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Pauline Wiles
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Saving Saffron Sweeting: a British romantic comedy Kindle Edition

by Pauline Wiles (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 1,230 ratings

She's heartbroken, homesick...


...and hungry!


When her marriage hits the rocks, interior designer Grace Palmer jumps on the first plane back to England.


Surely the delightful village of Saffron Sweeting is the ideal place to heal her hurt with tea and cake?


But change is brewing for this quiet community, and Grace is in the middle of it. What’s more, is the charismatic new man on the scene after her, or something else?


As tensions escalate, Grace wonders if she stands to lose both her home and her heart.


Filled with gentle British humour, this charming romantic comedy offers a sweet escape to the English countryside.


Start reading today.
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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Saffron Sweeting
  2. Print length
    309 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    April 18, 2013
  5. File size
    2.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"With characters that you can't help but cheer for, an engaging storyline, and lots of fun facts about British culture, Saving Saffron Sweeting is a must-read." - The Book Chick

"I loved every single moment... I wanted to walk into Grace Palmer's English cottage, 'put the kettle on' and sit with her and tell her everything will be okay." - Julie Valerie's Book Blog

From the Inside Flap

This debut novel from British author Pauline Wiles was a quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

Readers worldwide have been charmed by the English village of Saffron Sweeting and its characters, describing this romantic comedy as a "fun", "light-hearted", "delightful" read.

If you enjoy books by Katie Fforde and Jill Mansell, don't miss this sweet escape to the British countryside.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00C6CB3DS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (April 18, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 18, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 309 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 1,230 ratings

About the author

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Pauline Wiles

Pauline Wiles

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British by birth, Pauline Wiles is now a contented resident of California, although she admits to occasional yearnings for afternoon tea and historic homes.

Her debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, reached the quarter final of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Three further romantic comedies set in the same village are now available, along with a free collection of short stories. Pauline has also published Indie With Ease, to help other independent authors conquer stress and boost productivity.

When not writing, Pauline designs and builds strategic, business-oriented websites for other authors. She can also be found running, reading, or searching for her next venue to enjoy tea and a slice of cake.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
1,230 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book engaging and well-written, with amazing descriptions of England and quirky fun characters. The story features a sweet plot with an enduring love theme, and one customer notes how the village itself becomes its own character. The book is filled with comedy that makes customers laugh out loud, and they appreciate the gentle treatment of heartbreak and recovery throughout the narrative.

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144 customers mention "Enjoyment"144 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and engaging, with one mentioning it's a joyful read for Anglophiles.

"...It was that enjoyable, from cover to cover. Highly recommended. Run, don't walk. Or better yet, click...." Read more

"...Naturally, I like a good HEA, and this one has one. The things I didn't like are simply my own personal opinion...." Read more

"...An engaging story set in a charming fictitious village, it is filled with lovable characters...." Read more

"As a light beach or plane trip read, this book was good...." Read more

73 customers mention "Writing quality"73 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as a well-written fast read with no bad grammar and amazing descriptions of England.

"...This book was so stinking charming, I was completely swept away by it...." Read more

"...Not the case with Saving Saffron Sweeting. The story and writing are first-rate, and the editing as well...." Read more

"...A well-written, witty, and entertaining read." Read more

"...writing was fabulous, the characters were all so distinctive and well fleshed out, the storyline was fun and believable and the premise was clever..." Read more

67 customers mention "Character development"67 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, describing them as quirky and fun, with one customer noting how the village itself becomes its own character.

"...The characters were charming, their lives were charming, the town of Saffron Sweeting was charming...." Read more

"...Saffron Sweeting is filled with various side characters, all of whom add to the fun of this book, from Violet to Peter to Brian to Amelia...." Read more

"...engaging story set in a charming fictitious village, it is filled with lovable characters...." Read more

"...loves a little abrupt towards the end, I really enjoyed all the characters and events...." Read more

63 customers mention "Story quality"57 positive6 negative

Customers enjoy the story's sweet plot and happy ending, with one customer noting how it describes enduring love among both old and young couples.

"...play a different role in Grace's life and each bring different elements to the storyline...." Read more

"...Finally, I loved the romantic element, knew exactly how I wanted things to turn out pretty much right from the start but the book was not at all..." Read more

"Light, well-written with a sweet plot and the requisite happy ending. It's perfect for poolside reading...." Read more

"...I love Pauline Wile's style of writing and can identify with Grace (the main character) very much...." Read more

31 customers mention "Characterization"31 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the characterization in the book, particularly its depiction of a sweet English village and cutesy little town, with one customer noting how well it captures village life.

"...An engaging story set in a charming fictitious village, it is filled with lovable characters...." Read more

"...The descriptions were vivid and I felt like I was in Saffron Sweeting along with Grace...." Read more

"...The village is charming but inevitably changing, due in large part to the arrival of an American Bio Tech Company, and it's tribe of mainly American..." Read more

"...This enjoyable book has wonderfully drawn characters, an adorable English village, a dog who strays, lovers both worthy and not so much so, and..." Read more

29 customers mention "Humor"29 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it filled with comedy that makes them laugh out loud.

"...Along the way, she provides us with a humourous look at how the UK and US cultures converge and diverge, and some interesting ideas as to how to..." Read more

"...Thoughtful and funny, this novel will keep you running back to your kindle whenever you get a spare moment...." Read more

"...I love Pauline Wile's style of writing and can identify with Grace (the main character) very much...." Read more

"...It's getting pretty rare. The description of British customs and phrasing was fun. And I always like descriptions of small English towns...." Read more

14 customers mention "Sweetness"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book sweet, with one customer particularly enjoying the experiences of Saffron Sweeting and meeting the quirky residents of the village.

"...Prepare for lots of snacking and a nice cuppa induced by lovely food at the charming bed and breakfast and deftly depicted bakery...." Read more

"I know it's been said before, but Saving Saffron Sweeting is utterly charming!..." Read more

"I really enjoyed reading Saving Saffron Sweeting...." Read more

"...This is a sweet, funny story filled with quirky characters and hilarious details about life in a small English village...." Read more

13 customers mention "Comfort level"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book comforting, with one review noting its gentle treatment of heartbreak and recovery, while others mention how it portrays the agony of betrayal.

"This light-hearted (but not light-headed) novel was exactly what I needed to take my mind off the heat and the stresses of life...." Read more

"...Love, betrayal, romance, balancing your hopes and dreams and a lot of laughing out loud is what you'll get with this book!..." Read more

"Loved this book! Sensitive, humorous and hopeful...." Read more

"...story as she details someone overcoming betrayal and finding a place to regain confidence and self worth and ultimately realizing what she really..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Julie Valerie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Put the kettle on and start reading!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Oh, my. Definitely one of my favorite books as I read my way through 52 books in 52 weeks. This book was so stinking charming, I was completely swept away by it. No wonder the book has climbed to the quarter finals in the romance category of the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. (More information: amazon.com/abna) I loved every single moment. The characters were charming, their lives were charming, the town of Saffron Sweeting was charming. It was so charming, I wanted to climb into the pages as I read and live among the characters. I wanted to walk into Grace Palmer's English cottage, "put the kettle on" and sit with her and tell her everything will be okay.

    The richness of the book reminded me a lot of Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes and the books by Peter Mayle set in Provence. If you love books set in a quirky little town with villagers that stake their claims on the story and a main character that struggles with internal conflict while falling in love with the beautiful but flawed surroundings of a town she haphazardly found her way to, then this is the book for you.

    Grace Palmer certainly received a punch in the stomach (not literally) in the opening pages when she learns of her husband's affair. But she picks herself up, dusts herself off, and returns to her home country of England only to find herself in the turmoil of changing times in the town of Saffron Sweeting.

    The people Grace meets in the town of Saffron Sweeting are all so wonderful as characters in a book. Each play a different role in Grace's life and each bring different elements to the storyline. What is so captivating about the story of this town is the mingling of two cultures. An American bio-tech firm is relocating American workers to Saffron Sweeting and the villagers who have always called Saffron Sweeting home are trying to adapt. Because Grace Palmer is the only person in town with insights into both cultures, she is quickly placed in the heart of the small town and must play the role of assistant, consultant and guide.

    I finished reading this book while on a weekend trip to Boston. I told everyone I saw on this trip about the book, even the passengers sitting on the plane beside me, imploring them to pick up a copy and start reading. It was that enjoyable, from cover to cover.

    Highly recommended. Run, don't walk. Or better yet, click. A link to Amazon is provided below so go get yourself a copy and cancel your plans for whatever it was you were planning to do over the next few days. You'll want to snuggle up with this book, a cup of tea, a cozy blanket and a comfortable chair. Don't worry, the world will wait for your return.

    A more complete review of this book and Pauline Wiles can be found on my book blog, Chick Lit Chit Chat found at [...]
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  • HopefulRomantic
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Saffron Sweeting
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I'm not sure if it was the name or the dog on the cover that caught my eye, but I'm glad something did! Upon realizing her husband, James, is cheating with his co-worker, Grace flees San Francisco for the safety of her native England. After some deliberation, Grace lands in the slowly dying village of Saffron Sweeting.

    Saffron Sweeting is filled with various side characters, all of whom add to the fun of this book, from Violet to Peter to Brian to Amelia. Grace begins to give small bits of advice to the village shopkeepers, suggestions that might help with the influx of Americans (the Americans have been transferred for work). She kind of "falls into" an assistant position in the local estate agency (realtor's office to us Americans).

    In the meantime, she's avoiding her husband's calls and not responding to his emailed pleas for Grace to let him explain. She meets Scott, a local developer. Scott buys properties and repurposes most of them into living space or office space. But occasionally, he demolishes said properties to replace them with new structures. Slowly, a relationship develops between Scott and Grace.

    POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT FROM HERE OUT: What I didn't like was the fact that Grace, while refusing to listen to James' explanation, was guilty of (IMHO) cheating as well. Although she told herself occasionally that her marriage was over, she really didn't know that; she never filed for divorce, nor did she receive divorce papers from James.

    I also didn't like that Scott went from being pretty terrific guy to being Mr. Inattentive fairly quickly. As if that wasn't enough, he went from bad to much worse, turning almost overnight into a money-grubbing, immature horse's behind!

    Naturally, I like a good HEA, and this one has one. The things I didn't like are simply my own personal opinion. I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy their romance with a HEA.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Jean
    5.0 out of 5 stars Oh to be in Saffron Sweeting
    Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This light-hearted (but not light-headed) novel was exactly what I needed to take my mind off the heat and the stresses of life. An engaging story set in a charming fictitious village, it is filled with lovable characters. I'm not overly fond of dogs, so a dog on the cover had me a bit concerned. Needn't have been. The dog played only a minor role in the story and was actually quite adorable.

    I've nothing against self-publishing, but most of the self-published books I've read have had numerous problems. Not the case with Saving Saffron Sweeting. The story and writing are first-rate, and the editing as well. I don't recall seeing a single typo, and that is rare indeed. Surely publishers will be clamoring to sign this talented author, but apparently she is quite capable of going it alone.

    I hope Pauline Wiles has another book ready for publication soon because I want more! Whether it's a sequel or an altogether different story, I am eager to read her next book. But, at some point, a sequel is definitely in order. Since I can't move to Saffron Sweeting, she must take me there again. And I'm sure we all want to see what Grace Palmer gets up to next.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Typical chick lit.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    As a light beach or plane trip read, this book was good. But ... The main character is very frustrating because she is so dense in dealing with people. I wanted to shake her and tell her to get real more than once. So if you can suspend belief enough to relate to her and want a cute story to fill some time, this will do nicely.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Beth M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable read!
    Reviewed in Canada on July 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book was such a great read. The characters were wonderfully done and the story kept me interested and entertained all the way through. I certainly will read more from this author.
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  • Marty
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this novel from the start. As a reader, you really feel for Grace, who gradually realizes that her husband is cheating on her. Every thought that passes through her mind, how she connects certain people and events: the first chapter where all this happens is at times funny and at others tragic, and yet very believable. Because if you were in Grace's shoes, your world would really fall apart.

    I admired Grace'd decision to go back to England and start over again. I happen to live in Cambridgeshire and so I was very familiar with many of the villages and local landscapes mentioned in the book. The author was very accurate in her descriptions, you fall in love with the village life, so realistic and amusing at times.

    Grace is a very likable heroine: the story is told in first person, from her point of view, and you really get what is going on in her head and heart. I found that the other characters too were well portrayed, you could easily picture them and feel like you knew them personally.
    I loved the sense of humour which pervades the entire novel, this is probably one of the strongest points. The internal dialogue going on in Grace's head and her observations catch you unexpectedly and make smile and even laugh out loud.

    It's a fantastic book, I couldn't put it down and I was sad when I finished reading it, as I wanted it to go on forever.
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  • Paola B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars East Anglia village
    Reviewed in Italy on June 16, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    La vita di una coppia viene stravolta da un tradimento. Da qui una fuga istintiva e precipitosa in Gran Bretagna e una nuova vita di paese nella regione di Cambridge. Una storia divertente e raccontata bene, mai a rischio diabete che consiglio in modo particolare per una vacanza.
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  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!!!!
    Reviewed in Spain on May 26, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book was such fun to read and was a perfect companion for a coffee and a comfy sofa. Sorry no spoilers here, except to say that Grace made me laugh and think about what I'd do in the same circumstances. The writing is good, the story flows well and I didn't notice any mistakes. The only problem....I didn't want it to end!
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  • Wendy J
    4.0 out of 5 stars A light and charming read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 14, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    When she finds out that her husband has cheated on her, Grace leaves him and their life in the States to return home to England. She starts the process of recovery by settling in the quiet village of Saffron Sweeting, and becomes an unwitting catalyst in the regeneration of the village, helping local businesses to reach out to new clients and reviving the village's heart. Will she be able to revive her own?

    The book gets off to a great start with the moment of Grace's realisation of her husband's infidelity, and from the get-go you want to know how things are going to play out. However, although the will they/won't they get back together question drew me in, I didn't wholeheartedly warm to Grace herself. I think this originated in her decision to escape to England without allowing her husband to explain the circumstances of his huge betrayal of their marriage and without letting him know where she is living. It works brilliantly for the plot but not for my ability to relate to her. In fact in a scene where she meets her husband in London for a few hours it was her husband who my heart went out to and not her.

    Saffron Sweeting contains a wonderful assortment of characters. I could picture them all. The way the author describes how Grace tumbles by chance into helping the village, and the way in which her unofficial role as champion of the village develops, is a joy to read. The book is also full of mouth-watering descriptions of the heaps of delicious English food that Grace takes such delight in.

    The writing is smooth, the tone light and warm, making this very easy to read. I may be wrong here, but as a Brit I sense this book is written primarily for an American audience. That doesn't take anything away from the book, but I do think that you'll experience a different read depending on which side of the Atlantic you live on. Wherever you are from, there's so much to enjoy in this charming comedy.
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