The Cottage at Brambleton Hall by Debbie Morrison #Review #BrambletonSeries
What if your best friend wanted your new life too?
Sammy Jenkins only comes to Brambleton because her best friend Chloe needs a favour. Again.
One shift serving canapés at a North Devon country mansion. Then it’s back to mounting bills and a life that's going nowhere. Except the owner of the estate sees something in her.
Suddenly, Sammy is being offered a full-time job as housekeeper, complete with a cottage of her own. It’s more than she ever dreamed of, even if Chloe thinks it should all have been hers.
But settling into life at Brambleton Hall isn't easy. Magnus, the butler, demands perfection. And Nate, the handsome, reserved gardener, gives nothing away. Somehow, though, Sammy is making it work. She has a home that's just for her, a job she’s good at and Nate might not be quite as distant as he first seemed.
Then Chloe comes to stay.
And while Sammy understands the rules that keep Brambleton Hall running smoothly, Chloe doesn’t see why any should apply to her…
Sammy is an interesting character who has had a difficult upbringing. Despite her desire to create a stable life for herself, supported by her new family, friendships from her past seem to drag her onto paths she does not want tp go. She feels a loyalty to Chloe who she has known since her time in care but seems to allow herself to be manipulated by her and. Chloe seems to be a self centred girl who does not see the effect pf her actions on others.
Living at Brambleton Hall as a trial housekeeper, Sammy finds that she responds to the discipline and rules which are part and parcel of life there. The staff who work there have different reactions to her. Some are jealous of her position, but others, you sense, might have her best interests in mind. The local villagers seem to know all about Sammy's life at the Hall, but she finds to her surprise, it gives her a little status in their eyes. Some are kind and welcoming although she tends to stay in the background, at first. This is a great series which manages to merge a new aspect of the village with familiar settings and characters. With romance brewing, you find yourself rooting for Sammy and hoping that she can succeed.
In short: new starts and old links to the past
Hi! I’m Debbie. Once upon a time, I was a perfectly
respectable London professional – a chartered accountant with a law degree, a
Blackberry (remember those?), and too many sensible shoes. Then common sense
prevailed, romance called, and I swapped London’s Zone One for Devon’s Zero
Signal. I still wonder if leaving the City was brave or simply plot research
taken to a reckless extreme.
Currently my “head office” is a polytunnel: no Wi-Fi, but plenty of fresh air and flourishing tomatoes. The plants photosynthesise while I draft havoc; technically off-grid, creatively on fire.
Meanwhile, the dogs run the editorial obstruction department. They possess zero publishing experience yet veto scenes with a single raised paw. Oh, and their union insists on edible compensation only.
These days, I know the real price of life’s essentials: a good haircut, a great friend, and the joy of a proper night’s sleep. I write love stories for grown-ups – warm, witty, stuffed with second chances and the kind of relationships where affection and exasperation create irresistible chemistry – for better for worse.
Think of my indie “publishing house” as one woman, no award-strewn empire, no two-legged staff – just me, two obstinate dogs, and a biscuit budget.
I’ve tried not writing. It didn’t go very well. So I need readers. Not many, just the excellent sort who laugh in the right places. I hope you’ll be one of them.You can follow Debbie here: Facebook | Instagram | Website
Thanks to Debbie Morrison, Prosperina Press and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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