Escape to the seaside village of Little Pondale with Part One of this heart-warming and romantic, four-part serial and the additional books in this series.
Mia Ward is amazed to be told she has inherited her great-aunt Matilda’s thatched cottage in the tiny seaside village of Little Pondale – especially as Mia didn’t know she had a great-aunt Matilda.
She’s even more astonished to discover she’ll only inherit the place if she actually lives there for one year. Mia’s a city girl at heart, not to mention she’s afraid of water, so the fact the cottage backs on to a sandy beach, is not, in her opinion, a bonus.
But Mia’s struggling to pay her rent since being fired for inappropriate behaviour at the office party, and her boyfriend’s also dumped her. When her best friend, Ella and Ella’s brother, Garrick offer to help her move and settle in, Mia decides to see this as a new beginning.
It may also be the start of an exciting adventure because now Mia wants to know just who, exactly, was great-aunt Matilda. And she’s determined to find out. But it soon becomes clear that someone is trying to make sure Mia doesn’t stay in Little Pondale….
Review: This story was published in 4 parts: New Beginnings; Summer Secrets; Autumn Leaves; and Trick or Treat. The author, Emily Harvale, is new to me, but this serialised story has been succeeded by 3 more books about Lily Pond Lane, which I’m sure I shall be seeking out after reading this. I found this first story a quick, easy and entertaining read from page one
As the story begins, we find Mia Ward, recently dumped by her boyfriend and sacked from her job, wondering where she can find the money to pay the rent. She is amazed when she is informed that she has been left a cottage in the tiny seaside village of Little Pondale by a relative that she never met. Her inheritance comes with a condition, however; she must live in the cottage for a year before she can call it her own and do with it as she wishes. Her best friend, Ella, and Ella’s twin brother Garrick help Mia to move from the city to the isolated village. As they explore the cottage and meet some of the locals, including several eligible bachelors, Mia begins to learn about her benefactor, great aunt Matilda, and ponders whether she can stay in this community for a year. Over the next few months, Mia learns more and more about the mysterious Matilda, but it seems that somebody in the village may just be trying to force her out. Can she solve the mystery before it’s too late?
I very much enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to other readers. Mia and her friends are likeable characters, although definitely city dwellers who are initially a little out of their comfort zone. Some of the villagers sound a little zany, especially the lady living a few doors down from Mia, who used to clean for Matilda and likes nothing more than a good gossip. The vicar is also a bit odd. Although small, the village has a great many traditions that are closely adhered to by the villagers; never a dull moment in fact. The author clearly has a good imagination to think them all up. I’m sure that having read this book, anyone would be compelled to read more of Emily Harvale’s stories and find out what else happens in this community.
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