Home on a Yorkshire Farm

by Jane Lovering

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN B08PCN22HZ can be found here.   Note that Home on a Yorkshire Farm was previously published as Home on Folly Farm

Needing an escape, Dora swapped city living for life as a shepherdess on her grandad’s Yorkshire farm. More than a decade later Dora is still there, now farming the fifty acres and caring for the one hundred rare sheep by herself. She never hears the call of the city, but instead relishes the peace and simplicity of life on the Moors.

When Dora’s glamorous but quarrelsome sister Cass, her teenage nephew Thor and his handsome tutor Nat, turn up for an unexpected and unreasonably long stay, life on the farm is thrown into chaos. Cass brings with her unwelcome memories from the past, and of someone who once stole Dora's heart.

Dora takes refuge in the comforting routine of the farm, the sheep never allowing her too much time to dwell. But, as the seasons change, the snow starts to melt, and as lambs begin to fill the fields, Dora can’t keep hiding in the hills. Because even though she’s trying, Dora can’t run away from a love that never really let her go…

Let Jane Lovering whisk you away to the beauty and serenity of the Yorkshire Moors, far away from the noise of the city.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Family

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2021

About the author

Jane Lovering was born in Devon, England but, following extradition procedures, now lives in Yorkshire. She has five children, four cats, two dogs and doesn't believe in housework so the bacteria and dust are approaching sentience and now rank among the pets. Incidentally, she doesn’t believe in ironing either, and the children all learned self-defensive cookery at early ages. She works in a local school and also teaches creative writing, which are extreme ways of avoiding the washing up.

Published since 2008, she writes romantic comedies which are often described as ‘quirky’. One day she's going to find out what that means. Jane is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and has a first class honours degree in creative writing. In 2012, her novel Please Don't Stop the Music won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the RNA.

Reviews

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

…my teenage years are so far behind me that they’re practically a history lesson.

The worst of it was that Cass had a point. And Cass hadn’t had much of a point since the javelin incident at school.

This can’t go on, Dora. I mean, it just can’t. You’re living like some kind of eighteenth-century peasant, only with less disfiguring diseases and more electricity.

‘Did Cass eat it?’ ‘I’m not sure your sister does eat. I think she lives off fury and human blood.’

‘You’ve watched too much Mrs Doubtfire,’ he said. ‘Of course I’m not Thor’s father. Besides, that would imply that I’d slept with your sister, and I think she might bite the heads off her men after mating.’

I couldn’t let an animal suffer. I said another few ‘oh bugger’s and a couple of ‘bloody hell’s, like a kind of anti-rosary, and pulled out my mobile to call the vet.

I wanted to say that the sun could die a thousand fiery deaths and he could be the only man left on earth and I still wouldn’t sleep with him again and if it was sleep with him or die I’d start choosing my coffin now. But his good-natured grin stopped me.


My Review:

I giggled-snorted, chortled, and laughed aloud while perusing this cleverly amusing book. It was good fun and full of keen wit and snarky observations. I adored, savored, and marveled at every perfectly pitched scene and well-chosen word. I had reams of highlighted favorite quotes and found it quite painful to pare them down for this review.

The storylines were engaging, the writing was consistently on-point, and the characters were oddly intriguing and comically compelling with colorful descriptions and vivid visuals. Jane Lovering is a gifted scribe as well as a comedic genius.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book to read, a perfect read to escape away from these troubled days. I loved the descriptions of Yorkshire and the farm especially the lambs Flick and Knife. This book was funny which was a plus. I wish I could give this wonderful book more stars. This was the first time I’ve read any books by this author but, I will be reading more of hers in the future. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was the sheep that saved my enjoyment of the story for me. I loved the farm and Lovering’s descriptions of the Yorkshire Dales. However, the plot itself felt pretty ordinary with rather irritating characters.

I could not connect with Dora’s sister Cass and her son, Thor. I found them really annoying in their outlooks but I think this is what the author intended. Cass is a selfish snob who belittles everything that Dora is trying to do on the farm – from the interior of the farmhouse to even the keeping of the animals. Cass’s son, Thor, is a ridiculous caricature of a nearly-thirteen-year-old who is forever connected to the internet. Thor considers himself as an “influencer” and is constantly vlogging about his experiences on Folly Farm. I found his manner to be far too mature for such a young age and despised the attention that the writer gave him in the novel. I did not find it too believable and cringed to see his adult-moments coming from such a young teenager. However, it was only when Thor started to care for two lambs that we really see the innocence appear; it was this point that my feelings towards him started to change.

So, aside from these two frustrating characters, the plot becomes a discovery of secrets. Dora has a hidden past that shows what her childhood was like with a pregnant sister and parents inattentive to Dora’s own needs. Meeting Thor’s tutor, Nat, causes Dora’s memories to resurface. With it comes feelings of self-doubt about why her Grandfather chose Dora to inherit the farm. Dora feels insecure, particularly after Cass highlights the lack of male heirs in the family until Thor’s arrival. Furthermore, Dora shows plenty of bitterness towards her sister that stems from the fuss their parents made of Cass, to present day: Cass is able to reap half of the financial benefits of the farm without having to contribute to the labour.

As such, it is this darkness in the plot that grows like clouds on a summer’s day. The second half of the novel felt less light-hearted as we truly find out about what happened to Dora and her connection to Nat. The direction that the plot took was really surprising and I thought it juxtaposed with the atmosphere implied by the beautiful cover. Furthermore, the ever-present sheep-stealers that are operating in the area finally make an appearance, leading to a dramatic conclusion that is surprisingly led by Thor. Whilst I found these moments quite exciting and interesting, I could not believe how much of a change the story had taken.

I think that the story has two parts. The first is sunny and exploring the basic relationship between Dora and Cass. Once we know the characters, then Lovering goes into more depth and shows the significance of trust and truth. I didn’t find the story as funny as I had anticipated, but I did like the presence of the sheep throughout. For me, it was them that convinced me the book was worthy of a 4-star rating. Despite being predictable, the contrasting elements made the story a little bit different, but it did not grab me as much as I had hoped.

With thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[K.S. Marsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dora's peaceful existence on her small sheep farm is ruined by some uninvited house guests. Suddenly the Yorkshire Moors aren't big enough to avoid the years of aggravation between Dora and her sister Cass.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Since their grandad passed away, Dora has been working and living on the small, rare breed sheep farm that has been in their family for generations.
Up there, she can shut herself away from the world, and is proud of the work she has been doing for the last ten years or so. She has put everything into this farm, and is well aware of how precarious the farming life is. A small farm like this doesn't provide much of a living, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

Everything changes when her sister turns up on her doorstep unannounced. Cass is still living at home with their parents, and has to temporarily move out when they start work on an extension. Cass turns up with the 12 year old son, Thor; her son's price tutor, Nat.
They seem completely clueless, after having everything taken care of by their parents, Cass expects Dora to cook and look after them, on top of a busy lambing season.

I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised how much I related to Dora. A woman who works with animals, scraping by to make a living and remain independent; whilst having a strained relationship with her parents, and a sibling who is happy to sponge off of them.
From the very beginning, I found this to be very emotional. I thought it was a very realistic portrayal, and more than just a light comedy.

I was equally frustrated and intrigued, following Dora and Cass battle everything out.
For all that Cass and her son Thor were ignorant and a complete pain, it was really entertaining to follow their story. They evolved so much, without losing what made the characters unique.

I thought that the connection between Dora and Nat was really sweet, and I was cheering them on; but I felt that their romance took a bit of a back seat to the rest of the story.
The latter part of the book slowed down a bit, as Dora and Nat's histories are discussed. But I felt that most of this had already been brought to light, so it was a bit repetitive.

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more of the author's work.

[Lucy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dora as the eldest grandchild inherited the family farm and is loving life until her sister Cass turns up wanting to stay for 3 months with her teenager Thor and his tutor Nat in tow.

Things just go from bad to worse for poor Dora, Cass wants her to sell up and move back to London, and also believes Nat is very alike to her Ex Boyfriend Leo.

I really enjoyed this fun read more than I thought I would, Jane's style of writing is just fantastic and has that humor that I liked.

Dora was a great character and Cass took a bit more warming to.

Overall a good entertaining read with cute lambs what's not to like.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always know when I start a new Jane Lovering book that I will be in for an enjoyable treat and Home on Folly Farm was no exception. Dora is a rare breeds sheep farmer in Yorkshire and it's a far cry from her previous lifestyle in London. Nevertheless she is content enough with the hard work and natural rhythm of life on the farm she inherited from her grandfather. Her peaceful routine is about to be shattered though with the arrival of her somewhat spoiled sister Cass and her twelve year old son Hawthorn, known as Thor. They have come uninvited for an extended stay while their parents' house has an extension built. To Dora's horror, Thor has a tutor, Nat, who at first glance she thinks is an ex from London. Some careful questioning reveals him to be his brother and a tentative friendship develops between them.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book was the way the characters developed. Dora is someone I took to immediately of course and I was intrigued as to what she was trying to put behind her from her London days, a time she seemed rather ashamed of but also a time where she had a missed chance of happiness. Nat's arrival brings back memories of that time and perhaps reawakens in her the need to be less self sufficient. I really liked her work ethic and her determination to do the best for her flock and honour her grandad's legacy. We see that farming is not an easy life with long sunny days and lambs skipping about the fields. It's a constant struggle to balance the books and with little room for sentimentality - hard when you have hand-reared lambs in your kitchen.

By contrast, Cass and Thor are harder to like with their pampered lifestyles, sense of entitlement and seeming obliviousness to the realities of farming life. Dora has always felt resentful of the way that Cass was looked after by their mother when she became pregnant at just 15. It's easy to see how this perhaps led to her life choices, perhaps seeking attention, perhaps seeking love. And yet we come to see that Cass doesn't necessarily have it all either. Thor, like many young people, seems to see life through the lens of his ipad. However, along with his almost 1000 YouTube vlog followers, as he begins to document life on the farm we begin to see flashes of an enthusiastic teen rather than the old-for-his-years character when we first meet him. His followers (literally) make a difference at a crucial and dramatic part of the book!

As always with a Jane Lovering book there is plenty which will make you laugh, most notably one-liners from Dora. There is humour throughout the book making it a really enjoyable, light-hearted read while still addressing those issues of coming to terms with your past. Home at Folly Farm is another delightful read from this author, sure to make you finish reading with a smile.

[Liv Bebbington · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book as the idea seemed strong but there was no story line to this at all.

Cass is such an annoying person which I hoped we were going to get to know her throughout the book but we didn’t really. Her son Thor’s character develops a little but with all the vlogging etc it got really boring.

I didn’t like the Nat / Leo idea either. How did Dora not recognise him?

Flick and Knife the lambs born and reared in the house were by far the best characters in this book.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a tough life, running a sheep farm on the Yorkshire Moors – but it’s a life that rather suits Dora, continuing the task of preserving the herd of rare sheep nurtured by her grandfather and the generations before him. The solitary life rather suits her, after a difficult start in life – she’s not really lonely, supported by the surrounding farming community when she needs them, the police patrol call in for a cuppa when they’re passing, and the local vet is a regular visitor providing every other kind of service she could possibly need. But her relatively contented life is turned upside down by the sudden arrival of her sister Cass, apparently for an extended stay – accompanied by media-obsessed son Thor, and his tutor Nat.

One of the author’s very many strengths is in her characterisation, and this book really is an absolute masterclass in how it should be done. If you take to Dora from the very start as I did, with her wry sense of humour and her arm up a sheep, you’ll most certainly feel different about sister Cass who is lazy, entitled, acerbic and combative from the moment she arrives. Thor is spoiled rotten – one of those twelve year olds that sometimes seems nearer thirty, running around in his designer trainers (laces untied, naturally) with his iPad in hand, looking for material for his vlog that will keep his (almost) one thousand followers happy. And then there’s Nat – who reminds Dora of a relationship she thought was left long in the past, but never forgotten. The exchanges between them all are quite wonderful – sometimes painful, but always extremely funny (and if I’m counting off the author’s strengths, humour really has to be near the top of the list too).

But what’s so exceptionally well done in this book is the character development. It might be fair to say that, in the present day, it’s not too complicated a story – but that’s until we begin to learn more about the past, slowly revealed, the upbringing and choices that brought the sisters to where they are now, giving their characters considerable depth, dealing with some quite serious issues, and bringing a few surprises along the way. I really liked the new Thor that emerged too – the flashes of excited child sometimes only glimpsed in passing become increasingly evident (and endearing) when he has some small charges to care for and gets to drive the tractor. And Nat – always there with a supportive comment, a shared smile, a bit of reassurance, and a hug when it’s really needed. The book slowly becomes so much more than an everyday story of farming life and the interactions within a dysfunctional family – and I loved every moment.

I’ve already mentioned the humour – when reviewing one of the author’s books, it’s really rather a given – but she’s really becoming the queen of the chase scene too (remember Patrick’s dramatic moment of glory in The Country Escape?). The one in this book is quite wonderful – superbly written, tense and gripping but also laugh-out-loud funny, with a few really original elements that certainly overturn the more negative perceptions of social media. And, of course, there’s always the romance – slow burn, not what you might be expecting, but delivering everything I wanted. And I really must mention the sheep – only the special ones have names, and there are certainly a few in this book that will capture your heart (and, I have to say, bring a tear to your eye at times – sobbing over a sheep is a new first for me!).

Yes, she’s done it again – another book that just confirms why she’s unfailingly one of my favourite authors. I really loved this one – and think you will too…

[Sascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dora is happy working her late granddad’s sheep farm in Yorkshire supporting a rare breed of sheep, it’s a very different life than the fake, out-of-control one she was living in London. But when her entitled sister, Cass, and nephew, Hawthorn, now known as Thor, along with her nephew’s tutor Nat come to stay with her when their place is being renovated, she realizes that while she may be contented, she may also have been hiding from something in her past she’s never been able to get over.

As with the last Jane Lovering romance I read (Christmas Secrets by the Sea, review here), Home on Folly Farm is so much more than the typical romantic comedy. The characters are full of surprises and ever-evolving, and there are almost as many tears as laughter (no angst, thank you). Even the seemingly entitled sister, Cass, harbors a secret that suddenly makes her seem more human. And, maybe that’s one of the big themes in this book–people are (usually) much more than what they show you.

Because of my personal viewpoints, I loved that Folly Farm supported a rare sheep breed and not for meat but for their wool. And the sheep brought comedy and heart to the book as well and even some tears.

Some (maybe most) of the snarky humor is at the expense of Cass who is oblivious as to what it means to live a normal life because her parents have insured that she never had to. Why the snark was funny, it went on a bit too long at Cass’ expense, in my opinion.

Home on Folly Farm felt more somber than the earlier Lovering novels I’d read, but perhaps that is a sign of the times. Or me. It’s possible I just felt some of the underlying sadness more.

Regardless, there is a lot going on in this multi-layered novel, enough so that no one would be bored. Home on Folly Farm has excellent characterization, plot, pacing, and dogs and sheep and the wonderful setting of a Yorkshire. What more could you ask for?

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pan(dora) left her home and family in Streatham, London to run her grandfather's rare sheep breed farm in the Yorkshire Dales. She might be alone and barely making ends meet but she's happy. Well, until her younger sister Cass(andra), her son Haw(thor)ne and his tutor Nat arrive for an extended stay. Dora and Cass are very different, while Dora works 24/7 on the farm Cass has been cosseted by their parents, she's barely held down a job but somehow affords manicures, fake tans and the latest clothes. Dora might have inherited the farm but she has to share any profits 50/50 with Cass which causes friction between the sisters, especially since it makes very little money.

Thor is a 12 going on 30 year old with a vlog and over 1,000 followers. Although at first he is appalled at the farm and the lack of modern technology, he and Nat soon start to use the farm as a teaching aid. But there's something very familiar about Nat, he reminds Dora vividly of someone she knew a decade ago, someone she once loved fiercely.

As the farming year progresses the sisters come to live in a sort of equilibrium, Cass is redecorating the old farmhouse while Dora looks after the farm, but will the farm bring them together or tear them apart once and for all?

I really enjoy Jane Lovering's novels. They are quirky, varied and have interesting characters. Unlike many authors, I never know quite where her books are going and this was no exception.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as some light relief. Some readers apparently found the second half dark. I didn’t. In fact the book needed something to ground it other than the sibling rivalry in the first half. The sheep-stealing storyline was unique, at least! And although I guessed one of the backstory points before it was revealed, it didn’t reduce my enjoyment of it. The background of the story, in rural Yorkshire was attractive. I almost wanted to go and farm sheep myself.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a Rom-Com but oh so much more!
You will get all the feels from this book. We have a young male trying to find his place in the word, as well as a thirty year old woman wondering if her decisions in life have led her to the proper place for her.
There is mystery over an old romance, and tingles over an unexpected stranger who moves in without advance notice. There is also some sorrow, I'll be honest, but it plays necessarily into the story.
And excitement- adventure- danger!
This book can be enjoyed by all members of the family, with various reading tastes.
From reality tv shows to crime and mystery buffs, this romance covers all the bases.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Jane’s work for a while now. I haven’t completely caught up with everything that she has written but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Home On Folly Farm’ and it certainly sounded like I was in for a treat. I was spot on too because I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Home On Folly Farm’ but more about that in a bit.
I love the character of Dora and I warmed to her from the start. In fact I ended up feeling as though she had become a friend of mine. She is a young lass, who left her home in London to run her grandfather’s sheep farm. Her grandfather was passionate about preserving rare breeds and Dora has carried on his work. I got the impression that Dora is both lonely and a loner- preferring the company of her animals to human beings. Dora is funny, kind, compassionate and sensitive. As for her sister, Cass- well she is a different story altogether. From the moment Cass first popped up, she got right on my nerves and I didn’t warm to her at all. She seems to be a tad passive/ aggressive and she seems to enjoy putting Dora down with all that snarky comments. At times I wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to thrust Cass’s I-Pad right up her left nostril and slap her with a wet fish. Cass doesn’t help Dora, she criticises and then sits and plays with her I-Pad. Can the sisters repair their relationship? Does Cass put her I-Pad down and help Dora? Well for the answers to that question and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into this story. In fact I loved the story from the very start. This book came along at the right time for me. I was feeling a little fed up and in need of a distraction and this book was certainly a tonic for me. I chuckled away to myself throughout the story. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time. I looked up to check how long I had been reading fore and I was staggered to realise that I had been reading for over two hours. ‘Home On Folly Farm’ is one of those books that you want to finish because you need to know how the story ends but at the same time you don’t want to finish it because you are enjoying the story, the characters and the author’s writing style so much that you just don’t want the book to end. I found ‘Home On Folly Farm’ to be a charming, funny and romantic read.
‘Home On Folly Farm’ is superbly written but then I think that to be true of Jane’s work in general. She gets your attention from the start and draws you into what proves to be a delightful story. Jane creates adorable characters, gives them adorable storylines and locates the story in an idyllic sounding place. Jane really did make Folly Farm come alive to the extent that I was all set to pack a suitcase and head over to Folly Farm for a cuppa with Dora. Before anybody says anything yes I do know that this book is a work of fiction but I find that if I enjoy a book to the extent that I have enjoyed this one then I tend to live the story as if it were ‘real’. I felt part of the story and that’s all down to Jane’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Home On Folly Farm’ and I would recommend the book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jane’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Joanne D'Arcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dora has been quite happy for the past decade, tending her flock. Around 100 rare breed sheep on a farm in deepest Yorkshire on a farm that has always been in the family.

Her peace is shattered though when her precious sister, Cass and son Hawthorn, known more to his vlog followers as Thor and his tutor Nat descend, whilst her parents build an extension for Cass to live in.

Trouble is Cass and Dora haven't really seen eye to eye for a long time and whilst all their parents energy was spent on Cass once she was pregnant, it seems that Dora just disappeared into a mix of parties and some rather unsavoury habits and ended up running away to the farm where she finally found contentment.

Cass can't believe Dora lives like does.

Dora can't believe that Cass still lives at home with her parents and treats her twelve year old son as if he was a breakable bit of china.

Life on the farm is going to be a wake up call from them all.

Then there is Nat, he is strangely familiar to Dora and it seems the past she left behind has just arrived into her farmyard.

As the book goes on we learn how these diverse characters have to all get along together somehow. They have to when there isn't anywhere they can pop to on a whim, the pot holed track can ruin even the best suspension, there is the threat of sheep hustlers, of lustful vets and lambing sheep to keep them and us entertained.

I really enjoyed this book, you are thrown in straight away to farm life and have to get on board and get along for the ride, unlike Cass who was the most annoying and irritating character I have read about for a long time - and I loved her. Of course as the book goes on you can see how events have her shaped her and perhaps you might get to warm to her, but god she was fabulously annoying! Thor was a great representation of that teenager deep in the world of social media and whilst it did have it's benefits it perhaps shows how some youngsters (and even there parents) think that is where the future is. Scary!

This was the first time reading this author and I devoured the book, it was light and serious and humorous and sad all in equal measure and was the perfect antidote to everything in life at the moment. An upbeat read at the perfect time for me.

[Lyndi (mibookobsession) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dora left for college when her sister Cass discovered she was pregnant and everything became about her and the baby while Dora was completely ignored. She did good in college at first but then she met Leo, who introduced her to parties and drugs. Her grades slip father and farther and finally she needs an escape. She inherits the sheep farm that's been in her family for generations, living on 50 acres in the Yorkshire wilds and raising a rare endangered breed of sheep. She finds that she's happy on her own and living a comfortable slightly lonely existence. But when her parents decide to remodel and Cass and her nephew Thor need a place to stay, her refuge turns to chaos, especially when a suspiciously familiar man who claims to be Leo's brother shows up with Thor as his tutor.
I loved this glimpse of life on a sheep farm. It sounds like the perfect kind of life for an introvert like me. But I just wanted to shake Cass. Her attitude toward everything was just irritating. The reasons behind her attitude are explained later in the book but she's still a clueless socialite with no concept of where money comes from. I didn't like Thor at first, but the longer he was on the farm the more he grew on me. I'm so glad this hardworking farmer got her happily ever after.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dora lives on her farm in Yorkshire with her two collies Dax and Bet 🐕 The farm belonged to her grandfather but she now runs it. She raises ewes, lambs and makes a living out of her livestock by selling her fleeces to hand spinners.

Dora was dating a vet named Chris but they broke up six months previously when she found out he was cheating on her with an Elvie who runs the local riding stables.

Her sister Cassandra and her twelve-year-old nephew Hawthorn are moving into her farmhouse because their parents are building an extension in their house🏠 Cass’s hoping to stay with Dora for at least three months until the extension has been completed.

When she finally meets the Hawthorn’s tutor she’s surprised to recognize him as Leo Drayfield—who now goes by Nat—whom she hadn’t seen in twelve years. But Nat claims Leo was his brother.

Meanwhile, the farmhouse is in need of repair and Cass has suggested they sell the property but Dora wouldn’t hear of it. Cass then offers to help redo the place, paint here, rearrange furniture, and such.
Cute read, funny characters, and an idyllic setting.

Thank you to Jane Lovering, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this book.

[Sally Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely warm escapism book. Dora is a great main character and I loved her interaction with Cass, and the way her character grew. With plenty of humour and great setting the book is a very enjoyable read and one that is quite hard to put down

[Jaclyn B-P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another audiobook. It was a quaint story, but a bit too "old-time" for my taste. While I do appreciate when an author paints a descriptive picture so set the scene, this was a bit over-done and left me wanting to skip ahead out of boredom. Not a bad read, but not a favourite either.

[Chrystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! My Herriott loving heart enjoyed every moment of this heartwarming book. I feel so sappy writing that, but it's true.

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely easy read.......

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review to follow!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story.

It was soothing, sweet, and hopeful.

It touched me slowly and steadily - like honey on a soar throat.

[Beth Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read!

I enjoyed so much about this book. Beautiful setting, great main characters and a very satisfying ending. I especially loved reading about the sheep farm- the scene with the rustlers was fantastic!

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home on Folly Farm is the perfect escapism, it’s heart-warming and incredibly feel-good, you can’t help but smile as you read, once finished you settle back and feel in no other words but very happy.

I can’t believe that this is my first book by Jane Lovering – really?? How can that be? I have a few of her backlist on my Kindle and like so many other books on there, they are still waiting to be read, I can’t wait to read more from her now though, I have fallen completely under her spell, I adore the humour and her charming and engaging story-telling.

I will be honest and say that the first thing that captured my attention about this book and made me want to read it was the fact it’s set in my beloved home county, I know I am biased but I do love reading stories set in Yorkshire.

I love the setting – have I mentioned that already? It’s as picturesque and beautiful on the page as it is in real life, but the harshness of the Shepherdess lifestyle which Dora lives is realistic and makes you admire Dora all the more. Being a Shepherd in the middle of the moors isn’t the easiest of lifestyles and I think that came across in moments during the book. Lovering really brings the characters and the Moors alive with her easy to read and charming writing, and she also showcases the brilliant Yorkshire humour which is in a league all of its own.

I love that the main character is a Shepherdess, reading Dora’s side of the story makes me think of the ‘Yorkshire Shepherdess’ (for those who don’t know who that is, it’s the marvellous Amanda Owen who with her huge family are Sheep hill farmers in the middle of the Moors.). As tough as her life is, I think the hard graft and solitary lifestyle suits Dora, she has left the hustle and bustle of the city to help preserve the rare breed of sheep which her grandfather has been so lovingly nurturing and all those before them.

But, Dora’s life is soon turned on its head with the arrival of her sister; Cassie and her entourage of brattish social media, celebratory obsessed son and his tutor. There goes Dora’s quite happy life! That is not the real problem with Cassie turning up, she also brings with her memories and sadness which Dora has tried so very hard to push to the back of her mind, locked away never to be thought of again – but when you are faced with what you’re trying to run from, hardening your heart is easier said than done.

There is an element of sadness that Dora holds close and the more of what happened in her past is revealed the more you understand her and you can’t help yourself to like her. I took to Dora from the start she is a wonderful character, I was intrigued as to what she was running away from and I really liked her ability to really dive into the task at hand.

Cassie, on the other hand, I really didn’t like her I understood there was the story behind her too but even once all was revealed I still couldn’t find myself liking her or her son. They reminded me too much of spoiled little brats who think they are entitled to everything in life with so much as lifting a finger – unfortunately she reminded me of too many people I actually know. I tried to like her, I really did – but I couldn’t.

Apart from certain characters I loved every other aspect of this, I loved the easy to read and speedy pacing, it’s one of those books which you can fall into and devour in one sitting (if of course, you have the time). I may have mentioned I liked Dora and I loved the setting.

I thoroughly enjoyed the overall feel of Home and Folly Farm, it’s light-hearted, it’s humous, charming and most of all it makes you smile.

What more could you want?

A definite must read, and I can’t wait to finally sit down and read more from Jane Lovering!

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home on Folly Farm, The perfect uplifting romantic comedy for 2021, Jane Lovering

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Women's Fiction, General Fiction (Adult)

I love Jane's books. On the surface they're a cute, HEA story but when you get into them there is so much more. This one is set in rural Yorkshire, small sheep farm, and was so well described I felt I was there, alongside the characters. It covers so much, teen pregnancy, depression, drug taking, coping with the loss of children, so many interwoven subjects, and all handled sensitively, and in such a way that they don't drag the story down, don't depress the reader but made me want to know more about the characters. And it's full of quiet, subtle humour like this “ a bit like being haunted by Reebok” in relation to Thor and his trainers....you have to look for some of it or you'll miss is, its so cleverly done.


I loved Dora – but then we're seeing her via her own voice, so of course events are skewed to her perspective. I hated Cass to begin, in fact for the greater part of the novel, but again as we see at the end I'm viewing her through Dora's perspective, not exactly unbiased. Nat, lovely, lovely Nat, quiet but firm, brilliant tutor, and not just to Thor. And of course that brings me to Thor, who was a fabulous character. I loved seeing his transformation from sullen, bored, preteen to excitable, normal twelve year old boy.

The sheep rustling scene is one that will stay with me, Thor and his Vlog followers, gang of teens dragging their parents out of bed at 4am for an adventure, and to rescue web famous lambs Flick and Knife – yep, Thor named them. I had tears running down my face, had to keep rereading as the words blurred, it was hysterically funny.
I hate when a book promises “ you will laugh out loud” because I find that rarely delivers, but this scene, well, it was just what I needed in these grim Covid days. An unexpected bonus.

Its a fabulous story, with so much real life packed in, so much abut human psyche, how we react to others, become whats expected. By the end I felt I really understood the characters, and could see events with a different eye. The same things happened, the same results, but the characters weren't the dislikable, selfish ones I thought, but had reasons for acting that way and when Dora understood that it really improved her life and relationships too. The months on the farm transformed all of them, they all ended in a better place.


Stars: Five, a gem of a read, Jane's wonderful writing, delivering another perfect story, pathos and humour, love and disasters, all in one great novel.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Lovering invites you to escape the rat race for a while by heading to the Yorkshire moors in her funny, warm and magical new novel, “Home on Folly Farm.”

Pandora (Dora) has been managing her grandfather’s fifty-acre arm for the past ten years and caring for the flock of 100 rare sheep by herself. Life in the Yorkshire moors has become predictable and comfortable. You can imagine her shock when her glamorous younger sister, Cass, and son, Hawthorn, along with Nat, Hawthorn’s tutor, arrive unexpectedly from London and announce they are staying for three months. Dora and Cass’s relationship has always been rocky, but now it’s put under further stress.

This book focuses on the need for family to pull together, the need for old hurts to be resolved and the need for neighbours to watch out for one another. Life on Folly Farm can be magical if everyone does their part.

This author has a great sense of humour. I was laughing out loud in public many times at the sarcastic one-liners. When I had to put the book down, I couldn’t wait to pick it up again. Although Pandora was the protagonist, I loved Cassandra’s character. She was a snarky, head in the clouds, fashion-forward younger sister. The banter between the two sisters was fantastic. I pictured my grandfather’s farm as I read and loved reading about the lambing season and farm life. The tutor was an excellent addition to the plot as he was the voice of reason for the siblings. Hawthorn, Cass’s 12-year-old son, grew on me. As he became more interested in the farm and using his social media for good, I cheered him on and loved the character growth. Unfortunately, the second half of the book seemed a bit dark for me. My husband noted that I wasn’t laughing while reading and that I was reading for shorter periods of time. I think it might be that Cass’s character changed and the humour was written out of the plot and replaced with more inappropriate language. It was almost as if someone else had finished writing the novel.

Please don’t let my disappointment sway your decision. This book will be published on March 16, 2021, and you should read it and decide for yourself.

Thank you to Jane Lovering, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jan Fore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home on Folly Farm
Jane Lovering
March 16, 2021

Pandora left home at 18 when she discovered her 16 year old sister was pregnant. Their parents insisted on helping Cass and keeping her in their estate in London to raise the child. Dora felt neglected by her parents, especially her mother. Dora left for college, did alright for a few years and then it was party, party, party. Her friends led her into a lifestyle that was disastrous. Finally when her mother let on that Grandfather needed help on the family sheep farm in Hawthorn she returned to the farm abandoning friends, especially Leo Drayfield; the one guy she could never erase from her heart.
When Cass and her son, Hawthorn arrived for an unexpected stay during lambing season she was ready to ‘CryUncle’ especially when she discovered they were there until the expansion on the London house was finished. Cass was used to posh clothes, help with Thor, not working, tanning sessions, salons, etc. Dora did not know where to put her in the 250 year old farmstead. After Grandfather had passed she had done her best to raise the sheep and keep the roof solid overhead. Paint was peeling on the outside as well as inside. What furniture she had was there from her grandparents. Dora was bound to make a go of it and had for the last 8 years. Now that she was thirty with no prospects in sight things just continued on and on. Having Cass, her 12 year old nephew, Thor and the tutor, Nate living with her would be a challenge.
Home on Folly Farm was a clever journal of the foursome and their daily station. As Cass eased up on her criticisms and Dora spent more time in the house rather than out with the sheep there became a peaceful existence for the most part. I enjoyed this novel with its English dialect. It is blended into the dialog making it fun to read. Jane Lovering’s newest book, Home on Folly Farm published by Boldwood Books Ltd of London on March 16, 2021. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review this pleasant book via NetGalley. When you find it’s time for tea and a good read, pick up this witty diary of sheep husbandry. Enjoy!

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

When unexpected guests arrive at Folly Farm right in the middle of lambing season, farmer, Dora isn't very impressed, especially as these guests aren't entirely welcome. Dora and her sister Cass are totally different in character, neither one complimenting the other, and the addition of Cass's pre-teenage son, Thor, and his handsome tutor, Nat, doesn't exactly make life any easier for Dora.

What then follows is an interesting, and funny, family story about how this unusual quartet learn to tolerate each other, and even though Dora is still not sure about sharing her home space with them, she does start to mellow, and I think that's what makes this such a lovely story to read. I thought it would be all about angst and arguments but the author cleverly allows each of the characters to have their own space so that we come to appreciate them as individuals.

Home on Folly Farm has a lovely pastoral setting in Yorkshire and I came to love those sections which had Dora tending to her flock of rare breed sheep and all the trials and tribulations of running a farm when finances are threatened, and the horror of sheep rustlers who are targeting lonely, rural farms. Equally, I enjoyed getting to know more about Cass and Thor, who start off as proper townies only to succumb to the magic of Folly Farm. My favourite, and perhaps the most enigmatic character, is Nat whose past is about to catch up with him in the most unexpected of circumstances.

Home on Folly Farm is a beautifully written, and totally engaging read, and although it covers some quite dark issues, it has, at its core, a lovely heartwarming story about the quirkiness of family, the love of the countryside, and the possibility of a second chance at love.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second chance contemporary romance and family drama set on a Yorkshire farm. It is to this farm that Dora escaped more than a dozen years ago. She moved to live with her Grandad, learning more about his farm and the rare breed sheep that he raises there. After his death, she inherited the farm and has continued living and working there alone ever since. Well, until now! Uninvited, her sister, Cass(andra), turns up bringing with her, her twelve year old son, (Haw)Thor(n) and his tutor, Nat and proclaims she’ll be staying with Dora for around three months . . . . Dora and Cass have had little to do with each other over the years and are truly opposites in personality. Dora is hard working, independent and enjoys peace and quiet. Cass is used to having their Mum looking after her and Thor, more used to having manicures than working or getting her hands dirty! Then there’s Nat, who looks so much like Leo, the person Dora related so well to as a teenager . . . There’s going to be plenty of family drama as the four endeavour to live and work together – and that’s with out the vloggers and rustlers!

This is an engaging read, a story where the countryside, sheep and rural life are intrinsic to events and where love, laughter and learning are entwined with potential romances, well kept secrets and surprises. It is a story where the past has been hidden from others but is slowly revealed, where love is given a second chance and teenagers and their parents bring perpetrators to justice! It has a mix of humour and deliberation, fun and turmoil, in a story that keeps you turning the pages in the hopes of a HEA.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

[Misfits farm · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much more than a romcom- a book with a message and one to make you smile.Dora lives quite happily on her sheep farm in Yorkshire that was her grandfathers, until one day her sister and son and tutor arrive on the doorstep from London to stay for 3 months whilst Dora and Cass’s parents do an extension. They are not in the least bit “countryfied” and Dora finds her sister hard work at the best of times. A sister that has been pampered by her parents, done little to earn anything for herself and expects everyone to bow to her and her son Thor (short for Hawthorn- yes really!) and do everything for them. (why oh why do so many parents do this is beyond me). Someone who takes for granted everything from being fed to being waited on and doing very little in return. Dora is understandably at her wits end but doing her best to keep the peace aided by Nat, Thor’s tutor who has arrived with them. When he first arrives Dora thinks she recognises him as an ex- boyfriend Leo who broke her heart many years ago. When asked he says he is the brother and that Leo is now dead.
I enjoyed this. Dora is a force to be reckoned with but has a good heart and certainly isn't a pushover. She works hard, expects fairplay but is rather soft with her sister (who can’t wash up because of her nails?*?!) despite her being the reason Dora went a little astray when she was younger as all focus was on Cass and her baby. As the book says neglect comes in many forms. An uplifting story with a smile, a twist or two, a little mystery, a little romance and a little frustration that of course all sorts itself out one way or another.#a wonderful uplifting read.