My first encounter with Kate Field's writing, and I really hope it's not my last!

Miranda Brown, known as Mim, hasn't always had an easy life but never fails to look on the bright side and be grateful for the little she has. Living in her car, she unexpectedly meets Bea and Bill Howard, far from home and needing to get back for their niece's wedding the following day. Mim doesn't hesitate to offer to take them home but she has no idea the impact her kind gesture is going to have on her life.

This is such a lovely read which will warm the cockles of even the most hard-hearted reader. A story of family, generosity of spirit and a wonderful reminder that there are still unselfish people in this world. The characters are realistically drawn, each with their own flaws and beautifully developed. There is a thread of kindness running throughout this novel - and I'm a great believer in spreading a little kindness. It's not a saccharine read, but rather a warm, uplifting one which definitely put a smile on my face. Really enjoyable, and one I'm happy to recommend and give 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Thank you author Kate Field, NetGalley, and One More Chapter (HarperCollins) for giving me a free E-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
Ever since I read "A Dozen Second Chances" last year, I have been a huge fan of this author. She has a wonderful way of making a compelling story and relatable characters. So when I saw author Kate Fields was set to publish another book, I knew I had to request a copy and was excited to get one.
This book allows the reader to take a journey of family, hope, and love.
Miranda Brown, is a 34 year-old woman, who finds her self living in her car, jobless, and not many valuables in this world. One night, Mim happens to offer an elderly couple, Beatrice and William Howard, a ride home after their car broke down. What started out as an act of kindness will turn into Mim finding a home in the little village of Littlemead.
I loved Mim as a character! While she has not had the easy life, she has not let in turn her cold towards the world. She is such a hard-worker and wants to owe no one anything. Her relationship with the Howard family was exactly what she had been missing all her life. The Howard family was willing to help her as well as included her as part of the family. Other secondary characters really helped create a sense of community for the readers. I came to care for the residents of the different villagers throughout the story. The slow romantic relationship between the Howard heir and Mim was so well developed and a well satisfying HEA. Overall, this was another great feel good story! I can't wait for author Kate Field's next book.

What a lovely story! This is my first time reading Ms. Field and I'll be adding her to my list of must read mores. I loved Mim. Loved her perspective and how she came to realize that judging and misconceptions go both ways. The Howard family is great too. Very much individuals but still a close family with plenty of foibles. The setting of Devon was wonderful. I've never been but it made me want to see and experience it for myself. The beach sounds very intriguing as I'm used to sandy beaches across the pond. LOL! The romance was subtle and very sweet. Loved that Mim learned that home is more than a place or a family. Wonderful feel good story all the way through.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I chose this book based on the cover and I ended up really liking it, thank goodness. :) It was kind of slow to get into for me but picked up about a quarter of the way through and I was able to stay interested throughout the rest of the book. I liked the characters, I loved the setting, and I really liked the author's writing style. Normally, I am unable to fully get into British books for some reason but the setting and the people within the book more than made up for any awkwardness at the beginning. :) Mim is a selfless person who acted on an impulse to help a stranded couple and her whole life changed because of it. Who doesn't love a story like that? I would completely recommend the book to other readers who love a little romance and I would read other works by this author if given the chance :)

A heart warming and poignant story that moved me, made me smile and root for the characters.
It made me crave to be in Devon, root for the characters and kept me entertained till the end.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A really enjoyable feel-good story about a girl who grew up with no family, no real friends and no roots, taking on a project to help others in need and in so doing finding all those things she so badly needs for herself. Lovely Devon seaside setting, interesting characters and a heroine to care about. Loved it.

Finding Home by Kate Field

Miranda Brown is jobless, homeless, and living in her car., but she still has a lot to be thankful for.

An endearing story about a homeless, jobless, young lady who is taken under. the wing of a generous family and later finds love. Most of the characters of this book were very heartwarming. I loved this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

Mim’s story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It has been written with keen insight and perception, and inspires inner contemplation. A childhood spent in foster care could have left Mim bitter, cold and angry. Instead the kindness of her former boss gave her a gift of friendship, self-worth and a sturdy work effort. She has never had much, but even with so little she is willing to help others out. That trait led her to the Howards, Bea and Bill, who needed a lift home ( hours out of Mim’s way) and offered Mim shelter and kindness in return. One act of kindness changed the lives of Mim and the members of the Howard family for the better.

Though they are definitely not part of the same social or economic class, Mim and the Howards find themselves to be friends, confidants and almost a family of sorts. Mim’s independent nature and pride won’t let her consider taking charity without giving back in some way, whether it be by doing a favour or some task in return. Bea and Bill take this in stride and help her to find work and offer an old caravan for a place to live when she refuses to reside in their home. The Howards’ son, Corin, is an enigma to Mim. Part of a wealthy family, often dressed in rather work worn clothes and interested in geology and fossils, Corin is not anything like she assumed he would be as heir to the family business. She finds his companionship and conversations to be honest, intriguing and refreshing. She is attracted to him, but keeps that firmly in check because she has no illusions about being a suitable woman for him to be interested in dating. The chance to help the Howards form a charity and revamp the caravans on the estate grounds is rewarding for Mim and offers her more insight into the workings of the village she has come to love and it’s people. She begins to feel she has found a real home, friends and a family of sorts....something that she has never had before. But life is about to throw a new surprise her way. You will need to read this wonderful and engaging book to see what happens next.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

One Sentence Summary: Mim has lost everything except her car, until a chance encounter with a sweet, yet wealthy couple gives her the option of a new life and more than she ever dreamed of having.

Finding Home is one of those saccharine fluffy novels I normally avoid, but this is described as an uplifting read and just sounded so sweet that I decided to give it a try. I must admit there was one, or two, times I was tempted to quit or put it down and never pick it back up because it was fairly predictable, but I'm glad I soldiered on because it turned out to be sweet, but in the best possible way.

The Plot: One Woman's Journey to Finding Family

After the unexpected death of her boss, Mim is both out of a job and a home because her boss's daughter hates her. Stuck with living out of her car, at least until the new year when she can look for a new job, she unexpectedly comes across Bea and Bill Howard, a wealthy couple from Devon. They're in desperate need to get home, but their car has broken down. Mim offers to drive them, unaware of how drastically this one kind gesture will change her life.

Yes, Bea and Bill are disgustingly wealthy, but they have big hearts, and so do their four grown children: Corin, Ros, Olly, and Lia. They all take to Mim and include her as one of their own. But, after years of being on her own, Mim is dead set on making her own way. At the same time, there's just something about this family that makes it difficult to say no to them.

Told from Mim's perspective, Finding Home really is a sweet, uplifting story without being cute. If anything, perhaps the Howards were a bit too perfect, but that doesn't mean they didn't have their own problems. Anyways, it's really the beautiful story of a thirty-something woman who essentially has nothing, but who gains everything through the course of the story.

At the beginning, I admit I was a little bored. It all seemed very predictable, especially the love interest. Usually, I abandon those kinds of stories, especially if they're romances because predictable doesn't keep me interested. But, since the publisher had offered this one to me, I felt obligated to keep reading. I'm actually very glad I did because it absolutely was an uplifting read of true love and found family. Everything the description promised, it gave.

I did go in expecting the romance to be at the forefront, in all the ways that makes romance romance. But Finding Home didn't actually do that. It was amazing how well it managed to skirt around the romance while also providing a rather realistic love story. I thought it was amazingly well done, and was just so sweet and beautiful. I also loved reading Mim's journey, which overtook the romance, so I missed all the formulas of romance to really enjoy a story about people and the goodness in their souls.

That's really what this book is about: the good in people. The Howards have all this money, but no real direction. It's clear they each want to do something more, something better, to prove they're not rich and spoiled, but they needed Mim because she's so down to Earth, so beaten down without having her spirit beat out of her. I loved that both the Howards and Mim needed each other, and the inherent kindness in each of them just came out so easily. I also appreciated all the wrenches thrown in their ways because it proved just how strong they all are, how big and caring their hearts are.

Finding Home is a lovely, fluffy story, but, looking deeper, there's an incredible, rich story of people, and I did find myself enjoying it by the end.

The Characters: A Hardworking Woman and a Wealthy Family

Finding Home is Mim's story, so it's centered around her. Raised mostly in care, she never had a stable home until hired to help run a hotel for ten years. But that ended abruptly, leaving Mim living out of her car. Mim, though, does what she does best and survives. She knows only to rely on herself and work hard. I really loved that Mim felt like an older, seasoned human being. She's seen the good and the bad and endured it all. Hers is a hearty spirit, and, despite having things torn from her throughout her life, she's still cheerful and so witty. I couldn't help but be charmed by her. I especially like that she's in her thirties, so she comes across as mature, steady, and thoughtful with a fierce loyalty.

Finding Home also has some incredible secondary characters, from the Howards to two ladies Mim takes to swimming with to all the people of Littlemead. They were all well-crafted and played their roles to perfection. The Howards behaved suitably wealthy, but with really beautiful hearts under all that money. The villagers, most of them, were charming and friendly and really took to Mim. I did get confused more than once between the two women Mim swims with, though. As for the love interest, he is, in every way, a perfect match for Mim. It's almost too perfect, but he himself isn't, which made their relationship really lovely.

The Setting: By the Sea

Finding Home is set in a lovely idyllic village on the sea. Everything about it felt beautiful and wonderful, and it all thoroughly charmed me. I loved how present the sea was in the story. It did make things feel a little chilly weather-wise, but I did love the sense of being right by the ocean. The village wasn't exactly well-described, but it felt like a typical charming English village, so it was easy to fill in the gaps.

Much of the story, though, is set at Vennhallow, the Howards' home. Described as a massive place, it did indeed feel massive, both inside and outside. It clearly came off as the home of a wealthy family, but the family itself was so warm and inviting that only their naivete about what ordinary people go through brought out the social divide. Mim lives on the grounds on Vennhallow in a caravan, one of many that play a role in the story, and I couldn't help but picture a lovely little meadow.

Overall: Everything it Promised to Be

Finding Home is a sweet, fluffy story, but, underneath, it's also something more. Uplifting and heartwarming, absolutely. Light on the romance, surprisingly. I loved how it focused on Mim's journey, making it more than just a light, fluffy read. It is a quick read, though. The writing is tight and the pace perfectly even, so it's easy to just breeze through it. Finding Home is a perfect light read with a lovely balance of story and romance, and absolutely delivers on everything it promised.


Thank you to Claire Fenby from One Chapter More and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed reading this book but there were times I wanted to smack Miranda better known as Mim for reminding everyone what a terrible childhood she had. Set in a small English village Mim is rewarded with a place to stay when she helps an older couple get home in time for a wedding. They are wealthy old school parents of several children, one of whom is a handsome hard working gentleman and a flighty sister. The premise of the story is easy to follow and a little predictable but I enjoyed reading it. I loved the seaside setting and the big old house. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A lovely story of friendship and found family. Mim is a great main character - feisty and strong - she's had to grow up fast and learn not to rely on anyone. Bea, Richard and their family are wonderful warm characters and gather Mim in close, and as we follow Mim she learns to trust again. This is a story to envelope you in a warm hug.
3.5 rounded to 4

Mim is homeless and living in her car until she meets Bill and Bea and does them a favor that changes her life. Finding herself welcomed into their large, well-to-do family, Mim is overwhelmed by their generosity. Can she forget her past, allow herself some happiness, and start a new life?

This is a fun, easy romance with the theme of reaching out to those who need a helping hand. I was happy to meet the well written characters, and the sandy beaches of Devon (South West England) make for a captivating setting. This is straightforward book with a simple message. There is no complicated plot and and no mystery to figure out, but in this case that is not a bad thing. This is a very positive book about helping others, receiving help, and giving back.

I would recommend this book to all, because helping others is a universal message.

I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins UK (One More Chapter) via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Miranda (Mim) has had a rough life: after being placed in care at age 8, and not knowing her father, her mother disappeared, and she’d been moved about frequently: learning to keep a ‘box’ of essentials and never attach. Lucking into a job with Gordon, and finding friendship, acceptance and a job at the small hotel gave her stability until Gordon’s death and his daughter’s ill-conceived and specious allegations. Now staying in her car, she’s pulled into a layby to sleep and wait for the next day to start looking for work, again.

Not to be ignored, Bill and Bea have car troubles and need to be back home by the next day for a family wedding. Having Mim parked next to them, with no mechanical skills but plenty of heart, turned out to be a lifesaver – as she agrees to drive them home. Sleeping in her car after being somewhere she’d only heard of isn’t a horrible way to spend the New Year.

Bill and Bea are not to be put off by Mim’s reluctance to ‘be one of them’ at all – they integrate her so smoothly into their life: managing (or meddling – depending on perspective) to get her some stability and pushing her, ever so gently, into the sightlines of their eldest son. With plenty of back and forth, lots of judgment and quick assessments, and a chance to finally find a family of birth not simply a family that is collected (or collected her) - Mim’s story is one of perseverance and determination, and plenty of self-assessment. A lovely story of second chances, family, acceptance and new starts.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aTk /”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Finding Home is a gorgeous read which I enjoyed immensely from the very first page. It’s obvious straightaway what a kind and selfless person Mim is when she offers to drive stranded couple Bill and Bea Howard home in time for their niece’s wedding. This isn’t just a quick drive across town. No, this is a five hour drive from Lancashire to Devon. Mim is really down on her luck, has been living in her car for a couple of weeks in fact and the contrast between her life and the Howards couldn’t be greater. The Howards are the owners of a large house, Vennhallow, on a big seaside estate and have quite a large and exuberant family. This family takes Mim to their hearts (as did I) and her life changed in ways she could never have imagined.

The difference kindness makes is evident throughout this book. Mim has had a difficult life and she really appreciates any small kindnesses shown to her. On the other hand, I did feel there was more than a touch Lizzie Bennet’s pride about her at times which made her defensive, even rather prickly. When you know what she’s been through, you realise that this is a defence mechanism from someone who didn’t expect much from life. At times though, this pride did make her rather over-react to some of the opportunities which came her way but I could understand why she behaved this way. Her own determination to make life better for people in similar situations to those she had experienced was heart-warming.

As much as Mim didn’t like people making assumptions about her and people like her, she was sometimes rather quick to judge others herself. Over the course of the book though she came to learn that different kinds of families bring different kinds of opportunities, challenges and pressures and that everything was not always as rosy as it appeared. Many people in the book learned valuable lessons about not judging others on preconceived ideas or first impressions. As Bea and Bill’s son Corin pointed out, ‘None of us choose our background.’

The romance in the book was rather beautifully done. It is a relationship which is probably obvious to the reader from early on but it was lovely to read about the slowly developing love between two people who were from quite different backgrounds on the face of things but who actually had much more in common than you’d think.

Kate Field’s books are a joy to read and Finding Home is no exception. It is a warm hearted and uplifting read about kindness and finding your place in the world. I loved it!

I loved this sweet story. I was instantly transported to Devon right from the start, I loved all the descriptions of the caravans and the different characters and how kind most people were to Mim. I was hoping for her to fall in love eventually so I’m glad this had a happy ending. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Heartwarming, refreshing story with a great group of characters.
The main character is Mim, she doesn’t let much get her down even though life hasn’t been very nice to her. Everything changes for Mim once she extends a helping hand to a senior couple in need of help. Mims kindness to the couple completely changes their life and her life in a very good way.
A beautiful story full of friendship, love, family and how important it is to lend a helping hand to those in need.
Overall, a very fun story to relax with on a summer day. Great beach read!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read the arc of Finding Home. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher Harper Collins, One More Chapter for an advanced copy of this book. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
Miranda (Mim) has spent the last 10 years managing a small boutique hotel. Refusing to take a salary she puts all her salary into helping keep the hotel afloat. When the owner of the hotel and Mim’s benefactor unexpectedly dies, the owner’s daughter decides to sell the hotel. Leaving Mim homeless, she is forced to live out of her car.
A chance meeting has Mim offering a ride to a stranded couple to their home. After all, she has nothing else to do. Realizing that Mim is homeless they offer her to stay with them and find a job.
This heartwarming book offers a glimpse into a rich family who learns through Mim to give even more to those less fortunate. Mim has an endearing way of accepting her lot in life and making it better and eventually finding a love she never thought possible for “her kind”.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Miranda Brown is jobless and homeless and lives in her car. But she’s got a lot to be grateful for.

Then there’s Beatrice and William Howard, who are The heads of the Howard family, who also own Venhallow Hall, which is a seaside Devonshire estate, who are now stranded in a layby, about five hours from home and it’s the the night before their niece’s wedding.

When the trio are brought together, Miranda doesn’t hesitate before she offers to drive the older couple home.

But as she reaches the village of Littlemead, she’s got no idea of how her life is going to change.

Finding Home by Kate Field is a lovely read when you need to feel inspired. It made me cheer and smile from start to finish.

Mim is a scarred woman, and helping Bea and Bill causes those scars to fade in ways she would never have imagined. I love Mim's independence and determination and how she does not let people run over her. The characters are all well-developed though I wish that Mim's development included stories from her childhood that framed her choices today.

Corin is my favorite character. I love that he has not let wealth turn him into someone who is unbearably entitled and instead lives modestly and wears sweaters with holes in them – so eccentric.
I was frustrated with the last 25% of the book because I could not figure out why in the world Mim would make the choices she did. That is where I think stories from her childhood could help explain them and make them understandable, if not still misguided.

My favorite aspect of the story is the setting. I love a beach setting, especially one that takes place in a small village. It makes me feel all the good vibes that this story is trying to portray.

This is an excellent read for people who are looking for that lovely, light read that will make them feel good from the inside out.

Thanks to One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK for a copy of Finding Home by Kate Field.

This was a sweet story of Mim who through a random act helps a couple she meets and drives them five hours to their house for a wedding. after car trouble. When they find out she's been living out of her car and is jobless they offer her an opportunity to stay and find a job. They welcome her with open arms and she starts feeling like home.

This was a cute slow burn, closed door romance.