Run away to the Dorset countryside, to the sleepy village of Honeymoon, where rose-adorned thatched cottages soak up the sunlight and Emma is risking everything for a brave new start on life and love…
When Emma’s useless fiancé tells her a lie she cannot forgive, she decides enough is enough. She leaves him, quits her dead-end job and travels hundreds of miles away to the ancient village of Honeymoon in the Dorset countryside, to help her friend Tia turn the old train station into a boutique hotel.
Tia has told Emma that it will be a project, but when Emma arrives in Honeymoon and sees a weed-choked crumbling ruin, her vision of an idyllic life in Dorset begins to disintegrate. But when she meets twinkly-eyed builder Aiden in the village shop, and sparks fly between them, she can’t help but feel that the stars have for once aligned.
As work begins on the hotel, Emma and Aiden grow closer, and on sun-dappled evening walks, he tells her the secrets of the village. But there are some villagers who wish that Emma had never arrived in Honeymoon… And when Emma is involved in a terrible accident on site, and then discovers what Aiden has been keeping from her, it feels like the universe is telling her to leave Honeymoon for good. What if she was wrong to say goodbye to all that was safe and familiar? Will she ever be able to find her happy-ever-after in Honeymoon?
Review: Tilly Tennant is definitely one of my ‘go to’ authors, so I was delighted to find that she had a new book on the way. I was intrigued by the title of this one. As usual with her books, this one drew me in right from the start and I found it a quick read.
The story concerns two young women, Tia and Emma, who enter into a partnership to convert the old station buildings in the Dorset village of Honeymoon, which they have bought unseen, into a hotel. Although not close friends, Tia and Emma were at school together. Tia has recently divorced and Emma has broken up with long-term boyfriend, Dougie. They are slightly taken aback by the state of the old station and the enormity of the task ahead of them, but employ local builders, brothers Aidan and Blake, to carry out the necessary conversion. Among the problems they encounter along the way is local resistance to the work, particularly from one resident. However, most of the people in the village are friendly and welcoming. There is instant attraction between Tia and Blake, but, after a rocky start, Emma soon finds that she is enjoying the company of Aidan, and the foursome work well together on realising the dreams of producing a lovely new hotel.
I really enjoyed this story of two young women leaving behind their less than happy lives to follow their dream of giving new life to a once busy and important building. I admired their courage in moving miles from home and persevering with their plans even when things were not going their way. Of course having two handsome and strong builders on their side helped immensely. The author has provided the reader with a wonderful picture of the village of Honeymoon, with its little shop, cafe and pub, as well as the abandoned station. I could just envisage myself walking down the street and passing the time of day with the locals. It sounds a great place to live, and the hotel is one that I would look forward to visiting. This is a book that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who would enjoy a fun read and an escape to the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment