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Love Letters
With the bookshop where she works about to close, hopeless romantic Laura Horsley, in a moment of uncharacteristic recklessness, finds herself agreeing to help organize a literary festival deep in the heart of the English countryside. But her initial excitement is rapidly followed by a mounting sense of panic when reality sinks in and she realizes just how much work is involved - especially when an innocent mistake leads the festival committee to mistakenly believe that Laura is a personal friend of the author at the top of their wish-list. Laura might have been secretly infatuated with the infamous Dermot Flynn ever since she studied him at university, but travelling to Ireland to persuade the notorious recluse to come out of hiding is another matter.
Determined to rise to the challenge she sets off to meet her literary hero. But all too soon she's confronted with more than she bargained for - Dermot. The man is maddening, temperamental and up to his ears in a nasty case of writer's block. But he's also infuriatingly attractive - and, apparently, out to add Laura to his list of conquests ...
Determined to rise to the challenge she sets off to meet her literary hero. But all too soon she's confronted with more than she bargained for - Dermot. The man is maddening, temperamental and up to his ears in a nasty case of writer's block. But he's also infuriatingly attractive - and, apparently, out to add Laura to his list of conquests ...
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
160 people are currently reading
2764 people want to read
About the author
Katie Fforde
96 books2,312 followersCatherine Rose Gordon-Cumming was born 27 September 1952 in England, UK, the daughter of Shirley Barbara Laub and Michael Willoughby Gordon-Cumming. Her grandfather was Sir William Gordon-Cumming. Her sister is fellow writer Jane Gordon-Cumming. Katie married Desmond Fforde, cousin of the also writer Jasper Fforde. She has three children: Guy, Francis and Briony and didn't start writing until after the birth of her third child. She has previously worked both as a cleaning lady and in a health food cafe.
Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."
Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.
Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."
Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 511 reviews
May 19, 2021
I had heard great things about Katie Fforde so naturally I wanted to read her work. When ironically enough I bought some books at a bookshop closing down near me, I thought I'd like this.
It starts out very lovely. Laura works at a bookshop and it is closing down. Laura wants to be an editor but soon she'll be out of work but then an opportunity arises where she gets to meet her favorite author and convince him to come to a literary festival. The author, Dermot lives in Ireland and doesn't like to go away from his place of residence. Laura travels to Ireland and tries to persuade him to come to the literary festival but Dermot denies. Also, he is so hot that Laura is ready to sleep with him and seduce him. Also, she's a virgin.
Dermot is like I said hot and well celebrated author. I found him to be rude and not likable at all. I also found Laura to be stupid and have a boring personality.
I really wanted to like but I just couldn't. The plot was very dull and predictable. Predictable was not the issue though but it was the characters that I just couldn't like them. The only thing that I liked was the picturesque countryside.
2 stars
It starts out very lovely. Laura works at a bookshop and it is closing down. Laura wants to be an editor but soon she'll be out of work but then an opportunity arises where she gets to meet her favorite author and convince him to come to a literary festival. The author, Dermot lives in Ireland and doesn't like to go away from his place of residence. Laura travels to Ireland and tries to persuade him to come to the literary festival but Dermot denies. Also, he is so hot that Laura is ready to sleep with him and seduce him. Also, she's a virgin.
Dermot is like I said hot and well celebrated author. I found him to be rude and not likable at all. I also found Laura to be stupid and have a boring personality.
I really wanted to like but I just couldn't. The plot was very dull and predictable. Predictable was not the issue though but it was the characters that I just couldn't like them. The only thing that I liked was the picturesque countryside.
2 stars
May 15, 2011
Laura Horsley (yes, the heroine's name is the least romantic most equine name there could be) is being made redundant at the bookstore she loves. Not because the bookstore is logically closing due to the harsh realities of publishing, just because the store's owner Henry wants to retire. This book loving introvert starts throwing caution to the wind and saying things she'd never have said if her life wasn't being uprooted. She's not rude, she just speaks her mind, which brings her to the attention of a literary agent at the store, Eleanora. Eleanora likes to scheme. And she has just the scheme for this little bookworm. How would Laura like to run a literary festival? She'd just have to convince the most recluse author on the planet, Dermot Flynn, to leave his secluded village in the west of Ireland and come to England. Sure, no problem, seeing as he won't even do an event 5 miles from his house... With her new bff Monica, lead singer of a swing and nostalgia band in tow, off they go to Ireland. After much alcohol, Laura decides that it's a great idea to loose her virginity to the author she has worshiped since college in order to secure his appearing at her festival. Problem is, the next day she doesn't remember what happened. This shy little girl now has to get up the courage to ask this literary lion if they slept together.
Even if they didn't, Laura still wishes to, because she realizes, after now meeting the man, she's in love. She tries to deny her feelings by throwing herself into her work on the festival and subsequently her work in a writing course she's helping Dermot with, but all her work having the ring of Dermot doesn't help to distract her much. But while she may be ignoring her feelings for a certain man, she is embracing her dream of becoming an editor. Laura has finally broken into the rarefied book world and she has a bright future ahead, despite how gloomy her parents are about it. Now if she can just ignore Dermot forevermore and mend her broken heart, then life could be peachy.
Part of me wants to know if this was all some big joke. A book about a character aspiring to be an editor should have logically had an editor itself. The grammatical errors, typos and sentences that just plain didn't make sense, ran rampant through this book. Several times I thought, I should put this down, and then didn't. It really doesn't matter that I finished, it feels like a book I've read a hundred times before, only less original. It's riddled with cliches of the genre and peopled by unlikable characters in stupid situations. There's the wallflower, who obviously is virginal, her bff, the extrovert rocker chick and her other bff, the gay boy. Then add in the dollop of Darcy sex appeal with Dermot and wait to get them together. Once together, break them up for a stupid reason and in the climax get them back together with all problems surmounted. Ug. And ironically, I was in the mood for some really good chick lit. This my friends, is not good chick lit. Laura becomes an extrovert through the heavy and liberal application of alcohol. So girls, remember, to get the guy, start drinking whisky by the tumbler full! The two writers Veronica and Anne who show up to the literary festival are the only reason this is two stars. They are star one and star two, the rest of the book is a zero. Plus, I was once more lured in by a cover. There is NOTHING in the book that that cover relates too! Skip it, that's my advice of the day, seeing as it's going straight into my sell pile. I can only be grateful I picked this up used... and now I know why such a new release was at Half Price Books...
Even if they didn't, Laura still wishes to, because she realizes, after now meeting the man, she's in love. She tries to deny her feelings by throwing herself into her work on the festival and subsequently her work in a writing course she's helping Dermot with, but all her work having the ring of Dermot doesn't help to distract her much. But while she may be ignoring her feelings for a certain man, she is embracing her dream of becoming an editor. Laura has finally broken into the rarefied book world and she has a bright future ahead, despite how gloomy her parents are about it. Now if she can just ignore Dermot forevermore and mend her broken heart, then life could be peachy.
Part of me wants to know if this was all some big joke. A book about a character aspiring to be an editor should have logically had an editor itself. The grammatical errors, typos and sentences that just plain didn't make sense, ran rampant through this book. Several times I thought, I should put this down, and then didn't. It really doesn't matter that I finished, it feels like a book I've read a hundred times before, only less original. It's riddled with cliches of the genre and peopled by unlikable characters in stupid situations. There's the wallflower, who obviously is virginal, her bff, the extrovert rocker chick and her other bff, the gay boy. Then add in the dollop of Darcy sex appeal with Dermot and wait to get them together. Once together, break them up for a stupid reason and in the climax get them back together with all problems surmounted. Ug. And ironically, I was in the mood for some really good chick lit. This my friends, is not good chick lit. Laura becomes an extrovert through the heavy and liberal application of alcohol. So girls, remember, to get the guy, start drinking whisky by the tumbler full! The two writers Veronica and Anne who show up to the literary festival are the only reason this is two stars. They are star one and star two, the rest of the book is a zero. Plus, I was once more lured in by a cover. There is NOTHING in the book that that cover relates too! Skip it, that's my advice of the day, seeing as it's going straight into my sell pile. I can only be grateful I picked this up used... and now I know why such a new release was at Half Price Books...
November 7, 2019
Good book, but the author made it too long in the end, a lot of unnecessary scenes before the happy end. I always dislike when they make it so dramatic.
November 4, 2018
Katie Fforde books very often have a long buildup, so I was willing to go along for the ride for a while with Laura, even though it seemed to take forever to really get started. The closing of the bookshop where she works has pushed her into exploring the world a bit and it's clear that she needed something to break up the rut she has been in. I didn't mind spending time with her, but there's frankly not a lot of personality there. She likes books. And knows a lot about them. And she's organized and dependable. And she has a huge crush on Dermot that grows into something more as soon as she meets him. Fortunately, her friends Monica and Grant are outstanding and kept my interest well-enough to be going on.
Dermot isn't bad and I sympathized with him finding a way out of his own rut (both personal and professional). This could very well have been an enticing read with the two of them bouncing back and forth with/against each other to find a better/new equilibrium. I really wish it had been that.
Unfortunately, about 80% in, Laura makes some stupid assumptions and spends weeks and chapters avoiding talking about them. By the time she put Dermot off in person (and with a beyond-lame, made-up excuse) I just gave up. If there had been more to her for me to cling to while she works out her stupids, I might have been able to continue. But at this point, she's just being an idiot and I don't care about her enough to keep going until she gets better. Frankly, the inciting incident for her shutdown was just way too conveniently timed so add author manipulation to the bad taste in my mouth.
I really like some of Fforde's books. But not this one, I'm afraid.
Dermot isn't bad and I sympathized with him finding a way out of his own rut (both personal and professional). This could very well have been an enticing read with the two of them bouncing back and forth with/against each other to find a better/new equilibrium. I really wish it had been that.
Unfortunately, about 80% in, Laura makes some stupid assumptions and spends weeks and chapters avoiding talking about them. By the time she put Dermot off in person (and with a beyond-lame, made-up excuse) I just gave up. If there had been more to her for me to cling to while she works out her stupids, I might have been able to continue. But at this point, she's just being an idiot and I don't care about her enough to keep going until she gets better. Frankly, the inciting incident for her shutdown was just way too conveniently timed so add author manipulation to the bad taste in my mouth.
I really like some of Fforde's books. But not this one, I'm afraid.
May 2, 2011
Having read a Katie Fforde novel once before (Going Dutch) and thoroughly enjoying it I decided to give what was at the time, her newest book, a read. I bought it when it came out and only just got around to reading it. I need not have bothered.
Laura Horsley, the main character has lost her job after the independent bookshop she works for closes. She then gets involved in running a literary festival and naturally the book focuses around a romance, in this case between herself and Irish author Dermot Flynn.
I could not stand Laura. The character grated on me something chronic.
She was whiny. One minute she had no confidence the next she had lots (although liked to complain she had none.) She complained she was boring, yet instead of resolving this issue, she mentioned it. A lot. Too much. She was initially portrayed as the slightly geeky one, the one who didn't know what she was really doing in life, a book worm, etc. That was soon abandoned as we see her being what I would consider to be quite a confident, sociable character.
The plot was average. The book was far too long (for the quality of the plot anyway) and it took so long getting to each notable event. Which in turn makes for a boring read.
I can't say I hated it, it definitely had it's moments and I do quite like Katie Fforde's style of writing. Unfortunately for me it was the main character and the lack of pace that made me rate this so low.
I will try another Katie Fforde book because as I said, I have read Going Dutch and I really did enjoy that. We shall see...
Laura Horsley, the main character has lost her job after the independent bookshop she works for closes. She then gets involved in running a literary festival and naturally the book focuses around a romance, in this case between herself and Irish author Dermot Flynn.
I could not stand Laura. The character grated on me something chronic.
She was whiny. One minute she had no confidence the next she had lots (although liked to complain she had none.) She complained she was boring, yet instead of resolving this issue, she mentioned it. A lot. Too much. She was initially portrayed as the slightly geeky one, the one who didn't know what she was really doing in life, a book worm, etc. That was soon abandoned as we see her being what I would consider to be quite a confident, sociable character.
The plot was average. The book was far too long (for the quality of the plot anyway) and it took so long getting to each notable event. Which in turn makes for a boring read.
I can't say I hated it, it definitely had it's moments and I do quite like Katie Fforde's style of writing. Unfortunately for me it was the main character and the lack of pace that made me rate this so low.
I will try another Katie Fforde book because as I said, I have read Going Dutch and I really did enjoy that. We shall see...
September 3, 2018
I needed something light to read, and what's better than a romance novel for that?
Let alone one drenched in the literary world, since our MC is actually organizing a literary festival and trying to rope one of the biggest authors into participating!
I really loved how this book felt so bookish. It definitely was one of my favorite elements.
I also loved how the story was set over a long period of time instead of only a few weeks / months.
The only thing I can remark on, is how sometimes I had the feeling it was dragging a bit. Some events could've been cut shorter or maybe even left out. That would've made the story have a better flow, in my opinion.
Overall, though, I'm glad I picked this one up!
4 / 5
Let alone one drenched in the literary world, since our MC is actually organizing a literary festival and trying to rope one of the biggest authors into participating!
I really loved how this book felt so bookish. It definitely was one of my favorite elements.
I also loved how the story was set over a long period of time instead of only a few weeks / months.
The only thing I can remark on, is how sometimes I had the feeling it was dragging a bit. Some events could've been cut shorter or maybe even left out. That would've made the story have a better flow, in my opinion.
Overall, though, I'm glad I picked this one up!
4 / 5
February 15, 2019
Halfway through I got bored and skipped to the last chapter. Fforde just takes way too long to get to the point. Don’t get me wrong. I really don’t mind waiting if it’s done well. Dickens famously said, “Make them laugh, make them, cry, make them wait”.
This was my second and probably last book by her that I’ll read.
This was my second and probably last book by her that I’ll read.
February 25, 2011
I have only read one Katie Fforde book which I really liked and I had high hopes for this one too, unfortunatley it didn't live up to expectations.
I am someone who loves most books I can get my hands on and it is VERY weird for me to ever give a book such a low rating but I found much about this book unlikable. The heroine Laura annoyed me from the start and kept making stupid choices while drunk after starting out with a paragraph about how she wasn't going to drink too much! Also why does she feel the need to complain about how boring she is and not do anything about it? All of her naive blunders made me want to hit her (and I am not a violent person!) as I am much younger than her and would never make such silly choices. I also found our 'hero', while wittier than Laura, annoyimg too. Where, on what planet, is 'I will if you sleep with me' acceptable!!?? And Lauras infatuation with him after a few lines from his book and a dark, brooding look is ridiculous!
I don't want to be so negative and if you want a book with silly, immature characters then read this book, if you want a book with mature characters don't read this.
I am someone who loves most books I can get my hands on and it is VERY weird for me to ever give a book such a low rating but I found much about this book unlikable. The heroine Laura annoyed me from the start and kept making stupid choices while drunk after starting out with a paragraph about how she wasn't going to drink too much! Also why does she feel the need to complain about how boring she is and not do anything about it? All of her naive blunders made me want to hit her (and I am not a violent person!) as I am much younger than her and would never make such silly choices. I also found our 'hero', while wittier than Laura, annoyimg too. Where, on what planet, is 'I will if you sleep with me' acceptable!!?? And Lauras infatuation with him after a few lines from his book and a dark, brooding look is ridiculous!
I don't want to be so negative and if you want a book with silly, immature characters then read this book, if you want a book with mature characters don't read this.
March 26, 2012
I've read the majority of Ms. Fforde's books, but it's been a while since I've enjoyed one as much as I enjoyed this one.
First, Katie Fforde books are not deep or challenging or meant to bring about great change in the world. They're meant for entertainment, so if you're expecting more, stop.
Second, although her writing is formulaic, this particular novel does have a bit of extra twist in it, and an early pay-off (wink, wink) that keeps the tension going most of the way through the book. But there is a big event in this one - just like the others - that causes the main character, Laura, to meet her object of romance, Dermott. There is some miscommunication, or non-communication, that prevents them from being together right at the beginning, and there's a long drawn-out issue there.
Finally, my biggest complaint about this book is how many minor characters there were. There were a significant amount of people helping to plan and run the event in the book, a literary and music fair, but I feel like the minor characters could have been cut altogether or they could have been merged into one or two composite characters instead. With that change, maybe the other more active minor characters could have had deeper development.
First, Katie Fforde books are not deep or challenging or meant to bring about great change in the world. They're meant for entertainment, so if you're expecting more, stop.
Second, although her writing is formulaic, this particular novel does have a bit of extra twist in it, and an early pay-off (wink, wink) that keeps the tension going most of the way through the book. But there is a big event in this one - just like the others - that causes the main character, Laura, to meet her object of romance, Dermott. There is some miscommunication, or non-communication, that prevents them from being together right at the beginning, and there's a long drawn-out issue there.
Finally, my biggest complaint about this book is how many minor characters there were. There were a significant amount of people helping to plan and run the event in the book, a literary and music fair, but I feel like the minor characters could have been cut altogether or they could have been merged into one or two composite characters instead. With that change, maybe the other more active minor characters could have had deeper development.
November 29, 2011
Argh! When a romantic heroine decides that DESPITE ALL THE EVIDENCE, the sexy leading man is not really interested in her, so she must nobly and self-protectively dismiss all his attempts to talk to her, said heroine comes off as either really coy or just dumb. I don't want to read about this kind of of heroine. Jennifer Crusie manages to write excellent romances which don't keep the couple apart for a 100 or so pages on the basis of the heroine's willful misunderstanding. Every time I read one of Katie Fforde's novels I get so annoyed--with myself for picking them up, and for Fforde for consistently taking the easy way out--portraying the hero as generally pretty perfect, if hot-headed and kind of alpha, and the women's emotional timidity as the reason they're apart. The best stuff is the conversations between the women friends, which Fforde does really well.
September 6, 2015
I did manage to finish it. enough said.
May 3, 2018
A sweet romantic story. Maybe, the dream of every reader - to meet and get acquainted with your favorite writer. Easy to read and worth of you time, definitely.
June 18, 2009
Oh I just loved this book! Katie Fforde's are always such a tonic to read - they're like wrapping up in a big snuggly duvet or curling up with a hot-water-bottle and a mug of hot chocolate. Pure escapism.
This one is set in a bookshop and organising a literary festival - this is like porn for a bookaholic like me! It's chock full of frightfully posh people, country houses, a rugged Irish hero, a girl-without-model-looks-but-gets-her-man-anyway and a whole cast full of other colourful beings. And books! Lots of books! It may be the same formula but it works: reading a Katie Fforde is like pouring soothing oil over a stressed-out, frazzled old me! Seriously, books and romance; what's not to love?
Love Letters has to rank among her best; I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This one is set in a bookshop and organising a literary festival - this is like porn for a bookaholic like me! It's chock full of frightfully posh people, country houses, a rugged Irish hero, a girl-without-model-looks-but-gets-her-man-anyway and a whole cast full of other colourful beings. And books! Lots of books! It may be the same formula but it works: reading a Katie Fforde is like pouring soothing oil over a stressed-out, frazzled old me! Seriously, books and romance; what's not to love?
Love Letters has to rank among her best; I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 4, 2017
Eine holprige Angelegenheit. Zum Teil ein easy Chick Lit, aber oft langatmige Abschnitte. Da hat mir das andere Fforde Buch einiges besser gefallen. (1,5 Sterne)
February 13, 2019
I don't read romance generally and I realize I'm giving up right after our heroine sees her beloved in the flesh for the first time, but honestly, Laura is irritating and getting more so by the page. She's exasperating actually and I can't stand any more drinking or her inner dialogue.
January 30, 2022
See the other reviews. There is nothing new to add.
April 1, 2013
I have to say that the reasons I am giving it 4 stars are not the same reasons why I normally give a book this rating. First, I don't read romantic novels. Normally. I don't read chic-lit even if I'd love to love the genre. Unfortunately, I love drama because it feels more real than the too-good-to-be-true romances.
I asked a friend a pile of books of this kind because I needed to do some research for something I am writing and this book captured my interest for a few reasons:
- the main character, Laura, was a bookseller trying to find her place in the world after the bookshop closed (just like me). A lot of what she says and observes I could relate to;
- the organisation of the literary festival was engaging and amusing;
- Katie Fforde writes very well unlike other chic lit authors and she's funny;
- the romantic side was quite revolting in places but I stuck with it by imagining the Irish heart-throb famous writer as Jude Law. (It was just ridiculous that, Laura didn't believe Dermot the writer loved her and ignored all his attempts to reach her based on that belief... COME ON. I wanted to puke at how pathetic this was);
I have to try another book by the author to see if I finally can say I can read this genre or if this was a one off because of this particular plot. I can always use Jude Law again, surely... I tried Jon Bon Jovi but it was a little too odd.
April 11, 2013
Well, I was in the mood for a love story, so naturally I picked up Love Letters. You would think by the title alone I would have got a love story, however, that didn't happen. I found this book hard to get through. First off, the main character, Laura, annoyed me a little. She proclaimed to be shy, an introvert who read books, but hardly did much of anything else. She didn't seem all that shy to me. She drank a lot and wanted to give up her virginity within minutes of meeting her hero. And that's just another thing....the love interest was hardly in the book! Laura mostly talked about being in love with him but spent much of the time trying to stay away from him! Plus, there really wasn't that much interaction between the two that warrants any type of love story. I hardly knew Dermont at all and I wished I had...he might have spiced this book up a bit. Then it just felt rushed at the end. This wasn't so much a love story as it was just a (too long) story about a girl putting on a literary festival. Basically, I was bored. Thank goodness it's over!
August 9, 2020
Love Letters
4.5 stars
Cute story, the main character was real and treat to follow. I loved to fact that she is a bookworm and has a job in a bookstore.
The ending could have been better, some parts of it needed past and a storyline. A part from that I loved reading it.
This is the first book written by Katie Fforde I read. I saw it in a story on decount, I had to have it. So here we are back home, reading this book in one hand and in the other a rice cracker.🤰🏻
Katie is a writer I will definitely read more from in the future!
4.5 stars
Cute story, the main character was real and treat to follow. I loved to fact that she is a bookworm and has a job in a bookstore.
The ending could have been better, some parts of it needed past and a storyline. A part from that I loved reading it.
This is the first book written by Katie Fforde I read. I saw it in a story on decount, I had to have it. So here we are back home, reading this book in one hand and in the other a rice cracker.🤰🏻
Katie is a writer I will definitely read more from in the future!
July 9, 2015
Made it 25 pages in. Was trying to make it to page 50, but I don't see the point. The main reason was that the writing style annoyed me. Dunno why. I found the plot kind of common and desperate. Just… basic. Absolutely nothing urged me to go forward. Not even the promise hero of the story, a hot, reclusive, Irish writer held me.
Who recommended this book to me again? Ah well. At least I've got something off of my To Read list.
Who recommended this book to me again? Ah well. At least I've got something off of my To Read list.
April 20, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It's a lovely heartwarming, fun easy read. It also follows on with some of the characters from Katie's previous novel Wedding Season, which really added alot for me as I enjoyed that one too.
December 23, 2018
Three and a half stars.
I'm having a bit of a Katie Fforde binge instead of reading my NetGalley arcs, aided and abetted by Amazon who keep offering them at 99p or £1.99.
I liked this story of the shy librarian Laura Horsley who ends up organising a literary festival at the local stately home and persuades Ireland's greatest living author, heart-throb and notorious recluse Dermot Flynn to turn up.
However, it wasn't without its faults. I don't understand why Dermot suggested that Laura sleep with him to get him to attend the festival, nor do I understand why he was prepared to have sex with her, drunk as she was, until she passed out. I found both of those things distasteful. In fact, I found Dermot's behaviour to be inexplicable generally and I think the novel would have benefited from the reader having better insight into Dermot's motivations - you know where everyone can see the reasons for his actions except Laura. As it was, by the end of the book I felt I still had questions over Dermot's behaviour.
Nevertheless, this has all of Katie Fforde's trademark English charm, country houses, glorious countryside, engaging characters and a fun plot.
I'm having a bit of a Katie Fforde binge instead of reading my NetGalley arcs, aided and abetted by Amazon who keep offering them at 99p or £1.99.
I liked this story of the shy librarian Laura Horsley who ends up organising a literary festival at the local stately home and persuades Ireland's greatest living author, heart-throb and notorious recluse Dermot Flynn to turn up.
However, it wasn't without its faults. I don't understand why Dermot suggested that Laura sleep with him to get him to attend the festival, nor do I understand why he was prepared to have sex with her, drunk as she was, until she passed out. I found both of those things distasteful. In fact, I found Dermot's behaviour to be inexplicable generally and I think the novel would have benefited from the reader having better insight into Dermot's motivations - you know where everyone can see the reasons for his actions except Laura. As it was, by the end of the book I felt I still had questions over Dermot's behaviour.
Nevertheless, this has all of Katie Fforde's trademark English charm, country houses, glorious countryside, engaging characters and a fun plot.
July 27, 2018
Beautiful
A beautiful story that I could not put down. Katie Fforde will always remain one of my favourite woman's fiction authors and this book has cemented the reason why. Amazing.
A beautiful story that I could not put down. Katie Fforde will always remain one of my favourite woman's fiction authors and this book has cemented the reason why. Amazing.
March 17, 2019
I rate a book on its readibility. This is classic holiday romantic fiction. Predictable, fun, uplifting, page-turning and just what I expect from Katie Fforde.
The main character is a bit silly though - you'll see. All said and done, an enjoyable read.
The main character is a bit silly though - you'll see. All said and done, an enjoyable read.
July 20, 2022
How you drag out a 300 paged book?
September 16, 2009
Laura Horsley is devastated when the bookshop where she works is about to close. With no immediate plan for future work, she ends up agreeing to organise a literary festival deep in the English countryside.
Laura has no idea how to organise a literary festival and soon starts to panic. Not only that but Laura inadvertantly makes people believe she knows Dermot Flynn, a reclusive writer struggling with writer’s block.
Laura sets off to Ireland with her friend Monica to track down the elusive Dermot Flynn…
Katie Fforde’s books always follow the same winning formula: heroine of the story needs to save/organise something huge, meets man and all is going well until it all goes wrong and it all seems over before the pair before, eventually, it all gets sorted out.
It may sound predictable and to a degree, it probably is predictable but it works so well. I love nothing more than picking up Katie Fforde’s latest book and know that it’s going to all pan out eventually.
Love Letters is another Katie Fforde hit and was very enjoyable. I loved that it was set in the world of books, being a huge fan of them myself. Reading about Laura setting up a book festival was very interesting and really well written. The main plot of the book, though, is Laura going off to find Dermot Flynn and all the ensuing madness. The book doesn’t seem at all rushed, the ending is well done, and I didn’t find myself wishing it would just end already.
I thought Laura was a brilliant character, deciding to change the way her life is going by agreeing to organise the literary festival. I really hoped she would come through and deliver not only a fab festival but also the star attraction in Dermot.
Dermot is the ultimate in brooding writer and I found him very amusing. I found the interaction between himself and Laura worked really well and didn’t seem at all fake. I also liked Laura’s friend Monica, who is in a band and is organising the music festival that was accompanying the literary festival. She was also very amusing and her presence in the book made it all the better.
Another character who I felt had huge influence in the book was Eleanora, Dermot’s agent and the person who gets Laura involved in the literary festival to begin with. I thought she was very witty and also very perceptive. She also makes me wonder if all agents are like that!
The book is full with characters but not so many you forget who they are. Also in the book is Grant, Laura’s gay best friend; Fenella and Rupert, who own the house where the music & literary festival’s take place and who are also friends to Laura; Henry, the owner of the bookshop where Laura works at the beginning of the book. There are also minor minor characters within the book who pop up now and again.
It was an incredibly enjoyable novel and, as always with Katie’s books, is incredibly well written. Katie definitely has the winning formula when it comes to her novels. One final note: I’d love to know where the title come from – Love Letters – I thought the book may have had some love letters within it but there weren’t any which makes the title seem rather weird. Must ask Katie!
Rating: 5/5
Laura has no idea how to organise a literary festival and soon starts to panic. Not only that but Laura inadvertantly makes people believe she knows Dermot Flynn, a reclusive writer struggling with writer’s block.
Laura sets off to Ireland with her friend Monica to track down the elusive Dermot Flynn…
Katie Fforde’s books always follow the same winning formula: heroine of the story needs to save/organise something huge, meets man and all is going well until it all goes wrong and it all seems over before the pair before, eventually, it all gets sorted out.
It may sound predictable and to a degree, it probably is predictable but it works so well. I love nothing more than picking up Katie Fforde’s latest book and know that it’s going to all pan out eventually.
Love Letters is another Katie Fforde hit and was very enjoyable. I loved that it was set in the world of books, being a huge fan of them myself. Reading about Laura setting up a book festival was very interesting and really well written. The main plot of the book, though, is Laura going off to find Dermot Flynn and all the ensuing madness. The book doesn’t seem at all rushed, the ending is well done, and I didn’t find myself wishing it would just end already.
I thought Laura was a brilliant character, deciding to change the way her life is going by agreeing to organise the literary festival. I really hoped she would come through and deliver not only a fab festival but also the star attraction in Dermot.
Dermot is the ultimate in brooding writer and I found him very amusing. I found the interaction between himself and Laura worked really well and didn’t seem at all fake. I also liked Laura’s friend Monica, who is in a band and is organising the music festival that was accompanying the literary festival. She was also very amusing and her presence in the book made it all the better.
Another character who I felt had huge influence in the book was Eleanora, Dermot’s agent and the person who gets Laura involved in the literary festival to begin with. I thought she was very witty and also very perceptive. She also makes me wonder if all agents are like that!
The book is full with characters but not so many you forget who they are. Also in the book is Grant, Laura’s gay best friend; Fenella and Rupert, who own the house where the music & literary festival’s take place and who are also friends to Laura; Henry, the owner of the bookshop where Laura works at the beginning of the book. There are also minor minor characters within the book who pop up now and again.
It was an incredibly enjoyable novel and, as always with Katie’s books, is incredibly well written. Katie definitely has the winning formula when it comes to her novels. One final note: I’d love to know where the title come from – Love Letters – I thought the book may have had some love letters within it but there weren’t any which makes the title seem rather weird. Must ask Katie!
Rating: 5/5
July 30, 2013
On the heels of losing her job at the bookshop, Laura agrees to help plan a literary festival in the quaint town of Somerby. With her experience in organizing book signings, a pulse on the book industry, and having read as much as she has, it was a no-brainer that she could help convince authors to join in the festivities. But when the name Dermot Flynn gets thrown into the mix, she was both elated and terrified that she's been given the task to lure him out of hiding.
She's admired Dermot as a writer for as long as she could remember; and at first glance, it may seem like a dream come true that the tempestuous Scottish author is attracted to her as well. But the man have been known for being a serial womanizer, and innocent Laura may not have the right stuff to go toe-to-toe with the elusive writer. Armed with liquid courage, Laura decidedly agree to what Dermot wanted in exchange for his acquiescence.
A proposition to end all propositions.
One thing lead to another, Laura found herself doing the walk of shame and a little unsure of what had happened the night before. The story continued on with Dermot chasing Laura and Laura avoiding Dermot. But as these stories go, someone falls in love in the end regardless and somebody's heart get broken as a result.
The bare bones of this story sounded so good. But the writing is a bit of a turn off. Needless to say, I did a lot of skimming. The colloquialisms, mannerisms were stumbling blocks that didn't help its cause. The dialogues were homogenized European. I just couldn't get into it.
This was the most un-romantic romance book I've ever read. To be honest, the romance was like the proverbial bookends for this novel. It was the beginning and the unsurprisingly happy ending. It went on too long and with much of its focused on the setting up of the literary festival.
Laura was a confused character who couldn't decide whether she'd be playing the innocent card or the wanton girl who was ready to sleep with an author just to get him to agree. Okay, I get that she was drunk at the time but man, it's hard to figure out which Laura would show up. Majority of the time she was conflicted and unsure of everything but then she would have moments where she's all balls.
I really have no clue why it's titled Love Letters when none were exchanged. Let me tell you this though: if I wanted to set up a festival of sorts, this is a good refer-to-book. But overall, this book was a snoozer. Sorry.
She's admired Dermot as a writer for as long as she could remember; and at first glance, it may seem like a dream come true that the tempestuous Scottish author is attracted to her as well. But the man have been known for being a serial womanizer, and innocent Laura may not have the right stuff to go toe-to-toe with the elusive writer. Armed with liquid courage, Laura decidedly agree to what Dermot wanted in exchange for his acquiescence.
A proposition to end all propositions.
One thing lead to another, Laura found herself doing the walk of shame and a little unsure of what had happened the night before. The story continued on with Dermot chasing Laura and Laura avoiding Dermot. But as these stories go, someone falls in love in the end regardless and somebody's heart get broken as a result.
The bare bones of this story sounded so good. But the writing is a bit of a turn off. Needless to say, I did a lot of skimming. The colloquialisms, mannerisms were stumbling blocks that didn't help its cause. The dialogues were homogenized European. I just couldn't get into it.
This was the most un-romantic romance book I've ever read. To be honest, the romance was like the proverbial bookends for this novel. It was the beginning and the unsurprisingly happy ending. It went on too long and with much of its focused on the setting up of the literary festival.
Laura was a confused character who couldn't decide whether she'd be playing the innocent card or the wanton girl who was ready to sleep with an author just to get him to agree. Okay, I get that she was drunk at the time but man, it's hard to figure out which Laura would show up. Majority of the time she was conflicted and unsure of everything but then she would have moments where she's all balls.
I really have no clue why it's titled Love Letters when none were exchanged. Let me tell you this though: if I wanted to set up a festival of sorts, this is a good refer-to-book. But overall, this book was a snoozer. Sorry.
July 10, 2010
Love Letters is the chick lit version of a long, rambling walk in the countryside. Accompany twenty-six year old Laura Horsley, as she moves from being a behind-the-scenes bookshop assistant to a hands-on organizer of a fledgling literary festival that is set in a quaint pocket of the English countryside. One of the biggest tasks entrusted to her is to pull in the Irish best-selling author, Dermot Flynn. The tempestuous wordsmith is suffering from a raging case of Writer’s Block and has become a recluse in his Irish hometown of Ballyfitzpatrick. Shock-and-Awe Dermot could prove be the turning point of Laura’s cloistered existence. She’s in danger of losing not only her inhibitions but also her heart.
Laura is a lovely heroine. She is shy, talented, soft-hearted and with an ability to laugh at herself without being maudlin or Bridget Jones-y. Dermot Flynn reminded me of Gerard Butler in P.S.I Love You . If you liked the rakishly handsome, Irish brogue talking Gerry, you’ll be quite enchanted by Dermot. In fact, if they make a summer rom-com based on this movie, I am pretty sure that the casting director will be imagining Butler stomping around the Irish countryside…playing the temperamental, womanising writer to the hilt.
The book appealed to me for it’s whole ‘book-lovers’ angle. I understood Laura’s love for the written word. I also enjoyed the peek into the coming together of a literary fest with it’s entourage of harried organizers, demanding sponsors, frightening agents and nervous first-timers.
Katie Fforde’s books are light, the epitome of breezy and ideal for those times when you just want to read a love story without making your brain go into overdrive.
Laura is a lovely heroine. She is shy, talented, soft-hearted and with an ability to laugh at herself without being maudlin or Bridget Jones-y. Dermot Flynn reminded me of Gerard Butler in P.S.I Love You . If you liked the rakishly handsome, Irish brogue talking Gerry, you’ll be quite enchanted by Dermot. In fact, if they make a summer rom-com based on this movie, I am pretty sure that the casting director will be imagining Butler stomping around the Irish countryside…playing the temperamental, womanising writer to the hilt.
The book appealed to me for it’s whole ‘book-lovers’ angle. I understood Laura’s love for the written word. I also enjoyed the peek into the coming together of a literary fest with it’s entourage of harried organizers, demanding sponsors, frightening agents and nervous first-timers.
Katie Fforde’s books are light, the epitome of breezy and ideal for those times when you just want to read a love story without making your brain go into overdrive.
February 14, 2015
TALK ABOUT BORING... zzzzz SNORE zzzz
Katie Fforde has written some great chic lit such as:
Flora's Lot,
Artistic Licence,
Stately Pursuits,
Living Dangerously,
Summer of Love,
Wedding Season and so on...
But this book was bland. I usually like the little details in a book, (such as descriptions of places and such). But this book lacked that as well as possessing such an awful bunch of characters that I couldn't get into it. The chemistry between the main characters was zero.
Dermot Flyn was compared to Mr Darcy (an extremely ambitious comparison - I might add). But I couldn't see anything Darcy like in him. Apart from the superficial i.e. being tall, dark and handsome. Mr Darcy is notable for his Character - an extremely strong character. Those characteristics are the driving force behind Pride & Prejudice. Mr Darcy is known for being reserved, serious and NOT a womaniser. A man not given to bestowing false promises or seducing young maidens.
If I were to compare Dermot Flyn to any P&P character - it would be the charming Mr Wickham. Ready smile, likes to charm the ladies and not at all reserved. I was really disappointed that an author couldn't differentiate the famous characteristics that belong our beloved Mr Darcy.
However, do try the other books by Katie Fforde (mentioned above).
June 18, 2011
I like Katie Fforde's books. Sure they are formulaic -- girl meets boy, falls in love, has a misunderstanding, boy comes after her and they live happily ever after. Each book deals with a woman who is embarking on a new journey whether she wants to or not. The men in the books are second class citizens. It is the woman who is the star. She is the one who decides how the relationship will unfold. The men are willing but the women each have trouble believing in their good luck. They all seem to find something that gets in the way of "true love". However, these books are fun to read. The different jobs these women have are interesting and add to the flavor of each book. Laura Horsley is soon to be out of a job she loves working in a bookstore. Among her duties she arranges events at the bookstore. She is asked to help arrange a new literary festival to coincide with a new musical festival. She recklessly agrees to do it. The festival is to be held at Somerby (Wedding Season) and run by Fenella and Rupert with the hopes of making it an annual event. They also hope it will make money eventually. Laura somehow gets roped into trying to get Dermot Flynn "the greatest living Irish writer" to come to the festival. There is a catch -- although she knows his work inside and out she has never met him. He also doesn't like to do festivals unless they are in his town in Ireland. Will he or won't he? That is what keeps the story going. We see how Laura grows and changes from a shy, introverted bookworm into a confidant organized woman.
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