Ashcombe was the most beautiful house Saskia
had ever seen as a little girl. A rambling pink cottage on the edge of
the Suffolk village of Melbury Green, its enchanting garden provided a
fairy-tale playground of seclusion, a perfect sanctuary to hide from the
tragedy which shattered her childhood.
Now an adult, Saskia is still living at Ashcombe and as a book restorer devotes her days tending to the broken, battered books that find their way to her, daydreaming about the people who had once turned their pages. When she discovers a notebook carefully concealed in an old Bible - and realising someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to hide a story of their own - Saskia finds herself drawn into a heart-rending tale of wartime love...
Review
After a family tragedy Saskia moves into Ashcombe together with her father and two grandfathers. They try to rebuild their lives and to find as much happiness as they can. When Saskia was still a child this solution was absolutely perfect, but now she's in her thirties and she's still living with her family. She even works from home. She's a book restorer and she helps her father who has a second hand bookshop. He's an expert when it comes to valuable and precious books. When he gives Saskia an old bible to restore she finds a hidden diary inside. She starts reading and discovers a beautiful love story about a man who worked at Bletchley Park during World War II. Soon she finds out that the diary belongs to someone her age. She's only just met him and she doesn't know what to think of him. Will she be able to find out what happened to the writer of the diary and what will come of her own life? She can't live with her family forever, or can she?
I enjoyed reading The Dandelion Years very much. There are two stories. One is about Saskia and the people around her and the other is about Jacob, the man who has written the diary. His story is a beautiful love story. I could imagine why Saskia couldn't stay away from it, I wanted to keep on reading as well. Saskia is an unusual woman. She isn't outgoing and social and lives a life in relative solitude. There have been friends and boyfriends, but she likes being on her own. It takes a while before she lets anyone in. The same goes for her father. They're kind and heartwarming people and that was what made this story so perfect. Something has to change for both of them as nobody will live forever and the grandfathers are already quite old.
I liked the combination of old and young people as the main characters of the book, it works really well. I wanted everyone to be healthy and happy, but that isn't how life works. Erica James knows how to use both joy and tragedy in her stories, they're always moving and beautiful. I love Erica James's books and have read quite a few. This one is my absolute favorite, it's brilliant.
Giveaway
Enter the giveaway to win a paperback copy of The Dandelion Years and dandelion earrings made in Australia. Good luck!
Now an adult, Saskia is still living at Ashcombe and as a book restorer devotes her days tending to the broken, battered books that find their way to her, daydreaming about the people who had once turned their pages. When she discovers a notebook carefully concealed in an old Bible - and realising someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to hide a story of their own - Saskia finds herself drawn into a heart-rending tale of wartime love...
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Review
After a family tragedy Saskia moves into Ashcombe together with her father and two grandfathers. They try to rebuild their lives and to find as much happiness as they can. When Saskia was still a child this solution was absolutely perfect, but now she's in her thirties and she's still living with her family. She even works from home. She's a book restorer and she helps her father who has a second hand bookshop. He's an expert when it comes to valuable and precious books. When he gives Saskia an old bible to restore she finds a hidden diary inside. She starts reading and discovers a beautiful love story about a man who worked at Bletchley Park during World War II. Soon she finds out that the diary belongs to someone her age. She's only just met him and she doesn't know what to think of him. Will she be able to find out what happened to the writer of the diary and what will come of her own life? She can't live with her family forever, or can she?
I enjoyed reading The Dandelion Years very much. There are two stories. One is about Saskia and the people around her and the other is about Jacob, the man who has written the diary. His story is a beautiful love story. I could imagine why Saskia couldn't stay away from it, I wanted to keep on reading as well. Saskia is an unusual woman. She isn't outgoing and social and lives a life in relative solitude. There have been friends and boyfriends, but she likes being on her own. It takes a while before she lets anyone in. The same goes for her father. They're kind and heartwarming people and that was what made this story so perfect. Something has to change for both of them as nobody will live forever and the grandfathers are already quite old.
I liked the combination of old and young people as the main characters of the book, it works really well. I wanted everyone to be healthy and happy, but that isn't how life works. Erica James knows how to use both joy and tragedy in her stories, they're always moving and beautiful. I love Erica James's books and have read quite a few. This one is my absolute favorite, it's brilliant.
Giveaway
Enter the giveaway to win a paperback copy of The Dandelion Years and dandelion earrings made in Australia. Good luck!
I
will contact the winner on twitter or via email. If I don't get a reply
within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways
are international.
It sounds like a wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteI like the cover and it sounds interesting
ReplyDeleteThe idea that there was a hidden journal is a mystery that you want to solve.
ReplyDeleteI love to find out what the title actually means.
ReplyDeletefor the characters
ReplyDeleteI am interested in the wartime story and finding more about the secrets that have been hidden
ReplyDeleteVery interested in new authors, and the time period sounds interesting x
ReplyDeleteSheena Naomi Grencio
ReplyDeleteI love reading books :)
i love reading and this seems like a great book for the summer x
ReplyDeleteThink this would be a lovely light hearted read, that would make you smile.
ReplyDeleteI have to confess that I love to read all books :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this book as it sounds such a wonderful read and would be a fab read to curl up with
ReplyDeleteI love reading/watching about Bletchley Park - that whole codebreaker period is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThis books is quite insteresting so I want to read it.
ReplyDeleteWould be interesting to read
ReplyDeleteIt sounds good.
ReplyDeletei need something new to read xx
ReplyDeleteI love reading.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the awesome giveaways :)
I think I made a mistake in the form today. My share link is this: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106078120190748768112/posts/JABPuQ8mUvn
Hi!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the awesome giveaways :)
I think I made a mistake in the form today. My share link is this: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106078120190748768112/posts/JABPuQ8mUvn
my daughter would love to read that book
ReplyDeleteI love to read and I finally have time for it! Plus I could a use a good family finding happiness book!
ReplyDeleteMary Loki
I have actually read and reviewed the book but I would gift it to my
ReplyDeleteMum or my auntie as I know they would love it.
i love reading and this seems like a great book for winter time!
ReplyDeleteI love Erica James books and would love to read this one.
ReplyDeleteI like the concept of the diary and the several stories woven together.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
It might be a beautiful story!
ReplyDeleteErica James is one of my favourite authors.
ReplyDeleteSomething new to try!
ReplyDeleteI like the fun cover and synopsis. It sounds like a cute book!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like an interesting book
ReplyDeleteJade H
It looks like an enjoyable book
ReplyDeletebecause i love reading
ReplyDeleteThe cover looks interesting
ReplyDelete