After a shocking discovery, how easy is it to start again?

Synopsis

49-year-old Tilly Thomas would never have known any different if she hadn’t unexpectedly turned up at hubby Robin’s office to surprise him with an off-the-cuff evening at the theatre.  Instead, the surprise is on Tilly when she interrupts Robin and his young PA in a compromising position.  

Stumbling from the office, blinded by tears, Tilly thanks God she was never gifted the children she once craved and is spared explaining why Mummy and Daddy will now be living apart.  Instead, Tilly has an adopted daughter – but this little girl has a wet nose and warm heart.  

Mongrel Cindy is privy to all her mummy’s hopes and dreams as Tilly prepares to start over in the village of Starlight Croft.  Thank goodness a dog can’t speak because Cindy knows things her mistress has never shared, including a secret that once broke Tilly’s heart.

As Tilly prepares to embrace an unknown future and make peace with her past, she discovers that sometimes difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations…

My review

While Tilly Thomas wanted to surprise her husband Robin at his office, it was her to get the surprise of a lifetime. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good surprise, as she found Robin very “busy” with his PA… And now at the age of 49, Tilly needs to start all over, while Robin is pushing her to buy her out of the house that has been her home for years. For once, Tilly is happy that she and Robin never had any children. Although Tilly sees her lovely mongrel Cindy as one, and they even have conversations! However, Tilly is ready to start again, and she has fallen in love with the quaint village of Starlight Croft, and especially Starlight Cottage. But even if the cottage itself isn’t available anymore, the village and its inhabitants are more than willingly in accepting  Tilly into their midst. And while Tilly adapts to her new life, there may be different hurdles to still overcome, but even the difficult hurdles  can lead to beautiful things…

I always love reading books about fresh starts. Although of course it saddens me that at first the main character has to go through something painful. And in a way, it also angers me because it is also such a cliché…

And that is exactly how Tilly’s story takes off, with a cliché of the husband having an affair with his PA. But what angered me even more, was Robin’s lightness over the situation… When it’s decided to end their marriage, Robin just wants to buy her out, as he wants the house he used to live in with Tilly, for him and his new girlfriend. Not only that, but he is even pestering Tilly about it, while Tilly is not only trying to get her head around the whole situation…

It cannot be easy to start over again, to find a new place to live in. But it was sweet to see how Tilly fell in love with Starlight Cottage. Of course her way of handling things, as she works in the same place that is selling the cottage, isn’t perhaps the most legit way, but I could understand how she wanted to whatever is possible to get those keys.

While I wanted her to get the cottage of her dreams, I also felt it was fitting that perhaps she didn’t get it. Because in life things don’t always go as we want or dream. But I admired Tilly’s determination on not giving up on living in the village. If Starlight Cottage is out of the question, that doesn’t mean that she cannot find another wonderful place to stay in Starlight Croft, right?

I have to admit, I liked Tilly a lot in this, but there were also several moments that I was a bit doubting her actions and state of mind. I know that there are many people talking to their pets, and seeing them as their children. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But having complete conversations with Cindy the Dog, and imagining Cindy’s responses and actual words of advice, well, it was a tiiiiiiiiiiiiny bit strange to read. Yet that also added a level of humour to the story, that’s for sure!

And the fact that Tilly cannot let go of the cottage, I could easily comprehend that people would think she is some kind of stalker 😊. Especially the new owner of the cottage, Milo.

To say that Tilly and Milo start off badly, would be a real understatement. But Starlight Cottage couldn’t possibly go to a bad person, could it?

The more I read about Tilly and her fresh start, the more I liked her. Despite everything she has been through lately, and even if she has some moments of despair, she doesn’t give up easily. With the help and support of her best friend, Tilly is slowly able to start again. And when she has an offer that many would run away from, she sees this as a sign and accepts it.

But there is more to Tilly than just a fresh – divorced woman making a new start. Because rather out of the blue, there is the revelation of a secret she has been keeping for many years. A secret that hasn’t been shared with anyone. A secret that left even me a bit flabbergasted, even if I always tell that I see such things coming.

There is a lot of room for laughter in this book, but also for misunderstanding and even a few tears here and there. But mainly, there is a lot of room for hope in this book. Because Debbie Viggiano shows us that no matter how many lemons life throws us, life can also give us the chance to make lemonade out of it.

And lemonade is exactly what Tilly is making out of her situation. She doesn’t throw constantly pity parties, but tries to make the best out of each situation. And she doesn’t forget about those close to her. Because not only does she have the best kind of friend, but she is also the best kind of friend, a protective one.

I absolutely loved reading this story that perhaps started with a cliché, yet took of on its own. This story takes us for sure on a wonderful journey, a journey filled with strength, determination, hope and even love has a place in this marvellous book. Not only the obvious love that quickly sparks off the pages, like Tilly’s love for Cindy, or the love for Tilly’s best friend Lisa but also a few special ones…

As this is the first book of a series, it for sure can count as a start! I am now eagerly waiting for the next book to come out!