BOOK REVIEW: A Springtime Affair by Katie Fforde

Love is in the air in the latest book from cult romance novelist Katie Fforde. 

Gilly proudly runs her own B&B, until she meets a handsome estate agent called Leo who makes her wonder if the time has come to sell up. 

Meanwhile, her daughter Helena has a budding romance of her own… with spring approaching and the season of new beginnings, could their new loves lead to their happily ever after? Publisher: Century

I have lost count of how many wonderful books Katie Fforde has written but I am always very excited when her latest one arrives.

A Springtime Affair has two central female characters, Gilly and her daughter Helena. Gilly is divorced and runs her own B&B from her beloved family home. Helena is a talented weaver and is currently living in her landlords spare room until she can find a better home for her and her loom. It helps that Jago, her landlord, is extremely attractive and very kind. Gilly has her own romantic interests too, the charismatic Leo wants to sweep her off her feet but whilst it’s extremely flattering, she’s not completely sure that she wants to be swept anywhere. 

The dynamic between Gilly and Helena is wonderful. The mother-daughter relationship can be tense and fraught and I think Katie Fforde does an excellent job of showing the battle for both parent and child when in adulthood of being protective but not overbearing or interfering. Gilly and Helena want the best for each other but they are both grown women who need to make their own decisions and mistakes. 

My favourite part of the book was the relationship that develops between Helena and Jago. It is very sincere and loving, you can see how right they are for each other. Katie Fforde throws in a corker of a twist towards the end though which I did not see coming. 

You always know you are in for a great story with Katie Fforde’s books and A Springtime Affair is bound to delight readers. I’m so pleased that she chose to explore the mother-daughter dynamic within this book as I very much enjoyed this aspect.

I highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed.

Many thanks to Century for sending me a gifted copy of this book for review. 

BOOK REVIEW: A Rose Petal Summer by Katie Fforde

'She'd recognised him the moment he'd entered the room, but he didn't appear to remember her. Of course it had been nearly pitch dark when they had met, and so long ago. He laughed and Caro's heart gave a lurch...'
He was the one who got away, the young man with whom Caro spent one magical evening in Greece, and whom she's never forgotten.
Now years later, they've met once more in a beautiful old house in Scotland. Soon Caro is falling in love, all over again.
But will the one summer he falls for her?

Publisher: Century Books

Pages: 387

Published on February 21st

Katie FForde's books are always a delight and A Rose Petal Summer is bound to be a hit. Caro and Alec met as teenagers one night on a Greek island and she has never forgotten him. In the present day, Caro takes on the job of companion to an elderly man in the Scottish Highlands and she recognises his son Alec the moment he walks into the room. He is effectively her new employer but he doesn't show any signs of recognising her. Does she still have feelings for him and how will he react once he remembers their previous encounter?
I really took to Caro, she seems like a genuinely good person but she can look after herself too. She normally lives on a houseboat in London so Scotland is a real change for her but she quickly falls in love with the beautiful surroundings. It is so strange for her to see Alec again, he is divorced with a beautiful daughter called Rowan who Caro takes under her wing. He is back in Scotland to run the family estate but he harbours a desire for a different kind of occupation. Caro can see glimpses of the young man she met all those years ago and the attraction is still there. When Alec divulges his aspirations to her she falls in love with him more and is determined to help. Add into this story, wayward teenagers, a Hollywood power couple, a romantic mystery to solve plus a wedding to plan and you have a very entertaining story indeed.
I loved the locations in this book, Katie Fforde moves from the Scottis
h estate to Caro's quirky boat in London, to a beautiful chateau in France. They all have their own delightful charm and make it so easy to get caught up in the story.
A Rose Petal Summer is a romantic read about two people finding each other again. A lot has happened to Caro and Alec over the years so it is interesting to see if that spark between them is still there. This is great book to lose yourself in for a few hours, I can highly recommend it.

Many thanks to Alice at Penguin for sending me a copy of the book to review, A Rose Petal Summer is published on 21st February. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Christmas Stocking and other stories by Katie Fforde

In this exciting stocking of Christmas short stories, you will:
Help your best friend cook Christmas dinner, and end up falling in love with one of the guests.
Arrive on Christmas Eve dressed as a fairy, all set to wave your wand and give a young family their best Christmas ever.
Spend an unexpectedly romantic Christmas honeymoon in a small cottage surrounded by the thickest, whitest snow.
Fall in love with a handsome stranger on Christmas morning- and his badly behaved dog.
Host the perfect and most romantic Christmas celebrations ever, entirely by candlelight. 

Publisher: Arrow

Pages: 417

This is such a lovely book to read at this time of year. I am not a huge fan of short stories but I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. Katie Fforde has put together an excellent selection, many of which she has never published before. Obviously, they all have a festive theme but still they are all very different. One of my favourites was about a young couple who spend their honeymoon in a magical cottage in the woods. Somebody is clearly looking after them but there are no footprints in the snow so where is this kindness coming from?
I do love a good festive read in the run up to Christmas and Katie Fforde gives the reader a real treat with this book. The stories are full of warmth, magic, love, friend
ship, mince pies and mulled wine! So if you are looking for a book to dip in and out of in between wrapping presents and putting decorations up then look no further!

Many thanks to Arrow books for sending me a copy of this book to review! 

A Country Escape by Katie Fforde

Fran has always wanted to be a farmer. And now it looks as though her childhood dream is about to come true. She has just moved into a beautiful but very run-down farm in the Cotswolds, currently owned by an aunt who has told Fran that if she manages to turn the place around in a year, the farm will be hers.

But Fran knows nothing about farming. She might even be afraid of cows.

She’s going to need a lot of help from her best friend Issi, and also from her wealthy and very eligible neighbour who might just have his own reasons for being so supportive. Is it the farm he is interested in? Or Fran herself?

Publisher: Century

22^nd Feb

A Country Escape by Katie Fforde is a lovely read. I’ve read a fair few of Katie’s books but not for a while, reading this one reminded me of just how good she is!

Fran is working as a chef in London when she is given the opportunity to take over her Great Aunty Amy’s farm and if she can turn the farm’s fortunes around in 12 months then Amy will ensure that Fran will inherit it. Fran knows absolutely nothing about farming and she has a small fear of cows but she is determined to make a go of it. After spending just a short time on the farm with her best friend Issie, she completely falls in love with country life and she wants the farm to succeed and continue more than anything. Yet she has so many obstacles to overcome; at the moment the farm is in debt so Fran needs to come up with a plan that will produce a long-term income but that is easier said than done. Plus she has caught the eye of Anthony Arlingham, the highly attractive and eligible next door neighbour. He goes out of his way to help Fran but Aunt Amy has insisted that he should not be trusted as he only wants to get his hands on the farm, who should Amy believe?

A Country Escape is witty, warm and very romantic. I liked Fran as a character and it was highly entertaining watching her get to grips with the farm. Katie Fforde’s writing is quite comforting and I found it such a lovely book to curl up on the sofa with, don’t miss out on this one!

Many thanks to Century for sending me a copy of the book to review. 

Wedding Season by Katie Fforde

I discovered Katie Fforde's books only last year and I have enjoyed all that I have read so far. With my own wedding fast approaching, I thought I would give Wedding Season a go.
Sarah Stratford is a wedding planner with a secret, she doesn't believe in love, her skills are tested to the limit when she has to organise the celebrity wedding of the year plus her little sister's tiny budget wedding, all on the same day. Luckily she is able to enlist the help of two new friends; Elsa is a dress designer who prefers to stay out of the limelight and Bron is a hairdresser, among many things, who is embarking on a new and exciting life. So from sourcing the perfect venue, making a fairytale dress and constructing an impossible wedding cake, these three definitely have their hands full. As with all of Katie Fforde's books, there is always time for a little bit of romance! The suave and extremely handsome Hugo has his work cut out persuading Sarah to take some of her barriers down; Elsa drops her wall-flower status to go on a date with Laurence and Bron is getting extremely frustrated with her neighbour, James who does not seem to realise that she exists! With two weddings to organise and an extremely tight schedule, the reader is left wondering if these three lovely characters will ever find true love?
I really enjoyed Wedding Season, Katie Fforde always delivers a good story with believable characters and the perfect sprinkling of romance. The book is very funny in parts but also captures all the stress and anxiety involved in organising a wedding. I think it is a perfect summer read, especially for anyone getting married or going to a wedding this year!

My review is also up at Chick Lit Reviews & News, they have a great interview with Katie Fforde too which is worth a look!