Een frisse start

Escape to the Lakes #2

by Jessica Redland

Rosie heeft het gevoel dat er iets ontbreekt in haar leven.

Rosie vindt haar baan als manager van Willowdale Hall Paardrijschool & Paardensportcentrum geweldig, waar ze de paarden verzorgt en kinderen leert paardrijden. Ook vindt ze het heerlijk om met haar moeder samen te wonen in het prachtige Lake District, maar toch vraagt ze zich af hoe haar leven eruit zou hebben gezien als het anders was geweest. Wat als haar vader er was geweest om voor haar moeder te zorgen? En wat als ze zelf het geluk had gevonden?

Wanneer Hubert Cranleigh - de eigenaar van Willowdale Hall - ziek wordt, neemt zijn zoon Oliver de leiding over. Hij gedraagt zich chagrijnig en afstandelijk, en Rosie is woedend wanneer hij beweert niet te weten wie ze is. Vooral omdat ze een verleden hebben...

Rosies leven staat op een kantelpunt, maar met het nieuwe jaar komen er nieuwe kansen. Misschien is Rosies geluk toch dichterbij dan ze denkt. Durft ze de sprong te wagen?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Friendship, Family, Grief

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2024

About the author

I was born in Teesside but now live in Scarborough on the stunning North Yorkshire Coast. My home inspired the creation of the fictional seaside town of Whitsborough Bay where I set many of my books although the Hedgehog Hollow series takes readers to a gorgeous new countryside setting in the Yorkshire Wolds.

I live with my husband, our teenage daughter and sprocker spaniel, Ella. I'm a self-confessed stationery addict with a ridiculously large collection of notepads who loves chocolate (although it doesn't love me), hedgehogs, 80s music, collectible teddy bears and lighthouses.

Other than a career detour into retail to set up and run my own teddy bear shop (the inspiration for novel Bear With Me), I've always worked in HR, specialising in resourcing, coaching and L&D. Writing always had to take a back seat to the day job until June 2020 when I left the world of HR to become a full-time author. I'm so very grateful to anyone who has bought or borrowed my books in whatever format, helping me fulfil a long-held dream of writing full-time. I still can't believe I get to spend every day chatting to my fictional friends and making stuff up.

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: 'I'm deflecting because . . .' She looked around for Toffee who, presumably sensing Mam was getting distressed, rose from her position behind the sofa and placed her head on Mam's lap.
As Mam caressed Toffee's hair and ears, she visibly relaxed. 'I've decided it's time.'
'For what?' I asked biting into a sausage roll.
'To tell you the truth about your father.'

ABOUT 'A BREATH OF FRESH AIR': Rosie feels like there's something missing in her life.

She loves her job as the manager of Willowdale Hall Riding Stables, caring for the horses and teaching children to ride, and she loves the home she shares with her mother in the beautiful Lake District. But she can't help wondering how her life might look if things had been different. What if her father had been around to help care for her mother? And what if she'd found someone special herself?

When Hubert Cranleigh - the owner of Willowdale Hall - is taken ill, his son Oliver steps into the breach. Brooding and distant, Rosie is furious when he claims not to know who she is. Especially when they have a history.

Rosie's life is about to be turned upside down, but with the New Year comes new opportunities. What Rosie feels is missing from her life might be closer than she thinks, and with more significant consequences than she could ever have imagined...

MY THOUGHTS: Jessica Redland! How could you finish this on such a cliffhanger! I need to know what Rosie knows. I need to know who C is! Have you been dropping hints along the way and I have missed the significance of them? Or is this going to be a bolt out of the blue? I hope you are hard at work on Escape to the Lakes #3. I need answers!

A Breath of Fresh Air is Alice and Rosie's story. We first met them in Escape to the Lakes #1 The Start of Something Wonderful, which focused on Rosie's friend Autumn, an as yet unpublished author and illustrator of children's books.

I had all the emotions reading this. Rosie has never known her father and has lived her whole life in Willowdale. At school she was subjected to bullying. She's had to deal with her mother's PTSD, and had her heart broken. She has always felt like an outsider, her only friend a childhood penpal, Autumn, who has recently moved to the village.

Despite having been bullied, Rosie is a strong and compassionate character. She loves her work as manager of a riding stable and living at Horseshoe Cottage with her mam. She has a great sense of humor (she belongs to a pub quiz team called Numpties who are usually last or close to it) but other than the pub quiz nights, doesn't have much of a social life. Her employer is a rude and arrogant man whom she privately calls 'his lordship.' His unexpected death brings about a whole world of change for Rosie and she feels her comfortable existence is under threat, especially when her first love Oliver (it ended badly) returns to her life.

There are quite a few mysteries in A Breath of Fresh Air: who is the 'green man'?; who is Rosie's father?; and there's also a mystery surrounding Oliver which I am not going into for fear of spoilers.

I enjoyed this read greatly. It is full of love and caring. Secrets are revealed along with true feelings. And at least some of the mysteries are solved.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#ABreathofFreshAir #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: I was born in Teesside but now live in Scarborough on the stunning North Yorkshire Coast. My home inspired the creation of the fictional seaside town of Whitsborough Bay where I set many of my books.

I live with my husband, our teenage daughter and sprocker spaniel, Ella. I'm a self-confessed stationery addict with a ridiculously large collection of notepads who loves chocolate (although it doesn't love me), hedgehogs, 80s music, collectible teddy bears and lighthouses.

Other than a career detour into retail to set up and run my own teddy bear shop (the inspiration for novel Bear With Me), I've always worked in HR, specialising in resourcing, coaching and L&D. Writing always had to take a back seat to the day job until June 2020 when I left the world of HR to become a full-time author. I'm so very grateful to anyone who has bought or borrowed my books in whatever format, helping me fulfil a long-held dream of writing full-time. I still can't believe I get to spend every day chatting to my fictional friends and making stuff up.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of A Breath of Fresh Air by Jessica Redland for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars
With a passion for horses, Rosie loves her job at Willowdale Hall Riding Stables. She is happy sharing her home with her mother in Horseshoe Cottage on the Willowdale Hall estate in The Lake District. But it is not easy. Especially when her mother suffers from PTSD and freaks out whenever torrential rain hits. Then she goes on about the green man. This is all a result of an accident that happened years earlier. Since then, she has not left the estate. There are times when Rosie wonders how different her life would be if her father had been around and also if she had found someone special herself?
When Hubert Cranleigh, owner of Willowdale Hall has a serious accident, his son Oliver who has not been seen for years steps in. Oliver and Rosie have a chequered history, so Rosie is amazed when he appears to not recognise her. Events go from bad to worse as Rosie and her mother’s whole future is put under threat. What does the future hold for Rosie? And what part will Oliver, who is a doctor, play in the way events turn out? Could it be her future will end up looking a lot different to what Rosie ever anticipated?
I picked this book up because I had read and enjoyed other books by this author, though not in this series. It didn’t matter that I had not read book 1 in the Escape to the Lakes series, as it stands alone fine.
Rosie is a caring, compassionate woman with a great capacity for love. I loved the way she reacted to her mother and her friendship with authors and illustrator Autumn and Dane. She puts the needs of others above her own.
As well as PTSD there is another issue of bullying dealt with, which may be a trigger for some readers. It is also a story of family, friendship, love and forgiveness, and ultimately one of hope. However, there was one aspect of the ending I was not happy with plus the interaction between Rosie and Oliver did seem to drag a bit at times Still, overall, it was a very good emotional read, with complex characters and a great setting.

[Karen Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noooo this book can't be left on this cliffhanger. When is book 3 coming out?
Loved getting back to the Lakes and the characters from book 1 but this time with Rosie's story. This is heartwarming, beautiful and tinged with sadness and trauma.

Jessica's books are ones you get lost in, you meet old friends and new ones all at the same time. Desperate to read Book 3 now.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Escape to the Lakes series by Jessica Redland. The author writes such brilliant books, I especially loved her hedgehog series. Another animal series would be most welcome. Recently I read her cat Christmas book, recommended. As you can probably see by my words, I really enjoy this author's writing. The author's books are uplifting, full of energy, love, and community. I really enjoyed the setting of Willowdale Hall Riding Stables, the horses all sounded so lovely. Riding anyone? I want to visit Willowdale Hall, the lovely estate along with Willowdale Hall Riding Stables on the property Rosie and her mom live on. I liked the characters a lot in this book, except for one, not too nice person. This is Rosie and her moms' story but also Rosie and Oliver's story. This is about how Rosie and Oliver meet again after some years. There book has such a connection between past and present, it's evident right away. Some mistakes and misunderstandings in the past are still influencing present happenings. The story is full of love, compassion, understandings, helping others in their time of need and you know the characters will continue to be there in the future for each other when help is needed. Some big secrets are revealed, and I think that's good, it explains a lot and helps the characters to progress in life. There is a cliff hanger at the very end, and I can't wait to read the next book to see how this is revolved.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Breath of Fresh Air #2 Escape to the Lakes
3✨

I had higher hopes. It didn't hit me. The whole Funeral stuff was depressing.

Fingers crossed for book 3

[Suz McDowell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book, but the ending is terrible. It just leaves you hanging, with no way to figure out who the person is.

[Rebecca Stapleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

Not a bad read, rounded up from 3.5 stars due to the ending. Lots of classic romance tropes, and not many surprises in the story, quite easy to work out where it was going, but it passed a couple of hours pleasantly enough.

[Terence James silk · Rating 1 out of 5]

enjoyable till the end

I was really enjoying the book but the ending was abrupt and very disappointing . Left me feeling frustrated as it did not reveal who”C” was.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Breath of Fresh Air by Jessica Redland

This is the second book in Jessica’s Escape to the Lakes series. I read the first one when it came out and absolutely loved it, and I have been looking forward to this story ever since.

In the first book, the main character featured was Autumn who moved to the Lake District and met her penpal Rosie. This book is Rosie’s story, so you meet already familiar characters, but have a different focus. It can be read as a standalone, but I’d definitely recommend reading the first book before, so you know the whole picture (and because The Start of Something Wonderful is a great read too!). We continue to see Autumn throughout, so you get to see what’s happening in her life too.

The story is told in first person from Rosie’s view. She is thirty-six, lives with her mother Alice and is single. She works full-time as the manager of the local riding school, which she loves, but seeing Autumn in her new relationship (and other happy couples) causes her to question if she would be happier in a relationship herself. Having no family besides her mother also makes her think about her life and who her father was.

It's really easy to get into the story, I was hooked straight away and wanted to know what was going to happen. I always love revisiting characters from previous books, as it’s like catching up with old friends over coffee and Jessica Redland is excellent at making her characters completely real and believable.

I enjoyed the scenes set at the riding stables. I learned to ride at the age of 48 and the novel brought back some nice memories, including the smell of the stables which I had forgotten about until reading Jessica’s words. There are a couple of lovely dogs in the story too.

Another aspect I enjoyed was The Hardy Herdwick pub’s Thursday night quiz with landlord and quiz master Arnie leading the proceedings. I loved following the quiz nights, especially when I got some of the answers right!

I always love the settings in Jessica Redland’s books and here we have the beautiful Lake District which I have only visited once in the 1990s, but it’s great to travel there again via this series and I can always picture everything so easily with Jessica’s evocative writing.

The estate where Rosie and her mother live is owned by Hubert Cranleigh and in this book, we meet his son Oliver, who is nearly thirty-six. He has history with Rosie, but appears not to recognise her when he sees her again. I loved how this book answered some questions from the first one. We find out more about the Cranleigh family, as well as discovering about Rosie’s background and her mother Alice’s life before.

Overall, this is another excellent read and I can’t fault it. Over the last couple of years, Jessica Redland has become my favourite author and I now can’t wait for Book 3 in this series.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

With former penfriend Autumn now living nearby, Rosie has the support and friendship she’s always been lacking – although she has a particularly close relationship with her mother, unable to leave the Willowdale estate after a traumatic event that impacted her mental health. Although she’d like to know more, she’s never pushed her mother to reveal the identity of her father – for each other, they’re enough. And she has a real attachment to the horses she cares for at the stables and riding school – although its owner, Hubert Cranleigh, living in isolation at the Hall, can sometimes be both difficult and demanding. But they can live with that – he’s allowed them to live in their cottage on the estate, and Rosie is doing a job she loves.

The stability of their lives is disrupted by an unfortunate event, the arrival of Hubert’s son Oliver, and the possibility of change. He was once her childhood friend, but it’s a friendship that fell apart in their teens – when he became part of “the Populars” at school, and Rosie struggled with bullying and isolation. They became closer again, but he left for university in the wake of an argument, and hasn’t returned in the intervening years – and it’s particularly hurtful when he apparently doesn’t recognise her when they first meet again.

The story moves seamlessly backwards and forwards in time, as we discover what really went on in those childhood years – and a number of other dramatic secrets are uncovered, unsettling everyone while the uncertainties about the future remain ever present. It’s a particularly involving story, with a number of unfolding threads – and with the strong emotional content that the author always handles so very well. I really must mention the excellent sense of place throughout the story too – her love for the Lakes comes through in every setting and vista she describes so vividly.

Rosie and her mother are both sympathetic and likeable – but all the character development is really excellent, as truths are revealed and back stories explained. There’s a lovely focus on friendship – the warm support from Autumn (someone I already loved from the first book in the series, but this book can most certainly be read as a standalone), the tentative bridge-building with Oliver, and I really enjoyed the quiz nights at the local pub – and family, as Rosie seeks to protect her mother from the devastation that eviction from their home would cause.

There’s always a particular warmth about the author’s writing – her characters become friends, and you really grow to care about them. And she’s a wonderful storyteller, whether it’s life’s dramas or those special moments that touch you to the heart. A book I very much enjoyed – and I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.

[Sarah Kingsnorth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessice Redland - A Breath Of Fresh Air.

Grab a cuppa, get yourself comfy and let million copy selling author Jessica Redland whisk you off to the beautiful Lake District for another captivating and feel good tale of love, friendship and mystery.

#ABreathOfFreshAir is the second book in the Escape To The Lakes series.
It’s entirely readable as a stand alone story. However, book one, #TheStartOfSomethingWonderful is a spectacular book and thoroughly worth a few of your precious reading hours.

#ABreathOfFreshAir takes us back to the pretty village and community of Willowdale.
We catch up with previous characters, but this book is firmly Rosie’s story.
There is nothing to dislike about Rosie. She is a loyal friend, an excellent support to her mother who is struggling with her own demons and she has enough about her to stand her ground when necessary.

#ABraehOfFreshAir has a strong and engaging plot.
I enjoyed following all the different threads and discovering their well crafted conclusions.
There is a cliff hanger, or you could call it a teaser for the next book. Either way, it’s clever and intriguing. Roll on book three!

Over all, this is another outstanding book from Jessica Redland. I was gripped by this well written story and can’t wait to head back to the Lake District for more.

Another credit to you Jessica Redland.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a digital arc of this title.

[Jayne Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in this series had more intrigue and interest than the first, and definitely made me want to read more! It’s general fiction with a romance subplot along with a big dose of family dynamics. I loved the setting on a big estate where the FMC manages the stables and gives riding lessons-that’s a dream job for a lot of people including me lol. I was frustrated that the characters had gone years harboring teenage resentment but the reasoning made sense in the end. If you don’t like spicy scenes, this is a good one to pick up. But reading the series in order is probably best (although not critical).

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie loves her job working with horses. It’s all she’s ever wanted to do. Her old childhood friend Oliver is back and one fateful night could change things.
I thought this was another good book by this author. Lots of secrets come out and it ends with a cliffhanger.
I will be patiently waiting for the next one

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Jessica. This one was so good but, the ending leaves us hanging so there has got to be another one coming. I need to know what happens next. Jessica always delivers and this series is just as good as her others. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Sara Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was an interesting read, but it was actually quite slow. I didn’t think it became fun to read until the 60% mark.

I actually was not a fan of Oliver for a good chunk of the book. Not only was he rude as an adult, but he was a snotty kid and teenager. I could not imaging treating someone the way he did, especially if that person was my best friend when I was a little kid.

A big issue I had with this one was the huge amount of characters we have. I felt like so many were thrown at me. I’m thinking some of these were from other books by the author, so maybe if you’ve read her stuff before you can keep them straight. As a new reader I was often confused who was who.

I also did not feel the chemistry between Oliver and Rosie. They just love each other but the whole time as children, teens, and adults Oliver is just plain mean. Even when they explore their attraction as adults I did not believe it. Oliver is just very flat with next to no emotion except anger.

I did like how this book portrayed mental health awareness. Rosie’s mom has PTSD, and I think this was explored very well in this book.

My other favorite part was the flashbacks. I thought this worked, and the book would have been very boring and hard to grasp without them.

Please note, there is a cliffhanger at the end.

*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Carla]

A Breath of Fresh Air Rosie and her mother live in a small cottage on the property of Willowdale Hall. She manages the stables, caring for the horses and teaching children to ride. Her mother had been in a serious accident years before and suffers from PTSD. She became agorophobic and Rosie takes care of her. When the owner of Willowdale Hall, Hubert Cranleigh, dies after a fall from his horse, he son Oliver arrives to take care of things. Oliver and Rosie had been friends growing up until there was a falling out. Through this story we learn about their past, their parentage, their lives and how they feel about each other. When Oliver tells Rosie he plans to sell Willowdale Hall, she is devastated, not do much for herself, but for her mother. Can she convince Oliver to stay, or at least keep the Hall and let her mother and her stay in their cottage?

I really enjoyed A Breath of Fresh Air. It was wonderful learning more about Rosie and her life after meeting her in The Start of Something Wonderful. She is a great character. Rosie is loyal, caring, a great friend, generous with her time, smart and more. She had an awful childhood with being bullied and not having friends. Oliver was her only friend for years, until he dumped her. How she grew up to be such a great person is a wonder. I loved learning about both her and Oliver's pasts, it sure answered a lot of questions. We see Rosie as a daughter, but also as a friend. She belongs to a team that participated in Quiz Nights at the pub. It is easy to see how much others care about her, she has a sense of humor and is a lot of fun, so why doesn't she have a partner of some sort? There are also several mysteries in the story. Who is her father? What does the "Green Man" mean and who hit her mother? Why does Oliver hate his father so much? My one niggle is the ending. I know it is a set up for the next book, but there is a bit of a cliff hanger and I am not a fan of those. This is a book full of secrets, friendship, family, dealing with mental health, compassion and mystery. Of course there is some romance, but that is not the main theme, at least not to me. Now I can't wait to read the next book and find out, Who is C?

[Hannah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was only recently that I read the first book in Jessica’s new series set in the Lake District and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I picked up my kindle again to read book 2.

The time came and I was transported straight back to Willowdale but this time we get to learn a lot more about Rosie, although Autumn and Dane are still there, don’t worry about that! A lot of this is set around the grounds of Willowdale Hall as we get to explore both Rosie and Oliver’s childhood memories.

I already liked Rosie from book 1 but this just cemented her character and I really felt for her as we progressed. Oliver was definitely a work in progress but I was definitely much more of a fan by the time we’d got to the end of the book. Both of them have challenges to face but like with Autumn and Dane, you just know that they can figure them out together.

There were a few twists over the course of the book, the majority of which I didn’t expect but added to the drama and depth of this book. And then the cliffhanger ending… there’s not much I can say about that apart from that I need to read book 3 asap!

Another great escapism read from Redland that will definitely keep me coming back for more!!

[Susanne Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic visit back to the beautiful Lake District with a wonderful bunch of interesting characters and some intriguing moments too!
I really enjoy Jessica’s style of storytelling, it’s always a little more emotional than a regular romance story, the characters often have situations that they are struggling with and she often shares valuable insights into conditions via her characters.
Rosie is a strong and likeable character, she runs the riding school and looks after her mum, who is unable to leave her home and surrounding area due to a traumatic event in her past. Rosie has given up so much to support her mum and you find yourself willing her on to grasp at an opportunity to do something for herself.
Fate throws Oliver into the mix, he’s a blast from her past that brings back memories both good and bad from her youth. It was fascinating to find out their backgrounds and to see them reconnect.
Lots of mysteries to discover along the way, this was a riveting read and I am already excited for book three from this excellent series.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for hosting this book's tour this week and for the FREE EBook to promote and review for Jessica.

This was my first time reading a Romance by Jessica so i wasnt sure what to expect but i really enjoyed this one especially with all the Equestrian Information she included into the storyline.

The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. Rosie was definately my favorite since i could relate to how she felt about missing her Dad since that's how ive felt since losing My Dad in 2021.

The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading, especially when the scenery was described.

Overall a Throughly enjoyable Book 2 in this Contemporary Romantic Mystery Series by Jessica!! Can't wait to read Book 1 sometime!!

[Lisa Whittaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. The second in the series set in my favourite place - the stunning Lake District. Was fab to be back there and read Rosie’s story. I’m hoping I don’t have too long to wait for the next book in the series because of the cliffhanger ending!

Some might say Jessica’s book are chick lit but they do tackle very sensitive subject matters which are written about carefully and thoughtfully. She is definitely one of my favourite authors. Such gorgeous, easy reads set in the most beautiful locations. A go to author for me now as I know I’m going to love anything she writes.

[Henriette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's no secret that Jessica Redland is simply one of my favorite authors. Her story telling is just spot on... I always end up caring so much about the characters and what they are going through that it practically feels as if I am there with them.

We already met Rosie in the first book which focused on her best friend Autumn when she was visiting Rosie, but in this book we really get to know all the ins and outs about Rosie and see even more how truely selfless she is and just how lovely! I loved the relationship between Rosie and her mother and between Rosie and Autumn.

This story is full of friendship, family, overcoming hard times, uncovering secrets and dealing with very difficult things, but there is also so much to make you smile and fully escape away to the lakes. I loved it!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely addition to the series

I love Jessica’s books, they’re always well written and thought out, the characters are relatable, the settings sound just lovely places to live (and visit!) and her writing always draws you in from the start.
This book was a great next of series and certainly ended with a surprise, let’s just say, I can’t wait for the next one. Familiar characters and places are like a warm hug and sometimes you just need those feel good, comforting stories to read and also look forward to.

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, easy read. Feel good romance with some slightly more serious topics weaved in.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read....

[Peggy Janflone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an awesome read!

[Jeau Hodge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Soggy love story ver drawn out. Bit cliche also Didn’t realise this was book 2 of a sequel woops

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous visit to the lakes and a great second book in the new series from Jessica Redland.
Rosie and her mum have eachother and the beautiful home in the Lakes but is it enough? Secrets, heartbreak and memories from the past keep rising to the surface and both of them need to understand what has happened to be able to move on.
As always Jessica Redland has written and emotional and heartfelt story full of love- Rosie and her mum have a wonderful relationship and this definitely felt like the backbone to the story - with their love and support for eachother flowing through each page.

[Lainey Gillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stunning story from Jessica Redland.
The 2nd 'Escape to the Lakes' book was as enthralling as the 1st. This time we focus on Rosie and her story.

Loved this from start to finish... I am looking forward to the 3rd book out in September, why do I have to wait so long? After this book... I need it now!!! 😁

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

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

I will start this review by saying what I always think when I start a Jessica Redland book: that this book will be great, it just depends on the level of greatness. And so far, the books that I have read have been nothing short of 5 star. And this includes the first book in the 'Escape to the Lakes' series.

The communities that Jessica always manages to create are just perfect. And this is definitely one I'd happily live in. It's not too isolated, but it's not a huge space. This means all the characters know each other and you get this warmth. It does help that the Lake District is one of my favourite places in the world. It is beautiful and has this magic that Jessica has captured so well.

Overall, it is a loving, warming, cosy, light, easy-to-read book. But she hasn't shied away from including some difficult topics, such as trauma, PTSD, relationship struggles, bullying, broken families, injuries, death, single parenthood etc. This sounds like it might have been too morbid, but it's not. These aren't things that take over the main storyline, but they help add a sense of realism to them, as everyone goes through some difficult things, whether fictional or real. And it then helps the positive bits sing even more.

I love the focus on animals in this book - horses and dogs. It is lovely and really shows how animals become part of our family and how they can really save people. They're more than 'just' working animals, they're a friend and they support you all the way, and they have this sixth sense that tells them when you need them more, and that's captured well.

Autumn was the main character in the first book, with Rosie as a secondary character, but this one has flipped that round. We see Rosie as our protagonist and she's as fabulous a creation as Autumn was. That's what I particularly love about Jessica's books. If they're in a series, all the characters relate. It doesn't matter who is the main character, the support, or the villain - they're all there and they all pop up in each other's stories, which helps that sense of community and security I get when I read her books. It also teases potential storylines for future books as we meet some of the secondary characters.

From what I can gather online, I think she's written 22 novels (including this one - Jessica please correct me if I'm wrong), and I've read 12 of them, and each one is as stupendous as the one before and the one following. I am never worried when I begin a Jessica Redland book. I never worry about not liking it or wondering whether to stop reading it. I know I'll love it, time after time. She's my comfort author who creates cosy, warming, beautiful, emotional, difficult, happy, comforting, and real stories.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

I have to start by stating that Jessica Redland is a cruel, cruel woman - how could she leave the book on such a huge cliffhanger like that?! If it's a character we've already met, my money is on the Biology teacher.

I love Jessica Redland's books and this one is no exception. The characters here are complex human beings who are definitely not perfect which only makes them more realistic. I haven't read book one in the series, but didn't find that to be a problem. There is enough background on that story that I have a sense of what happened and who some of the characters are, but not so much that it would ruin it for me if I decided to go back and read that book. I liked Rosie a lot and, as with her, it took me a little while to see Oliver as being a worthy partner for her. He's cranky and rude and I was completely on her side for being mad when he didn't acknowledge that he knew her. When she finally really yells at him about how much he had hurt her when they were teens I gave a little cheer - it may not have occurred at the best time, but it was so nice to see her finally address the impact his actions had on her. I also liked that she was willing to hear him out about everything that had been going on with him at that time - he didn't use those as excuses and agreed that she had every right to be upset about all of it. I know some people don't think she should have forgiven him and been willing to give him yet another chance, but I see it more as an acknowledgement that they were no longer the people they were back then and we all have to be open to the fact that people can (and do) change. The subplot involving Alice and Xander was really interesting on its own and could have been its own novel. I liked that it was clear the direction their relationship was going in, but that they were taking it slowly. Although I still want to know what his friend was up to back then - what she did was just cruel. Then there is the mystery behind Oliver's parentage (the cliffhanger I mentioned above). You would think with all of this going on the book would have felt weighed down, but somehow Jessica Redland just makes it all work. I am now eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!