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While I Was Waiting
‘A lovely, romantic and historical read’ – Linda’s Book Bag
June 1963, Clematis Cottage, Stoke St. Mary, Herefordshire
I am really not sure why I am writing this. A foolish whim by a foolish old lady and it will probably sit in a box unread and decay much like its writer when Death makes his careless decision.
But perhaps someone will find it. Someone will care enough to read and somehow I know that will happen.
April 2000, Clematis Cottage, Stoke St. Mary, Herefordshire
Tired of her life in London, freelance illustrator Rachel buys the beautiful but dilapidated Clematis Cottage and sets about creating the home of her dreams. But tucked away behind the water tank in the attic and left to gather dust for decades is an old biscuit tin containing letters, postcards and a diary. So much more than old scraps of paper, these are precious memories that tell the story of Henrietta Trenchard-Lewis, the love she lost in the Great War and the girl who was left behind.
June 1963, Clematis Cottage, Stoke St. Mary, Herefordshire
I am really not sure why I am writing this. A foolish whim by a foolish old lady and it will probably sit in a box unread and decay much like its writer when Death makes his careless decision.
But perhaps someone will find it. Someone will care enough to read and somehow I know that will happen.
April 2000, Clematis Cottage, Stoke St. Mary, Herefordshire
Tired of her life in London, freelance illustrator Rachel buys the beautiful but dilapidated Clematis Cottage and sets about creating the home of her dreams. But tucked away behind the water tank in the attic and left to gather dust for decades is an old biscuit tin containing letters, postcards and a diary. So much more than old scraps of paper, these are precious memories that tell the story of Henrietta Trenchard-Lewis, the love she lost in the Great War and the girl who was left behind.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2015
17 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 14, 2016
While I Was Waiting is a Harper Impulse read, which mixes light romance with historical fiction. It is written using the "time-slip" style. The book opens with a prologue set in 1963. seventy year old Hetty is writing a memoir, she lives in Clematis Cottage, Stoke St. Mary, Herefordshire.
April 2000 and Rachel Makepeace, an illustrator is making a move away from London to the countryside. She has just bought Clematis cottage, a little run-down it hasn't been lived in for a while. Gabe Llewellyn, a local builder arrives to give a repair quote and see she's settled. In the attic he discovers an old tin full of papers, photos and a book, they belong to Mrs H Lewis.
As the book progresses Rachel dips into the tin to discover the life-story of Hetty, from 1903 when her natural scientific father left her with Aunts Hester and Leonora while he travelled the world. Hetty lived with two distant cousins, also staying with the Aunts. Richard and Edward were destined to be a part of Hetty's future. Hetty's memoir reached the years of The Great War of 1914, a marriage for Hetty and her volunteering at the local school. But there are intriguing gaps in the memoir which Rachel becomes obsessed with finding answers to.
In her own life, Rachel gets the house sorted, has Gabe and his father doing repairs and makes a friend of Stan who comes and helps out in the garden. Stan is full of local knowledge which fill in some gaps to Hetty's life. Rachel feels the ghost of Hetty at the cottage as she finds out more about her.
There is a fun romance between Gabe and Rachel and when it falls apart help in the form of a bundle of puppy called Piglet helps Rachel become a more tolerant less controlling person, but is it too late for Gabe?
This is a light read and touches on much from Hetty's era as well as Rachel's time in Herefordshire without going into too much depth or exploration.
April 2000 and Rachel Makepeace, an illustrator is making a move away from London to the countryside. She has just bought Clematis cottage, a little run-down it hasn't been lived in for a while. Gabe Llewellyn, a local builder arrives to give a repair quote and see she's settled. In the attic he discovers an old tin full of papers, photos and a book, they belong to Mrs H Lewis.
As the book progresses Rachel dips into the tin to discover the life-story of Hetty, from 1903 when her natural scientific father left her with Aunts Hester and Leonora while he travelled the world. Hetty lived with two distant cousins, also staying with the Aunts. Richard and Edward were destined to be a part of Hetty's future. Hetty's memoir reached the years of The Great War of 1914, a marriage for Hetty and her volunteering at the local school. But there are intriguing gaps in the memoir which Rachel becomes obsessed with finding answers to.
In her own life, Rachel gets the house sorted, has Gabe and his father doing repairs and makes a friend of Stan who comes and helps out in the garden. Stan is full of local knowledge which fill in some gaps to Hetty's life. Rachel feels the ghost of Hetty at the cottage as she finds out more about her.
There is a fun romance between Gabe and Rachel and when it falls apart help in the form of a bundle of puppy called Piglet helps Rachel become a more tolerant less controlling person, but is it too late for Gabe?
This is a light read and touches on much from Hetty's era as well as Rachel's time in Herefordshire without going into too much depth or exploration.
August 2, 2015
With beautiful country settings and authenticity, Georgia moves seamlessly between past and present as the tales of three eras unfold. Great contemporary romance with the hint of a love of later years and another unravelled by war. It's a romantic escape to the country.
January 25, 2016
I really enjoyed this lovely book, every moment of it - and both threads of the story enchanted me to the same degree.
The modern story of Rachel's life change, moving to Clematis Cottage, learning to live like someone from the country, over-run by workmen, making new friends (and more) is really well told. And when she's handed the Huntley and Palmer's biscuit tin filled with letters, the book becomes simply perfect as it moves quite seamlessly between Rachel's life and Hetty's letters and diary entries.
We read Hetty's personal story, brought up by her maiden aunts with the occasional visits from her remote father, her first visit to Delamere House in 1903 and her entanglement with the Trenchard-Lewis family, through her growing up years then through the early years of the First World War. But the story abruptly ends in 1916, and Rachel sets about uncovering the rest of Hetty's story - I shared her fascination, however much there were others who felt it became an obsession. I also really liked the way that Hetty was a benevolent presence in the house, gently urging her on.
It's quite difficult to convey someone's personality through letters and diary entries, but the author does it really well - she comes across quite clearly, likeable but also wilful and stubborn. The other personalities in her story are really well drawn too - Richard as a boisterous child and a damaged adult, the slightly more sketchy and less sympathetically drawn Edward, the teacher at the village school where she helps out. The story is - as the author describes it - the story of the affair of her body, the affair of her expectation and the affair of her soul, and it was heartbreaking, joyful and wonderful.
Rachel has a great story too - what with Neil the estate agent, the suitor her mother would approve of with his solid reliability (and unfortunate obsession with triathlons), and Gabe the builder with his hidden gentle depths and rippling muscles. There are some equally perfectly drawn characters in her part of the story - I particularly loved her friendship with Ned the gardener in his string vest and with his liking for milky sweet instant coffee and appreciation of "owl frisky" living, and with Gabe's lovely mother Sheila. I laughed at her interactions with the less savoury members of the building team, and her London friend Tim is great fun (I just loved the birthday present...!). Even the less central characters leap into life - menopausal Rita at the village shop, Kit the vicar, Alan at the pub, and the ominous presence of Dawn the barmaid.
Georgia Hill writes wonderful descriptions - the views from Clematis Cottage would have made me want to get my sketch book out and draw them too, and there are some lovely set pieces like the "morning washed clean" that prompts Rachel to don her wellingtons and slip out "into the magic". Clematis Cottage itself, and the garden being worked on by Ned, became totally real to me. She does ugliness well too - the modern story introduces the impact of the foot and mouth crisis on the countryside, and the images she conveys are vivid, real and upsetting.
This was really excellent story telling, full of love, loss, sadness and joy, with perfectly judged gentle humour - I really enjoyed it very much. And the ending - simply perfect. If you enjoy dual time story telling as much as I do, I'd highly recommend this lovely read.
The modern story of Rachel's life change, moving to Clematis Cottage, learning to live like someone from the country, over-run by workmen, making new friends (and more) is really well told. And when she's handed the Huntley and Palmer's biscuit tin filled with letters, the book becomes simply perfect as it moves quite seamlessly between Rachel's life and Hetty's letters and diary entries.
We read Hetty's personal story, brought up by her maiden aunts with the occasional visits from her remote father, her first visit to Delamere House in 1903 and her entanglement with the Trenchard-Lewis family, through her growing up years then through the early years of the First World War. But the story abruptly ends in 1916, and Rachel sets about uncovering the rest of Hetty's story - I shared her fascination, however much there were others who felt it became an obsession. I also really liked the way that Hetty was a benevolent presence in the house, gently urging her on.
It's quite difficult to convey someone's personality through letters and diary entries, but the author does it really well - she comes across quite clearly, likeable but also wilful and stubborn. The other personalities in her story are really well drawn too - Richard as a boisterous child and a damaged adult, the slightly more sketchy and less sympathetically drawn Edward, the teacher at the village school where she helps out. The story is - as the author describes it - the story of the affair of her body, the affair of her expectation and the affair of her soul, and it was heartbreaking, joyful and wonderful.
Rachel has a great story too - what with Neil the estate agent, the suitor her mother would approve of with his solid reliability (and unfortunate obsession with triathlons), and Gabe the builder with his hidden gentle depths and rippling muscles. There are some equally perfectly drawn characters in her part of the story - I particularly loved her friendship with Ned the gardener in his string vest and with his liking for milky sweet instant coffee and appreciation of "owl frisky" living, and with Gabe's lovely mother Sheila. I laughed at her interactions with the less savoury members of the building team, and her London friend Tim is great fun (I just loved the birthday present...!). Even the less central characters leap into life - menopausal Rita at the village shop, Kit the vicar, Alan at the pub, and the ominous presence of Dawn the barmaid.
Georgia Hill writes wonderful descriptions - the views from Clematis Cottage would have made me want to get my sketch book out and draw them too, and there are some lovely set pieces like the "morning washed clean" that prompts Rachel to don her wellingtons and slip out "into the magic". Clematis Cottage itself, and the garden being worked on by Ned, became totally real to me. She does ugliness well too - the modern story introduces the impact of the foot and mouth crisis on the countryside, and the images she conveys are vivid, real and upsetting.
This was really excellent story telling, full of love, loss, sadness and joy, with perfectly judged gentle humour - I really enjoyed it very much. And the ending - simply perfect. If you enjoy dual time story telling as much as I do, I'd highly recommend this lovely read.
July 27, 2015
Two stories beautifully woven together, a puppy named Piglet (delightfully cute) and then there's Gabe ... a guy who isn't always easy to understand but pulls on your heartstrings. Set in Herefordshire in the UK, this story is full of interesting characters who very much bring to life that feeling of community spirit and village life. I love the way Rachel's story (the current owner of Clematis Cottage) intertwines with the unravelling of the previous owner's story, Henrietta Trenchard-Lewis. Add to that a perfect ending and what you have is one fabulous read!
August 27, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. The characters really came alive for me, probably because they weren't perfect, but then who is? So much so that I felt involved in their lives. Rachel Makepeace moves to Clematis Cottage in rural Herefordshire (lovely descriptions, by the way) to find peace and quiet. Instead, she finds herself involved with Gabe and his builder father; Stan, a lonely widower, an excitable puppy named Piglet and a long-dead former resident, Hetty, whose memoir has been found while renovations are being carried out. Thank you, Georgia Hill, for another good 'un!
August 14, 2015
Beautiful and evocative modern take on the "time slip" genre with a factually excellent grasp of "the war years" and of modern countryside living without being too heavy handed. A wonderful ensemble cast (in both eras!) and the perfect atypical hero in Gabe, a must-read!
August 11, 2021
June 1963, Clematis Cottage, Stoke St. Mary, Herefordshire.
"I am really not sure why I am writing this. A foolish whim by a foolish old lady and it will probably sit in a box unread and decay much like its writer when Death makes his careless decision.But perhaps someone will find it. Someone will care enough to read and somehow I know that will happen."
April 2000, Clematis Cottage, Stoke St. Mary, Herefordshire.Tired of her life in London, freelance illustrator Rachel buys the beautiful but dilapidated Clematis Cottage and sets about creating the home of her dreams. But tucked away behind the water tank in the attic and left to gather dust for decades is an old biscuit tin containing letters, postcards and a diary. So much more than old scraps of paper, these are precious memories that tell the story of Henrietta "Hetty" Trenchard-Lewis, the love she lost in the Great War and the girl who was left behind. There are affairs of expectation, body and the soul.The Worcestershire Regiment was a line infantry regiment in the British Army, formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot and the 36th (Herefordshire) Regiment of Foot. The regiment fought in many conflicts, including both the First and Second World Wars, until 1970, when it was amalgamated with the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) to form the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/44th Foot).Clematis 'Jackmanii' is a Clematis cultivar which, when it was introduced in 1862, was the first of the modern large-flowered hybrid clematises of gardens.It is a climber with large violet-purple blooms, still among the most familiar climbers seen in gardens.The English nanny was considered the height of childcare practice in WWI.Everyday life needed to continue, and with that, it was imperative for children’s education to carry on.Women were substitute masters or teacher's aides during the war.
"I am really not sure why I am writing this. A foolish whim by a foolish old lady and it will probably sit in a box unread and decay much like its writer when Death makes his careless decision.But perhaps someone will find it. Someone will care enough to read and somehow I know that will happen."
April 2000, Clematis Cottage, Stoke St. Mary, Herefordshire.Tired of her life in London, freelance illustrator Rachel buys the beautiful but dilapidated Clematis Cottage and sets about creating the home of her dreams. But tucked away behind the water tank in the attic and left to gather dust for decades is an old biscuit tin containing letters, postcards and a diary. So much more than old scraps of paper, these are precious memories that tell the story of Henrietta "Hetty" Trenchard-Lewis, the love she lost in the Great War and the girl who was left behind. There are affairs of expectation, body and the soul.The Worcestershire Regiment was a line infantry regiment in the British Army, formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot and the 36th (Herefordshire) Regiment of Foot. The regiment fought in many conflicts, including both the First and Second World Wars, until 1970, when it was amalgamated with the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) to form the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/44th Foot).Clematis 'Jackmanii' is a Clematis cultivar which, when it was introduced in 1862, was the first of the modern large-flowered hybrid clematises of gardens.It is a climber with large violet-purple blooms, still among the most familiar climbers seen in gardens.The English nanny was considered the height of childcare practice in WWI.Everyday life needed to continue, and with that, it was imperative for children’s education to carry on.Women were substitute masters or teacher's aides during the war.
August 13, 2015
The Harper Impulse Readathon has certainly introduced me to several new authors and Georgia Hill is one of them. The cover and blurb of While I Was Waiting really appealed to me as I am a sucker for historical fiction but also books in this genre that have the time slip element. A number of the books from this publisher that I have read all seem to feature a woman beginning a new life by buying a cottage in the country that needs doing up. This one initially proved to be the same but we have the added interest of a discovery of a tin of letters, a diary and some various other bits and pieces. This discovery establishes a link with the past and made for a different read which for the most part was fairly enjoyable. The book opens at Clematis Cottage in Herefordshire in June of 1963 as Hetty Lewis in the later stages of her life is sitting down to write her memoirs. She is recalling a life of love and missed opportunities but overall one she was relatively happy with it despite some of the troubles she had to navigate. Fast forward to April 2000 and Rachel is now the proud new owner of the cottage. Albeit a somewhat run down place which she wishes to restore to its former glory.
From the outset Rachel seemed a very reserved character and she obviously was hiding things which she wished to be kept well beneath the surface. Employing Gabe to renovate the house is a step up for her she is slowly allowing someone in to her life despite all the chaos the work will bring. When Gabe discovers the tin in the attic a tentative bond is established between the two and we are taken back and forth to Hetty's early life and a story of love. Rachel likes things to be in order and to her satisfaction. In some ways she lacks confidence but reading through the diary she uncovers the life Hetty was forced to lead and in doing so I was hoping it would help Rachel too. Rachel really was a strange character in the beginning, nothing much as to her background was given away. It seemed odd to me to be so stressed about builders coming, I know she craved peace and tranquillity and felt invaded but it just seemed strange and unusual. 'She wanted to be alone to be the person she really wanted to be, not beholden to whatever others forced her into being'. I thought this quote summed up Rachel perfectly but I wanted her to open up more and through Hetty I felt this would happen. Yes we get an inkling she had been hurt in past relationships but she could not and should not tarnish everyone with the same brush. She had been too closed up for years and needed to let a little love and happiness into her life.
What of the mysterious contents of the tin? Well this is where the time slip element comes in we are taken back to Hetty's childhood and the life she led in Delamere House under the strict guidance of her two aunts. Hetty's father was always away as he was a lover of nature and the sciences and spent trips abroad on expeditions. Two cousins Edward and Richard also come and go from the house and as Hetty grows so do her feelings but for which man? I have to admit the historical element was what I was most looking forward to in this book but I was left disappointed as some bits worked and others didn't. Every time we went back to the past I found even in that time line it was jumping around and I felt the structure was lost at times. One minute we were reading a letter sent from Edward during the war then we went forward a few months and then back several years. Therefore I just ended up confused and it didn't help the flow of the story, it didn't seem cohesive to me just rather scattered. I couldn't follow who Hetty really wanted in her life and some of the incidents in the house just seemed a bit odd. The author did write well though of life in Edwardian England and I could visualise the house and the life Hetty had to lead. It's clear women were restricted at the time in term of what they could do in the wider world which shows us just how far we have come as women. Normally I am sucked into the past in a time slip novel but not so in this case, there was a love story here but to me it didn't come across as convincingly as it could have.
The two stories do begin to intertwine and the further Rachel reads the more we see her loosen up. When she acquires a puppy called Piglet to me although it may sound silly this was the makings of her. Piglet stole the show and Rachel's heart and allowed her to defrost a little. Hetty's diary and what Rachel believes is a friendly ghostly presence enable Rachel to loosen up and the further Hetty's story is revealed the more Rachel begins to heal. It was obvious the outcome for Rachel in terms of her relationship and her future but the way she treated that person at times was not nice and the endless nagging really began to annoy me. The outcome for Hetty was not that clear until the very end and I liked that element of mystery and surprise but I can't say I was gripped the whole way through this book.
While I Was Waiting is an enjoyable enough read and fine to pass a few hours but it didn't have me enthralled the entire time. The cover and blurb promised so much but failed to deliver, I didn't overly warm to any of the characters with the exception of hunky Gabe. I was probably expecting more focus on the historical element and while we got the flashbacks to Hetty's time it was more a focus on a love story. Sadly a love story which didn't have me racing through the pages to find out what happens. I kept an open mind and gave this a go but it didn't grab me and it needed to.
If you are new to historical fiction with the time slip element with a dash of romance then you will enjoy this.But for me it didn't live up to my expectations and there are other books and authors in this genre who I will turn to in the future.
From the outset Rachel seemed a very reserved character and she obviously was hiding things which she wished to be kept well beneath the surface. Employing Gabe to renovate the house is a step up for her she is slowly allowing someone in to her life despite all the chaos the work will bring. When Gabe discovers the tin in the attic a tentative bond is established between the two and we are taken back and forth to Hetty's early life and a story of love. Rachel likes things to be in order and to her satisfaction. In some ways she lacks confidence but reading through the diary she uncovers the life Hetty was forced to lead and in doing so I was hoping it would help Rachel too. Rachel really was a strange character in the beginning, nothing much as to her background was given away. It seemed odd to me to be so stressed about builders coming, I know she craved peace and tranquillity and felt invaded but it just seemed strange and unusual. 'She wanted to be alone to be the person she really wanted to be, not beholden to whatever others forced her into being'. I thought this quote summed up Rachel perfectly but I wanted her to open up more and through Hetty I felt this would happen. Yes we get an inkling she had been hurt in past relationships but she could not and should not tarnish everyone with the same brush. She had been too closed up for years and needed to let a little love and happiness into her life.
What of the mysterious contents of the tin? Well this is where the time slip element comes in we are taken back to Hetty's childhood and the life she led in Delamere House under the strict guidance of her two aunts. Hetty's father was always away as he was a lover of nature and the sciences and spent trips abroad on expeditions. Two cousins Edward and Richard also come and go from the house and as Hetty grows so do her feelings but for which man? I have to admit the historical element was what I was most looking forward to in this book but I was left disappointed as some bits worked and others didn't. Every time we went back to the past I found even in that time line it was jumping around and I felt the structure was lost at times. One minute we were reading a letter sent from Edward during the war then we went forward a few months and then back several years. Therefore I just ended up confused and it didn't help the flow of the story, it didn't seem cohesive to me just rather scattered. I couldn't follow who Hetty really wanted in her life and some of the incidents in the house just seemed a bit odd. The author did write well though of life in Edwardian England and I could visualise the house and the life Hetty had to lead. It's clear women were restricted at the time in term of what they could do in the wider world which shows us just how far we have come as women. Normally I am sucked into the past in a time slip novel but not so in this case, there was a love story here but to me it didn't come across as convincingly as it could have.
The two stories do begin to intertwine and the further Rachel reads the more we see her loosen up. When she acquires a puppy called Piglet to me although it may sound silly this was the makings of her. Piglet stole the show and Rachel's heart and allowed her to defrost a little. Hetty's diary and what Rachel believes is a friendly ghostly presence enable Rachel to loosen up and the further Hetty's story is revealed the more Rachel begins to heal. It was obvious the outcome for Rachel in terms of her relationship and her future but the way she treated that person at times was not nice and the endless nagging really began to annoy me. The outcome for Hetty was not that clear until the very end and I liked that element of mystery and surprise but I can't say I was gripped the whole way through this book.
While I Was Waiting is an enjoyable enough read and fine to pass a few hours but it didn't have me enthralled the entire time. The cover and blurb promised so much but failed to deliver, I didn't overly warm to any of the characters with the exception of hunky Gabe. I was probably expecting more focus on the historical element and while we got the flashbacks to Hetty's time it was more a focus on a love story. Sadly a love story which didn't have me racing through the pages to find out what happens. I kept an open mind and gave this a go but it didn't grab me and it needed to.
If you are new to historical fiction with the time slip element with a dash of romance then you will enjoy this.But for me it didn't live up to my expectations and there are other books and authors in this genre who I will turn to in the future.
December 21, 2018
Not quite two stars but I felt generous. A promising beginning bogged down in minutia, the ending was is best described as "Huh??".
January 26, 2019
History
I love history especially i love reading the the people who.served during WW1. This book has very little about WW1 but the history included was interesting.
I love history especially i love reading the the people who.served during WW1. This book has very little about WW1 but the history included was interesting.
March 14, 2017
A nice easy read, I enjoyed it.
August 16, 2015
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Rachel finds ghosts, history, mystery and romance, when she leaves London and escapes to the rural idyll of Herefordshire.
Enchanted by Clematis cottage, she finds all is not what it first appears. When she moves in, drastic renovation is necessary for the bricks and mortar to match up to the cottage's perfect outlook. Employing the local builders is the only way and they come highly recommended. Gabe is very easy on the eye, he compensates for the dust and the disruption but he is so different from what Rachel's used to. Will he fit into her ordered world? The passion between Gabe and Rachel simmers, before it boils over but can they learn to celebrate each other's differences, or are they doomed to crash and burn?
Rachel is determined to make her new life work. The villagers are interesting characters and their interaction is vital to her character's growth and development. I particularly like Stan and Sheila, who in their different ways, both offer Rachel more advice and encouragement than her own parents.
The cottage's former owner Hetty, now deceased, has her own story to tell and when a journal and fading letters are discovered, Rachel and the reader are flung back into the early twentieth century and the tragedy and illusions of 'The Great War'.
Intrigued, Rachel's tendency to obsess make her determined to find out what really happened in Hetty's life when the journal and letters leave her with more questions than answers. The sojourn into the past has parallels to Rachel's present and with some supernatural encouragement she is determined to find out the truth. Rachel's emotional journey is what makes this a feel good read and the ending is truly magical.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Georgia Hill
February 12, 2016
I really enjoyed reading ‘While I was Waiting‘ and found that both the sections about Hetty, from her first person point of view and those about Rachel written in the third person held equal weight and attraction. Indeed, there were resonances that echoed from Hetty through Rachel’s narrative that tied the two together perfectly. Although initially I preferred the story when it was set in Rachel’s timeline, I was soon seduced by the writing into enjoying both equally.
Georgia Hill managed to convey the First World War era perfectly, especially through Hetty’s letters and diary and as my Grandfather served in WWI and my Grandmother told me about attending her first ball in 1906 I found these passages particularly touching. Hetty’s diary and letter writing was pitched just right to convey her era as well as pleasing the modern reader.
The romantic elements were beautifully handled without gratuitous detail but with convincing and engaging realism. I fell in love with Gabe a little bit myself! I found all the characterisation very effective, partly because Georgia Hill writes dialogue so naturally so that it’s like listening to real conversation. There is just a hint of the supernatural throughout too which adds another layer of interest for the reader.
I thought there was an excellent sense of place in Georgia Hill’s writing. The descriptions of Herefordshire were highly evocative so that I could picture the views from Rachel’s cottage very clearly.
The plot works so well, drawing together the resolution of both Hetty and Rachel’s stories in symmetry. Both prologue and epilogue serve to provide a symmetry and balance to the narrative.
‘While I was Waiting’ is a lovely romantic and historical read. I thoroughly enjoyed every word.
Georgia Hill managed to convey the First World War era perfectly, especially through Hetty’s letters and diary and as my Grandfather served in WWI and my Grandmother told me about attending her first ball in 1906 I found these passages particularly touching. Hetty’s diary and letter writing was pitched just right to convey her era as well as pleasing the modern reader.
The romantic elements were beautifully handled without gratuitous detail but with convincing and engaging realism. I fell in love with Gabe a little bit myself! I found all the characterisation very effective, partly because Georgia Hill writes dialogue so naturally so that it’s like listening to real conversation. There is just a hint of the supernatural throughout too which adds another layer of interest for the reader.
I thought there was an excellent sense of place in Georgia Hill’s writing. The descriptions of Herefordshire were highly evocative so that I could picture the views from Rachel’s cottage very clearly.
The plot works so well, drawing together the resolution of both Hetty and Rachel’s stories in symmetry. Both prologue and epilogue serve to provide a symmetry and balance to the narrative.
‘While I was Waiting’ is a lovely romantic and historical read. I thoroughly enjoyed every word.
July 8, 2016
While I was Waiting combines sweet, contemporary romance as well as historical fiction, revealed through letters and a memoir written by the previous, deceased owner of Clematis Cottage, where our main character, Rachel, is now living.
After moving away from London to Herefordshire, Rachel, an illustrator, moves to rural England, and finds romance in Gabe, a local builder’s son, who is working on her run down cottage. At the same time, she becomes obsessed with Hetti’s incomplete story, which she aims to discover.
Rachel has many personal issues such as lack of trust, insecurity, and a controlling and sometimes obsessive personality, which make it difficult for her to make lasting relationships with men. Gabe has problems of his own, which he’s not willing to share either, so their relationship will have a few ups and downs. It’s a HEA, so they manage to sort it out in the end, with the help of a puppy called Piglet, time, and sharing their real feelings.
I liked the way the author was able to give the reader a feeling for life in a small rural village, from an idyllic, as well as a realistic perspective, as the residents have to cope with the devastating impact of Foot and Mouth disease.
It’s not only a sweet romance, the novel also delves the reader into the trauma and suffering caused by the First World War, and the way cancer affects a family.
The secondary characters, the Estate Agent, the Vicar, Gabe’s parents, Stan and the locals at the pub, etc. are believable, added to the plot, and made the story more varied and interesting.
It was pleasant and easy to read, and had a very English feel to it. Especially for lovers of sweet romance.
After moving away from London to Herefordshire, Rachel, an illustrator, moves to rural England, and finds romance in Gabe, a local builder’s son, who is working on her run down cottage. At the same time, she becomes obsessed with Hetti’s incomplete story, which she aims to discover.
Rachel has many personal issues such as lack of trust, insecurity, and a controlling and sometimes obsessive personality, which make it difficult for her to make lasting relationships with men. Gabe has problems of his own, which he’s not willing to share either, so their relationship will have a few ups and downs. It’s a HEA, so they manage to sort it out in the end, with the help of a puppy called Piglet, time, and sharing their real feelings.
I liked the way the author was able to give the reader a feeling for life in a small rural village, from an idyllic, as well as a realistic perspective, as the residents have to cope with the devastating impact of Foot and Mouth disease.
It’s not only a sweet romance, the novel also delves the reader into the trauma and suffering caused by the First World War, and the way cancer affects a family.
The secondary characters, the Estate Agent, the Vicar, Gabe’s parents, Stan and the locals at the pub, etc. are believable, added to the plot, and made the story more varied and interesting.
It was pleasant and easy to read, and had a very English feel to it. Especially for lovers of sweet romance.
November 19, 2015
I greatly enjoyed this story although a few times I almost packed it in because the mistakes were absolutely cheesing me off !! HarperCollins need telling ! Sort your proofreading and editing out-it's shocking and you should be ashamed putting it out with all the mistakes in it that it has, in this reader's opinion.
I spotted missed commas, a GLUT of missed speechmarks and apostrophes misplaced as well.
Too many words were dropped from sentences-"I've got too work to do" or "I did know how to feel for a father I hardly knew" and "wasn't only thing which decided me" and "it's not going to busy tonight". So many examples in a paid-for story really aren't good enough.
Some wrong words got used for variation-"I hate it see it like this" and this made no sense to me, either-"Sheila had mentioned, without going into the reason, why she felt better on some days than others"......so how did she do that and what did she say ? I've no idea !!
Conversation was spelt as conservation (huge ouch) and complimented was used where complemented should've been and processed and not progressed....sloppy in the extreme.
As I said, the story was a super one and I adored the character of Stan especially. Rachel was a little self-obsessed at times but came good in the end. I liked Hetty's story we returned to and it being based in the same little cottage. The cover is beautiful too.
If HarperCollins had done a better job it would easily be 5 stars but not as it is and i'm not sure I'd race to buy another by this author unless she has also used another publisher at some point.
I spotted missed commas, a GLUT of missed speechmarks and apostrophes misplaced as well.
Too many words were dropped from sentences-"I've got too work to do" or "I did know how to feel for a father I hardly knew" and "wasn't only thing which decided me" and "it's not going to busy tonight". So many examples in a paid-for story really aren't good enough.
Some wrong words got used for variation-"I hate it see it like this" and this made no sense to me, either-"Sheila had mentioned, without going into the reason, why she felt better on some days than others"......so how did she do that and what did she say ? I've no idea !!
Conversation was spelt as conservation (huge ouch) and complimented was used where complemented should've been and processed and not progressed....sloppy in the extreme.
As I said, the story was a super one and I adored the character of Stan especially. Rachel was a little self-obsessed at times but came good in the end. I liked Hetty's story we returned to and it being based in the same little cottage. The cover is beautiful too.
If HarperCollins had done a better job it would easily be 5 stars but not as it is and i'm not sure I'd race to buy another by this author unless she has also used another publisher at some point.
November 14, 2015
Hauntingly beautiful, and exquisitely descriptive.
A wonderful book to read, I especially loved it as it is based around the county in which I live Herefordshire. I particularly loved the description's of the countryside views. I see them when I wake and in the dark crisp evenings I can see the clear starry sky. Heavenly.
I loved how the story is set both in the here and now, and back in the Great War. The presence of Henrietta Trenchard-Lewis (don't you just love that name.) felt very much in the house now owned by Rachel, was hauntingly beautiful.
I adored Stan the gardening man, he sounds like a couple of the characters around my village. I was tickled with laughter when I read what his suggestions were for Rachel's garden
"You could have a proper place to sit out. A bit of owl frisky living, like".
Well it tickled me.
A book I very highly recommend, indeed a book to read in Remembrance of those lost in all the wars.
Try it, you might like it too. Happy Reading.:-)
A wonderful book to read, I especially loved it as it is based around the county in which I live Herefordshire. I particularly loved the description's of the countryside views. I see them when I wake and in the dark crisp evenings I can see the clear starry sky. Heavenly.
I loved how the story is set both in the here and now, and back in the Great War. The presence of Henrietta Trenchard-Lewis (don't you just love that name.) felt very much in the house now owned by Rachel, was hauntingly beautiful.
I adored Stan the gardening man, he sounds like a couple of the characters around my village. I was tickled with laughter when I read what his suggestions were for Rachel's garden
"You could have a proper place to sit out. A bit of owl frisky living, like".
Well it tickled me.
A book I very highly recommend, indeed a book to read in Remembrance of those lost in all the wars.
Try it, you might like it too. Happy Reading.:-)
August 29, 2016
April 2000 and fed up being part of the rat race in London, Rachel who is a freelance illustrator, decides to sell her flat in London and buy the rather run down Clematis Cottage. There she finds a stash of correspondence and diaries belong to the previous resident, Henrietta Trenchard-Lewis. In these diaries, Rachel discovers the life of a Edwardian young lady who had the misfortune to come of age during World War One, of a love lost and found and of what might have been if the world had not gone to war.
Whilst Rachel is renovating her home and settling down in Stoke St.Mary, she finds that her own love life is just as turbulent as Hetty’s – attracting the attentions of sensible Neil (who her mother would approve of) and Gabe, one of the builders who is helping renovate Clematis Cottage ( someone her mother would not necessarily approve of).
Overall this wasn't a bad read but would have been more enjoyable if Hetty’s story had more to it and was a little less ‘fluffy’ and had more of a connection to the present as story.
Whilst Rachel is renovating her home and settling down in Stoke St.Mary, she finds that her own love life is just as turbulent as Hetty’s – attracting the attentions of sensible Neil (who her mother would approve of) and Gabe, one of the builders who is helping renovate Clematis Cottage ( someone her mother would not necessarily approve of).
Overall this wasn't a bad read but would have been more enjoyable if Hetty’s story had more to it and was a little less ‘fluffy’ and had more of a connection to the present as story.
January 26, 2016
This is such a pleasant book .. it sucks you in gently & keeps the reader entranced with the beautifully descriptive writing.
I would love to be in Clematis cottage, how delightful does that sound!?
Its ‘slips’ between two time periods but does so seamlessly, I often find this style confusing but the beauty of this is the letters found by Rachel transport her back to Hetty’s life. It’s full of emotion & is essentially a love story .. I have to say my favourite character was probably Piglet but I’m a sucker for a cute puppy!
Easy to read & it made a welcome change to be set in the British countryside for a change .. I seem to have read a glut of books set in varying countries recently & this made me realise there is nothing quite so relaxing as local talent & to feel as if I was there.
Thanks to the author, publisher & Brook Cottage Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest opinion.
I would love to be in Clematis cottage, how delightful does that sound!?
Its ‘slips’ between two time periods but does so seamlessly, I often find this style confusing but the beauty of this is the letters found by Rachel transport her back to Hetty’s life. It’s full of emotion & is essentially a love story .. I have to say my favourite character was probably Piglet but I’m a sucker for a cute puppy!
Easy to read & it made a welcome change to be set in the British countryside for a change .. I seem to have read a glut of books set in varying countries recently & this made me realise there is nothing quite so relaxing as local talent & to feel as if I was there.
Thanks to the author, publisher & Brook Cottage Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest opinion.
August 2, 2015
This multifaceted and multilayered story is set amidst a beautifully portrayed countryside and Georgia Hill creates the perfect landscape for the honest and sympathetic presentation of the main characters, Rachel and her alter ego, Hetty.
When Rachel uncovers a treasure trove of old letters and diaries written by the enigmatic Hetty, we are transported back 100 years to a very different life just before the outbreak of WWI. Georgia Hill weaves a rich tapestry from past to present around the historical backdrop and doesn't shy away from serious issues, taking us from the horrors of the war up to the disastrous foot and mouth crisis.
Skilled narration and clever characterisation coalesces the two separate love stories of Hetty and Rachel, although decades apart, making this an immensely entertaining and absorbing read.
When Rachel uncovers a treasure trove of old letters and diaries written by the enigmatic Hetty, we are transported back 100 years to a very different life just before the outbreak of WWI. Georgia Hill weaves a rich tapestry from past to present around the historical backdrop and doesn't shy away from serious issues, taking us from the horrors of the war up to the disastrous foot and mouth crisis.
Skilled narration and clever characterisation coalesces the two separate love stories of Hetty and Rachel, although decades apart, making this an immensely entertaining and absorbing read.
July 10, 2015
This hooks you from the start and keeps your interest all the way through. I loved the way Georgia intertwines the two stories of Hetty and Rachel.
This is a time slip novel, but neither character moves out of their own time. The link is the notes and letters that Hetty left in an old biscuit tin. Rachel read these through the book and became intrigued..
The modern day love story was very good - Gabe being a very untypical hero. I was praying that all would come good for them. Hetty's story was far more complicated and a brilliant portrayal of life in Edwardian England.
All in all - a really interesting book - full of history and romance - and missed opportunities.
This is a time slip novel, but neither character moves out of their own time. The link is the notes and letters that Hetty left in an old biscuit tin. Rachel read these through the book and became intrigued..
The modern day love story was very good - Gabe being a very untypical hero. I was praying that all would come good for them. Hetty's story was far more complicated and a brilliant portrayal of life in Edwardian England.
All in all - a really interesting book - full of history and romance - and missed opportunities.
July 27, 2015
I was fortunate to receive a free copy of this book to review via Netgalley. I really enjoyed reading about Clematis Cottage and following the story of Rachel as she settles into her new life. Cleverly interwoven through a diary that Rachel discovers, we find out about Henrietta. Somehow, it never seems jumbled or confused as can happen with this kind of two-in-one story and there are also some delightful minor characters. Essentially a romance but at the same time, this book offers so much more. A very enjoyable read.
July 23, 2016
Rachel, an Illustrator, moves from London and buys a run down cottage in a small village in Herefordshire, a local workman whilst renovating the cottage discovers a tin in Rachel's attic containing a journal and letters written by the previous owner of the cottage, and so begins Rachel's quest to learn more about Hetty the previous owner. The story is told both from Rachel's side and from Hetty's side, but is easy to follow, a really feel good story.
January 23, 2016
Review next week!
January 28, 2016
Review to follow
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June 2, 2018I don't know what happened this week, two DNF incl this and at least one book skim read at great speed because I just couldn't connect with it. I usually love books set in two time periods, this book should have been catnip but I just couldn't get there. Definitely me not the book.
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