Daniel isn’t used to living life in the slow lane. So when he finds himself unexpectedly jobless and back in his old Cornish hometown, he can’t sit still.
Hazel used to be adventurous too. But now widowed and in her eighties, she barely leaves the house. When she sees an advert for Daniel’s new walking club, she grabs at the chance of some excitement.
Daniel’s heart sinks when he sees that the only person who’s turned up for his walking club is the crazy old lady from two doors down. But what he doesn’t expect is to discover that Hazel is one of the most fascinating people he’s ever met . . .
I'd like to thank Laurie at Simon & Schuster for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour and for my copy of The Slow Lane Walkers Club to review.
The Slow Lane Walkers Club is the first book that I've read by Rosa Temple I've read but what an uplifting, inspiring read it was with the perfect message within its pages.
When we first meet Daniel it's clear that he's a bit of a lost soul, unsure of what direction his life is taking him. Having lived and worked abroad as a walking tour guide in Sicily for many years, he's just arrived back in his Cornish hometown to clear out his grandmother's house that he and his sister Annabelle have recently inherited. He's used to the action-packed daily routine of guided walks but now his future is looking distinctly bleak as he's single and jobless for the first time in his life.
As a way to make new friends, he decides to put his skills to use and decides to arrange weekly walks along the local coastal path. Fresh air and beautiful scenery, what could be better? Well a few more people to join the club as on the first day there's just him and his local Octogenarian neighbour Hazel. But as they say never judge a book by a cover, and the same could be said about Daniel's perception of Hazel, as her spirit and determination proved to a match for Daniel in every way possible.
The more time they spent together, the more that we discover about Hazel and in turn, Daniel's grandmother Molly, and honestly I'd have loved to have explored this in even more detail. What can I say about Hazel, except I wish I had a 'Hazel' in my life. She might look and appear frail but she was anything but as she proved to be a mischievous livewire of a character.
I loved the whole community feel of this book and the unlikely friendship between thirty-something Daniel and Hazel was a real tonic to read. There were so many moments that brought a smile to my face when reading of Hazel's antics but also one that brought a tear to my eye as I imagined how much worse a certain situation could have turned out to be. But in that one moment, what could have been a tragedy turned out to be the kick-starter for Daniel as to where his future was heading and brought their friendship ever closer.
The Slow Lane Walkers Club was a joy to read from start to finish. I really hope that it's not the last that we hear of Hazel and Daniel as I'd love a follow-up story one day, even if it's just a novella.
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