This "London Times" bestseller by a fresh new voice in women's fiction tells the story of a house-sitter in an elegant old mansion that turns out to be a makeover for both house and sitter.
Leaving behind her glamorous London life to join the family antiques business in the country, inexperienced Flora Stanza is initially put off by her cousins chilly reception and a very pregnant cat, challenges she eventually endeavors to transform in her favor.
Eagerly visiting New York to escape her suffocating family, young Englishwoman Sophie clashes with her hostess's arrogant grandson, who follows her back to England with an unconventional proposal.
"Katie Fforde's unique spin on romantic comedy is a blend of the sweet, the sad, and the sexy." —Patricia Gaffney Sarah is a wedding planner hiding a rather inconvenient truth—she doesn't believe in love. But as the confetti flutters away on the June breeze of yet another successful wedding season she finds herself agreeing to organize two more events, on the same day, and only two months away. And while her celebrity bride is all sweetness and light, the other bride, Sarah's own sister, quickly starts driving her crazy with her high expectations and very limited budget. Luckily, Sarah is aided in her seemingly impossible task by two best friends, Elsa, an accomplished dress designer, and Bron, a multitalented hairdresser. All three are very good at their jobs, but romance doesn't feature very prominently in any of their lives. As the big day draws near, every moment is spent preparing for the weddings, and they certainly haven't got any time to even think about love; or have they?
Step inside this beautiful novel to discover friendships, secrets and romance… When Philly starts a new job, working with Lorna in the gorgeous grounds of a beautiful manor house, it marks a turning point in both of their lives. Philly has never been in love before and is constantly disappointing her mother with her unwillingness to settle down. But all that changes when she meets Lucien, a free spirit with an intriguing past … Lorna is learning to embrace life on her own, until dashing Jacksweeps her off her feet in a whirlwind romance. But is this what Lorna really wants? When the two women discover a secret garden in the manor house grounds, they are encouraged to restore its forgotten beauty in time for an unforgettable end of summer party. As they work together, secrets are revealed and relationships tested. Will they both find the happy endings they are looking for? Set against a stunning backdrop, this utterly charming and romantic story is certain to make you smile. Perfect for fans of Susan Mallery, Mary Kay Andrews and Debbie Macomber. Read what everyone is saying about A Secret Garden: ‘Fantastic. I have given this book 5 stars because from the first to the very last page I was held in the magic… definitely a must buy.’ Amazon reviewer, 5 stars ‘An utterly delightful read that put a huge smile on my face. There is plenty of romance, wonderful characters and therapeutic gardening all wrapped up in a typical Fforde-sque writing style.’ Amazon reviewer, 4 stars ‘This was an absolutely delightful read. I was lost in the pages and in the secret garden and was so sorry to come to the end… It's full of wonderful friendships, relationships and families.’ Goodreads reviewer, 4 stars ‘Charming and cosy - as expected!... cosy settings, a community united (here in restoring a forgotten garden), a charming heroine or three, some dashing love interests, a supporting cast of quirky characters and some gentle humour… This is a curl-up-with-a-cup-of-tea-and-lose-yourself book.’ Amazon reviewer, 5 stars ‘I adored this book!... This is a light happy read that left me waiting for the next Katie Fforde book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘Another brilliant book from Katie Fforde!... The plot is very well woven with the discovery of a secret garden, about half way through the book, being the magical icing on the cake and bringing them all together at the end. It is well written, funny in places, heart-warming throughout. I loved it and if you are looking for a happy ever after read then this is the book for you.’ Amazon reviewer, 5 stars ‘The Secret Garden offers fun and frolics and the sweet, gentle storytelling we have come to love from the mistress of romance… Reading a Katie Fforde novel is like sinking into a warm and fragrant bath. Candles are lit, a box of chocs is on hand, 'real life' is left outside the bathroom door and it's our time to drift and dream and believe. What's not to love?’ Goodreads reviewer, 4 stars ‘Romance, humour and a good story… What more could a reader ask for? Oh yes, a secret garden, appealing characters and the usual will they won't they romance and happy endings - more than one this time around. Loved it. Roll on the next one by one of my favourite authors.’ Amazon reviewer, 5 stars
Anna, a newly qualified interior designer, has decided it’s time to put her money and her expertise where her mouth is and risk everything to buy a tiny but adorable cottage in desperate need of renovation. Outside, the chocolate-box cottage is perfect, but inside, all is chaos. With a ladder for a staircase, no downstairs flooring, candles the only form of lighting, and a sleeping bag and camping mat for a bed, Anna soon wonders if she’s bitten off more than she can chew. Her neighbor Chloe comes to the rescue, providing tea, wine, and sympathy---and a recently rescued greyhound, Caroline. But just as Anna’s starting to settle in, make new friends, and see the house transforming before her eyes, the good-looking yet impossible Rob Hunter arrives on the scene and puts even more obstacles in her way. Will Anna be able to get over all of life’s hurdles in the end, or will she stumble and fall?
LONGLISTED FOR THE BRIDPORT NOVEL AWARD In beautifully rendered prose, a mother and a daughter struggle as outsiders in Baghdad and London in this intergenerational drama set against a background of political tension and intrigue “Who would be charmed by tales of life in the beautiful old house on the banks of the Tigris—looted now no doubt, its shutters torn and the courtyard strewn with mattresses?” One night in 2003, Anglo-Iraqi psychiatrist Mona Haddad has a surprise visitor to her London office, an old acquaintance Duncan Claybourne. But why has he come? Will his confession finally lay bare what happened to her family before they escaped Iraq? Their stories begin in 1937, when Mona’s mother Diane, a lively Englishwoman newly married to Ibrahim, an ambitious Iraqi doctor, meets Duncan by chance. Diane is working as a nanny for the Iraqi royal family. Duncan is a young British Embassy officer in Baghdad. When the king dies in a mysterious accident, Ibrahim and his family suspect Diane of colluding with Duncan and the British. Summoning up the vanished world of mid-twentieth-century Baghdad, Elizabeth Loudon’s richly evocative story of one family calls into question British attitudes and policies in Iraq and offers up a penetrating reflection on cross-cultural marriage and the lives of women caught between different worlds.
Offering a fresh perspective on women's fiction for a broad reading audience—fans as well as librarians—this book defines and maps the genre, and describes hundreds of relevant titles. Women's Fiction: A Guide to Popular Reading Interests celebrates the books in this broad genre—titles that explore the lives of female protagonists, with a focus on their relationships with family, friends, and lovers. After a brief introductory history and a chapter that defines the characteristics of women's fiction, the author showcases annotations and suggestions of approximately 300 titles by more than 100 authors. She explains how women's fiction differs from romance fiction, enabling readers to appreciate this rich body of literature that encompasses titles as diverse as Meg Cabot's lighthearted chick lit to the more serious novels of Elizabeth Berg and Maeve Binchy. The book identifies some of the most popular and enduring women's fiction authors and titles, and provides invaluable reading lists and readalike suggestions that will be appreciated by both librarians and general readers.
Single, thritysomething Thea traded her promising career as a photographer for the quiet countryside of the English Cotswalds. But when she meets a promising, sexy Irish painter while vacationing in Provence, her creative spirit is unexpectedly reawakened. Impressed by Rory's charm, but even more taken by his talent, Thea is determined to showcase his paintings for the art world. Resisting his sex appeal, convincing him to forgo the London art scene, and transforming an abandoned building into a cutting-edge gallery in the less-than-hip countryside all give Thea more of a challenge than she bargained for. Add to the mix a group of old friends, some reluctant teens, a passel of puppies, and a new romantic prospect or two, and Katie Fforde's latest novel delivers art, friendship, love, sex, and delicious new beginnings.