Set against the glorious Cotswold countryside, the Hamptons Chronicles offers an intoxicating blend of intrigue and romance. Poppy Jackson is ready to put the past behind her and move on as she embarks on an exciting new career with a major investment stockbroker. As the Annual Conference approaches – a big deal in the stock broking world – Poppy is keen to impress but her focus wavers at the … wavers at the appearance of the cheeky Oliver Sullivan! They say that opposites attract but can their love overcome conflicting backgrounds?
The skeletons are falling out of the closet in this heart-warming tale of love, loss and new beginnings.
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Lovely story.
Poppy’s character was perfect in every sense of the word. Working in the corporate world, she is very interested in her work and not given to other social interests in life.
Entry Oliver and what starts as a romance, weaves a tangled love web around the characters. There are plenty of twists and turns and some memorable side characters as we learn the reason for the title. Liked it.
The first book in Author Tina-Marie Miller’s Hampton series is a delight to read as we peak into the lives of the residents and visitors of this British countryside haven. We see the story through the eyes of main character Poppy Jackson, a young woman who is dealing with the heart break and loss of her mother. She’s bright, successful and on her way up as the personal assistant of CEO Greg Sable, head of the investment stockbroker firm of Hawkins, Monroe and Sable. A professional success, Poppy is starting to look for the man of her dreams–but with a demanding work environment, will she ever have the time to find him?
Enter Oliver Sullivan, an up and comer at a competing firm with ties to her boss, Greg. A chance encounter at first seems promising. Time and business intervene however, leading Poppy to think their evening together was just not meant to be. Fate deals a gentler hand with their second liaison, as Oliver and Poppy meet again, this time allowing their relationship to grow and flourish. Things seem perfect…but are they?
Family drama, tragedy, personal and professional turmoil emerge as we follow Poppy and her friends and family weave through a tangled spectrum of life events. We laugh, we cry, we hope for the future as we meet new acquaintances and experience the challenges that transform her life. A heartwarming tale with enchanting characters–a great read indeed! I’ll be back for more in this series, that’s the Hamptons!
Everything Happens For A Reason is a beautiful hybrid.
“This was life in the city, after all: fast, competitive, ruthless, and… fun.”
It’s part chick-lit, but more so women’s fiction in the classic sense that we have a heroine, Poppy, who begins the story as a young career woman from the Cotswolds. She is independent, good looking and strong, finding her way in London with a great career, romance with a super-fine boyfriend who seems a bit too perfect to be true, Ollie, and a messy flat-mate named Orla.
It easily could have remained chick-lit (as in light and airy) with the initial details, but the author went deeper. Much deeper in fact, into the trials that come after the relationship changes – when things stop making sense. There is a sudden loss, then another and family matters become a more important theme that dominates the fluid plot.
“Irked, she turned to look at him, her eyes flashing dark with anger. ‘I’m not a plaything, you know.” Oh I loved this line! Why more women don’t talk and think this way is beyond me! Go Poppy!
Poppy is feisty, headstrong and I admire that she is no pushover. Her reactions are sometimes a bit too quick, a little too defensive. Rather than this detracting from an incredibly likeable character, she becomes three dimensional and real. The sort of woman many women long to have as a friend but most of us never manage to find.
“In the flat above Professor Smedley lived an adorable lady called Maisie, an eccentric cockney well into her 80’s with eyes as bright as two shiny buttons.” The details concerning secondary characters are spot on and give great flavor and add delight to the story. There is also a balance between town and country scenes which help create a full rounded view of life in the U.K.
Her best friend Sally is a country girl, a bit rough around the edges, but full of life. When she meets Poppy’s new beau Ollie, it seems she’s a bit over excited for the love match. “She watched her gaily introducing him to everyone else, wincing each time she referred to Oliver as ‘Poppy’s bit of stuff’, and occasionally adding, ‘he’s a bit of alright, ‘aint he?”
There is playful humor woven in throughout the story that kept it from being too serious and along with romance that is well written with just a touch of spice. The author keeps it classy. The smooth style made for a cozy, and uplifting novel even when some extremely difficult topics were being covered. Death, infidelity, and a big surprise that I won’t reveal here.
There are many twists, a few major doozies and shocking reveals throughout, which I enjoyed immensely. I could go on and on, but if any of this sounds good to you, perhaps you should just read it and draw your own conclusions?
This is the second book I’ve read from this author and now I know when I’m in the mood for an upbeat storyline with a strong female lead, memorable but flawed characters painted with a bit of humor and a sketch on life in all its glory and imperfections… this author’s writing will give me the perfect escape.
“He might have been on his sixth marriage, but he still maintained an excellent relationship with his five previous ex-wives.” This line made me laugh out loud, because it reminded me immediately of someone I used to know. Just fabulous!
This was one of those books which, from the first page, draws you in at a nice gentle pace and keeps you lost in its pages until the end. Poppy is a delightful character and her life is full of downs but also full of the ups too! The twists and turns will keep you reading and giggling along the way too. A story written in a beautiful style which is easy to read and one which has a wonderful Happy Ever After ending which is just delightful.
Poppy Jackson moved away from her home town of Hampton when her mother died unexpectedly, determined to gain a career as a PA. It turns out that she was good at her job, and despite her loss, everything was going well for her. But, life was about to change when she meets and falls in love with Oliver.
Tina- Marie has a beautiful writing style that draws the reader in. I found that when I wasn’t reading the book, I was certainly thinking about Poppy!
Poppy is a headstrong determined lady. It is the reason why she survives the heartache of losing her mother, and for (without giving too much away) is to come.
A very enjoyable read!!