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Duckton-by-Dale Romance #1
Summer Fate
Grace has it all. At least she did until a moment of indiscretion threatens to destroy her career.
With everything in London at stake and her fate in the Board's hands, she escapes to her Aunt's house in the Lake District - the perfect place to hide from her secrets and to get some much-needed peace and quiet.
But Duckton-by-Dale is nothing like she remembered and she certainly didn't expect to be attracted to her new neighbour, Harriet. But then she also didn't expect her world to be turned upside down by the quirky ensemble of villagers who plot to give love a helping hand. What could possibly go wrong?
Laugh out loud as you immerse yourself in the antics of the Duckton-by-Dale villagers and watch Harriet & Grace’s romance blossom...
Emma Nichols' lesbian romcom is the perfect summer read!
Emma Nichols is the author of Summer 2018 No.1 Bestselling Lesbian Romance 'Ariana' and Summer 2017 No.1 Bestselling Lesbian Romance 'Finding You'.
With everything in London at stake and her fate in the Board's hands, she escapes to her Aunt's house in the Lake District - the perfect place to hide from her secrets and to get some much-needed peace and quiet.
But Duckton-by-Dale is nothing like she remembered and she certainly didn't expect to be attracted to her new neighbour, Harriet. But then she also didn't expect her world to be turned upside down by the quirky ensemble of villagers who plot to give love a helping hand. What could possibly go wrong?
Laugh out loud as you immerse yourself in the antics of the Duckton-by-Dale villagers and watch Harriet & Grace’s romance blossom...
Emma Nichols' lesbian romcom is the perfect summer read!
Emma Nichols is the author of Summer 2018 No.1 Bestselling Lesbian Romance 'Ariana' and Summer 2017 No.1 Bestselling Lesbian Romance 'Finding You'.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2019
244 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Emma Nichols
14 books187 followersEmma Nichols lives in Buckinghamshire with her partner and two children. She served for 12 years in the British Army, studied Psychology and an MBA, and published several non-fiction books under another name, in sports peak performance, before dipping her toes into the world of lesbian fiction.
Emma's bestselling lesbian romance books are: Finding You, Remember Us, The Hangover, Forbidden, Ariana and Madeleine.
Emma's bestselling lesbian romance books are: Finding You, Remember Us, The Hangover, Forbidden, Ariana and Madeleine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 8, 2022
Kindle Unlimited.
A good British small village romance with meddling quirky characters and two sweet women at its core.
A good British small village romance with meddling quirky characters and two sweet women at its core.
August 20, 2022
I'm out at about 20%. The author is all over the place. Like, there’s zero attempt at PoV unity. We have a couple of scenes from the PoV of the conniving villagers, for example. And we get mid-conversation shifts from one to the other. Which, if you’re Nora Roberts, can be quite lovely. This wasn’t confusing, at least, but it wasn’t a benefit, either.
And then the editing was bad. Or the writing? Like, on a single page, we have a report that two people had been “in deep confession” (I’m guessing that should be conversation as no priests were present) and a couple paragraphs down, the heckles rose on someone's neck. All of which pushed me out of the story enough that I started questioning things like one lead being tackled repeatedly by a dog, like, taken to the ground by surprise. And I get the feeling that the author meant this to be funny. But, personally, I don’t like being around poorly-trained big dogs that are known to tackle people to the ground. Silly of me, I’m sure.
And we’re being coy about why Grace has to leave London while we’re at it. Like, she’s under a cloud of suspicion. And being asked to make herself scarce. Only, what company does that? If she’s under investigation, you want her available for clarifications and statements and things. I might have bought it if she had taken herself off to dodge tough questions, but only if she’s kind of weak and scared that they’ll find out she did the thing.
Anyway, these would have been little things if the characters had engaged me. But they don’t really hold together. And their initial conversation about what they like and where they like to be was all about Harriet making moral judgements about Grace’s lifestyle and Grace thinking “you know, she’s kind of right.” Which, since it’s all platitudes without any real trade-offs, probably works fine if you don’t bother thinking about it. Only, since I wasn’t engaged, I couldn’t help thinking how shallow it was at heart and how it externalized Harriet’s focus right when she’s supposed to be making a connection with Grace.
And if Harriet isn’t bothering to make a connection with Grace, I got to wondering why I’d want to? And once I ask those kinds of questions, it’s generally time to stop. So I stopped. One star because all the little fails added up to a big dnf.
And then the editing was bad. Or the writing? Like, on a single page, we have a report that two people had been “in deep confession” (I’m guessing that should be conversation as no priests were present) and a couple paragraphs down, the heckles rose on someone's neck. All of which pushed me out of the story enough that I started questioning things like one lead being tackled repeatedly by a dog, like, taken to the ground by surprise. And I get the feeling that the author meant this to be funny. But, personally, I don’t like being around poorly-trained big dogs that are known to tackle people to the ground. Silly of me, I’m sure.
And we’re being coy about why Grace has to leave London while we’re at it. Like, she’s under a cloud of suspicion. And being asked to make herself scarce. Only, what company does that? If she’s under investigation, you want her available for clarifications and statements and things. I might have bought it if she had taken herself off to dodge tough questions, but only if she’s kind of weak and scared that they’ll find out she did the thing.
Anyway, these would have been little things if the characters had engaged me. But they don’t really hold together. And their initial conversation about what they like and where they like to be was all about Harriet making moral judgements about Grace’s lifestyle and Grace thinking “you know, she’s kind of right.” Which, since it’s all platitudes without any real trade-offs, probably works fine if you don’t bother thinking about it. Only, since I wasn’t engaged, I couldn’t help thinking how shallow it was at heart and how it externalized Harriet’s focus right when she’s supposed to be making a connection with Grace.
And if Harriet isn’t bothering to make a connection with Grace, I got to wondering why I’d want to? And once I ask those kinds of questions, it’s generally time to stop. So I stopped. One star because all the little fails added up to a big dnf.
January 26, 2020
Set in the Lake District in a quirky, fictional village. Full of characters. Should’ve been fun but somehow fell really flat for me.
Grace is suspended from work at her entertainment organising company following some serious allegations (these allegations really troubled me and are not resolved other than to say that you have to have faith that person X couldn’t do such a thing and that person Y is lying). This is real red flag business for me and it wasn’t really resolved.
Anyway, Grace is being set up with Harriet. The whole village seems involved in the ploy. After all, Grace is a lesbian. And Harriet is a lesbian. They are clearly a match made in heaven.... And so it came to pass.
Its a book that’s written to be funny, quirky and amusing. It didn’t make me laugh but it was sort of fun. But the misconduct plot line spoiled it for me.
Grace is suspended from work at her entertainment organising company following some serious allegations (these allegations really troubled me and are not resolved other than to say that you have to have faith that person X couldn’t do such a thing and that person Y is lying). This is real red flag business for me and it wasn’t really resolved.
Anyway, Grace is being set up with Harriet. The whole village seems involved in the ploy. After all, Grace is a lesbian. And Harriet is a lesbian. They are clearly a match made in heaven.... And so it came to pass.
Its a book that’s written to be funny, quirky and amusing. It didn’t make me laugh but it was sort of fun. But the misconduct plot line spoiled it for me.
June 17, 2019
Good summer read romance
Sweet romance where it takes a village of well meaning people to get to people together. Hope there is another story to see how they match Drew to her perfect partner. Good story recommend this book.
Sweet romance where it takes a village of well meaning people to get to people together. Hope there is another story to see how they match Drew to her perfect partner. Good story recommend this book.
December 21, 2019
Not really sure what to make of this - ceratinly no laughter nor tears (and I'm easy to do both) - didn't really buy into the characters & the background village chit-chat. Disappointing.
March 17, 2021
A wonderful tale.
Summer Fate had me smiling almost from the first page. I have lived in the English countryside (Somerset/Devon) quite a while and had to realise over the further reading, that I actually have met, over time, some of those sometimes only slightly exaggerated characters. Also, having walked the Lakes several times and stopped with my small tent at some tarn or other, how much the serenity there can influence you. So much for the setting.
The characters of the two protagonists are wonderfully crafted, just a tiny bit larger than life, but oh so lovable! The romance is sweet and natural with only one major hickup, so you can happily relax into your “stay” at Duckton-by-Dale, smile at the shenanigans of the inhabitants and enjoy Grace and Harriet finding each other.
What I love about this book is, that the certainly strong sexual tension between Grace and Harriet never becomes too explicit or the sole focus of the love scenes and so the emotional development of the characters remains what drives the flow of the story.
In all it is a well crafted, beautiful romance, that I can wholeheartedly recommend to read.
Summer Fate had me smiling almost from the first page. I have lived in the English countryside (Somerset/Devon) quite a while and had to realise over the further reading, that I actually have met, over time, some of those sometimes only slightly exaggerated characters. Also, having walked the Lakes several times and stopped with my small tent at some tarn or other, how much the serenity there can influence you. So much for the setting.
The characters of the two protagonists are wonderfully crafted, just a tiny bit larger than life, but oh so lovable! The romance is sweet and natural with only one major hickup, so you can happily relax into your “stay” at Duckton-by-Dale, smile at the shenanigans of the inhabitants and enjoy Grace and Harriet finding each other.
What I love about this book is, that the certainly strong sexual tension between Grace and Harriet never becomes too explicit or the sole focus of the love scenes and so the emotional development of the characters remains what drives the flow of the story.
In all it is a well crafted, beautiful romance, that I can wholeheartedly recommend to read.
August 3, 2019
Several reviewers have already underscored my objections to this story. Grace Pinkerton may be worthy of her beloved Harriet Haversham, but she doesn't deserve to roll over for blackmail, extortion and the theft of her business. The quirkiness of the folks of Duckton-by-Dale beggars the imagination. Nosy, interfering and manipulative actions by one and all reads either operatic at best or mental at worst. Grace flees a professional conspiracy in London only to find herself embroiled in a personal one out in the countryside. Even if predestined love awaits her outside London rather than the empty financial success she spent her life building, why would she be so damn stupid? She traded one group of spineless con artists for another group of well meaning but disingenuous matchmakers. Grace may be a nebbish, but Harriet must be suffering from relationship PTSD. She needs counseling more than she needs a girlfriend. Her overreacting to their first kiss and her willingness to believe the absolute worst about Grace should be giant red flags.
I know that Nichols intended Summer Fate to be a lighthearted lesbian romance filled with loveable characters. The writing is top notch and the chemistry between the main characters is brilliant. It took me weeks to finish this book, because I didn't enjoy it. Meddlesome relatives and childish adults annoy me. The allegations of sexual violence that haunt Grace never received the attention that they deserve. Why include this serious issue in a lighthearted romance only to race walk away from it? Too much is weighted against these women to make any relationship, be it in the cards or not, possible.
I know that Nichols intended Summer Fate to be a lighthearted lesbian romance filled with loveable characters. The writing is top notch and the chemistry between the main characters is brilliant. It took me weeks to finish this book, because I didn't enjoy it. Meddlesome relatives and childish adults annoy me. The allegations of sexual violence that haunt Grace never received the attention that they deserve. Why include this serious issue in a lighthearted romance only to race walk away from it? Too much is weighted against these women to make any relationship, be it in the cards or not, possible.
May 25, 2021
A sweet romance, with a touch of spicy fire. A new to me author, Emma has a cheeky style that I enjoy. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books.
August 16, 2019
(Note: Trying new review style.)
My friend,
I must say that I really liked this book right from the beginning. And let me tell you why I consider this a very good book.
First, the characters have a real feel to them. In the beginning you are introduced to a group of people and you can almost picture them in the room talking. I started to get flashes of the characters in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. (I know you get that reference, but not everyone will. For those people recommend looking it up, it's great.) And why do I say that? Well, it's because in that movie (and a lot of other similar movies from the 60's and 70's) the story is about these different people, with their own lives and stories, all coming together while trying to get to a single goal. And in this book that goal is Grace and Harriet.
And yes, I promise no spoilers here because I feel confident that you'll get your hands on a copy and read it.
As Emma takes us through this story we get to know more about the two main characters. But we also get to understand more about the non-main characters. Archie, Winnie, Flo, Bryan, Drew, etc. And Emma doesn't drag us into lots of details about these other people to bloat the book. She gives us enough information to get the flavor of them. They come together to make a pleasant soup....
And as the story unfolds, we get a chance to witness their pains and their triumphs. And I can say Emma can allow us to share the warmth of good friendship that we see in the story from multiple sides/characters.
Now, something that I have to admit... there were times when I had to hit the big Google to figure out just what some of the terms mean in the book. I'm not up on many of the British slang terms. But let me make it clear that these words added more flavor to the story and didn't take away from the experience. I really wanted to know more about them. "Wellie tossing" is all I need to say here... ha ha ha ha.
So, my friend, as I started this off I said that I really liked this book. Why do I think you would like this? Well, beyond what I have already said about how well Emma has put together the story, I really can feel echos of some of the friendships in this book. And I think you will see them as well.
Pick the book up, and let me know what you think.
:-)
My friend,
I must say that I really liked this book right from the beginning. And let me tell you why I consider this a very good book.
First, the characters have a real feel to them. In the beginning you are introduced to a group of people and you can almost picture them in the room talking. I started to get flashes of the characters in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. (I know you get that reference, but not everyone will. For those people recommend looking it up, it's great.) And why do I say that? Well, it's because in that movie (and a lot of other similar movies from the 60's and 70's) the story is about these different people, with their own lives and stories, all coming together while trying to get to a single goal. And in this book that goal is Grace and Harriet.
And yes, I promise no spoilers here because I feel confident that you'll get your hands on a copy and read it.
As Emma takes us through this story we get to know more about the two main characters. But we also get to understand more about the non-main characters. Archie, Winnie, Flo, Bryan, Drew, etc. And Emma doesn't drag us into lots of details about these other people to bloat the book. She gives us enough information to get the flavor of them. They come together to make a pleasant soup....
And as the story unfolds, we get a chance to witness their pains and their triumphs. And I can say Emma can allow us to share the warmth of good friendship that we see in the story from multiple sides/characters.
Now, something that I have to admit... there were times when I had to hit the big Google to figure out just what some of the terms mean in the book. I'm not up on many of the British slang terms. But let me make it clear that these words added more flavor to the story and didn't take away from the experience. I really wanted to know more about them. "Wellie tossing" is all I need to say here... ha ha ha ha.
So, my friend, as I started this off I said that I really liked this book. Why do I think you would like this? Well, beyond what I have already said about how well Emma has put together the story, I really can feel echos of some of the friendships in this book. And I think you will see them as well.
Pick the book up, and let me know what you think.
:-)
February 3, 2021
Small villages in England make for an enjoyable setting with meddlesome villagers and quirky (some bordering on being caricatures) characters. But it’s all lighthearted and rather fun.
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
February 5, 2022
This review of Summer Fate is very spoiler heavy and references significant events from the book.
TW: SA accusation, fake accusation
The story, premise and characters of Summer Fate are quite interesting. Grace is a disgraced owner of a big company in London after being accused of sexual harassment and assault by an employee. She, of course, did not do it but is being required to distance herself from the company while the company board investigate the claims. So she is back to her hometown Duckton where she is housesitting for her aunt Vera. While there, she meets neighbor Harriet where mutual attraction ensues. The chemistry between the MCs is strong and the intimate scenes are very steamy.
The charm of this story is that this is not just stories of the the two MCs. There are a lot of different characters and this is a very tightly knit community. There's eccentric characters, ghost sightings, card reading and community events and together add to the charm of the story.
The SA accusations are the big conflict of the story. Grace has understandably kept quiet about this and about 80% into the story, Harriet overhears a phone call Grace is having with her work colleague regarding the accusations. Now, while I would have loved it if Harriet confronted Grace regarding this, and talked about it, I still understood the choice she made. I just didn't like it. After hearing the conversation and not having the full story, Harriet freaks out and runs off. She doesn't want to do anything with Grace and through her best friend Drew, makes it clear to Grace that she is no longer welcome here anymore. Grace herself should have tried to get in contact with Harriet and explain her side of the story but given that she has no evidence to prove her innocence, just up and leaves back to London.
The reason we get for her going to London is that she is trying to get proof of her innocence. Now as a reader, I'm thinking the rest of the story will be this redemption tale where Grace will gather evidence of her innocence, win the case against her, have her name cleared and return back to Harriet to win her back. Instead we get a bunch of very unsatisfying events. The company wants to out her and settle for a payment that would be 10% of her share value. It seems like Grace has already admitted defeat and agrees to the settlement. Her actual plan in London is to invite the employee who accused her to lunch and clear the air. During the lunch, she wants to record the conversation, hopefully get the employee to admit to fabricating the accusation and take the recording back to Harriet to prove her innocence. That's the plan anyway but what happens instead? The employee fails to show up for the lunch. So we don't even get the big confrontation. It's very unsatisfying. Grace has been done dirty and it's disappointing that there is no conclusion to that plot.
In the meantime, other characters have been trying to convince Harriet that there is more to the story and that Grace has to be innocent. She didn't get Grace's side of the story so she has her own doubts too. There's also a moment in the story where early on Grace is called honorable by Drew and Harriet because of something Grace did. Early on, before Grace and Harriet confessed to each other. Grace took a drunk Harriet home and tucked her into bed. Harriet wakes up the next day with all her clothes on and after recounting this to Drew, she calls Grace honorable.
The getting back together did put a smile on my face though. When the lunch with the employee falls through, Grace messages Harriet that she wants to talk to her and explain herself. Harriet replies back that she want to talk too and that she loves Grace. So Grace's return to Duckton wasn't filled with dread and uncertainty.
Overall, there is great chemistry, lots of side plots with interesting side characters and a fun and enjoyable read, but it is hampered by the lack of proper resolution to the big conflict subplot. This is the first of the three book series but the accusation plot is never brought up again in the next books so don't expect the resolution in the sequels.
Story tags: interesting-characters, community, homecoming, conflict, trigger-warning
Angst: 3/5 (How angsty is the story?)
Chemistry: 4/5 (Chemistry between MCs)
Steamy: 4/5 (How steamy are the intimate scenes?)
Breakup: 1/1 (Is there a breakup?)
Subplot: 2/5 (How fun is the subplot?)
Overall: 4/5
TW: SA accusation, fake accusation
The story, premise and characters of Summer Fate are quite interesting. Grace is a disgraced owner of a big company in London after being accused of sexual harassment and assault by an employee. She, of course, did not do it but is being required to distance herself from the company while the company board investigate the claims. So she is back to her hometown Duckton where she is housesitting for her aunt Vera. While there, she meets neighbor Harriet where mutual attraction ensues. The chemistry between the MCs is strong and the intimate scenes are very steamy.
The charm of this story is that this is not just stories of the the two MCs. There are a lot of different characters and this is a very tightly knit community. There's eccentric characters, ghost sightings, card reading and community events and together add to the charm of the story.
The SA accusations are the big conflict of the story. Grace has understandably kept quiet about this and about 80% into the story, Harriet overhears a phone call Grace is having with her work colleague regarding the accusations. Now, while I would have loved it if Harriet confronted Grace regarding this, and talked about it, I still understood the choice she made. I just didn't like it. After hearing the conversation and not having the full story, Harriet freaks out and runs off. She doesn't want to do anything with Grace and through her best friend Drew, makes it clear to Grace that she is no longer welcome here anymore. Grace herself should have tried to get in contact with Harriet and explain her side of the story but given that she has no evidence to prove her innocence, just up and leaves back to London.
The reason we get for her going to London is that she is trying to get proof of her innocence. Now as a reader, I'm thinking the rest of the story will be this redemption tale where Grace will gather evidence of her innocence, win the case against her, have her name cleared and return back to Harriet to win her back. Instead we get a bunch of very unsatisfying events. The company wants to out her and settle for a payment that would be 10% of her share value. It seems like Grace has already admitted defeat and agrees to the settlement. Her actual plan in London is to invite the employee who accused her to lunch and clear the air. During the lunch, she wants to record the conversation, hopefully get the employee to admit to fabricating the accusation and take the recording back to Harriet to prove her innocence. That's the plan anyway but what happens instead? The employee fails to show up for the lunch. So we don't even get the big confrontation. It's very unsatisfying. Grace has been done dirty and it's disappointing that there is no conclusion to that plot.
In the meantime, other characters have been trying to convince Harriet that there is more to the story and that Grace has to be innocent. She didn't get Grace's side of the story so she has her own doubts too. There's also a moment in the story where early on Grace is called honorable by Drew and Harriet because of something Grace did. Early on, before Grace and Harriet confessed to each other. Grace took a drunk Harriet home and tucked her into bed. Harriet wakes up the next day with all her clothes on and after recounting this to Drew, she calls Grace honorable.
The getting back together did put a smile on my face though. When the lunch with the employee falls through, Grace messages Harriet that she wants to talk to her and explain herself. Harriet replies back that she want to talk too and that she loves Grace. So Grace's return to Duckton wasn't filled with dread and uncertainty.
Overall, there is great chemistry, lots of side plots with interesting side characters and a fun and enjoyable read, but it is hampered by the lack of proper resolution to the big conflict subplot. This is the first of the three book series but the accusation plot is never brought up again in the next books so don't expect the resolution in the sequels.
Story tags: interesting-characters, community, homecoming, conflict, trigger-warning
Angst: 3/5 (How angsty is the story?)
Chemistry: 4/5 (Chemistry between MCs)
Steamy: 4/5 (How steamy are the intimate scenes?)
Breakup: 1/1 (Is there a breakup?)
Subplot: 2/5 (How fun is the subplot?)
Overall: 4/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2021
Sweet and Funny!
Grace’s career is being held by a thread, a very strained thread, when she finds herself dog sitting for her Aunt Vera while she heads off on holiday. Grace hopes for a quiet escape and when she returns to her life all will be well, but arriving in Duckton-by-Dale she gets more than she bargained for. Forming an attraction to her new neighbour, Harriet, and unable to avoid being roped into the fun of village life, Grace finds everything she thought she wanted and knew changing.
Brilliantly funny and had me laughing with almost every chapter, Summer Fate is the first book in the Duckton-by Dale series. It perfectly captures all the quirks of a quaint, small British village where everyone knows each other and it is like one big family. (It also has such a clever title!) I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing Duckton-by-Dale with Grace, from the awkwardness of her arrival to her enthusiasm brought out by spending time in the village and with Harriet.
As is typical with village life, there are many quirks and strange goings on but they are all completely believable for a village like this, and it just makes you want to live there. It has a real sense of community and in some ways was easy to find yourself forgetting there was life beyond Duckton-by-Dale. They seemed to have everything they needed to be happy and enjoy life right there.
Grace and Harriet’s friendship and attraction was instant, so when a relationship developed I wasn’t surprised. They worked so well together and were just so cute. Harriet was well suited to the country life and it was Grace who had to adapt but I think she embraced it perfectly and ended up liking it more than I think she thought she would. It really was just the perfect summer romance that you know will last the test of time.
For me though, every character played there part in making this story. Although the main focus is Grace and Harriet’s romance, the villagers all have their own character that shines through and really adds to the magic of the romance forming between the two main characters. Without them, it wouldn’t be half as good as it is! When you start reading this story you just won’t be able to help feeling like you could be one of them and they really do provide the best entertainment. Snippets from them throughout chapters and at certain points in the story just add the humour and make the story great.
I am so glad this is part of a series and am excited to return to Duckton-by-Dale to see what is happening! I highly recommend this story and I just know you will love it! Romance, drama, and a lot of fun to be had in the quirkiest village with the best residents!
Grace’s career is being held by a thread, a very strained thread, when she finds herself dog sitting for her Aunt Vera while she heads off on holiday. Grace hopes for a quiet escape and when she returns to her life all will be well, but arriving in Duckton-by-Dale she gets more than she bargained for. Forming an attraction to her new neighbour, Harriet, and unable to avoid being roped into the fun of village life, Grace finds everything she thought she wanted and knew changing.
Brilliantly funny and had me laughing with almost every chapter, Summer Fate is the first book in the Duckton-by Dale series. It perfectly captures all the quirks of a quaint, small British village where everyone knows each other and it is like one big family. (It also has such a clever title!) I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing Duckton-by-Dale with Grace, from the awkwardness of her arrival to her enthusiasm brought out by spending time in the village and with Harriet.
As is typical with village life, there are many quirks and strange goings on but they are all completely believable for a village like this, and it just makes you want to live there. It has a real sense of community and in some ways was easy to find yourself forgetting there was life beyond Duckton-by-Dale. They seemed to have everything they needed to be happy and enjoy life right there.
Grace and Harriet’s friendship and attraction was instant, so when a relationship developed I wasn’t surprised. They worked so well together and were just so cute. Harriet was well suited to the country life and it was Grace who had to adapt but I think she embraced it perfectly and ended up liking it more than I think she thought she would. It really was just the perfect summer romance that you know will last the test of time.
For me though, every character played there part in making this story. Although the main focus is Grace and Harriet’s romance, the villagers all have their own character that shines through and really adds to the magic of the romance forming between the two main characters. Without them, it wouldn’t be half as good as it is! When you start reading this story you just won’t be able to help feeling like you could be one of them and they really do provide the best entertainment. Snippets from them throughout chapters and at certain points in the story just add the humour and make the story great.
I am so glad this is part of a series and am excited to return to Duckton-by-Dale to see what is happening! I highly recommend this story and I just know you will love it! Romance, drama, and a lot of fun to be had in the quirkiest village with the best residents!
June 14, 2019
Emma Nichols delivers yet another brilliant book. Summer Fate has it all going on. A touching lesfic rom-com with quirky charcters set in a village I want to live in!
As we now expect of Emma all her characters are extremely well thought out and have a meaningful role to play in the book. Even the animal characters have personality and charisma.
Summer Fate shows Emma’s ability to write comedy, and proves that comedy doesn’t have to be slapstick to be funny. The comedy is subtly brilliant in particular the committee scenes are hilarious.
The opening chapter introduces us to the majority of the characters and skilfully gives you an insight into what the characters are going to be like throughout the book.
Emma Nichols has quickly become a very accomplished writer and has the ability to immerse you into her plots that leave you wanting more.
Summer Fate is the feel-good book of the Summer. It is fun, light and easy to read. It is the book that you will want to read again and again.
It is a bittersweet lesfic romance that will have you giggling… or Emma is it sniggering?
As we now expect of Emma all her characters are extremely well thought out and have a meaningful role to play in the book. Even the animal characters have personality and charisma.
Summer Fate shows Emma’s ability to write comedy, and proves that comedy doesn’t have to be slapstick to be funny. The comedy is subtly brilliant in particular the committee scenes are hilarious.
The opening chapter introduces us to the majority of the characters and skilfully gives you an insight into what the characters are going to be like throughout the book.
Emma Nichols has quickly become a very accomplished writer and has the ability to immerse you into her plots that leave you wanting more.
Summer Fate is the feel-good book of the Summer. It is fun, light and easy to read. It is the book that you will want to read again and again.
It is a bittersweet lesfic romance that will have you giggling… or Emma is it sniggering?
July 2, 2019
This tale presents most of the stock characters and foibles of a small English village in a lighthearted, frequently amusing, manner. The romance between a local and a big city girl plays out against this backdrop with all of the natives doing their best to bring them together.
Unfortunately an otherwise enjoyable story is seriously hampered by the precipitating event -- charges of sexual harasment against Grace that force her to take a leave of absence from her company. When the corporate board seems to conclude that the charges are unproven but likely true, Grace folds, takes a small payout and leaves town. The impetus for her reaction is supposed to be her desire to just leave the rat race behind and go live with her girlfriend in the country. This leaves two equally unsatisfying possibilities: either she is guilty as charged or some person, or persons, got away with bilking her out of 90 percent of her stake in the company. In the end, either answer detracts from the HEA.
Unfortunately an otherwise enjoyable story is seriously hampered by the precipitating event -- charges of sexual harasment against Grace that force her to take a leave of absence from her company. When the corporate board seems to conclude that the charges are unproven but likely true, Grace folds, takes a small payout and leaves town. The impetus for her reaction is supposed to be her desire to just leave the rat race behind and go live with her girlfriend in the country. This leaves two equally unsatisfying possibilities: either she is guilty as charged or some person, or persons, got away with bilking her out of 90 percent of her stake in the company. In the end, either answer detracts from the HEA.
October 1, 2019
Great story but...
I absolutely loved everything about this quirky, heart warming story, until the unsatisfying ending. Grace’s reasoning for leaving London was such a huge part of the storyline as was her strong willed personality. That being said, when these “unjust accusations” were thrown about her causing her a fortune and her company why didn’t she fight? It all makes her look guilty regardless of what the cards say.
And Harriet, why would she believe pieces of a one ended conversation and end it in the most cowardly way? There was no true resolution or explanation for this. I even read the second book Blind Faith (which was really good) to see if a resolution to Grace’s situation was found. No such luck!
Read at your own risk! If you want to read a book at captures your heart, causes sparatic giggles, then pisses you off in a trail of loose ends in a rush to a happy ending this book is for you!
I’d suggest you read the book Madeline from this author. It’s a complete body of work with well developed plot line and interesting character development.
I absolutely loved everything about this quirky, heart warming story, until the unsatisfying ending. Grace’s reasoning for leaving London was such a huge part of the storyline as was her strong willed personality. That being said, when these “unjust accusations” were thrown about her causing her a fortune and her company why didn’t she fight? It all makes her look guilty regardless of what the cards say.
And Harriet, why would she believe pieces of a one ended conversation and end it in the most cowardly way? There was no true resolution or explanation for this. I even read the second book Blind Faith (which was really good) to see if a resolution to Grace’s situation was found. No such luck!
Read at your own risk! If you want to read a book at captures your heart, causes sparatic giggles, then pisses you off in a trail of loose ends in a rush to a happy ending this book is for you!
I’d suggest you read the book Madeline from this author. It’s a complete body of work with well developed plot line and interesting character development.
May 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this book despite the main character's problematic backstory. Without giving anything away, Grace's reason for running away made the romantic scenes less satisfying. I also didn't like all the townie chatter throughout the book, though I understand why the author chose to write them into the story. The first chapter especially, almost made me put the book down, but I persisted and was happy to find the following chapters centered around Grace and Harriet. The author does a good job of giving us both of their perspectives while maintaining Grace as the protagonist. Also, as in Nichols' other books, the romantic scenes are beautifully written. I liked the book enough to order the other two in the series and am considering another one of her books.
June 30, 2019
I've read another work of Emma Nichols and enjoyed her story telling. The descriptive locations in the story begged me, the reader, to come and visit. Grace's description of leaving London and traveling by train through the vivid shades of green leading into the country evoked mental images. The dialogue of the village was hilarious. I laughed through the beginning of the first chapter that introduced the residents and their quirks. Harriet was a well written character. Emma Nichols did a wonderful turn with this book. I enjoyed reading and laughing through this book.
February 7, 2020
I really enjoyed it, the characters were fun, it was cute, i liked the romance, the village stuff was quirky but not exhausting.
it felt weird to have this super dramatic thing in the middle, like, it wasn't necessary at all, it literally just added drama and i could've done without. sure, it was a convenient excuse but I would've preferred a less dramatic resolution. more along the lines of grace being cleared after all but realising it's not what she wants. that whole work plotline doesn't really fit with the rest of the book i don't think.
it felt weird to have this super dramatic thing in the middle, like, it wasn't necessary at all, it literally just added drama and i could've done without. sure, it was a convenient excuse but I would've preferred a less dramatic resolution. more along the lines of grace being cleared after all but realising it's not what she wants. that whole work plotline doesn't really fit with the rest of the book i don't think.
March 6, 2022
Have you ever had an experience where you felt compelled to pursue something or someone despite any reservations to the contrary? If so, you're going to love SUMMER FATE by Emma Nichols. Two young women, one a city girl from London, the other from a small English town, cross each other's paths and are drawn to one another. It's a sweet romance, developing gradually, yet eventually filled with dramatic twists and turns. The country-girl Harriett and the city dweller Grace are fascinating and complex, and their story is delightful. Enjoy!
September 22, 2019
Wonderful!
When big city meets small town, the differences can be stark. When Grace takes a leave from her work in London and agrees to dog sit for her aunt in a small village, she certainly isn't looking for love. Harriet has spent 5 years recovering from being burned in her last relationship. She's definitely not looking for love either. With a cast of quirky supporting characters and an engaging storyline, this is a great selection for your must read list.
When big city meets small town, the differences can be stark. When Grace takes a leave from her work in London and agrees to dog sit for her aunt in a small village, she certainly isn't looking for love. Harriet has spent 5 years recovering from being burned in her last relationship. She's definitely not looking for love either. With a cast of quirky supporting characters and an engaging storyline, this is a great selection for your must read list.
February 19, 2020
Couldn't get into this book at all but stuck with it till the end. Last few chapters were much better I just felt that too many aspects were unresolved. Grace lost her business and it was a set up she was innocent? Yet rolled over and took it, there didn't seem to be a clear resolution to the subject. Sexual assault accusations you fight that if it was false surely? I like the characters and hope the next book is more enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2021
"Read" via Audible. A cute love story with the secondary characters being the main source of comedy. I enjoyed the setting and the quirky meddling towns folk. My only issue is "misunderstanding" trope that derailed the budding relationship. I had me wanting to throttle the characters and yell at them to just talk to each other. Other than that little hiccup it really was a cute story That I am sure to revisit. I will be looking for the next books to come out on Audible.
June 17, 2019
Wonderful story
If you like romance and humor you are in for a treat. This is a love story with a little help. I live in a small town and I really identify with this. I was set up on a date with a beautiful woman just weeks after I moved into the town I now call home. So, this story reminded me of those sweet times. Read this story, it will make your heart smile!
If you like romance and humor you are in for a treat. This is a love story with a little help. I live in a small town and I really identify with this. I was set up on a date with a beautiful woman just weeks after I moved into the town I now call home. So, this story reminded me of those sweet times. Read this story, it will make your heart smile!
July 15, 2019
Summer Fate
What a brilliant story and read,There was laughter ,love,a quirky mix of people and more.. If you like a good comedy them read this and have a good laugh and enjoy this book it will make you smile and laugh.
The author Emma Nichols knows how to keep her readers entertained with each book she writes. Looking forward to her next book.
What a brilliant story and read,There was laughter ,love,a quirky mix of people and more.. If you like a good comedy them read this and have a good laugh and enjoy this book it will make you smile and laugh.
The author Emma Nichols knows how to keep her readers entertained with each book she writes. Looking forward to her next book.
October 9, 2019
Good read
Entertaining, well written and occasionally funny book. A little bit angsty ( is that a word?) on occasion but still a perfect rainy day read...... And my God has it rained today!! Didn't care 😊 loved the book enough to follow the author and buy the sequel. Definitely recommend. 👍😁
Entertaining, well written and occasionally funny book. A little bit angsty ( is that a word?) on occasion but still a perfect rainy day read...... And my God has it rained today!! Didn't care 😊 loved the book enough to follow the author and buy the sequel. Definitely recommend. 👍😁
April 29, 2020
It was okay
I feel like a lot more could've happened to make this book more exciting and build the tension between Grace and Harriet. I wasn't particularly bothered about their relationship as neither of the characters felt very real. They also used the word chuckled waaay too many times. And what about Sandra Floss? Was it a set up or not. That should never been resolved.
I feel like a lot more could've happened to make this book more exciting and build the tension between Grace and Harriet. I wasn't particularly bothered about their relationship as neither of the characters felt very real. They also used the word chuckled waaay too many times. And what about Sandra Floss? Was it a set up or not. That should never been resolved.
June 24, 2019
Awesome
A great read that took me two days to read so I could savor it. Everyone loves a good romance.. It's this one
A great read that took me two days to read so I could savor it. Everyone loves a good romance.. It's this one
June 27, 2019
Wonderfully British
A refreshingly british lesbian summer romance, like emmerdale with a personality.
Would definitely recommend a fun summer read that felt real
A refreshingly british lesbian summer romance, like emmerdale with a personality.
Would definitely recommend a fun summer read that felt real
June 29, 2019
Laugh out loud
Excellent story and very funny, I really enjoyed it and will be reading more from this author.
Highly recommend by me
Excellent story and very funny, I really enjoyed it and will be reading more from this author.
Highly recommend by me
July 5, 2019
I loved reading this. Some very funny moments as well as the suspense of “Will they won’t they”.
Well worth a read and well written.
Well worth a read and well written.
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