New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock

Wildflower Lock #1

by Hannah M. Lynn

The start of a BRAND NEW series from Hannah Lynn, bestselling author of the Holly Berry Sweet Shop series! New starts and hopeful hearts...

At 25, Daisy May’s life is not living up to expectations. Her childhood dreams of being an artist feel as unachievable as a committed relationship or managing to save enough money for a deposit on a house. But a surprise inheritance could change all that.

After Daisy learns she’s now the new owner of a forty-foot narrow boat, she sets out for Wildflower Lock, where the fresh country breeze and the calm water is enough to assure her everything will be okay.

With the help of the ruggedly attractive, yet grumpy riverman, Theo, she begins to work on her new home, the September Rose. Can she breathe new life into the old boat and learn to navigate not only the canals themselves, but also the people who live there? Or will the whole venture pull her under?

‘Heartfelt and engrossing - you’ll fall in love with Wildflower Lock.’ Fay Keenan

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult, British Literature

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2023

About the author

Hannah Lynn is a multi award winning novelist. Publishing her first book, Amendments – a dark, dystopian speculative fiction novel, in 2015. Her second book, The Afterlife of Walter Augustus – a contemporary fiction novel with a supernatural twist – went on to win the 2018 Kindle Storyteller Award and the Independent Publishers Gold Medal for Best Adult Ebook.

Born in 1984, Hannah grew up in the Cotswolds, UK. After graduating from university, she spent 15 years as a teacher of physics, first in the UK and then Thailand, Malaysia, Austria and Jordan. It was during this time, inspired by the imaginations of the young people she taught, she began writing short stories for children, and later adult fiction.

With over 30 publications spanning a number of genres and translated into a dozen languages, Hannah has proven herself to be both an accomplished and prolific author.

Now settled back in the UK with her husband, daughter and clowder of cats, she spends her days writing romantic comedies and historical fiction. Her first historical fiction novel, Athena's Child, was also a 2020 Gold Medalist at the Independent Publishers Awards.

Reviews

[Rachel Stansel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely story with great characters. Daisy inherits a boat from her paternal side, who she never met. This brings her new info that changes what she thought she knew. Enjoyed the read. Would have given 4 stars but I hate a story that ends with no satisfactory conclusion of any story line, just a cliffhanger for book 2. At least wrap something up.

Full disclosure - I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Lauren Prior · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5* easy breezy and a little bit cheesy

[heather | booksbyheath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ — cute but not wow

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! I’m a sucker for books set on canals, and this book perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being down by the river side. I was instantly hooked into this.

We open with Daisy May, our main character, who’s feeling a bit lost in life. A frequent job hopper, she’s moved away from her dream of illustrating books, and is simply getting through the days. Until, one day, she learns that she’s inherited a canal boat, from her fathers side of the family - a father who wasn’t around during her childhood, and who passed away while she was a teenager.

With some help from her friends, and the handsome Theo who lives on the boat next door, Daisy sets about fixing up the worn down boat, in preparation to sell it….but the canal life has its temptations…

Sometimes I avoid books like these, from a fear that they’ll be too sickly sweet - but this was perfect in its escapism, while still handling very real issues that can’t be dreamt away, such as mooring fees, jobs, rent, and the very real work it takes to do up a narrowboat, while also still remaining comforting and lovely. The setting helps a lot with that - the author does a beautiful job at describing the canal side.

There is a lot of heart to this story, in watching Daisy learn things about her past, slowly reconnect with the things that she loves, and consider opening her heart again after a harsh break up. I also just adored Theo, and reading about how him and Daisy slowly warmed up to each other. I would also quite like to live on Yvonne’s whimsical, incense filled, boat, and I would love to see more of her in future books.

The last chapter had me kicking my feet! I’m so looking forward to returning to Wildflower Lock, and seeing what awaits Daisy and Theo. Bring on the next instalment!

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for this copy to review!

[Sarah Kingsnorth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Lynn - New Beginnings At Wildflower Lock.

I’ll start this review with a confession... I am ashamed to say that this is the first book that I have read by Hannah Lynn. I’m genuinely not sure how I have missed her work.

#NewBeginningsAtWildflowerLock is a wonderfully feel good read, that will transport you to somewhere quite lovely and give you a few hours out of hum - drum reality.

An unexpected inheritance gives Daisy a new direction in life.
As she makes her new home her own, she learns more about her family history and about who she is too.

There is of course a moody, brooding male in the mix. Theo is actually really rather lovely and becomes a solid friend to Daisy.

I enjoyed Hannah’s writing. It flows well and feels effortlessly charming.

The setting of Wildflower Lock is gorgeous. It’s peace and beauty radiate from the story.

Ok, I have to mention the ending.
This story is not neatly tied up with a bow at the end.
There are loose threads. BUT on the positive side, #NewBeginningsAtWildflowerLock is the first book in a new series, so I suspect all those loose ends will be neatly rounded off and we will have so much more to come from the lovely Wildflower Lock.

Over all, #NewBeginningsAtWildflowerLock is quite simply a glorious read. It’s warm hearted and the most wonderful place to lose yourself in for a few hours.

A warm, feel good read, and a great start to a new series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for a digital arc of this title.

[Caitlyn Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A purely cozy read with some budding romance, boat renovations and themes of rediscovering your passions in life & becoming unblocked. Loved the descriptions of the spring and summertime canal boat loch life. The sentimental family drama was not wrapped up by the end of the book and felt a little heavy for a cozy read. But what wasn’t there to love about Theo?

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

They didn’t even kiss and I was on the edge of my seat! Can’t wait for the next book!

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely start to a new series. This book was sweet as well as an interesting read. I could picture the canal as I was reading as I've walked along a few in my time. I'm looking forward to the next one in this series. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous start to a new series!

Daisy May's life hasn't turned out how she thought it would. Childhood dreams of being an artist have been lost along the way and here she is, 25 years old, boring job, rented home, no saving, no significant other. Thankfully she has a great couple of friends who are very excited when she gets an inheritance. Not cash, not a house - but a boat! Making plans to sell it and use the money to change her life, Daisy May sets off for Wildflower Lock to find her inheritance . . .

I've read several of Hannah Lynn's novels and always found them to be well-crafted and beautifully written. I couldn't believe my luck when I found she had a new series and it is fabulously enjoyable. Luckily, I have the second one lined up for next month. Always fresh and entertaining, I'm happy to both recommend this one and five it all five sparkly stars!

[The Blind Bard · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been several years since I last picked up one of Hannah's novels (despite her being one of the few people I actually bother following on social media and whose Peas and Carrots series I devoured in a month) and after finishing this book, I can safely say — why on earth have I not read one in all that time?! New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock is a beautiful, charming book, full of heart. The characters are so brimming with life and the setting so gorgeous, it's one of those books you really want to fall into, Alice-in-Wonderland style. There's also lots of moments that made me laugh people very nearly shed a tear, and I already suspect I'll adore this series as much as I did the Peas and Carrots one. Highly recommend — it's a perfect summer read :)

[Olga Godim · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Not a great novel but an adequate one. At least I finished it, even though I can't say I liked it. The characters, the plot, the narrative, the pacing - everything was average, readable but no more.

[Dan-Linh Le · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book series has potential. I appreciate that though it has the typical, predictable rom com notes, there is some originality to it. I feel that since we are just being introduced to the characters and they are at the start of the development.

Btw I do not like MC’s mom Pippa. She seems like a self-righteous and dishonest hypocrite when it came to MC’s dad.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute clean audiobook. 3.5 rounded up

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic new series on a canal has had me hooked. I just wanted it to carry on, I will just have to patience and wait.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know, I always think there’s a real art in writing the first book in a series – making it enough of a story to hook you in, to get you invested in the characters, and make sure that you’ll be eager to pick up the next book and see how things develop. And I will mention that this book is very much a “to be continued” – complete in some ways, but with enough loose ends to be tied up later, and a few hares set running that I’ll really enjoy reading more about.

For all sorts of reasons, Daisy May hasn’t been able to settle into a contented life – her ambition of being an artist just didn’t work out, and she’s found herself moving from one dissatisfying job to the next just to pay the bills. Brought up by her mum, they’re still very much in each others’ pockets – and she also has two particularly close and supportive friends. Her father’s never really been part of her life, and her mother refuses to talk about him – so it comes as rather a surprise when she finds out about the death of her grandfather (her father’s father) and that he’s left her his much loved narrowboat, the September Rose, moored at Wildflower Lock. It’s very dilapidated – unlike the rather swish boat on the next mooring that belongs to the distinctly abrasive Theo – and filled with boxes of rubbish, but a little googling makes her realise that if she did some work it could be the answer to her financial worries. While her relationship with Theo begins to warm up a bit, and he helps her with the improvements, she learns more about her family and discovers that her mother has been keeping a few important secrets – and, when things begin to go wrong for her elsewhere in her life, begins to wonder whether the narrowboat could become her home.

The friendships in this book are really well drawn – even if things are a little frenetic at times, but they are all in their 20s – and I particularly enjoyed Daisy’s developing relationship with Theo, who proves to be far from the misery he seemed at first. Their exchanges are just wonderfully written – sparky and sassy, with a growing hint of attraction (when he clearly has a girlfriend) adding a little spice. Everything involved in renovating the boat was just fascinating – clearly really well researched – and Daisy certainly gained my respect when it came to clearing out the grungy water tank (from inside…!). I really liked the emotional back story as the secrets were slowly uncovered – there’s a great deal more depth to this story than you might initially be expecting. And I loved the vividly drawn setting, and the community she begins to feel part of – beautifully done.

Well, it certainly worked for me – I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s storytelling, and I’m looking forward already to seeing what happens next (especially with Theo!) and whether Daisy’s plans for the future can come to fruition. I’m looking forward to my next visit already – this was a really heartwarming and engaging summer read, and one I’d thoroughly recommend.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books)]

New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock is the first in a new series from Hannah Lynn, and I’m pretty confident to say it’s not a spoiler to advise you this ends on a cliffhanger. It’s a fact and I know some readers aren’t keen on these and prefer to wait for more than one book to be published before diving in (this is usually me as I’m really impatient, this is why I binge read or watch things, however as an ARC reader I’m growing and learning to cope more/be more patient) For me and my continued reading growth I’m really glad to say that there being a cliffy didn’t affect my love for this story, yes I’m desperate to know what happens next, but it means I’m invested and really enjoying the story.

Hannah Lynn has a wonderful way of creating a wide range of likeable, realistic and relatable characters. Daisy our main character is such so lovely, your girl a next door, hard working and struggling on (see so realistic) she faces setbacks and disappointments that don’t disappear magically. Two of her friends, Bex and Claire really made an impression on me too, they aren’t your run-of-the-mill chaotic, extroverted besties, no they are the reliable, honest, good friends that you have in real life. (Might be just me but I don’t have those theatrical friends I read in some books)

Because this is the first book in the series, this is a gentle introduction to our cast of characters, as well as meeting Daisy’s friends, family, and some of the narrow boat owners we also get some lovely descriptions and scene setting of the narrowboat lifestyle. It seems such a romantic way of living, I loved the fact Hannah Lynn didn’t just focus on all the shiny loveliness of the idea, but also showed the hard work and downside to the lifestyle as well. I am still jealous of anyone who gets to live it though, maybe one day.


This really is a feel good story , the setting of Wildflower Lock is beautiful , Daisy is a delight and a joy to read her story, I look forward for more to come and finding out what happens next. Roll on book two.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who as always fantasized about living on a boat, this book hooked me from the start. Why? Because twenty-five-year-old Daisy May, heartbroken wannabe artist, inherits a forty-foot narrow boat in the books's beginning, and afterward, a delightful story full of hope and hijinks, ensues.

First, there are the realities of inheriting and renovating a boat - not something you can do when you don't have much money. Then there are her good friends Becks and Claire, who support her, encourage her, help her clean out the boat, and keep her laughing even when she's receiving yet another bill she has to pay. And then there's the handsome guy, Theo, who has the boat in the next mooring.

What I loved about this story was that there was humor even in the worst calamaties. I also appreciated that, even with every thing thrown at her, Daisy never gives up. Whether it's people complaining that she's leaving things in the path as she cleans, or threaten her because of unreasonable noise after an impromptu dance party, Daisy doesn't walk away. Her sheer stubbornness makes her interesting and endearing, and also represents one of her flaws. I like characters who aren't perfect.

I also liked that the exposition of Daisy's family history - her deceased father, her tight-lipped mother, and the grandfather who left her the boat - came out organically rather than in a single info-dump. Backstory is important, but getting it through conversations and actions is much better than having it presented as a lump, and making it seem natural is a skill not every author has.

I liked the use of dialogue and dialect to differentiate the local rivermen and -women from city girls like Daisy, something I appreciated in print and really enjoyed in the audio version of this novel.

Overall, New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock is a breezy summer read that does not disappoint. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

Goes well with: pop music, water color paints, and cold beer.

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something romantic about the idea of restoring and living on a narrow boat. I’m sure that with all the required hard work, the reality is a little more sobering than the dream, but I do have friends who enjoy the boating lifestyle, and I am a little bit envious. Daisy May is a delightful protagonist, and she brings a lovely helping of joy to this story.
Seemingly incapable of holding down a job for more than a couple of months, she’s drifted away from her dreams of finding her future as an artist. Raised by a single mother, who in turn was also raised by a single mother, she thinks she knows everything about her past. An official letter from a firm of solicitors turns everything on its head.
Discovering that her paternal grandfather has left her a narrow boat in his will, she visits Wildflower Lock to learn more. Initially making an incorrect assumption about which boat is hers, she discovers Theo, a handsome yet grumpy neighbour. After a difficult first meeting, they agree to work together to restore her inheritance to its former glory.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Daisy and Theo and exploring the community at Wildflower Lock. As Daisy learned more about her grandfather and father, she discovers that she has been raised with a few lies. She has to dig deep to find the happiness that she is craving and perhaps unlock some deeply buried memories.
As this is the first in what appears to be a new series, it was more of a gentle introduction to some lovely characters. We meet Daisy’s friends, her mother, and some of the other narrow boat owners and I got the distinct feeling that we will be meeting them again in future instalments.
The characters are nicely developed, and their story arcs are gentle but not fully navigated. This book leaves the reader with unfinished business and the promise of more to follow. I am already looking forward to returning to Wildflower Lock and hopefully seeing Daisy make her home on the September Rose.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐Rating - 4

I really enjoyed New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock! It’s the perfect light-hearted read for when you want something cozy and uplifting. The story effortlessly draws you in with its warm, inviting atmosphere, making you feel right at home from the very first page. I loved how the author created a charming canal barge community filled with vibrant details that brought the story to life; I could almost picture the wildflowers swaying along the water’s edge as the boats floated by.

Even though there was no kiss (which I was kind of hoping for), the story was still gripping and kept me turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next. The romantic tension between the characters was palpable, and I found myself rooting for their connection to deepen, even without that physical moment. The character development was a highlight for me; each character felt well-rounded and relatable, with their own unique quirks and challenges that made their journeys feel genuine and compelling.

The interactions among the members of the canal barge community added an extra layer of charm, showcasing the importance of camaraderie and friendship in the characters' lives. The author skilfully wove humour and heart into the narrative, balancing moments of laughter with deeper reflections on life and new beginnings.

Overall, New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock is definitely a lovely escape! It left me feeling uplifted and hopeful, reminding me of the beauty in starting anew and the connections we build along the way. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a feel-good read that will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face!

[Anjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read another series by the author and liked two of the books in that series more than the other two. I thought I would give this new one a shot as well.
The story begins with a mother and daughter. The daughter has money problems and feels a little directionless in life. She has two best friends who seem to know what they want to do in with their lives, and seeing them makes her feel a little more lost.
She then finds out that her estranged grandfather left her a houseboat. This surprising fact makes her think that her luck has turned, but that, too, doesn't go according to plan.
Once at the lock where the boat is docked, information starts to come to light, which rocks the foundation of the previously mentioned mother-daughter relationship.
I appreciated how our protagonist's art is not treated as something extraordinary straight away. There is some amount of work that she would need to put in to make something from that idea.
The love story is a little dicey, in my opinion, mostly because I am not very fond of the dynamics that are described in the book.
Although this book will work well with fans of the genre, I might not be continuing with the series. The author has paused the first book in a very appropriate position to make it a longer and more involved set of books.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[HeyItsTeeXo - OnTheShelfTee · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆⁺₊⋆☽⋆ 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 ⋆☾⋆⁺₊⋆
ꔫ — ∘♡༉∘ — ✩ — ∘༉♡∘ — ꔫ
౨ৎ𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 ♥ 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲౨ৎ
౨ৎ07.04.25 ౨ৎ

— ∘♡༉∘ — 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 — ∘༉♡∘ —
🌶 - spice (more chillis the spicier it is)
🔥 - the burn (more fire the faster the burn)
✨ - the star rating
ꔫ — ∘♡༉∘ — ✩ — ∘༉♡∘ — ꔫ
🔥
✨✨✨✨
ꔫ — ∘♡༉∘ — ✩ — ∘༉♡∘ — ꔫ

ꔫ — ∘♡༉∘ — 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀✩ — ∘༉♡∘ — ꔫ
enemy to lover? (not quite but they do start out on the wrong foot and disliking one another from the jump)
- WARNING This may be a bit of a spoiler so i am blocking it but this may be useful info to some-
while everyone has their own opinions on this but to me it still feels like cheating
there is 'potential' emotional cheating. MMC is in a relationship when its very obvious he is developing feelings for the FMC. NO ACTUAL cheating happens. take this info as you will.
ꔫ — ∘♡༉∘ — ✩ — ∘༉♡∘ — ꔫ

— ∘♡༉∘ — 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 — ∘༉♡∘ —
This was a really nice read, i enjoyed the obvious tension between Theo and Daisy May.
Reading the push and pull Daisy has with painting and wanting to paint again but struggling to allow herself to dream and want to do the thing she is passionate about was a change of pace from most books i read, The story starts out on Daisy inheriting a Boat from her paternal Grandfather she never really met and from there some secrets about her family are made known. I enjoyed this alot and it does end on a cliffhanger so to speak and have since started book 2 which continues on Daisy Mays story.
ꔫ — ∘♡༉∘ — ✩ — ∘༉♡∘ — ꔫ

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this sweet story about a woman finding her place in life while following her dream. Add in a boat that needs fixin' up, a friendly, hot next-door neighbor who lends her an ear, and a regrettable secret that her mom kept hidden from her for years, and you get a wonderful adventure at Wildflower Lock.

Daisy May is in limbo. She's trying to find a job she doesn't despise and a happy place to come home to. She didn't expect to inherit a broken-down boat from a grandfather she did not know. I mean what did she know about boating? With some help from Theo who owns the boat moored next to her, and support from her best friends Bex and Claire, she gains confidence that she can flip this boat and sell it for a good price. However, her personal life goes to shit and she has found out her mother has lied to her all of her life about her absent father. It's bad enough she felt like a failure when her ex left her and she dropped out of college, but my heart broke for Daisy when she discovered her life was not all it seemed and she missed out on so much love. In the end, the boating life was better than Daisy hoped and, with her artistic skills and some brainstorming, she may be able to live the life she always wanted.

I was fascinated with the lock systems and I adored the friendly people on the river and understood why Daisy felt like she belonged.

There is an attraction and budding friendship between Theo and Daisy with a surprising meet cute at the beginning, but their relationship is complicated and their future is left to the imagination at the end. As for Daisy's relationship with her mother, Pippa, Daisy can't stay mad forever, but it's clear that her mother deserves to feel bad for what she did to her daughter. Personally, I would have made Pippa stew in her misery much longer. 

I highly recommend this delightful and moving story with a compelling protagonist who finds her home in the most unexpected of places.

Thank you to Ms. Lynn for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

[Storied Conversation · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is new to me and the book was good. However, there was nothing to indicate that this was going to end in a cliffhanger. Cliffhangers drive me up the wall, which is why I took off a star. I’m fine with having to read multiple books if I know in advance. I like to be prepared for them.

The book itself is well written and I enjoyed both Daisy and Theo. Daisy inherits a boat from her father’s side of the family and while her dreams of being an artist just isn’t happening she decides that maybe she will do up her new houseboat. As she works on the boat she begins to understand her family more as well as herself.

It is honestly a good read, I just wish I had the rest of it right away. Although I will say that the cliffhanger was spectacularly written.


I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This review was originally posted on Storied Conversation

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is new to me this year and am so pleased to have found their books as they write perfect escapism stories that are so much more than just romance and have real characters with relatable life issues.

I read new beginnings at wildflower lock in one sitting as l couldn’t put it down it was such a poignant and beautiful escapism read both with the storyline and the descriptions of the setting and was a book that felt like a really positive read and that new beginnings are possible with a little bit of determination and help from friends.

I loved the characters of Daisy and Theo and could visualise the scenes of the book playing out on the page and loved how their characters developed as the story progressed. Reading this made me craze the peace and quiet of the waterways and also brought back memories of a fabulous barge holiday I had years ago.

I am really hoping that this is going to be the start of a fabulous series as would love to read more about how daisies new journey continues especially after how the book ended.

[Kathleen Ryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

BLURB:
At 25, Daisy May’s life is not living up to expectations. Her childhood dreams of being an artist feel as unachievable as a committed relationship or managing to save enough money for a deposit on a house. But a surprise inheritance could change all that.

After Daisy learns she’s now the new owner of a forty-foot narrow boat, she sets out for Wildflower Lock, where the fresh country breeze and the calm water is enough to assure her everything will be okay.

MY REVIEW:
I wish there had been an indication that this was book 1 in a series, I don’t like being lied to, even by omission. I hate a story that ends with no satisfactory conclusion of any of the plots or subplots, just a cliffhanger.

A light, simple read. The plot was okay, and follows Daisy as she inherits a boat from her father’s side of the family, a side she has never met before. New truths come to light, changing what she thought she knew.

The characters were wonderful, but I found the plot lacking something.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

[Readsandeats · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daisy May is 25 and feels that there is more to life for her that what she is currently doing. She used to dream of being an artist but that has not happened and she is just working in a job she does not love to pay her bills. Her relationship with her mother is not that close but she has two close friends that are there for her and she for them.
Out of the blue she discovers she has inherited a house boat called September Rose and goes to investigate. She gets on the wrong boat and meets Theo, the grumpy but very attractive Riverman.
With things at work deteriorating and her flat rent increasing Daisy decides to do up her house boat with a view to selling. However, the more time she spends working on the boat and getting to know the other people who live in boats nearby, she learns more about herself and her family. Maybe now she will learn what secrets her Mum is keeping.
This was an enjoyable read, I liked Daisy and Theo, their interaction was fun. I did find the ending very abrupt though which was off putting, I know there is going to be a sequel so may be that was why.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt right at home in this story, despite it only being the second book I've ever read from this author, and the first book of this series.

The writing just drew me in so quickly, and I warmed to Daisy-May incredibly fast.

To the extent with each secret she undiscovers about her past I really felt for her.

There is something really inviting about a canal boat setting, and reading about the renovations and Daisy's first trips out on the boat, were just lovely. And I could really picture the landscape.

However the ending, well that makes me thing this must be the first book in a new series and it makes me very eager to carry on reading. Not so much a cliffhanger, but definitely a "happy for now" sort of feel to the end of the book, with an inkling that more will come.

An absolute joy to devour.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Rickus Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book from start to finish and devoured it in just a few hours. Daisy was such a lovely main character and really enjoyed that she was just a normal girl, working hard and just trying to scrape by. I also loved that she had setbacks that were realistic in the sense that some did end "badly" and she was not miraculously saved from them.

Her friends Bex and Claire was also really enjoyable. They weren't over the top like in some books, instead they complemented Daisy and the story very well.

This really was a feelgood story and it showed both the good and bad sides of life. The setting of the canal boats and Wildflower Lock just made the story more feelgood and I would have loved to be able to join Daisy on her boat for a trip down the canals.

Full review over here: https://rickusbookshelf.wordpress.com...

But that ending though!!! I need more!! I was not ready to be done with this story and really hope that there will be a sequel to it.

[Anabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

First in Hannah Lynn's newest series, NEW BEGINNINGS AT WILDFLOWER LOCK is a sweet, introductory book to the life (and struggles) of Daisy May. After unexpectedly inheriting a canal boat, Daisy May begins to unlock new passions and parts of her past some in her life would rather keep hidden.

This is a very quick, very sweet read-- but be warned, it doesn't end with any true satisfaction on the readers part, just a bunch of loose ends and the hope of a sequel. The setting is picture (or painting?) perfect, and is such a beautiful part of England that doesn't seem to be explored much by romance writers. WILDFLOWER LOCK is utterly charming and perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan and Nicola May.

[mrsljgibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for my honest review.

New Beginnings At Wildflower Lock is book number one from a brand new feel-good series called ‘The Wildflower Lock’ series and now I cannot wait to read more of them!

When I first read the blurb for this book, it pulled me in and made me want to read it, it just sounded so good and like my kind of book.

I am so so glad that I read this book as it was the most perfect escapist read with a lovely touch of romance too.

The author’s style of writing was wonderful and her descriptive writing came across very well and I could easily visualise what she had written.

Daisy was a wonderful main character and I really loved being immersed in her story…….