Skip to main content

Featured

The Other Lizzie Bennett by Rosie Green #Review #TheLittleDuckPondCafeBook44

  Here we are at Book 44 in the Little Duck Pond Cafe series! The Other Lizzie Bennett  is the latest novella by Rosie Green and was published on January 31st.   Lizzie Bennet, new recruit at the Little Duck Pond Café, is well used to people teasing her about her name. Actually, she rather likes the fact she shares it with one of author Jane Austen's most popular heroines. But when life weirdly starts to imitate fiction, it's suddenly a very different matter. With two potential heroes appearing over the horizon, it's obvious which one Lizzie should go for – isn't it?   My Thoughts  Any fans of Pride and Prejudice will enjoy this novella immensely, with its various pointers to the original novel and to Jane Austen's life. The Lizzie Bennett in this story takes against Dante, who is tall, dark and handsome and a dead ringer for Mr Darcy. Her first impression of him is not great, though she is enamoured with her boyfriend who everyone else regards as a self-cen...

The Cat of Yule Cottage by Lili Hayward


    I decided to read The Cat of Yule Cottage in the run up to Christmas and as a seasonal holiday read, it hits the mark. However, it is more than a piece of romantic escapism. Jessamine Pike arrives at Enysyule having split from her boyfriend and had her book accepted by a publisher. She decides that her life needs an overhaul and takes on the tenancy of the house despite the rather odd stipulation that she should care for the incumbent cat, Perrin. Whilst the cat lives, her tenancy is safe. The house in run down and she soon realises that the locals in the Cornish village all have a view about her. Family rivalries and disagreements from years ago should have nothing to do with her but she is drawn into it all because of her strong feelings about the house and the rather aloof and arrogant cat. Beset by strange dreams, she soon realises that there is more to Enysyule than she had anticipated.

    I enjoyed the mix of Cornish magic and mystery which seemed to swirl through the story like the wintry weather that was enveloping the area. There was a good mix of characters, especially in the rival factions who live there. As Jess uncovers the secrets of the past, you feel the jeopardy she senses. Ultimately it is an uplifting yet surprising tale.

In short: a mixture of romance, magic and mystery - a great seasonal read.

Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton who sent me a copy of the book via Bookbridgr.

Comments

Popular Posts