Escape to Giddywell Grange

by Kim Nash

[zooloo1983]

I started this book before I read Kim’s post about her inspiration to the book, but I hadn’t quite finished the book. When I went back to the book I had fresh eyes and to be honest it made it all a bit more emosh for me! I finished the book and messaged Kim, and just said you made me cry again! This book is most definitely a book about finding yourself again and finding your place again, something I need to do now and again, a bit of mindfulness.


Maddy, she is just such a lovely character. She has so much love to give but heartache drove her to consume her whole life with work. Then one day work isn’t there anymore and we watch her pick up the pieces. We see at the beginning, her best friend Beth, pushing her out into the community and mucking in at Growlers, the dog home. Seeing her branch out into an allotment. The final third is when her past catches up with her and how she copes with it.

It is hard for Maddy as she has to come to terms with the fact she’s not been there for people, she’s been a bit snotty and she sees people like a bit of a burden. But at the same time, she is wholesome and she wants to do right again that you find it hard not to be mad with her. She was just coping with life and everyone copes differently.

I must admit in the final 3rd of the book I was shouting at Maddy a bit because I became increasingly concerned with her decision making and felt quite frankly I should be in charge, not that it was going to happen, but she pulled through at the final hurdle and all is at peace with the world.

It was the ending that got me. I won’t say why or how, but for me it was beautiful and it happened exactly the way I wanted it too. I closed the kindle with a smile on my face and maybe a few tears down my face…but mainly the smile!!!

I absolutely adored Amazing Grace (which you can check my review out on Anniversary day!) and for the “tough” second novel, Kim has smashed it. I just want to know when I can read another book by her! Knowing that this is partially based on facts, I want to know which bits!! It adds an extra layer to the story and makes it that bit more special for me as a reader. I adored it!