Marnie Salt has been very unlucky in love, so after her latest boyfriend turns out to be very much married, she gives up her job and accepts the offer of Lillian, an elderly lady she met online discussing cheesecakes, and moves to Wychwell, in Yorkshire. Some of the villagers welcome her with open arms, while others are jealous of her and try to send her away. While Marnie adapts to life in the village she also has to deal with ghosts from her past, including her mother's continual disapproval. And as Marnie starts a new life, she swears off men, but it is not easy when an handsome and sweet Norwegian handyman seems really interested in her.
This was such an enjoyable read. If you love cheesecakes, this book will make your mouth water with all the beautiful and tasty cheesecakes that Marnie prepares. The characters are engaging and (mostly) likable and I liked how the female characters are described as strong and determined women who stand up for themselves. At times hilarious and at times moving, this is a charming and heartwarming novel and I can't wait to read the author's next book. (NP)
The Perfectly Imperfect Woman, by Milly Johnson, is about second chances. The summary says: "Marnie Salt has made so many mistakes in her life that she fears she will never get on the right track. But when she 'meets' an old lady on a baking chatroom and begins confiding in her, little does she know how her life will change.
Arranging to see each other for lunch, Marnie finds discovers that Lilian is every bit as mad and delightful as she'd hoped - and that she owns a whole village in the Yorkshire Dales, which has been passed down through generations. And when Marnie needs a refuge after a crisis, she ups sticks and heads for Wychwell - a temporary measure, so she thinks.
But soon Marnie finds that Wychwell has claimed her as its own and she is duty bound not to leave. Even if what she has to do makes her as unpopular as a force 12 gale in a confetti factory! But everyone has imperfections, as Marnie comes to realise, and that is not such a bad thing - after all, your flaws are perfect for the heart that is meant to love you." The Perfectly Imperfect Woman is out in February 2018.