It’s such a pleasure today to be helping launch the blog tour for the latest book from Celia Anderson, Onwards and Upwards, and sharing my publication day review: published today (20th January) by Boldwood Books, it’s now available as an e-book (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. My thanks (as always) to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
I’ve been rather a fan of Celia’s lovely writing for quite a long time now – ever since I read and really enjoyed 59 Memory Lane back in 2019, with its beautifully drawn characters and intriguing story of memories and things lost (you’ll find my full review here). Last year her first book with Boldwood, Life Begins at 50!, was a total delight – stories about fresh starts and second chances are always rather a personal favourite, especially when they feature individuals I can identify with, and this story was everything I hoped it would be. The perfect emotional touch throughout, both funny and touching, excellent story-telling – it was a book that entirely engaged me from beginning to end (you’ll find my full review here). And I’m delighted to see we’re returning to Willowbrook for her latest – I so hoped we hadn’t seen the last of the Saga Louts! Let’s take a closer look…
Ingrid is desperate to sell up and move on. Recently widowed, she no longer needs the large house or the treasures (and tat) collected by her late husband, Tommy, an auctioneer. Then there’s the debt he left her with, too.
So, she jumps at the chance to downsize and move to Willowbrook on a temporary lease. She’ll open a pop-up shop for just one year – to dispose of Tommy’s accumulated goods – and then move on. No getting embroiled in village life.
But Ingrid hasn’t reckoned on Willowbrook’s extrovert local ladies (known as the Saga Louts). Or handsome local craftsman Joel, with whom there’s a definite attraction. They all want to help set up ‘The Treasure Trove’.
Surprisingly, it turns out Ingrid can also help them.
Will she ever achieve the fresh start and simpler life she craved? Or will Ingrid discover a wonderful new way to move onwards and upwards?
Ingrid’s life after the loss of her auctioneer husband is going to be rather different – having been on his arm at every social event when he was the life and soul of the party, she’s decided she’d rather like a fresh start, a smaller and quieter life. But that’s from necessity too, because he’s left so many debts there’s little left – other than a mountain of surplus stock he’s amassed over the years. Her Aunt Sylvia giving up her shop in Willowbrook gives her the perfect opportunity – use it to sell all the stock, then move on. She had no plans to become part of the community – but, seeing her struggling to get things up and running, the community has other ideas.
First there’s a meal in the pub with Sam – he helped her move – and his lovely young daughter Elsie. And Joel – and she has no idea how both he and his teenage daughter Leo will become part of her life. And on a walk in the country to the farmers’ market, she meets the Saga Louts while visiting Kate’s cafe – Beryl, Winnie and Anthea – who decide she really needs their help and energetically throw themselves into getting the shop ready for opening day. They make the whole experience tremendous fun, and also help Ingrid move on from her loss and face the uncertain future. They’re also all there for her when a few other challenges from her past uncomfortably raise their heads. And in return, she finds the opportunity to offer her help and support too – to Joel who’s struggling with single fatherhood, to one of the Saga Louts facing a particularly difficult time.
This was a quite wonderful story about fresh starts and second chances, full of the most supportive friendships to ease Ingrid’s difficult personal journey. It’s a book with such a strong sense of community, and every single character is so beautifully drawn – especially the very real older characters, but young Leo and Elsie equally won my heart. It’s also very much Joel’s story – told from both their perspectives – with all the support he provides, always there when she most needs him, despite the many challenges in his own life. And the growing attraction between them was beautifully handled – unexpected for them both, something neither of them was looking for, and a particularly lovely and gentle romance that I became entirely invested in.
The humour sparkles throughout – sometimes gentle, at other times laugh-out-loud, especially where the Saga Louts and younger characters (all of them without filters!) are involved. But there are also plenty of serious, emotional and more dramatic moments – especially when those secrets from the past emerge, the whole book quite perfectly paced and balanced. And I must add that I also very much enjoyed meeting again some of the key characters from the author’s last book, seeing how their lives had moved on – nothing that would make this one in any way difficult to read as a standalone, just rather a treat for those of us who so enjoyed their stories. And the ending? Well, I thought it couldn’t have been more perfect…
Filled with warmth and hope, a real testament to the strength to be found through friendship and connections, and so beautifully written – this was a book I really loved, and would very much recommend.
About the author
Celia Anderson is a top ten bestselling author of women’s fiction. Previously published by Harper Collins, she is now turning her hand to uplifting golden years fiction for Boldwood.
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