Friday, February 14, 2025

From London with Love by Katie Fforde

                                             



Ebook:  407 pages Kindle Edition

Genre:  Romance, Contemporary Womens Fiction, 

Publisher:  Random House, 13th February  2025 

Source:  NetGalley 

First Sentences: 'Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?' said David. Felicite smiles and put her hand over David's. She looked on him as a sort of uncle, always there, always supportive but sometimes a little over-protective.

Review Quote: A force to be reckoned with for her uplifting tales of romance.' Daily Express

Setting : London, England

My Opinion: 

When I want to read some romantic fiction, Katie Fforde is an author I turn to first. As I have been reading and enjoying her novels since 1995, I think I can safely say her writing never fails to provide just what I need at the time. Romantic escapism. 

The novel is set in the final years of the swinging sixties and follows the lives of two young ladies, Felicity de Belville and Violet Stone, both living in the same house in London. They have only just met but soon become good friends and support each other in their romantic endeavours. There are plenty of tears as well as laughter as their romances progress with a great cast of supporting characters. 

I am adding this author's note to this review ' It is important to note that this book is set between 1968 and 1969 when there were no rules about mudlarking. Today you cannot do it without a licence, even if you go with an experienced mudlarker.

Recommended as a perfect read for when one is in the mood for a readable romance, with the inevitable happy ending. Relax and enjoy. 

With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read and review 'From London With Love' 


Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

It’s 1968 and it’s cold when Felicity arrives in London to stay with her mother, improve her English, do a secretarial course - and meet a suitable man.

She is already missing her home in Provence and her father and his new wife and their extended family. But it’s only for a year she tells herself - and then she can go back to France and do what she really wants and become a painter.

And then she bumps into Oliver who is quite the most interesting young man she has ever met. He lives on a barge for one thing and has a selection of jobs including looking for hidden treasures along the shores of the river Thames.

In a word he’s a mudlarker - and before long Felicity is mudlarking too. She is also pursuing her dreams and painting scenery for Oliver’s actor friends. 

But is Oliver a Suitable Man of whom her mother will approve? Felicity knows she will not …


Previous Reviews:   Flora's Lot  Summer of Love  Recipe for Love  The Perfect Match  

A Rose Petal Summer   A Wedding in Provence


Author Profile:  
              

                                      

                                     Courtesy of Goodreads Profile

Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming was born 27 September 1952 in England, UK and she lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire. She is the daughter of Shirley Barbara Laub and Michael Willoughby Gordon-Cumming. Her grandfather was Sir William Gordon-Cumming. Her sister is fellow writer Jane Gordon-Cumming. Katie married Desmond Fforde, cousin of the also writer Jasper Fforde. She has three children: Guy, Francis and Briony and didn't start writing until after the birth of her third child. She has previously worked both as a cleaning lady and in a health food cafe.


Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."



Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Katie Fforde - Official Website   Facebook Profile    Instagram Profile   Twitter Profile

Amazon Author Profile  Goodreads Author Profile

No comments:

Post a Comment

I indulge my love of books with this blog and it makes it all worthwhile when you leave comments. I really am interested in what you think so do let me know. I have decided as the nature of this review blog makes for conversation in the comments, just to reply here and not individually, so please subscribe to comments or call back again to stay in the conversation. Thankyou for your continued support.