At the beginning not quite sure about this book, I soon got very fond of all characters. Enjoyable read. ( )

Das Haus in Cornwall, das malerische Cottage Moorgate, wird Schauplatz für eine Familiensaga. Im Mittelpunkt steht Maudie, eine ältere Dame, die Moorgate von ihrem verstorbenen Mann geerbt hat und es verkaufen möchte. Selina, die Tochter des Mannes aus erster Ehe, kann sich damit nur schwer abfinden. Zwischen ihr und Maudie herrscht schon immer Zwietracht. Doch Posy, die Enkelin, hat ein gutes Verhältnis zu Maudie.
Der Verkauf wird von Rob abgewickelt, der sich selbst sofort in das Cottage verliebt hat. Er lernt die todkranke Melissa kennen und verbringt mit ihr schöne Tage in Moorgate, ohne zu wissen, dass sie nicht mehr lange zu leben hat.
An den verwinkelten Handlungsfäden (und das sind noch nicht alle) erkennt man schon, dass es sich hier um einen typischen englischen Wohlfühlroman ala Rosamunde Pilcher handelt. Das Buch ist völlig in Ordnung, wenn man sich nicht mehr verspricht. ( )

a perfectly charming chick book that was great to listen to in the car for a long trip. loved the characters and enjoyed having them with me for the ride! ( )

The first time I read this, nearly seven years ago, I thought it a wonderful book. I rated it very highly, and recommended it enthusiastically.

So, in re-reading my Marcia Willett novels, I was particularly looking forward to re-reading this one.

And, indeed, it's a nice story. Maudie decides to sell Moorgate, the old family holiday home. She has arguments with her step-daughter, and happy weekends with her step-granddaughter. She adopts a dog, and wonders if the house will ever sell.

Rob, who has been renovating Moorgate, is keeping an eye on it. Something strange is evidently going on, too...

Meanwhile, Melissa knows she won't live long, having stopped all treatment for her terminal illness. She wants a week away on her own, in a place where nobody knows how ill she is. She sees Moorgate advertised, and decides to go and visit it.

Their stories inter-link, and there are some good character studies. I found the story sometimes moving, often gripping - having forgotten most of it since my first reading - and the ending was positive and hopeful. ( )

Ah, a wonderful winter story with love, tragedy and a happy ever after ending.
Listened to it on Audible.com. Excellent narrator.