Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream by Abby Clements

Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream by Abby Clements
Buy Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream by Abby Clements at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Women's Fiction
Reviewer: Jo Heffer
Summary: Amelia Gray has always dreamed of moving to a cottage in the country. Eventually this dream comes true as she and husband Jack find a run-down cottage in Kent which they plan to lovingly restore. The only problem is that such a project can be extremely stressful; is the dream about to turn into a nightmare?
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 384	Date: September 2013
Publisher: Quercus
ISBN: 9781782064305
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Amelia and Jack live in a cramped flat in Hackney where they hardly have room to swing a cat. They can't afford to upgrade in London but maybe a small cottage away from the city could be affordable. When Amelia is overlooked for a promotion at the school she teaches in it feels that the time is right for a change. After their dream cottage is sold to another buyer, they discover Brambledown Cottage. It looks to be just what they are after; however, do they really know just how much work they are taking on?

After the move, Amelia launches herself into restoring the cottage but, with a small budget and Jack hardly ever around due to his long commute, it's not an easy task. Before long, the couple are either arguing or hardly communicating particularly over the important things in life. It's hardly surprising that things reach breaking point. Will their dream home bring them closer together or ultimately drive them apart?

This is a lovely book that makes for a very comfortable and cosy read - just right for curling up by the fireside on a dark winter evening. Amelia is an engaging main character; maybe she has her head in the clouds for much of the book but it's easy to identify with her aspiration of a perfect home for her and her husband. It is more that just a story about doing up a house though as it is also a compelling tale about a young couple trying to make their relationship work.

This is also a great read for anyone who loves house makeover programmes as it's fascinating to read how Amelia works her way through the house, room by room, bringing her individual style and ideas to each one. There is a great deal of detail that makes it reasonably easy for the reader to picture the changes; however, I did find myself wishing that some illustrations might have been included.

This is an absorbing book that is light and easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end.

Why not also take a look at A French Affair by Katie Fforde

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