The Second Chance Teashop
The Blurb:
Second chances, new loves and scrumptious cakes, in this heart-warming novel. Perfect for all fans of Fern Britton, Katie Fforde and Cathy Bramley.Following the tragic death of her beloved husband, Anna Hemingway decides it's time for a fresh start. So Anna and her three-year-old daughter Ellie move to a picture-perfect cottage in the beautiful village of Little Somerby, and when she takes over the running of the village tea shop, Ellie and Anna start to find happiness again. But things get complicated when Matthew Carter, the owner of the local cider farm, enters their lives. Throughout a whirlwind year of village fetes and ancient wassails, love, laughter, apple pie and new memories, life slowly blossoms again. But when tragedy strikes and history seems to be repeating itself, Anna must find the strength to hold onto the new life she has built. This beautiful, life-affirming debut novel marks the beginning of the Little Somerby series, and promises to make you smile, cry, reach for a cream tea, and long for a life in the perfect English countryside.
My Thoughts:
The second chance teashop by Fay Keenan was for me a very pleasant surprise. I expected something light hearted and fluffy (the usual summer read, which would have been fine as i do like those) but i loved this!
This book had a very delicate underlying theme that the author dealt with, with the sensitivity and respect it deserved.
We meet Anne, Anne has come to manage the little orchard teashop as part of her plan to get a fresh start for her and her 3 year old daughter. Anne was widowed 2 years previously. Her husband killed in a way that comes back to haunt her later in the story. A new house, new job, new friends. What she wasn't counting on was new love. In the form of Matthew.
This isn't plain sailing by any means. Circumstances in both their lives and past personal losses have made them both guarded and cautious about any involvement they may have and stops them planning any sort of future.
Matthew was left by his wife when their daughter was just a toddler. This, family feuds and a business to turn around has all conspired to make him the closed, stand offish person he is today. Until he meets Anna. Can she be the one to melt his icy facade?
The story focuses on them both and gives a great deal of depth to the emotions of each of these characters. We get to know them intimately and in private times, their emotions are unguarded and on show and completely raw. As a reader you are sucked into this and as a result, find yourself fully invested and caring about what happens.
A really well written story that, thanks to the authors writing style has fluidity and is easy to follow. A wonderful read that has a bit more oomph than some others in this genre that i've read. Highly recommend this to everyone.
