Review: Paradise Fields

Author: Katie Fforde
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4/5
Grade: D - 18 and up (sexual content)

Katie Fford is one of the few 'romance' writers I read, though I actually think of her books as more of romantic-comedy. Her characters are funny, down-to-earth, flawed, marvelous and sweet. They generally have an average life, but a huge amount of heart and spirit.

In Paradise Fields, Nel is over forty, over weight, and over-involved in saving everyone around her. Her life has been given to her three children: two sons, who are now in college, and one daughter in her last year of high school. Widowed ten years before, Nel has never had the time nor the inclination to date. Besides, she never wanted a man telling her children what to do, it was hard enough when it was their father.

Six months into a very calm and quiet relationship with a slightly irritating real estate agent, Nel's life is turned upside down by a man who kisses her as she is selling mistletoe. She finds the passion that has been buried in so many years of taking care of the world and ignoring herself. Unfortunately the man is the solicitor for the couple who have put her job and life's work at the Hospice in danger. Should life be found again after forty, or will Nel stay with the safe and familiar?

Paradise Fields continues on in the same light-hearted yet realistic style Fforde's other novels have endeared themselves with.

Visit the author's Website: www.katiefforde.com