Milly Johnson

Sunshine Over Wildflower Cottage

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by Milly Johnson

Geraldine seemed entranced by the moths, their wings flittering against the hot glass, drawn by the brightness which would burn them, yet they came back for more. ‘Look, they’re being hurt and can’t pull away. Pain becomes their oxygen.’

I really enjoyed the story of Viv and the mystery of why she was at Wildflower Cottage very much. The story is split between young Viv’s life and her friends at the small animal shelter, and her Mother, Stel, at home. There are also the stories of Stel’s friends, “The Spice Girls,” Caro, Lynn, Iris, and Gaynor.
Stel is the designated dumb doormat in this one. Although a wonderful mother and generous, warm-hearted person, She is needy and babyish when it comes to her daughter and especially men. Her entanglement with an evil abuser is totally avoidable every step of the way, so I didn’t have much sympathy for her.

“‘My mum is lovely,’ said Viv. ‘But where men are concerned, she has no sense at all. Luckily, she isn’t quite at the stage where she’s writing to serial killers in prison, though.’ She smiled and Geraldine chuckled softly. ‘She wants to be loved so much and so she believes everything men tell her, but she couldn’t spot a nice man if he had “nice man” tattooed on his face.’”

Because of that though, her story did not frustrate or cause me anxiety (much.) Gaynor was a bitter mean person pretty much all the way through, but I loved Lynn and Iris’s cheer-worthy tale, and Caro was awesome. It wasn’t one of Milly’s more hilarious novels, but I loved what humor there was. It kept me engaged and turning the pages eagerly anticipating the happy endings. **4 1/2stars out of 5**

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

June 2, 2020

Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Café

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by Milly Johnson

‘That is amazing,’ laughed Connie. ‘You didn’t really ring up and make a false appointment though, did you?’ ‘Oh you have no idea how many hand grenades I’ve pulled the pins out of which are set to go off this week, Connie,’ said Della, noticing Connie’s sunflower picture on the wall out of the corner of her eye. Be like the Sunflower . . . She could give those giant plants lessons in bravery and boldness with what she’d implemented since Friday.

Another delicious dramedy from Milly Johnson. This one has her standard 3 women getting revenge against bad men formula, but it does deviate somewhat. There are cases of dumbdoormatitis, as is usual in a Milly Johnson, but none of the protagonists actually succumb to the disease in this story. One of the women’s triumphs is on a separate track than the other two but is no less cheer-worthy. Her fortunes meet with the others at the end (literally). Also, the romance is definitely on the light side. One of the women has a fairly significant one, but the other, as sweet as it was, is just tacked on, and the 3rd woman does not have one at all. The main bad guy’s impending doom is so relentless that I almost felt myself starting to pity him a bit. However, in a massive takedown, our heroine ticks off all of his bad acts and selfish decisions over the years and I was back on board. That said, I do like that in this book, she does give him some redeemability at the end.

One of the aspects I loved, and I have seen this in several of her books, is a hint of the supernatural: A house that is a great judge of character (and acts accordingly) and a couple of ghosts that come to rescue their loved one. Sunflowers are a symbol and theme throughout the book but the Tea at the Cafe part really has nothing to do with much at all which makes it a strange title.

When you pick up a Milly Johnson book, you pretty much know what you are going to get if you’ve read even one of her books. This does show a willingness to deviate from and toy with her usual tropes just a bit, and I loved it. I hope I see more of this growth in future books. But I won’t complain if her heroines remain kind, gentle, and good women who find their inner Boedicas by the end. **5 out 5 stars**

Rating: 5 out of 5.

April 19, 2020

Teashop on the Corner

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By Milly Johnson

That will be lovely, darling,’ said Margaret. She was such a lucky woman: she had her Bernard and their beautiful daughter Melinda, a vet working in a gorgeous part of the Dales. Molly had an unhealable broken heart and a son, daughter-in-law and grandson who made the Addams Family look like The Brady Bunch.

They began to come three days later. The first postcard had a picture of Leeds Town Hall on the front. Dear Ms Merryman. I read your story on the internet and I felt compelled to write to you.

Another gem from Milly which follows her usual winning template about 3 women who find their way and get their lives and relationships straightened out. This one held no surprises, but the joy is in the journey. As usual with many of her books, the romance takes the second stage to the ups and downs of 3 damaged and victimized women (and men too!) who find their strength and fulfill their dreams by the end. The romances are pretty sweet though. I liked that this book featured a wonderful kid who is also rescued from an intolerable situation. I would love to see more of Ryan O’Gowan.

This one had me boohooing from about the 80% mark on. And also laughing and reveling in the various comeuppances. I don’t think Milly is capable of writing a bad book. And she is so funny! I do admit that usually one of her main characters will always irritate me to no end and this book is no exception. Molly is just so stupid and weak at the beginning, but I always forgive them by the end with one notable exception in another book. In this one, Molly’s epiphany, especially, is nothing short of epic. **5 out of 5 stars**

**re-read Dec, 2024**
So enjoyed listening to this one on Audible. Of course I loved this book the second time around, although I was more irritated with more of the characters this time. It is safe to say that although many of Milly’s characters have many excellent and admirable qualities, they often are not the crispiest chips in the bag. Molly is indeed pretty blind to her daughter-in-law’s criminal shenanigans, but this time I found Will and Carla’s willing victimization by their vile former spouses even worse and totally inexcusable. Their reminiscences of their former partners past actions and personalities demonstrate that they were fully aware of how badly they being were treated and that neither one had any redeeming qualities whatsoever. Yet they clung to them until they had no choice. Will, in particular pleading with “Darling” “Love” Nicole not to leave him. I was pretty disgusted, to be honest. And I may be wrong, but unlike Molly, neither of those two had any excuse or tragic reason to be so weak. There are two Millys that I will not reread on audible because of two of the main characters’ idiocy and obtuseness. Specifically, Stel in Sunshine Over Wildflower Cottage and Dawn in A Summer Fling. Violet in White Wedding comes pretty close. But on the page (or, in my case, screen) I can skip over those parts. The characters in this one did not reach that level but probably because they are free of them as the story starts which takes the edge off.

Leni’s story is really heartbreaking and the first time I read it, I somehow did not see the truth coming. I saw the many clues this time, of course. Don’t worry, heartbreak turns to happiness and peace at the end, for those yet to read this.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

March 19, 2020

It’s Raining Men

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By Milly Johnson

This was a typical Milly Johnson novel, and that’s a good thing. The same basic lovable characters: 3 friends in bad relationships who find happy endings with men worthy of them. This one has a fantasy element, which was intriguing and added even more interest to the story. The ending, as always was super happy and satisfying. I listened to this one and it was a lot of fun. **4 out 5 stars**

Rating: 4 out of 5.

December 16, 2019

White Wedding

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By Milly Johnson

Reread on audible 09/08/2023
Additional thoughts upon re-reading. The 3 protagonists meet at a wedding shop (which gets mysteriouser and mysteriouser as the book progresses) and become fast friends. Max is a dynamic successful go-getter and workaholic. She loves the competitiveness of business. Unfortunately, she is mismatched with the nice and simple, unambitious Stuart to whom she is getting married. Max becomes obsessed with having the biggest, grandest “Big Fat Gypsy Wedding” she can after promising Stuart that she will keep it plain and simple to the point that it will be held in a registry office with hardly anyone present. Max’s story is comic and over the top. The farther she goes, the closer the happy ending is for both Max and Stuart as we know that when all is revealed, it will lead to a break-up and they both can end up with partners that are more suited to each of them.

Bel’s story is a little more complex. When she finds out that her fiance is cheating on her with her own cousin, she is so hurt and angry that she plans a wedding that will embarrass and horrify everyone for revenge. It goes almost too well and has some unintended consequences. We follow her after the big day when she escapes to a cottage on the moor and she meets her true love. When they part, Her fiance who is very handsome, high-society, charming, and very very contrite, re-enters the picture and tries to get her back. Will he succeed?

Violet’s story is very sad and frustrating. She is the “wet dish-rag” character who suffers to the very end smothered and manipulated by her vile fiance. He has convinced kind and compassionate Violet that he will commit suicide if she ever leaves him. He pretends to have agoraphobia and is dependent totally on her for everything. When she leaves the house to work on opening her own business, an ice cream shop, he calls her incessantly to make sure she is alright, what she is doing, and when she is coming home. Meanwhile, she is falling in love with the Polish Artist who is painting her ice cream shop. Although I couldn’t help but love her, Violet is a very frustrating character because there is no reason for being so trapped in the relationship. Even if it was true that Glynn, her fiance’s life was in her hands, she was an enabler. She could have insisted he get therapy, exercise, and stop his unhealthy eating or she would not marry him, forcing him to act and get better.
All ends satisfactorily with romantic happy endings for all. In Bel’s case, there is a bonus in that in learning some home truths about her family and her past, it results in better relationships with her family. Lots of good comeuppances all around in good Milly Johnson fashion.
original review

Listening to Violet’s story both her mouth and Bel’s had dropped open so much that they looked like two copies of Munch’s Scream.

Indeed. Violet is finally coming clean to her two friends about what a horror her fiance, Glynn, has been. Having read A Winter Flame and The Mother of All Christmases I have met Violet before and was interested in how she suffered before she found her happy ending in the subsequent books.

This one follows Milly’s go-to template of tracing the romantic and other relationships of 3 women friends, one of whom is usually a victim of a man and won’t stand up for herself until the very end. Generally, I’m fine with that for now because her writing is smart, both witty and comical, and her characters so interesting and likable. There are always some surprises and twists and some parts that are genuinely moving. **4 out of 5 stars**

Rating: 4 out of 5.

November 12, 2019

Here Come the Girls

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By Milly Johnson

Rereading on audible 11/23, finished 11/19/23.
I still feel the same about this book, finished on Audible read by Christine Prendergast. On this read, Milly’s love for cruising really shines through! It makes it seem like heaven on earth. There is so much food porn! another thing I noticed was her penchant for over-the-top similes and metaphors which are amusing if eye-rolling. Near the end, which is why I remember it, She describes the handsome Captain of the Ship in his dress whites as making Richard Gere look like Quasimodo. Really Milly? Oh well. She is one author that can almost do no wrong in my book.
<<<original review>>>

Then, just as she was about to cross the road, she saw the front door of Doreen’s house open – and what she witnessed was to jerk the course of her slow life off its track in favour of a far more perilous and unpredictable one…Olive was in a terrible state. One second she looked as if she was going to burst into tears, then her mood suddenly segued into homicidal mania.

I struggled between giving 4 or 5 stars on this one. Although on the whole, it is up to Milly Johnson’s high bar as far as humor, romance, and character development, I had a few minor problems with it. In order for the reader to have the pleasure and satisfaction of seeing her heroines escape from misery, have an emotional journey, and ultimately triumph, Milly goes a little over the top with two of her characters, Olive and Roz.

Poor Olive is living such a horrific life at the beginning that I did turn against her for a while for putting up with the abuse. She is basically working as worse than a slave to her evil and disgusting husband and Mother-in-Law and will not leave them. She would have a better life out on the street than the one she is living, but stubbornly resists all of her friends’ advice to escape. I don’t care how her needy parents molded her attitudes, there is just no justification for her being such a weakling. However, the scene where Olive finally sees the light and escapes is a gem. I loved it.

As for Roz, she is so unlikeable and such a bitch to her wonderful guy that you almost hate him for putting up with her. When Roz is finally told off by Olive of all people and she has her epiphany (another stand up and cheer moment) the arc of her story flags a bit. This is before the half-way point. That she never calls Manus, her ever-patient and loving boyfriend to make amends is ridiculous. Milly tends to sort out at least one of her heroines pretty quickly in her books, to focus concentration on the remaining members of the group. This is actually one of the things I like about her plots.

I loved how we got peeks back into how Olive’s and Roz’s family and boyfriend were faring without them. However, the fate of Olive’s family and the changes for the better that they go through were not credible at all. Total personality transplant as far as the Mother-in-Law is concerned. Olive’s disgusting husband improves for the better, and we are not 100% sure Olive will have the gumption to dump him at the end. But when he tells her about their new life and what he expects her to do, we realize he hasn’t changed all that much after all, and Olive will follow her heart and “do a Shirley Valentine.”

**4 out of 5 stars**

Rating: 4 out of 5.

August 27, 2019

The Birds and the Bees

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By Milly Johnson

It sounded stupid, but the cottage felt ‘sad’ that she would be going soon, as if it had been lonely in its enforced long emptiness and had rather enjoyed having a funny little boy, an incurable romantic and a rather loud Gaelic giant enjoying its warmth and protection…
She was going mad, obviously, thinking about old houses having feelings. What next? Imagining the dishwasher sobbing as it scrubbed the pots clean? She needed to get out.

In most of Milly Johnson’s books that I’ve read, some of the women tolerate emotional and sometimes physical abuse and injustice without standing up for themselves until the very end. Even though the meanies finally get their comeuppance and happy endings abound, her books can be pretty painful to read despite their humor. This one is a delight from start to finish. Although the protagonists have suffered in the past, it is background information, not something that we grieve about throughout the book.

Stevie and Adam team up to get their cheating partners back even though she thinks he is a violent “control-freak nutter” and he thinks she is a “greedy, lazy, rarely sober, slob thing.” Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. As their campaign starts to work and the truth about everyone’s characters are slowly revealed, it is the “treacherous bitch” Jo, and the “weak-minded but not wicked” Matthew who are on the road to ruin, not our (very) lovable hero and heroine. And their slow descent to misery is a joy to experience.

The book is peopled with fully developed, funny, and mostly very appealing secondary characters whom I hope to meet again in subsequent books. When you add the most engaging hero and heroine who have tons of chemistry with each other, that I have come across in a long long time, you really have a winner, and one of the best romantic comedies I have read…ever. **5 out of 5 stars**

**Reread on audible April 20, 2022**

I’ve previously reviewed this but loved this audio version. This time around, I was really hit with what a Dim bulb Matthew is. I couldn’t believe how long Stevie clung to her desire to get him back, even with her knowing what a weak character he was.
Also, it was neat how many references to Bees there were in the story. Not sure I caught them all the first time, I was so worried about what was going to happen next in the story! That’s the joy of re-reading books!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

August 20, 2019

The Mother of All Christmases

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By Milly Johnson

July 30,2019

April 24, 2023
Whew! I forgot what a tear-jerker this one was! I loved all the reappearances of the characters from previous books. I just wish I remembered more about them. It’s hard to reflect on and research some of the characters when you’re listening on audio.

**Original Review**

‘I’m pregnant,’ she blurted out because the words were too big to keep in. It wasn’t what she meant to say, which was Joe, can I have a private word with you, but somehow the delivered words raced past the intended ones queueing in her voice box.

‘And your Granny Ferrell is your family,’ Jacques threw back at her. ‘Talk about the enemy within.’ It was a bullseye point. Eve’s Granny Ferrell was the most wicked old bag on the planet. She made the Antichrist look like Anne of Green Gables.

I’ve read 4 1/2 Milly Johnson books so far and I’ve learned to expect certain things. You will both laugh and giggle throughout. At the end, you will sigh with satisfaction. With some you will cry, with some you will be scared, with some you will stand up and cheer, and with some, you will be angry. With The Mother of all Christmases you will do all of those. I agree with Bookworman who I credit with introducing me to this wonderful English author that it is one of her best. Milly Johnson, where have you been the last 10 years of my life? I don’t understand why she is not more well known in the United States!

One of the extra bonuses of her books is that you meet and catch up with characters from previous novels. this book probably incorporates more of this than the previous ones I have read. A few I have met before, and some, I can’t wait to meet in future books. **5 out 5 stars**

Rating: 5 out of 5.

August 2, 2019

The Barn on Half Moon Hill

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by Milly Johnson

June 20,2019

Read this in about an hour or so. Nice little fairytale romance. The Mother of all Christmases is next on my list, so I picked this one during a power outage we had last night as relief from a dark psych thriller I was reading. It was a tonic. It is such a luxury to have new books by Milly Johnson to plug into my reading life when needed when I have already read and re-read my other favorite authors. **3 stars out of 5**

Rating: 3 out of 5.

A Winter Flame

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By Milly Johnson

A Winter Flame has the bones of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Emotionally closed up due to her fiance getting killed on Christmas 5 years prior, our heroine channels all of her energy into her successful business, distancing her friends and family, and leaving her personal life on the shelf. Lo and Behold, she inherits a Christmas Theme Park from a beloved aunt which she is forced to co-own and develop with a handsome, quirky, and mysterious stranger whom she suspects of nefarious motives. Of course, need I say that all is not as it seems, and we all know how this will end?

Populated with a few characters from another novel, it puts a bow on one of the romances with a beautiful wedding. This one has the humor and entertaining pop culture references of the previous 4 novels I’ve read, but not as angsty or serious as some. It is also not as hilarious as some either. Our heroine, Eve, will make you want to choke her: she really is stubbornly blind to what is so obvious and reaches crazy conclusions based on evidence that should have pointed her to the light. But that’s what was intended! Anyway, I really liked the lightness of it. It was a fun book, with a few emotional scenes and a few surprises as well.**4 out of 5 stars**

Rating: 4 out of 5.

June 12, 2019 (reread 12/17/2022 on audible. No change- 4 stars!)