Review - The Summer Season by Julia Williams

Absolutely loved this wonderfully enchanting, delightful book.

Heartsease House belongs to widower Joel, who is trying hard to come to terms with the loss of his wife Claire and struggling to bring up their son singlehandedly.  Lauren, also a single parent, to twin girls and Claire’s best friend, helps him with child care but he takes her very much for granted, and is often late.  Both miss Claire terribly in their own special ways. 

Joel had always planned to restore the house, but no longer had the energy or enthusiasm to do so, until one night he discovers guerrilla gardener Kezzie in his garden.   Kezzie had run away from ex boyfriend and her life in London, to stay at her aunt’s house in the village.  She thought that the house and garden were both unlived in as they needed so much work and she eventually inspires Joel to look into the history of the house and the garden while the restoration takes place and the fascinating story of his ancestors unravels. 

While plans to hold a village fayre progress, so do the interesting lives of Joel, Kezzie, Lauren and her ex Troy. 

This is a delightful, gentle, romantic, funny story which tugged at my heartstrings many times.  It was really two stories; that of today with the characters I mention above, but also the story of Edward and Lily and their family history spinning the tale of the house and gardens.  It was fabulous, unravelling throughout the book.   

I spent the last few chapters reading through my tears, always a sign to me of a great writer, when they can move you to tears through their words.   I felt as if I’d been transported to the village of Heartsease and could picture all of it.  I loved the village spirit and enthusiasm of all the community pulling together with one purpose and aim. 

I wanted to shout at Joel a few times as he couldn’t see what was right in front of him.  I could see the story heading one way, when I wanted it to head another.  Yet the end was perfect, such a pleasure for me, exactly what I wanted to happen.  Don’t you just love a happy ending?

Julia’s writing is beautiful, descriptive, colourful and so enjoyable.  Another unputdownable book, and I enjoyed every single page.  A truly wonderful and charming novel. 

Julia Williams lives in Surrey with her dentist husband David and her four children.  After studying English at Liverpool University, she entered the world of publishing, firstly working with academic books, then switching to children’s books which she adored.  After the birth of her second child, she decided to start a freelance career and decided that it was a good time to start her writing.  She has written 5 Novels and also children's books.

Julia is also a member of the Romantic Novelists Association. 

Links

www.juliawilliamsauthor.com/

www.twitter.com/JCCWilliams

www.facebook.com/Julia-Williams

You can buy The Summer Season via Amazon by clicking here