The Hidden Cottage

By: Erica James

Narrated by: Clare Corbett

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

We all hide things, some more than others...Mia Channing appears to have an enviable life: a beautiful home in the village of Little Pelham, a happy, stable marriage, a job she enjoys and three grown up children to whom she's devoted. But appearances are deceiving; the truth is that it's all a precarious balancing act.

When the family gather for her son's thirtieth birthday, Daisy, her youngest daughter, drops a bombshell in the way only Daisy can. Once again Mia finds herself cast in the role of peacemaker. It's a role she's tired of, particularly since her husband refuses to believe he's responsible for the problems they're facing. Not surprisingly, Mia longs for escape. For Owen Fletcher, buying the Hidden Cottage was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream and provides the perfect escape for him. When Mia meets him, she must decide whether she has the courage to do something for herself for a change. And if she does, can she ever go back to the life of compromise she had before?

Read by Clare Corbett. Clare Corbett has had a successful career on stage, screen and radio. Theatre credits include 'To Kill A Mocking Bird' 'Pygmalion' and Spoon face Steinberg' and her TV credits include BBC's 'Spooks,' 'Fastnet' and 'Final Demand'. A winner of the prestigious Carleton Hobbs Radio Award, she has appeared in over 250 radio plays including 'Absolute Power' 'Venus and Adonis' and ' Dr Zhivago'. Her other voice work comprises of Aardman Animation's ' the planet sketch' and numerous audiobooks (children and adult) including 'Poppy Shakespeare', 'Swallowing Grandma' and 'Child X'. She read 'Alys, Always' by Harriet Lane for Orion.

©2013 Erica James (P)2013 Orion Publishing Group

Loved it!

Due to illness I have spent the last 4 years listening to hundreds of audiobooks - mostly crime fiction and psychological thrillers. However I really felt like something completely different and decided to download this. I am so pleased that I did. I was completely drawn into the story, the characters and village life. Clare Corbett reads this beautifully- her voice is so warm, comforting and compelling. This was an audiobook that I did not want to end. I would recommend this if - like me - you're a fan of Joanna Trollope and Penny Vincenzi.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable if a little predictable

Set in a idyllic village, this book hooked me in with the village life and easy to identify with characters. It is well written and very well read and I enjoyed it hugely. If your looking for thrills and twists this book isn't for you. If, however you want to finish a book with a warm fuzzy glow and a sense that maybe your life is normal after all, then read away and enjoy!

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Light, enjoyable listening.

What did you like most about The Hidden Cottage?

I didn't have to concentrate on the story line. It made light weekend listening.

What did you like best about this story?

Typical family with all the usual problems between parents, kids and shows how a mother's love shines through, even if she is faced with the loss of one of her children.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I enjoyed most of the book but I loved the old ladies who used to own the cottage.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. It is a book you can easily pick up and put down without wanting to go on or feel you are missing anything. This is why I enjoyed it so much.

Any additional comments?

I loved Clare Corbett's voice.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

nice story, shame about the narrator

I have read or listened to most of Erica James' novels, and quite enjoyed this, and though it's not one of her best (everything felt a bit rushed - personally, I would have liked a more gradual character and relationship development), there were a couple of twists which kept me interested. I'm afraid it was the narrator who spoiled this one for me. She read with a slightly patronising newsreader's intonation for most of it and all of the male characters sounded as thick as two short planks, which I felt didn't really fit with the characterisation. That aside, it kept me listening and helped pass the time doing the ironing!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Pants

This is the first book from Audible which has absolutely no redeeming features A poor choice on my part written for a very middle class audience , Blah blah Yah Yah . Enid Blyton styled for grown ups ..... although that's a disservice to Enid who I devoured as a child . Cliché ridden crap with a thin storyline and no hooks to engage the reader . didn't finish it & would return it if I could find out how .

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Breathtakingly simple

Breathtakingly simple book which allows you absorb all characters. You get to know all characters well and you can't wait to here what all of them are up to. Unfortunately tragedy strikes this lovely English family and you go on a journey of their survival.

It is a lovely read/listen even when to story is simply chugging alone you enjoy listening and you don't think it is going nowhere.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A delightful story

This is a strong story of lessons in love. The Hidden Cottage of the title plays a neat role to connect past and present lives. It is a book of loss and sadness but also of gains and happiness. The ending is maybe a little predictable but it's none the less enjoyable for that. The audiobook is well-narrated with good characterisations.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Really enjoyed my first read by Erica James

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I really enjoyed this book my first by Erica James. Clare Corbett done a very good job of narrating her accents were good. Can't wait to listen to the next one

What about Clare Corbett’s performance did you like?

Very good her accents were great

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

great escapism

loved it ... if this is chick lit I could be a convert... :)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Ok

A reasonable tale. Unfortunately the narrator wasn’t too good with male voices. Made me laugh though.