Starting Over at Acorn Cottage by Kate Forster #Review

Kate Forster is a new author to me, although she has written many novels. Starting Over at Acorn Cottage was published on 19th March, by Aria and I am delighted to be taking part in the celebrations for its release.

 

Buying a thatched cottage in the country may not be the usual cure for a broken heart. But after Clara Maxwell finds out her boyfriend and best friend have been sneaking around behind her back, packing her bags and leaving everything in London behind feels like the only option.

Clara knew Acorn Cottage would be a fixer-upper... Yet in person, the cottage is less charmingly ramshackle and more a real health and safety concern. When Henry Garnett, her (rather handsome) new contractor, turns up with his little daughter Pansy and a van shaped like a cottage in tow, she isn't sure whether to laugh or cry. What on earth has she gotten herself into?!

Still, there is something strangely lovable about the people in the little village of Merryknowe, from Rachel Brown, the quiet, lonely girl who bakes magical confections for the tearooms, to Tassie McIver, a little old lady with a lot of wisdom and a penchant for reading tea leaves.

And Clara can't deny that Henry and Pansy are quickly worming their way into her heart... With all the heartbreak of the year behind her, could Acorn Cottage be the fresh start Clara so desperately wants?

                                                                                    My Thoughts

 This is an enjoyable book to settle into. The type that starts out with someone having to flee from heartbreak and setting up for a new start in the country. It does not take long to realise that actually there may be more going on beneath the surface. Clara has some buried secrets, you soon realise. You also see that her dream cottage is in a much worse state than she realised. The country idyll turns out to be rundown and past its best. Clara seems to have the knack of attracting people to her. She also seems to have an empathy for people who are in need.

    With a varied cast and both uplifting and sad moments, I found this to be a gently entertaining read. There some harder issues beneath the surface but the book has a fairytale quality to it and a hint of magical realism. It is an escapist read to enjoy.

In short: Letting go of the past and moving on.

                                                                              About the Author

I live in Melbourne, Australia with my husband, two children and dogs and I can be found nursing a laptop, surrounded by magazines and talking on the phone, usually all at once. I am an avid follower of fashion, fame and all things pop culture and I am also an excellent dinner party guest who always brings gossip and champagne.

You can follow  Kate here: Twitter  |  Website  |  Facebook 

                                         |   Instagram

Book link: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Kate Forster and Victoria Joss and Aria Books for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.