When Jennifer goes up to Cambridge University with her head full of the Romantic Poets, she never dreams that she will find her very own Byron. But then she meets gorgeous actor Laurie Lewis, and finds herself living a real-life love poem.
Fifteen years and two children later, Jennifer and Laurie’s relationship is starting to feel more like an epic tragedy. After a series of revelations turn her world upside down, Jennifer will do anything to keep her family together – even if it means moving hundreds of miles away to Laurie’s childhood home in Westenbury, Yorkshire.
As she reluctantly enters into village life – complete with interfering in-laws, new friends and a surprise delivery of alpacas – Jennifer is amazed to find herself feeling happy for the first time in years. But the village holds one last, devastating secret.
Julie Houston lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire where her novels are set, and her only claims to fame are that she teaches part-time at ‘Bridget Jones’ author Helen Fielding’s old junior school and her neighbour is ‘Chocolat’ author, Joanne Harris. Julie is married, with two adult children and a ridiculous Cockerpoo called Lincoln. She runs and swims because she’s been told it’s good for her, but would really prefer a glass of wine, a sun lounger and a jolly good book – preferably with Dev Patel in attendance.
My thoughts: I love this series, it’s a lot of fun and although the characters from the other books are only briefly in this one, it’s still really enjoyable. Westenbury gets new residents and one old one – in the form of not particularly successful actor and total cad Laurie Lewis and his family, after he spends all of their money and loses a court case.
His wife Jenny is amazing but I don’t know why she puts up with his crap -she thinks she’s doing it for her kids but even they would rather have a happy divorced mother and not be trapped between two unhappy parents. Their daughter doesn’t even want to live with them.
Luckily Westenbury works its magic and Jenny starts to believe in herself a bit more, she starts to write a Regency romance, her son blossoms at the brilliant village school and even Laurie’s terrible secrets don’t do as much harm as they could. Although I still wanted to boot him into a cowpat repeatedly!
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 
Madeleine, thank you so much for taking time to read and be on the blog tour!! Much appreciated! Julie xx
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