Thyme Out (Paperback)

Format:	Paperback 384 pages

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When Perdita Dylan delivers her baby vegetables to a local hotel and finds that her unpredictable ex-husband, Lucas, has taken over the kitchen, she is horrified - particularly when she discovers he's being groomed as the latest celebrity chef and needs her picturesque, if primitive cottage, and her, in supporting roles. Her life is further complicated when Kitty, her 87-year-old friend, has a stroke. Perdita needs someone to lean on - and Lucas seems so keen to help that she starts to wonder if he's really such a villain. Can she cope with all this alone? Or should she face up to the fact that 'You can't cuddle lettuces'?

Book details

Published
03/05/2001

Publisher
Arrow Books Ltd

ISBN
9780099280248

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Jacket review

When 28-year-old divorcee Phillida delivers vegetables to a local hotel, one of her regular clients, she is horrified to discover that her ex-husband Lucas has taken over the kitchen. She is even more disturbed to learn that he is the latest celebrity chef and needs her picturesque cottage and herself in supporting roles. Then Kitty, her 87-year-old friend and support has a stroke.Can she cope with all this alone ? Is Lucas such a villain ? A happy romance that makes perfect summer holiday reading.

UK Kirkus review

The comforting thing about Fforde's romantic novels is that from the first word the reader knows that the hostile lovers will undoubtedly end up in each other's arms. It is what happens en route that keeps us turning the pages. Perdita married Lucas when she was only 18 - very young, naive and pliable. Lucas, older and more sophisticated, grew bored and - the final insult - left Perdita for an older woman. Picking herself up, Perdita built a new life as producer of exotic herbs and baby vegetables for sale to local restaurants. To her horror, delivering to one of her favourite customers she finds he is Lucas, who has transmogrified from city gent to celebrity chef - with the temperament that goes with the job. There is a touch of The Taming of the Shrew in what follows - much of it is very funny, especially when, exasperated by his high-handed behaviour, Perdita flies at her one-time husband with a kitchen knife and their full-scale battle becomes exceedingly physical. The main theme of belligerent competition is softened by a much gentler subplot in which Perdita cares for an elderly friend, Kitty, whose life is drawing to a close, a circumstance which brings the lovers closer in a mutual desire to make Kitty's life easier. They both have a good deal of growing up to do before they can put the past behind them. But we knew all along that they would. Fforde has developed a sure hand, with comedy as well as romance. (Kirkus UK)