The Cottage of Curiosities - Celia Anderson

 

 

Return to 59 Memory Lane with a new novel from the Kindle Top Ten bestselling author Celia Anderson!

’A brilliantly original and enchanting tale’ Sun ‘Wonderful characters make this a great read’ Good Housekeeping ‘Truly unique…unforgettable’ Woman’s Weekly

Grace Clarke is shocked to learn at the age of fifty-six that she’s adopted – it feels as though her whole life has been a lie. But it also explains a lot of things for Grace too. Including the gift that has plagued Grace since childhood – the ability to feel other people’s memories.

Could this gift be something she shared with the woman who abandoned her – the mysterious May Rosevere?

And as Grace travels to the small coastal village of Pengelly to find the answers she craves, she feels her gift growing stronger. As though May is somehow calling her long-lost daughter home…

My Review:

Having read and adored 59 Memory Lane I could not wait for this return to Pengally. I do think if you haven’t read 59 Memory Lane you should read it first (a) because its wonderful and b) it will give some clarity to this story. 

Celia Anderson is brilliant; her writing is gorgeous and the way she tells these stories, brings her characters to life is wonderful. I feel so involved with these stories it takes me days to be able to move on with another book. Ultimate book hangover!

With ‘The Cottage of Curiosities’ we have a lovely tale of self discovery, love, hope and acceptance. Friendships and relationships play such important roles within this story.
We meet Grace who is searching for information on her biological parents, and finds herself heading to the coastal village of Pengelly. Here she effortlessly fits into the community, making friends as she uncovers the truth about where she came from. All of that on top of managing and utilising an extremely special, maybe magical, skill to help those she gets close to. 

An absolutely heart-warming and uplifting book, a real curl up, get cosy kind of read. I cannot recommend this enough. One of my favourites of the year. 

PURCHASE HERE

BLOGTOUR: The Time of our lives - Abby Williams

 

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Sg3z61

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2JKHisZ

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2xMa5Il

Ibooks: https://apple.co/2ZhNKxM

About the Book

Two women from two very different generations are brought together through dramatic circumstances and help each other to forge new paths.

Twenty-six-year-old Erin has everything she’s ever wanted – a good job, a gorgeous fiancé and a best friend who’s always there for her. But suddenly her life comes crashing down around her. Unable to return home to her parents, she takes a room in a house nearby and her life starts over in the most unexpected of ways…

Seventy-six-year old Lydia, who, shocked by the sudden death of her husband, is devastated to discover that he has left her in crippling debt. With no choice but to take in a lodger, Erin comes into her life. When they find a letter hidden in the attic old secrets come to light and, with Erin by her side, Lydia finds herself going on a trip of a lifetime.

Perfect for fans of The Flatshare, 59 Memory Lane and If Only I Could Tell You

My Review:

We meet the wonderful Lydia recently after her husband passes away. She realises her beloved husband had been keeping secrets leading her son to convince her that she must take in a lodger to make ends meet. With this in mind she meets with the lovely, yet sad, Erin. We’ve seen that twenty-six-year-old Erin has had a difficult time and needs a new start - her fiancé and best friend betrayed her.

Erin moves in and over the following days and weeks we see how both women bring out the better qualities in each other and provide the support each needs to move forward instead of looking back and dwelling on the past.

Honestly, I adored it from the moment these two women met. I was totally absorbed into their lives. Both characters complimented each other fantastically, although both were quite feisty and opinionated. I think they are both brilliant and loved that the emphasis of the book was their relationship and how they helped each other.

We read how each character dusts themselves off and both move on with their lives – even with an age difference they learn so much from the other. They both go on quite a journey in the short time they know each other, there are great successes, heart-warming moments that had me smiling from ear to ear but also failures and disappointments. Throughout it all they have each other; I found myself smiling, laughing but then feeling very empathetic to their situations.

This book is very nicely written, you get a good sense of the atmosphere – their excitement, disappointments, the sadness and the loves each character lives through. We are introduced to a lovely selection of additional characters, although there will be a couple you will instantly dislike.   The perspective changes between Erin and Lydia but it’s done very well and I really enjoy getting two views of events throughout.

I enjoyed how the book encompassed the realities of life, that everything isn’t always perfect, but you live through the moments, you learn, and you continue the best path for you.

Here’s to friendship and having those who support and love you always.

I would highly recommend this book to all, definitely worth a read. 

About the Author 

Abby Williams is the pseudonym for Fiona Ford, writer of romantic up-lit and historical fiction. Fiona started out as a freelance journalist for titles such as Grazia, Sunday Mirror and Stylist before realising her passion lay in novels. Now she spends her days immersed in made-up worlds and reckons she has the very best job in the world. When she's not writing, Fiona is a gym nut, but only so it means she can eat lots of cake and drink lots of wine - not necessarily in that order. She lives in Berkshire with her husband and two cats who she sometimes thinks she might love just a little bit more than all the humans she knows. The Time of Our Lives is her first romantic novel and she is now busy scribbling away her second. 

Follow Fiona:

Facebook: @Fionafordauthor

Twitter: @Fionajourno

Website: www.fionaford.co.uk