‘The House in the Clouds’ by Victoria Connelly is the second book I have read by her. The first being The Beauty of Broken Things last year. I enjoyed reading that one so I had high hopes for The House in The Clouds.
The House in the Clouds whose official name is really Winfield Hall is up for auction. It got its name of House in the Clouds because of the high location of the Hall on the Sussex Downs. Edward and Abigail are both in love with the Hall and so begins a bidding war. Edward wins so Abigail loses her chance that is until Edward gets in contact with her. He asks if she would consider going halves on the Hall. She accepts, thinking her dreams have come true. Abigail moves into her half of the house that looks over the gardens while Edward has the half that faces the Downs.
Edward is a serious and upstanding man who has been made redundant from his job in a bank. Abigail is a free-spirited artist who has successfully grown her business around her artwork. Winfield Hall is her inspiration along with the area it is in. She is totally devoted to her family. Her sister and nieces live local so she can spend time with them quite often.
The story is told in alternating viewpoints of these two equally likeable characters. Giving us a chance to get to know each of them really well. The beginning to a new trilogy and we really do spend the majority of the book getting to know Abigail and Edward. Two people who seem so different slowly begin to develop a friendship and we do see some similarities between them.
I thought the slow pace of this book gave me time to luxuriate in getting to know Abigail and Edward as well as raising questions to keep me ready and waiting for the next book. As always Victoria Connolly has written a beautiful story that begs the second book to arrive soon!
Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Victoria Connolly for the copy of the book.
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