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New Dreams for the Village Nurse: A totally gorgeous feel-good romance

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Escape to the glittering lakes and pretty stone villages of the Lake District, where warm bright summer evenings are just around the corner, the bees are buzzing in the hedgerows, and village nurse Ottilie Oakcroft is beginning to realise that her second chance at true love isn’t smooth sailing…

Ottilie Oakcroft can’t imagine living anywhere but the village of Thimblebury. Since moving there after her husband’s death, the villagers have welcomed her with open arms, and it’s been a long time since she’s felt this happy. Another reason for the sparkle in her eyes is her blossoming romance with Heath, who showed her that second chances at love can happen.

But when a chance meeting with Heath’s glamorous ex-wife Mila sparks a terrible argument between the pair, and with Ottilie’s patients keeping her too busy to repair the cracks in their relationship, things begin to feel a little shaky. Especially when Simon, a handsome new GP with dark eyes and broad shoulders, arrives in Thimblebury, and Heath shows a jealous side that Ottilie has never seen before…

Ottilie knows how lucky she is to have found Heath but when she discovers that Mila has been secretly visiting Thimblebury she fears the worst. Heath tries to reassure her, but why did he keep Mila’s visits a secret? Did Ottilie make a mistake when she opened her fragile heart or is she letting the hurt from her past stand in the way of their future?

A beautiful romantic escapist read about healing from past hurts and learning to love again. Fans of Jessica Redland, Shari Low and Jo Bartlett will be transported by New Dreams for the Village Nurse.

What everyone is saying about Tilly

Literally couldn’t put it down! Makes you laugh and tugs at the heartstrings, all in one go!… absolutely perfect!… breath-taking… made me cry and it made me laugh… filled me with warm feelings…’ Stardust Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was hooked! Every chapter left me wanting to carry on reading. My housework and family have pretty much been neglected whilst I have read this!… This is the perfect holiday read, or lazy Sunday afternoon read or that perfect distraction to a dreary weekday commute.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved every minute of it… I was glued to my Kindle for a few days that's for sure!... A really brilliant read that will leave you hooked even after a few pages.’ The Cosiest Corner, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I just want to say how fantastic this book is… If you’ve not read any books by this author, why the heck not?! Do it now… you won’t regret it! I just love love loved it.’ StefLoz Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

318 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2024

1114 people are currently reading
96 people want to read

About the author

Tilly Tennant

48 books470 followers
Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. After years of dismal and disastrous jobs, including paper plate stacking, shop girl, newspaper promotions and waitressing (she never could carry a bowl of soup without spilling a bit), she decided to indulge her passion for the written word by embarking on a degree in English and creative writing, graduating in 2009 with first class honours. She wrote her first novel in 2007 during her first summer break at university and has not stopped writing since. She also works as a freelance fiction editor, and considers herself very lucky that this enables her to read many wonderful books before the rest of the world gets them.

Tilly is represented by the wonderful, gorgeous Peta Nightingale at LAW.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Robin Loves Reading.
2,898 reviews453 followers
July 29, 2024
Ottilie Oakcraft doesn’t have much to complain about since moving to the gorgeous village of Thimblebury. Ottilie moved there after the death of her beloved husband Josh. She is dating Heath now, and has begun to develop strong feelings for him, but her husband’s fortieth birthday is coming up and Ottilie feels she must honor his life for such a milestone. Heath is more than understandable and offers Ottilie his full support.

Ottilie is a nurse who dearly loves her patients, even visiting those who might have difficulty coming into the office on a regular basis. As I had a major surgery this year and had a few months of visiting nurses and therapists, I really felt connected to Ottilie while reading this story.

What a lovely and sensitive story. Love is gentle and love is kind, and I loved seeing Ottilie on her journey, all while keeping her patients foremost in her mind. There is a strong level of emotion in this story and I was rooting for Ottilie every second while reading this book. I am very much looking forward to continuing this series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Emma Crowley.
1,027 reviews156 followers
July 30, 2024
New Dreams for the Village Nurse is the second in The Village Nurse series from Tilly Tennant. This can be read as a standalone book but the previous story was so good you’ll want to go back and make sure you read it as well. This new story picks up a year after the last book and Ottillie Oakcroft has settled in very well to the quaint and picturesque village of Thimblebury in the Lake District. Without giving too much away when Ottillie first came to the village she was full of sadness and was contemplating how could she overcome this but now thanks to the events of book one she is happy and content in her new life.

The village and its residents have given her new purpose and she adores her job as the village nurse working in Fliss’s practice. ’She was like the newest member of a vast, ungainly, slightly dysfunctional but ultimately wonderful family’. Her personal life is going progressing nicely with Heath although he hasn’t uttered the words - I love you - yet so that is a concern for her but still she is happy with the way things are meandering along and hopes that those words will come soon. As soon as I started this book, I felt like I as back on familiar territory as it as only back in March that A Helping Hand for the Village Nurse was published so the characters and their various storylines were very much fresh in my mind.

Ottilie is a fabulous character who has been through so much and is slowly starting to come out the other side. Yet, the echoes of the past still rear their ugly heads and until there is some form of concrete closure she won’t truly be able to move on. There was one particular subplot in relation to this throughout the book that I felt was done very well. When it was revealed it explained an awful lot as to why Heath had been acting the way he was for the majority of the story. It could have come across as just being too coincidental but it worked well and it was brilliant to see Ottilie showing some backbone and standing up for herself when push came to shove.

I think we can all find a bit of Ottilie within ourselves in that she is always doing things for others, always on the go and placating people. She puts her own needs on the backburner pretending her needs were less important than others. This makes her a people pleaser. Someone who is safe and reliable. Don’t get me wrong she is brilliant at her job as village nurse. She loves caring for others believing it’s a job that she has been called to do but at some point I questioned as much as this was in her nature surely she needed to step back a little bit and take time for herself and explore her relationship with Heath more. ‘She felt she owed Thimblebury so much that it was only right and fair she did what she could to make it a better place, to make others as being part of the village had made her’. Yes, she may have owed the village and her new found friends so much but that shouldn’t have meant that she shouldn’t have taken time for herself and her relationship with Heath.

I felt in some ways that Heath was absent for a lot of the book. Only making brief appearances every now and then. I wanted more scenes with himself and Ottilie. I know he lived in Manchester but I thought their relationship needed moving on a bit but it all made sense when some unusual things started to happen and again I refer back to past events making themselves known once again. The further the story developed you could see doubts creeping in for Ottilie. There was no way she was going to leave the village that had come to mean so much to her and which had done so much for her healing process. I didn’t blame her sometimes you just have to stand your ground because you knowing staying in that one place is the best thing for you. ’She’d felt as if this small insignificant village in the great lakes of England was lodged in her soul and would be until she died’. Ottilie wonders whether her relationship with Heath is as strong as it could be? Here is where I felt this aspect of the plot needed more development. Ottilie thought a lot about things regarding her relationship with Heath but she never actually came out and really talked to him and when a new character appears this only increases the level of doubt and anguish that she is experiencing. As much as I love her as a character I really wanted to give her a good shake and say go talk to Heath. Find out what’s going on and instead of getting caught up in your head with intrusive thoughts that mightn’t have been true at all.

It was lovely to see previous characters make a reappearance. I love Fliss and her husband Charles and the unusual set up that they have. With Charles falling ill and needing Fliss at home this opened the door for a new doctor to arrive in the village. Simon had a history which slowly revealed itself and it was heart-breaking but he was a character that I wanted to stick around rather than just be a temporary doctor at the practice. I felt there was suggestions of a way his storyline could go that would mean things would be very tough for Ottilie and I was so relieved when this didn’t happen as it wouldn’t have sat right with the overall tone of the book. Simon slotted in well to the overall plot and in turn allowed for Ottilie’s friend Stacey to feature a bit more. Likewise Ann and her son Daryl at Hilltop Farm feature once again and it’s lovely to have these characters present as they offer reassurance and stability in Ottilie’s life when things are going slightly awry.

New Dreams for the Village Nurse was a lovely, gentle, relaxing read. It didn’t have the same impact for me as the first book did although I wouldn’t have missed out on reading this as I love Ottilie and the village of Thimblebury. The drama came just that little bit too late in the last quarter or so of the book and if it had occurred a earlier I felt that extra spark would have been present. The relations between Ottilie and Heath were frustrating here so it made me focus on Simon and others more which I suppose isn’t a bad thing. Overall, it was an enjoyable enough read, perhaps not as engrossing for me as the first but still I will always pay a return visit to Ottilie and co. I hope there may be a Christmas Thimblebury book on the horizon. Fingers crossed.
Profile Image for Nicola “Shortbookthyme”.
2,367 reviews135 followers
July 23, 2024
Small village
Interesting characters
Romance
Relationships
Grief
This is the second book in the series. I enjoyed reading the first book as well as this one.
The romance aspect between the two main characters, Ottilie and Heath, have a few ups and downs when a new doctor comes to the village.
A heartwarming story that I enjoyed very much.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for erikoreads.
516 reviews
October 17, 2024
Had to DNF this one at 60%. Why?

I really wasn’t feeling it, I was bored.

But then there was no content warning for family dying in an earthquake. Not just any earthquake, but a major earthquake in Japan. Really? Why wouldn’t you put that as a CW?

I was also grossed out by the fetishisation of having a Japanese spouse, it was just so weird and really badly done.

I won’t be reading any more books by this author.
24 reviews
September 19, 2024
Another good read form Tilly Tennant.
I love all the characters in this series. You can really relate to them.
I hope there will be a 3rd instalment soon.
Profile Image for Ashley.
178 reviews2 followers
July 27, 2024
Massive thanks to Tilly, NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC! I am absolutely in LOVE with this series and absolutely honored to be allowed to read this before it was released!

What to generally expect:
⭐ Grieving + Guilt
⭐ Romance + Friendship
⭐ An overarching story of small town life and the people

First I want to say I didn't know Tilly had written multiple series before finding her. The first in the Village Nurse series is how I found her. I fell in love with the story, the characters, the village, but most of all the way Tilly weaves a lighthearted story. It truly feels like a warm hug reading these. While this is the second part of the story there is enough depth & description to read this as a standalone book!

In the second part of the Village Nurse storyline we find ourselves back in the lakes with main character and village nurse Ottiile. She is getting more settled and building a life for herself. One big thing we find is that Ottiile is busier than ever. Her relationship with Heath is definitely evolving but so is her relationships with her life in the village. She is busy filling her time volunteering & helping others. We also see her coming up on the 1st anniversary of the death of her husband.

This book is definitely more focused on Ottiile and the struggles she is having. She is struggling with balance, grieving her late husband while also trying to move on with her life. She is dealing with a lot of guilt, a lot of self doubt, but also she is beginning to dig out of all of it.

You find changes happening in the village, a new visitor who might be staying longer. Story of intrigue, love, and friendship. It's truly something I have loved in Tillys writing. You will get depth of the characters and their relationships as Tilly does an extraordinary job of making you fall in love with all the characters in her story. You will root for the couples to find their ways together. You will also root for the village! I couldn't put it down and read it in a WHOLE DAY!

I already can't wait for the next one and hoping we haven't seen the end yet!

Synopsis:
Ottilie Oakcroft can’t imagine living anywhere but the village of Thimblebury. Since moving there after her husband’s death, the villagers have welcomed her with open arms, and it’s been a long time since she’s felt this happy. Another reason for the sparkle in her eyes is her blossoming romance with Heath, who showed her that second chances at love can happen.

But when a chance meeting with Heath’s glamorous ex-wife Mila sparks a terrible argument between the pair, and with Ottilie’s patients keeping her too busy to repair the cracks in their relationship, things begin to feel a little shaky. Especially when Simon, a handsome new GP with dark eyes and broad shoulders, arrives in Thimblebury, and Heath shows a jealous side that Ottilie has never seen before…

Ottilie knows how lucky she is to have found Heath but when she discovers that Mila has been secretly visiting Thimblebury she fears the worst. Heath tries to reassure her, but why did he keep Mila’s visits a secret? Did Ottilie make a mistake when she opened her fragile heart or is she letting the hurt from her past stand in the way of their future?
Profile Image for Julie.
2,654 reviews43 followers
September 7, 2024
Escape to the village of Thimblebury with the latest feel-good romantic charmer by Tilly Tennant: New Dreams for the Village Nurse.

Moving to the Lake District after the death of her husband might have been the best thing Ottilie Oakcroft has done in a very long time. Welcomed with open arms by the villagers, Ottilie has a job she loves, neighbours who look out for her and care for her and even a blossoming romance with charming Heath, who has proved to her that a second chance at happiness is possible. Ottilie cannot remember the last time she had been this happy, however, it looks like her blissful life in Thimblebury might be coming to end with the arrival of Heath’s glamourous ex-wife Mila.

Mila’s presence alone causes a rift between Ottilie and Heath and as the tension heightens between them, the two of them wonder whether they will ever get their old spark back. To complicate matters further, Simon, a new GP, has come to Thimblebury and he unleashes a jealous streak within Heath that shocks and surprises Ottilie. As old secrets come to light, Ottilie and Heath will find their relationship tested like never before, but will this be the end of the road for them?

Did Ottilie make a huge mistake in opening her heart up to Heath? Will they let the past stand in the way of their future? And are Ottilie and Heath strong enough to fight for their relationship?

Tilly Tennant’s New Dreams for the Village Nurse is an enjoyable contemporary romance that aims for the heart. Sparkling with humour, intensity and emotion, New Dreams for the Village Nurse is a wonderful tale about second chances, moving on from the past and making the most out of life that will make you laugh and cry. With characters it is impossible not to care for, tender romance and a beautifully rendered setting, New Dreams for the Village Nurse is another enjoyable page-turner by Tilly Tennant.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Connie.
2,497 reviews62 followers
August 2, 2024
Ottilie Oakcroft, 35, has lived in the lake district village of Thimblebury for a year now. She’s a nurse working for GP Fliss Cheadle. Lavender is their long-time receptionist. As it’s a small practice, Ottilie sees many of the patients that she is allowed to as a nurse.

Ottilie’s husband, Josh, had been murdered some time ago. That was when she lived in Manchester. Now that she has moved to Thimblebury, she is beginning to live again and find happiness. She has made friends with many of the residents of the village and has helped to organize get togethers that especially help the elderly residents. In addition, Ottilie has begun a relationship with Heath who is very good to her.

When Dr. Cheadle’s husband has a heart attack, she realizes that perhaps it might be time to retire so she and her husband can start to do some of the many things that they have always wanted to do. While her husband was in the hospital, Dr. Simon Stokes came from Blackpool to fill in for her. He is well liked which makes Dr. Cheadle feel better about retiring and, hopefully, passing the practice on to Simon.

Ottilie’s relationship with Heath is good until she meets his ex-wife who is a vicious woman. Her attack on them in a restaurant brings out anger in Heath that Ottilie that has never seen before and it concerns her.

This book is about friends that care for and look out for one another. There are some humorous times and some sad ones as well. I enjoyed the story.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Lily.
1,405 reviews12 followers
August 1, 2024
In this cozy countryside romance novel, readers travel to the Lake District and its beautiful hills, lakes, and stone villages where everyone knows everything about everyone. Ottilie Oakcroft loves Thimblebury and the comfort it provides her in the years after her husband’s death, especially now with her new romance with Heath. Unfortunately, Heath’s ex-wife Mila is glamorous and chaotic, and her reappearance in their lives and in Thimblebury shakes their relationship and sparks the worst argument of their relationship. To make matters worse, the new temporary GP, Simon, at the clinic where Ottilie works brings out Heath’s jealous side. In this slice-of-life country romance novel, readers will have the chance to escape the mundanity of the real world for the idyllic and slow life of the English Lake District. Ottilie, Heath, Simon, Mila, and the host of Thimblebury residents are charming, lively, and complex characters; their relationships are the star of the novel and the focus of Tilly Tennant’s energies. The characters are all unique with their problems and personalities, while the atmosphere of the novel adds to the charm and straightforwardness of the premise of second loves. A fun, light romance novel for the summer, readers of the genre will definitely enjoy the second book in the Village Nurse series and their return to life in Thimblebury.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy.
Profile Image for Nikki.
1,417 reviews12 followers
September 30, 2024
Tilly Tennant is one of those authors who writes the kind of books I love to read, books set in villages with a cast of different characters abd a good storyline containing some romance, a few laughs and there's usually a take away thought or two for the reader. This book hit all those points and more.

Ottilie moved to Thimblebury a year ago after taking a new position as a village nurse in the small GP surgery. She's moved there after her husband was killed whilst on duty as a police officer. In her late thirties, she needed to move away from the city to make a new start. She loves her job and has started a relationship with Heath, the grandson of someone who lives in the village.

This book sees Ottilie loving her new life, but there are changes coming when a new GP starts at the surgery after theres a medical emergency with Fliss, the village GP; Heath becomes jealous (for no reason) of the new GP; Heath's ex is back on the scene which causes problems for Ottilie and Heath; and Heath wonders if there's room for him in Ottilies life with all the community projects she's involved in.

I couldn't put this book down and can't wait for the next book in the series. The books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline throughout the series.
Profile Image for Caroline|Page~Turners.
575 reviews15 followers
July 31, 2024
Ottilie Oakcroft is so happy she chose to stay in the tiny village of Thimblebury and can’t imagine living anywhere else. When Heath shows her that it’s ok to fall in love again and that she deserves a second chance at being happy. But after meeting Heath’s ex-wife, things begin to feel uneasy. When Ottilie meets Simon, a newcomer to the village of Thimblebury, Heath becomes very jealous. Ottilie see’s a new side of Heath that she didn’t realize he had. But as the romance between Ottilie and Heath continues to blossom and they learn more about each other, Ottilie knows she is right where she is supposed to be.

New Dreams for the Village Nurse, written by author Tilly Tennant is a wonderful and inspiring story. I absolutely loved everything about this book, with the great characters and the beautiful description of the lovely little quaint village of Thimblebury. Tennant whisked me into the story from the very first page to the last. This story is an unputdownable masterpiece that will probably be a reread for me. It hits all the feels. Do not pass up this sweet story and I suggest you start with the first book of this amazing series, because it is just as wonderful as this one. I loved this ten star read and I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Jessalyn Langevin.
73 reviews7 followers
August 12, 2024
After her husband's death, Ottilie Oakcroft moved to Thimblebury, embedded herself into village life, and started a romance with Heath, her second chance at love. However, a chance meeting with Heath's ex-wife, Mila, sparks an argument that cracks Ottilie and Heath's relationship. With Heath still living in Manchester, Ottilie busy with patients, and a handsome new physician in town, Heath and Ottilie's relationship is put to the test.

Unlike it's predecessor, New Dreams for the Village Nurse, seems to focus more on Ottilie and Heath. The charming relationships Ottilie built with the community are still present but not in the forefront. The focus on Ottilie and Heath is much more prominent with many of the relationship's problems seeming to come to the surface. Unfortunately, the more pleasant aspects of Ottilie and Heath's relationship are difficult to find amongst all the problems. In my opinion, Heath does not do enough to make the relationship work.

Rating 3/5 ⭐️s - While I loved seeing Ottilie interact with the community and the various relationships that developed on the side, the focus on Heath and Ottilie's relationshp did not give me the same feel-good vibes as A Helping Hand for the Village Nurse. As much as I enjoyed the meddling of Ottilie's friends, I was not a fan of the ending and felt that the ending did not give Ottilie the same strength and resilience we saw in the previous book. On the other hand, I loved seeing Ottilie's continued healing and how she helped Simon, the new physician, begin to heal from his trauma. Still interested to see if there are more adventures for Ottilie and the rest of Thimbleburry. I think I’m not a Heath fan.

Thank you to Tilly Tennant and NetGalley for this read. I'm glad to see more of Ottilie and Thimblebury.
Profile Image for Brandi.
1,404 reviews36 followers
July 4, 2024
New Dreams for the Village Nurse takes the reader back to the Lake District and back to beloved characters Ottilie, Heath, Flo, Stacey, Fliss, Lavender, and quite a few new additions! What I loved about this book is how it is grounded in everyday life rhythms, relational highs as well as insecurities, moving on after loss, and dealing with the unexpected curve balls life will throw. Ottilie and Heath are at the point in their relationship where they deeply care about one another, but they don’t have the security of those who deeply know one another. There is a lot of tension and strife in this book, but I feel like it accurately reflects some of the growing pains seen in relationships as they mature. There were some unexpected curve balls which certainly added to the depth and character development. In the midst of it all, there are still plenty of laughs and humorous moments. This is still Thimblebury after all, and the characters are still quirky and lovable.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
Profile Image for escaping.thru.books.
116 reviews
July 28, 2024
The book was really good and I liked the continuation of the story from the previous book. I liked the introduction of Simon and the way he and Ottilie were able to heal through each other’s experiences. As much as I love her friendship with Stacy, I think it really worked for her to have a character she could learn to grow with her grief alongside. I loved seeing Ann and Darryl more and was so happy to see Chloe grow into motherhood. It was also interesting to see the relationship between Fliss and Charles and how it changed throughout the course of the book. Where it fell a little flat for me was the Heath and Ottilie fallout. I understand that a conflict needed to be introduced, but it could have easily stayed as Mila issues and jealousy with Simon. The cousin storyline was a bit of a stretch for me. Also, I grew frustrated with the lack of communication between them and the jumps in time. It felt like a conflict would be left hanging and then it would skip a week forward ans they just skipped over any follow up conversation. With that being said, I really did enjoy this book tremendously.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Profile Image for DJ Sakata.
3,299 reviews1,781 followers
July 27, 2024
Favorite Quotes:

The millions of little acts of kindness that happen every day are what makes the world tick over, not the grand gestures that everyone notices.

‘...it might sound to someone who didn’t know that you were calling me a lush.’ Ottilie laid a hand on her heart. ‘I’d never do that! I mean, you can sink more booze than a navy but that’s beside the point…’


My Review:

I adore Tilly Tennant and have reveled in every one of her engaging and nimbly penned tales that I’ve been lucky enough to pick up.
This volume was an easy-to-follow, entertaining, and thoughtfully written continuation of the Village Nurse series, and I delighted in book two as much as the first installment.

I enjoy this clever scribe’s wry wit and authentic village characters. Her descriptions of the village residents and encounters are as humorous as they are defining. I often feel as if I could easily recognize the inhabitants of her stories if I met them on the street. I’m looking forward to more of these gently endearing tales.
Profile Image for Anjana.
2,558 reviews60 followers
February 17, 2025
In the second book practicalities and real life events come in the way of a bidding relationship. The way things unravel in the beginning seemed very realistic, especially since the situation in which the relationship built up is to be taken into account.

This book would not make sense without having read the first. I read both back-to- back, and that was probably the best way to approach this installment.

There may be more books in the series, but I think I would probably be stopping at this point. The foundation of the first book is followed with the smaller working details in this second one. I think the realistic aspect settled into the language and the narrative style as well. I was not as much a fan of the way things were narrated here as I expected to be, but that is an entirely personal preference.

I would recommend the book to more avid followers of the genre.

I received both books as ARCs thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
Profile Image for Dee Groocock.
1,405 reviews59 followers
July 10, 2024
Ottilie Oakcroft is still busy working as a nurse for the local people. She also loves to volunteer for just about everything, which means there isn’t a lot of time for her budding romance with Heath.

When Simon joins the practice as a locum doctor, Heath seems to become jealous, and Ottilie wonders if all will be well with their relationship.

With Mila (Heath’s ex-wife) showing up and causing trouble, Ottilie ends up with a lot on her plate.

This is book 2 in this wonderful series, and I have very much enjoyed being in the village of Thimblebury again.

I’ve loved getting all the gossip from the locals, and seeing the same characters again, but getting to know them a bit more.

I felt as though I was there and part of the village, I could picture it all in my head. Such beautiful storytelling from the author.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Profile Image for Diamante.
95 reviews
July 16, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel!

‘New Dreams for the Village Nurse’ follows the village nurse, Ottilie, as she continues to build her life and relationships in Thimblebury. As she builds a stable foundation in her day-to-day life, the surgery center that Ottilie works at is forced to adapt to a new temporary doctor. This new change causes a shift in some of Ottilies relationships.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the small town of Thimblebury, where everyone knows everyone - and everyone can’t seem to keep quiet about eachother. The interactions amongst the people in the village was amusing to read, and it makes the reader feel like they are partaking in the community events. I also enjoyed that the author includes real problems that Ottilie must face - the relationships feel like real relationship issues, and I loved that we could see the main character have complex emotions during the story.
Profile Image for Jade aka MrsTosh.
1,114 reviews63 followers
July 8, 2024
We are back in the Lake District and the idyllic village of Thimblebury where Ottilie Oakcroft is fast becoming part of the village. This is the second book in the series and still full of the wonderful characters we met in book one.

I would think for anyone picking up this book thinking it is a one off there is enough recap of each character so you can follow the storyline without having to read the previous book. Although you do get a good background on the villagers by having read "A Helping Hand for the Village Nurse",

Ottile moved to Thimblebury for a fresh start, she bought a house, started a new job and then met Heath. The two are now in a relationship but it is still early days and they are still getting to know one another. There romance so far seems to be full of twists and turns but the pair are working on making a go of things. Then enters Mila, Heaths glamorous ex-wife who causes another rift between the pair. He self doubt makes her second guess everything in her life and her relationship with Heath.

As I mentioned previously, I love all the characters in this book, especially Flo she is still my favourite. The community is full love lovely people who just want to help and look out for each other with such a wonderful sense of community. I would so love to live somewhere like this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nessa.
1,855 reviews70 followers
July 30, 2024
Before reading this book, I highly recommend you reading the first book “A Helping Hand for the Village Nurse” which is really where Ottilie and Heath story began and then this book is the one that follows on from that one.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being back at Wordsworth Cottage in the village of Thimblebury in the Lake District, all sounds so very beautiful and picturesque. And getting to reacquainted with Ottilie, Heath and other repeat characters was lovely, not to mention the excitement of meeting new characters such as Simon the new Doctor.

So there was lots of drama, emotions and going ons within this story, so certainly never a dull moment, plus a few emotional sad moments. I enjoyed it, thought it was well written from start to finish.

So another delightful story from author Tilly, well done.
Profile Image for Ann-Maree.
1,105 reviews10 followers
July 2, 2024
"New Dreams for the Village Nurse" is the second instalment of The Village Nurse series. Although it can be read as a standalone, I'd recommend reading the first book first to fully enjoy the characters and the village of Thimblebury in the Lake District where this book is set.

The story centres around Ottilie Oakcroft, the local nurse who has recently moved to this tiny village for a second chance. Ottilie is a very caring person and the village has accepted her with open arms. Although I haven't read the first book, many reviews indicate that this one picks up where the first one left off. The community feel of the village is heartwarming, drawing you in right from the start with its wonderful characters and storylines.
931 reviews22 followers
June 8, 2024
This is the second instalment of this new series although it could be read as a standalone I recommend reading in order for full enjoyment and was great to be back in the lakes and was like coming home to old friends . This series has a real home is where the heart is feel and a lovely community vibe.

This instalment continues with how Ottilie is fitting in with village life and how her relationship with Heath is progressing and what is happening with the rest of the inhabitants of the village in their lives. . It also introduces us to some new characters that have joined the village.

I look forward to the next instalment
Profile Image for Steph Lawrence.
512 reviews
June 12, 2024
I absolutely loved this book.
Set in the fictional picturesque village of Thimblebury in the Lake District, I love the location.
This follows on from book 1 but could easily be read as a standalone.
Ottilie is the new nurse at the village medical centre and she is so beautifully caring.
The local patients adore her and keep her busy, even after hours. Her relationship with Heath is in it's early stages, but a few things happen and she sees things from a different angle. Or is it her overactive mind?!
The community feel of the village of is so heartwarming.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early copy, and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Leanne.
2,157 reviews43 followers
July 21, 2024
Ottilie Oakcroft is still loving the small community life and working as a nurse and volunteering for a few community projects is definitely keeping her busy. Her relationship with Heath is still going strong but Heath's ex Mila seems to be stirring trouble. When new hot doctor Simon arrives Heath's jealous side comes to surface. I enjoy reading about all the medical issues that arise and I love that Ottilie goes well and truly above and beyond as a nurse. It's not just her career it's who she is as a caring person. I feel like I am a part of the characters lifestyle and I loved catching up with them all again and look forward to finding out what they have been up to in the next book!
Profile Image for Lex.
92 reviews2 followers
June 4, 2024
*Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I liked seeing the relationship between the Ottolie & Heath, not everything is happily ever after and there can be many disagreements. While I didn’t read the first book (I didn’t know this was the second book), I didn’t feel like I was missing anything super crucial and read this one just fine!

One thing I will say is the punctuation threw me off a bit, but I’m assuming it will be edited before being published so it really isn’t much of a big deal.
Profile Image for Kim.
2,120 reviews64 followers
June 26, 2024
The second book in the series was a wonderful read. Ottilie is settling into village life, helping out where she can, seeing Heath. setting up new groups to enhance village life.. Things start to become unsettled and they are working with a new doctor and all that entails. I love the friendships and village life and the way that even the difficult characters are really invested in the village community. We see newfriendships starting, old friendships cementing and people wanting to make village life even m0re special.
I'm looking forward to catching up with them again soon
Profile Image for Jan.
6,531 reviews102 followers
July 14, 2024
A lovely comfortable read about nice people. The characters are so real that you hope to meet them "off the page". Ottilie Oakcroft is the village nurse since coming to Thimblebury after her young husband died. She has a supportive group of villagers who appreciate her and a relationship with Heath. All is not smooth sailing with the romance, but it becomes more solid with time. I really loved the escape.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Bookouture via NetGalley.
#TheVillageNurse2
Profile Image for Courtney Mason.
365 reviews11 followers
July 30, 2024
New Dreams for the Village Nurse is a fabulous sequel. I loved returning to Thimblebury and seeing what is happening with all the villagers. There are some medical emergencies, a handsome new DR is introduced and we discover that Heath & Ottilie are experiencing some issues. There are moments of suspense and there are the heartwarming community gatherings I adored in the first book. I am pleased with the way the book ends and I liked the way it is set up that we could get another book in this series.
Profile Image for Carly Rushforth.
579 reviews28 followers
August 2, 2024
✨My Thoughts✨

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to get back Thimblebury and see what Ottilie and the villagers are up to now, especially after the ending of the last book. ( you can still read this as a standalone as the author recaps)

Another wonderful story filled with so much hope and love but not without its ups and downs and heartbreaking moments.

Every single character in this delightful village are fascinating, I could read about them all day and never stop.

It was such a heartwarming read with a real insight into the highs and lows of rural village life and the lives of its residents and my favourite is still Flo, she makes me smile so much and reminds me of my great grandmother.
Profile Image for Staceywh_17.
3,668 reviews12 followers
August 2, 2024
This was my second visit to Thimblebury this year and it was an absolute delight to be back in the little community catching up with old friends.

You can read the book as a standalone, but I would recommend you read A Helping Hand for the Village Nurse first.

It's set in Thimblebury, another one of those gorgeous sounding 'only exists in a book' places. The characters are all so likeable, I love their passion and community spirit, it's what makes them more real and relatable.

It's a heartwarming story of love, loss, found family and romance.

I absolutely adore this series and can't wait to see where Tennant takes both Ottilie and us next.
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