The Dandelion Years by Erica James

The Dandelion Years
By Erica James
Published by Orion Publishing Group (26 February 2015)
ISBN: 978-1409146117

Publisher's description
Ashcombe was the most beautiful house Saskia had every seen as a little girl. A rambling pink cottage on the edge of the Suffolk village of Melbury Green, its enchanting garden provided a fairy-tale playground of seclusion, a perfect sanctuary to hide from the tragedy which shattered her childhood.

Now as an adult, Saskia is still living at Ashcombe and as a book restorer devotes her days tending to the broken, battered books that find their way to her, daydreaming about the people who had once turned their pages. When she discovers a notebook carefully concealed in an old Bible - and realising someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to hide a story of their own - Saskia finds herself drawn into a heart-rending tale of wartime love...

My verdict
I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing heart-wrenching story and beautifully written book. Over the last few days, I have cried at, laughed through and shared the memories of Saskia and her family.

The Dandelion Years had me in tears from the first page, with its tragic underlying story and vivid descriptions of Suffolk life. The book follows the story of Saskia, her father and two grandfathers who share a home after a terrible accident strikes their family, and Matthew, a young man who has recently experienced the loss of Jacob, his mentor and father figure.

Following Saskia's discovery of hidden wartime diaries, The Dandelion Years weaves these modern day relationships with the story of a young man at Bletchley Park, and Kitty, the love of his life. This is a story of missed opportunities, the importance of taking risks and living life with no regrets.

The Dandelion Years gets a five star rating from me.