Rating: 
Summary: Happy ending but tedious and too tidy
Review: It started off interesting enough - but it seemed a bit unrealistic: Althena pushing off an attractive and honest suitor for the upteenth time, Althena being such a matron/martyr that she comes off frumpy but has extremely attractive men pursue her, Althena's kids that seem so good-natured about everything, and finally Althena getting the guy (as you know she would from the beginning) and it all being much too pat and perfect. I lost patience with it mid-way, and then I realized that I would have preferred a re-read of Pride and Prejudice instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Light, entertaining novel set in the Gloucester countryside.
Review: Katie FForde is a charming writer, reminiscent of the style of Mary Wesley, Rosamunde Pilcher and Marjorie Sharp. A good book to curl up with on a rainy, winter afternoon.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic believable modern day romance
Review: Once again, Fforde comes through with a delightful, thoroughly modern English romance. The writing is light and happy feeling and the book will leave you with a smile.
Rating:
Summary: Katie Fforde produces a REAL PAGE TURNER...
Review: then, towards the end, you realize you've been racing through this story, and oh, no ... it's going to end soon, and you JUST DON'T WANT IT TO. Our heroine is NOT your typical mom; she's much too involved in her kids; perhaps that is why they're so likeable, and you wish they were your own? And the messes she gets herself into, couldn't possibly happen in real life; perhaps that's why you find yourself laughing out loud so often. A light hearted, fun, read-it-in-one day novel. Katie Fford is a new favorite author!
Rating:
Summary: Katie Fforde produces a REAL PAGE TURNER...
Review: then, towards the end, you realize you've been racing through this story, and oh, no ... it's going to end soon, and you JUST DON'T WANT IT TO. Our heroine is NOT your typical mom; she's much too involved in her kids; perhaps that is why they're so likeable, and you wish they were your own? And the messes she gets herself into, couldn't possibly happen in real life; perhaps that's why you find yourself laughing out loud so often. A light hearted, fun, read-it-in-one day novel. Katie Fford is a new favorite author!
Rating:
Summary: What a treat!
Review: This author was recommended. I enjoyed WILD DESIGNS very much and I'm surprised at the wide range of opinions on it here at Amazon! But if you like reading romances that are well-written and whose characters are "real" you'll enjoy this one (Lavyrle Spencer fans, take note).
Rating:
Summary: original and cute - NOT chick-lit
Review: This is the first I have read of Fforde's work and I was very impressed. Althea is a 38-year-old single mother of 3 teenagers, and she has just been laid off from her teaching job. Coping with money problems while trying to hold on to the house (of which her philandering ex-husband owns a quarter-share, and she must legally give up if she ever remarries or has a live-in relationship), her only passion is gardening. She wins a chance to design a garden for the acclaimed Chelsea Flower Show. She has been storing her plants in the greenhouse of a neighboring house that has just been bought.Buoyed by her younger sister Juno's advice, she makes an appointment with the buyer, Patrick Donohough, to work out a deal to let her use the greenhouse while he renovates. There she meets an attractive nemesis in both him and his younger secretary/girlfriend Topaz. The story centers on how Althea is constantly walked on by everyone and has given up on love for her children's sake --- even when they like who she's dating. There is an interesting subplot when her ex-husband returns, but the character of Juno is pretty purposeless -- she has no real storyline, she is just around being nasty, and you wonder why Althea doesn't throw her out of the house. It's a good read though, and I look forward to reading more of Fforde's works!
Rating:
Summary: Charming Read!
Review: This was my first experience reading anything author, Katie Fforde has written. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Laugh at loud funny and a real page turner. The main character, Althea is so likable you find yourself really cheering her on. I would have liked to have read about Patrick's life a bit more. I felt there were aspects of his character that could have been explored further, but it doesn't take away from the story at all. I'm definately going to read some more of this author's books.
Rating:
Summary: Charming Read!
Review: This was my first experience reading anything author, Katie Fforde has written. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Laugh at loud funny and a real page turner. The main character, Althea is so likable you find yourself really cheering her on. I would have liked to have read about Patrick's life a bit more. I felt there were aspects of his character that could have been explored further, but it doesn't take away from the story at all. I'm definately going to read some more of this author's books.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful!
Review: Well written, holds your attention from page one. A definite "must read."
|
