherited the furniture, and her ex-husband took his with him.) Pregnant artist Ellie Summers needs a place to stay after leaving her loser artist boyfriend. Ellie and Grace instantly become the best of friends and are good for each other. Unfortunately, the house is old and needs expensive repairs and Grace's brother and sister are pushing her to sell it. Then Grace's former stepdaughter shows up, unable to continue living with either of her parents, both of whom have new love interests and no interest in her.
You have to be in the right mood for Katie Fforde's fiction, but at least the novels are individual so you don't have to keep up with a series. If you are in the right mood, they're light and frivolous and full of interesting people. People you'd like to meet, most of them anyway. In this case, there's also an interesting house.
You have to be in the right mood for Katie Fforde's fiction, but at least the novels are individual so you don't have to keep up with a series. If you are in the right mood, they're light and frivolous and full of interesting people. People you'd like to meet, most of them anyway. In this case, there's also an interesting house.
read-2011
September 2, 2011Oh dear, it appears I read this already back in 2007, probably when I bought it for my sister when she was about to spend months in hospital. I picked it up again at my sister's house, wanting an engaging, easy read for the long drive from BNE to MEL. I couldn't remember whether I'd read it and it all seemed familiar, but all KF's books follow the same pattern and I read, simultaneously enjoying and castigating myself, the ideas, the underlying assumptions, the clear link between relationships, marriage, happiness and self-worth (oh, grr!) and women finding their place or vocation in obviously womanly or gendered roles. I am not allowed to read another (my partner looks at me askance whenever I read one) until I read a feminist treatise.
April 21, 2012
I feel bad doing it but I can't give this more than one star. I didn't enjoy anything about it. I gave it almost 150 pages before I started to speed read because I was terribly bored.
I tend to only speed read when something is just not working for me. If the writing is good, I savour it. If the book is entertaining, I take my time.
This will work for some people but didn't for me. The plot sounded promising enough but it didn't deliver. I wouldn't call myself a huge fan of chick lit but I'm open minded and will give something a chance. I've actually read quite a lot of chick lit recently and have been pleasantly surprised a couple of times.
Anyway, it's not for me. People who devour chick lit will probably love this but I found it proper dull.
I tend to only speed read when something is just not working for me. If the writing is good, I savour it. If the book is entertaining, I take my time.
This will work for some people but didn't for me. The plot sounded promising enough but it didn't deliver. I wouldn't call myself a huge fan of chick lit but I'm open minded and will give something a chance. I've actually read quite a lot of chick lit recently and have been pleasantly surprised a couple of times.
Anyway, it's not for me. People who devour chick lit will probably love this but I found it proper dull.
March 18, 2010
Cheesy but kind of endearing all the same, this book.
It seems a recurring theme with this author, women who are sweet and complete push-overs meet someone they want to tell off all the time (but can’t figure out why they are acting like this! It's so out of character!) and that’s it, they are in love. They have come upon their soul-mate! And are living happily ever after.
If this author was on to something, and being in love is just the ability to give the other person a good bollocking, then surely the divorce rate would decline to nothing.
It seems a recurring theme with this author, women who are sweet and complete push-overs meet someone they want to tell off all the time (but can’t figure out why they are acting like this! It's so out of character!) and that’s it, they are in love. They have come upon their soul-mate! And are living happily ever after.
If this author was on to something, and being in love is just the ability to give the other person a good bollocking, then surely the divorce rate would decline to nothing.
September 23, 2007
Restoring Grace by Katie Fforde
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Fiction/2005/338 pgs
TIME/PLACE: Present/Bath, UK
CHARACTERS: Grace/owner of Luckenham House
COMMENTS: Have enjoyed all Fforde's books, Grace is divorced & living in a big old house she inherited. It's from the 17th century & needs a lot of work, she has been a loner since her divorce but meets an art grad who is pregnant & on her own who becomes a lodger. Then her ex-step-daughter needs a place to live. The 3 bond & work on fixing the house.
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Fiction/2005/338 pgs
TIME/PLACE: Present/Bath, UK
CHARACTERS: Grace/owner of Luckenham House
COMMENTS: Have enjoyed all Fforde's books, Grace is divorced & living in a big old house she inherited. It's from the 17th century & needs a lot of work, she has been a loner since her divorce but meets an art grad who is pregnant & on her own who becomes a lodger. Then her ex-step-daughter needs a place to live. The 3 bond & work on fixing the house.
April 24, 2010
Restoring Grace was the first book by Katie Fforde that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ms. Fforde wrote a charming novel set in a quiet England village. Her main characters, Grace, Ellie & Remi are all charming, sweet characters that have noticeable personal growth. Some of the peripheral characters are written in such a way that I wanted to reach through the pages and kick her butt (Allegra, I *am* talking about you).
http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot....
http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot....
November 23, 2009
crap. hated it. people BUGGED me.
April 13, 2013
Katie Fforde's books used to make nice beach reading. Now each feels like a factory effort of just turning them out and wrapping things up neatly as quickly as possible.
Read
January 16, 2015Disappointing. It was really predictable and I did not like either of the two main characters.
November 20, 2015
An easy and cute read.
September 15, 2017
Alle volte ci vuole, una lettura disimpegnata, rosa senza essere per forza sdolcinata e melensa, da divano+caminetto+copertina+micio insomma...
Sempre la solita Katie Fforde, in effetti: donne e uomini assai civili, spiritosi in ogni frangente, non sempre perfettamente british e attentissimi a cibi e bevande (in realtà ogni libro è strapieno, di cibi e bevande!) al punto che iniziarne uno significa tuffarsi nel ricordo dei precedenti, Ma che importa; se uno per un pomeriggio ha soltanto voglia di sorridere e disimpegnarsi, questo libro è perfetto!
Sempre la solita Katie Fforde, in effetti: donne e uomini assai civili, spiritosi in ogni frangente, non sempre perfettamente british e attentissimi a cibi e bevande (in realtà ogni libro è strapieno, di cibi e bevande!) al punto che iniziarne uno significa tuffarsi nel ricordo dei precedenti, Ma che importa; se uno per un pomeriggio ha soltanto voglia di sorridere e disimpegnarsi, questo libro è perfetto!
February 3, 2020
It got a bit better towards the end. The dialogue is not imaginative, even for a light read. Everything was set up for exactly the next scene or chapter. Nothing was a surprise, not even a mild one.
I've read plenty of light books, so I more or less understand it won't be Pulitzer prize winning stuff. But this book was just badly executed. I wouldn't recommens it for anyone who enjoys clever dialogue. I spent half the time rolling my eyes.
I've read plenty of light books, so I more or less understand it won't be Pulitzer prize winning stuff. But this book was just badly executed. I wouldn't recommens it for anyone who enjoys clever dialogue. I spent half the time rolling my eyes.
December 18, 2020
Hele leuke verhaallijn en wederom een boek van Katie Fjorde waarin ik niet kon stoppen met lezen. Ik had alleen verwacht nog iets meer te weten te komen over Ellie haar zwangerschap en Ran. En ik had wel willen weten hoe de bruiloft van Grace en Flynn was verlopen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2023
I should have quit early on, but with a length of 422 pages I had hoped it would pick up. I wanted an easy read, but this was just flakey, and ridiculous. The characters, the plot, the dialogue, all lacked depth. Everything seemed so unrealistic it was bordering adult fairytale. Not for me, sorry.
December 15, 2020
Read a long time ago. still remember that its about 2 women and one falls (or is already) pregnant? and who is no longer with her bf. Re-read may be necessary.
2.5*
2.5*
July 19, 2023
A lovely, heart warming read filled with friendship, romance, and humour!
I really loved the bond of friendship between main characters Ellie and Grace who found each other right in the exact moment they needed each other most.
Grace started out to be a little annoying with her reluctance to accept any type of help (especially from Flynn (who was the most lovely man ever!!)), however, I really enjoyed how the author gave Grace the space for personal growth, and how Grace eventually gave in to Flynn’s gorgeous charm.
I also really enjoyed how the author jumped between Grace and Ellie’s individual movements as we were able to follow their individual storylines whilst also following the grander one at the same time. I felt this was a very easy, heart warming, comforting book and would definitely recommend.
I really loved the bond of friendship between main characters Ellie and Grace who found each other right in the exact moment they needed each other most.
Grace started out to be a little annoying with her reluctance to accept any type of help (especially from Flynn (who was the most lovely man ever!!)), however, I really enjoyed how the author gave Grace the space for personal growth, and how Grace eventually gave in to Flynn’s gorgeous charm.
I also really enjoyed how the author jumped between Grace and Ellie’s individual movements as we were able to follow their individual storylines whilst also following the grander one at the same time. I felt this was a very easy, heart warming, comforting book and would definitely recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2018
Sometimes you just need a Brit-lit, Chick-lit book, that has great settings, characters, and laughs. This is the perfect book for that. The characters are interesting, the dialogue keeps moving, and this book is extremely readable.
December 21, 2013
The story revolves around Grace Soudners and Ellie Summers, both of whom discover a new friendship pretty much by chance and out of dire need for a friend. While Grace is broke and needs a lodger, Ellie who is pregnant from an ex-boyfriend, moves in with her. When the curtains fall down, Grace and Ellie discover some valuable paintings that can help Grace. But ofcourse, there are a lot of other people and issues that threaten this from happening.
That's it. It is all about their life. But the problem doesn't lie there. Inspite of having read it and enjoyed a few parts, I felt frustrated and angry at the protagonist. Grace comes across as someone who makes one mistake after another and is such a doormat, repeatedly allowing people to walk over and trample her. While I think it does happen in real life, sometimes too much of it can take away the inspiration and joy that you find in a book.
The plot is slow and though it could have turned out to be something much better, it simply doesn't. Not even after giving it a 100 pages.
Did not work for me.
That's it. It is all about their life. But the problem doesn't lie there. Inspite of having read it and enjoyed a few parts, I felt frustrated and angry at the protagonist. Grace comes across as someone who makes one mistake after another and is such a doormat, repeatedly allowing people to walk over and trample her. While I think it does happen in real life, sometimes too much of it can take away the inspiration and joy that you find in a book.
The plot is slow and though it could have turned out to be something much better, it simply doesn't. Not even after giving it a 100 pages.
Did not work for me.
April 13, 2014
Ellie discovering she is pregnant and living with a no hoper of a boyfriend manages to befriend Grace. Grace has got divorced and is living in a mansion falling apart that was bequeathed to her from her Godmother. It makes sense that Ellie moves in with Grace and despite little furnishing or heat for that matter they form a great friendship. On discovering some old paintings in the house and a lot of dry rot the friends decide to see if the paintings are worth anything in order to pay for the treatment of the rot.
Add in the men.....Flynn, the rather handsome Irish neighbour who only has eyes for Grace and Ran the restorer of art and paintings and things hot up for the friends. Into the mix add Allegra, Grace's bossy sister who inherited all the furniture from the house. Demi, Grace's step daughter and her nightmare of a mother Hermia and the novel takes on a life if it's own.
Light hearted humour, love and friendship abound and a nice easy read for when concentrating is not an option.
Add in the men.....Flynn, the rather handsome Irish neighbour who only has eyes for Grace and Ran the restorer of art and paintings and things hot up for the friends. Into the mix add Allegra, Grace's bossy sister who inherited all the furniture from the house. Demi, Grace's step daughter and her nightmare of a mother Hermia and the novel takes on a life if it's own.
Light hearted humour, love and friendship abound and a nice easy read for when concentrating is not an option.
October 31, 2009
One time is a plot, twice is coincidence, the third time would be a pattern. Thankfully Katie Fforde seems to change up the plot points somewhat In Restoring Grace. This time we have two females who have to get their lives back on track and seem to fall into each other to do just that. Grace inherited a house and much later lost her husband and has to find a way to fix up the house or at least keep some level of maintenance on it. Ellie has got her head on her shoulders, but she has a slacker, loser boyfriend and a baby on the way.
Grace gets what she wants and all the happiness she deserves in this cheesy tea soaked novel.
Grace gets what she wants and all the happiness she deserves in this cheesy tea soaked novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews