Rowan Forrester has it all – the happy marriage, the adorable dog, the good friends, the promising business and even the dream home after she and her husband Tom win a stunning but slightly dilapidated Georgian townhouse in London at auction. 

But in the blink of an eye, Rowan’s picture-perfect life comes crashing down around her and she is faced with the prospect of having to start again. 

To make ends meet she begins a search for housemates, and in doing so opens the door to new friends and new beginnings. But could she be opening the door to new heartbreak too?

 

 

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

He’s such a messy man, she thought. Was a messy man. The change of tense felt like an obscenity.

 

‘Last few things,’ said Ace, carrying a cactus through his new front door. ‘What on earth is that?’ said Rowan, pointing at the spiky plant. ‘It’s a bit …phallic.’ ‘This is Dick and you’d better not be laughing. He’s been a good friend to me and helped me out of a depression last year.’ … Ace placed the plant pot reverentially on his kitchen table. ‘When I was feeling low last year, my boyfriend bought Dick for me. And before you start questioning its name, it’s because my boyfriend was called Richard, okay? … He was sensitive and supportive when I couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed, wash or eat. We’re talking my boyfriend here by the way, not the cactus.’ … It really worked. It took some weeks but every time I glimpsed Dick sitting on my bathroom shelf, bulbous and proud – the cactus, not my boyfriend – it would make me smile.’

 

How can your impression of the man you’ve loved, change in an instant? It was as if she was viewing him through a distorted fairground mirror, where his image had changed beyond all recognition.

 

I never did like that Helen much. Likes to put her oar in but can’t row the boat.

 

‘You haven’t told me what the doctors have said about your pain. I heard you’d had stomach ache and were having a lobotomy.’ Libby giggled. ‘A laparoscopy.

 

Don’t talk to me about time flying. Every time I look in the mirror I see less of Enrique Iglesias looking back and more of Julio.

 

I’m relieved you’re on the mend now they’ve removed those trees from your oasis.’ ‘Endometriosis, idiot.’ ‘That’s what I just said.’

 

 My Review:

 

Angela Barton is my new favorite author. I adored her sagacious use of clever levity, which handily balanced out the heavier storylines that were fraught with tension, angst, and indecision. The busy plot was highly active, well populated, shrewdly paced, and held my interest throughout with several intriguing concerns and relevant issues. Ms. Barton’s writing was unfailingly engaging and tapped all the feels, frequently swinging between heart squeezing and wittily amusing within the same scene. Her characters were uncommonly and deeply flawed yet they were also uniquely endearing, well drawn, and well-meaning while striving for betterment, although I might have wanted to give several of them a few sassy pinches at various times; except for Ace, who was the perfect comedic foil and had all the best lines and cleverest quips.

Angela Barton was born in London and grew up in Nottingham. She is married with three grown-up children and adorable four-year-old twin granddaughters. Angela is passionate about writing both contemporary and historical fiction and loves time spent researching facts for her novels. Having signed publishing contracts for three of her completed novels with Choc Lit’s new imprint, Ruby Fiction, Angela is excited to be working alongside such a lovely team.

Angela and her husband, Paul, recently moved to France and planted a lavender field. She’s looking forward to spending more time writing in the beautiful Charente countryside working from her new writing room, a beautiful shepherd hut. Angela is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and Nottingham Writers’ Studio.

Social Media Links –

Website:  https://www.angelabarton.net  

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/angela.barton3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/angebarton

Arlette’s Story:   amzn.to/2lAyIlb

Magnolia House:   smarturl.it/fttfc2