How a good intention changes a town

Synopsis

Because we all need something to smile about!

She may be down but don’t count this determined single mum out just yet…

Nine years ago, Zoe Taylor returned from London to the quiet hamlet of Westholme with her tail between her legs and a bun in the oven. Where once her job as a journalist saw her tearing off to Paris at a moment’s notice after a lead, now the single mum covers the local news desk. At least, she did…until she’s unceremoniously let go.

When Zoe invites her friends over to commiserate, wine and whining soon turns into something more… and before the night is out she’s plotted her next step: The Good News Gazette.

Now, as a developer threatens to force Westholme into the twenty-first century, Zoe’s good news movement finds her leading a covert campaign as a community crusader. She may have started The Good News Gazette as a way to save herself, but she might just be able to save Westholme in the process…

My review

Zoe Taylor is a single – mother working at the local news desk. That is, until she’s let go. While wining and whining with her best friends, a new idea is being made, writing a news paper and a blog only containing good news. And so The Good News Gazette is born.
When the news reaches that a developer wants to change the Westholme parade into a fancy shopping area and thus changing all the inhabitants’ lives, Zoe finds herself leading a campaign to save the town. However, while trying to save the town, Zoe starts to learn more about herself… 

This story took me a while before I was totally submerged into it. But once I was ‘in it’, I found it impossible to tear myself away. 

At the start of the story, I didn’t like Zoe 100%. Yes, she is a very committed mother, she would do anything for her little boy. But at the same time, she is also a bit overprotective. Also, the fact that she keeps on turning late at work was an eyesore. But that is more because I am the kind of person who turns up 10 minutes earlier everywhere, just to be sure I am on time. 

But at the same time I also felt sorry for her. Because not only did she have her dream crushed when she got pregnant, she also returned home to Westholme with her tail between her legs. She tries to make the best out of her situation, but it’s obvious that things aren’t easy. She does her best to raise Charlie on her own, but the absence of Charlie’s father, and the ability of keeping disappointing Charlie, broke my heart… 

As soon as the crusade starts, the story starts to fly and Zoe starts to open up more. We see how her listening to the community makes a change in her too. While at the start, she was rather on her own, with the Gazette and her quest to save the parade, she makes new friends, become a true, estimated member of the community. And we see her self – esteem also grow!
The effect of working to safe Westholme also made her loosen up, letting the reins go bit by bit.
We see her change into a strong woman who doesn’t give up easily, someone to admire and be proud of to have in your community. 

I liked how a community started to work together, even if there were a few idiots on the Facebook page…
And seeing how they start to rely on each other, making new, strong friendships warmed my heart. 

There is also of course a love interest. And perhaps having a love interest that isn’t that perfect at all, having made mistakes in the past, was even better for the story and for Zoe. Because nobody in real life is perfect, and we all make mistakes, but it‘s about what we learn from those mistakes.
And also seeing how slowly Zoe starts to realize that it’s okay to think about her own happiness, meeting someone new, shows us that you being happy brings also happiness to our beloved ones. 

A wonderful story about a whole community coming together, to fight for their values, finding yourself and daring to start afresh with your new found strength. What more can you want?