Product Description

Ellie Summers's life is unravelling. A couple of months ago, she was quite happy living with her boyfriend Rick in their little cottage, producing paintings of local people's homes. But now, finding herself pregnant - and discovering that Rick is less than enthusiastic about imminent parenthood - things seem rather more complicated. Grace Soudley's life has been coming apart for more than a couple of months. Abandoned by her unsuitable husband for another woman, her only real security is the wonderful old house she was left by her godmother. She's scraped together enough money to repair the roof but, riddled with damp and dry rot, Luckenham Park is in serious danger of disintegrating around her unless she finds some more money fast. When Ellie and Grace meet, the two very different women suddenly find they can help each other out. Ellie needs a place to stay; Grace needs a lodger. Both of them need a friend. But then Grace's step-daughter Demi arrives on the scene, followed by the disconcertingly engaging Flynn Cormack - who seems determined to help. And when Grace discovers some beautiful painted panels - which may or may not be rather valuable - hidden behind the tattered dining room curtains, the whole business of restoration starts to get serious -

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #126276 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Review
"'A heart-warming tale of female friendship, fizzing with Fforde's distinctive brand of humour' Sunday Express"

From the Publisher
THE IRRESISTIBLE NEW NOVEL BY THEBESTSELLING AUTHOR OF PARADISE FIELDS

From the Back Cover
Ellie Summers' life is unravelling. Finding herself pregnant – and her sexy but idle boyfriend Rick less than enthusiastic about parenthood – she needs a plan. Fast.

Grace Soudley's life is also coming apart at the seams – her only security is the beautiful yet crumbling old house she was left by her godmother. But unless she can find a fortune, Luckenham House will disintegrate around her.

When Ellie and Grace meet, the two very different women find they can help each other out. Ellie needs a place to stay; Grace needs a lodger. Both of them need a friend. But then the disconcertingly engaging Flynn Cormack arrives on the scene, apparently determined to help. And when Grace discovers some beautiful painted panels hidden behind the tattered dining-room curtains, the whole business of restoration starts to get serious...

Customer Reviews

Well done, Katie!
Much of life is unreliable and disappointing - but Katie Fforde books don't fall into this category. Katie does have somewhat of a regular format - protagonists that seem ill-suited, but turn out to be perfect. And there's never any London glamour and glitz. But another always-present element of the Fforde formula is sold writing, great plot lines, witty (yet believable) dialog. Restoring Grace is no exception - in fact, its one of the best of her books, certainly the best one of recent years. That's not to say that Paradise Fields or Highland Fling weren't good, they were - but Restoring Grace is fabulous. So, what's it about? Grace has been left at odds - her ex-husband has left her with a nice bed, great linens, and a historical house that's rotting away, requiring repairs far beyond her marriage settlement or her meager earnings as a wine writer. Ellie is an artist with a handsome, charismatic boyfriend - who has no interest in becoming a father. Which is problematic, since Ellie is pregnant and determined to have the baby. Ellie and Grace fall together and discover some potentially valuable paintings in Grace's rotting home. Along the way, they also discover a surly-on-the-outside, solid-gold-at-heart local land developer and a prickly-on-the-outside but (yes, here it comes) solid-gold-at-heart art restoration expert - and you know where this is going, but the fun is all in getting there. Add in Grace's horrid siblings, very weird ex-husband (what DID she see in him), ex-husband's first wife, ex-step-daughter - well, a cast of characters that goes on and adds to the humor of the story. And as the extra icing on the cake - Flynn (surly land developer) is really the best "leading man" Fforde's written in years. His character (and attractiveness) just leap off the page. A must read, whether you're a long-time Fforde fan or just discovering her for the first time.

Restoring Grace.
If you like katie Fford novels then this should not fail to be a winner. It's an easy read that had the faint recollection of Statley Pursuits. I warmed to the two main characters instantly, although I can't believe anyone would tollerate a sister like Grace had. If this is your first Katie Fford novel, it's not the best, but worth the read.

A delicious slow burn
I also found this book a slow starter and I'm not really into the restoration and art themes - but the central love stories really engaged me. I loved Flynn but it was Ran I found especially sexy. A lovely summer read...