Artistic Licence

Thea, the heroine of Katie Fforde's Artistic Licence, is a disorganised 35-year-old whose life is going nowhere. Or that is how it appears to her student lodgers--whom she unwittingly mothers--and to her older friend Molly, a lady of leisure with a missed vocation as a chief executive. When Thea jets off to Ireland on a whim to stay with the devastatingly good-looking artist Rory, all her friends from her new hometown of Cheltenham are appalled. Equally, when Thea, on seeing Rory's heart-wrenchingly beautiful landscape paintings, decides to set up an art gallery in provincial west of England, her friends cannot believe what they are hearing.

Katie Fforde makes clear that Thea knows what she's doing, and that her chaotic and messy lifestyle is her own conscious choice. Her determined resistance to the persistent Irish charmer Rory--he's too young, she doesn't have casual affairs--and the apparent ambivalence of Ben, a divorced and know-it-all artistic director of an ad agency, sets up a plot where the embryonic art gallery and Thea's accompanying search for a more satisfying life form centre stage, making any love interest incidental. Olivia Dickinson

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Real Comfort Reading - Rated
Reading a Katie Fforde is like snuggling up in a squishy duvet with a pot of tea and a chocolate cake all to yourself. This is comfort reading at its best. I was introduced to KF only recently by a friend who recommended her when I was so busy and stressed out at work that I needed something light and fluffy to read and it completely did the trick. Since then every time I feel the need of pure escapism I pick up one of her books and settle down to a good fun read.

Artistic Licence is the story of Thea, 35, landlord of a house of students who meets an Artist on a short holiday France and is persuaded to follow him back to Ireland to extend her vacation. There is no romance between Thea and Rory (the artist) but while at his house she discovers his paintings and is so inspired by them that she returns home to Gloucestershire to set up an art gallery to show them. Her friends cousin, Ben, helps her set up the gallery and she starts to fall for him but is convinced that he isn't interested in her.

I debated with myself whether to give this book 4 or 5 stars as I reserve all my 5 star ratings for the very best books I have read, but I settled on 5 because of the fact that these books are such fun and escapism for a few hours you can't help but smile as you read and let out a huge sigh of satisfaction at the end. I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

enjoyable easy read - Rated
nice little story about making yourself happy in life. thea has had a bad time and is now landlady to a bunch of students, her best friend takes her on a art holiday in south of france where she has a chance encounter with an irish artist. she goes to visit him in ireland and discovers his paintings which leads her to open a gallery which finally gives her purpose in life. throw in a love triangle, a motherless little boy and a pregnant dog all adds up to a interesting little story.

My first KF read.....first of many :) - Rated
I bought this book because of its cover, bright cheerful looking I thought. And true enough that's what the book is, Katie Fforde isn't claiming to write classic, deep, meaningful books, I mean if that's what you want, go read War and Peace ! If you want a light, lively, feel good read you need look no further than Katie Fforde!

This was my first KF book, and one of my faves. Thea's life involves never-ending cleaning after her teenage lodges (one of which is called petal who you will be willing for Thea to slap as some points during this book!) till her bossy friend Molly drags her off to France for a holiday...100 pages in and Thea is trying to set up a gallery in the Cotswolds, amidst many trails!

Need cheering up? Want something you can enjoy reading? On the beach? In the bath? Curled up with a glass of wine? .... Well here's the book

Brilliant Read - Rated
First book of Katie Fforde's that I have read and I definitely will be reading the others if this one is anything to go by. I was hooked from the very first page. This is the only book I have ever read that has made me laugh out loud.

Inspiring - Rated
After reading the brilliant "Thyme out" and "Life skills," I thought I would try another of Fforde's books and wasn't dissappointed. I had finished it in 3 days as it was such a funny and believable set up that I wanted to find out the fate of the gorgeous Rory and the art gallery. Is a romance, but not your typical slushy story that wants to make you sick with jealousy! Fantastic, my next read is definately going to be "Highland Fling."