It's a rapturous mix of absurdly fairy - tale - romance and frantic modern complications, set in the picturesque drear of Yorkshire and brought to life by masterfully shaded performances. (metacritic.com)
I'm but a stranger here, Heav»n is my home; Earth is a desert drear, Heav»n is my home. (firstthings.com)
So she turns the dilemma into a gift, one that warms jealous Nate, cranky Mr. Norman, and all the other people and animals in her town, turning winter drear into woolly cheer. (booklistonline.com)