One Enchanted Evening: From the #1 bestselling author of uplifting feel-good fiction

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I have to admit that I was concerned going into this one as it's set in the 1960s and I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction... (although there's a debate about what counts as historical and to me it's before 1980, how about you?) However, I loved it so much more than I thought I would! British author of romance novels, Katie Fforde is well known for her contemporary and ever appealing style of fiction. Easily accessible as it is textured, she has managed to amass herself a sizable audience throughout the many years of her career. With both commercial and critical success, she continues to attract audiences to her unique and distinctive works. Early and Personal Life Sharon Ibbotson, the RNA Awards Coordinator, said, ‘Our Romantic Novel Awards in 2023 had nearly five hundred entries, which were whittled down to nine very worthy winners by our amazing reader-judges. Along with the winner of the Popular Romantic Fiction Award, their stories made people laugh, smile, weep and above all, fall in love. I am delighted to congratulate them for their success in our awards.’

Katie Fforde Publications - Books Release Katie Fforde Publications - Books Release

Meg's friends are just darlings, they are so available and accomodating. Although honestly, I'd say I felt that at some parts (especially around the 60-75% sections), that they were perhaps *too available*to help her-- It sounds rather terrible of me to complain about reliable friends, but they were almost too-present to help should the need arise, given at such short notice and no matter the distance. It's just too good to be true. But yeah, it's fiction, and we are allowed to have super friends who can rearrange their plans to help you. But I guess as a reader, the down side of that is that you get used to the fact that they were ever present in her life, and you get complacent in a way that you never truly fear for Meg's challenges. Jean Fullerton, the RNA Chair, commented, ‘Once again the judges have had the almost impossible task of choosing winners for each of our romantic awards categories. Huge congratulations to our worthy winners.’ Among the Characters, I love the play on "found family" trope going among the staff of Nightingale Woods. I rooted for Meg, Ambroisine, Susan and her many relations. I find that they have great team work. Jean Fullerton added, ‘The RNA Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest accolade our organisation bestows and this year we are honoured to present it to bestselling author Katie Fforde. As President of the RNA, Katie is a wonderful ambassador for the organisation and has championed the romantic fiction genre for decades. Katie is loved and respected across the industry and by her readers around the world. But to us in the RNA she’s ‘our Katie’ who has been a tireless supporter of both the organisation and writers and who now, after twelve years as our figurehead, is stepping down as President of the RNA.’ Do you have that one author where every time you get a new book from them it feels like you’re catching up with an old friend? Well that is what Katie’s books are for me (and my mum, her number one fan). I’ve wanted to have a book for Meg since we first met her in A Wedding in the Country so I’ve been super excited for this one since it was announced.Meg goes to help her mother, Louise, at the hotel. It follows the ups and downs that running a country hotel entails. They desperately want to improve the hotel by adding en-suite bathrooms and improving the decoration. The owner of the hotel has recently passed away and the son’s of the owner are trying to find a mysterious third beneficiary of the hotel. Justin is a moody, handsome chef who happens to be the son of one of the sons. Middle Row (L-R): Sharon Ibbotson, Jane Lovering, Dani Atkins, Heidi Swain, Sara Downing, Sara-Jade Virtue What I thoroughly loved about this story was the twist though, especially as it involved my favourite character. It added a little bit of mystery to the book, and it wove beautifully through the romance without seeming like a side quest. This novel makes you through several love story's and there is some well build friendship circle and her family and that of Justin's family. Katie Fforde writes with an easy style that engages the reader - though the first part of this one didn’t catch me, I had to work a little to engage with the characters. Some of the dialogue was clunky, and maybe that was something to do with the, unusual for her, 1960s setting (rampant sexism, smoking, short skirts etc etc). The grumpy love interest remained a bit of a mystery to me, but I enjoyed their slow coming together. The bigger plot about a rundown Dorset hotel was fun, a bit fairytale-like, and very cosy. The only problem I had with it was in the age of the ‘old lady’, and 1964 only being 19 years from 1945… was she in her late forties/fifties in the war? Or did I miss something?

2023: WINNERS ANNOUNCED RNA ROMANTIC NOVEL AWARDS 2023: WINNERS ANNOUNCED

This is 1966 and a pivotal point in history when life is gradually opening up with new opportunities for women. Meg comes across attitudes to her working in a professional kitchen that seem alien to us now. In some ways women’s lives have changed a lot for the better, but then again there is always room for improvement. And guess what? OEE was a chance for Hannah and me to attempt another buddy read. (Psst, epic fail as usual… *snorts* but we do have fun with our messages.) One thing I adored was the setting as I live in Dorset currently and so had some idea of what Nightingale Woods could look like. The hotel is charming, a place I'd love to stay at with its welcoming and homely feel and beautiful location. Meg goes to France for a while too and I enjoyed her time working in a restaurant there. But what really sold this book to me was the romance, the spark between Meg and Justin, and the way their relationship develops throughout the book made my heart sing. It was just so sweet and lovely to watch their burgeoning feelings for each other grow.This is the first time I've ever read anything by Katie Fforde, although I am of course familiar with the name and the kind of books she writes. This story follows the uncertainty of the hotels future, Megs love of the beautiful old building, her often thwarted attempts to entice more guests and bring the building up to date without spoiling it's integrity, of Meg and Justin gradually falling in love, the heartbreak when she leaves for France, the love and support of her brilliant close band of friends. Meg and Justin are a brilliant couple, I loved how now matter how hard he tried he couldn’t not love her, not help but appreciated her cooking and admit she was excellent at what she did. Louise and Andrew were a lovely couple too, the mother daughter relationship was written really well, especially with the age difference not huge. Everything is going rather well, with the Nightingale Woods' team pulling together like a little family, until the arrival of Andrew's son Justin, who has very firm ideas about what should be happening at the hotel while his father is away. Justin has divided loyalties, and he sees little prospect of a future for Nightingale Woods, but Meg has fallen in love with this little corner of rural heaven. She is sure that this could be just the place for guests who would appreciate its charms, if only a few careful improvements could be arranged. This might be more of a challenge than Meg anticipated, but she is not ready to give up the fight...