Allie Cresswell

An engaging family saga spanning almost 60 years. The Days live at ‘Broadacres‘ and they own a market garden business. Nearby live the Glenisters who reside at Glenister Hall. It’s narrated in the first person by Prue Day who is reminiscing to her friend, Arthur Glenister. It’s a real trip down memory lane, a nostalgic look at life in simpler and, I think, kinder times. But it’s not all fun and games for these two families as the reader will discover!

I thought this was a wonderful story, beautifully and atmospherically written. It’s slightly gothic in style and perhaps a little surreal. There is something quite ethereal and wistful about it. It all sounds so idyllic on the surface but it’s what is lurking underneath which propels this tale. I liked Prue, she had a certain vulnerability about her. Her love for her family and Arthur shone through. There is a sense of mystery to the story which drew me in and I was eager to get to the heart of the matter. I was always looking forward to reading on, a sign of a good book! At times it took me back to my own happy childhood. A thoroughly enjoyable, evocative and compelling read.… (más)

The third in the ‘Widows’ series, this one centring on Viola and Maisie. Viola has a secret and a drinking problem. Maisie has troubles of her own in the form of house renovations, advances from a neighbour and preparing for her daughter’s wedding. Their lives collide in the most unlikely of ways, but will they up being friends at last?

This story deals with some serious themes, but amongst the weeds and the showers there are quite a lot of flowers and sunshine. I’ve read the previous two books, The Hoarder’s Widow and The Widow’s Mite, which I very much enjoyed. The Widow’s Weeds is no exception, it didn’t disappoint in the least bit. It’s a welcome addition to the series. It’s well written with some endearing characters plus the odd villain. I have been totally immersed in their lives for the past week. A moving tale of friendship and courage which had me turning the pages to the very end.… (más)

Dee, an author, escapes from London and drives to where the roads and her mood take her. She ends up in a quiet, remote and ethereal feeling village near the sea. Here she rents out a cottage where she hopes to find inspiration for her new book. She gets more than she bargained for when the past starts to merge with the present.

I enjoy a good dual timeframe story and this is an excellent example of the genre. The writing is very vivid and descriptive, it was so easy to picture the landscape in my mind’s eye. The two timelines fused together wonderfully. I think my favourite was the one set in the past concerning the Forrester family, which begins during the early 1900s. Perhaps because I’m a historical fiction fan. I hugely enjoyed my time with all the fascinating characters in this book and was sad to leave them behind when I finally turned the last page. I particularly loved Bob the dog! What a lucky pooch he was with his many walks along the coastline! 🐶 It’s quite a tome, something to get your teeth into, but well worth the reading investment. An evocative, captivating and engrossing story which I can recommend to those who enjoy a historical saga with an other worldly feel.… (más)