Take a trip to Hope Cove, the wonderful seaside village in Devon. The perfect escape for stunning scenery, glorious sunshine and the County’s best scones! For Leo, it’s a place to return to. His hometown is now the place he’ll raise his daughter. The surprise daughter who was a result of a fling with a woman he barely knows. Thrust into the world of single parenting, he’s in over his head, but at least he’s surrounded by old friends to help him out.For Caitlin, it’s a place to visit as a favour to a friend. All she has to do is check that the baby her friend gave up is being well looked after, then she’ll leave again quickly.At least that was the plan.When she feels an immediate attraction to Leo, all plans go out of the window. Drawn into spending more time with him and baby Alice, Caitlin finds herself falling head over heels for the pair of them.But to be with Leo, she’ll have to betray her closest friend.Is she willing to risk losing her friend for a shot at love? And is she ready for the complications of a relationship with a single father, regardless of how right it feels?
Hannah Ellis spent many years working in childcare before deciding she'd like to write books. When she's not busy writing she likes to read, drink tea and eat chocolate. She also enjoys yoga and jogging.
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Random Things Tours and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Take a trip to Hope Cove, the wonderful seaside village in Devon. The perfect escape for stunning scenery, glorious sunshine and the County’s best scones!
For Leo, it’s a place to return to. His hometown is now the place he’ll raise his daughter. The surprise daughter who was a result of a fling with a woman he barely knows. Thrust into the world of single parenting, he’s in over his head, but at least he’s surrounded by old friends to help him out.
For Caitlin, it’s a place to visit as a favour to a friend. All she has to do is check that the baby her friend gave up is being well looked after, then she’ll leave again quickly.
At least that was the plan.
When she feels an immediate attraction to Leo, all plans go out of the window. Drawn into spending more time with him and baby Alice, Caitlin finds herself falling head over heels for the pair of them.
But to be with Leo, she’ll have to betray her closest friend.
Is she willing to risk losing her friend for a shot at love? And is she ready for the complications of a relationship with a single father, regardless of how right it feels?
My Opinion
I have read a few books by Hannah Ellis and I was sad to recently come to the end of the Isles of Scilly books, therefore I was delighted when I saw that she was writing another series. It Takes a Village is the first book in the Single Dads Club and what a great start to the series it is.
This was such a lovely, heart-warming book to read. It was an interesting idea and for me it worked well. I haven't read any of Hannah's books set in Hope Cove so all of the characters were new to me, but I already feel like we are going to get on. Another great book from Hannah Ellis and I will be on the lookout for further books in this series.
Hannah Ellis takes us back to Hope Cove in her latest series but this time the main character is single father Leo. The story begins as Leo picks up his new daughter from the hospital where he meets Caitlin a friend of Bethany, the mother of his daughter. Caitlin cannot understand Bethany's actions in giving up her daughter and their friendship continues to unravel. However, circumstances bring Leo and Caitlin together again and a fledgling friendship begins but will this blossom in to romance?
It was so lovely to head back to Hope Cove and I devoured this book in a couple of days. The characters are warm and the setting idyllic but they still have to face difficult issues before they can decide if this is the perfect romance. Old characters appear on the periphery of the story so that you get another peek in to their lives. Hannah is a prolific writer so the next in the series is due soon and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Hannah Ellis - It Takes A Village. This is the first book in, #TheSingleDadsClub a new series from accomplished author, Hannah Ellis. In it, we head back to Hope Cove in Devon. A setting previously used in Hannah’s books, so there were of course a few old faces popping in and out.
#ItTakesAVillage is Leo and Caitlin’s story.
Leo finds himself taking on a new role in his life as a single dad to his newborn baby daughter, the very sweet and adorable Alice.
Alice’s mother Bethany, isn’t interested in being a part of Alice’s life. She does however have enough of a conscience to ask her one time best friend Caitlin to check that the baby is safe and well.
There is an immediate spark between Leo and Caitlin, but with all the complications around them, they can surely only be friends and nothing more?
#ItTakesAVillage is a gorgeous read. It’s one of those books that totally envelopes the reader in it’s warmth.
I think I fell a little bit in love with Leo. His devotion to Alice melted my heart. I loved the dynamic between Leo and his two best friends Hugh and Damian, who are also both single dads. (Yes, I think you can guess the next two books in this series!) The three men have such a strong bond and support each other without question. It was also very sweet that they were all so gooey over baby Alice.
It took me a little longer to take to Caitlin. I so badly wanted her to tell Bethany where to go. Ultimately Caitlin has a kind heart and wants to please everyone.
The fizzle between Caitlin and Leo was almost audible. Their love story gave me that fluttery feeling in my tummy. It was gorgeous how things built between them.
#ItTakesAVillage is a captivating read. It’s fresh, it’s uplifting and it’s so much more than just a beautiful love story.
A fantastic start to what I am sure will be another must read series from Hannah Ellis.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Random Things Tours for a digital arc of this title.
I read this a few months ago. As the title says it is about a single father and it is clear there will be three books. Leo is the dad in this one. He has two good friends in Damian and Hugh, who are also single dads. Their kids are older though. Leo has a new born. This is the result of a brief encounter with a young woman who does not want to be a mother. She wants to give the child up for adoption but Leo is dead set against that and agrees to take the baby and raise it himself. (its been long enough since I read this book that I have forgotten the mother's name)
Caitlin works with and was a close friend to the mother. They argues at some point in the pregnancy and are not really on speaking terms. Still it is Caitlin she calls to ask to go and check on baby Alice. There are a few other things she asks Caitlin to do. All of which lead to her spending time with Leo and Alice and falling in love with both.
The mother also has her story told a bit and we get to know why she wanted the baby adopted and one feels some sympathy for her. Still it is quite convenient that she moves away to Australia leaving Caitlin and Leo to be parents to Alice.
It was a nice enough book and I was happy I read it. It was clear that there were other books before this as there are a lot of cameos from other couples. Turns out this is a spin off series to her Hope Cove series that I have not read. It was mildly annoying but not awful. I was planning on reading the whole series but I just finished book 2 (Riding the Waves: A fun and flirty small town romance) and I hated it. So we shall see.
I have been feeling a bit bereft after finishing the author’s Hope Cove series so imagine my delight when I started the first book in the Singles Dads Club series which also happens to be set there! Even though it is a whole cast of new characters, we do briefly get to see Verity and Scarlet who work in the local cafe which was great.
Leo really steps up to the mark after a brief fling which leaves him unexpectedly becoming a single father which I had to admire. He has no clue when it comes to a baby but he knows that he wants to raise his own child. It certainly isn’t easy and it did make me smile in parts. Caitlin, is the love interest who is torn between her friend and Leo who she starts to fall for.
I really felt for Caitlin who is tearing herself apart in not knowing what to do for the best. I didn’t envy her position but you can clearly see how much she likes Leo as well as baby Alice. She has other problems she is having to deal with and it isn’t the easiest of times for her. The budding relationship between her and Leo was incredibly sweet and it has you mentally pushing them both together for a happy ending.
It Takes a Village was a wonderful story of how people pull together and the realities of being a parent to a new born. Being a mother it was hard for me to contemplate how someone could ever walk away from their child but the author did it in such a sympathetic way that by the end, I felt I could understand the decisions made. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the series and can’t wait to devour the rest of them. A totally wholesome and uplifting read!
First of all, thanks so much to Random Things Tours and Anne Cater for the advance copy of this book. All views in the following review are my own.
Oh my word! Hannah Ellis! Where have you been all my life? If you are a fan of Lucy Diamond or Jenny Colgan, this brand of cosy romance will be perfect for you!
Meet Leo. And Alice, and Caitlin, Bethany, Hugh, Damien, Tessa.... Such a great cast of characters and a potentially heartbreaking but ultimately all-embracing storyline that will melt even the hardest of hearts. What more could you want, other than a brand new single dad (to the most adorable baby, Alice), sexy-sounding other single dads, and the frisson of a new romance?
Don't get me wrong - the storyline is formulaic, but isn't that what we love with this genre of book? To be fair, the underlying story of a new mother giving up her newborn to the father she didn't even date is heartwrenching, so please don't think this book is at all flippant. It isn't. It is lovely!
There were no low points at all in this book for me. I found myself completely immersed in the lives of the characters and really rooting for them. The next book is due in August, and I cannot wait to see what happens next! I have to say, it takes a lot for me to fall back into romance books, but this was exactly the breath of fresh air that I needed - a bit like living in Hope Cove.... Now, I'm off to find some more of Hannah Ellis' books!
The Single Dads series by Hannah Ellis is set in Hope Cove on the beautiful Devon coast, where three single dads are neighbours and help each other out. This is a lovely premise for a series and I am sure it will be a winner.
It Takes a Village is the story of a complex relationship between two female friends, the former male lover of one of them and a newborn baby. The way Ellis tells it, issues are dealt with by thinking things through, being kind and doing what is best for the baby. These are good messages and the book has a caring vibe. Caitlin’s colleague and friend Bethany realises she is pregnant after a drunken night out with casual boyfriend Leo. She does not want to keep baby Alice but Leo does, so she hands the child over to him. Caitlin visits Leo to make sure Alice is being well cared for and falls in love with father and daughter. Leo loves Caitlin too, but declaring their feelings may destroy a friendship and make working with Bethany impossible. Is the budding romance worth the multiple problems it may cause?
I recommend It Takes a Village for a relaxed, feel-good holiday read. I was given a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
What an incredible start to this new series from Hannah Ellis! Within the first few chapters, some of the best loved characters from the Hope Cove series appear in cameo whilst the members of the Single Dad’s club - Hugh, Damian and Leo (the protagonist of this book) are introduced in such a way that I was immediately invested in their stories.
It takes a village takes a believable and sympathetic path through a controversial story in such a way that I found myself laughing and crying almost simultaneously at times as Leo and Caitlin are drawn together.
Hannah Ellis has, once again, written a book that you don’t want to put down yet also one you don’t want to finish! I am so pleased that the next 2 books in this series are released in quick succession this year so I don’t have to wait too long!
It Takes a Village is the first of a series and the first book I have read by Hannah Ellis. Well I'm glad that I got the chance because I am swooning in love with this book and I know because when I really enjoy a book I tend to read it extra slow so that I don't miss a single word and I started this from the first page of this one until the end, so it took me a little longer to read because I wanted to make it last. In this book we are introduced to Leo who has just found out he is a father and the mother has given him full custody. Caitlin is the mother's friend and calls in just to check that the baby is safe and happy but will she develop feelings for Leo and if so how will she tell her friend? This book is a page turner and I think it is just perfect and I can't wait for the next one!
The reason I gave this book 2 stars (actually it is 2.6) is because I usually like this kind of story setting and I started this book with that intention only. But asi kept reading the book, it didn't feel as if the story is moving but I can see I finished 58% of the book and I was really shocked. I almost read half the book but still it didn't capture and encapsulate me like most books do.
Especially I loved all the characters like Hugh, Damian, Scarlett except Caitlin. But even that is not enough. So when I am finishing the book this one did nothing to me and it didn't even feel as if I finished a book.
I mean just because Bethany moved to Australia she rekindles her relationship with Leo is one of the many things I didn't like with this book
Not continuing with the series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
WOW! This is a truly feel good story dealing with complex family & friend issues. Sensitively written about a single father who wants & takes responsibility for his newborn daughter. The mother has said from the start she does not want the baby, & seriously chooses to absent herself as much as possible. The work colleague & best friend of the mother is asked to be a go-between, & finds herself having feelings for the single Dad. How the relationship develops is realistic, genuine, & bittersweet given the connections between the parties involved. Beautifully written.
It made a refreshing change to read a book with a single father at the helm. But in this day and age, as consenting adults why on earth didn't they use protection?
It Takes a Village is the first in the Single Dads Club series, where we see Leo being left to raise baby Alice alone, with her mother not wanting to be part of her life.
I loved Leo, he was the perfect Daddy and such a lovely man, and I was rooting for him and Caitlin to work things out throughout the book - stuff the fact that Caitlin works with Bethany - she was the mum that wasn't, remember? - so her opinions didn't really matter either way!
A gorgeous, heartwarming read set in picturesque Devon & host to the best scones!
Super sweet, very pg, small town romance. This is a series and if this is up your alley then it will be a good read. I didn’t love the ending - it just wrapped up too abruptly and I didn’t feel I really got a “ending” to the story. It was book one so maybe you get more later on in later books but I just needed a little more meat in this story to really get into it. I’m fine with no spice, I love series and small towns. This had good characters and a good story line but was just lacking.a bit for me
Would I recommend: maybe Would I read more by this author: maybe
As ever, beautifully written. Fell in love with all new characters and continued loving past characters immensely. Beautiful story, Beautiful characters, beautiful location. Hannah is one of my most favourite Authors. Hope Cove and the gang hold a special place in my heart and I was beyond excited to see her returning here. I cannot give it enough praise. Simply wonderful. Read it! You will fall instantly in love, as I did, and always do.
With an interesting premise, captivating writing, and, lovable (yet flawed) characters, the author crafts a compelling small-town romance. I originally had this going on as a secondary audiobook, while I was focusing more on a non-fiction work, yet, this story got so interesting that I had to finish this ASAP. I especially loved the way the conflicts were realistically resolved at the end. I'm definitely reading more of the author's works.
The single dad with a new born baby concept is really different. The way the book is written is real and heartwarming. Hannah Ellis never fails to created a sense of reality in her characters and it was great to catch up with well loved characters from previous books. Loved it
Another book in the Hope Cove series but focussing on single dads. Nice to see some characters return albeit briefly, in this story about trials of a single dad and his relationship with the mother of his baby and her best friend. A love triangle with a difference. Recommend for an easy read.
Great to be back in Hope Cove. I was instantly drawn to the new characters and the ups and downs of their individual stories which come together to make this a book I couldn't put down. Fab to see some familiar characters too! Can't wait for the next instalment!
I enjoyed the book very much, pretty simple story line. I didn’t quite understand the why Caitlin was so worried about Bethany’s feelings concerning her and Leo starting a relationship? I guess that it comes down to simple lack of communication! If we would all learn to talk to each other the world would be a better place! 😊
I loved this book. We meet Leo, when he arrives at the hospital to pick up his newborn daughter. Her mother, Bethany wants nothing to do with the child. Bethany's friend Caitlin is visiting at the hospital at the same time. Later, after being asked by Bethany to check on Leo and baby Alice, Caitlin and Leo form a friendship.
I've never read any of Hannah Ellis books but I will definitely be reading book 2 in this series. I loved both the main characters and was hoping everything would work out for them. Once I started this book it was hard to put it down. I definitely recommend this book.
Third person sucks, but I think it’s a me problem. I am going to continue the series, even though I dislike the third person writing and the abrupt ending of book 1 (we just needed maybe half a chapter to slide right into the love-mushy fairytale ending we all love). Cute plot, but I just didn’t love it, ya know?
I like the romance books without all the sex scenes, and Hannah Ellis does a very good job of creating a good, romantic storyline. The characters are likable and relateable, and it is easy to get swept up in the story. I definitely like this author and look forward to finding and reading her next book.
Loved returning to hope cove and with new characters to fall in love with. Hannah captures places so carefully that I can see the scenery in my minds eye. Thank you for another lovely read. I'm looking forward to the next one
I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes it’s an emotional roller coaster and there’s back stories to some of the people’s emotions. I read it in one day so it definitely kept me interested. Good one.
Cute rom-com. I like the premise of the single dad club as something different in a light romance. Also good to see a strong male support system. I enjoyed the characters and the banter between Leo and Caitlin. Perfect palate cleanser :-)