
Member Reviews

Cassie Beresford is feeling pretty smug. She's happily married to practically her first boyfriend, living her dream life in a modern house with two children and about to step into her dream job as deputy head of the local secondary school. Then a drunken friend announces to the entire audience at a charity dinner auction that Cassie's husband has been having an affair with his wife (Cassie's best friend for almost as long as she has known her husband) for the past two years. Suddenly the life that was so different from her hippy mother's is disintegrating around her ears. Suddenly alone, she finds out that she has been promoted to acting head after the head teacher died of a heart attack. Then, when things can't seem to get any worse, she finds out that local landowners are planning to build 3,000 homes on a beautiful piece of land backing onto her grandfather's house that he has planted with wildflowers and has become known as his field as a result. Cassie is dealing with her grandfather, her hippy mother, her goth daughter, recalcitrant parents and children at the school, the school governors, her ex-BFF and her ex-husband and the realisation that she may have over-compensated for her what she perceives as the short-comings of her childhood. I really enjoyed this novel, it had enough characters to be interesting, enough red herrings to make the love interest a surprise, enough plot to move the story along and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. |

A beautifully written story about a village. A village full,of lovable, independent, amazing people. All the characters are developed quite well, from the main character, down to the school janitor. I feel in love with each and every one, except Mark & Serpentina! LOL The adults, along with the teens & young school children all had a part of the story, and the way it’s written you can’t help but love them and care about the outcome. Disclaimer: I was given a free advance copy from NetGalley in return for my honest review. |

Looking for a light, cozy read to enjoy? You've found it! What a fun story! A lovely village, wonderful friends and family, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested. You're in for a treat with A Village Affair. Julie Houston is a new author for me, but after reading this gem I can't wait to read more of her books! |

I have never heard of this author before but the cover and description sounded really good and I'm so pleased I chose to read it as it's simply brilliant. I didn't want the book to end at all the characters were brilliant along with the countryside and the plot for the story was brilliant. Just couldn't put the book down and would so love to see a follow on as amazingly well written and can see more from them all. The book is so heartwarming and full of heartbreak, starting again, fighting for what is right and romance and can you be with who you want to be with or not. Highly recommend this book to anyone and worth far more than five stars for sure simply brilliant and about families to. Cassie is just about to start a new job as a deputy head at the village school and just before she is due to start she is out at an auction and one of her best friends husbands announces that Cassie's husband Mark and his wife Tina are having an affair and have done for two years. This turns poor cassie's life upside down she kicks her husband out and has to think about telling her two children Freya's and tom. She gets a phone call from the school and she thinks they don't want her as they have heard about her husbands affair but in fact they want her to act as head as sadly the head has passed away. She throws herself into work and soon learns that mr Edward Bramforth who owns a lot of farming land in the village wants to sell up and build houses and a new school and a ski slope but she doesn't agree. Paula cassie's mother suggests she goes away in the October half term so she can find herself again and while away she meets handsome Xavier and she falls for him but then she learns his father is Edward so what can she do. Once home she again throws herself in to work and when she hears from Xavier she can't resist seeing him but when her mum comes home and sees them together she can't help but drop a bombshell on them. How do they cope and what is the outcome of this secret will more follow and can they be happy together or not and will the land be built on or not. Will everyone be happy in the end or with there be more heartbreak. A simply brilliant book and must be read. |

This book is set to become one of my guilty pleasures, perfect to read wrapped in a duvet and drinking hot chocolate. Julie Houston delivers a novel that is absorbing, amusing, romantic and unpredictable. The ending, in particular, was something that I wasn't expecting. Cassie Beresford has recently been appointed deputy head at the village primary school, Little Acorns, but just before she takes up her new position she discovers that her husband has been having an affair with her best friend. To top it all, the school's headteacher dies and Cassie finds herself acting as temporary head. The characters in this story are well rounded and relatable, and I found myself going through a whole gamut of emotions as I shared their experiences, joys and disappointments, fears and triumphs. I absolutely loved this book, I would recommend that you read it. |

I was hooked from the description on the back, lovely read and a fantastic ending with some surprising twists along the way. I was slightly worried that the book wouldn't be as good as the description made it out to be however I was wrong to worry. Couldn't put it down and will read it again in the future. Will definitely be on the look out for more from this author! |