A Simple Act of Kindness

by Carol Drinkwater

After a devastating car accident, Carole escapes from an oppressive marriage in England to begin again in rural France. Yet she is haunted by the knowledge that Paul, her husband, has tracked her down before and will do his best to do it again…Afraid to share her fears with her new neighbours, Carole nonetheless finds herself drawn to a local farmer, who helps her start to create a new and independent life. But then she learns that Paul is on her trail and closing fast… A Simple Act of Kindness is a story of obsessive love and the damage it can do. A powerful tale from the bestselling author of The Olive Farm and The Girl in Room Fourteen.Anglo-Irish actress Carol Drinkwater is still well-known for her award-winning portrayal of Helen Herriot in the BBC series All Creatures Great and Small. A popular and acclaimed author and film-maker as well, Carol has published twenty books for both the adult and young adult markets. She is currently at work on her twenty-first title.When she purchased a rundown property overlooking the Bay of Cannes in France, she discovered almost seventy 400-year-old olive trees. Along with her French husband, Michel, Carol reclaimed the land and began producing top-quality olive oil. Her series of memoirs recounting their experiences on the farm (The Olive Farm, The Olive Season, The Olive Harvest and Return to the Olive Farm) have become international bestsellers, and the related travel books,The Olive Route and The Olive Tree, inspired the five-part documentary film series, The Olive Route.Carol's first two Kindle Singles, The Girl in Room Fourteen and Hotel Paradise, both reached the number-one position in the Singles charts in both the United States and the UK.

Genres: Audiobook

88 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2015

About the author

Carol Drinkwater is an Anglo-Irish actress, author and filmmaker.

Reviews

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carole makes a decision to leave her abusive relationship with husband, Paul after a devastating car accident which almost kills them both for which he is responsible. Before he is out of hospital she leaves the house they shared, taking all her belongings and leases a run down house deep in the countryside in France. She changes her name in the hope Paul will not track her down.

Carole still lives in fear and wonders whether she has covered her tracks sufficiently. She meets Tom, a farmer who is her nearest neighbour, and Monique, who works for him and gradually starts to relax and feel she is safe. But what will happen if the obsessive Paul does finally track her down?

I enjoyed this well written novella bout obsessive love and how difficult it is to escape from someone who is a control freak. I liked the descriptions of the French countryside and the way Carole gradually started to build up her new life. This is a quick read and brings a breath of summer into a cold winter day in England.

[Suzan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Carole as I loved her in All Creatures Great and Small. This is the first book I have listened to of hers. Carole is also the narrator of this book and has a lovely voice and is easy to listen to. The book is only 3 hours long listening while pulling weeds. The ending was predictable but the book was entertaining.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ripped from the movie Sleeping With The Enemy. A young woman in an abusive relationship escapes to the French country side, meets a handsome neighbor. The end of the story is predictable. That said it was a quick easy read and I enjoyed the escape into the book.

[Maureen Walz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible

It was a long story to read. Flipped back and forth between past and present way too much. It was a choppy story that is not well written. The plot is hard to follow and the end is predictable and without much closure to the end. Would not recommend this to anyone.

[Lori Garside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want more!

This excellent book was engaging from cover to cover. I'm hoping this is the first in a series because I want more! Ms. Drinkwater has a new reader.

[Thomas king · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable reading

Very nice content and story. Easy reading. Would like to read more of this author's books. Well written and fun to read.

[Roseann Burford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, enjoyable but predictable

I chose this book for a quick read.
The book was entertaining but predictable.
I will continue to read books by her..

[Deedee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars...

[Jilly Barker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this a bit boring. The descriptions were good but nothing really happens till the last 5% of the book and then it’s rushed and unsatisfying. Unmemorable.

[Jennifer Mitchell-Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story. Maybe I did not stay up late to finish it, but I kept coming back to it when I had some time to read. I liked the main character, Carole, and felt the story was about her dealing with her issues and trying to get her life back after an abusive marriage and dealing with the fear that he would find her again were very well written. I would recommend it to my friends to read.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing little story. The author did an incredible job at conveying the anxiety of escaping an abusive relationship, as well as the struggles of learning to trust not only other people, but also oneself again.

[Lila · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK read.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites. The suspense kept coming.