I enjoyed this book but not as much as Twelve Days of Christmas.. read it in record time though!! another unputadownable book. ( )

I enjoyed this book but not as much as Twelve Days of Christmas.. read it in record time though!! another unputadownable book. ( )

Sophy Winter unexpectedly inherits an old mansion in the English countryside. Since she's been working as a housekeeper, she sets to right away to put the place in order. She butts heads with Seth, her head gardener, who's convinced money should be spent on the grounds, not the house. There's also Jack, who expected to inherit and hopes to charm Sophy out of the place.
Like other of Ms. Ashley's books, there's a secondary mystery regarding Shakespeare which fits in perfectly with the book title and other references. The village of Sticklepond in Lancashire where the story is set is wonderful, and all the characters add a lot to the story and setting. I like that Sophy is older and has a grown daughter, unusual in a romance book. She's also a hard worker and there's information about old home restoration and gardening which I also enjoyed muchly.
I'm reading right through this author's back library and she's quickly becoming a favorite. Her stories are not quite the usual fare but literate with complex and interesting characters. ( )

I failed to see this as romcom. This book mostly about how to fix a house, a garden and estate financial, there is hardly romance. And comedy? Did I miss something?

Anyway, I'm getting tired of a heroine that cannot stand up for herself and let others walk all over them.
( )

I'd read this again. Love the was she set about improving the home ( )