Saturday, 30 August 2025

The Country Village Allotment by Cathy Lake

 


A heartwarming and uplifting summer story for fans of Heidi Swain and Phillipa Ashley, by the author of The Country Village Christmas Show, The Country Village Summer Fete and The Country Village Winter Wedding.

At eighty-two years old Zelda Grey is tired. Tired of how much slower she is physically and mentally. Tired of technology. Tired of being alone since her beloved cat, Flint, died just before Christmas. And tired of life. The only thing that brings Zelda joy these days is her allotment in the gorgeous village of Little Bramble, where she has lived her whole life, and her three cranky goats.

Widow Mia Holmes always loved visiting Little Bramble Allotment with her husband, Gideon. But since his death she can't motivate herself. Despite putting on a brave face for her three sons and four grandchildren, she's reached breaking point, and isn't sure she can carry on.

And history teacher Liz Carter thought she had it all. The perfect job, perfect boyfriend in Rhodri and the perfect wedding to plan. Until she found Rhodri in bed with the neighbour. Holed up in her sister's box room she wonders how it all went so wrong. As she wallows in her misery, her sister takes her in hand and drags her to Little Bramble Allotment and suddenly she discovers the wonders of planting, growing and getting her hands dirty.

In an increasingly lonely world, these three women strike up an unlikely friendship and find that community, female friendship and the wonders of nature can truly be powerful healers.

Review

This is a typical feel-good story where the characters face different challenges but come together to find peace and healing.

I really enjoyed this novel; it helped immensely that the narrator was Julie Teal, who has a particularly soothing voice, which made listening to this book an absolute pleasure. The story itself is about three women, all in different stages of life, and all suffering from loss and looking for a way to go forward with their lives. When the three women become friends, their lives take on new meaning, and all three of them begin to live again.

The restorative power of friendship has been wonderfully depicted, and this is a story that leaves you with a feel-good feeling once you have finished, not to say there isn't a lot of drama before we get to that lovely conclusion, because there certainly is!

The character development is wonderfully depicted, and these characters are very relatable. I have to say I am fondest of Zelda, who has perhaps the most heartbreaking story of all of them.

I really enjoyed this novel, and I will certainly be reading more books from this author.


I loaned this novel from Borrow Box.



Sunday, 24 August 2025

Scents of Lavender: Queer Love Through the Ages – In Verse by D. C. Wilkinson




Scents of Lavender:
Queer Love Through the Ages – In Verse
By D. C. Wilkinson


Publication Date: June 1st, 2025
Publisher: DCW Press
Pages: 108
Genre: Poetry / Historical Fiction / LGBT+ Romance

Timeless and unwavering, love flows through a universal melody that echoes in every corner of the globe. Transcending borders and cultures, it sows the seeds of memories that sprout and blossom in Scents of Lavender, a collection of 25 illustrated poems that breathe life into evocative scenes where queer love proudly re-emerges from the depths of history, uncovering deep and everlasting bonds.


Each poem invites the reader to explore the narrator’s deeply personal and intimate perspective through pantheistic eyes. Written in the first person, every verse unfolds as both a reflection and a manifestation of a single universal mind and soul, drawing the reader into a shared understanding that love –in all its forms– is boundless, eternal, and permeates the cosmos.


Excerpt

My wives were my court,
my confidants,
pillars of my strength,
living embodiments
of our collective heritage reborn,
the sanctum of my realm.

From Kangela’s Daughter

Trailer with Excerpts:



Buy Link:

D. C. Wilkinson


D. C. Wilkinson is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lifelong voyager of inner and outer realms. His literary work centers on his passion for historical tales, portal fantasies, and dreams and visions often weaved into narratives that highlight LGBTQ+ experiences.

He began his career in the Midwest as a student of Language Arts before relocating to the East Coast in his early twenties. A graduate of Columbia University and former New York City public school teacher, he now calls Connecticut his home, where he resides with his spouse and their beloved beagle.

Author Links:
Website • Instagram • Twitter / X • Facebook • Pinterest • TikTok


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