[.ca] Only Dad (ISBN 0743478460)

Dealing With Loss:
This is a delightful story about a father and daughter attempting to overcome their grief after the loss of a loved one. Tom Drummond and his daughter, Tally, seemed to have it all until their family holiday in Tuscany when they were touched by tragedy. From the heights of joy and contentment they were plunged, disbelieving into a world of shock and deep depression. They then have to help each other pull themselves out again and get their lives back to normal somehow. Alan Titchmarsh presents a wonderful story that can almost be termed a fairy tale. It provides the reader an opportunity to almost completely escape into his world as the story unfolds around you. As you would expect from the presenter of Gardener's World and Ground Force, he adds a smattering of gardening references extolling the virtues of enjoying a nice garden. The main character, Tom, even erects a garden shed, a la Ground Force (although it takes him 3 days and not the requisite 2). For pure entertainment and escapism value, this is a nice story that gives the reader a feeling of contentment upon finishing.