Leave It to Fate

I really enjoyed this book! A good, solid read for the intelligent woman :)

Ella loses her job over an unfortunate incident at work. Why her colleague didn't have more of a sense of humour, she just doesn't know. This makes her think about what she really wants, and she finds herself drawing a blank. She has been trying very hard to make her career in art, but everywhere she turns, she runs into brick walls. As if it is fate, she runs into a busker who shares some of his wisdom with her.

Next thing she knows, her mother calls and tells her about her aunt Gillian, who has had a fall and needs help. Her mother certainly has no intention to going into the wilds of Wales, but Ella decides that she would like to get away from her flat mate anyway and borrows a friends car and goes there. Her aunt isn't anything like she expected, but despite first impressions, she thinks her aunt could do with a hand.

Her aunt's late partner's nephew is rather a handsome fella and he catches her eye straight away but of course, the path of true love never runs smooth and there are plenty of obstacles in the way of any possible love story here!

I don't want to give the plot away but this is a terrific story, with interesting characters and sweet moments without being sugary in any way. It did make me want to go and stay in Wales for a while, it has to be said. I am really looking forward to reading more books written by this author :)

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton.

I hugely enjoyed Beth Corby’s debut novel and I have to say I got the same level of enjoyment out of this. She has a great talent for captivating you from the start primarily due to the characters but in this instance the amusing events in the first chapter definitely caught me although I did find it hugely unjust! There’s a mix of all sorts in this, family feuds a bit of a mystery and both welcoming and distrustful strangers but it all adds up to an easy going but engrossing read. I loved the depth of the characters and the beautiful Welsh setting but I think it was just the writing style that made this such a delightful read for me. Can’t wait for book number three!

I received an ARC from Hodder Paperbacks through NetGalley.for an honest review. When I read what the book was about, I knew I was going to like it. There was so much more to this book than I ever expected. There were secrets, surprises, shockers, and then when I thought things were going to be smooth, my heart dropped.
Ella loses her job and on the way to the train, she meets a man that tells her it was probably fate that interfered which caused her to lose her job. She thought about it and made her lists but nothing seemed right. Then her mother called her and said her sister called her thinking she would go there to take care of her so she could get out of the hospital. They haven't spoken in years and she wasn't going to do it. Ella said she would go and take care of her aunt. She stopped at the hospital to see her aunt but her aunt couldn't go home until the next day. So, Ella left and went to her aunt's house and what she found was shocking. Ella has determination and she manages to get a lot accomplished before her aunt comes home.
When her aunt gets home we meet the people in the community. There seem to be things not quite right and they seem distant. But Ella has a way with people and she gets invited into homes that they haven't been invited to for a long time. Ella seems to be just the person who can bring the community together and she does that. Don't get too comfy in your seat because Beth Corby starts letting out the secrets. Just as I finally said yes this was fate and we learn about Gillian's partner, Mike. That is where my heart dropped because I thought something so wonderful was something so wrong. Ella leaves and goes back home and I am sad because she is just so good for the people in the community and everyone loves her. But it isn't the end of the book and Beth tells us the rest of the story. The author seemed to reach deep inside each one of the people, and she brings it all to the surface. It was a wonderful book that offers so much.

Leave It to Fate by Beth Corby a five-star read that fate needs to encourage everyone to read. This was amazing, from the dedication to family and a Nanna spelt the right way (according to my Nanna), to a hospital car park that I am sure I have sat in, to freaking out about spider food!! There are so many moments in this story that will strike a cord with many of us, there is something for everyone in this great story, you will imagine yourselves in the beautiful Welsh hills in the driving rain, chasing ghosts and a beautiful view. I am lucky enough that I live in some other hills in Wales similar but not quiet as remote, and sadly not so filled with Art. I don’t know if it was simply the location, but this story just swept me away. Reading this story almost felt like I was being told a great and passionate story by my friend, like she was filling in the gaps for me, it was such a rich and detailed story that I could feel Bozz rubbing up against my leg wanting his dinner, feel the smoothness of a carved egg. Understand where Gillian is coming from and why she reacts like she does, and warm to the cantankerous older lady. Do yourself a favour and don’t leave it to fate, pick this amazing story up and enjoy your reading.

This book was absolutely amazing!!! At first I felt it was a bit frustrating and boring, and wondered if I'd even finish it, but I'm so glad I stuck at it. This book had me on the edge of my seat with who the vandal was, awwing (is that even a word?!) at the relationship between the leading couple, and getting warm fuzzy feelings about the relationship between niece and aunt. I loved this book so much and felt that it really picked up from when the character moved to Wales and started being the book it promised to be. This is perfect for fans of Robyn Carr as it looked to me to be a cleaner, English/Welsh version of her books in that they're all about a close knit community with an eclectic mix of characters but all really lovely. I am recommending this book to everyone I know and am sincerely hoping it'll become a series as I'd love to hear more of Petra's story whilst still seeing this one progress in the background

This book was amazing! Ella is having a really rough go of it. Losing her, potentially, dream job; her roommate's new paramour is always over, and Ella feels like she really needs something new in her life. After a wise stranger on the train encourages her to leave it to fate, Ella takes it to heart. One call from her mother and Ella knows what she needs to do, drop everything and go take care of aunt Gillian. I felt like the author handled death, loss, and relationships really well; and overall this was a book about taking your life and your future into your own hands (and a lot of girl power here!).

5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I know this is meant to be a romcom but it's also a story about grief, family secrets, and finding happiness. Ella's struggled as an artist but has kept herself afloat with a variety of jobs, including the one she just lost. So she's ready to take a breather when her mother calls and asks her to help out her Aunt Gillian who has been injured. Turns out Gillian's not only laid up, she's down because of the death of her partner Mike- whose secrets came out after his death. Joe, Mike's nephew, well he's quite appealing but there is a problem - or is there? No spoilers from me but know that Corby is a good storyteller. I liked Ella, liked Gillian, liked the setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good one to cheer you up.

After loosing her job, Ella has to decided what to do to get her life back together. After an interesting encounter at the tube station she decides to leave it to fate and to see where it’ll bring her. Little did she know, that she will end up in Wales and have hers and everyone else’s life completely shaken.

I absolutely loved this book! Loved the constant squabbling between Gillian and Ella, Joe’s cavalry, Bryn’s pure heart, and the spirit of community in the village.
Every single character had been introduced slowly in the story so that you could really appreciate every single one of them and get to know their characteristics and know their stories. I personally loved Gillian, an apparent angry and rude woman, but in reality heartbroken by the many uncertainties the her husband’s death brought to light.
The book is an easy RomCom read, with two small twist in the mix which will keep you on the edge of your sit!