It’s TWG’s turn to host Faith Bleasdale and ‘A Year at Meadowbrook Manor’ today! Unfortunately I didn’t quite have time to read the book to review for my stop today (but do watch this space!)! However, I am delighted to share an extract from Faith Bleasdale’s book! Hope you enjoy!
One divided family, one life-changing year…
Harriet Singer hasn’t been home in ten years. When her beloved dad dies suddenly, she races to be there for her estranged siblings, despite the memories it brings back.
Then Harriet learns that all four Singer siblings must live together for one year, caring for their dad’s Animal Sanctuary, or forfeit their inheritance.
Living under the same roof could make or break the family, but it’s time Harriet stopped running and faced her past. Especially when her first love turns up…
Extract.
Extract 3 – Chapter 14, 162-163
Harriet studied her youngest brother. They were all aware, since moving back to Meadowbrook, how much Freddie was drinking but normally only in the evening. Yes, she had caught him passed out by the swimming pool that one time, but he was Freddie. The partying, fun one of the family. And although she thought, privately, that he drank too much, she had put it down to his business falling apart and losing Dad. After all she had been through, she wanted to drink herself into a stupor most nights, so she could hardly blame him. But he clearly was using drink as a crutch and something would need to be done about it if he continued this way.
‘Why? Why would you do that?’ Pippa asked, she still sounded annoyed, in the sweetest way.
‘Things are getting a bit on top of me, to be totally honest. Moving here, losing Dad, feeling lost, and then Loretta . . . She wants me to settle down a bit and when she says that it freaks me out.’
‘But why?’
‘I don’t know, I can’t explain it, I just feel out of my depth. But, I promise I’ll drink less, and I’ll apologise to the fête committee. I’ll do everything properly but don’t try to make me make sense of it because I can’t.’ Freddie put his head in his hands and his body shuddered; he was crying. Harriet couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him upset, even at the funeral he’d been cracking jokes.
‘Oh, Fred, I’m sorry.’ She sat next to him and put her arms around him.
‘I miss Dad. He always knew what to do and I never listened to him, but if he was here now, I would.’
Tears filled Gwen’s eyes, they streamed down Pippa’s cheeks, Harriet felt emotions choking her. It was all such a mess still. And they were all grieving, sometimes she forgot they were in the grip of grief, but then there were the ugly reminders.
‘It’ll be OK,’ Harriet said, and she fervently hoped it would be.
The Writing Garnet 