Breath of Fresh Air by Erica James
Charlotte Lawrence, widowed at thirty-four, decides to return to all things pre-Peter, and that means moving back to the Cheshire village of her childhood.
It also means exchanging a clinical company flat for the pretty but overgrown garden of Ivy Cottage, and the constant attentions of her interfering sister Hilary.
Most of all it means Alex, Ivy Cottage’s drop-dead-gorgeous tenant, with whom Hilary is determined Charlotte should find love anew, and whose charming exterior hides his own secret tragedy…
About Author
With an insatiable appetite for other people’s business, Erica James will readily strike up conversation with strangers in the hope of unearthing a useful gem for her writing. She finds it the best way to write authentic characters for her novels, although her two grown-up sons claim they will never recover from a childhood spent in a perpetual state of embarrassment at their mother’s compulsion.
The author of nineteen bestselling novels, and the winner of the 2006 Romantic Novel of the Year Award, Erica divides her time between Suffolk and Lake Como in Italy.
Setting
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The novel is set in a small English village called Hulme Welford, in Cheshire, where the protagonist grew up.
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Before returning to Hulme Welford, Charlotte (the protagonist) lives in Brussels due to her husband’s frequent job transfers.
Characters
We can’t discuss the plot without knowing the characters, can we? Here’s a summary of the main characters in A Breath of Fresh Air by Erica James and where the story is set — this should help you with your blog review, especially when discussing how you feel about each character.
Charlotte Lawrence
Charlotte is our main character, recently widowed at 34. Her husband Peter dies in a car crash just as she’s about to divorce him. Dissatisfied with her life abroad, she moves back to her childhood village of Hulme Welford and into Ivy Cottage. Personally, I found her quite immature for her age — she often acted childishly and her decisions rarely led anywhere good.
Peter
Peter is mostly a shadow in the story. His death sets everything in motion, but as a character he isn’t someone you miss. If anything, he comes across as distant and selfish even before the accident.
Hilary
Charlotte’s younger sister, lives at The Gables. She is bossy, interfering, and always ready to run Charlotte’s life. She means well but rarely lets Charlotte breathe. Also, she’s involved with everything that goes on in the village from church to yard sale. At times I wanted to shake her and ask her to take some time for herself, but I’ll admit her drama adds colour and energy to the book.
David
Hilary’s Husband
Philip
Hilary’s son
Becky
Hilary’s daughter. She picks up on adult conversation and uses them at random, shocking everyone around. I have to admit, I found her hilarious.
Neville Archer
Charlotte’s father, a doctor, now lives in fear of his wife and raises berries.
Louise Archer
Her sole purpose in life is to look down upon people, especially her own family.
Alex Hamilton
Alex is the handsome tenant at Ivy Cottage and, of course, the man Hilary tries to pair Charlotte with. He has his own hidden sadness, which makes him more than just a picture-perfect love interest. I actually liked his steadiness — he balances out Charlotte’s chaos.
Charlotte’s Father
Her father spends most of his time in the garden. He isn’t unkind, but he feels detached, more comfortable with plants than with people. A background figure, but a gentle one.
Charlotte’s Mother
Cold and critical, her mother is one of those characters you just can’t warm to. The strained mother-daughter dynamic explains a lot about Charlotte’s insecurities.
Tiffany Rogers
Tiffany, the teenage babysitter, is a breath of fresh air in the story (pun intended). With her bold hair and sharp wit, she stands out as independent and modern. She was actually one of my favourite characters — funny, grounded, and far more sensible than Charlotte at times.
Barry Rogers
Barry is the serious teenager, working hard for his A-levels and aiming for medicine. He’s not central, but I liked that he brought a touch of realism to village life.
Cindy Rogers
Tiffany and Barry’s mother; has her own demons, her husband being one of them.
Derek Rogers
Tiffany and Barry’s. Owner of a chain of salon, including one at his house “In the Pink”. He’s a trouble.
Mrs Iris Braithwaite
The main villian-ish.
Malcom Jackson
The village priest
Christina
Charlotte’s only true-friend
Other Villagers
The village is full of quirky people — Hilary’s estate-agent husband, Derek and Cindy with their shocking-pink health studio, the gossipers, and the prohibitionist. They reminded me a lot of small Indian towns where everyone knows (and discusses) everyone’s business.
Recap
Charlotte Lawrence’s world falls apart when her husband Peter dies in a car accident just after she’s asked him for a divorce. At 34, she finds herself widowed, guilty, and unsure of her future. She returns to her childhood village of Hulme Welford, moving back into Ivy Cottage. Surrounded by her meddling sister Hilary, eccentric parents, nosy villagers, and her new tenant Alex Hamilton, Charlotte must navigate grief, family drama, and the possibility of love again.
Review
This is a lovely, gentle story set in a quaint English village that reminded me a lot of today’s tier-3 cities in India — small, cosy, where everyone knows each other, and gossip spreads faster than tea. The supporting cast is colourful and fun: Hilary’s bossiness, Tiffany’s spark, Alex’s quiet steadiness, Barry’s calm, Neville’s fatherly affection and the eccentric villagers all add charm.
Where the book fell short for me was with Charlotte herself. For a woman in her thirties, she often came across as immature and almost childish. Her decisions consistently led her into messy situations — whether it was getting drunk at Hilary’s dinner, flirting with her late husband’s brother, or feeling jealous of Christina, her one true friend. Instead of rooting for her, I found myself frustrated by her lack of growth.
Still, Erica James writes with warmth and wit. The setting is delightful, the side characters shine, and the story flows easily. If you enjoy village dramas, tangled relationships, and gentle romance, A Breath of Fresh Air makes for a cosy, entertaining read.
Final Verdict
I started it during my one-day trip to Pune and enjoyed it a fair bit. Can’t say I hate it, can’t say I love it — but it was a pleasant enough companion for the journey and a few days of liesure after returning home.
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Stay tuned for more book reviews.
Until next time, happy reading!
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