Welcoming one of my Favorite New Books!
Sometimes a Little Something
Can Mean Everything…
The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker
Meet Lucy, aged 25, and Brenda, aged 79. Neighbours and unlikely friends.
Lucy Baker is not your usual 25-year-old. She is more at home reading and knitting in her cluttered little flat than going out partying and socialising.
79-year-old Brenda is full of wise and wonderful advice, but when she’s diagnosed with dementia her life begins to change. Before her memories slip away for ever, Brenda is desperate to fulfil one last wish – to see Lucy happy.
Gifting Lucy the locket that helped Brenda find her own true love, she hopes to push her reticent neighbour in the right direction. But is Lucy Baker ready for the opportunities and heartbreaks of the real world? It’s about time she put her knitting needles aside and found out…
The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker will be the most charming, heart-warming and feel-good novel you will read this year, perfect for fans of Ruth Hogan and Gail Honeyman.
Purchase Links
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hopes-Dreams-Lucy-Baker-heart-warming-ebook/dp/B07DQ7HKPX/
Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Hopes-Dreams-Lucy-Baker-heart-warming-ebook/dp/B07DQ7HKPX/
The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker by Jenni Keer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Once upon a time there was a young woman named Lucy Baker who lived in a cozy flat filled with knitting projects. A sorceress lived across the street, and Prince Charming disguised as an abrupt businessman lived nearby, waiting to be transformed by the princess. Lucy went to work each day at a toy wholesaler and valiantly worked to please the masters. A magical cat named Scratbag witnessed all the events in this charming tale. Now, I don’t mean to mislead you- this book is written in the modern day, and is totally contemporary, but it does evoke a certain adorable mood.
Yes, this debut novel is part fairy tale, part Wizard of Oz, and completely loveable and engaging. Just like Dorothy in the Wizard, Lucy reaffirms what she believes: accept your friends, and skip and sing on your own yellow brick road. And thanks to her quirky elderly neighbor and best friend Brenda and her gift of a special locket, Lucy learns to look within for her own power and allows herself to dream. “I just had to get you to believe in yourself.”
Filled with madcap moments, earnest thoughts and merry misunderstandings, readers will cheer on Lucy as she deals with George her neighbor and the pursuit of love, her place in her family, and her role at her job. This is a story where nothing really special happens, yet every page charms and delights. From pleasing descriptions, “the willow trunk grew over the water as if the tree was peering from the bank to look at at its own reflection”, to sublime observations, “while Sandra and her eldest daughter reached for the stars, Lucy and her Dad had always been content to watch them twinkle from the ground,” this book will linger with the reader after the last page has been finished. Highly recommend.
Two side notes: this book at times had an omniscient viewpoint, interesting. Also, while I know American readers, myself included, adore Briticisms, this book is chock full of them- so be prepared to be lost and at the same time, delighted.
Thanks to NetGalley.com, RachelsRandomResources.com and the publisher Avon Books UK for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Author Bio – Jenni Keer is a history graduate who embarked on a career in contract flooring before settling in the middle of the Suffolk countryside with her antique furniture restorer husband. She has valiantly attempted to master the ancient art of housework but with four teenage boys in the house it remains a mystery. Instead, she spends her time at the keyboard writing women’s fiction to combat the testosterone-fuelled atmosphere with her number one fan #Blindcat by her side. Much younger in her head than she is on paper, she adores any excuse for fancy-dress and is part of a disco formation dance team.
Social Media Links –
Twitter @JenniKeer
Instagram jennikeer
Website – https://jennikeer.co.uk/
GIVEAWAY
Giveaway to Win The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker goodies (UK Only)
Prize contains – Thornton’s fudge, a Nu notebook, a Hopes and Dreams bookmark and a set of five “Scratbag” blank greetings cards designed by Jenni Keer
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494176/?
About the Author
