Gypsies Stop tHere and No Gypsies Served – MIRIAM WAKERLY

Gypsies Stop tHere and No Gypsies are both books written by Miriam Wakerly.

Whilst they do following on from each other they can be read as a stand alone, my recommendation would be that you read them both as the stories flow together. Because of this I am reviewing them together!

Gypsies Stop tHere (synopsis taken from Author’s Website)

Will uprooting herself from London to live in the country help Kay escape guilt-ridden memories of her husband’s death? Far from finding a quiet life, she is caught up in an age-old village conflict where passionate opinions on Romany Gypsy Travellers divide the local people.

A young woman, Lena, enters her life, unwittingly putting Kay’s plans on hold. Kay struggles to not only come to terms with her emotional past but also to resolve Lena’s problems, those of the village and the Gypsies. And another relationship blossoms that she would never have dreamed of…

No Gypsies Served (Synopsis taken from author’s website)

Two years have passed since Kay successfully campaigned for the Appley Green Gypsy Site, and four years since her husband was murdered. Life in the village was going so well, until the phone call and letter. Then comes the disastrous site opening. Worst of all, Dunstan, whom she realises is her best friend and ally, is giving her the cold shoulder for some unknown reason.

Dunstan is taking an emotional trip down memory lane, into childhood as a Gypsy on the road, and his eventual break from his people. Why is he so angry with Kay that he keeps away from her? Chances of a longed for reconciliation look slim…

Miriam had touched upon a subject that some could find controversal with a very skilled hand and care. It is extremely clear that she has conducted a large amount of research on the subject matter and often includes the actual words used by the travellers (thankfully a conversation into English is included in both books at the back!). Over the years this has been a subject that has been highlighted in the media with a lot of negativity and I feel that whilst these are just stories, Miriam has really helped me understand the Gypsy community a little bit better with some compassion.

These books are not just about Gypsies, the main focus of the story is about the widowed Kay and her struggles to restart her life after the death of her husband and her children grown up with lives of their own. What she thinks will be a quiet existence turns into a very busy life in the picturesque village of Appley Green. You get what you’d expect from a Village community – the local shop owner, the nosy neighbours and the rich man in the large house!

Miriam has beautifully written a fabulous pair of books which are gentle but whilst both just over 220 pages in length, packed full of substance that will keep you wanting to read on. Kay is a wonderful leading lady for the books who is a strong woman, maybe is a little too trusting but you can’t help but admire her strength and positive out look on life and those around her, gorgeous connections between Kay and her daughters. Dunstan the gardener sounds like the perfect Gent! All wrapped up with a will they won’t they get together!!

Thank you so much Miriam for sending me a copy of both of these books. Really enjoyed them both very much

Why not buy a copy from Amazon uk – available in both paperback and for your Kindle

Appley Green Collection