Books, Life and Everything is delighted to be the next stop on the Blog Tour to celebrate the publication of Kate Hewitt's book, Find Me at Willoughby Close. This is the third in the Willoughby Close series. You can enter a Giveaway to win the second in the series, Meet Me at Willoughby Close- details are at the end of the blog post.
Welcome to Willoughby Close… a charming cluster of cozy cottages, each with a story to tell and a happy ending to deliver…
Harriet Lang had the perfect life, so she's left reeling when everything is taken from her in one fell swoop. Suddenly, Harriet learns her beautiful farmhouse in the Cotswolds is double-mortgaged, her husband Richard’s been unceremoniously fired—and he’s become a little too close to his young, sexy assistant.
Harriet moves into Willoughby Close with her three children, trying to hold her head up high. With the help of her neighbour and newfound friend Ellie Matthews, Harriet starts to rebuild her life--but dipping a toe in the dating pool feels strange and meanwhile her children are struggling in different ways. She wonders if starting over is really possible...
Then Willoughby Close begins to weave its healing magic on both her and her children, and Harriet begins to see a way forward. She even starts to date sexy local vet Tom Roberts--but when Richard reappears in her life, wanting to make amends, Harriet must make the painful decision about how much of the past can be forgiven—and what kind of future she is fighting for.
My Thoughts
When I picked up Find Me at Willoughby Close, I thought it looked like a quick summer read, perfect for those times when you want to escape into a book. However, I found that there was more to it than the happy ever after read which the blurb promised. The characters, and in particular Harriet, had a real story to tell as she struggled to come to terms with the changes in her life. You could see her character develop and change as the story progressed.
This is part of a series of books all set in Willoughby Close but that didn't stop it being able to be read as a standalone book. Anyone who has ever stood at the school gates could identify with the feelings of those mothers who were on the outside, not part of the smug set. There is actually a lot of observation of how social groups operate, both with the adults and the school children and how some people can become materialistic and superficial. The children offer wry, uncomplicated humour.
You can also see how Harriet's wider family are affected by the upheaval in her life. I thought that the episode where she went back to her childhood home added to her character as you could see where she came from and why the finer things of life seemed to be so important to her. Harriet is not always easy to like but once you begin to understand her insecurities, she becomes much more sympathetic. This is not a book with a complicated plot line but is character driven.
In short: a cast of characters offer a gentle look at Cotswolds life.
About the Author
Kate is the USA Today-bestselling author of over 40 books of women's fiction and romance. She is the author of the Hartley-by-the-Sea series, set in England's Lake District and published by Penguin. She is also, under the name Katharine Swartz, the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell. Other series include the Emigrants Trilogy, the Amherst Island Trilogy, and the Falling For The Freemans series.
She likes to read romance, mystery, the occasional straight historical and angsty women's fiction; she particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in the English Cotswolds with her husband, five children, and an overly affectionate Golden Retriever. You can read about her life at http://www.acumbrianlife.blogspot.co.uk.
Giveaway
You can win one paperback copy of the second book in the series, Meet Me at Willoughby Close!
Just follow the link below and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks to Kate Hewitt, Tule Publishing and Jenny at Neverland Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the Tour.
Be sure to check out the rest of the Tour!
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