A Place Like Home

Thank you NetGalley, Rosamunde Pilcher and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of A Place Like Home. This is my personal review.
What an amazing collection of Rosamunde Pilcher stories. It was a beautiful book to read. I have always loved her books and to read this brought back so many good memories of her beautiful writing I have read in the past.
The stories that are in this book will leave everyone who reads it with a warm comforted feeling.
The chance to read previously unpublished stores is a treasure for any Rosamunde Pilcher fans to enjoy.

What a pleasure to find new Rosamunde Pilcher stories to enjoy. These stories were very much in her familiar style and reminiscent of her other works, particularly the short story collections. My only complaint is that the stories ended before I was ready to let them go. Recommended for Pilcher fans.

Being able to enjoy Rosamunde Pilcher’s writing once again is like a wonderful nostalgic trip back in time. Oh how I miss her books and I very much enjoyed this lovely collection of short stories.

I thought this was absolutely wonderful. This is a collection of short stories by Pilcher and I have to say that this book was just what I needed. I curled up in a blanket with cups of tea.

There is an introduction by someone named Lucinda Riley that I don't know anything about, I skipped this though because most introductions spoil the stories within and it drives me up the wall.

Per usual, here are my ratings of all the stories.

"Someone to Trust"-5 stars-I thought this was a great start to the collection. We follow a woman named Rachael who realizes that after many years, the man she is in love with, is never going to love her the right way. She goes to visit her cousin and tries to put her lover behind her. But things change for her when she starts to realize that not all men are like her ex. I did like that Rachael comes to a better realization about her relationship and the man that seems to not care at all about hurting her.

"Anniversary"-5 stars-A woman named Janey realizes that she needs more from her long-time lover, David. She's scared though to ask for more since he seems very anti-marriage. When Janey travels to celebrate her parent's wedding anniversary, she meets a couple that has her thinking things may have to change for her to move forward. What I liked about this one though is there a hint of darkness in the ending. I think Pilcher did a good job with showing that not all marriages are the same.

"Skelmerton"-3 stars-this one was the only story that really dragged for me. The title of this story is the name of the village where the story takes place. I think this one didn't work for me because it follows a single woman (considered a spinster) who really put her life on hold for a young man she met and fell in love with years ago. He of course met and married someone else, but has now returned to Skelmerton. I don't know. I don't think the story was meant to seem like hey good for you for being second best. But it read that way. I don't know if that was on purpose or not.

"A Place Like Home"-5 stars-I really enjoyed this one. A young woman named Joanna is in the hospital and realizing that she is truly almost alone in the world. She is an orphan and her remaining relatives are nowhere nearby. Her boss comes to visit her though and suggests a place that he knows in Scotland as a place to recover. I loved the description of Scotland and the people that Joanna meets, especially one of them. It really was a great story and I can see why the collection was named after this story.

"Ghosts of the Past"-3.5 stars-This one was definitely dark. I liked it though, but it didn't really fit with the general mood of the book I thought. Pilcher loves playing with stories about the end of affairs. I thought this one had a kind of ridiculous ending, but I loved the set-up of it before that.

"Jonathan"-3.5 stars-Not bad, it just felt a bit samey to the story told in Skelmerton.

"The Key"-3.5/4 stars-This was a weird story. As I reflect on it, I think I liked it. A young girl named Ruth goes and sees a house. She's not what she seems. It's a weird story.

"A Fork in the Road"-5 stars-A young man has a choice between a woman or moving to Edinburgh. After a visit there, he starts to think of the possibilities before him.

"The Stone Boy"-4 stars-This story follows a woman who has a chance encounter with a man that she has tried to forget.

"A Touch of Magic"-5 stars-This story was hilarious. An older aunt and another woman want the woman's brother in law to grow up and finally stay in one place. An accident ends up allowing the brother in law to see someone in a new light.

"A Smile for the Bride"-4 stars-Not a bad short story, but I knew how this one would end. I felt like I have read this before.

"Magic Might Happen"-4 stars-I thought this was okay, but honestly thought the ending was a bit...eh. It just didn't work for me due to the fact I thought Pilcher was telling a different story for readers. About how to go on after your heart is broken.

"Through the Eyes of Love"-5 stars-A young woman realizes that she needs to move on from a lover who has caused her nothing but pain. She goes home to her family for Christmas, and sees someone she has known for a long time in a new light. This felt very similar to Winter Solstice in themes or just the feeling of coziness it inspired. Loved it.

"Our Holiday"-5 stars-Yikes. I mean this is good, but this is probably a story that maybe should have ended up in a different collection. I loved it though it left me feeling melancholy.

"Harbour of Love"-4.5 stars-Not a bad story to end on, I just thought it was going in a totally different way though.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review..

This is Rosamunde Pilcher at her best. This book is full of short stories that will enchant you and entertain you in only the way the English can do. This is a book of short stories, which makes it great to read a bit at a time. This is a great pick-me-up in between the serious novels you may be reading or if you only have a small amount of time to read. Her descriptions take you away to a delightful place.. The plot are to the point but not rushed. A delight in all the sea of murders and mayhem..

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of A Place Like Home by Rosamunde Pilcher. I have been a reader my whole life. I was raised by a mom that was a reader. Although growing up she never really read full books. Instead our house was filled with magazines. Articles that could be read in between things you do as a mom. In those days magazines all had either short stories or excerpts. I had forgotten how much I love a good short story until I read this last volume by Rosamunde Pilcher. I also became a grown up while reading Rosamunde Pilcher. I found her after I was married and trying to find my way as an adult. I ended up reading everything she had written. She made me not only long for England but also very, very long books. While this new book isn't long it does take me back to a somewhat simpler time. It was strange in the beginning to be reading about phones and letters and waiting. I made me realize I only read current novels.
This is such a breath of fresh air and if you have read any of her previous works it will take you back in time to a wonderful time. I am sad that this is the very last we will read of her. She was a wonderful writer and I am very grateful.

I love everyone of theses short stories and I wish they were longer. They left me feeling happy. The stories are filled with love and kindness and made me feel better about the world. My favorites stories are "Someone to Trust," because Rachael thought she would never find someone who wanted to stay with her and she did. In"Skelmerton,"the story is about Caroline who finds a boy in the mist near the ocean while riding a pony and ending up meeting the man she had a crush on and is reunited. And finally I loved the story "Harbour of Love," Where Julia takes over the care of her nephew Christopher after her sister death and believe Ivan the man she loved won't be able to accept her with a child, but he did. There are other stories to enjoy and that are just as sweet and make you believe in love.
I never heard of Rosamunde Pilcher before these stories but after reading her stories it made me glad that there are other stories that she has written that I can enjoy.

I want to Thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advance copy of this delightful book of short stories.

A wonderful short story collection that I savored over a few weeks. I read the author’s The Shell Seekers first when I was in college, years ago, and still return to it when I am looking for a comfort read. These stories give exactly the same warm and fuzzy feeling in smaller more bite-sized pieces.

I love this author and I was so excited when I received this book! It didn't disappoint. I loved this one even more than the others previous work! It was unputdownable

I love Roseamunde Pilcher, I would read her books hoping that they would not end. This was a nice surprise. The stories are wonderful.

A simply wonderful collection of short stories by an iconic author. All of these stories give a peek at the incredible talent that was Rosamunde Pilcher. These are fifteen upbeat stories with the perfect amount of romance to lift one’s mood. If you need a pick me up kind of book this is truly the collection for you.