Having heard great things about author Julie Houston and her books, I was very eager to get my hands on this one. The Blurb promised relationships, family, and secrets.
The book started off well with Charlie bring thrown out by a woman who turned out to be the wife of her boyfriend. So with 5 bin bags of her belongings, she had to leave London and go back home.
Great grandmother Madge then shared with them about a secret property, and Charlie was made the supervisor of its renovation. In the entire process, the truth about Madge’s past was soon revealed.
To begin with, I wasn’t really blown away by the characters or their dialogues. They tried too hard to be quirky. The whole book neither felt addictive nor humorous as told in the title.
I loved great grandmother Madge, she was way too strong and her romance was more interesting than Charlie’s. I enjoyed reading her parts than the rest of the book.
Overall a good read…
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Aria Fiction, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be found here
Have you read any books by Julie Houston? Which is your favorite?
Charlie Maddison loves being an architect in London, but when she finds out her boyfriend, Dominic, is actually married, she runs back to the beautiful countryside of Westenbury and her parents. Charlie’s sister Daisy, a landscape gardener, is also back home in desperate need of company and some fun.
Their great-grandmother, Madge – now in her early nineties – reveals she has a house, Holly Close Farm, mysteriously abandoned over sixty years ago, and persuades the girls to project manage its renovation.
As work gets underway, the sisters start uncovering their family’s history, and the dark secrets that are hidden at the Farm. A heart-breaking tale of wartime romance, jealousy and betrayal slowly emerges, but with a moral at its end: true love can withstand any obstacle, and, before long, Charlie dares to believe in love again too…
Publication Date: 5th February 2019
Publisher: Aria
34 Responses
Sounds very endearing.
Some parts of it were and some were okay
I haven’t read any Julie Houston books, but this one sounds cute (if not perfect). Thanks for reviewing it!
This was cute in parts. Apparently her other books are much nicer and humorous
Glad you enjoyed this book, Shalini!
Thank you Debjani… It was fun at some points
I enjoyed Madge’s love-story the best too, when I read this.
Ditto… I didn’t really like the rest… Maybe I need to read her other books
Nice, honest review Shalini. It is hard when you are expecting humour and quirkiness and it just doesn’t quite meet the expectations. Glad it was at least a decent read for you.
It was an okay read
Apparently her other books are warmer and humorous..
I have read books where I was expecting good things based on other books by the author and they struck out for me, then the next one was wonderful. I hope that is all this is. I have a couple of her books on my kindle, but have not read them yet. I will have to see what I think.
Yes… I have it on good sources that her other books are warm and humorous. Planning to pick some up during the amazon sale, if we ever get a Kindle sale
Sounds like it could have been a promising read, but alas it fell short. Loved your succinct review, Shalini. 😃 Sorry you didn’t love this one. And that cover was so cute too. 😔
Oooh baby, I love your word succinct. Fabulous you made my day with this word.
How are you, darling? ❤️
Hi, Shalini. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate word for that review. 🥰 I’m doing pretty good, relatively speaking. I’m reading again so that’s good. ☺️
How are you? 100% over that flu bug I hope. 🤗
Oh yes definitely over it whew!!
I have this one on my cloud – I haven’t read this author before
Hope you enjoy it.. I want to see if others are good
Oh bummer, hope your next book is better!
I hoped so… It wasn’t
I have two more of her books in my queue, but after reading this one I am in no hurry. I was disappointed, but still hoping for better to come.
I don’t know which book to read of hers..
Sorry this one didn’t check all the boxes but glad that you enjoyed part of it, Shalini.
I think the other books by the author are good, so they tell me
Haven’t heard of this author before. I don’t think she writes my kind of books. I do enjoy humourous books sometimes, but this sounds like it just tries being funny…
Apparently, Norrie, her other books are sweet… Well haven’t got them yet but other bloggers say
I think this is a perfect story for women (only). 😉 As a (men) reader it could mirror some things, and trigger all the bad boys. 🙂 Michael
Only you would think of being a bad boy 😂😂🤣🤣😉😉
😂😂 I dont think so! Really! 😂😂
Alright.. If you say so 😂😂
Ritu (butismileanyway.com) adopted me too. 🙂
Hmm… But I am not adopting you.. Date to adoption sounds a bit weird 😂😂
OK, lets be friends, and maybe …. 😉
Hehehe as long as I am not your sister, or mother or grandmother, (yes I am that old)… It is all fine..
Let’s be friends!!