I’ve had so many lovely reviews for One Last Summer and I thought I’d share some of them here. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and review the book. This was an emotional one to write and I’m so thrilled that it’s touching a chord with readers.
‘Compassionately told, searingly emotional and wonderfully uplifting. One Last Summer is a very special book that manages to break your heart and lift your spirit in equal measures.’ Bookish Jottings
‘An eloquent, gorgeous read! It’s the type of novel which touches a part of you that you weren’t really aware was there… a memorable read from an accomplished and talented author.’ – Grace J Reviewer Lady
‘There are times in this novel where I smiled, laughed, got sad, cried – lots of emotions… There is sadness but a lot of warmth and a powerful message at its centre. Thank you, Victoria, for a wonderful novel.’ Novel Kicks
‘A beautiful weepy.’ – The Divine Write
‘Oh my word, ‘One Last Summer’ is one seriously emotive read that got to me in more ways than one… The author certainly knows how to tug on the heartstrings and then some.’ – Ginger Book Geek
‘My overall feeling after reading One Last Summer is what an incredibly talented writer Victoria Connelly is… The writing is sensitive, realistic and thought-provoking but despite such a sad subject matter I was left feeling very uplifted.’ – That Thing She Reads
‘A beautiful life-affirming book!’ – Jan’s Books Buzz
‘Sometimes a story really speaks to you. This is one of those stories. It’s a very special moment when you get more than a story from a book, and here you get so much more: inspiration and courage to do what makes your heart sing.’ Just 4 My Books
Tap or click here to buy your copy.
Portia is a Buff Orpinton – the breed made famous by the late Queen Mother. She’s the most timid in the flock at the moment and is very vocal whenever I pick her up!
Phoebe is a Black Orpington. She likes jumping up on things and was the first to discover the back door into our house!
And Perdita is a Blue Partridge Brahma. She’s the most dominant of the little flock and was the first to climb up and down the ladder into the coop and the first to eat from my hand. She’s very curious and alert.
The girls are enjoying free-ranging in the autumn garden, but are sticking closely together at the moment as they get to know their new environment! They’re such gorgeous girls and I can’t wait to get to know their personalities and enjoy plenty of hen cuddles with them.
But what a state she was in! We’ve never seen a hen look quite as rough. Her comb was overlarge, floppy and pale, her wings looked like chopsticks and she was missing so many feathers that she looked almost oven-ready.
However, appearances can be deceptive and she soon proved to be a feisty little girl, marching up and down the run of the coop, asking to be let out to free-range for the first time.
And how she loved to free-range! So much so that she was soon laying eggs in the hedge and venturing through the hedge into our neighbours’ gardens! She also loved sneaking into the house whenever the door was open, leaping onto our chair in the conservatory and sticking her head in any bags of food around. She really was an adventurer!
Winter weather didn’t faze her even though she was a sun-worshipper at heart. In fact, I’ve never seen a hen enjoy sunbathing so much and, in the early days of her release, we had to put sun lotion on all those bare bits of hers!
I loved looking out of the kitchen window to see her leaping on to pots and bins and sneaking around the oil tank. One never quite knew where she’d appear next.
Darling Vi. You were such a special girl and I hope you loved your retirement with us as much as we loved having you as a part of our family. You’ll be missed so much.
A huge thank you to Anne-Marie who made us all feel so at home in her special world. Do follow her wonderful