Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of New Beginnings at the Old Bakehouse by Christie Barlow, which is book 9 in the Love Heart Lane series.
‘A letter, a goodbye, and a baby girl whose name will begin with “L”…’
When Heartcross’ resident clairvoyant tells Molly McKendrick to expect a whole lot of scandal and upset to blow in with the approaching winter storm, Molly doesn’t know what to think.
With a baby on the way any week now, and Christmas not far off, the last thing Molly needs is drama, but when she crosses paths with Bree, a sixteen-year-old homeless girl, and takes her in from the cold, secrets from the past flood the present and Molly, her partner Cam, and their son George, are soon experiencing a holiday season filled with unexpected festive surprises…
Imagine my excitement when I found myself in possession of New Beginnings at the Old Bakehouse so soon after receiving The New Doctor at Peony Practice!
New Beginnings at the Old Bakehouse brings back to us some beloved characters, Molly and Cam, so that we can find out what happens to them next. First featured in Primrose Park, it was wonderful to come back to these lovely characters to find out what happened to them and their lovely son George.
Heavily pregnant Molly is keen to give back to the community, so whilst trying to help Sam at the homeless hostel Molly crosses paths with Bree, a young homeless girl. With Cam working hard at the Old Bakehouse, a baby on the way and now a young girl to help, Molly finds herself in a turmoil. With a snow storm thrown into the mix, there is plenty of drama in Heartcross!
Yet another excellent addition to the Love Heart Lane series, and with an opportunity to revisit characters, I am more than happy to recommend New Beginnings at the Old Bakehouse. Christie Barlow certainly knows how to write books that feel like a warm hug – it just makes me want to move to Heartcross and immerse myself in such a lovely community! Definitely go and grab yourself a copy, and cosy up with a blanket and glass of wine and lose yourself in Heartcross!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Thank you to Netgalley, One More Chapter and Christie Barlow for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of The New Doctor at Peony Practice by Christie Barlow, book eight in the Love Heart Lane series.
Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what
All’s fair in love and…medicine?
Dr Katie O’Neil has only been in Heartcross a few hours when she finds herself already ruffling feathers – not least with medical school nemesis and new colleague Ben Sanders.
Katie’s the woman Ben loves to hate and until now he’d hoped he’d never set eyes on her again but now she’s back – and living next door!
When a charity boat race down the River Heart puts the two in direct competition, sparks fly. The winner takes it all, but who will it be? And will their prize be far more than they were expecting…
It always pleases me when when Christie Barlow releases another novel in the wonderful Love Heart Lane series. Heartcross is full of a wonderful community of characters, so it is certainly no hardship to revisit them all!
The New Doctor at Peony Practice focuses on Dr Katie O’Neil and Dr Ben Sanders, and it quickly becomes apparent that they have met before! Having gone to medical school together, Ben is more than a little dismayed when he discovers that his new colleague at Peony Practice is none other than his nemesis, Katie!
It immediately becomes clear that there are sparks flying between the two of them, and that there really is a fine line between love and hate. With Katie integrating herself in the Heartcross community by immediately arranging a charity boat race, Ben can do very little but get swept up along with her plans. With both Ben and Katie having complicated pasts, maybe they need each, along with their vibrant community, to help them both move on.
The New Doctor at Peony Practice gives us the opportunity to revisit many beloved characters, whilst also introducing Ben and Katie into the Heartcross fold. This is a love story of course; but it’s also emotional, witty and fun. It is most definitely a worthy addition to the Love Heart Lane series! So I am more than happy to recommend this to you all, and if you haven’t already, I suggest you make a start on the rest of this series!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Thank you to Netgalley, One More Chapter and Christie Barlow for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
It is my pleasure to bring you my review of Heartcross Castle by Christie Barlow as part of her fabulous blog tour!
Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what
A second chance…
When her grandfather Marley passes away Grace Power discovers she’s been left the beautiful but crumbling estate of Heartcross Castle. As a single mum of three, Grace has no idea what she’s going to do with it – but who can say no to a roof over their kids’ heads and a chance to get away from past hurts?
And a forever home
Heartcross Castle is full of secrets – especially a lost security deposit box that holds the truth to everything… But when celebrity chef Andrew Glossop sets his eyes on the castle and, to make matters worse, mistakes Grace as the new housekeeper, Grace tells him there is absolutely NO CHANCE he is getting his hands on her home.
Devastated to have got it so wrong, Andrew will do anything to make it up to her – but is she willing to listen?
I am always pleased when Christie Barlow releases another Love Heart Lane story, they are always full of family, friendship and love, and I am pleased to confirm that Heartcross Castle is no exception!
Grace Power is a mother to 3 boys, with a very difficult home life. She has spent years struggling after running away from home, but when she finds out that her Grandfather has passed away and left her Heartcross Castle, she finally sees a way to improve the future for herself and her beloved sons.
Upon arrival, she discovers that the Heartcross Castle she remembered is now unloved and crumbling. With celebrity chef Andrew Glossop living next door and clearly with his eyes on the castle, Grace will need to decide whether to work to retain the legacy of the Grandfather or take the money and secure her future.
Heartcross Castle is one of my favourite novels in the Love Heart Lane series. I loved Grace and her wonderful boys – Christie Barlow really highlights the difficulties of single motherhood, whilst showing how hard mothers work to give their children the best life possible. She really shows what you can achieve with very little money. Andrew Glossop is an equally great character, someone from an incredibly privileged background but with a less than ideal family life, proving that money isn’t always everything.
I am more than happy to recommend this novel, its an excellent addition to what is already a fab series!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Thank you to Christie Barlow and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this fabulous blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Christie Barlow is the number one international bestselling author of fifteen romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty’s Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn’t writing she co-presents The Book Show on Radio Northwich, enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of Primrose Park by Christie Barlow as part of her fabulous Blog Blitz!
Vet Molly has always been career driven and focussed on caring for her animals, but when she meets a gorgeous Mystery Man at a conference and their connection is off the charts, well, one night off work won’t hurt anyone…except the next morning he’s vanished and all Molly knows about him is his first name.
Three months later, back in Love Heart Lane, everyone loves the story of Molly’s amazing one-night stand. It’s so unlike her! But when Mystery Man turns up walking his dog through Primrose Park and their night together seems to mean nothing to him, Molly needs her friends and neighbours more than ever. And especially when she’s left with the most unexpected of surprises…
Molly is a career driven, independent woman. She loves being a vet, and her veterinary practice is her sole focus, caring for the animals in her community. When the opportunity to do some new training comes up, she jumps at the chance – she is keen to ensure that everyone has the opportunity for a loving relationship with their dogs, even the more difficult ones! A random encounter with a handsome stranger at the training conference makes her question if she actually does want something more in her life, but her night of passion ends abruptly when he vanishes the next morning, leaving Molly with nothing but his first name – Cam.
Three months later, Cam is never far from her thoughts. Whilst she is not one for one night stands, she knows they had an amazing connection – so when he turns up in Heartcross Molly cannot believe her luck! Until of course, he makes it quite clear it really was just a one night stand…for Molly though it will never just be a one night stand, when she finds her situation changing dramatically – it could be said that she finds herself with a lifelong commitment thanks to their one night together!
I was so excited to revisit Love Heart Lane – this is a series that I love. It is full of characters that we know and love, whilst learning more about a character that we are aware of, but know nothing about yet. It’s like putting on your favourite jumper – its warm and comforting, and that is how Heartcross feels to me. Yet again, I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this novel, so I was able to make my sisters jealous again as they waited until publication day to get their hands on it!
Molly is such a lovely character, although I did find her a little needy at times when it came to Cam – this is easily forgiven though when you consider her raging hormones and her own upbringing. She is keen to create her own family, and I can understand her reasons for wanting Cam to be a part of that.
Primrose Park is an excellent addition to the Love Heart Lane series, and I am more than happy to recommend it to you all! So grab yourself a hot chocolate (because quite frankly it’s still chilly, despite now being May!), a blanket, and a copy of this lovely book!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Thank you to Christie Barlow and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting to me a part of this Blog Blitz, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Christie Barlow is the number one international bestselling author of fifteen romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty’s Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn’t writing she co-presents The Book Show on Radio Northwich, enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
It is my pleasure to bring you my review for The Lake House by Christie Barlow as part of her fabulous blog tour!
There’s a newcomer to the village of Heartcross and she’s never been more in need of a friend.
Ella is ready to start afresh ––and that could mean there’s love on the horizon in the form of the gorgeous Roman, the local water taxi driver. Every day Roman is there to ferry Ella to the restaurant on the other side of the lake and every night he makes sure she gets home safe. But Roman has secrets of his own…
Can the Love Heart Lane community offer Ella a chance of a new life? Or will the ghosts of her past catch up with her?
I am so excited to talk to you today about the next instalment in Christie Barlow’s Love Heart Lane series, The Lake House. If you would like to re-familiarise yourself with the other novels in this series, then please check out my reviews below;
The Lake House is book 5 in this wonderful series (and I’m thrilled to say that book 6, Primrose Park is due out in April 2021 so not long to wait!)
Ella has not had a good time. After losing her parents, she thought that she had found someone who could support her through her grief. Instead he betrays her in the worst possible way. After struggling alone for 6 months, her friend Callie finally persuades her to leave her home and join her in Heartcross, offering her the love and support she so desperately needs. Heartcross offers her the new start she needs; a new home, new friends and maybe even a new romance!
I love returning to Heartcross, it is such a lovely tightknit, supportive community and it is so easy to immerse yourself in it. As our real world continues to fight the challenges thrown up by a pandemic, it is such a delight to be able to lose yourself in such a wonderful place. As I’ve said many times before, I love getting involved in a book series because I love to revisit places. I like to see characters we have met before and find out where they are now. But what makes The Lake House stand apart from rest is that this time our central character is Ella, an outsider. Having a character join the village and see it with fresh eyes really does give a new perspective. Ella’s heartbreak is very real, but it’s inspiring to watch as she attempts to rebuild her life back up with nothing but her new found community. In the times that we currently live in, there is a lot we could learn from a place like Heartcross, fictional or not.
It would be remiss of me to not mention two other characters who I feel really help the book ‘pop’. Roman is the local water taxi driver, and he is of course suitably handsome (love interest alert!!). Naturally there is some mystery surrounding him, which doesn’t always tally up with the warm, giving character that he is portrayed as. As we learn more about him though, it becomes very clear that everyone has their secrets and their struggles, even if they have a smile on their face.
Finally, I cannot end my review without mentioning Dolores…what a legend! I can only hope to have lead a life as colourful as hers when I reach her advanced years, and she just goes to prove that it’s never too late when it comes to love!
For me, the sign of a good book is one that is talked about. I introduced my two sisters to the Love Heart Lane series during lockdown number 1 (I know, I hate that the lockdown now have numbers!) and they have loved them. So much so that they have both been sat waiting for The Lake House to be released (I may or may not have mentioned to them how lucky I was to get an early copy!). If you find a book that you enjoy, then tell your friends. Now, more than ever, we all need a little lighthearted relief and books most definitely offer us that.
So, grab yourself a bar of chocolate, a glass of wine and snuggle up on your sofa with a copy of The Lake House – you won’t regret it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Thank you to Christie Barlow and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Christie Barlow is the author of ten bestselling romantic comedies including A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Clover Cottage. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn’t writing she enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Today it is my stop on the blog tour for Christie Barlow’s Starcross Manor!
Dying to know more about the brooding and mysterious Flynn Carter and the secrets behind his plans for Starcross Manor?
You won’t want to miss the next spellbinding chapter in the Love Heart Lane series – where friends are there for you no matter what.
When Julia Coleman meets Flynn Carter again in the cosy village of Heartcross it can only mean trouble. Flynn might be rich, brooding and sexy, but Julia knows first-hand he’s ruthless and she plans to watch his every move.
When Julia discovers Flynn’s plans for beautiful Starcross Manor her greatest fears come true. Because Flynn’s dreams of turning Starcross into a luxury hotel could ruin Julia’s dreams…and finish off the community of Heartcross for good.
Flynn makes it clear he doesn’t want trouble, and he’s not the man Julia thinks he is. As he sets about convincing the community he’s changed, he hopes he can convince Julia to give him another chance too…
So I have been waiting with bated breath to get my hands on a copy of Starcross Manor – I have loved the Love Heart Lane series, so I was very pleased to discover she had written another one (with more on the way!).
Julia Coleman is the owner of the local B&B in Heartcross, and she is truly a part of the community. When she discovers that Flynn Carter has appeared in her village as the new owner of Starcross Manor she is worried. She has personally had dealings with him before and knows that he cannot be trusted. He might be rich and handsome but he is incredibly ruthless, thinking only of himself. When she discovers his plans for the manor she feels she has no option but to rally the villagers into action.
Flynn Carter is excited by his new venture at Starcross Manor; he’s hardworking, and he enjoys seeing that work come to fruition. What he doesn’t expect though is to come up against an entire village of angry business owners that will stop at both to put a halt to his plans. He doesn’t understand what they have against him, but he’s determined to prove to them all that he is not who they all think he is.
I think this may be my favourite of all the Love Heart Lane series so far. I loved both Julia and Flynn as characters and whilst there are clearly misunderstandings and wrongdoing on both sides, it all felt justified. I didn’t struggle to understand either of their points of view, they both acted based on the information available to them at the time. Obviously things would have been easier if they had communicated a little better, but that happens in real life on a daily basis! I loved their story, and I loved reading more about Starcross Manor. Heartcross is such a tight knit community, it was great to watch them come together and support one another, even if it was to the detriment of Flynn for a while! Its always lovely to read about loved characters from previous books – I particularly liked catching up with Allie from Clover Cottage, however brief!
All in all this is a fab, easy read novel. If you enjoy Christie Barlow’s novels, you will love this one. Starcross Manor can easily be read as a standalone, but I’m not sure why you would want to! I’m already excited to read The Lake House (due out in December 2020) followed by Primrose Park (due out in February 2021), but that leaves you plenty of time to catch up if you haven’t already started reading this series! Let me know what you think!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Thank you to Christie Barlow and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Christie Barlow is the number 1 International bestselling author of ten bestsellers including A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Clover Cottage. Her writing career came as somewhat a surprise when she decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. The book she wrote to prove a point is now a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada & Australia.
Chapter and Cake 