A Place to Call Home [Kindle Edition]

I almost didn't buy this book for a couple of reasons - first it didn't have any reviews (and I tend to rely on other's opinions quite a lot when choosing my next read) and also the cover picture of the dog (whilst incredibly cute)initially misled me to think that this is a story about a four-legged hound being re-homed - how wrong could I be.

Having read Sue Moorcroft's 'All that Mullarkey' and thoroughly enjoying it (although I found it quite frivolous and 'chick flicky' at times) this book on the other hand maintains the same level of humour but delves much deeper into situations which face many middle-aged women (like myself) and I could personally relate to.

A brief synopsis is a happy middle-classed English family (husband, wife and two daughters) living comfortably in Germany having relocated there a few years previously for husband's job. The world falls apart when hubby loses his job and has to vacate the home which came with the job and pack up to return to the UK to live with hubby's parents - as they had no-where else to go. The eldest daughter, who is about to start university, suddenly decides to throw it all in and move to France with her boyfriend and 'live off the land' much to the horror of her parents. The husband's parent's have their own issues as having run a successful family business for many years are now looking to pack up shop and retire due to ill health - but what to do now that the son and his family have landed on them!. The wife finds herself unexpectedly pregnant in her early 40s and the youngest daughter feels totally left out and can't settle into her new school - and thats where the dog comes in!

I loved the way that there are so many different relationships explored in this book - husband and wife, husband and parents, the wife and the relationship with her in-laws, the children and the relationship with both their parents and grandparents and the interesting scenario and 'wake up call' for the eldest daughter and her French boyfriend.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end and would highly recommend it.

Typical sur Moorcroft, entertaining, funny & well written. A nice story that's easily understood & ok to pick up with if you've not been able to read for a few days