Joss Jeffries is a farmer. Not a farmer's wife and general help on the farm but the one who has to get out there and make it work. Her husband departed a while ago leaving her with their young son and a mountain of debt, so what she needs is money coming in, and preferably as quickly as possible. She and her father, Mick, come up with what seems like a good idea: walking holidays in the magical mid-Wales countryside. It looks to be quite a sound plan too. They'll take well-paying, decent people on great walks and let them experience the joy of camping and living close to nature. Only...
| Jam Tomorrow by Lorraine Jenkin | |
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| Category: Women's Fiction | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: Feel-good chick-lit with real characters you can respect. Laugh, cry and enjoy a great holiday read. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 308 | Date: May 2014 |
| Publisher: Lorraine Jenkin | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-0992884901 | |
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Just about as soon as everyone has arrived Mick notices that his beloved goats are not looking well. The local vet (known for more that his veterinary prowess and not known as Shithead for nothing) thinks that this might be Goat Pox - a notifiable disease. The vets (complete with white outfits) from the ministry arrive - and slap a quarantine order on the farm. The property which was home to three people - two in the farmhouse and Mick in an outbuilding - now has to cope with fourteen. And what a group they are. If you're looking for common sense amongst the visitors then the children probably come top of the list and as you work your way down some people are looking for a new partner, there's the thought of baby making and it's difficult not to be very suspicious about some of the behaviour that's going on.
Can I get my niggle about this book out of the way first, please? I can't understand why the ministry vets could come and go from the farm but the people who were already there had to be quarantined. It's said that the ministry vets could disinfect themselves - but I couldn't see why the same thing couldn't have been done for the visitors. Right - I've said my piece and now I'd like you to forget that I said anything and we can move on with the story. OK? (In fairness, I've got to add that I've now been told of this happening to someone in the Foot and Mouth Epidemic - so if you want to think this is just me, then that's fine!)
Joss Jeffries is special. You're going to respect her. She's not glamorous or gorgeous to look at. Her clothes are generally someone else's cast-offs. She's honest in trying to pay back debts which she didn't incur but which are in her name. She wants to earn money (that's what the extra cleaning job in the mornings is about) but she's human enough to feel resentful when all the work seems to fall on her shoulders and the problems drop on her toes. She's also coming up for air after the failure of her marriage and she's attracted to Deri Samson - which might be just a bit unfortunate.
You see Deri's wife upped and left seven months ago. Even his young daughter has recognised her mum for what she is and isn't expecting her back, but Deri is sure that Heulwyn will return and that all that has to be sorted is what to do to stop her needing to go off like that again. Obviously. As the situation at the farm gets worse - at one point the water and the oil runs out, toilets block and guests start disappearing - Deri kisses Joss but the result is not what you might expect. In just a handful of words Deri delivers a slap which I felt. Brilliant.
Some of the guests have a sexual agenda but there's nothing explicit if you're not into that sort of thing. It's a great story, which had me laughing and wiping away the occasional tear. Great stuff - and I'd like to thank the publisher for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
If this book appeals then you might also enjoy To Have and to Hold by Helen Chandler.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Jam Tomorrow by Lorraine Jenkin at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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