Pippa Mason is ready for a fresh start. She has bought Pumpkin Cottage in the picturesque Wye Valley village of Riverdean, where her late mother grew up, and plans to renovate a run-down bed and breakfast. Despite the complications of the project and a very surly builder, Pippa is settling into village life and starting to fall for the charms of local, outdoorsy Jake when problems start coming thick and fast ...
Jenny Foster has plenty on her plate. It's busy enough running Riverside Lodge but now her husband Phil has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia. With doubts about how long she will be able to keep running the business, Jenny didn't need the threat of another B&B on her doorstep and the newcomer worming her way into the community.
When the spat between the rival businesses escalates and an autumn storm brings matters to a head, Pippa and Jenny will have to see if Riverdean is big enough for the both of them.
I devoured this book in 24 hours, sucked into this small picturesque village in the UK. Autumn was afoot and rivalry between two bed and breakfast establishments brewed.
Pippa was the arrival to the village, renovating a quirky property ready for visitors. Jenny, an established host across the river was unimpressed and something of a saboteur. There was a light romance that added into the mix.
There were two back stories that really caught my interest. One was the dementia storyline that resonated very much with my family experience of this and I appreciated the realness this brought to the story. The other back story was Pippa's parentage which had me intrigued.
This was a cosy autumn read that was just perfect for the start of this season. Thank you to Allison & Busby for the review copy.
I loved Poles Apart, this writing duo’s previous book, so when I had the chance to read this latest book I couldn’t resist!
The story is told by both Pippa and Jenny, so we get both sides of this interesting dual between the B&B owners. I liked both Pippa and Jenny, but they did annoy me at times! I mean who buys an old bed and breakfast on impulse? Certainly not me or anyone I know. I felt for both characters as they did have serious issues they were both dealing with, as well running businesses that they put everything into. Jenny’s husband has early onset dementia which is getting worse, so the last thing she needs is a rival in the hospitality industry. Pippa is grieving for her mother and a failed relationship, and really hopes that Riverdean will be the new start she needs. What neither of them is expecting is nastiness and rivalry in a small community. Riverdean sounded lovely, and Pumpkin Cottage was somewhere I could imagine booking into, especially in autumn when the story this is set. I loved getting to know the residents, and enjoyed seeing it through both Pippa’s and Jenny’s eyes. The pub sounded great, the perfect place to wind down or have fun.
The romance and chemistry between Pippa and Jake was so good, but also very natural, which made the story more realistic, especially when it wasn’t all plain sailing. I definitely recommend this if you enjoy a small town romance, and I’m looking forward to the authors’ next book.
Thanks so much to Allison and Busby and NetGalley for my digital ARC.
What a A Cozy Getaway with a Dash of Rivalry and a Sprinkle of Romance. Loved it!
Have you ever dreamed of escaping to a charming countryside cottage? Well you and me both! Escape to Pumpkin Cottage by Anna Burns & Jacqui Burns might just be your perfect getaway fall read. This delightful tale takes us to the picturesque Wye Valley village of Riverdean, where fresh starts and old grudges collide in the most heartwarming way.
Pippa Mason is ready for a new chapter in her life, and what better place to begin than Pumpkin Cottage, a run-down B&B with endless potential? Pippa’s renovation project, however, isn’t just about fixing up a building, it’s about finding herself, healing old wounds, find more about her mother and maybe even discovering love with the ruggedly handsome local, Jake. But as charming as Riverdean is, not everyone is thrilled with Pippa’s arrival.
Jenny Foster, the hardworking owner of Riverside Lodge, who is facing more than her fair share of challenges. With her husband Phil diagnosed with early-onset dementia, Jenny’s world is already spinning out of control. The last thing she needs is a new competitor threatening her business and worming her way into the tight-knit community.
What starts as a spat between rival B&B owners soon escalates into a full-blown battle, with the beautiful backdrop of Riverdean and its quirky residents caught in the crossfire. I absolutely loved this drama and rivalry between these two. It made me laugh at times. But then I also loved how this all changes towards the end.
Escape to Pumpkin Cottage is a warm, inviting story filled with relatable characters, village charm, and just the right amount of tension and drama to keep you turning pages. Anna and Jacqui Burns have crafted a tale that’s perfect for fans of cozy romances with a bit of bite.
The themes of rivalry, resilience, and the importance of community are woven beautifully into a story that will make you laugh and even dream of your own countryside escape.
So, grab a blanket, a cup of tea, and settle in for a story that’s as comforting as it is compelling. Whether you’re rooting for Pippa, Jenny, or both, one thing’s for sure—Riverdean is a place you won’t want to leave.
The two authors are a mother and daughter writing team and together they have created a delightfully put together story of sparring neighbours. Pippa Mason arrives in fictional Riverdean, in the heart of the Wye Valley, to start a new chapter in her life. Since she was a young girl, she has always fancied running a B&B and she alighted upon a rather rundown property – Pumpkin Cottage – which she is determined to bring back to life and fulfil her dream. Her arrival in Hunter wellies is a dead giveaway that her roots have hitherto been firmly set in the city, to wit, Clapham, London.
Just down the road is Riverside Lodge, an established B&B run by Jenny Foster and it is a total shock to her to learn that competition is brewing. She has her own troubles in that her husband has been diagnosed with dementia and so she is struggling to manage everything in her life. When she discovers that a couple, who have stayed with her on previous visits have opted to stay in the new establishment – even though it only has one room to offer for the moment whilst renovations continue – she is beside herself. And then things come to head when there is a row between the two women.
The story is told in chapters, alternately from each woman’s perspective. To make matters worse, the younger of the two falls for handsome Jake which really puts the cat amongst the pigeons.
There is a real Ambridge feel to the shenanigans that develop, it really is the story of everyday country folk. The storyline evolves well and clearly the writing pair have a good working partnership.
A Feel-good heartwarming Read about romance, rivalry, renovation & community.
Pippa Mason is seeking a fresh start and purchases a dilapidated run down B&B, 'Pumpkin Cottage' in the picturesque village of Riverdean in the Wye Valley.
It's the most dramatic life change she's ever made but if she's learnt anything in the last year, it's that life is too short to spend a second of it wasting time, sitting back, waiting for the future you want to come and find you.
As she embarks on a journey to transform the cottage into a thriving bed and breakfast, she finds herself drawn into the local community and caught in a web of unexpected challenges & an unexpected romance with adventure mad Jake.
The authors of this book (Mother & Daughter) alternate writing chapters from 'Pippa's' view & a lady called 'Jenny' Foster, who runs Riverside Lodge an already established B&B of 15 years.
Jenny's husband Phil has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and she has doubts about how long she will be able to keep running the business.
Anna and Jacqui have created a charming setting for this story. The idyllic Wye Valley provides a captivating backdrop, filled with charming villages, lush countryside, and a sense of tranquility. I for one wanted to be sitting by the roaring fire in 'The Trout' and having a glass of wine with Pippa!
The characters are relatable and Pippa's determination and resilience are inspiring. Her interactions with the quirky locals add depth and humour to the story.
Jennys character is a complex one. Her life is filled with stress and responsibilities, and she can often come across as gruff or irritable as she tries to find ways to cope with her husband's condition.
Escape to Pumpkin Cottage is a delightful read and is a perfect choice for fans of cosy mysteries, romance, and heartwarming tales of small-town life.
I think we should all take on Pippa's tradition next year & mark the 1st of September with a pumpkin spiced latte!
Many thanks to Netgalley for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.
In this book Pippa Mason moves to the countryside and buys Pumpkin Cottage. It doesn’t take long for Pippa to make friends with the locals. Pippa starts to restore the cottage and get it up and running. People leave her great reviews. The only problem is Leah the owner of the other B&B in town who is far older. Pippa and Leah start a rivalry after Leah tells her that there is no room for two b&b’s in town. Pippa starts to fall for Jake who happens to be Leah’s son. Leah begins to sabotage Pippa and people begin to call her out on it. Once Leah threatens Pippa she finds out that Jake heard the entire thing and wants nothing to do with her that she realizes that she should be nicer to Pippa especially when she discovers that Pippa is the daughter of one of her best friends from high school. Leah asks Pippa and Jake to take over the b&b and Leah and Peter her husband take over pumpkin cottage to make things easier for everyone. This book is so cozy and perfect for this time of year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I found this to be a really lovely and charming read, full of drama and showing the effects of taking a chance and following your dreams.
Pippa has moved to an area that was very special to her and has bought a rundown cottage - Pumpkin Cottage - to renovate and turn into a B&B but has she taken on more than she can chew?! It's one of those life changing decisions that she jumped into and you can't help but admire her determination!! Jenny has been running a B&B in the area for years so isn't best pleased to see a rival business opening, but she's dealing with her own personal problems at home with her husband suffering with alzheimers - and it shows how people can take out their own frustrations on the wrong people.
I loved the community feel of the story and it was nice to read a story focussing on older characters instead of younger people taking on a challenge - gives us all hope!!
It's hard to find anything to criticise in this, I was looking for a cosy read that I could easily power off from the outside world and get lost in and that's exactly what I found with Escape to Pumpkin Cottage.
Pippa doesn't have a great start and then makes the move to the countryside and buys pumpkin cottage and starts her reno project. When everything seems to be going okay a rivalry sparks between Pippa and the other B&B owner in the small idyllic town. Both characters seem to have really interesting back stories that run alongside the move and their own feud that runs throughout, and at times I wasn't even sure who I was rooting for more.
This is a lovely little romance read and I won't dive into the romance side too much to avoid spoiling someone's afternoon read. Grab a blanket and your snacks and cosy in with this book, because you won't regret it.
Wye Valley village of Riverdean is the village where Pippa's late mother grew up, she believes it's as good a place as any to make her new start and she does so by buying Pumpkin Cottage which she is about to turn into a bed and breakfast after its remodel. The other bed and breakfast owner. Jenny in this small village is jealous and doesn't want the competition from another bed and breakfast owner. A rivalry starts though Pippa, the newcomer wants to become friends with everyone. A romance starts when she meets Jake, someone Jenny is very familiar with. With so many new friends who could be sabotaging her new business? A fun and heartwarming women's fiction book with a slow start. The characters have their ups and downs, and the book has a nice solid ending. Nice autumn seasonal read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my won.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Oh I loved this and I absolutely read it at the perfect time for me. I really needed a small village escape with a great cast of characters and just a load of drama and fun. Everytime I read a book like this, I think to myself that I must take the time to read them more often because they really lift me up.
This book is told in alternating perspectives of our two B&B owners and I found myself HATING one of them and how judgemental she was but warmed to her at the end. But I always say a good judgement of a book is the emotions it evokes in you and this one definitely made me feel rage. The Authors make an incredible writing team though and I'd love another book set in this community so I could catch up with these characters again.
While this is a sweet and cosy romance about a young woman escaping the city to start a new life in the country, it isn’t afraid to tackle some painful themes. I found this quite a poignant read at times, with Jenny’s difficult situation as she tries to run a business whilst caring for her husband who has dementia. The authors made it easy to feel empathy for her, even though I often disliked the things she did. Jake is a suitably hunky hero, but I did feel a little impatient with him at times. There were plenty of charming side characters and this is a lovely escapist autumnal read about rivalry, community and being brave enough to start again.
Pippa is looking to start again, moving to the idyllic village of Riverdean to carry out her dream of opening her own B&B instead of running someone’s else’s chain hotel. But village life is not all it’s seems to be when Jenny Foster finds out their is a rival B&B in the village… she has enough stress in her life with her husband’s early dementia prognosis and her granddaughter possibly being taken abroad without having to worry about the business too.
A quirky set of characters flesh out this lovely feel good read which has likenesses to a Holly Martin or Beth O’Leary story. Just what was needed for an autumnal cosy read!
From the front cover and the information, I knew this would be one of those reads that warms your heart. Escape to Pumpkin Cottage is such a fun read and the village and surrounding countryside sounded beautiful. Anna and Jacqui Burns have introduced us to a great set of characters, each of them important to this entertaining storyline. I’m all for the drama between the two landladies of the village’s bed abd breakfasts, and thought that Pippa was brave in moving down to start afresh. Her and Jake had chemistry from the start but as always things aren’t often as they seem.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for this wonderful eARC. Now let’s begin; OMG! I loved this book so much. It was the best read I had in a long time, cozy, warm and sweet. I really enjoyed it (the fact that I read it with a cold weather and a pumpkin spice latte may be a bonus). I love the MC determination, the little small village and the dynamics. 10/10.
A cute and heartwarming story that made me smile and having fun. Well plotted, heartwarming. Recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Pippa has had a difficult year. Her mother died and her boyfriend cheated on her, She decides to upend her life and move to the little village that her mother grew up in. Pippa knows nought about the village. Her mother kept her past locked up but Pippa would love to find people who knew her mother, hoping it would ease the loss of her mother. She buys a cottage and renovates it to a bed and breakfast. Most of the town is very welcoming, but one person is downright rude. Jenni Foster is the owner of the other bed and breakfast in town. She is dealing with her husband who has Alzheimer's, a bed and breakfast that needs renovating and fearing the loss of customers to Pippa. A sweet novel with likable characters, it is filled with warmth. Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby Publishers for the complimentary digital ARC. This review is my own opinion.