Blog Tour: The Old Girls Network by Judy Leigh

Is it ever too late to change…

After a health scare, 77 year-old spinster Barbara goes to convalesce in the sleepy Somerset village of Winsleigh Green with her sister Pauline, who is now a widow. The sisters are like chalk and cheese - Barbara, outspoken and aloof and Pauline, good natured and homely – so it’s not long before the tension starts to rise.

But when Pauline accidentally knocks down a vagrant who goes by the name of Bisto Mulligan, the ladies find themselves with another houseguest. As he recovers, it becomes apparent that Bisto is not who he first seemed, and as the sisters get to know the kind and courageous man he really is, it’s clear Bisto has the potential to change both of their lives.

As the spring turns to summer, and Winsleigh Green comes to life, can the three friends make the changes they need to, to embrace fresh starts, new loves, new lives and new horizons. Or do old habits die too hard?

Funny, joyful and with a spring in its step that reminds you to live every day like it’s your last. Judy Leigh has once again written the perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee MacDonald and Cathy Hopkins.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2SLuNDu

Review

When prickly Barbara decides to spend some time with her widowed younger sister Pauline in her sleepy little village, they both soon realise it was a bad idea. Barbara is so critical, with no time for village gossip or Pauline's odd friends. Pauline is ready to ask her sister to leave when she accidentally hits Bisto Mulligan with her car. Dirty, drunk, and now concussed, he doesn't look like much - but his presence proves the catalyst they all need and it will be a summer none of them will ever forget.

Judy Leigh has written a classic village-life comedy, full of characters - the warring neighbours, the townies who moved in next door, the handsome handyman, the quiet farmer... perhaps they start as caricatures but are painted with such warmth and depth, each one fits perfectly into the whimsical tapestry of Winsley Green as we get to see them through Barbara's slowly mellowing gaze and Pauline's affectionate point of view.

Barbara starts as a character you almost love to hate but it quickly becomes apparent that behind her walls is a hurt woman with a heart of gold. It's almost comical, almost tragic, as she reassesses her life with the same critical eye that she uses on everyone else. And then buys a self-help book.

Pauline is a more sympathetic point of view but perhaps is less interesting, while Bisto is a mystery with his own tangled past that we get to untangle over the course of the book. Also, did I mention that all three main characters are over 70? Because they are and it's really cool to see older characters get the limelight, have fun, and fall in love. It's funny, emotional, and overall a good time.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio

Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

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