Small villages in England make for an enjoyable setting with
meddlesome villagers and quirky (some bordering on being caricatures)
characters. But it’s all lighthearted and rather fun.
Harriet Haversham lives in Duckton-by-Dale, a village so
tiny that it almost seems that everyone is somehow related to everyone else; or
are best friends. Grace Pinkerton is a London girl facing problems in the
company that she founded and made successful. One of the employees of Grace’s
organisation has accused grace of sexual assault and Grace is asked to absent
herself while the Board looks into the matter. Grace first goes to Devon to her
mother but can’t stay there too long. Her maternal aunt, Vera, ostensibly goes
on a Mediterranean cruise and asks Grace to dog-sit her two dogs in Duckton-by-Dale.
Secretly, Vera and her partner, Jenny, are trying to set up Grace with Jenny’s
heartbroken daughter, Harriet.
The build-up of the attraction and relationship between
Grace and Harriet is evenly paced and well done. Some of the conversations are
also fun. The ridiculous secondary characters are mostly slapstick. We wish the
accusation against Grace was better resolved. She should’ve come on top and then
chosen to leave it all for Harriet.
Nonetheless, this is an entertaining read.
⭐⭐⭐
