Christmas at the Keep: A moving and uplifting festive novella to escape with at Christmas

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Some readers did not like how little conflict there was in the novel, and just seems to be about people having a good time with everything that they do. There is no struggle to get anything or do anything for them. Everything seemed to be handed to these characters, not a whole lot of them working for much as they born into status and privilege. Some found the novel to be too slow for them, with some stuff that slowed things down. She was born in Somerset but spent many of her years as an author living in Devon, a part of the world that inspired the settings of many of her books. She had devoted readers all over the world, and her books have been published in 16 countries. One of the most toxic problems confronting many families is the existence of secrets that prevent open communication and ultimately lead to serious health problems for family members. In the end, some families are unable to maintain their cohesiveness because of family secrets.Maintaining family secrets provides an opportunity for some family members to form a bond between one another. However, the involvement in maintaining a secret means that other family members are excluded.

Willett was born in Somerset on August 6, 1945, but has lived a lot of her life in Devon. She has also lived on a high cliff on the North Cornish coast. Currently, her and her husband live in South Devon and welcome visits from their son and his family. Fans of the novel liked the way that Willett has brought these characters alive through her writing and the descriptions of the landscape are wonderful. Some readers found themselves thinking about things the characters had done even after they had finished the book. This is a very charming series that Willett has created for readers. These characters make for gentle company that allows for light easy reading. Some liked the fact that there were some lessons for life found in the book to go along with the interesting story being told here. Sweeping powers of description transport her readers to another time and place.' Rosanna Ley Read more Look Inside Details This delightful new novel from Marcia Willett is perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Fern Britton.Ed's strange, secretive behaviour means that he often clashes with his family. But as the autumn draws to a close and a sprinkling of snow dusts the moors, could the promise of a family Christmas at the Keep be enough to ease tensions and soothe the sting of a long-buried secret? A moving and uplifting festive short story from Marcia Willett, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Fern Britton.

Her publisher, Transworld, said she passed away on 30th June and paid tribute to a “warm and generous woman”. Leo is left to build his own life - without Alice. He surrounds himself with other family and friends and on the whole is content and fulfilled. But he is left with a sense of what - or who - is missing. So decades later, when he receives a note from Alice asking if she can come home, he doesn't hesitate to agree. But as the stars align and their reunion draws near, Leo is left to consider their separation and what so many years apart means for a relationship solidified in youth and a secret which could affect the whole family.Sweeping powers of description transport her readers to another time and place.' Rosanna Ley, author of The Orange Grove Willett only started her career as a novelist aged 50, having previously worked as a ballet dancer and teacher. She published 31 novels under her own name and four under the pseudonym Willa Marsh. Her final short novel, Christmas at the Keep, delivered when she was already ill with cancer, will be published posthumously in October of this year. A good three and a half stars, but maybe not a four. I enjoyed this comfort read set in Salcombe, a harbor town on an estuary in Devon, England. (Google it to see lovely photos of this idyllic spot.) Cara, who has recently lost her husband and sold her home in London without knowing where she wants to resettle, comes to stay with her brother Max. Fortunately her disagreeable sister-in-law Judith is away, so Max and Cara, who have been close since their difficult childhoods, can enjoy each other's company. Cara's grief is still fresh, but she also harbors secrets that have shadowed her entire adult life. Max was also a close friend of Cara's late husband and both had served as officers in the Navy. Max's godson Sam, who was orphaned as a child and raised by his aunt and uncle, also comes to visit. He is about to embark on a naval career as well. Sam and Cara strike up a friendship and he ferries her around the area to house hunt. Cosmo, a young, handsome, and successful Londoner, takes a sabbatical from work to house and dog sit in Salcombe, and is entranced by the natural beauty and the friendliness of the locals. He meets Amy, a young painter/decorator, and they are each charmed by the other, but Cosmo has neglected to mention he's involved with a woman in London. Her literary agent Dinah Wiener added: “Marcia was my best friend as well as a very special novelist and I am honoured to have represented her for over 30 years.” Her editor Francesca Best said: “Not only was Marcia Willett a perceptive and intelligent writer, she was also a warm, kind and generous woman who always had a twinkle in her eye and we will miss her greatly. We are very proud to have published her wonderful writing over so many years and are grateful that she shared her talents with us. Our thoughts are with her family, and with her many friends and loyal readers around the world.”