The Recipe for Happiness by Jane Lovering #Review

It is always a pleasure to return to the Yorkshire Moors for another  uplifting romcom from Jane Lovering. The Recipe for Happiness was published by Boldwood on June 9th. 

When Seren’s brother Andrew signs her up to Yorkshire Dating, only for them to recommend that she ‘gets a life’ before they find her a match, Seren has to admit that they may have a point. 

She loves her job cooking at an elder day centre and her little flat, but it’s fair to say her life is a little short of hobbies and friends. Since she was young Seren has felt safer close to home, but now she’s a thirty-something divorcee, it’s time for a change.

Change arrives in the shape of alarmingly clever collie Kez, who Seren offers to take in ‘temporarily’, and kind but mysterious new colleague Ned. But as Ned and Kez tempt Seren out of her shell, it means facing her fears. And when Andrew finally reveals the secrets of their childhood, Seren’s need for safety suddenly makes sense.

A problem shared is a problem halved, and with friends by her side, Seren might be able to get a life that she loves at last.

 My Thoughts

 I loved all the characters in this story. Seren is a complicated character who is choosing to avoid anything she is unsure of and who is leading a fairly solitary life. Not that she is without interaction with others. The old people who come to the drop in centre which Seren helps to run, are in some ways, ignored by most of society and sent off to the day care. They find Seren and Ned ready to listen to them and show them respect. There is plenty of humour attached to all of them. Each has his or her own foibles and individual quirks. Seren needs all the patience she can muster.

    It is clear from the beginning that there is more to Ned than meets the eye. It transpires that both Seren and Ned have had some traumatic events in their past. The drop in centre is as much a haven for them as for visitors. Of course, my favourite character has to be Kez, the gorgeous collie who comes to live with Seren. She is incorrigible and as sharp as a tack. Friendship, facing up to the past and taking life at the pace that is comfortable are all threads in this romcom. There are some touching and emotional moments to offset the humour. It all feels very believable and down to earth.

in short: Facing fears and moving on

About the Author

Jane Lovering is the bestselling and award-winning romantic comedy writer who won the RNA Novel of the Year Award in 2012 with Please Don’t Stop the Music. She lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have now left home. Her first title for Boldwood was published in September 2020.

You can follow Jane here:  Twitter  | Facebook |  Website   |  Bookbub  |  Newsletter Sign up

Book links: Amazon UK 

 

Thanks to Jane Lovering, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

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