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The House of Hopes and Dreams

Trisha Ashley

4.17 · Rating details · 1,716 ratings · 178 reviews

This novel from the Sunday Times bestselling Trisha Ashley will more than satisfy romantic comedy fans. And it also contains recipes!

When Carey Revell unexpectedly becomes the heir to Mossby, his family’s ancestral home, it’s rather a mixed blessing. The house is large but rundown and comes with a pair of resentful relatives who can’t be asked to leave.
Still, newly dumped ...more

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Paperback, 480 pages

Published May 31st 2018 by Black Swan

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Nov 05, 2018 Nicola Clough rated it it was amazing

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book full of surprises and so heartwarming and romantic it's funny and upsetting at times with many twists and turns.
Angel has spent years happy and working with her partner and although never married they are happy he suffers a stroke and she looks after him till she goes away back home and he passes away. She rushes home but doesn't get on with his son and he wants her out of the house and work and doesn't want her to take anything that is his father's. She is ...more

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May 14, 2018 Carly McKenna rated it it was ok

What’s happened to Trisha Ashley?
Back in the chocolate wishes era her novels were fantastic.With the last three or four however I’ve found my mind drifting off as I’m reading and that determined readers nightmare...skimming! 😱
The plots aren’t strong enough anymore,I hate when this happens and an author changes their writing style so much you have to let them go.

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Feb 23, 2019 Lyndsay rated it liked it · review of another edition

it was okay it did take me a while to read

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Jul 01, 2018 Sherrie rated it really liked it

enjoyed this, very typical Trisha Ashley, i liked the storyline if somewhat predictable. i call them cosy books. very impressed by her knowledge and research into the making of stained glass.

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Mar 15, 2018 Agi rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018, 2018-releases, blog-tours-2018

Trisha Ashley always takes us on brilliant, bumpy rides in her books and this time, in her newest offer, "The House of Hopes and Dreams", it's not different, as the main character tries to overcome a personal tragedy. This story is very artistic and there is a wonderful, creative side to it. This book has also one of the most gorgeous and inviting covers ever - it's simply beautiful and I could look at it all the time. Hell, I'll probably enlarge it and hang it on the wall, so magnificent is thi
Trisha Ashley always takes us on brilliant, bumpy rides in her books and this time, in her newest offer, "The House of Hopes and Dreams", it's not different, as the main character tries to overcome a personal tragedy. This story is very artistic and there is a wonderful, creative side to it. This book has also one of the most gorgeous and inviting covers ever - it's simply beautiful and I could look at it all the time. Hell, I'll probably enlarge it and hang it on the wall, so magnificent is this.

"The House of Hopes and Dreams" follows two main characters, Carey and Angel. Carey is just recovering from a bike accident when he finds out that he's just inherited a house from his uncle. It's just in time, as he's only lost his job as a house renovation program's TV presenter.
Angel has just lost everything, literally. Her partner has died and she's left with no house and no job, as he's never managed to write his will and everything is inherited by his son who hates Angel. Both Carey and Angel are looking for a fresh start and as they're old friends, Carey offers Angel a place to live and work, a use of the workshop on the property and to turn the house into a lovely place. The house, however, is a venue full of its own secrets, and it also comes with a bad - tempered housekeeper and a gardener. Will Carey and Angel be able to find out the residence's past and move to a better future?

Trisha Ashley always creates unique and eclectic characters. I really like characters like Angel and Carey - creative and full of ideas. Also, they were likeable and believable. At the beginning I felt really sorry for Angel, then I felt somehow annoyed by her but altogether she was a woman who could stand for herself and take matters in her own hands. At the beginning, Angel just didn't put a fight and let the things just happen, and it took a lot of time before she turned into the feisty, quirky typical Trisha Ashley's heroine. Yes, it exasperated me but I think that what mostly made me so angry was the fact that she actually couldn't put any fight because she was hard done by others and by circumstances, and probably it was this powerlessness that annoyed me so much.
Carey was easygoing and uncomplicated and it really made a difference to have such a character for once.

The narration in this story changes between present and past. We get to know the history of Mossby, the house that's recently been inherited by Carey (and his story as well), in the brilliant area of Lancashire, told through the diary entries from over 100 years ago - this was a diary of a famous stained glass artist Jessie Kaye, who lived in Mossby this many years ago. They were a great, albeit brief, glimpses into her life, full of surprises and secrets and I liked them very much - and the story of Angelica, who's suddenly found herself homeless and jobless after her partner's death.

The stained glass thread was also very unique and you could see how many research has gone into bringing it to life so well but it was just too much for me, I really don't need so many detailed info about stained glass, especially in such a story. There was something that I can't put my finger on that didn't work for me in this book. It was a feel - good novel and theoretically it had all the elements of a brilliant chick - lit with a twist and depth, but practically it didn't deliver for me. Probably it was the case of "it's not you, it's me", so please do not feel put out by my words and just read this book for yourself. There was really nothing wrong with it, it was a lovely, warm story, only for me "The House of Hopes and Dreams" was a book with stronger and weaker moments. and also the book had moments that it just dragged on and on, and also felt slightly repetitive. The parts about Carey's plans, about Angel setting up to her new life and chances, they were lovely, but also they dragged and they weren't as suspenseful. But also, there were many fascinating secrets, it was rich in adorable descriptions and it was complex, multi - layered tale and with a mystery running through it. I can only highly recommend this book to Trisha Ashley's fans.

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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Jul 07, 2018 Linniegayl rated it liked it

Shelves: womens-fiction-chick-lit

I’ve read a number of Trisha Ashley’s books: some work for me, some don’t. I’ve come to expect a large number of quirky characters in them. When I first started reading The House of Hopes and Dreams I thought something was wrong. No real quirky characters, but a number of very mean secondary characters. To be honest, the first quarter of the book dragged and I came close to putting it down. Fortunately, the story picked up, and for the most part I enjoyed it.

The book opens with Carey Revell in a I’ve read a number of Trisha Ashley’s books: some work for me, some don’t. I’ve come to expect a large number of quirky characters in them. When I first started reading The House of Hopes and Dreams I thought something was wrong. No real quirky characters, but a number of very mean secondary characters. To be honest, the first quarter of the book dragged and I came close to putting it down. Fortunately, the story picked up, and for the most part I enjoyed it.

The book opens with Carey Revell in a hospital bed. Carey was the creator and star of a hit renovation show on TV, but he lost everything (and nearly lost his leg) when he was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident while cycling. Not only was he let go by the show’s producers, but his girlfriend dumped him. While trying to figure out what to do with his life, Carey is informed that he has inherited a mansion that was owned by a relative he never knew he had, and that has a large number of stained glass pieces.

Angel is also dealing with major changes in her life. She’s a stained-glass designer who’s been gradually making a name for herself while living with, and working with the much older, renowned designer Julian. While still in love with Julian, their relationship changed when 18 months earlier he had a stroke. Instead of his lover, she’s become his carer. Suddenly, Angel loses everything and unsure what to do, Carey ends up back in her life again.

It turns out Carey and Angel were friends as children, and actually lived together (along with a bunch of other friends) while at university. Now, when both are struggling to find a new direction, Carey offers Angel the chance to live at his estate, and begin her own business.

Except for the first chapter, the remainder of the book is told from Angel’s POV. Both Carey and Angel are nice, interesting people, with strong career interests. I found it a bit tiresome how virtually everyone falls under Carey’s spell (especially gorgeous blondes). When things begin going wrong at Carey’s mansion, there are a number of pretty obvious villains who could be blamed, and I found several of the villains to be caricatures.

The introduction of each chapter provides snippets from the “diary” of Jessie, the renowned glass artist and a distant relative of Carey. While these were eventually interesting, and reveal a lot about some of the mysteries in the book, it also felt as if just too much was thrown into the plot: Carey’s injury/accident; mysterious threats/accidents that occur to Carey and/or Angel; the mystery of Lady Anne’s window; the mystery of Jessie; the very odd housekeeper; the film crew doing a new show for Carey focused on his mansion; the evil son of Angel’s lover Julian; the evil ex- of Carey …… and so many more. I could’ve done with a bit fewer plot threads and more focus just on Carey and Angel.

As an aside, the book features a number of characters from at least one previous book by Ms. Ashley, and it was fun meeting up with them again. Overall, I’d give this a C, so three stars here.
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Mar 09, 2018 Emma Crowley rated it liked it

The House of Hopes and Dreams, the new book from Trisha Ashley, delves into the creative, artistic world of stained glass making and takes us on a journey with Angel Arrowsmith as she attempts to overcome tragedy and rebuild her life. I was quick to warm to Angel from the beginning of this story and countless times over, the further I read I felt she had been very hard done by through what I would term cruel and vindictive actions of others. Yet her talent, creativity and flair always shone thro The House of Hopes and Dreams, the new book from Trisha Ashley, delves into the creative, artistic world of stained glass making and takes us on a journey with Angel Arrowsmith as she attempts to overcome tragedy and rebuild her life. I was quick to warm to Angel from the beginning of this story and countless times over, the further I read I felt she had been very hard done by through what I would term cruel and vindictive actions of others. Yet her talent, creativity and flair always shone through. There were several storylines at play throughout this book, some more riveting than others but come the end they all had their part to play and each blended in nicely with the overall themes and plot.

Before the beginning of every chapter focusing on Angel in the present day, there was a brief page or two from a diary. After several chapters it became clear that this was the diary of a famous stained glass artist Jessie Kaye who had once lived at Mossby which is the main setting for this story. I found these little snippets very interesting and tantalising in equal measure, as were given brief glimpses into a different life lived at Mossby many years ago and also how the main window of the house plays such a pivotal part in connecting the past with the present. Plenty of secrets and surprises await between the covers of this book and it proved to be an enjoyable read.

Carey Revell is on the cusp of leaving hospital after a long and arduous recovery following an accident which almost resulted in the loss of his leg. Times have been tough for him and he will never walk with complete ease again and combined with the fact his role as presenter of The Complete Country Cottage series has now been consigned to the bin along with the girlfriend who walked out the door, one can't say that life has lately been a bed of roses for him. News from a side of the family he never knew really existed make him see things in a new light. He is has inherited a grand old country pile called Mossby from an Uncle who has passed away.

Carey has no clue about anything to do with the running of the estate but he is more than wiling to learn his family history and the history of the estate as he is going along. I could immediately sense that Carey had been through the wars and that this new opportunity afforded to him would be a challenge to relish as he could use his restorative skills and charm to channel his energies into something new. Soon Carey feels so at home at Mossby, even though he has never been there before, it speaks to him and he heeds the houses call and wants to restore it to its former glory. This is where Angel comes in as she needs a refuge and maybe Carey and Mossby will provide that to her.

The first third of the book focused on Angel, setting up her situation and how she came to arrive at Mossby in need of comfort and a place to heal. Initially it seemed like she led the ideal life for her. She wasn't married but was happily in a relationship with famous stained glass artist Julian Seddon. Together they crafted away in their workshop even though Julian still struggles with the after affects of a severe stroke. I sensed the pair had a deep respect and love for each other and their shared passion for stained glass only enhanced this. So when the unimaginable happens and Julian suffers once again, Angel is left alone and must carry on.

As if that is not bad enough what I felt was such a major injustice was done to her, it was so unfair what occurred. It was as if all her wishes, her hard work and dedication went out the window and she was forgotten about in an instant. All down to greed, bitterness and jealously. Julian's adult son, Nat, storms in and demands what he feels is rightfully his. The cottage, the workshop, commissions everything is now his and poor Angel was very firmly out out in the cold without a thank you. I felt desperately sorry for her It's bad enough having to deal with the death of someone you loved so much but then to have further trauma unnecessarily heaped upon is just the pits. I wanted to reach out and hug her and offer her a place to stay so affected was I by what she had to endure.

Nat made his presence further known at a time when you felt things might turn around for Angel but I was glad she had seemed to garner more courage and strength to stand up to what was essentially a bully. The kind, caring side of Carey emerged as Angel is invited to stay at Mossby and start her own workshop once used by Jessie Kaye. At first I thought Carey was just being a good friend and wouldn't like Angel to be left on the streets but the further we moved through the story I thought hmmm maybe there is more to this than at first meets the eye. But how could Angel be ready for new feelings of love given the death of Julian had only recently occurred?

I didn't think the middle section of the book was a strong as the beginning and the latter third. Yes it was interesting to read of the descriptions of Mossby, how Carey was going to film a new series, and of Angel setting up her workshop and basically all the new and exciting plans for Mossby. But at times I felt it did become slightly repetitive and the story needed to be moved on a bit. There were several characters mentioned who did ring a bell with me as they did feature in a previous book I had read by this author but if you hadn't read that they wouldn't have meant that much to you. Also, there was no doubt impeccable research undertaken by the author into stained glass and its construction had been undertaken but I found there was just too much information around this for me to absorb and visualise. I stopped at one or two points to look up some of the techniques and terms used just so things would make more sense for me and to deepen my understanding. The storyline around Lady Anne's window was fascinating though and I felt as I said once we got to the later third the story really moved up a notch and I was keen to discover just exactly what was going at Mossby and why a certain creepy character acted the way they did?

The inquisitive side of Angel begins to emerge as she restores the famous window at Mossby and with Carey by her side things begin to take dramatic turns. Will the legends of Mossby come true and cause chaos, doom and gloom for all involved leaving no chance for happiness for anyone? Or will Carey and Angel be able to get to the root of the problems and solve the mystery once and for all. I loved how there were two major twists towards the end that I wouldn't have seen coming and I felt all the diary entries really paid off. Some readers I think might initially find them a hindrance and question whether they taint the flow of the story but I knew they had to have some validity and a need to be there and I am so glad I wasn't let down by the eventual outcome.

The House of Hopes and Dreams although not my favourite book by Trisha Ashley, I think that will forever be The Twelve Days of Christmas, but it does come quite close to it. It's a fun, enjoyable, escapist read that will have you hoping a happy ever after can be found for all involved.
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Aug 07, 2018 Liz rated it really liked it

An easy and enjoyable read but crikey, there was a lot going on. I liked the plot, especially all of the stained glass references, but there were a lot of characters to keep track of! I thought the flashbacks to the past were cleverly done and tied the story together really well.

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Mar 09, 2018 Suze Lavender rated it it was amazing

After an accident Carey needs a long time to recover. His girlfriend has left him and his job as the presenter of a television show about restoring old houses, goes to someone else. His inheritance couldn't have come at a more opportune moment. Carey didn't even know he had a relative, but is being left a mansion. The house is a bit dilapidated and comes with an angry housekeeper and gardener, but those are problems he can probably overcome. There's also plenty of gorgeous stained glass, togethe After an accident Carey needs a long time to recover. His girlfriend has left him and his job as the presenter of a television show about restoring old houses, goes to someone else. His inheritance couldn't have come at a more opportune moment. Carey didn't even know he had a relative, but is being left a mansion. The house is a bit dilapidated and comes with an angry housekeeper and gardener, but those are problems he can probably overcome. There's also plenty of gorgeous stained glass, together with a workshop and Carey's best friend is an artist specialized in that area. She's looking for a fresh start as well, so together they might be able to turn the house into a beautiful home.

Angel has lost everything, her partner passed away before he could finalize his will. They used to work together, but now the business will go to his son. The same goes for the house they lived in and everything else he owned. Angel, who took care of her older husband for a long time and handled his business for him when he couldn't, is being asked to leave as quickly as possible, so she doesn't even get the time to properly grieve and make arrangements. Carey's offer to stay with him and use the workshop on his property is very welcome and together they're trying to turn the house into a home. However, the mansion contains plenty of secrets and Angel and Carey aren't the only ones looking for the truth. Will they be able to find out what happened in the past, so they can leave it behind them and move on to a happier future?

The House of Hopes and Dreams is a wonderful heartwarming story. I was immediately intrigued by Angel. She's creative and talented and I loved all the information Trisha Ashley gives about her stained glass work. She clearly knows what she's writing about and makes it come to life in an incredible way. I love reading about artists, especially when I can so easily visualize their work. That made this story really special for me.

Carey's large inheritance gives him something to focus on. He was badly injured and is still recovering, so a new project he can handle at his own pace is exactly what he needs. He immediately asks his friends to join him and the house becomes a place where people have fun and enjoy working together. He's an easygoing person and this perfectly suits Angel's sweet personality. They clearly are soul mates and their creativity makes this bond even stronger. I loved that aspect of the story and kept hoping that after the unhappy times they both had they'd find their happily ever after eventually.

Trisha Ashley knows how to write fabulous feelgood stories. I like how unique her main characters are and the situations they find themselves in keep surprising me over and over again. I was captivated by The House of Hopes and Dreams from beginning to end and couldn't stop reading. The story has many spellbinding elements. The glass Trisha Ashley writes about has such an interesting rich history, the house has plenty of hidden passageways I was anxious to find out more about and there's a large number of fascinating secrets. The result is a fantastic multilayered and enchanting story. I highly recommend this beautiful book. ...more

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Oct 10, 2018 LH rated it it was ok

I got lost at times, not much happened with the story... it focused heavily in the restoration of the house and the characters took a back seat

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Feb 05, 2018 Claire Mc Partlin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-reviews

Very enjoyable story that kept my attention throughout, I do love Trisha Ashley's style of writing.

The main story is about Carey who is just recovering from a bike accident when he finds out he has inherited an Arts & Crafts house called Mossby from his uncle who has just died. Carey is a larger than life figure and I really liked his character. He used to present a house renovation program on TV but has just been replaced and lost his job.

Angel is a glass artist who lived with her partner, both Very enjoyable story that kept my attention throughout, I do love Trisha Ashley's style of writing.

The main story is about Carey who is just recovering from a bike accident when he finds out he has inherited an Arts & Crafts house called Mossby from his uncle who has just died. Carey is a larger than life figure and I really liked his character. He used to present a house renovation program on TV but has just been replaced and lost his job.

Angel is a glass artist who lived with her partner, both personally and in the glass business, although the house and business was her partner's, even though they had been together for over 10 years. Her partner then died and his son and wife, who hated Angel, came in and took over everything, throwing her out, because of issues with the will and inheritance.

I did find Angel a bit annoying to start with, she just accepted everything and didn't put up any sort of fight about being thrown out of her home and business. The son and wife were just horrible people, and the whole situation just really irritated me.

Carey then contacted Angel as he needed help to make a new TV program about renovating Mossby, and persuaded Angel, his best friend, to help him. Luckily there was an old disused glass studio in the grounds already from a previous female glass artist who had lived at Mossby, which is a main reason Angel was persuaded to move to Mossby to live and start up her own glass business.

Unfortunately Carey had a couple of distant 'relatives' still living on the property that he had issues with (his uncle's second wife's daughter & her husband and occasionally their fame seeking daughter). The husband was no problem, a very hard working gardener and well worth his salary, but the daughter Ella was very odd. She had a fascination with polishing the panelling in an old wing of the house. I thought Carey was far too lenient with her, she was always turning up where you didn't expect her and was so miserable.

I really liked the whole concept of the book itself, and loved revisiting the area that a few of Trisha Ashley's other books are set in. An intriguing book with a mystery running through it. I enjoyed the way bits of the story flipped back and forth through the previous generations as the story of the old house slowly revealed itself. I loved Fang the dog too - little terror that he was! ...more

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Feb 26, 2018 Mandy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I only discovered Trisha Ashley a few years ago but have already read and enjoyed nearly all of her books. “The House of Hopes and Dreams” sees two childhood friends, Carey and Angelique, suffering a traumatic incident in each of their lives, but Carey has also inherited the ancient family home. He asks Angel to help him work on the house – she’s a stained-glass artist – and this provides her with the home she needs right now.

Trisha has a great style of writing and her books grab your interest v ...more

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Sep 01, 2018 Annie Burrows rated it it was amazing

Shelves: chick-lit

As a lover of historical romance, I particularly enjoyed the sections of journal written by women who had lived in the House of Hopes and Dreams in former generations, and how they dealt with what life threw at them.

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Apr 28, 2019 Sarah-jane Kemp rated it really liked it

It took me a little while to really get into this book, but once I was I found it very engaging. There were one or two genuine surprises along the way too...

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Jan 06, 2020 Hazel rated it really liked it

Good

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Mar 01, 2018 Noemi Proietti rated it really liked it

Angel and Carey have been best friends since they were children so when they are both in moments of need, they turn to each other for help and comfort. Carey has been fired from his Extreme Makeover-like show, he's been dumped by his girlfriend, and his leg was almost amputated when a car ran over him. Angel is grieving over the loss of her long-time partner and she is homeless after his son turned her out of the house and glass workshop they shared. Luckily, things take a turn for the better wh ...more

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Nov 30, 2020 Hannah rated it it was ok

This was so long and so much was unnecessary. I felt like I had to finish it but I really struggled.

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Feb 10, 2018 Joanne D'Arcy rated it it was amazing

Welcome to the latest novel from Trisha Ashley, being luckily enough to receive it for review, I got stuck straight in. I didn't even look at the blurb on the back to see what I was going to be reading about as I knew it didn't matter as I would instantly be involved in the story.

And so I was.

Carey is recovering from a serious cycle accident, he has lost his job, his girlfriend and is very much down on his luck and feeling sorry for himself. When he unexpectedly is left a house , in fact his anc Welcome to the latest novel from Trisha Ashley, being luckily enough to receive it for review, I got stuck straight in. I didn't even look at the blurb on the back to see what I was going to be reading about as I knew it didn't matter as I would instantly be involved in the story.

And so I was.

Carey is recovering from a serious cycle accident, he has lost his job, his girlfriend and is very much down on his luck and feeling sorry for himself. When he unexpectedly is left a house , in fact his ancestral house, Mossby he decides that perhaps this is the change he needs.

Angel is an artist, a stained glass artist and has been happy in her workshop creating pieces of work alongside her partner Julian. When tragedy strikes for a second time, Angel is left without a home, money or even a workshop to earn money in she is cast adrift.

Carey knows Angel is the woman he needs to help with the rather unique pieces of stained glass windows in the house which also have a story to tell, Carey finds her a roof to seek sanctuary under both to live and to work.

Perhaps being involved in restoring and creating a home, both Carey and Angel will start to restore and create something better in their lives.

This story has it all, different plot line, characters to equally love and despise. Within the first few moments of meeting Nat, Julian's son and his girlfriend I had the measure of them and seethed quietly about their actions as I watched Angel struggle to come to terms with so much in a short space of time.

Add into the mix, Clem the Mossby gardener and Ella who has an obsession with only cleaning the wood panelling in one part of the house. Molly and her modern meals on wheels, as well as Nick the tv producer wanting to capture it all on film for posterity (and money). This book has a lot going on and I learnt about the stained glass process in a lot of interesting detail which did not come across as a dry textbook information; rather from someone who had hands on experience or at least thoroughly researched.

This book has everything you might want in a book, romance, death, big houses, dogs, cake, quirky characters, history and laughs. Not sure you could ask for more really?

A favourite of mine for 2018 and it's only February, I could in fact go back to the beginning and read the whole thing again! ...more

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Dec 19, 2019 Ann Hill rated it it was amazing

A lovely heart warming read.

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Jun 26, 2018 Sarah Lee rated it really liked it

The House of Hopes and Dreams is another great read from Trisha Ashley. I really love Trisha's books and this is another great read. A good story, good characters and I enjoyed the story of Jessie Revell interwoven through the book. I sat in the sun today and read most of the book. ...more

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Apr 28, 2018 Jill's Book Cafe rated it really liked it

More 4.5

When I received an ARC of this book I was delighted, not least because I’d loved Trisha Ashley’s previous book. When I started reading, the subject matter got me even more excited. With an Arts and Crafts house at its centre, and a stained glass artist with an obsessive interest in the history of female stained glass artists I was instantly smitten. With a personal passion for The Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites, I was in my element. I should point out t More 4.5

When I received an ARC of this book I was delighted, not least because I’d loved Trisha Ashley’s previous book. When I started reading, the subject matter got me even more excited. With an Arts and Crafts house at its centre, and a stained glass artist with an obsessive interest in the history of female stained glass artists I was instantly smitten. With a personal passion for The Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites, I was in my element. I should point out that a working knowledge, or interest in stained glass or the Arts and Crafts movement is not essential to enjoy this book, it just added an extra element of interest for me.

As the basic plot of the book is outlined in the blurb and I don’t want to add detail which would definitely spoil the enjoyment of reading it for yourself. So I’ll stick to why I liked it.

The two main characters, Carey and Angel are instantly like-able and sympathetic, which makes it even easier to dislike their respective adversary’s, who manage to take on almost pantomime villain roles within the book. I found myself almost mentally hissing when they appeared and was constantly rooting for my ‘heroes’. In addition there is a supporting cast of secondary characters (and a misunderstood dog) that are well drawn, rounded and feature throughout the book to give an added depth. It’s not just the characters that are well presented, Mossby House and its surrounding area is also well described and it is impossible not to fall in love with the house and want the restoration to succeed.

What adds another dimension to the book are the back stories that unfold as the book progresses. One relating to the original Elizabethan owner and the second to Jessie King, the creator of the Arts and Crafts windows in the more modern wing. Before the chapters looking at Angel’s contemporary story there are diary entries that gradually reveal themselves to be written by Jessie who had once lived at Mossby. The back stories reveal untold secrets that form an additional engaging narrative, especially when intertwined with the contemporary tale regarding Carey and Angel.

With this book in particular, Trisha Ashley has managed to combine a lot of factual and historical information without getting bogged down, or losing sight of the contemporary story line. It is skillfully plotted and kept me interested every step of the way. It has a balance of light and shade, with many other themes outside of the house restoration that offers something for everyone. All this, combined with the characteristic warmth drew me in and had me settled in for what was a satisfying and feel-good read. ...more

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Mar 22, 2018 Kaisha (The Writing Garnet) rated it it was amazing

All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com

Oh this book is amazing!! As soon as the story begins, we are shoved straight into the deep end when Carey finds himself in a situation he never thought he would be in....well, two of them! That was it, I was hooked, how could you not be? A character finds out a piece of information which is likely to change his life, yet you know fine well it will rub people up the wrong way - surely that is bound to get anyone wanting All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com

Oh this book is amazing!! As soon as the story begins, we are shoved straight into the deep end when Carey finds himself in a situation he never thought he would be in....well, two of them! That was it, I was hooked, how could you not be? A character finds out a piece of information which is likely to change his life, yet you know fine well it will rub people up the wrong way - surely that is bound to get anyone wanting more?

'The House of Hopes and Dreams' follows the lives of Angel and Carey, both attempting to rebuild their lives after a bout of unfortunate events, hoping that their future will be drama free sooner rather than later. Of course that isn't what happens, but I couldn't really fault them for the positive outlook!

My heart went out to Angel. What a devastating situation to be in, and what a cockerel Nat is! I won't say too much about that character apart from the fact that they are an absolute bumwipe! Even though I was glad that Angel had someone to lean on, I couldn't help but feel devastated for her. Nobody should ever be treated the way that she was treated, ever!

I couldn't stop myself from falling in love with 'The House of Hopes and Dreams'. The storyline captured my heart as soon as Mossby because the main feature of the story, enabling me to think about my own hopes and dreams for the future. Every turn of the page had me feeling as though I was getting hugged from the inside out, mostly down to the amount of love the majority of the characters showed each other, as well as the overall cosy feel of the storyline.

Trisha Ashley's latest book contains oodles of romance, several ounces of friendship, a pound of mystery, as well as a pinch of salty characters - a recipe which made for a perfect read with no soggy bottom.

As far as I am concerned, this is Trisha Ashley's best book yet, and I feel she has outdone herself with her strong and feisty heroine, her 'one to watch' hero, as well as her incredible story telling which goes from strength to strength with every book.

A heart-warming, cosy, and perfectly 'baked' read that will leave you feeling like a cat who has got the cream. Or, in Fang's case, a dog who has got the ankle. ...more

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Jul 15, 2018 Sarah Broadhurst rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Starting with the front cover of the hardback, I love the cover! The illustration is gorgeous - it looks like a dream home I would choose. Marry that with the synopsis and I know that, yet again, Trisha Ashley has a best seller on her hands, a fantastic read that I will devour very quickly (which is a good job as my copy got caught up in the snow delay) and I will love it and keep thinking about the characters, the location and the storyline for weeks to come. And, of course, I was not disappoin Starting with the front cover of the hardback, I love the cover! The illustration is gorgeous - it looks like a dream home I would choose. Marry that with the synopsis and I know that, yet again, Trisha Ashley has a best seller on her hands, a fantastic read that I will devour very quickly (which is a good job as my copy got caught up in the snow delay) and I will love it and keep thinking about the characters, the location and the storyline for weeks to come. And, of course, I was not disappointed!
The House of Hopes and Dreams is a combination of two stories; where the narrative swaps between the past and the present as we hear the history of Mossby, the home recently inherited by Carey Revell, and the story of Angelica Arrowsmith, a life long friend of Carey. I don't want to tell anymore of the story as I was my blog readers to pick up a copy of 'The House of Hope and Dreams' and enjoy the story as it evolves. You will not be disappointed.
I am a huge fan of Trisha Ashley, I have loved all of her books and often recommend them to friends and family who have also become fans. This story has everything, there is Trisha's great humour, but it is all within a great story, one that will stand the test of time. The characters are lovable. At the start, I felt sorry for Angel, who has recently lost her long term partner, however because they were not married, she was not entitled to a share of his estate, and his relatives did not want to share, however Angel soon takes matters in her own hands and walks away with her assets (including her own portfolio of stained glass work using traditional techniques) and shapes her own destiny with the help of Carey. I really liked the second voice of this story, the historical characters, where we learnt lots about Mossby and also the traditional glass workers techniques.

I recommend this book to all my blog readers as a must read and thank Trisha Ashley and Black Swan, the publishers, for sending me the book to review and the invite to be part of the blog tour. ...more

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Jan 11, 2018 Melisa Broadbent rated it really liked it

Trisha Ashley is one of my favourite authors so I was delighted to receive a review copy and started to read it right away! The beautiful cover captures what the book is about perfectly - plus who can resist the cheeky dog!

I immediately fell in love with the characters in this story and loved the chemistry between Carey and his closest and longest friend, Angel. Trisha Ashley has done it again with her setting for the story - it was perfect and I was overjoyed to see some characters from her oth ...more

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Mar 14, 2018 Donna Irwin rated it it was amazing

Trisha Ashley is one of my favourite authors and I always get very excited at the prospect of a new book from her! I was a little concerned this time as it took me a little longer to get into the book (two chapters rather than two pages) but I needn't have worried , I was soon back in Trisha world and caught up in the stories of Carey and Angel and the usual cast of great supporting characters The two inherited residents of the house reminded me of the rude waitresses in The Little Teashop of Lo ...more

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Feb 19, 2018 Diana rated it it was amazing

Carey Revell unexpectedly becomes heir to Mossby the large and rundown ancestral family home he knew nothing about meanwhile Angel Arrowsmith his childhood friend who has been happily working along side her partner in his stained glass business finds herself heartbroken homeless and out of work. And so the story takes us on a journey involving glass making, the mysteries of old houses along with some lovely (and some not so lovely) characters. Within a few pages you will feel like you are amongs ...more

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Aug 31, 2018 Margaret Cahill rated it liked it

The only reason this books gets 3 stars is because there's an unusual and well-informed story line - at least as far as the history of the house and detail of stained glass goes. I don't like writing bad reviews as it's not fair on the author - regardless of the end result, I know they have slogged away for many hours to create their book. I just wonder sometimes how they get on to the Sunday Times Bestseller List when there are so many better writers around who don't. Maybe I'm being unfair and ...more

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Jul 15, 2018 Clare Norfolk rated it liked it

I normally love a Trisha Ashley book, but found this one really hard going although can't put my finger on why that was. The premise was interesting, I liked the characters, but it dragged for me. While the level of research into glasswork was impressive, there was just a bit too much of it in the story, and the links to the diary from the past didn't really interest me. The final third of the book was more enjoyable but not enough for me to rate the book higher than 3 stars. ...more

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Jul 08, 2018 Julie rated it really liked it

Losing yourself in a fun and feel-good novel by Trisha Ashley is one of life’s greatest pleasures and she is on top form with her latest engrossing page-turner, The House of Hopes and Dreams.

Carey Revell is a man who had the world at his feet: good-looking, with a thriving career as a TV interior designer and with a gorgeous girlfriend on his arm, life couldn’t possibly get any better for him – until an accident saw him end up in hospital and get dumped and fired from his job in one fell swoop! Losing yourself in a fun and feel-good novel by Trisha Ashley is one of life’s greatest pleasures and she is on top form with her latest engrossing page-turner, The House of Hopes and Dreams.

Carey Revell is a man who had the world at his feet: good-looking, with a thriving career as a TV interior designer and with a gorgeous girlfriend on his arm, life couldn’t possibly get any better for him – until an accident saw him end up in hospital and get dumped and fired from his job in one fell swoop! As if Carey doesn’t have enough to contend with, he finds out that he is the heir to Mossby, his family’s ancestral home that is not only run down and dilapidated, but also comes with a pair of resentful family members who make it clear from the off that they are not shifting! With this huge millstone around his neck, Carey almost begins to yearn for his uncomfortable hospital bed until fate propels him into the path of his childhood friend, Angel Arrowsmith…

The last couple of months have been anything but easy for Angel. She had spent the last ten years perfectly happy working and living with her much older partner and when his health had taken a turn for the worse, she had rolled up her sleeves and taken care of him with all the love and affection he had shown her through the years. When he had died, she had been absolutely devastated. Grieving and heartbroken, she had thought that she would continue living in the home she had shared with her dead partner and carry on working – until his avaricious son and girlfriend turned up and threw her out! Alone, homeless and with nobody to turn to, Angel wonders what on earth she is going to do next and just when she is about to give up all hope, her old friend Carey Revell turns up with the perfect solution: she can move into Mossby and help him restore it.

Working side by side with Carey to help turn Mossby back into the majestic house it once was is no easy task – and neither is dealing with the electric attraction that sparks between them. Giving into their feelings for one another proves inevitable for Carey and Angel, but the corridors and attics of Mossby have powerful secrets that could shatter all the hopes and dreams which they might have for the future…

Will Carey and Angel manage to turn Mossby from a house into a home? Is happiness for the two of them possible? Or would they be better off as just friends?

Once you start reading a novel by Trisha Ashley, putting it down is certainly not an option and this is the case with her latest book, The House of Hopes and Dreams. A spellbinding, romantic and engrossing tale of new beginnings, starting over and second chances, The House of Hopes and Dreams is an absolutely enchanting read sparkling with warmth, wit and charm, fantastic characters that come alive from the very first page and an intriguing historical thread running through the novel that will keep readers hooked as they try and work out how Mossby’s past connects to and affects the present.

A fantastic read that will touch the heart and cheer up even the most dismal of days, The House of Hopes and Dreams is another must-read by Trisha Ashley. ...more

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Jan 12, 2021 PrettyFlamingo rated it it was amazing

I found this to be a delightful and absorbing read, with a little romance thrown in at just about the right level for me. It didn’t take over the story, which was focused on the art of stained glass making – with incredible detail – and the renovation of an old property. I found these practicalities, together with friendships and new possibilities, the heart of the book and it was this that kept me reading.

Carey Revell has had a hard time. Knocked off his bike in London, he’s had a long hard roa I found this to be a delightful and absorbing read, with a little romance thrown in at just about the right level for me. It didn’t take over the story, which was focused on the art of stained glass making – with incredible detail – and the renovation of an old property. I found these practicalities, together with friendships and new possibilities, the heart of the book and it was this that kept me reading.

Carey Revell has had a hard time. Knocked off his bike in London, he’s had a long hard road of rehabilitation, been dropped from the cottage renovation TV show that he created and to top the lot he’s been dumped by his shallow ‘leggy blonde’ girlfriend Daisy who’s left her Chihuahua with him. Surprised to find he’s been bequeathed an old house in Lancashire by his great uncle, he – not literally as his leg’s not up to it – jumps at the chance for a life change. Simultaneously his childhood friend Angel(ique) Arrowsmith has a life change of her own when her much older (life and business) partner Julian dies suddenly following a second stroke. This means the end of the home she shared with Julian, her work in his stained glass studio and she is summarily turfed out by Julian’s venal son Nat and his airhead (but ‘leggy blonde’) wife Willow who really are repulsive characters.

Being the old mates that they are, Carey invites Angel to move into the house, Mossby, to help him renovate it and set up her own stained glass studio in a workshop that once belonged to Jessie Kaye, renowned early 20th century female stained glass artist, whose diary is interspersed between the present-day chapters. There is a mystery about the house; it’s reputed to be haunted, there is a window that’s apparently cursed, and a creepy housekeeper nicknamed Mrs Danvers.

Other characters come to the house to help with the renovations and to film for the TV show that Carey and his mate Nick are putting together and alongside Angel’s new venture this is really upbeat and positive. There is a lot of dialogue and a lot of description, which some readers may find mundane and too much but which I liked. I love detail. I can’t take to stories that are ‘literary car chases’ and find this sort of story far more realistic. I found the stained glass stories totally fascinating. As the secrets are uncovered and the surprises come, it completely kept my interest. Life IS ordinary, in the main, and a story does not have to be full of ‘action’ to be interesting.

Things I have to take issue with though as much as I loved the story. Too much stereotypical ‘leggy blonde’ nonsense and some characters on the side of caricature. Overuse of exclamation marks in general, but in Jessie Kaye’s diary in particular. This didn’t feel authentic to the 1914 writing style. Carey constantly calling Angel ‘Shrimp’ completely irritated the hell out of me. And I did think that Angel’s grieving was very much glossed over as to be almost non-existent. But still five stars for my enjoyment of the book. It’s a story of integrity and hope winning through and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

And a big shoutout to the cover artist, Robyn Neild, who is fabulous and designed me a commission for my big 4-0. She is a brilliant illustrator. ...more

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About Trisha Ashley

Trisha Ashley

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Trisha Ashley is now a full-time novelist, but she has been known to work for stained glass makers and/or plumbers. She likes to paint, eat, drink, and read literary biographies. Her previous hobbies included getting divorced and packing to move. She claims to have once actually eaten Bronte burgers at the Branwell café, but her publisher declines to verify this. She lives in North Wales.

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“I looked at him curiously. ‘I thought you only read non-fiction and Terry Pratchett?’ ‘I ran out of anything to read in the hospital and it was that or a lot of ditsy novels about cupcakes and fairy-wing repair shops by the beach.’ ‘I don’t think I’ve come across the fairy-wing repair shop one,’ I mused. ‘Probably not: I made it up.’ ‘Maybe you should write it?’ I suggested, then reverted back to the subject in hand.” — 0 likes

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