Blog tour – The Perfect Match by Katie Fforde – review, giveaway (now closed) and author interview

By | March 12, 2014
32 Comments
Having been an unashamed fan for many years – I started back in 1995 with Living Dangerously, and don’t think I’ve missed a book since – I’m was really delighted when Rose Tremlett at Cornerstone asked me to join the blog tour for Katie Fforde’s latest and (unbelievably…) her twentieth great read, The Perfect Match. 



My review

Bella loves her job as an estate agent – she shares a home with her godmother Alice, and works with her partner Nevil, a relationship that seems to be moving towards marriage. She ran away from her previous life to escape a doomed relationship with a married man, Dominic, and things begin to get complicated when he appears in her life again, and turns out to be the nephew of one of her favourite clients. There are many twists and turns, tears and laughter, as we follow Bella, her life and  her relationships and the decisions she needs to make about her life.  Meanwhile, Alice has her own journey – a chance meeting brings Michael into her life, and she looks for her own happiness against the complications caused by his adult children.

It’s a thoroughly beautiful read, full of relationships and their resolution, lovely supporting characters, strong friendships and a fair share of boo-hiss baddies, and I enjoyed every moment. Katie Fforde has an ability to totally engage you in the lives of her very real characters, and I was every bit as entranced by Bella’s friendship with Jane as I was with the love triangle in Bella’s life and Alice’s search for happiness. This is a really feel-good read, a book to curl up with, a perfect holiday read or just for a lovely relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Giveaway

 I offered two copies of The Perfect Match to UK readers – my thanks to the publishers, who will send the copies to the winners.  The giveaway is now closed – the winners are Pauline Jones and Meryl Rees.  Notifications sent by Facebook and Twitter, addresses needed please ladies!

 Interview


I’m thrilled too to welcome the author Katie Fforde to my blog to answer some of my questions.


Katie, I feel like I’ve grown up with you since starting with Living Dangerously back at the very start – looking at your website, I see we’re a similar age and we’ve just grown a little greyer together! Now you’ve produced 20 wonderful reads, do you think your books have changed over the years?

I suspect my books have changed although like me, I wish they wouldn’t!  I now have to rely more on research whereas my early books were all based on my own life.  Of course my own life, feelings and emotions still come in but they are more research based.

I see you enjoy researching different jobs and professions and putting them in your books. Researching estate agents must have been interesting – and something of a challenge in portraying the industry in a positive light?

I didn’t find portraying estate agents in a positive light difficult, in fact the reputation they have is part of what made me want to write my main characters as them.  I feel anyone who finds people their perfect homes for a living can’t be too bad!  We have a wonderful role model in Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer who don’t come across as crooks.  And I met some lovely ones during my research.

Much as I loved the story of Bella and Dominic, I particularly enjoyed her friendship with Jane Langley, and the developments between Michael and Alice. Do you enjoy writing the older characters?

I enjoy writing about older characters – it’s particularly satisfying to give them lovely romantic times, I feel.  I wouldn’t want to write a whole book with only older characters because in my mind I’m still in my twenties (poor deluded fool that I am) but older people can be a lot of fun, too!

The gardens in this book are beautifully described – is gardening a passion of yours, or do you just admire those of other people?

Gardening used to be a major passion.  There was nothing I liked better than getting a fork into the ground – especially if it was raining gently.  The smell, the feel of the earth, the thought of new life springing from the ground – I loved it!  Alas now I have far less time to do it and I have help.  It is odd finding things in your garden that you didn’t plant yourself but Sarah and I have long chats about what we’d like to have and she makes it all happen.  It’s quite a personal relationship.  She put bits of her mother’s garden into mine.  Her mother died last year and I’m flattered to have some plants that were hers in my garden.

I’m seriously impressed by your website – which answers all the questions I would have usually asked!  I know you also have a Facebook page, and are often on Twitter.  There’s been a real proliferation of social media during the time you’ve been writing – do you view it as a blessing or a curse?

I love social media – twitter especially.  I love being able to hear something on the news that either delights or enrages me and be able to discuss it, there and then.  It’s also a great way of getting ideas of books to read, programmes to watch or avoid.  It can get a bit obsessive but I find if I tell Twitter I am going to work, I do feel obliged to do that!

Anything you can tell me about number 21 – is it already on its way?

Number 21 is on its way.  Not there yet by any means but I’ve made a good start.  It’s about weddings and it’s no coincidence that my daughter and son are getting married this year.  I wouldn’t want to waste all that useful research!

And what have you enjoyed reading recently?

I read a lot but am bad at remembering what I’ve read!  I have very much enjoyed ‘How to be a Heroine (or what I’ve learnt from reading too much)’ by Samantha Ellis.  It’s like being in a book group without leaving the house.

And tell me more about the flamenco dancing… 

Sadly the flamenco dancing has taken a bit of a back seat recently.  It is so difficult!  I would really love to do a week’s intensive course on it but until I can do that, I only practice when everyone is out of the house.  It’s quite loud!  Extremely satisfying though.  I recommend it to anyone.

The Perfect Match is published by Random House UK, Cornerstone on 13th March 2014. My thanks to the publishers and netgalley for my advance reading e-copy.

Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. Katie has an excellent website where you can find out more about the author and her books, and she is also active on Facebook and Twitter.

32 thoughts on “Blog tour – The Perfect Match by Katie Fforde – review, giveaway (now closed) and author interview”

  1. Anne

    It's such a long time since I read anything by Katie Fforde. This one sounds just up my street x

  5. Tracey Peach

    I've never read any Katie Fforde books before but I really want to now I have read the review! xxx

  11. janethaste

    Great review, I have never read her books but I am now very tempted to buy the book if I am not lucky enough to win

  14. tracy kenny

    Thanks for the insight to your way of thinking,I always love reading your books and thanks to Anne for setting this up.Well done to you both ,have a great week.Thanks,Tracy k

  15. Meryl Rees

    I love Katie Fforde books, it's great how she always adds that extra storyline alongside the main character, as in this book with Alice. Looking forward to reading it.

  21. Gail Bennett

    Great interview! I've read a few of Katie Fforde's books … and Perfect Match is on my 'to read list' … following your blog by email … 🙂

  28. Anne Williams

    Wow, never had so many entries for a giveaway – welcome to the blog everyone! Will close the giveaway at 6pm tonight and draw two winners… it's a lovely book, whoever wins will thoroughly enjoy it, guaranteed!

  29. HayleyT

    Thank you for this fabulous giveaway! I love Katie Fforde books too! I follow your lovely blog via email, as GFC for me isn't working at the moment – grrrr!!!

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