Great to be back in Little Woodford and another lovely book in this series. Full of great characters, even if some slightly annoying, and plenty of humour with a good storyline making this a very enjoyable light read

Homes and Hearths in Little Woodford by Catherine Jones

Maxine and Gordon’s newly started retirement and future plans have just gone right out the window! Easy going, patient Maxine is descended upon by ailing difficult mother-in-law, divorcing sister, return of a difficult child and her partner and chaos rained down on their long worked for retirement and something has to give.

Great read , great humour loved the characters and seeing the not so likeable ones at times at least get their comeuppance! Cant wait to visit Little Woodford again.

OMG, I kept going, 'what else can go wrong for Maxine?' in this read...and the author would make something happen just down the line! Maxine - what a character! What patience, I should say. Loved this read because it was so easy to root for Maxine, to want the others to all get their well-deserved come-uppance. The slice of village life was also really lovely throughout. However, all the drama? Not for the faint-hearted (you'll secretly be wanting to slap Abi once or twice...or thrice...)

Nice, little easy to read story about family life. Maxine & her husband are settling into retirement & each other's company, when suddenly their lives are turned upside down when their daughter & son in law move back in, when renovating a cottage nearby. Then along comes an ailing mother & a newly divorces sister, which leaves Maxine wondering if her home will ever be hers again.

I read this book courtesy of NetGalley. This is the first book I've read in the Little Woodford series. It's a good light read and seems to stand on it's own without having read others in the series. Little Woodford is a quintessential English country town and this book concentrates on the trials and tribulations of one family addressing newly retired couple Gordon and Maxine who suddenly find themselves in the middle of family upheaval. Within a few days their peaceful life is shattered by the younger generation moving back home whilst doing up a house and Gordon's mother having to also move in thanks to health issues. It's a situation a lot of us can relate to as the tensions grow against the backdrop of a sleepy picturesque English town with plenty going on behind the scenes. A little slow to start but picked up despite some objectionable characters and a little predictable in places but but a good cosy read with some humour on the way.

A nice story about a retired couple in who find their life disrupted when their daughter returns to the nest and the mother in law comes to stay. Not exciting but a pleasant read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

Enjoyable book to read. Nice easy going fun to read. It was well written nice story. It was t the most exciting book I’ve read but pleasant

Gordon and Maxine are now retired in the home of their dreams: one that they scrimped and saved to own and have things now JUST to their liking now that their difficult daughter is living in London. They’ve got a routine and a schedule, and frankly – don't give a damn who likes it or not. Between his golf and gardening and her watercolors club, book club and volunteering: their days are full, their nights are quiet, and they are content, thank you very much.

But quietly wandering through their days is not to be for these two with their daughter and her partner ‘staying for a bit’ as their new cottage in Little Woodford is undergoing renovations, Max’s sister is in the midst of a divorce, and finally, Gordon’s mother had a fall and needs full-time care. It’s not long before Max, having lost her quiet moments, her shed where she painted and any semblance of “help” around the house that she puts her foot down and leaves. Leaving Gordon and her daughter to manage cooking, cleaning and care for her mother-in-law. Unbeknownst to her, Max’s friends are pushing forward with her ‘sketches’ and getting together an exhibition to ‘show her ungrateful family’ that she has talent and skill, far beyond cooking, cleaning and caring.

Max and her frustrations with EVERYONE were easy to relate to, and her daughter’s snappish temperament, her husband’s need to ‘keep peace’ , her mother-in-law and her needs and judgment were straws that weighed heavily on her. And while we all know that we’d HOPE to have support and help when the chips are down, it’s often the woman of the house who has to make dramatic changes to demand her own space and respect before it is given. A little different, with funny and heartwarming moments in between the every-single ‘worst case scenario’ that happens, the story is a solid read and full of hope: a great escape to a small village where family and friends are often the saving grace in difficult times.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aLe /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

A couple intent on enjoying retirement suddenly finds themselves inundated with annoyingly demanding family members. This easy read provides an entertaining and enlightening look at what happens to "empty nesters" when the fledglings decide to return, and how to solve the problems that ensue.

I liked the portrayal of the retirees as busy and fulfilled, rather than stereotypical oldies who sit around and play cards or live vicariously through their kids or grandkids. The small town setting is a joy, and sounds like a place I would like to visit or even live! I hope to read the others in the series. Readers who seek a clean novel with a charming setting will enjoy this book.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

A brilliant and engrossing story that made me smile and kept me hooked.
I liked the characters, the plot and the setting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This book has been very well written with a lovely story line. It makes for a very enjoyable read, you wont want to put it down. Some families think they have the right to turn up at their parents home and expect everything to be done for them. More adult members feel the same way but it is too much for the home owners to bare. read this and really enjoy the whole adventure. I am giving this 5 stars.

This was an ARC from Netgalley given for an honest review.

What happens when everyone decides to descend upon empty nesters? Chaos! And love. Gordon and Maxine are happy with one another and with their hard won home in Little Woodford. At long last, it's going to be all about them. Until it's not. How can they refuse their daughter Abi and her partner Marcus a place to live while they find their own dream home? (Abi's really annoying, btw-you'll feel for Marcus). And if they can bunk in, why not Judith, whose life has imploded. (well, maybe she shouldn't have...and she's not particularly nice to Maxine.) And then there's Anthea, who is unpleasant at the best of times to Maxine and now that she's recovering from a fall (yes, she is cranky). Jones never piles on too much but honestly, I felt for Maxine and Gordon. You might recognize some of what happens from your own life. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Some good chuckles and groans from this one.

Maxine and Gordon are retired and living a peaceful contented life. That is until her daughter (and partner) comes home whilst she is house hunting and her sister needs a place to stay and then her mother-in-law arrives to recover her health. Family is great but these people don't care how they are disrupting the lives of Maxine and Gordon. Even worse, they treat Maxine as a dogsbody. Can she learn to stand up for herself?
This is a great finding your true self book with a slight difference to the usual books in this genre in that the main character is a much older woman. She was great especially as she started to assert herself and find her own place in life.

At the start of this novel, Maxine is very contented and happy with retirement time to enjoy with her husband, both pursuing the hobbies they enjoy. However life changes as her house fills up with demanding family members, leaving her little time or space to use her garden studio to paint, which is her real passion. I was annoyed with her initially for allowing herself to be treated as a domestic doormat by her demanding family, but I clapped out loud when she began to assert herself and her very real talent gained recognition. A very satisfying read.

This was a lovely book about a couple whose dreams of an empty nest are ruined when three members of their family move in with them. This was a great book and I really enjoyed it!

A very pleasurable experience reading this fabulous book, I liked how all the family descended on poor Maxine, totally spoiling her idyllic lifestyle.
Her daughter was so irritating, and then along comes the mother in law from hell to add to the drama! What a difficult time for her, thank goodness for her friends and sister. It was fascinating watching the situations develop and I was intrigued to see how it would all become resolved.

A lovely story perfect book to read during this stressful time.I escaped my world and joined the people who live in this charming town,#netgalkey#ariaboojs

Gordon and Maxine are planning a great retirement since their children left home. Then things suddenly change and they end up with their house full and Maxine having to run after everybody

A lovely story of Maxine who has a lovely life, painting, volunteering at a charity shop and setting up an art club. She finds her life fulfilling until her daughter and partner move back home. Then her mother in law moves in due to her health. Maxine is then totally taken for granted by everyone of them. But she can only take so much before she cracks. Time will tell if her family realise how much they need her and she also begins to believe in herself

I loved this. I could so relate to Maxine at times. It was a brilliant story. Famillies are just great. You just have to read it