Happiness For Beginners by Carole Matthews @carolematthews @BooksSphere #GuestReview #JamieLeeGrenfell #HappinessForBeginners

Molly Baker is living her best life.

Thirty-eight years old, she lives on the twenty-five-acre Hope Farm in Buckinghamshire, surrounded by (mostly) four-legged friends and rolling hills. There's Anthony the anti-social sheep, Tina Turner the alpaca with attitude, and the definitely-not-miniature pig, Teacup.

Molly runs the farm as an alternative school for kids who haven't thrived in mainstream education. It's full on, but she wouldn't have it any other way. So when the well-groomed Shelby Dacre turns up at Hope Farm asking to enrol his son Lucas, Molly isn't fazed.

But Lucas is distant and soon Molly realises he might be more of a handful than she anticipated. And then there's the added problem that his dad is distractingly handsome. Molly has her beloved farm to think of - could letting Lucas and Shelby in be a terrible mistake, or the start of something wonderful?

An absolute must-read from the queen of romance Carole Matthews, Molly's story will make your heart sing.

Happiness For Beginners by Carole Matthews was published by Sphere in paperback on 30 May 2019

I'm delighted to welcome Jamie Lee Grenfell to Random Things today

Jamie-Lee has kindly agreed to read and review books for Random Things, and Happiness for Beginners is the first of those reviews.

Hello!  I'm Jamie-Lee

I am a 34 years young. 

I live in Devon with my husband, two children aged 9 and 4 and lots of furry animals! 

I love reading and always have since I can remember. 

My favourite genres are thriller and romance but I am trying out new genres to hopefully widen my range as I am most probably missing out on some really good books

Jamie-Lee's review of Happiness for Beginners by Carole Matthews

This is Carole Matthews thirty first book published. It centres on Molly Baker a thirty eight year old socially awkward woman. 

Molly takes over Hope farm and the few animals living there when her Aunt Hetty passes away. The farm is an under-funded sanctuary where animals and children with no other hope can go and feel loved and accepted. 

Molly has always lived by a strict routine with minimal contact with the outside world, this is until Lucas arrives. Lucas is a troubled young boy expelled from school for starting fires, he is sulky and rude but Molly instantly takes a liking to him. He is angry with the world and most importantly his dad, the famous actor Shelby Darce. 

The chemistry starts to build between Molly and Shelby, and with all good rom-com novels it has you thinking will they, wont they. 

Things start to change quickly on the Farm and Molly has to step far away from her comfort zone to help save her home and the sanctuary she loves more than anything. 

Happiness for beginners is a really enjoyable read, there is happiness, sadness and funny moments that make you want to keep reading. 

I did find some of the storyline predictable but this did not put me off reading more, and enjoying it. Molly is a very likable and well written character; you instantly feel drawn to her and want her to step up and save the farm. All the characters from her lifelong confident friend Bev to the silent and mysterious Alan play a part in the story. 

This is a must for people who enjoy a cosy, easy read with romance and some drama thrown in. 

This is the first book I have read by Carole Matthews, I really enjoyed her style of writing and will be keeping a look out for more of her books.

Carole Matthews is the Sunday Times bestselling author of thirty-two novels, including the Top Ten bestsellers Let's Meet on Platform 8, A Whiff of Scandal, For Better, For Worse, A Minor Indiscretion, With or Without You, The Cake Shop in the Garden, Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses, A Cottage by the Sea, The Chocolate Lovers' Club, The Chocolate Lovers' Christmas, The Chocolate Lovers' Wedding, Million Love Songs and  Christmas Cakes & Mistletoe Nights. 

Carole has also been awarded the RNA Outstanding Achievement Award. Her novels dazzle and delight readers all over the world. 

For all the latest news from Carole, visit www.carolematthews.com, follow Carole on Twitter (@carolematthews) and Instagram (matthews.carole) or join the thousands of readers who have become Carole's friend on Facebook (carolematthewsbooks)