Do you read Yahoo's news stories? One sparked my interest, "World's 10 most picturesque villages" at this link. I have not visited any listed ... but I am partial to Kenn in Devonshire, England, from where my maternal family hails. Who better to write about the romance in an English village than Catherine Alliott? From her bio,
I was working as a copy-writer in an ad agency and tired of writing blurb for soap powder, began writing a novel under the desk. I had no thought of publication, was just doing it to relieve the boredom, but I must say it was a bit of a shock when my boss walked in one day and said we're not sure you're entirely committed and gave me the sack!
My husband persuaded me to send it to an agent who took it - amazingly and then a few weeks later I had a publisher too. The Old Girl Network came out about a year later and the first time I saw it in a shop, I was so startled I ran out again!
Catherine takes us to the quintessential English village in A RURAL AFFAIR, that takes us to the quintessential village we adore:
Newly widowed Poppy Shilling should be feeling distraught at the death of her husband Phil. But, instead, she can't help feeling relieved. No longer will she have to endure Phil's iron fist ruling over her and their two young children, or his unfortunate penchant for lycra cycling wear.
What's more, when a secret is revealed after his death, Poppy's memories of their life together are turned upside down.
Freed from the shackles of her loveless marriage, Poppy is determined not to make the same mistakes again. Fully embracing village life, she becomes the object of the local menfolk's affections- from Bob, the resident odd ball, to Luke, the sexy church organist. But it's just her luck that the one man who catches her eye can't seem to let go of his glamorous ex girlfriend...
Will Poppy have the courage to follow her heart and refuse to settle for second best? It's time for a new beginning, and a chance to discover what real love feels like...
I posted my review of A RURAL AFFAIR on Amazon at this link. I am giving away a print copy of A RURAL AFFAIR to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Have you visited any "quaint" villages? Would you consider living in any "quaint" village?
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, March 17, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 18.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Catherine Alliott and her books, check out her website at catherinealliott.com.
Comments can be made at:
- SOS Aloha, sosaloha.blogspot.com
- Aloha On My Mind, alohaonmymind.blogspot.com
- My guest posts at the Reading Reviewer (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) at marygramlich.blogspot.com
I'll post the winners of March Madness on Monday, April 2.
I don't do a lot of traveling so I haven't visited any quaint villages. The closest I've come to a quaint village was a small town in West Virginia where everyone knew everyone else's business. lol
ReplyDeleteCan't say I've visited any quaint villages. I'm not sure a quaint village is the right place for me.
ReplyDeleteI must say I visited quaint village quite a lot because ny relatives live there and I often spent my holiday there :). And yes I do ever considered living in quaint village . Cheers Aretha zhen
ReplyDeleteHi Kim,
ReplyDeleteI have been lucky in travels and have visited many quaint villages. I used to think that I would love to love in a village. I romanticized the heck out it. The charm, the lovely people, walking to the pub for lunch, biking along the town river. But then I met a woman who became a very good friend who grew up in a quaint british village, had since lived in South Africa, Australia and now the US and says she could never go back to village life. all that noseiness, every body knowing your business and having an opinion about it and hardly anyone travels more than 10 miles away. I did enjoy the movie super fuzz with Simon Pegg about a police officer in a small English village where the villagers go to extreme measures to win the village of the year award. :-)
I have visited many quaint villages and would not mind living in one. They are so amazing
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever visited a quaint village and I don't think I would want to move to one.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover of the book and can relate to the author. I wrote my first book while working at a boring job. I lived in Cornwall for a number of years and loved living near St. Agnes which was a quaint village, and it was featured in my book - A Graceful Death.
ReplyDeleteAnn
cozyintexas@yahoo.com
I visited numerous "quaint" villages during my travels through England. They look cute and the idea is intriguing, but I prefer city life! That being said, this book sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteSarah
In my mind, the quaint villages are in England, Scotland, or Ireland. I don't think of the small towns where I've lived or traveled to as 'quaint'. I live in a rural environment now and think it might be fun to live in one of those little villages.
ReplyDeleteThe main reasons why I really want to visit so many places in Europe is because I want to see their quaint villages. Where I live there are places that are quaint but not really villages. The Ley Arms is a place I would definitely go into. I like villages that are not only quaint but have held onto their historical roots.
ReplyDeleteLast year, while we were in France, we visited several quaint villages--San Malo, Cancale, Lehon, Dinan. Yes, I'd enjoy living in one!
ReplyDeleteI don't think there any quaint villages where I live. I do think I would enjoy living in one.
ReplyDeleteI have never visited a quaint village. I wouldn't want to live where everyone knows everything about you.
ReplyDeleteYes, when we took a trip to Europe a long time ago and also to some Amish towns in PA. I think there are good points to living anywhere.
ReplyDeletecatslady
I don't recall visiting any quaint villages. But I sure would love to! I enjoyed looking at the places on the quaint village link you posted. They were cute. Having grown up in a city, I don't know how I'd like actually living in a quaint village. It sure would be different than what I'm used to.
ReplyDeleteI visited some quaint villages when I was touring the UK. I think I'd enjoy living in a quaint village.
ReplyDeleteI haven't visited any quaint villages, but it sounds like it would be fun.
ReplyDeletei ever go to quaint villages near my town, so nice to go there ;)
ReplyDeleteI can't recall any quaint villages in my journey's. I'd be happy to live in one, so long as I can still have all the modern conveniences.
ReplyDeleteI've never lived in a quaint village but I think it would be a nice thing to belong to a small community.
ReplyDeleteNO i want away from small town but i dont want nothing like ny size though
ReplyDeleteblkrze37