Kiss Me at Willoughby Close by Kate Hewitt @author_kate

Book Description:

Welcome to Willoughby Close… a charming cluster of cozy cottages, each with a story to tell and a happy ending to deliver…

After her husband unexpectedly dies, Ava moves to Willoughby Close, trying to keep her chin up and herself to herself as she’s always done—not answering questions, not making friends, and not seeing much of a future. Her marriage was far from perfect, but it offered her a much-needed security that has now been ripped away. She’s not sure what to do now that she’s thirty-five, widowed, penniless… and unexpectedly pregnant with her late husband’s child.

Jace Tucker is the over-the-top sexy caretaker of Willoughby Manor, and he can see beneath Ava’s glamor girl act to the hurt she’s been hiding for so long. She has secrets for a reason—and so does he. The last thing she needs right now is a fling with a man who hides a past as regrettable as her own.

But with a baby to think about, and neighbors determined to be her friends, Ava finds herself starting to change and even more alarmingly, beginning to hope. Can Willoughby Close work its everyday magic on a woman like her? And when the past comes calling for both her and Jace, will they have to answer for their previous mistakes?

My Thoughts:

Even though this is the fourth book in the Willoughby Close series, it easily reads as a standalone.

Each house in Willoughby Close has it’s own story to tell with it’s new tenant. In this novel, we meet Ava, who is recently widowed and has found herself down on her luck. She has had to rely on herself for most of her life so finds it hard to open up to others. The other tenant’s in the close are of course lovely and welcoming but it’s Jace, the caretaker who very much has her attention. And mine!

Jace is your stereo typical rugged yet handsome, love interest who you are just dying to know more about. As with Ava, there are things in their pasts that they are reluctant to share which has them both holding back. I was dying for them to open up to each other as the chemistry between the pair was off the scale!

One of my favourite characters is Lady Stokeley, a fiercely independent old lady who lives in the manor house. She is someone that would probably scare me with her no nonsense attitude yet there is something very endearing about her also. She is both stubborn yet frail. The unlikely friendship between both her and Ava was so lovely to read.

Kiss Me at Willoughby Close is such a charming story that shows the kindness we can sometimes find in complete strangers. It also shows that whatever live throws at us, whilst it maybe harder to see, there can sometimes be a silver lining as it makes you evaluate what is really important in life. There is certainly a life lesson to be found within this story but more than anything it is filled with self discovery, new friendships and taking chances. Of course there is a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.