This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Victoria Sutton
I love everything about autumn so when Amelia Grey’s Fireside Dream popped through my letterbox with its beautiful autumnal themed cover, I had high hopes and I couldn’t wait to get started. I just had to light the fire and make the hot chocolate first of course…
As Amelia Grey approaches thirty it is prompting her to re-evaluate some areas of her life. She loves her husband Jack and their life together, although she is slightly frustrated by their tiny flat in Hackney. She also enjoys her career as a teacher, but is feeling increasingly undervalued at work. One day as they discuss her upcoming birthday, her friend Carly reminds her of a list they made when they were on their teacher training course – ‘Amelia’s Things to Do Before She’s 30’ – and bottom of that list is a dream she has had since she was a little girl: to live in the country.
With her and Jack currently settled, living and working in London and a close-knit group of friends on their doorstep, it seems like a crazy idea at first. But the more Amelia thinks about it, the more she starts to wonder if it could actually be a possibility, and it isn’t long before Jack starts to come around to the idea too. Cue a house-hunting adventure that isn’t without its disappointments, but which does result in them moving to a cottage in the country not quite before Amelia turns thirty, but just in time for the autumn. It isn’t the dream cottage they had planned on, but they hope with a bit of work then it just might turn into it…
As the renovation project takes shape, it becomes clear that their home won’t be the only thing seeing some changes. From the moment they move in, the strain on Amelia and Jack’s marriage begins to show. Amelia also has to face up to long-standing issues with her family and discover a few things about herself along the way. A lovely cast of characters support her on her journey and provide entertaining, and touching, side plots.As much as the characters and their storylines gripped me, I also enjoyed reading about the renovation project itself. Abby Clements’s descriptions are so vivid, I could really picture the rooms as they took shape – I was especially envious of the gorgeous freestanding bath!
This was a quick, easy and entertaining read that I gobbled up in a couple of sessions. I loved the premise of the story and had an invested interest in Amelia’s quest to turn the cottage into the perfect home as a cottage in the country is a dream of mine too. The cover didn’t lie – Amelia Grey’s Fireside Dream proved to be just perfect for a relaxing evening curled up in front of the fire.
8/10
Abby Clements Website