Kodu Rukkilillemajas

by Tilly Tennant, Piret Orav (Translator), Astrid Tihane (Editor)

Amelie ei loobu Rukkilillemajast iialgi. Lapsena tegi ta kriimulise köögilaua taga koolitöid ja aitas emal vana tamme külge kinnitatud nöörile pesu kuivama panna. Kui tema armsad vanemad ootamatult surid, sai Rukkilillemajast Amelie kindlus maailma vastu. Aga maja laguneb ja Amelie tuleb niigi vaevu ots otsaga kokku. Aed on nagu umbrohudžungel, katus laseb läbi, pesumasin on katki ... Vanemate mälestust elus hoides otsustab Amelie tegutsema hakata. Ta teeb kohalikus hotellis lisavahetusi, palub abi vanadelt sõpradelt ja – kuigi vastumeelselt – ühelt üüriliselt. Kas karune Xander suudab oma teravate naljade ja pruunide silmadega tema probleemid lahendada? Kas Amelie leiab võimaluse päästa oma lapsepõlvekodu ja kaitsta oma südant? „Kodu Rukkilillemajas“ tegevus toimub Cotswoldsi lilleväljade ja roheliste hekkide vahel ja selle keskpunkt on üks väike maamaja – hea suvine pelgupaik nii peategelasele kui ka lugejale! Tilly Tennanti raamat „Kohvik Saialille sadamas“ ilmus eesti keeles 2023. aastal.

Genres: Contemporary

309 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2024

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many books by Tilly Tennant. They are the perfect light read for when you just want to put your feet up,kick back and relax with your tea and biscuits kind of books.
As I was reading this I was completely immersed in this feel good story.
The setting is so cozy, with it's picturesque countryside filled with flowers and the memory filled Cornflower Cottage Amelie has lived in her whole life with her parents. Life was ideal and she really didn't have a care in the world and wasn't planning on changing anything soon. Life sometimes has a way of abruptly changing things though and this happened when her parents died.
Now her beloved Cornflower Cottage still holds these precious memories for her but she is seeing things in a different light. Repairs are costly as one thing after another goes on the blink in her cottage and her finances aren't really being helped by her job where the boss is working her harder than anyone but sure not paying her more.
Bring her boyfriend into the picture, now this guy is a character in the book that I didn't particularly make a connection with. He is pretty much a for himself kind of guy and pretty clingy in the relationship. I can't see how he enriches the story at all. Her rabbit, Salad was an adorable addition to the story. I enjoyed reading about him. Probably because we have 2 lop eared rabbits.
Amelie comes up with a plan to get an additional income and I like how she went about it.
I enjoyed reading about Xander's character he brings light and sunshine back into Amelie's life.
Such a warm and entertaining read. I'll always recommend this author's books.

Pub Date 01 Jul 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a book by Tilly Tennant comes up for review it is an instant yes. I have yet to find one of her books that I have not thoroughly enjoyed, and that is most definitely the case with A Home at Cornflower Cottage. In this sensitive read we have Emily who is still struggling with the loss of her dear parents. She is trying to maintain the cottage that she grew up in and there is one structural problem after another.

While she is trying to make ends meet with a difficult job at a hotel with an equally difficult boss, one of the hotel’s guests seems like he might be there for a while. So, Amelie comes up with a wonderful plan. Why doesn’t she rent a room to him? This will help her to meet the expenses at her broken down cottage. His name is Xander and he has a girlfriend that will be staying with them part of the time. Meanwhile, Amelie is dating Decker. However, both of the relationships are rather lukewarm.

While her relationship with Decker is floundering, Amelie finds Xander very easygoing and likable. In fact, things with Decker makes her think that if it ever came to him or her beloved rabbit, Salad, Salad would take the win. Although Amelie and Xander were more than likable in this pleasant read, Xander’s girlfriend Imogen was anything but.

From friendship to something more, it was nice to see the relationship between Amelie and Xander flourish, especially considering that Amelie might have tried to hide her growing feelings for him. In this light read it was very easy to fall in love with both Amelie and Xander, especially considering his job was to study otters. This was another excellent read by Tilly Tennant, with both a gorgeous setting and a slow, sweet romance.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW 


Review for 'A Home At Cornflower Cottage' by Tilly Tennant. 


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Tilly Tennant, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous 


Publication date 1st July 2022.


This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Hotel At Honeymoon Station', 'The Cafe At Marigold Marina' and 'My Best Friend's Wedding' which I highly recommend. 



I was originally drawn to this book by its  eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Fans of Holly Martin, Jessica Redland and Nicola May will be swept away by A Home at Cornflower Cottage.' I am a huge fan of Holly Martin so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Tilly and if this is half as good as 'The Hotel At Honeymoon Station', 'The Cafe At Marigold Marina', 'My Best Friend's Wedding' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture  that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of 24 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is based in the Cotswolds, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧 The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. 

 


This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Amelia. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. 


Congratulations Tilly on yet another gorgeous  read!!! 


This book is very well written with vivid descriptions that helps the reader see the river flowing. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly. 


This book is a very easy and smooth read. Once I picked it up I just could not put it down so clear your schedules before starting!! I absolutely loved visiting the gorgeous atmosphere of the Cotswolds and the sweet and homely Cornflower Cottage.  I would have loved to move in myself and have the river and even otters so close, it just sounded absolutely gorgeous!! This book is filled with love, loss, friendships and everything you could hope for in a contemporary romance. The pace was absolutely perfect and I was devasted when I came to the end and realised I had to pack my bags and leave Cornflower Cottage. I would love to see what happens in the next chapter of Amelie, Xander and even Imogen's lives. I absolutely loved that Amelie and Xander were such big animal lovers and being such an animal lover myself. It was also intriguing to learn about conservation and the fact that Tilly has done her research shines through so well done Tilly!! There is nothing worse than a book littered with mistakes as the author hasn't don't their research but you've done a fantastic job! 

  

This would make an absolutely gorgeous movie that I would love to see made!!!  This book is a sweet rom com which will have you feeling warm and fuzzy inside at times and yet screaming and shouting at certain people at other times. The atmosphere was gorgeous and I loved the setting. It made this book a perfect fire place read anywhere and anytime from on the beach in the middle of the day or curled up in fire in the middle of the night. 


The characters were are well defined, strong and realistic. I became completely invested in not only Amelie, Xander and Imogen along with Rachel and Georgiou. I will admit though thay it did take me a while to click with Amelie as I did find her a bit irritating at times in regards to Decker as I felt she should have stuck up for herself a lot more and I felt myself shouting at my kindle on several occasions telling her to get a backbone!! I could not stand the boy and the way he treated her was disgusting and it definitely felt like an "ownership" for Decker rather than a relationship. I loved Rachel straight away and found her to be a fantastic friend to Amalie. Georgiou was such a romantic and so sweet I absolutely fell in love with him and felt the same with Xander who got bonus points for how much he loved animals. I had the seem feelings with Imogen as I had with Decker and found her to be extremely stuck up and thought that herself and Xander were like chalk and cheese!!!  However, you can't love each character or it would be a very boring book. Love them or hate them each character played their role in this storyline absolutely perfectly. 


Well done Tilly on another great book!!! Here's to your next success 🥂!!! 


Overall a lovely romance that will sweep you off your feet and take you on a gorgeous break away. 


Genres covered in this novel include Romantic Comedy, Romance Novel, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Comedy, Women's Humorous Fiction, and Women's Contemporary Fiction amongst others. 


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Shari Low, Heidi Swain, Jill Mansel, Jenny Colgan, Holly Martin, Jessica Redland and Nicola May. 



361 pages.


This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 


Rated 4 /5 (I Liked it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 


Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews 


#AHomeAtCornflowerCottage  #Bookouture  #TillyTennant #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour

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[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave A Home at Cornflower Cottage 3 stars!

This story follows Amelie, a young woman who inherits Cornflower Cottage after her parents passed away. While facing trouble making repairs and keeping up with the home, she meets Xander. He's in need of a place to stay while he observes otters in the river nearby, and Amelie decides to take in Xander and his girlfriend Imogen as lodgers. While she hopes to just bring in some extra cash, a slow burn romance ensues.

Following this description, I was not crazy about a romance starting up while both Amelie and Xander had partners. The synopsis does not make it clear that that they are both taken when they meet and when Xander and Imogen move in, and most of the encounters that happen between the two are when either one or both of them are still with their partners. This made the romance aspect of the book less enjoyable, but nevertheless, I did think they were way better for each other!

I have to say, my favourite character in this book for me was Salad, and the cottage! Having a bunny as a pet was so cute and I rarely see that in books. I also loved the descriptions of the cottage and the surrounding nature, it was what made me feel more immersed in the book.

While I did not connect as much with the characters, I did like the scenery and how the book ended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an eARC in exchange for a review!

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a fair while since I read a Tilly Tennant book and this one sounded up my street so I dove in. Amelie is living in her childhood home following the death of her parents. She is determined to never leave and is constantly struggling. Cornflower Cottage is her safe place and one that she is determined to keep. The problem is that the house is falling apart and her job doesn't exactly pay tons so she decides to take drastic action.

At first Amelie decides to try the extra shifts at the local hotel she works in but it soon becomes apparent that isn't going to cut it. That is until she meets Xander who is pretty much lodging at the hotel Amelie works in. Before she knows it she has offered Xander and his girlfriend lodging at her cottage. Her boyfriend Decker isn't pleased to find that Amelie has rented out a room at the cottage but frankly I was glad as I couldn't stand him. As a character he was just one big red flag!!! This was a nice feelgood and easy read which reminded me why I enjoy Tilly's books. This was certainly a pleasure to read and I would reccomend it for sure.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I came across Tilly Tennant’s writing last year with “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and it was really good and I was excited to read another of hers.

For all its eccentricities and issues, Cornflower Cottage sounded idyllic to me and somewhere I’d love to live.

The characters as a whole were a negative point for me sadly. There were definitely more characters I disliked than actually liked. Amelie’s boyfriend Decker and her boss Melvin aren’t nice people, and then a character called Imogen comes in and adds to the unlikeable people. I didn’t even like Amelie to begin with, I felt she was a bit of a martyr, a victim of her circumstances, and she really need to grow a backbone. But she did grow on me once she started to stand up for herself. If I’m honest, my favourite character was Salad, her pet rabbit.

I also felt the blurb was a little misleading. For me, the story wasn’t quite what the blurb said and so it wasn’t what I was expecting, but still fun to read.

For me, it wasn’t as good as her previous book. It went up and down but never fully settled into a rhythm for me. It was fun and enjoyable to read but not particularly memorable. It was very predictable, but that’s not a negative for me, as it meant I could concentrate fully on Amelie’s story without waiting for twists and surprises which would have felt out of place.

[Caroline|Page~Turners · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelie loved Cornflower Cottage, she grew up there and the cottage holds so many childhood memories for her. When her parents passed away, Cornflower Cottage became her safe haven, her sanctuary and her protection from everything the world tossed at her. But the cottage is falling apart, from a garden full of weeds instead of flowers, a leaky roof and a boiler that doesn’t work. The cottage is a shambles and she decides she has to do something to fix everything before she loses hope. She relies on friends to help her with the repairs. But when she has Xander help her out she begins to wonder, will he fix all that is wrong with the cottage or will he leave her with a broken heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed this much needed escape to Cotswold. The wonderful detailed description of the countryside and the cottage made me feel like I was on a holiday. This romantic comedy had me laughing out loud and smiling ear to ear. I was so drawn into the story and I literally couldn’t stop reading. The banter between the wonderful characters was so much fun. I felt like they all became immediate friends for a lifetime. This story was heartwarming, fun and an absolute must read.

Thank you Tilly Tennant for such a wonderful feel-good summer romance. It allowed for a great escape. I loved it and I highly recommend it.

[Sarah Kingsnorth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A HOME AT CORNFLOWER COTTAGE
BY
TILLY TENNANT.

Amelie has lived in Cornflower Cottage all of her life. Now that her parents are gone, the responsibility for the cottage is all hers.
Struggling to pay for endless work that needs be done.
A lodger seems like an easy solution to Amelia’s financial headache.
In moves Xander… with a girlfriend in tow.
Despite both Amelia and Xander being in relationships, there is a spark between them.
When Xander’s girlfriend plans to relocate, she wants Xander to go with her.
Can Amelia speak up in time?

This was a charming read. I loved the focus on the countryside and conservation.
There are some lovely and well written characters, also one or two that I wanted to shake.
The setting of this story is beautiful and described so vividly.
There is a slow burning, sweet romance and some incredibly warm friendships.
A Home At Cornflower cottage is every bit as heart warming and delightful as it’s title suggests.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to #Netgalley and #Bookouture for a digital arc of this title.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every so often I like to step away from the darkness and into the light, ditching my typical crime reads in favour of something a little more hopeful that's going to bring a nice bright injection of colour to my kindle shelf. A Home At Cornflower Cottage by Tilly Tennant sounded like just the tonic. And it features otters. Who needs more right? So glad I decided to make this my choice this month as this was a wonderful story of friendship and new beginnings that really hit the spot.

I think that many people will be able to identify with Amelie's life. She has lost both of her parents, is in a job that barely pays the bills, has a new relationship that she's not quite sure about and her best friend is about to take the next step in her own relationship. With repair bills mounting up for her home, things are starting to look a little grim. It's not quite The Money PIt bad, but when you earn minimum wage, a new washing machine and a new roof are two things you really don't want to have to fund. Enter stage left, Xander, a man who is looking for somewhere to live to conduct his study into the repopulation of Otters in the Cotswolds. It's a perfect solution. At least it should be ...

There is a kind of inevitability about this book as you might expect. Whilst both Xander and Amelie are in relationships, neither seems to be the perfect fit for them, and there is no denying the spark between the pair. It's not quite meet cute in the traditional sense, but you do get a feeling that the down to earth and nature obsessed Xander is far better a match for Amelie than her current partner, Decker. Likewise, Amelie, who with her love for her home and all the aspects of the countryside that were made so magical to her by her mother, seems a much better fit for Xander than his career driven partner Imogen.

This isn't your traditional romance and if you've come looking for love's young dream from the start, or maybe even a love hate kind of scenario, then this won't be the book you're expecting. There is romance, but it's a slow burner which to me is always more believable than those sparks from the start, can't keep their hands off each other stories. We see the friendship blossoming between Xander and Amelie first and foremost and it all grows from there. 

There is fun, there is laughter, there are also scenes where I'd like to slap some of the characters. Decker for one. Slightly obsessed and very insecure. But to be honest I did occasionally get frustrated by Amelie. She's more capable than she allows herself to believe, more self sufficient, if she only had the nerve to trust herself. She was too easily swayed by the others and at times I really wanted her to just stand up for herself rather than wait for others to save her. Even when it came to Xander she was too scared to say what she wanted and, as hypocritical as it seems saying it, she needed a good talking to from either he best friend, Rachel, or her uncle to go after what she wanted. There's nothing wrong with pursuing an easy life, but it clearly wasn't what was going to make her happy. And Xander was the perfect gentleman, not wanting to let others down. I did wonder if their story was every going to reach a climax.

Whether it does or not, you'll have to read to find out. It's probably not what you're going to be expecting but it was a perfect way to end the story. Setting was key to this novel and Tilly Tennant has managed to set the scene so well that I could easily picture Amelie's home, her village and the riverside setting in which all of the otter action takes place. They may be tricky little things, but I was as excited about the sitings as Amelie and Xander were, the author making those scenes really infectious. As a nature lover those scenes really worked for me.

A beautiful, hopeful tale about friendships, and finding yourself, with a little touch of added romance. I've not read many books by Tilly Tennant but I will most certainly be back for more.

[Colin Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelie’s parents died in a car crash, leaving her an idyllic cottage in the Cotswolds but not much more. Stuck in a dead end job cleaning in a hotel and suddenly hit with a repair bill for the cottage roof she takes in a couple as lodgers.
This books gives a realistic view of living in a remote cottage in the countryside, both good and bad. The good is the ability to just walk out your front door into the wonderful countryside and wander to your hearts consent. The downside is the limited job opportunities and the cost of maintaining an old property but I'm with Amelie in preferring the countryside over town living. On the romance side I would hate to think that I might act like Amelie’s boyfriend plus Xander's girlfriend sounds like a nightmare. I hoped that Amelie and Xander might find a way to be together, but then you'll have to read the book to find out if this happens. Overall a lovely book to sit back and lose yourself in for a while.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

[Merje Olm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selline nunnu ja soe naistekas. Midagi eriti ei juhtu, aga hea lugemine.

[Gerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars

[Clare Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another great book from Tilly.

Cornflower cottage has been Amelie’s home forever when her parents die it becomes her armour against the world. With the cottage needing a lot of work she needs to find a way of making more money to be able to keep up with the repairs. Working at a local hotel all the hours she can, she is still struggling to make ends meet. She meets Xander a hotel guest who is documentary maker for nature looking for otters. Amelie offers him and his girlfriend a room to rent to help her boost her income. She funds herself falling for Xander but keeps her feeling under wraps because of his girlfriend. His girlfriend decides to relocate wanting Xander to go with her. Will Amelie tell Xander how she feels or will he leave with his girlfriend. .

[Emma Star Crossed Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Bookouture for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I love Tilly’s books and I was very excited to read another one of her stories.

Amelie is quite frankly a people pleaser and because of that she lets people push her around. At work she gets dumped on all the time. She seems too nice to dump her boyfriend, Decker, that she doesn’t really like and generally gets stuck doing things she doesn’t want to. I found her quite frustrating. I understand she has been through quite a lot but I wanted her to stand up for herself.

There seems to be a trope at the moment of main characters being with someone else at the beginning of the book (who is generally useless or someone the main character doesn’t gel with) they waste a lot of time with this person and then near the end of the story dump them and end up with the love of their lives. I find this trope really frustrating. It’s highly realistic don’t get me wrong. I know people who clearly shouldn’t be with someone but keep going back or just stay with them because it’s easy or familiar. It makes me want to scream because it’s so obvious they shouldn’t be with that person and leave little room for the main romance.

That aside I did enjoy Xander and his easy ways. He was passionate about his work and you could tell he loved animals which is always a winner for me!

Salad is a great little bunny and an excellent judge of character! He was very funny. I also loved Cornflower Cottage and its beautiful surroundings.

This may sound like a critical review but I did enjoy the light-heartedness of this book and the interactions between Xander and Amelie. Tilly is an excellent storyteller and this comes across in just how frustrated I was with Amelie.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tilly Tennant writes such adorable books. You fall in love with both the characters and the setting. Cornflower cottage brings up such a vivid picture that you wish you were staying there.
Amelie inherited the cottage when she lost her parents and although it is picturesque , it can be a struggle to make ends meet. She offers a long let to someone she meets at the hotel she works in. Xander is a sweetheart but his girlfriend is a prickly character who picks fault.
I loved hearing about his research .
This was such a feel good read- ideal for curling up in the evening and losing yourself in the countryside with a nice glass of wine. beside you.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Home at Cornflower Cottage had a gorgeous setting and Amelie, our main female character, has loved living at the cottage all her life that is until her parents were abruptly taken away from her. Now all she has is her rabbit, Salad, for company and although she feels she really belongs at the cottage, she is currently existing in a miserable state of happy. She is doing her best to make her way alone without her parents by her side and she does have a boyfriend Decker but the reader can instantly tell that the relationship is not very strong and is slowly floundering. Decker came across as arrogant and pushy, always making Amelie go that step further than she was willing to. She bent over backwards to please him where instead she should have had a partner who would respect and appreciate her. You could see that she would be better off without him and I hoped that she would quickly realise it too.

The descriptions of the cottage, the gardens and surrounding countryside were just fabulous. Even if there are endless lists of jobs that need doing in the cottage causing stress and anxiety for Amelie as she doesn’t have the funds to make all the necessary repairs. The environment, nature, animals, flora and fauna in particular otters really have an important role throughout the book, and this is where the book excelled. But overall, I found the story took quite some time to get going. The pace was very slow and I was waiting for things mentioned in the blurb to start to occur and it made it seem as if both Amelie and Xander were both single when they met but they weren’t. But once the story finally got going this was a pleasant and relaxing read perhaps not the most memorable from the author but none the less it did turn out to be an enjoyable read.

Amelie had numerous aspects to her life where she wasn’t respected, treated well or valued and it’s the male figures where this really rings true. Decker, as previously mentioned but also Melvin, her boss at the hotel where she worked. She was treated like an absolute dogsbody. Her role was as a chambermaid but she was tasked with everything and for covering for people and it just appeared as if she had no worth or value at all. I desperately wanted Amelie to grow up a bit and get a shot of confidence where she could tell Melvin what she really thought and then things would hopefully change. But I think in her personal life she was just all over the place and until something drastically occurred to change this there wasn’t any chance of her changing something in her professional life. She needed to find a happy balance between the two aspects of her life and when she meets Xander, a guest at the hotel, things slowly start to change. But given his own circumstances you question whether a positive, happy ending will be at all possible?

Xander and his girlfriend Imogen are staying at the hotel whilst Xander carries out research into otters. I loved this aspect of the storyline, Xander’s enthusiasm for his subject matter was infectious as Amelie soon learns and here is where some environmental issues and the animal aspect of the story came into play in a beautiful way. It was also the connection that developed a friendship between Xander and Amelie. Imogen was a cranky character. A complete fish out of water who escaped quickly from the hotel back to her high powered job when she couldn’t put up living there for an unknown length of time. It was all very long winded to get to the point where Amelie offers a room in her house to Imogen and Xander. She needs the money and they take up the offer but when Imogen goes away on work business the tone of the story changed completely and came into its own.

Xander is reserved and careful when Imogen is around but when she goes away his goofy side comes out. He is more relaxed and fun and loves showing Amelie all he knows about otters and they bond and become closer as many hours are spent searching the riverbanks for evidence of the otters. Having taken so long to reach the point where I felt the story actually began, once it did I felt things moved fast and I had reached the end before I knew it. Amelie battles to keep her developing feelings hidden given Xander is very much taken and there was a bit of toing and froing that ensued. The ending was inevitable but it was what most readers would want when starting this book. It’s a story of finding yourself, developing bonds and friendship with a little sprinkle of romance thrown in for good measure. For me, a little bit of the Tilly Tenant magic was missing in this book but it was the perfect read perhaps to while away a few hours by the pool whilst on holiday.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn’t Cornflower Cottage just look idyllic from that front cover? Well it might look gorgeous but for Amelie it’s a bit of a money pit. She inherited the cottage after her parents’ death and at quite a young age, this naturally shook her world. Cornflower Cottage became her rock, her place of stability and security in an uncertain world and she was determined to keep her memories of her parents close and continue to live there.

The book is quite gently paced as we get to know Amelie and those circumstances that led to her living along in Cornflower Cottage. It’s such an important place for her, so full of memories but she really is struggling to afford it on her hotel chambermaid’s wages. When a storm leaves a huge repair bill in its wake she has no choice but to look at other ways to raise some cash and taking in conservationist Xander and his girlfriend Imogen seems the way to go. This does not go down with her boyfriend Decker, an unpleasant character if ever there was one!

I found it amusing that both the couples – Amelie and Decker, Xander and Imogen – seemed so unsuited to each other. Amelie with her love of nature seemed a much more natural partner for Xander. It was interesting to follow their will-they-won’t-they relationship which really could have been should-they-shouldn’t-they since they were both in other relationships. As a reader, I know what I wanted and expected to happen but with the complications of existing relationships, it was far from clear how this could happen.

I particularly enjoyed the focus on nature in the book. The countryside surrounding remote Cornflower Cottage sounded just beautiful and I enjoyed reading about the nature which Amelie so loved. It was so lovely that she had inherited this love and respect for nature from her parents. It made me smile when her mum used to take her for a walk to see what animals were abroad and how the young Amelie had misinterpreted this!

A Home at Cornflower Cottage is a sweet, slow-burn romance, perfect to read sitting in the sunshine in the garden, listening to the birds sing.

[KKEC Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home at Cornflower Cottage by Tilly Tennant

Published: July 1, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 361
Genre: Holiday Romance
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. She also works as a freelance fiction editor and part-time lecturer. Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was her debut novel; published in 2014, it was an Amazon bestseller in both the UK and Australia. In 2016 she signed to the hugely successful Bookouture and is currently working on her fifteenth Tilly Tennant novel. Christmas bestseller A Very Vintage Christmas has just been made into a movie for Lifetime Channel. Tilly also writes young adult fiction as Sharon Sant.

“Here she was, alone once again.”

Amelie has had a rough couple years. She lost her parents in a tragic accident and has been lost ever since. She inherited her childhood home and all the costs associated with home ownership. When an opportunity to make extra cash presents itself, Amelie opens her home to Xander and his girlfriend, not quite expecting her life to change.

This was a sweet story. Something I enjoy with Tilly Tennant’s writing is that the story will always be emotionally heavy, but that the ending will have a lightness and be a path towards healing.

Amelie was an interesting character. She was timid and always doing the right thing. She was often steamrolled by her emotions, feeling the loss of her parents hit her and fill her regret and guilt.

She was easy to identify with, but I did find her a tad frustrating too. I loved her balance with Rachel. Rachel was the perfect friend for Amelie. Supportive and understanding, but also not afraid to speak up when Amelie was too moody.

I enjoyed the lightheartedness throughout this novel; it helped move the plot along. I also enjoyed the light love story aspect. Watching Amelie realize she had fallen in love was so genuine and sweet.

This is a beautiful read about love, loss, healing, and growing up.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Settle in at Cornflower Cottage, Amelie's childhood home she inherited when her parents were tragically killed in a car crash. Amelie's life revolves around her home and she is very protective of her safe space. She has a job she dislikes, a boyfriend she feels suffocated by, and her best friends who she is a little jealous of. But then, Xander and Imogen stay in room 12 in the hotel she works at and things start changing for her. She offers them space in her home so Xander can work on a conservation project on otters and despite Amelie's best efforts, she starts to fall for him. Will she be able to keep her feelings secret and not let Imogen know or will she confess her feelings to him?
I enjoyed this book, it was nice to settle into a small cottage and travel the paths and woods around Amelie's home. I thought this would have a more "England" feel, but aside from a few English specific words and phrases, I think this cottage could have been anywhere, there wasn't anything specific to England in the descriptions. I found the characters for the most part to be interesting, especially Amelie and Xander. I feel like her friends were a little one dimensional and it was pretty obvious to see where the story was going, but I still followed along to see how the relationships would work out. I would have liked to have seen what happened to Decker, I really half expected him to end up with Imogen in the end.
All in all, another pleasant Sunday read.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Home at Cornflower Cottage by Tilly Tennant

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Amelie has lived in Cornflower Cottage since she was born. She did her homework at the scrubbed kitchen table and helped her mum hang washing from the line on the old oak tree in the garden. And when her beloved parents died, Cornflower Cottage became Amelie’s armour against the world.

The trouble is that Cornflower Cottage is too big for just her. With a broken boiler and a leaking roof, Amelie knows she must do something to make ends meet. When she meets Xander, a scruffy, brown-eyed nature documentary maker living out of his backpack in a nearby hotel, Amelie rents him a room, hoping a lodger will solve her problems.

She soon realises that her troubles are only just beginning. Xander’s muddy clothes all over the cottage and early morning jaunts to photograph otters are going to take some getting used to. But when an argument turns into a heart-to-heart, she finds herself confessing how lonely she has been.

My Opinion

Another delight from Tilly Tennant - although I have not read enough of her books. This is such a feel good story that you will fly through. I was drawn in by the cover and stayed to get to know the characters. A heart-warming novel set in the countryside. Highly recommended for fans of Tilly Tennant and Holly Martin!

Rating 4/5

[Samadhee Ismail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this might be the sixth book I have read written by Tilly Tennant. This wasn't really her best but it was sort of OK.

Amelie grew up most of her childhood in Cornflower Cottage. But the cottage was too big for her and soon, at the inn where she is working, she meets Xander who had come for otter sight seeing with his posh and arrogant girlfriend Imogen. Amelie suggests Xander to move into the cottage with her and then slowly, they become friends and eventually a romance develops.

I wouldn't say this was boring but I didn't really enjoy much like I normally do with her previous books. None of the characters in the book really appealed to me, although the author's style of writing made me feel like I was in the countryside as well. The ending was far too predictable as I knew that the story might end in such a way. It felt like you are watching a Hallmark romance movie with predictable plot line and story. However, even though I didn't enjoy this book doesn't mean that it will prevent me from reading her other books.

Overall, if you like a heartwarming romance novel set in the countryside, then this one is for you--worth only three stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Home at Cornflower Cottage by Tilly Tennant is a slow burn romance that feels very much believable. Living in her family home alone after her parents’ death Amelie is not necessarily unhappy but not happy either. She loves her home which now in in need of some renovation but not so much loving her work or her relationships. Amelia’s biggest conflict is a lack of boldness to change her life. Taking in a border is really the biggest choice she has made in a long time. Thank goodness this kept me interested in her and bringing about other changes.

So this is a story on changes and growth. Both of these can be difficult and challenging but needed. Mano can identify with Amelie who one small step at a time does something about it. Xander, “a scruffy, brown-eyed nature documentary maker” brings life, laughter, and otters to her world. The trips to watch and document the otters were a highlight of the book. Such a delight to read these scenes.

All in all a relaxing read where the wrong people leave the right people stay That’s a win..

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tracey Dyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Tilly Tennant, and this book was no exception. I really didn't want it to end and I'm hoping she makes a sequel so I can find out what the characters do next.

Amelie lives in Cornflower cottage, which she inherited from her parents when they tragically died in a car accident. She has been alone for the last two years, and is still grieving her parents. She has a job as a cleaner in a local hotel, she knows it's not the best job but it suits her for now.

Her best friend and her boyfriend have done a bit of matchmaking and set her up with her boyfriend Decker, which is going okay.

Amelie is struggling for money to do exciting things and after her boiler breaks and a storm damages her roof, she realises she has to do something.

She meets a conservationist, Xander, who is staying with his girlfriend in the hotel. He has a new project in the area, and is looking, without success, for somewhere to rent in the area. Amelie invites Xander and Imogen to rent her spare room in Cornflower cottage. How will that work as Imogen is very demanding and spikey.

The characters are lovely and you can't help wishing for the right outcome.

[Beth Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Set in the picturesque Cotswalds area of England, Amelie is a young woman living in her childhood home that she inherited after her parents deaths. Despite all its charm and having inherited the home, its age means that it costs Amelie more than she can really afford. Amelie ends up taking on temporary lodgers, much to the dismay of her boyfriend.
To me, the story read much like a Hallmark movie (FYI, I love Hallmark movies) and as a result was pretty predictable for the most part which I was fine with. However, I felt that the characters were really lacking at times. Amelie had a bit of a "poor me" air about her which frankly was starting to get old. And the boyfriend that she clearly didn't like, he really didn't add to the story at all. Even her best friend came across as bossy and judgy at times. Xander, one of the lodgers, was a real winner though and I felt his character was well developed.
All in all, this was a quick, light read and I did enjoy the book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for this ARC.

[Steph Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really lovely book. Easy to read.
Still grieving from the loss of her parents, Amelie has no nearby relatives and her inherited cottage is starting to cost her dearly in repairs. The cottage sounded gorgeous and I’d love to live there even though it was a bit remote.
The surrounding countryside and walks by the river sounded idyllic.
Amelie works at a nearby hotel, officially as a chambermaid but in reality, is an employee that does a bit of everything.
There is a long term occupant, Xander, at the hotel who is working on an environmental project nearby. To help him and his partner out, and to help her own money situation, she offers them a room to rent at her cottage.
Amelie’s boyfriend Decker is a bit put out about this as you might expect, but she goes ahead with the agreement anyway.
You’ll need to read it to find out what happens. It really is a heartwarming story, with lots of humour thrown in too.
I thoroughly recommend it.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always look forward to Tilly Tennant's new book and this one hit the mark.

Set in the beautiful picturesque countryside of the Cotswolds. This book is really curl up and cuddle.
Such a delightful story, with wonderful descriptions of the countryside and all that goes on in and around it.

The Main character Amelie is a likable frothy sort of girl struggling to keep her parents' cottage going after their sudden death, but with repairs piling up she thinks about taking in lodgers. Enter Xander an otter researcher and his high-flying career girlfriend Imogen who seem to be completely mismatched.

This story has been well written and the images in your head help the reader to really see the picture Tilly is telling you about, It opens up gently giving the reader time to know Amelie's background and what has gone on.
Also, the introduction of the other characters are gentle so as to introduce them and know them.
A really lovely book with some smiley bits as well.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can always be guaranteed a fun and light hearted read when picking up one of Tilly Tennant’s books, always entertaining with some drama.

It was great getting to know all of the characters especially the main character Amelie who I felt connected to in some ways as we had a few things in common in how we both looked at life in general.

The story was well written, and one of my favourite parts of the book, was the inclusion of wildlife, being Salad who is Amelie’s Pet indoor rabbit, sounded too adorable for words and also the elusive otters as and when you could get a look at them in the river nearby to where Amelie lives. I have to say though that ‘Salad’ is one hell of a unique name for a pet, wonder how Tilly came up with that one and her reasoning behind it lols.

Anyway a lovely story which isn’t too short or too long, just perfect if you want something light and not too taxing.

[Susanne Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read. I think everyone can identify with Amalie - feeling lonely but stuck in a relationship that’s not working, feeling under valued at work, having no money despite working so hard, chatting on even when you want to curl up and cry. I admired her strength, and whilst she may have felt something for Xander she was strong enough to walk away as it was the right thing to do. Xander too had a strength and in many ways was in a similar situation to Amalie. They both had to work on themselves in order to finally be together. I mean from the start you could see they were destined to be together, literally the whole way through the book I was waiting, reading faster in places when it looked like they might just finally kiss, - the ending was lovely and I bet they fill Cornflower Cottage with so much love and happiness.

[Sara Oxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous four-star read. I really enjoyed this one and so wanted to give it five-stars, but it just wavered too much at times. I enjoyed getting to know Amelie, but at times I did want to tell her to grow a backbone, I know its so hard to lose your parents, and its something no one should have to go through at such a young age. That’s what was confusing about this story, I loved parts, but then other parts just annoyed me and I don’t usually have that with this author, usually I am swept up and sucked in and cant put it down as I am so absorbed in the descriptions of the places and the people. I am sure that lots will love this one, it just wasn’t fully for me, but I am excited to see where the author will go next, as there are so many places left to visit.

[Caroline Hedges · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a charming, easy to read romance set in the beautiful Cotswolds. Nothing big happens, no real drama or thriller and the ending was pretty obvious from very early on. The main character Amelie felt very sedate and older than her years. Maybe the trauma of losing her parents in her early 20s aged her. When she talked about her life before her parents died she still sounded small and uninteresting with a side of sweet nature and gentleness. I did grow impatient at the amount of internal thoughts and would have preferred some more dialogue, especially to tell us about her adventures with her mum.
I think this book is perfect for someone who wants a very gentle, easy book to read.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.