Ordered from amazon and received in Glasgow.

I think one of the things that I love most about so many of Balogh's stories, is that they are in many ways relatively uneventful. Here two people meet and fall in love despite the fact that they come from different backgrounds (hope this is not turning into a spoiler...?). There are no dramatic events (aside, perhaps for a wretched sprained ankle, a very annoying person or two and a flurry of reaction caused by an insult at a garden party). No abductions, or heroines held at gun-point (or given the era, knife-point)to move the story along and keep the reader turning pages. And yet the pages turn and turn. There is a wry humor, the characters are both simple and complex and very human. I find I care about what will become of them, and wish them well. I want to know whether Gwen can have children or not, I care about how the garden will look in a few years... This is truly the gift of a talented story teller, to draw us in so that we care about the fate of the characters. As much as I don't much like reading books, however well written, with characters I would not like to spend time with in real life, I like spending time with Balogh's characters.

Sharing the enjoyment. This is now headed, potentially as a short ring to a bookcrossing friend in Germany, so she can enjoy this as well. It should come home afterwards, either directly or stopping off if anyone signs up for the ring - hasn't happened yet.

..and here it is!

I was away on holidays so I couldn't register them before...

they look great and I can't wait to start!

thanks for sharing and greetings to Switzerland :-)

Edit:

I liked this new aspect.. that the focus is on people (and their stories) who haven't been
too lucky in life. And yet they find their own happiness..
And yes, the characters were so very likable!

thanks for sharing these!

This book is on its way to Tsjara - hope she enjoys them as much as I did!


and then back to penelopewanders please :-)

Thanks very much for sending the books kiki66! (And for the yummy candy and gorgeous postcard!) Haven't read anything by this author before, but looking forward to give them a try. The books do look really nice. Thanks penelopewanders for sharing them! :)

I enjoyed this book so much. Nothing much really happens but the story kept me turning the pages, not wanting to put it down. Hugo is a great character, he is big and scary looking, blunt and a bit awkward, but actually a kind and gentle person (quite adorable). Gwen is also very likeable. They both had a troubled past and come from different social classes, and I really hoped they would get their happily-ever-after.


Back to Penelopewanders it goes. Thanks so much for sharing.
Best wishes for 2015 to you both! :)

This and the second in the series have now returned home safely from a short little jaunt in Northern Europe. I'm glad I was able to share these with appreciative readers! thanks for the lovely card and the cuppa!