Tag Archive | Cathy Bramley

Merrily Ever After by Cathy Bramley

Dec4

A Festive Fayre

Merrily Ever After by Cathy Bramley is the most charming contemporary Christmas novel that I loved.

The action alternates between the two lead females as their lives are similar but different. They are ships that pass in the night until they dock together. A long-held secret produces delightful results.

Grief throws up many different emotions. “I’m sad… but I’m angry. Angry… that you didn’t love me enough to stay alive.” There is no timeline for grief, the pain remains forever. “I missed her. After all these years, there still wasn’t a day passed by without me thinking about her.”

We see the difficult topic of dementia. It is hard for the relatives as they only get glimpses of the person they used to know. There is the healing power of music. “The man couldn’t remember what day it was knew every word, every note.” Relatives of the dementia patient have to be adaptable in their responses. “You find the funny side, otherwise your heart would break.”

There is a Christmas wedding to prepare for. The reader is caught up in the celebrations. We read what marriage is: “all it [marriage] takes is a capacity to love and to let yourself be loved.”

Continue reading →

A Match Made In Devon by Cathy Bramley

Jul26

You And Me Against The World

A Match Made In Devon by Cathy Bramley is a really delightful contemporary romance that will have the reader enchanted from the start.

Once again Cathy Bramley has produced a really fun light hearted read but with some serious under lying themes. There were times when I literally laughed out loud. And much of the time I read with a smile on my face. “I looked like the love child of Donald Trump and a satsuma.”

The novel highlights the importance of family and good friends. Both stick together and help to overcome when circumstances threaten to overwhelm.

There is the awful topic of infant mortality. The grief that follows, separates rather than unites as parents try to come to terms with their loss. (This is not a spoiler as it has happened before the book starts.)

Continue reading →

Hetty’s Farmhouse Bakery by Cathy Bramley

Mar22

Existing Side By Side

Hetty’s Farmhouse Bakery by Cathy Bramley is a really delightful contemporary novel.

Set on a farm in Cumbria, the reader is treated to rolling hills and lots of sheep. There is a warm community atmosphere where everyone pulls together.

Old fashioned sheep farming combines with a new venture – baking. The novel shows that traditions and innovations can exist side by side. Diversification is the name of the game.

Kindness makes the world go round. “Kindness is a reflection of a person’s true beauty.” There are some very beautiful people in the novel. Kindness looks at mistakes and forgives. Kindness looks to others rather than self. Kindness binds people together.

Continue reading →