Escape to the Country Kitchen

The Feywood Sisters #1

by Hannah Langdon, Esther Wane (Narrator), Raphael Corkhill (Narrator)

When Juliet Carlisle returns home to her family's gorgeous, crumbling manor house in the English countryside, she doesn't expect to stay long. But she's intrigued by the new cookery school being launched on the grounds… that is until she meets the guy who's been hired to run it. Though undeniably handsome, disgraced celebrity chef Léo Brodeur immediately strikes Juliet as bossy and rude.

Juliet has enough troubles in her life without adding a snooty French chef to the mix. Her ex won't leave her alone, her sisters are struggling, and their beloved home is literally falling down around them. Still, she promises to help make the school—their last hope—a success... as long as she doesn't have to be nice to Léo.

But working shoulder to shoulder in the kitchen as the sun sets behind them, Juliet finds it difficult to remain frosty. Surrounded by the warm scents of baking croissants, fresh garden thyme, and Léo's peppery cologne, she begins to see a side to the chef—patient, thoughtful, and funny—that she hadn't noticed before.

Just as her heart begins to thaw, Juliet discovers what really happened back in France, leaving her not knowing who or what to believe. Should she run away, or fight for the chance of happiness she's found at Feywood? Or will old wounds and Léo's mysterious past doom their blossoming kitchen romance for good?

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Adult Fiction, Chick Lit

Audible Audio

Published July 2, 2024

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books]

2 DNF's in a row. Made it to 34% and I'm just not feeling it.

What to expect:
~ dual 3rd person POV


Narration notes:
They both sounded okay. A British narrator for a French character 🤔, but he did a fine accent. Her male French accent was alright, too.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.

A cozy and atmospheric English countryside backdrop set in an enemies-to-lovers romance really captured my attention. Don't read this book if you're hungry. There were several mouth-watering descriptions of the food. Her struggles with her mother and an ex-boyfriend and wanting to make a new start made Juliet a relatable heroine. Though it was crumbling around them, I was intrigued by the mansion and cooking school. Aunt Sylvia was one of my favorites. It seemed like she was a motherly figure. I also found the French chef to be very endearing. My heart was warmed by this endearing story.

[Babs Fernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick and cute read. I highly recommend you not reading while hungry or on a diet.

I'm a huge fan of cozy romances. I wish Goodreads would do half stars since this is a solid 3.5 but not a 4.

I want to thank NetGalley for the arc for my honest opinion. This is truly my honest opinion.

[Sue Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book

dont read this if you are hungry thats my final warning because you will end up raiding your kitchen for food whilst reading this one

juliets relationship with her mother was such that she left the family home and found her fame and fortune in london, her mother despised her art and would always run it down.... so much so that juliet was left feeling that she had not talent unlike her other two sisters

but it was whilst in london that she started a relationship with toby that nearly ruined her

leo left france under a cloud and he went to work at the english manor house where he was hoping to start a successful cookery school and this was where leo and juliet first met and hated each other....

its a thrilling ride but i have to admit that i thought the ending was a bit rushed unless there is a sequel and we find out what happens next then i will be happy with it... but its a sunday read inbetween any heavy books

[MyBookNest7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was definitely feel-good, exactly as promised. Feywood makes for the perfect backdrop and with its lovely description, it’s almost like having travelled there through words. The concept of the cookery is beautifully explored. Definitely my most favourite section of Feywood!

While at times the connection between Léo and Juliet felt choppy, it still made me want to root for them. With this as a strong foundation, I hope Frankie and Martha get equally swoon-worthy partners further in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy!

[Joann · Rating 2 out of 5]

It didn’t really keep my attention

[Cass · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars 🌟

Juliet is a political cartoonist from a family of fine artist who returns to her family's home in the English Countryside, Feywood, to help save the property from dire financial straits. Here Juliet mets Leo a charming French chef who has been brought into to help her Aunt run a cooking school out of the old stables on the property. Leo and Juliet have both been burned by bad relationship in the past but overcome their trauma to find love with each other.

Overall the book feels quite rushed and the characters are not given much time to develop. This causes their relationship to feel very abrupt and lack any potential stakes when Juilet returns to London. On their own, the characters are also fairly unlikealbe and often feel one-dimensional. This is true for the entire cast not just Leo and Juilet. For example, Juilet's sister Martha is presented as a kind, meek, and romantic girl but is not given any more development beyond that.

The setting of Feywoods does provide readers with a charming backdrop and hopefully the characters will be further explored and developed in future books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Hannah Langdon for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4 stars! I really liked this book and the narrators did a great job!
I love a book about cooking/baking and I love a dual POV romance. The FM is a little whiny but I didn’t hate her and I loved the sister’s relationship. I will definitely be continuing this series and will read more by this author.
I think this is the first book that felt a little predictable at times.

Leo is a wonderful man and Toby is trash!

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Juliet Carlisle, shy and world-weary, returns to her family's dilapidated English manor after a painful heartbreak, seeking solace. Upon arrival, she finds that her family has started a new cookery school, run by the charming yet irritatingly cheerful French chef, Léo Brodeur.
Amidst dealing with a manipulative ex, two well-meaning but meddlesome sisters, and a crumbling home, Juliet finds herself exasperated by Léo. However, as they spend time together in the kitchen, Juliet begins to notice a more serious side to him.
Just as her heart starts to heal, Juliet uncovers the surprising reason Léo abruptly left France, leaving her unsure of what to believe. She must decide whether to run away or fight for a future at Feywood, potentially filled with healing and love.

This is a straightforward book, without any special drama or twists. We know what's happening and are just waiting to see how the characters resolve their biggest problems. It's a slow-burn romance, though it started as enemies to lovers, it changed quickly. From the beginning of the book, it’s clear that Leo falls first. I really liked the character of Aunt Sylvia, she’s a simple, approachable, and gentle character who fits very well into the story. But unfortunately, the book didn't leave a strong impression on me. It's predictable and sweet, with moments where I just skimmed over parts that felt repetitive. I recommend this book if you’re looking for something simple and romantic, perfect for summer reading.

*Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, Hannah Langdon, for providing me with this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*

[Deb McIlroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Food and Romance was enough for me to grab this book up (who doesn't love food and romance). I am not sure about the rest of the story. Yes, it is lighthearted and an easy read, but I had trouble relating to the characters. The start of the relationship felt rushed and I missed the chemistry, but I missed the overall connection between them as well. I did love the scene settings. There was the family drama to create a bit of conflict, which was okay. I think I would not have used so much inner dialogue but let them actually talk. I just can’t stand the miscommunication nonsense, but that's probably personal. For me, this was an okay-ish read, but not spectacular or swept off my feet. If you are just looking for a sweet, easy read this would probably do.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

[Cindy Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not read Hannah’s Christmas book (due to a huge reading pile at the time) but saw many endearing comments about it. I thought I would try book one of her new series and I am glad I did as I quite enjoyed Escape to the Country Kitchen. Surprisingly it covers a lot of emotional territory. You might think by the cover it contains light chic lit material but you will be fooled as this story is much deeper than it hints at initially. In fact, it contains many facets of psychological challenges--particularly in the area of mental abuse-victim scenarios. It even touches on drug addiction.

Escape to the Country Kitchen centres on Juliet, a successful cartoonist, who has battled a poor self-image due to her mother’s severe comments and treatment of her work. Her mother, who considered herself a ‘serious’ artist, passed away a year ago but the damage of her words continues to haunt Juliet who has also been victim of an arrogant and manipulative ex-boyfriend. Thankfully her sisters, aunt and father have been very supportive of her talent and their encouragement proves valuable in the face of what is to come. We don’t learn yet why her mother was such a hard critic but regardless, this novel shows clearly the repercussions of such negative parent-child behaviour and how it can also set one up for further poor relationships.

Juliet has been living in London but is called home on a family emergency meeting set up by her father. He has news to share that will be disappointing to his daughters and other household members. It appears there are financial issues, many of which was caused by his late wife/the girl’s mother. When she was ill, she sought costly treatment and went on shopping sprees—all in dealing with her health issues. Although we can have sympathy for her in wanting to live and find an answer to her terminal condition, we don’t get the feeling she was a very nice person—especially where her daughter Juliet is concerned. Though we read the other daughters got along with their mother, we wonder it it was a personality thing or because they were traditional artists like her?

While Juliet is home, she meets famous French chef Leo who was hired by her aunt and father to start a cooking school. He has fled a relationship scandal in France and appreciates his new start and teaching position. But Juliet does not hit it off with him initially. She is not used to his French ways and so her immediate response is a negative one. Is she seeing him through a damaged lens caused by her own past relationship experiences? In time, she will discover he is nothing like her narcissistic ex and will learn to appreciate his kindness and loving heart.

I must add that this artist family loves animals and when Leo discovers an orphan pup, they all band together for support in caring for this little one. It is a lovely gesture and creates an extra warmth in the story and in the characters’ lives.

I found this to be an interesting read and appreciated the psychological traumas. And the imperfect characters in need of new starts and personal growth. In many ways they are all dealing with relationship issues and some with self-esteem problems. Juliet particularly suffers from alcohol dependence (to make her feel better and to gain acceptance) and I was glad to see her pass through this phase when real love enters her life. We are introduced briefly to the father’s new girlfriend (an artist from his distant past) and a few alarm bells go off for Juliet when she thinks this woman may be questioning her talent, like her mother did. Will this woman reappear in future books and what will she be like?

I am glad I read Escape to the Country Kitchen and look forward to reading more books on the Carlisle family and where their lives may be heading. French food, healing love, fresh starts, huggable animals and a grand old manor make this a pleasing and intriguing read! 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a review copy.

[A Look Inside: Reviews and Interviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Langdon’s Escape to the Country Kitchen*l, the first book in The Sisters of Feywood series, is a heartwarming and enchanting tale of love, family, and personal growth set against the picturesque backdrop of an English manor. This women’s romantic fiction novel is a perfect escape for readers seeking a blend of emotional depth, culinary delights, and charming romance.

The story follows Juliet Carlisle, a shy and world-weary woman who retreats to her family's dilapidated manor house in Feywood after suffering a painful heartbreak. Expecting solitude, Juliet is instead greeted by a bustling new cookery school run by the charming yet infuriating French chef, Léo Brodeur. Amid the aromas of baking croissants and fresh garden herbs, Juliet's life becomes entangled with Léo's, leading to a series of humorous, touching, and romantic moments.

Langdon excels in creating a richly textured setting that brings the story to life. The manor house, with its crumbling grandeur and bustling kitchen, serves as a perfect backdrop for Juliet's journey of self-discovery and healing. The cookery school adds a delightful culinary element to the narrative, appealing to readers who appreciate detailed descriptions of food and the camaraderie found in the kitchen.

Character development is a highlight of Escape to the Country Kitchen. Juliet is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist whose journey from heartbreak to hope is portrayed with sensitivity and nuance. Her interactions with her meddling but well-meaning sisters and the cheerful, enigmatic Léo are both heartwarming and realistically complex. Léo, with his blend of French charm and hidden depths, is a compelling romantic interest. His backstory and the reason for his sudden departure from France add a layer of intrigue to the romance, making the blossoming relationship between him and Juliet all the more captivating.

Langdon’s writing style is engaging and evocative, perfectly balancing humor and emotion. The dialogue is witty and authentic, capturing the nuances of familial relationships and the tentative steps of a new romance. The chemistry between Juliet and Léo is palpable, building gradually through shared experiences and the warm, inviting atmosphere of the cookery school.

Fans of romantic fiction will find much to love in Escape to the Country Kitchen. The novel’s themes of healing, resilience, and the transformative power of love are universally appealing. Langdon deftly explores Juliet’s internal struggles and growth, making her journey deeply relatable. The subplot involving Léo’s past adds a touch of suspense and complexity, enriching the overall narrative.

Moreover, the novel beautifully highlights the importance of family and community. Juliet’s interactions with her sisters and the students at the cookery school create a sense of warmth and belonging, emphasizing that love and support can be found in the most unexpected places. The detailed descriptions of cooking and baking sessions further enhance this sense of community, drawing readers into the sensory experience of the kitchen.

Escape to the Country Kitchen is a delightful start to The Sisters of Feywood series, showcasing Hannah Langdon’s talent for crafting emotionally resonant and charming romantic fiction. With its well-drawn characters, engaging plot, and evocative setting, this novel is sure to enchant readers and leave them eagerly anticipating the next installment. Langdon has created a story that is both heartwarming and inspiring, perfect for anyone looking to escape into a world where love and family triumph over adversity.

[Beckiezra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feels like a 2 but I blame my own attitude more than the book so I feel like I should make it a 3 but then I start thinking about my issues with it and want to make it a 2 because they’re valid reasons to not like it, not just me unhappy with the snowstorm burying my city that I was hoping this would help me escape.

I wasn’t feeling this, the characters didn’t really interest me, they were a bunch of judgmental/rebellious artist daughters with a sickly chef aunt holding the family together at a cooking school/inn/I didn’t really care enough to understand the set up, a everyone-seemed-glad-she-was-dead mother whose death started this family gathering, a barely present but seemed like a jerk artist father, and a French chef on the run for a really senseless affair scandal that made him weirdly indecisive in the new relationship. Too much was happening and the point of a romance is supposed to be the developing relationship isn’t it? This seemed more like it wanted to set up a series for all the sisters to find their loves rather than focusing on the couple du jour. They were just immediate dislike snarky for no reason and then best friends making a cookbook and merch together without any real feelings explained. The MFC was dealing with recovering from an emotionally abusive ex and the MMC had his issues with being caught up in a scandal he was blamed for in French media so those were more the focus than the relationship between the two characters that are supposedly falling for each other.

I don’t even care for romance so I’m not sure why I’m so disappointed that this didn’t seem to follow the right formula. One good thing was that it was just cozy, closed door, at least I didn’t notice any, I wasn’t very invested in paying attention.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely start to the Feywood Sisters series this was, and I'm already totally invested and keen to read the next books which probably give you a good indicator of what I thought of this first one!

For I loved it - ok at times I was a bit frustrated with both Juliet and Leo for not communicating clearly, but they had their reasons and with their backgrounds, I could understand them, it was just a bit like I wanted to knock their heads together!

Juliet is a fabulous character, she had a fractious relationship with mother, she's escaped a controlling relationship and isn't completely happy at being asked to give up her London life in order to help out with trying to save the family home.

There are a lot of walls built around Juliet and as she softened and adapted to her new circumstances, including her interactions with Leo, I began to really love her.

And I'm certainly eager to get to know Frankie and Martha better in their books, as well as returning to Feywood, to catch up with Rosseau, Will and Aunt Sylvia. There is a cookery school that has been set up at the house that is what lends the book a foodie feel to it, and at times it certainly made me hungry.

I loved discovering the family dynamics, and all of the characters grew on me throughout, apart from Toby (but you are meant to hate him with good reason).

This is another very enjoyable book from Hannah Langdon, which is what I've come to expect from my previous experiences. Bring on book 2 of this series!

Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Margie Bunting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hannah Langdon wrote an excellent Christmas romance, Christmas with the Lords, which was one of my favorite holiday reads of 2023. So I was disappointed to find that I wasn't nearly as invested in her second novel, Escape to the Country Kitchen.

Juliet, the female protagonist, has a successful career writing and drawing satirical cartoons, and she also paints flowers and is writing a children's book. She is in a family of artists, but her recently deceased mother always put her down and made her feel inferior. Juliet has come home from London largely to escape her manipulative and denigrating ex, who is still trying to interfere in her life. The male protagonist is Leo, a celebrated French chef who opens a cooking school with Juliet's aunt, He has broken up with his ex-girlfriend after learning she is married, and now she is out to ruin him in the media.

It's a promising setup, but--strangely for a romance--I didn't feel any real emotion from either character, and their sudden "falling in love" with each other didn't ring true to me at all. Juliet's two sisters and aunt are prominent in the plot, but their stories are never resolved, and the ending is so abrupt that I thought I was missing pages. I know that the author is talented, so I'm hoping future books will revive the delight I felt with her debut novel.

My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.

[Josie Erdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

don business woman Juliet returns to her childhood home of Feywood after her life implodes (been there more times than I can count girl) and realizes the home she loves and adores is falling apart. In the hopes of saving Feywood, a cooking school has been established on the grounds, run by her Aunt and famous French chef Leo Brodeur, Juliet learns the love of her home has never left, just like the love of her sisters. While processing the trauma of her deceased mother, and Leo, recovering from a bad bout in reality TV, the kitchen brings them together, and begins to heal them in ways neither of them expect. This book was free on Hoopla when I used up my borrows for the month and I absolutely adored the cozy, English countryside vibes this gives off. I’d love to be whisked away to a cooking school with a world renowned chef who teaches me techniques and delicious foods. I also love that this deals with not only parental trauma, but the fact that Juliet’s sister may not be in the most ideal situation, but that sometimes you have to take a back seat and allow them to stumble, fall and learn on their own. We still love them, no matter what.

This story is so sweet and cozy, and who doesn’t love a man with an accent who can cook! I love Juliet’s journey to find herself in the midst of the chaos, while healing from her mother’s trauma and how she and Leo work together to heal from their pasts.

[Luisa Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having loved Hannah Langdon’s previous book, I was keen to read this one. Artist Juliet and French chef Leo were interesting characters and I was glad they achieved their happy ever after. I enjoyed the descriptions of the foods and the settings, which were very well written.
Some of the scenes between Leo and Juliet were lovely, but overall this story wasn’t as uplifting and cheerful as the author’s Christmas book. It felt much more serious in tone, and dealt with some big issues around family life and abusive relationships.
There was a lot of internal monologue in this book, as both main characters had a lot of previous experiences to process and heal from. I found this often insightful and I liked the character of Sylvia who was a bit of a mentor to them both.
I was less keen on the way some aspects were left unresolved and others were introduced with little apparent reason - eg the dad’s new girlfriend, the reason why Juliet’s mother was so horrid to her, and the sisters’ romantic relationships, as well as dealing with the narcissistic/slanderous exes. This is possibly going to be dealt with in future books, as I note this seems to be the first in a series about the sisters. Still, I was left feeling a bit dissatisfied at the end of this one. 3.5 stars for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC which I received in exchange for an honest review.

[Bookishmom4ever · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

Juliet feels as if she is the black sheep of her family. A family filled with highly gifted artists, her cartoon drawings never met her mother's expectations. So, she distanced herself from her family and created a new Juliet, one who accidentally fell into an abusive and controlling relationship. With her mother gone and finally free, she has come home at last, but sometimes, the past is hard to let go of. Enter Leo, a sexy French chef opening a culinary school with her aunt. He is hiding from his own shameful past. Can the two learn to trust again and maybe find love, or are they both too damaged to let someone else in?

While I found the country setting charming and can relate to Juliet's self-doubt, I did find it difficult to fall into this novel. By the end, I was frustrated with both Juliet and Leo, and while I enjoyed the ending, it just felt slightly drawn out to me, and so many things were left unfinished. I know this is meant to be a series, but I would have liked some resolution where Frankie was concerned. I found it hard to believe these close-knit sisters would be okay with not seeing her for months on end. Overall, it was a sweet, clean romance with forgiveness, self-identity, and self-discovery themes. If you are looking for a casual book to read, then this may be just right for you.

[Jessica | SweetSouthernPages · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It was clarity she needed, and space, and the practicality of the kitchen garden was the place that would offer that.”

Juliet is forced to leave her city life in London to move to her childhood countryside home. Her father and aunt have started a cooking school with Chef Léo who is running from a scandal in France. Alongside her family and handsome Léo, they work to save the family’s English manor house. Juliet begins to enjoy the easy, country life and the close proximity to Léo, but is it enough to leave her fast-paced London life behind?

This was such a cozy, cute romance. It is perfect if you are looking for a quick, easy spring/summer read. I love the character growth of Juliet, the FMC, and the dynamics among the family are realistic and relatable.

When starting this book, I really thought it was going to be a very atmospheric read. However, I didn’t see as much description of the country garden, kitchen, or food as I expected. While I liked the characters of Léo and Juliet, I didn’t feel any chemistry/tension between the two.

While this wasn’t everything I expected, I would be interested in reading the rest of this series to find out what happens with the other sisters and the manor. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Nomadic Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading and thoroughly enjoying Langdon’s Christmas with the Lords, I was looking forward to this new book. Unfortunately, I am very disappointed. The only similarities between the two are that they’re set in beautiful English country homes and both couples have awful exes. Whereas Christmas with the Lords is filled with the funny antics of a loving, eccentric family with adorable young twins and heartwarming interactions among the characters, this story is draining. Both Leo Brodeur and Juliet Carlisle have truly vicious, manipulative exes, but they allow them to continue to sow self-doubt to the point that they can’t trust their feelings for each other. The Carlisle family put the D in dysfunction, and the amount of secrecy and miscommunication is over the top. Although it’s a closed-door romance, there was no chemistry between Leo and Juliet. Juliet was exceedingly immature for a 30-year- old and quick to jump to unflattering and unfounded conclusions about Leo. I didn’t care for the third person POV, and the dialogue was often cringeworthy. Not recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Storm Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

[Heather Copping · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliet has been called back to her family home (Feywood) along with her sisters, Frankie and Martha, their father wants help from them all in helping financially and actually running the family home which is a 200 year old house which understandably needs a lot of money spent on it. Juliet is not too pleased, and neither is she taken with the French chef Leo, who will be running the cookery school, using ingredients locally sourced. There is a story behind Leo's past. When Juliet finds out what it is, she's not too pleased! But who should she believe? She moves into the space, which is above where Leo is working, and ultimately runs into him quite a lot. It's obviously going to be a testing
time for them both, as they both have pasts that they would rather forget about.

A lovely cosy romantic story about new beginnings and letting go of the past.
I really enjoyed reading this book and finding out about Juliet, Frankie, and Martha. All sisters have their different routes in life, and these three are no different. A tale of family and friends woven together with delicious sounding food.

[primi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape to the Country Kitchen by Hannah Langdon
What a wonderfully atmospheric book! With this, the first in the Feywood Sisters series, Hannah Langdon promises lots more fun with another wonderfully dotty English family in another crumbling country house.
I enjoyed getting to know the main character, Juliet, a sassy, complicated woman whose innate self-confidence has taken knocks from an over-critical parent and an emotionally abusive ex-partner. Rather than being a retreat from real life, returning home to Feywood helps Juliet to regain her sense of self and find a new direction.
Hannah’s rendition of the main love interest, French chef, Leo Brodeur’s accent is a case study in the art of conveying a non-standard English accent without resorting to phoney phonetics of the ‘allo ‘allo variety.
Although I’d have loved a bit more swoony romance, Escape to the Country Kitchen is, all in all, a lovely, escapist read. And while this is rather a sweet and decorous book, we still get some truly hilarious lines such as this one uttered by Leo when trying to explain breadmaking to Juliet, “So please, stop grumbling at me with your squidging and bunging, and help me think about how to achieve perfection.”

[Kayla Nunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars "Escape to the Country Kitchen" by Hannah Langdon is a heartwarming story about Juliet, who returns to her family home in the countryside. She faces the challenges of dealing with family legacies, healing from a traumatic romantic breakup, and navigating ongoing family drama before she can move forward in life.

One of the best parts of this book is the setting, which sounds absolutely charming. The idea of a cooking school adds a delightful touch to the story. The characters are well-developed and realistic, each with their own distinct personalities.

However, some parts of the dialogue didn’t feel quite right to me, and there were moments of miscommunication in one of the key relationships that I found frustrating. While these elements were realistically portrayed, they are not my favorite plot devices.

Overall, "Escape to the Country Kitchen" is an enjoyable read with a lovely setting and interesting characters. Despite some issues with dialogue and miscommunication, it’s a good choice for readers who love stories about family, healing, and new beginnings.

[Carolina CHC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliet, Martha and Frankie Carlisle live in Feywood, which is lovely house lately dilapidated. The relationship with house comes with different perspectives depending on the relationship each had with their parents, specially the mother. This book is about Juliet, the sister with the most complicated relationship with the deceased mother. She need to decide between family duty, personal duty while working on years of emotional abuse from her mother and ex boyfriend. Hopefully this new French celebrity chef, Leo, will help Juliet through her process while also fixing his as well. The description of the food prepared was mouthwatering.

This books bring topics about:
Family struggles
Family duties
Self’s teem problems
Abusive relationships
Narcissistic roles
Food lovers
Wished there were real recipes at the end.

I just reviewed Escape to the Country Kitchen by Hannah Langdon. #EscapetotheCountryKitchen #NetGalley

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliet Carlisle, and her two sisters Frankie and Martha are challenged with helping their dad and aunt to finance the upkeep of Feywood house - a large historical manor home in the English countryside. I enjoyed the nuggets describing the location - especially the nearby forest, as well as the home and outbuildings.

Part of this plan includes the implementation of a cooking school where clients come and stay for a few days, and learn from an incredible French chef (with his own drama). Ms. Langdon did a fantastic job at creating a character you love to hate in Juliet's ex-boyfriend. I think we all know someone at least a little like him!

This definitely is the "chick flick" version of book - light, cozy, heartwarming and a quick read. And like many have mentioned, you'll be raiding the pantry for snacks while reading if you're not careful!

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Hannah Langdon for the eARC.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in the Sisters of Feywood series and the main character is Juliet. Feeling obliged to return to the crumbling family home to help out, and put money towards keeping it from going into total disrepair, Juliet returns to also mend her heart. What she hadn’t realised was that the family had set up a cookery school and easy on the eye French chef Leo Brodeur is in residence and there is an attraction. Can she trust again after what she went through with her manipulative ex and plus Leo has his own past to deal with. This had family dynamics, quirky characters and relationships that were not straightforward! Although I enjoyed this there were a few times where I struggled to stay engaged. Saying that I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series to find out what happens to the other sisters. Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

After Juliette is forced to move back home and help financially with the crumbling manor, she is confronted with difficult memories of her mother, medeling family members, and a mysterious chef working to start a cooking school at the home. Juliette has recently left an abusive relationship back in London, which causes conflict between her and the chef who has been burned by his last relationship as well.

Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. I felt the language used was too formal and forced and I often thought the book should have been set in the early 1900s. I also felt the connection and relationship between Juliette and Leo could have been more developed. I liked Juliette, her spunk and sass, but felt a disconnect with the way the characters communicated.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[AHR - · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Juliet Carlisle has come back to the family home, Feywood to celebrate her thirtieth birthday. Juliet comes from an artistic familial background.
Juliet’s sisters Martha and Frankie still live there, alongside their father Rousseau and Aunt Sylvia.
Rousseau calls a family meeting. Will Juliet be pulled back to her childhood home?

I like the writing style of the author and enjoyed reading this book. I could picture Feywood completely in my minds eye. I would have loved to have eaten some of the delicious sounding food mentioned.
I believe this is the first of three books in this series, the one’s to follow being Martha and Frankie. I am very much looking forward to reading their stories, especially Martha’s.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the story. The characters were intetresting and well done. The location was wonderful!


Amazon synopsis:
Shy, world-weary Juliet Carlisle reluctantly returns to her family's crumbling English manor house, seeking solace after a painful heartbreak… only to discover that her family has launched a new cookery school, run by the handsome but irritatingly cheerful French chef Léo Brodeur.

Between her manipulative ex, two much-loved sisters who just won’t stay out of her business and a home falling down around her ears, Juliet has enough on her plate without dealing with an exasperating Frenchman. But as they work together in the kitchen – surrounded by the warm scents of baking croissants, fresh garden thyme, and Léo's peppery cologne – she begins to see a more serious side to him that she never noticed before.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this although I wasn't overly fond of Juliette initially. Her erratic behaviour made my head spin! To be fair, she arrives at her family home of Feywood not knowing who she's supposed to be anymore. Her late mother was very critical to her when she was a child and her ex was a manipulative, cruel idiot (I'm being polite!). However, she finally starts to work out her own path in life finding love with Leo along the way. Even though they both misunderstand each other's behaviour at times, all's well that ends well! An easy read, filled with beautiful descriptions of Feywood and lots of mouth-watering food.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Hannah Langdon for a free copy in exchange for an honest review