Summer at Tillingford Hall: An uplifting English country romance

by Flora Dunn

FINALIST IN THE ROMANTIC NOVELISTS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT ROMANTIC NOVEL AWARD 2025

According to Tatler’s Little Black Book, The Honourable Guy Tillingford is Britain’s twenty-ninth most eligible bachelor, after the Marquess of Granby and grime artist Tornado.

With a seven-year-old daughter, Hatty, to care for, studious divorcee Alice Merrow doesn’t have time for celebrity gossip. She’s on secondment at Hampshire’s famous Tillingford Hall for one job – to catalogue Lord Tillingford’s unrivalled collection of miniature portraits. She knows Guy is way out of her league and couldn’t be interested in a tired single mum like her… could he?

When Alice and her flamboyant boss, Desmond Kingston-Campbell, realise that everything – and everyone – at Tillingford Hall are not as they seem, their discoveries could tear the Tillingford family apart.
And can Guy get over supermodel Sahara Seaton-Smyth to find true love with a woman who could help him put Tillingford Hall on the map and drag his family into the twenty-first century?

Praise for Summer at TILLINGFORD HALL
“I adored the setting – I could easily picture the house and its inhabitants – and Alice and Hatty were so likeable and authentic that I was rooting for them the whole way. Summer at Tillingford Hall kept me guessing till the end.”
Hannah Langdon, author of Christmas with the Lords

“A delightful romantic read that combines heart, humour, and a touch of nostalgia. A perfect choice for fans of romance and those looking for a feel-good book. Whether you’re a long-time romance reader or new to the genre, there is something for everyone.”
Reader, Cheam

“Immensely enjoyable, engaging and entertaining.”
Reader, Wimbledon

“Summer at Tillingford Hall is an enchanting read that artistically leads you on an adventurous journey. It is filled with mystery, secrets, and deep truths shadowed by lies, ultimately ending in the greatest discovery of all – love.”
Jacqueline Malcolm, writer

“I still think about your lovely story! The characters stayed with me. I loved it; the setting, the characters who just fit, the family intrigue. All in all, a wonderful book.”
Ruth Kramer, writer

This genre isn’t usually my cup of tea, but this book was perfect with one! The engaging characters kept me turning the pages until the very end.
Rose, teacher, Surrey

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Romance

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2024

Reviews

[Kealyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer at Tillingford Hall by Flora Dunn

Between 3 and 3.5 out of 5 stars

Summer at Tillingford Hall is such a fun, heartwarming, feelgood and adorable romance with amazing and vibrant characters. I love how joy and happiness is at the forefront of this novel. And how happiness guides the characters through some difficult situations. 

The individual characters delightfully have their own distinct personalities and I love how easily I could remember each individual in this novel. Alice is a sweet, compassionate, driven and a brilliant mother. Her daughter Hatty is just a bubbly little girl that thrives on positive attention and takes care of those around her. Guy is a sweet man who instantly and madly falls in love with Alice. Giles, Guy's father, was by far one of my favorite characters. He is the perfect father and the way he takes care of those around him was very admirable.

The book starts when Alice is on secondment at Tillingford Hall. 
They have a huge collection of miniature portraits. But they are all over the house and Alice is there to catalogue them. Quite early on Alice notices that there are a few fakes and more seems amiss. She and her co-worker Desmond are trying to get to the bottom of it.

Guy and Giles help her with whatever she needs. And Guy, who is a workaholic, suddenly comes home earlier from work to spend time with Alice. Guy is such a sweet and attentive man and I love how kindly he treated Hatty right from the get go. 

This entire book is sweet, joyful with a bit of mystery woven into it. I really enjoyed reading it and loved the overall vibe of the book. 

But I did miss some things here and there. The start of the book is a little repetitive with some details getting repeated again and again. Once was Alice's age and another was Guy's title. And while I love the overall happy vibe of the book. The romance was a little dull. I really missed them looking at each other, sharing a touch, longing for each other. There was absolutely zero spice in it and I really missed that. I missed them truly falling in love. It was written rather matter of fact and that was a real shame.

I also missed a proper sense of excitement surrounding the mystery. Like the love story, some story elements didn't carry emotions or depth with them. It was on the page, but without feelings for me/us reader(s) to connect with. Giles' personality carried the most emotion with him. And I wished the main characters had them as well. 

The author tells us that there are more books coming in this series. And I am really excited for those sequels. But I really hope some connection, feelings, emotions, depth and spice is added to those. So that I am able to really fall in love with the characters next time. 

Because the six week time span of a love story between Guy and Alice, with a separation period of a few weeks, didn't feel true to me. So I hope that in the next one I can completely and utterly fall in love with the main characters and their love story. 

But Flora, you nailed the happiness and feel good vibe of the book! I truly hope that delicious happiness will be a leading thread through the next book as well.

Between 3 and 3.5 huge stars from me for this amazing book! 

[Angela Pearse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was such a lovely cosy read. I was drawn into the world of Tillingford Hall from the very first chapter and I enjoyed it so much!

Alice, our sweet smart relatable protagonist is living at Tillingford Hall with her young daughter, Hatty, while she catalogues the family's miniature portraits. But Lord Tillingford's handsome son, Guy, keeps turning up on the weekends and whisking her off for day trips in his Aston Martin. Could someone like him ever be interested in a single mum who lives in a post-divorce rental in Morden?

This book just ticked all the right boxes for me, it's got lol comedy, well-drawn main characters (plus a fab cast of side characters), an amazing heritage setting, a family mystery AND of course, a slow burn opposites attract romance. Jetsetter Guy and intellectual Alice were adorable, and I loooved that on one of their day trips they visited Jane Austen's cottage in Chawton. (There are plenty of other Austen tidbits sprinkled throughout to keep JA fans happy too, including a side visit to Bath, which was an entertaining treat!)

If you're after a well-written romance with humour and a quintessential English countryside setting, then Summer at Tillingford Hall will not disappoint. I look forward to reading more of this author's work, she has a great comedic turn of phrase (special mention goes to Maxine 'talking' as Coco the Bichon Frisé, hilarious!).

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice light summer read with a bit of mystery. Plot was a bit obvious where it was heading at times but that does fit with the genre. Characters were very likeable and I’m looking forward to reading the next book

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun, as well as heartful and emotionally resonant! Great narration, as well! Forward to the Christmas sequel!

[Sharon Honeycutt · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 70%

I tried to will myself through this but I just can’t.

These people are in their 30s and they’re worse than teenagers with their “falling in love” after knowing each other for two minutes. It’s ridiculous. I rolled my eyes so many times I had to check and make sure they weren’t stuck like that.

I’ll not be in any hurry to read more from this author.

The narration was good.

[Dani (piggindani_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous feel good story filled with love, mystery and plenty of intrigue. It really has it all.

I definitely wasn’t prepared for how the story would unfold and the different subject matters it would touch upon but that’s what made this more than just a summer romance, it’s real. It explores the complexities of family life and all the aspects that get hidden away so, to the outside world, everything is sunshine and roses, but in reality it’s far from perfect.
I also didn’t expect I’d have to put my sleuthing hat on but, as the mystery deepens and more secrets come to light, I found myself trying to figure out what was happening and who was behind it all. I absolutely adored how it unravels and connects together. I couldn’t put it down. 🕵🏻

There’s so many characters to love but my favourite has to be Giles. Oh, he stole my heart.
Of course I loved Guy (most of the time), Alice and Hatty as well but Giles is beautiful. Read it and you’ll understand/agree. ♥️

Although Giles is my favourite, I did love Alice. I connected with her in ways I didn’t expect. As someone who struggles with confidence and self esteem it was refreshing to see that reflected in Alice and watch her growth. I can only hope there’s a HEA in my future, too!

I don’t think I have a favourite scene but their Meet-Cute is adorable and so funny! 😘

Again, I can’t pick a favourite line but this one is brilliant and probably makes no sense until you read it but I love it.

“How thrilling! Is it the Vicar in the Library with the Lead Piping?” 😂

Thank you so much, Flora, for a copy of this wonderful book. I can’t wait for A Little Treat On Honey Street coming July 1st (I’ve already preordered my copy) 🍯🐝

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great, not awful

[Christie Dumboski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listen. good for free. Plot holes Jumps from one scene to the next quickly. Had potential.

[Anna Stotka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cutie little read and had very wholesome vibes. It ended up having more of a plot than I was anticipating, and it was really well executed. The story progressed at a steady pace, and I liked the mix of mystery and scandal with a sprinkle of romance that was integrated into it as well. The relationships between characters were realistic and complex, and I had fun following along as the FMC fulfilled her job’s duties and formed relationships with the family and staff. Overall, I would definitely recommend this, it was just kind of slow-ish paced with not the most engaging writing.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming enough. Some plot holes, but give me a well recorded audio book with English accents and my rating goes up by at least one.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Torn between a 3 and a 4 star. It was a solid 3.5 star listen. I enjoyed the first half of the story - felt there were a little too many breadcrumbs dropped on the mystery aspect. Made it to easy to figure out the whole done it. Romance was good by a little rushed

[Elizabeth Haworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story - Jane Austen with a modern twist. The characters are well drawn. I definitely felt like I'd met people like them in real life! Loved Alice as the narrator. She is very sympathetic and I rooted for her happy ending. A good bit of intrigue along the way too with some surprises. The book left me feeling satisfied, warm and fuzzy. A nice summer read!

[Helen Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer at Tillingford Hall is a brilliant read! From the gorgeous stately home setting, to the blossoming romance between the romantic heroes, I genuinely found I couldn’t put this down! If you love a romance with a hint of mystery thrown in for good measure, I would definitely recommend Summer at Tillingford Hall!

[Tiziana Langone · Rating 3 out of 5]

A job during the summer that becomes more than just a job…

Alice Merrow may be a divorced mother, but that doesn’t take away that she stopped pursuing her dreams, so she is still trying to get her PhD. But this summer, together with her seven-year-old daughter Hattie, she is going to stay at Tillingford Hall. Not for just a holiday, but she is there for doing a job for the (of course) Tillingford family. She has been hired, together with her flamboyant boss, Desmond, to catalogue Lord Tillingford’s collection of miniature portraits. However, the more Alice is doing her job, the more secrets there appear to be. Not only there is a mystery concerning the miniatures, but there is also something strange about the family itself. And then there is Guy Tillingford, son of Lord Tillingford, just a man that is too hot to handle. But Guy could never be interested in someone like Alice right, especially as his behaviour is sending out mixed signals. And most important, Alice is here to do a job, right?

The author of this book was not one that I knew before I read this book. But I am always happy to get to know new authors and see if their storytelling is something that is right upon my alley. As I am totally into romance, you would think I am easy to please, but I can be rather difficult as I truly want some depth in the characters and I do need a real good storyline.

Starting a new job is something exciting, but can be also terrifying. And when your job is one where there is board and lodging included, and in a spectacular place like Tillingford Hall, I could understand how Alice fears that she is out of her depth.

Yet I liked how determined Alice is to make it work. Not only for herself, but she also wants to show her little girl Hatty to be more courageous and open up a little bit more.
Determination that sparks while Alice is doing her job, because she for sure knows her stuff! She isn’t played easily as her love for the art makes her perhaps the most knowledgeable person. Even if there are moments that she doubts herself, which she truly shouldn’t!

While in her job she is confident, in other aspects of her life, she isn’t. For the readers, it’s clear that Alice is an amazing woman, doing also a great job as a mother, as she keeps on encouraging Hatty to step outside, even literally.

And when she meets Guy, I could understand her fantasy running miles. Perhaps that is the only thing that I didn’t really like – like about Alice, how quickly she is falling for Guy. But on the other hand, can you blame her?

But I need to say, that Guy isn’t the kind of man that I immediately swooned over myself. Not that he is a bad person, on the contrary. But it is clear that he is a man with issues. Some issues from the past, but also and mainly issues caused by others.

Yet I liked it how Guy wants to do the right thing for everyone. No matter what, he wants to help out his friends and family, even if that sometimes means disappearing for a while, making Alice doubt herself even more.

However, despite me not instantly swooning over him, I cannot deny that it was ridiculously sweet and hot to see him interact with Hatty! And it is truly showing his real character, the way he is with not only Hatty, but with children in general.

I have previously mentioned secrets. Secrets that made me understand Guy better, but also secrets that are only slowly unveiled. Secrets that left me at times astonished. But mainly secrets that show us that every family, even the classy ones, have their own cross to bear. No family, not even the rich ones, come without struggles. No family is perfect, but I liked how this particular family took it all in their stride, and let love and not anger or hatred take control.

In this story, we see all characters grow, mature, become more courageous. And we see in a heartwarming way, that no matter what happened in your past, what mistakes you have made, or how fear can make you doubt everything, great things can come unexpectedly on your path. All you have to do is take a deep breath, and that that step and just be courageous.

I loved exploring Alice’s and Guy’s worlds. They are different worlds from each other, but differences make it all more exciting to get to know each other, doesn’t it?

For a first encounter with this author, it for sure was a great experience!    

[Hayley Gooding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer at Tillingford Hall centres on Alice Merrow, a studious divorcee and art curator who is sent to Hampshire’s famous Tillingford Hall to catalogue the estate’s collection of miniature portraits over the school summer holidays. With her seven-year-old daughter Hatty in tow, Alice expects a quiet job and a chance to focus on her work, but finds herself immersed in the quirky world of the Tillingford family, including their charismatic heir, Guy Tillingford, and a cast of eccentric characters whose hidden secrets and unexpected connections surface as the summer unfolds. As Alice and her flamboyant boss begin to realise that not everything at the Hall is quite as it seems, tensions rise, relationships shift, and the story becomes as much about personal discovery as it is about love and family intrigue.

I enjoyed Summer at Tillingford Hall as a quick, escapist summer read, it’s light, easy to get into, and has a pleasant setting that’s quintessentially English countryside. The main character is smart and likeable, and I appreciated that she was portrayed with intelligence and depth. I was keen to see her step into her own and take charge of her life and relationships, but I often found myself frustrated that she didn’t assert herself more, especially in situations where Guy behaved quite poorly. It felt like she frequently gave too much ground in emotional moments where I wanted to see more strength and clarity from her.

Another element that didn’t quite sit right with me was the frequent, casual references to drug use within the story. While the book does make some effort not to glamorise it, and in fact links portions of the narrative to supporting drug-education efforts, the sheer volume of those scenes still felt uncomfortable and at times glamorised simply by how often it featured in the lives of the characters.

I also found the ending a bit underwhelming, rather than feeling like a payoff after all the build-up, it wrapped the story up in a way that left me puzzled and slightly unsatisfied. Without spoiling anything, it just didn’t hit the emotional or narrative resolution I was expecting after so much setup.

All that said, the premise and setting are charming, and there are genuinely enjoyable moments throughout. It’s an entertaining book and a decent summer romance with hints of mystery and family drama, but it didn’t fully resonate for me in the way I had hoped. I’ll still pick up the sequel, Christmas at Tillingford Hall, because I’m curious to see how the world and characters develop.

[Jen Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of the book set me up for frustration with the story in the second half. This story seemed super rushed with little to no satisfying resolution to one of the main family issues.

First off, the FMC, Alice was a promising character. She was a 30 something divorcee with a 7 yr old daughter who was trying to start over with a more fearless, adventurous drive. Alice fell into a desperate self doubting woman quickly which completely defeated her whole mantra throughout the book of “I’m the new Brave Alice!”

The MMC had a lot of potential as well but then fell flat. He was written as a very wishy washy walking red flag and manipulating. At one point after declaring his love for Alice, Guy was confronted by a childhood friend who claimed he sent her an email implying he was going to propose to her. At this point, instead of quickly explaining ANYTHING AT ALL to Alice, he tells her that he needs time to explain things to the friend that arrived, then proceeds to disappear with said woman for 2 weeks whilst ghosting Alice with the exception of a text stating that he missed her.

Once Guy reunites with Alice, she instantly forgives him and falls back into his bed.. what!?!?! As if that’s close to reality! Then as a way of solidifying the nonsense she tells him that she will be with him if he can promise not to hide anything from her again, and his word was enough. nope.. I can’t support this.

Now let’s talk about THE MOTHER of Guy. She is caught sleeping with the MMCs best friend, while stealing precious art from the family estate, to sell for drugs and cash to run away with the best friend only for Guy and his father to choose not to prosecute her and let her off with no repercussions for her actions. So much so that after she leaves her husband and son and young boyfriend and hooks back up with an old flame, the old flame even shows up and states that he knows she only wants him for his money, but he can’t help to give her what she wants and NO ONE wants to see her punished for the theft and loss of over 1.5 Million dollars worth of art.

Again the first part of the book was good.. but it went down hill fast about half to three quarters of the way through. It was the ONLY reason it got 3 stars.

[Julia Boggio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful debut from Flora Dunn, Summer at Tillingford Hall is a sweet romance for people who enjoy stories set in the English countryside, with characters who are all distinct, interesting and flawed in their own ways. I especially loved Giles and Desmond and their many dogs. I enjoyed the setting and the premise of an aristocratic family seeking expert advice on their art collection. The author's knowledge on this subject definitely came through. There were also moments when I laughed out loud. I'm glad to see this book has been nominated in the Debut Romance category at the Romantic Novelists' Association awards.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle little romance with a dash of mystery, the book doesn't hold any huge surprises as far as who did what thing they shouldn't have done, but there's one big surprise that, for me, raises it from a nice two and a half stars to a lovely three star read. That has to do with how everything gets wrapped up, so I'll just put a little tiny spoiler here. I love how the police and prison are not involved. It's great that people who were hurt by those they cared for, didn't try to exact revenge. Such a caring and kind resolution. One thing I would change: wealthy white privilege is a-okay with these wealthy whites.

[Robynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Summer at Tillingford Hall" by Flora Dunn was a delightful read that I thoroughly enjoyed. As a full-time working mum of two young children, my reading time is quite limited. I was seeking a book that offered a fun, easy escape—and Flora's book provided exactly that. The story is engaging, and the characters are wonderfully entertaining, making it easy to get absorbed in; I was able to finish it within a week, which speaks to its captivating nature and storytelling. Thank you, Flora, for crafting such a joyous and immersive experience!

[Alie James · Rating 1 out of 5]

The romance in this book has the artistry of an awkward 4th or 5th grader at their first school dance (not sure they even still have those), but anyway, they meet each other and are INSTANTLY in love! So ridiculous. There is no chemistry at all, there is no development of their relationship. Unfortunately, the author tried to write a "mystery" and a "romance" and both are super painful and painfuly obvious. You will know who is stealing the portraits instantly. The romance is non-existent. The best thing I can say is it was free on Audible. Skip.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

So this was an audible book “included with my audible subscription”. It was fine for that lol.

Alice was a bit much. When Guy’s whole life blows up, she’s basically like “why isn’t he calling me enough?”

Like GIRL. Take it down a notch. You’ve been on like two dates and have great chemistry but he witnesses several life changing events in like 24 hours, give the man a minute.

[Laura Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable read that delivered way more than I expected. I enjoyed the romance aspect, and the rest of the plot had me really gripped. The characters were likeable and developed more than in other romances I’ve read. I’ll be honest, I was expecting a Jilly Cooper-style romance, but it was so much more. I’ve already bought another book by the author.

[Jessica Cornish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book in the beginning. I didn’t trust Guy as a main character. I was afraid he was caught up in the theft or pulling one over on Alice. I’m not sure if it was written that way intentionally or not, but that was my impression.

In the end I wound up liking them as a couple and became invested in their HEA.

[Hunter Ross · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a miss. The characters are underdeveloped. The romance is they say "hi" and instantly fall in love. That is the extent of it. The MC lady states she NEVER ever was attracted to a muscular man before (eye roll). The "mystery" could be figured out in the first few chapters. The "twists" are so obvious it is not enjoyable.

[Ruth Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful love story stayed with me long after I turned the last page. The idyllic setting, the compelling characters and intriguing plot made for a great read! I’m looking forward to the next installment of the Tillingford Hall series.

[Kiesha’s ALWAYS reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had started with this one…

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The dynamic between Guy and Alice was sweet and cute to read how they interacted with one another. The relationship Guy built with Hattie was everything and as a single mom myself Alice’s thoughts really resonated with me!

[Kristina Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Sometimes a little far fetched, but not enough to pull me out of the story. A great holiday read. Escapist and fun.

[Heather Ferg Conklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this sweet story. There’s a bit of art, intrigue and angst, but is an engaging listen as a British accent reads.

[Nadyrah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Chantelle Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 🌟 (Audible Plus Catalog)

Romance? Mystery? I thought for a short time a Murder? A Regency retelling? I think this story has an identity crisis. Overall, just ok.