Oscar winning American actress Willow has called it a day with her cheating British rocker husband, but remains in love with England and wants to stay with her three small children. Her kids’ nanny Kitty might not have a job for much longer due to Willow’s financial situation, fortunately Kitty happens to co-own a crumbling ancestral pile in the west country. Upon de-camping to their temporary home, they discover Kitty’s long lost older brother Merritt has also returned, together they all find a way to restore both Willow’s movie career AND their neglected historic home, Middlemist.

While making a movie at Middlemist, Willow questions her previous resolve to swear off men, Kitty gets better acquainted with a man from her past, Middlemist gets some much needed investment and Willow’s ex, Kerr, gets more than he bargained for.

The Bella-Swan-Pathetically-Self-Sacrificing-Factor– Willow and Kitty are the two leads, and their main difference is confidence. Willow is something of a Gwyneth Paltrow type (American, macrobiotic kids, married a Brit rocker, won an oscar), but much more likable. When it all turns to goop Willow is left homeless, penniless and desperately in need of a job; however once Kitty offers her a lifeline she makes the best of it and stages an impressive comeback. Kitty is a wonderful nanny to the kids but a little more reticent with fellow adults, we find out why, and with a little help she finally gets up the courage to face her demons. Both are immensely charming and this keeps the pages turning. It has to be said, they both throw in the towel when their love lives hit a rough patch, but you’ll know it’ll work out in the end.

Kooks for your Kindle?– Harold the film director had to be my favourite supporting character, his subtle meddling helped all in need. Kerr is everything you might hope for in a cheating rock star hubby, complete with getting caught in the act with Russian sisters and paparrazzi’d. He’s more of a John Mayer than a Chris Martin, so you’ll be hoping he gets his comeuppance. Kitty’s brother Merritt is Kerr’s polar opposite, and thoroughly enjoyable. Even the kids are well thought up, especially the mysteriously quiet Lucian.

Painting a picture for your paperback?– This is mostly set in the West Country, and has just a touch of the Jilly Coopers- but without the horses, slightly less posh, and just as much sex. It’s more modern and real world, despite being set in a historic old house, which as it turns out is hiding a few secrets of its own.

Evaluation of your eBook?– This book ticked many of the boxes on my personal checklist of a perfect frothy read; glamorous; affordable; not too long or short; a little revenge; light but not vapid; fast paced; a little escapism into the showbiz world; well written/edited; and warm without being cheesy. I seem to have missed the author’s first book (this is the second) and some of the characters from the first make very brief appearances here, but it doesn’t look like it’s essential to read the other first. The aforementioned Jilly Cooper feeling is no bad thing, this is more of a modern day homage, while retaining the (mostly) kind-hearted characters, drama, fabulous country houses and reformable bad-guys. Definitely recommended and I can’t wait for more.

Frothy Ranking: 4/5 cocktails.

Can be obtained from:

UK: A bargain at 99p on Amazon.

US: Sometimes available on Amazon, click here to check. Not on Kobobooks or ebooks.