The Forever Cottage by Jill Steeples #Review

 

Having enjoyed Jill Steeples' Primrose Wood series, I am delighted to feature the first in her latest series set in the Cotswolds, The Forever Cottage. It was published by Boldwood Books on June 19th.

 

It's never too late to change your story...

Tess Alexander lives an enviable life with her husband Charles, at Hollyhocks Cottage in the idyllic Cotswold village of Lower Leaping. Dreaming of their early retirement, Tess’s plans are dashed when Charles shares some devastating news and suddenly she’s left alone with only Barney, her adorable Beagle dog, for company.

Facing an uncertain future, Tess tries to reconnect with her old self. She begins to transform the neglected garden office into a beautiful retreat, the perfect spot for her to indulge in her long-forgotten creative passions.

However, a chance encounter with charming but down on his luck, Rob Templeton, soon puts pay to her plans, when she offers him the place to stay instead, sensing a kindred spirit.

With the support of old friends, Gina and Suzy, Tess must now step out of her comfort zone and embrace a different way of life, one that is filled with secrets, possibilities and second chances, if only Tess is prepared to take them.

With so many demands on her attention, will Tess find a way to follow her heart and discover her own happy ending?

 My Thoughts

 You join Tess at an agonizing moment in her life with her long marriage in tatters. It is obvious that she is going to have to pick herself up and try to decide how she wants the rest of her life to pan out. Well- known and respected n her village, she finds this public unravelling of her life hard to take. Her solace is her beautiful cottage which is the result of years of care and attention. Somewhere along the way, Tess comes to realise that she has subsumed her wants and needs in favour of her husbands'.

     Tess befriends Rob who she meets by chance and realises that he is down on his luck. She puts her trust in him, despite what others may think. Her friendships are very important to Tess and she comes to re-evaluate how she has treated some people in the past. With her ex-husband, daughter and elderly mother to contend with, Tess finds that she is in the middle of others' problems and how she reacts to them shows you a lot about her character. This is a warm and uplifting story with a range of characters and a beautiful setting.

In short: Starting over 

About the Author

Jill Steeples is the author of many successful women’s fiction titles all set in the close communities of picturesque English villages, including the Primrose Woods series. She lives in Bedfordshire.

 

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Purchase links

 

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

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