Saturday, February 9, 2019

Book Review: The Letter - Kitty's Story (Life on the Moors #1) by Eliza J. Scott


The Letter - Kitty's Story
 (Life on the Moors #1) 
by Eliza J. Scott


Amazon US / UK / CA / AU 


Thirty-four-year-old Kitty Bennett is trapped in a loveless marriage to criminal barrister, Dan, who’s gradually isolated her from her family and friends. Until the day she (literally) bumps into her first love, the handsome and easy-going Ollie Cartwright – someone she’s done her best to avoid for as long as she can remember. Looking into Ollie’s eyes awakens feelings for him she thought she’d buried deep years ago, and he clearly feels the spark, too. As she walks away, Kitty can’t help but wonder what might have been…

Dan senses that his marriage is on shaky ground and knows he needs to win his wife round. He turns on the charm, skilfully using their two children, Lucas and Lily, as bargaining tools. But Kitty’s older brother, Jimby, and her childhood best-friends, Molly and Violet, have decided enough is enough. For years they’ve had to watch from afar as Kitty’s been browbeaten into an unrecognizable version of herself. They vow to make her see Dan for what he really is, but their attempts are no match for his finely-honed courtroom skills and, against her better judgment, Kitty agrees to give her husband one last chance. But, all-too-soon, a series of heart-breaking events and a shocking secret throw her life into turmoil…

Will she stand by Dan, or will Kitty be brave enough to take the leap and follow her heart to Ollie?

Life is anything but peaceful in the chocolate-box pretty village of Lytell Stangdale, where life unravels, and hearts are broken. Full of heart-warming moments, this book with have you crying tears of joy, laughter, and sadne
ss.


My Rating: 


Favorite Quotes:

Trust me, if she was the last woman on earth, that’s all she’d be; I wouldn’t go anywhere near her. The human race would die out.

‘Don’t look at me as if I did it, you farty old bugger. It was your arse that shook the foundations, not mine, so take ownership, Humphrey Fairfax-Bennett.’ Humph’s ears twitched as he held James’s gaze. ‘What the hell have you been feeding him on, Kitty?’

She’s got the potential to eat you for breakfast, suck the meat of your very bones and spit them out by lunchtime.

I think it’s time we turned off the predictive text on Granny Aggie’s phone. It’s causing all sorts of rumours to fly around the village.’ Despite himself, Pip couldn’t help but laugh. Only last week his grandmother had sent a text to her equally antiquarian friend, Nellie, informing her that she’d seen her son, Mike, and Rev Nev in the village shop comparing penises. The communication had caused considerable outrage, followed by a flurry of hastily gathered explanations. The truth was harmless in contrast: she’d seen the pair in the village shop buying pens. There hadn’t been a penis in sight.

‘You’re thinking sex kitten, aren’t you?’ He placed a finger on his mouth and pouted. ‘More like a ropey old hooker with a bad case of trout-pout.’ Vi smirked.

And I’ve just had to have a word with Granny Aggie about a text she’d sent the vicar asking if he liked S and M cos she’d like to whip him. Poor man was terrified. Anyway, turns out she was telling him she’d bought some whipped cream from M and S for the scones she was making for the church coffee morning.’

Mind you, he hardly comes to bed dressed for a night of passion. The other night he excelled himself when he rocked up in a skin-tight tiger-print onesie the twins had bought for him for his birthday —as a joke I hasten to add, but Pip insists on wearing it. And you might imagine he couldn’t look any more ridiculous, but you’d be wrong. What he hadn’t realised was that there was a massive hole in the crotch area and his family jewels, in all their glory, were hanging loose and free. And I can promise you this, gravity has been no friend to Pip in that department.


My Review:

Although it started off with tense and stressful tones, this cleverly written this book was an unexpected delight.  I never would have guessed from the first few tense chapters what a fun and witty tale it was actually going to be, as the character of Dan was thoroughly vile, on edge, and constantly belittling his family.  He was also an arrogant and manipulative peacock who couldn’t keep his favorite toy in his pants. I instantly despised him although I initially didn’t hold much respect for the spineless and overly accommodating Kitty for allowing the heinous philanderer to verbally and emotionally abuse her and their children.  Thankfully, the book soon evened out with juicy tidbits, insightful observations, and wry humor and I became more relaxed as Kitty began to gain awareness and locate her vertebrae.

The overall emotional tone tipped to the scales more heavily toward the comical than the tragic, with humorous anecdotes, cunning observations, and clever levity ruling the day. The engaging storylines were astoundingly well-constructed, shrewdly-paced, absorbing and highly eventful while jam-packed with a village full of colorful characters, hilarious antics, and riveting interactions. I was fully engaged throughout and enjoyed all the secondary characters, although I was more than a bit besotted with Kitty’s brother James.  


Empress DJ





 
About the Author:

Eliza lives in a 17th-century cottage on the edge of a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden. Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favorite things: tea and cake.

Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heart-warming stories with happy endings.


Social Media Links 

Blog: Eliza J Scott - elizajscott.com

Twitter: Eliza J Scott – @ElizaJScott1

Instagram: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscott

Facebook: Eliza J Scott - @elizajscottauthor

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ElizaJScott

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-j-scott

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