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The Valentine Nook Chronicles #3
Honeysuckle Lane
Hendricks, Lord Burlington, answers to several names.
Hen to his siblings, daddy to his five-year-old son, My Lord to strangers and ‘The Vet’ to all the animals he looks after.
But to Story MacIntosh, he’s the one who got away.
Formerly best friends for life, everything changed six years ago, and Hendricks was relegated to nothing more than a memory for Story. But when her past catches up with her present, she finds herself back in the village where they both grew up.
For Hendricks, Story returning to Valentine Nook brings back equally painful memories, ones he tries his hardest to ignore while being the best father he can to Max. Something made all the more impossible when Story becomes Max’s substitute school teacher.
No matter how hard they try, seeing each other is unavoidable.
Then the Valentine Nook Valentine Fair is announced, and they’re both nominated for the committee. Soon they’re working together - as friends - but with all the love in the air it doesn’t take long before the lines blur. And their relationship changes once again.
Both of them are determined to make up for their mistakes, but when baggage from Hendricks’s past resurfaces they have to decide once and for all what they want their future to look like.
And whether this time around they’re stronger together than apart.
Hen to his siblings, daddy to his five-year-old son, My Lord to strangers and ‘The Vet’ to all the animals he looks after.
But to Story MacIntosh, he’s the one who got away.
Formerly best friends for life, everything changed six years ago, and Hendricks was relegated to nothing more than a memory for Story. But when her past catches up with her present, she finds herself back in the village where they both grew up.
For Hendricks, Story returning to Valentine Nook brings back equally painful memories, ones he tries his hardest to ignore while being the best father he can to Max. Something made all the more impossible when Story becomes Max’s substitute school teacher.
No matter how hard they try, seeing each other is unavoidable.
Then the Valentine Nook Valentine Fair is announced, and they’re both nominated for the committee. Soon they’re working together - as friends - but with all the love in the air it doesn’t take long before the lines blur. And their relationship changes once again.
Both of them are determined to make up for their mistakes, but when baggage from Hendricks’s past resurfaces they have to decide once and for all what they want their future to look like.
And whether this time around they’re stronger together than apart.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2026
About the author
Lulu Moore
24 books1,480 followersLulu started writing by accident, and somehow found herself stuck in a fictional world of ice hockey, baseball and billionaires. A world she has no plans to leave. She's the creator of The New York Players Series, The Tuesday Club Series, and The New York Lions - the worst team in the M.L.B.
More recently she's ventured across the Atlantic to where her latest novel is set - the beautiful cities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the annual rowing showdown on the River Thames.
She's a big fan of strong heroines, because those fierce alphas need someone to keep them in check. You'll find her navigating her way through Romance Land one HEA at a time, and trying to figure out the latest social media platform she needs to post to.
More recently she's ventured across the Atlantic to where her latest novel is set - the beautiful cities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the annual rowing showdown on the River Thames.
She's a big fan of strong heroines, because those fierce alphas need someone to keep them in check. You'll find her navigating her way through Romance Land one HEA at a time, and trying to figure out the latest social media platform she needs to post to.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
March 23, 2026
3,5⭐
Really nice and entertaining. I enjoyed the plot, I adore the series and its style and vibe, the town is great and I absolutely love the family and the family scenes, they crack me up, for example the polo match, the four brothers together always deliver hilarious banter 🤣
Lando will forever be my favorite and the one I would want for myself, second place for Miles, he can be nagging but in a very funny way and he’s so into his siblings’ lives and loyal to them, and then Clemmie, my sweet, I love her.
I’m fond of Hendricks, the mmc, his relationship with his son Max, who I adore, he’s the sweetest funniest kid, and his relationship with Miles, all great.
The romance was alright, it didn’t particularly grip me, but it was entertaining and enjoyable enough. I liked the flashbacks, they were cute, there was classic clueless teen miscommunication and both had faults in not admitting their feelings, but they were young it made sense.
The reason I didn’t go higher with the rate is that I never really warmed up to Sophie. I don’t dislike her, but she bothered me more than once, in the first half especially. 100% of her thoughts were about Hendricks with a strong poor me attitude. I get she suffered being just friends and in love with him, I even get needing to distance herself, but they were best friends, and getting mad and running away and completely ghosting him and erasing him from her life when he found out he was going to have a kid without a word of explanation or goodbye was immature and cruel. I can cut some slack cause she was 21, but 6 years later, even if she regretted it, she still didn’t act mature, made assumptions, snipped at him, wallowed about him and the consequences of her decision.
In the second half, once they tried to be friends again and admitted their feelings, she was mostly better for me.
I’m so excited for Miles story up next and for Clementine and Santiago’s later, (spoiler: I mean, the guy she had such a deep connection with and loved caused the fall that almost killed her brother and is trying to get her to talk to him again), I can’t wait for their book!
Really nice and entertaining. I enjoyed the plot, I adore the series and its style and vibe, the town is great and I absolutely love the family and the family scenes, they crack me up, for example the polo match, the four brothers together always deliver hilarious banter 🤣
Lando will forever be my favorite and the one I would want for myself, second place for Miles, he can be nagging but in a very funny way and he’s so into his siblings’ lives and loyal to them, and then Clemmie, my sweet, I love her.
I’m fond of Hendricks, the mmc, his relationship with his son Max, who I adore, he’s the sweetest funniest kid, and his relationship with Miles, all great.
The romance was alright, it didn’t particularly grip me, but it was entertaining and enjoyable enough. I liked the flashbacks, they were cute, there was classic clueless teen miscommunication and both had faults in not admitting their feelings, but they were young it made sense.
The reason I didn’t go higher with the rate is that I never really warmed up to Sophie. I don’t dislike her, but she bothered me more than once, in the first half especially. 100% of her thoughts were about Hendricks with a strong poor me attitude. I get she suffered being just friends and in love with him, I even get needing to distance herself, but they were best friends, and getting mad and running away and completely ghosting him and erasing him from her life when he found out he was going to have a kid without a word of explanation or goodbye was immature and cruel. I can cut some slack cause she was 21, but 6 years later, even if she regretted it, she still didn’t act mature, made assumptions, snipped at him, wallowed about him and the consequences of her decision.
In the second half, once they tried to be friends again and admitted their feelings, she was mostly better for me.
I’m so excited for Miles story up next and for Clementine and Santiago’s later, (spoiler: I mean, the guy she had such a deep connection with and loved caused the fall that almost killed her brother and is trying to get her to talk to him again), I can’t wait for their book!
March 17, 2026
I didn’t like this book as much as the first 2 books of the series. (Possible spoilers ahead) 2.5 ⭐️
I never felt like H loved h *like that*
“For as long as I could remember, I was hopelessly in love with a boy who never saw me. My entire being was entwined with him, and it unraveled faster than I could comprehend. Because I found out, in that moment, his whole life was not and never would be entwined with mine.”
That one quote sums up this book.
h and H have been BFF since they met in kindergarten. h has always been in love with H.
H and his twin spent most of their teenage/YA years going around being manw*ores with all the women. h stood on the sidelines watching and waiting. At one point, he even kissed one of h’s friends. H always acted hot/cold with h. When they reached 18/19 🤷♀️, they were both in town from college. h finally thought this was their moment to be together, except H had previously been with a woman 7 weeks prior. That OW ended up pregnant with H’s baby. h didn’t even know he was seeing anybody.
h left the country and basically ghosted H after she found out about OW’s pregnancy.
6 years later, h is back, and she’s now a teacher. Naturally, H’s 5-year-old son is one of her students. H has A LOT of anger at h. They will spend 70% of this book going back and forth. He’s mad he didn’t have her shoulder to cry on when he suddenly became a single dad. (This guy is a billionaire and can afford a nanny. 🙄 I swear my eyes rolled so hard every time his POV whined about how hard it was.)
No communication and tons of assumptions between H/h
There are a lot of flashbacks to when they were kids/teenagers. I mean….it was sweet and all, but it didn’t really add anything to the story except filler. There was no question they were BFFs. You could feel that. The problem was that you never felt like H loved her the same way.
You went most of the book feeling like something major happened to h in Australia that caused her to come home. Literally nothing happened. We find out she did have a fiancée at one time. 🤷♀️ Well, okay. It was briefly mentioned, then never explored further.
We don’t even get any spicy scenes until almost 80%, and frankly…I did not feel the burning hot chemistry between H/h. It almost felt like a relationship that EVERYBODY expected H to want. He’s spent his years slinging his seed around; now he needs a mama for his 5-year-old son. It’s literally like she was just waiting on the sidelines all this time for him to be ready. 🥴
H’s baby mama- that whole plot made no sense. She’s been a gold-digging, useless mama for all these years. H gives her a monthly check. She never sees the kid. THEN…all of a sudden, she’s moving and decides she doesn’t need the monthly check anymore. Rightttttttt! 🥴🥴🥴🙄
I’ve loved the twin brother, Miles, in this series, but he was not my favorite in this book. I will still read his book, though. I’m really excited about H’s sister and her storyline with the enemy (who will be H in her book)
I never felt like H loved h *like that*
“For as long as I could remember, I was hopelessly in love with a boy who never saw me. My entire being was entwined with him, and it unraveled faster than I could comprehend. Because I found out, in that moment, his whole life was not and never would be entwined with mine.”
That one quote sums up this book.
h and H have been BFF since they met in kindergarten. h has always been in love with H.
H and his twin spent most of their teenage/YA years going around being manw*ores with all the women. h stood on the sidelines watching and waiting. At one point, he even kissed one of h’s friends. H always acted hot/cold with h. When they reached 18/19 🤷♀️, they were both in town from college. h finally thought this was their moment to be together, except H had previously been with a woman 7 weeks prior. That OW ended up pregnant with H’s baby. h didn’t even know he was seeing anybody.
h left the country and basically ghosted H after she found out about OW’s pregnancy.
6 years later, h is back, and she’s now a teacher. Naturally, H’s 5-year-old son is one of her students. H has A LOT of anger at h. They will spend 70% of this book going back and forth. He’s mad he didn’t have her shoulder to cry on when he suddenly became a single dad. (This guy is a billionaire and can afford a nanny. 🙄 I swear my eyes rolled so hard every time his POV whined about how hard it was.)
No communication and tons of assumptions between H/h
There are a lot of flashbacks to when they were kids/teenagers. I mean….it was sweet and all, but it didn’t really add anything to the story except filler. There was no question they were BFFs. You could feel that. The problem was that you never felt like H loved her the same way.
You went most of the book feeling like something major happened to h in Australia that caused her to come home. Literally nothing happened. We find out she did have a fiancée at one time. 🤷♀️ Well, okay. It was briefly mentioned, then never explored further.
We don’t even get any spicy scenes until almost 80%, and frankly…I did not feel the burning hot chemistry between H/h. It almost felt like a relationship that EVERYBODY expected H to want. He’s spent his years slinging his seed around; now he needs a mama for his 5-year-old son. It’s literally like she was just waiting on the sidelines all this time for him to be ready. 🥴
H’s baby mama- that whole plot made no sense. She’s been a gold-digging, useless mama for all these years. H gives her a monthly check. She never sees the kid. THEN…all of a sudden, she’s moving and decides she doesn’t need the monthly check anymore. Rightttttttt! 🥴🥴🥴🙄
I’ve loved the twin brother, Miles, in this series, but he was not my favorite in this book. I will still read his book, though. I’m really excited about H’s sister and her storyline with the enemy (who will be H in her book)
March 13, 2026
Lulu should’ve named this one Hendricks the Hypocrite 😩😭 Love her books and I did fly through this one but second chance is a hard read when the double standards are glaringly obvious.
Hendricks didn’t want to make the first move & kiss Story after he found out she kissed a boy the weekend before…mind you Hendricks and his twin were talking about the girl he was sleeping with at boarding school. Like hello??!!!!!! You were sleeping with girls left and right and had the AUDACITY to reject Story AGAIN and then flaunt girls in front of her face the whole summer😭 bc of a KISS?? a girl you claimed to love? jesus.
I’m honestly seeing red now that I’ve riled myself up but I don’t even think he apologized to her. He just expected her to grovel after she left town because he got his fling pregnant. MIND. YOU. He was sleeping with this girl and then planned a movie night with Story so they could finally move out of the friend zone….this is a cautionary tale. The stuff of my nightmares. I feel ill.
Hendricks 88% into the book after getting intimate with Story and seeing his baby mama for the first time in years: “In my years of hating her, I’d forgotten how pretty she is.” 🤢✋ ENOUGH
I’m also a Clemmie defender and he needs to back the fuuuuuck off. Again, the double standards are craaaazy.
I’m now terrified for Miles and his story…i fear he’s going to be cruel to the poor woman he’s trapped. Sigh.
Anyway, Story baby, you’re a gem! Wish she would’ve turned her into an author instead of a teacher but we cannot win them all!
Hendricks didn’t want to make the first move & kiss Story after he found out she kissed a boy the weekend before…mind you Hendricks and his twin were talking about the girl he was sleeping with at boarding school. Like hello??!!!!!! You were sleeping with girls left and right and had the AUDACITY to reject Story AGAIN and then flaunt girls in front of her face the whole summer😭 bc of a KISS?? a girl you claimed to love? jesus.
I’m honestly seeing red now that I’ve riled myself up but I don’t even think he apologized to her. He just expected her to grovel after she left town because he got his fling pregnant. MIND. YOU. He was sleeping with this girl and then planned a movie night with Story so they could finally move out of the friend zone….this is a cautionary tale. The stuff of my nightmares. I feel ill.
Hendricks 88% into the book after getting intimate with Story and seeing his baby mama for the first time in years: “In my years of hating her, I’d forgotten how pretty she is.” 🤢✋ ENOUGH
I’m also a Clemmie defender and he needs to back the fuuuuuck off. Again, the double standards are craaaazy.
I’m now terrified for Miles and his story…i fear he’s going to be cruel to the poor woman he’s trapped. Sigh.
Anyway, Story baby, you’re a gem! Wish she would’ve turned her into an author instead of a teacher but we cannot win them all!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2026
I just absolutely adore this family + town 😍
4.5⭐️ RTC
4.5⭐️ RTC
April 2, 2026
too long, too slow and never ending details.
Apart from that you get the typical stereotype: H who has too many hookups because of the "teenage hormones" aka having sex from as early as 15,16, while h is in love with him and has to suffer.
plus i don't want to read about them when they were 6, 8 or 10 years old. What does that add to their story? That they were soulmates?
Pleeeeeease. 6 years later he is "almost" celibate as he had to focus on his kid and she had one boyfriend.
Baby mama admits she wasn't fit to be a mother and gives up her rights so who is the best for taking her place?? Of course the h.
I can't with these stories anymore.
Apart from that you get the typical stereotype: H who has too many hookups because of the "teenage hormones" aka having sex from as early as 15,16, while h is in love with him and has to suffer.
plus i don't want to read about them when they were 6, 8 or 10 years old. What does that add to their story? That they were soulmates?
Pleeeeeease. 6 years later he is "almost" celibate as he had to focus on his kid and she had one boyfriend.
Baby mama admits she wasn't fit to be a mother and gives up her rights so who is the best for taking her place?? Of course the h.
I can't with these stories anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
do you love healthy family dynamics? a slow burn over years? mutual pining? a lovable cast of characters - human and animal? yes? this one is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
SO. FREAKING. GOOD.
One of the things I love most about Lulu Moore’s new series is how she masterfully blends the "old world" (lords, dukes, and traditions) with a modern 2026 setting. It is incredibly well done!
In this third installment, Honeysuckle Lane, we follow Hendricks, one of the Burlington twins. He’s a single dad to 5-year-old Max the sweetest, most precious little boy you will ever read about 🥺💗. On the other side, we have Story, Hendricks' former childhood best friend. After five years away, she returns home to work as a substitute teacher at the very same elementary school they both attended as kids.
The premise is a perfect mix of tropes: friends-to-strangers, second chance, yearning, and lovers and I am here for it! You can see that there has always been a spark between them since they were tiny. Their dynamic is so entertaining; you know that feeling when you see two people who are clearly head-over-heels but are too stubborn to admit what’s right in front of them? Well, that is exactly what happens here.
The "problem" with this book is that there was no unnecessary drama, and I absolutely loved that. Hendricks is an exceptional veterinarian, and the bond he shares with his twin, Milo, is the kind of thing that just melts your heart. They are two different people, but they would truly lay down their lives for one another. The story is packed with flashbacks that are honestly so, SO beautiful. They give you the sensation of watching them grow up together and seeing how naturally they fall in love and complement each other. I’ll leave you with my favorite quote:
"Hendricks Burlington, the first boy I’ve ever loved. The last one I will ever love." Because that’s just it there are love stories that begin and end with a single person, and I adored seeing how these two became exactly that.
One of the things I love most about Lulu Moore’s new series is how she masterfully blends the "old world" (lords, dukes, and traditions) with a modern 2026 setting. It is incredibly well done!
In this third installment, Honeysuckle Lane, we follow Hendricks, one of the Burlington twins. He’s a single dad to 5-year-old Max the sweetest, most precious little boy you will ever read about 🥺💗. On the other side, we have Story, Hendricks' former childhood best friend. After five years away, she returns home to work as a substitute teacher at the very same elementary school they both attended as kids.
The premise is a perfect mix of tropes: friends-to-strangers, second chance, yearning, and lovers and I am here for it! You can see that there has always been a spark between them since they were tiny. Their dynamic is so entertaining; you know that feeling when you see two people who are clearly head-over-heels but are too stubborn to admit what’s right in front of them? Well, that is exactly what happens here.
The "problem" with this book is that there was no unnecessary drama, and I absolutely loved that. Hendricks is an exceptional veterinarian, and the bond he shares with his twin, Milo, is the kind of thing that just melts your heart. They are two different people, but they would truly lay down their lives for one another. The story is packed with flashbacks that are honestly so, SO beautiful. They give you the sensation of watching them grow up together and seeing how naturally they fall in love and complement each other. I’ll leave you with my favorite quote:
"Hendricks Burlington, the first boy I’ve ever loved. The last one I will ever love." Because that’s just it there are love stories that begin and end with a single person, and I adored seeing how these two became exactly that.
Did Not Finish
March 15, 2026Girl Is pathetically in love with him, guy say the same but fucks around. Girl finally thinks it’s their time, guy gets a trash woman pregnant. Women leaves because she can’t handle it.
Which is fine, don’t get me wrong I’ve read many good books with this or similar storylines. What ruined it for me is that she felt guilty. Like what the fuck for? It was the guy that ruined everything! He couldn’t even say he didn’t know his best friend felt the same way cause everyone told him she did! He was stupid. Fucked around, refused to listen when throughout 6 years everyone would explain she left cause she was heartbroken *Because that simply couldn’t be true*. He pissed me off and she made it a thousand times worse for acting all guilty and jealous and pathetic.
Which is fine, don’t get me wrong I’ve read many good books with this or similar storylines. What ruined it for me is that she felt guilty. Like what the fuck for? It was the guy that ruined everything! He couldn’t even say he didn’t know his best friend felt the same way cause everyone told him she did! He was stupid. Fucked around, refused to listen when throughout 6 years everyone would explain she left cause she was heartbroken *Because that simply couldn’t be true*. He pissed me off and she made it a thousand times worse for acting all guilty and jealous and pathetic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2026
what a long ass slow burn of sweet heart achingly cuteness and hawt spice ;)
March 4, 2026
Consider this your formal warning: Lulu Moore and the Burlington family are a hazard to your TBR and your emotional stability.
Honeysuckle Lane is book three in the Valentine Nook Chronicles, and this time it's Hendricks Burlington's turn. Hen to his siblings. Daddy to his five-year-old son Max. The local vet to every animal in Valentine Nook. And to Story MacIntosh, his childhood best friend who vanished to Australia six years ago without looking back, he's the one she never got over.
When Story's past catches up with her she finds herself back in Valentine Nook. Temporarily. Just until she can escape back to the life she built for herself on the other side of the world. It's fine. It's manageable. And then she becomes Max's substitute school teacher, which means seeing Hendricks constantly, which means that very carefully constructed wall she built starts doing absolutely nothing.
I am a known and unapologetic sucker for friends to lovers. Throw in a period of no contact, six years of silence, to be specific, and a second chance element, and I was always going to be a disaster reading this book. Lulu knew exactly what she was doing and I respect it.
The flashbacks are doing serious work. Watching Hendricks and Story's friendship over the years, the missed moments, the almost-theres, the interrupted opportunities, gives the present-day tension so much weight. You feel the history between them before you fully understand it, and that slow unravelling is exactly what makes the second chance element land so hard. These aren't two strangers falling in love. They're two people who already know each other completely and have to figure out if that's still enough after six years of silence.
Hendricks as a single dad is everything. Max is an absolute delight. The wider Burlington family remains the found family I didn't know I needed and am now completely feral about. Lulu Moore writes family dynamics, the warmth, the chaos, the showing up for each other, better than almost anyone, and it's at its best here.
The half star off is for some pacing in the middle that meanders slightly before the final act pulls everything together. But honestly? I was so happy to be back in Valentine Nook I barely noticed until I put the book down.
Trope Chaos Check:
✨ childhood best friends to lovers (the slow devastation kind, years of almost in the rearview)
✨ second chance romance (she left, he stayed, six years of silence between them)
✨ single dad (Hendricks and Max will rearrange your priorities)
✨ small town romance (Valentine Nook remains the village I would move to immediately)
✨ she's his kid's teacher (forbidden-adjacent chaos, Lulu Moore style)
✨ interconnected family series (the Burlington siblings are why I have a book buying problem)
✨ mutual pining with flashbacks (you will feel it in your chest, I am sorry)
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Lulu Moore built a family so warm and chaotic and real that I genuinely mourn leaving them at the end of every book. Hendricks and Story are my new favourites. Until the next one.
Thank you to Lulu for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Honeysuckle Lane is book three in the Valentine Nook Chronicles, and this time it's Hendricks Burlington's turn. Hen to his siblings. Daddy to his five-year-old son Max. The local vet to every animal in Valentine Nook. And to Story MacIntosh, his childhood best friend who vanished to Australia six years ago without looking back, he's the one she never got over.
When Story's past catches up with her she finds herself back in Valentine Nook. Temporarily. Just until she can escape back to the life she built for herself on the other side of the world. It's fine. It's manageable. And then she becomes Max's substitute school teacher, which means seeing Hendricks constantly, which means that very carefully constructed wall she built starts doing absolutely nothing.
I am a known and unapologetic sucker for friends to lovers. Throw in a period of no contact, six years of silence, to be specific, and a second chance element, and I was always going to be a disaster reading this book. Lulu knew exactly what she was doing and I respect it.
The flashbacks are doing serious work. Watching Hendricks and Story's friendship over the years, the missed moments, the almost-theres, the interrupted opportunities, gives the present-day tension so much weight. You feel the history between them before you fully understand it, and that slow unravelling is exactly what makes the second chance element land so hard. These aren't two strangers falling in love. They're two people who already know each other completely and have to figure out if that's still enough after six years of silence.
Hendricks as a single dad is everything. Max is an absolute delight. The wider Burlington family remains the found family I didn't know I needed and am now completely feral about. Lulu Moore writes family dynamics, the warmth, the chaos, the showing up for each other, better than almost anyone, and it's at its best here.
The half star off is for some pacing in the middle that meanders slightly before the final act pulls everything together. But honestly? I was so happy to be back in Valentine Nook I barely noticed until I put the book down.
Trope Chaos Check:
✨ childhood best friends to lovers (the slow devastation kind, years of almost in the rearview)
✨ second chance romance (she left, he stayed, six years of silence between them)
✨ single dad (Hendricks and Max will rearrange your priorities)
✨ small town romance (Valentine Nook remains the village I would move to immediately)
✨ she's his kid's teacher (forbidden-adjacent chaos, Lulu Moore style)
✨ interconnected family series (the Burlington siblings are why I have a book buying problem)
✨ mutual pining with flashbacks (you will feel it in your chest, I am sorry)
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Lulu Moore built a family so warm and chaotic and real that I genuinely mourn leaving them at the end of every book. Hendricks and Story are my new favourites. Until the next one.
Thank you to Lulu for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 15, 2026
Lulu Moore has done it again, and choosing a favorite Burlington book is now becoming an impossible task. Honeysuckle Lane is everything I love about the Valentine Nook Chronicles wrapped up in one beautiful slow burn package.
Hendricks Burlington is a devoted single dad and a vet who clearly passed his love of animals on to his son. He is carrying more hurt than he lets on, and so is Story MacIntosh, who is back in Valentine Nook after six years away. They were best friends once, and the anger between them now is the kind that only comes from loving someone and losing them anyway. The flashbacks that explain why were woven in seamlessly without ever pulling me out of the story.
This is a slow burn in every sense of the words. I was screaming at my Kindle and texting friends who had already read it for Hen and Story to JUST KISS ALREADY! But it works. It makes complete sense given everything between them and the fact that Story is Max's substitute teacher. Watching them navigate all of that while falling back into each other was genuinely wonderful. My perma grin was in full effect.
Max Burlington almost steals the show. He is funny and sweet in equal measure, and his love of animals, his snails, and his polo obsession have made him a favorite of mine since his first appearance. Hendricks considers Max in every decision he makes and watching Story slip into their world—and into his heart—was a joy. I firmly believe in their HEA.
The village of Valentine Nook continues to feel like home. Churchill the goat will make you smile and laugh out loud—he is an absolute scene stealer. Clem and Story's friendship is one of my favorite things in this book, and seeing Lando and Alex happily living their lives with Holiday and Haven felt like a warm hug. The teaser for Miles at the end had me immediately counting down to July.
Lulu Moore builds worlds and characters that stay with you, and Honeysuckle Lane is another reminder of why I will read everything she writes.
Hendricks Burlington is a devoted single dad and a vet who clearly passed his love of animals on to his son. He is carrying more hurt than he lets on, and so is Story MacIntosh, who is back in Valentine Nook after six years away. They were best friends once, and the anger between them now is the kind that only comes from loving someone and losing them anyway. The flashbacks that explain why were woven in seamlessly without ever pulling me out of the story.
This is a slow burn in every sense of the words. I was screaming at my Kindle and texting friends who had already read it for Hen and Story to JUST KISS ALREADY! But it works. It makes complete sense given everything between them and the fact that Story is Max's substitute teacher. Watching them navigate all of that while falling back into each other was genuinely wonderful. My perma grin was in full effect.
Max Burlington almost steals the show. He is funny and sweet in equal measure, and his love of animals, his snails, and his polo obsession have made him a favorite of mine since his first appearance. Hendricks considers Max in every decision he makes and watching Story slip into their world—and into his heart—was a joy. I firmly believe in their HEA.
The village of Valentine Nook continues to feel like home. Churchill the goat will make you smile and laugh out loud—he is an absolute scene stealer. Clem and Story's friendship is one of my favorite things in this book, and seeing Lando and Alex happily living their lives with Holiday and Haven felt like a warm hug. The teaser for Miles at the end had me immediately counting down to July.
Lulu Moore builds worlds and characters that stay with you, and Honeysuckle Lane is another reminder of why I will read everything she writes.
March 9, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. This is the third book Honeysuckle Lane in the Valentine Nook Chronicles. This was absolutely such a cute read following Hendricks who is a single father of 5yr old Max who is so adorable. 🥰 Then you have the FMC Story, Hendricks childhood best friend who moved away and is back after 5 years to work in the elementary school where they both attended growing up as a substitute teacher. We have a mix of tropes that you surely will love!! This is absolutely a must read!! I cant wait to read book 4 to see how this ends💕💕
“Hendricks, Lord Burlington, answers to several names.
Hen to his siblings, daddy to his five-year-old son, My Lord to strangers and ‘The Vet’ to all the animals he looks after.
But to Story MacIntosh, he’s the one who got away.
Formerly best friends for life, everything changed six years ago, and Hendricks was relegated to nothing more than a memory for Story. But when her past catches up with her present, she finds herself back in the village where they both grew up.
For Hendricks, Story returning to Valentine Nook brings back equally painful memories, ones he tries his hardest to ignore while being the best father he can to Max. Something made all the more impossible when Story becomes Max’s substitute school teacher.
No matter how hard they try, seeing each other is unavoidable.
Then the Valentine Nook Valentine Fair is announced, and they’re both nominated for the committee. Soon they’re working together - as friends - but with all the love in the air it doesn’t take long before the lines blur. And their relationship changes once again.
Both of them are determined to make up for their mistakes, but when baggage from Hendricks’s past resurfaces they have to decide once and for all what they want their future to look like.
And whether this time around they’re stronger together than apart.”
“Hendricks, Lord Burlington, answers to several names.
Hen to his siblings, daddy to his five-year-old son, My Lord to strangers and ‘The Vet’ to all the animals he looks after.
But to Story MacIntosh, he’s the one who got away.
Formerly best friends for life, everything changed six years ago, and Hendricks was relegated to nothing more than a memory for Story. But when her past catches up with her present, she finds herself back in the village where they both grew up.
For Hendricks, Story returning to Valentine Nook brings back equally painful memories, ones he tries his hardest to ignore while being the best father he can to Max. Something made all the more impossible when Story becomes Max’s substitute school teacher.
No matter how hard they try, seeing each other is unavoidable.
Then the Valentine Nook Valentine Fair is announced, and they’re both nominated for the committee. Soon they’re working together - as friends - but with all the love in the air it doesn’t take long before the lines blur. And their relationship changes once again.
Both of them are determined to make up for their mistakes, but when baggage from Hendricks’s past resurfaces they have to decide once and for all what they want their future to look like.
And whether this time around they’re stronger together than apart.”
March 15, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
This may be the slowest burn Lulu Moore has written to date. I don’t actually have any proof of this; I’m just going off vibes and memories of her previous books. Honeysuckle Lane is a slow-burn, childhood friends-to-lovers, small (English) village romance.
This was a fun opportunity to finally get to know our MMC, Hendrix. In previous books, he was on the sidelines, sometimes playing the more tragic brother as a single parent without much explanation of how it came to be that way. Here we get a better understanding and the backstory of what happened that made Hendrix a single father. Spoiler alert: it is the least dramatic story you can imagine. What this does do for the story is give a clear picture of how duty-bound and reliable Hendrix is as a person. When his childhood best friend, Story, moves back home from Australia (for an equally non-dramatic reason) after ghosting Hendrix six years before, we finally get a hint of some drama. To take it to the next level, Story is now Hendrix’s son’s teacher.
What I love about Lulu Moore’s books is that there is always a sense of push and pull between the MCs. There is usually some reason to keep them apart; sometimes it is just due to personality clashes. This book felt like it attempted to build that energy based on a lack of communication. Both MCs made wild assumptions about each other, and even though they were BFFs from childhood, they never checked in with the other to make sure any of those assumptions were based on reality. Miscommunication is one thing; lack of communication is irritating.
I love the village of Valentine’s Nook. It is so over the top and full of entertaining characters. The Burlington family is my favorite part of this series. It reminds me a little of watching the family in Bridgerton band together through thick and thin. They are all just so wholesome, and they really seem to like each other. Though this story fell a little flat for me, I enjoyed spending time with these characters and this village once again. I can’t wait to see what happens with Miles and Clementine in future books.
Thank you to Lulu Moore for providing an advance copy of this ebook, which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
This may be the slowest burn Lulu Moore has written to date. I don’t actually have any proof of this; I’m just going off vibes and memories of her previous books. Honeysuckle Lane is a slow-burn, childhood friends-to-lovers, small (English) village romance.
This was a fun opportunity to finally get to know our MMC, Hendrix. In previous books, he was on the sidelines, sometimes playing the more tragic brother as a single parent without much explanation of how it came to be that way. Here we get a better understanding and the backstory of what happened that made Hendrix a single father. Spoiler alert: it is the least dramatic story you can imagine. What this does do for the story is give a clear picture of how duty-bound and reliable Hendrix is as a person. When his childhood best friend, Story, moves back home from Australia (for an equally non-dramatic reason) after ghosting Hendrix six years before, we finally get a hint of some drama. To take it to the next level, Story is now Hendrix’s son’s teacher.
What I love about Lulu Moore’s books is that there is always a sense of push and pull between the MCs. There is usually some reason to keep them apart; sometimes it is just due to personality clashes. This book felt like it attempted to build that energy based on a lack of communication. Both MCs made wild assumptions about each other, and even though they were BFFs from childhood, they never checked in with the other to make sure any of those assumptions were based on reality. Miscommunication is one thing; lack of communication is irritating.
I love the village of Valentine’s Nook. It is so over the top and full of entertaining characters. The Burlington family is my favorite part of this series. It reminds me a little of watching the family in Bridgerton band together through thick and thin. They are all just so wholesome, and they really seem to like each other. Though this story fell a little flat for me, I enjoyed spending time with these characters and this village once again. I can’t wait to see what happens with Miles and Clementine in future books.
Thank you to Lulu Moore for providing an advance copy of this ebook, which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
March 12, 2026
5 ⭐️ - The spotlight my man Churchill deserves!!
Honeysuckle Lane is book 3 in The Valentine Nook Chronicles, and I genuinely don’t know what to tell you, they just keep getting better and better! This book follows Hendricks Burlington’s love story with his childhood best friend, Story.
Honeysuckle Lane is the type of book that draws you in and keeps you captive until the very end, because I genuinely could not put it down until I FINALLY saw them together!!! And let me tell you, the yearning was proper yearning. Our main characters go from childhood best friends, to no contact, to awkward parent x teacher, to lovers, and what a journey it is!! The story really leans into the right person, wrong time trope, which I absolutely love as a hopeless romantic.
Hendricks is the perfect single dad to his five-year-old son Max, and he’s also the main vet of the village. Story is Hendricks’ ex–best friend, who suddenly departed (basically ran away) to Australia six years ago. Now she’s returned home to Valentine Nook, at first only temporarily, but as our FMC and MMC slowly reconnect, the move back home becomes permanent. The pair definitely take their time finding their way back to each other, but it only adds to the complexity of the story. We get so many wholesome and meaningful details, especially about their past and their characters, and I absolutely loved that.
I really appreciated the flashback chapters because they gave so much context to moments referenced in the present timeline. Getting those backstories added so much depth to the story, really well written! Whilst there’s a lot of yearning in this book, there’s also so much wholesomeness, which makes it such a feel-good read. Some bits genuinely had me giggling and mentally kicking my feet in the air!
I also appreciate Lulu for giving the star of the series, Churchill, such an important role in this book. I love when interconnected stories fully utilise all the small details, it just makes the reading experience feel that much more special.
Also the ending!!!!I'm already sat waiting for the next book!!!!
A lot of exclamation marks in this review because I adored them book please read it!!!
Tropes
Single dad
Childhood best friends
Forced proximity
Small village
Yearning
Vet x teacher
2/5 spice 🌶️
Honeysuckle Lane is book 3 in The Valentine Nook Chronicles, and I genuinely don’t know what to tell you, they just keep getting better and better! This book follows Hendricks Burlington’s love story with his childhood best friend, Story.
Honeysuckle Lane is the type of book that draws you in and keeps you captive until the very end, because I genuinely could not put it down until I FINALLY saw them together!!! And let me tell you, the yearning was proper yearning. Our main characters go from childhood best friends, to no contact, to awkward parent x teacher, to lovers, and what a journey it is!! The story really leans into the right person, wrong time trope, which I absolutely love as a hopeless romantic.
Hendricks is the perfect single dad to his five-year-old son Max, and he’s also the main vet of the village. Story is Hendricks’ ex–best friend, who suddenly departed (basically ran away) to Australia six years ago. Now she’s returned home to Valentine Nook, at first only temporarily, but as our FMC and MMC slowly reconnect, the move back home becomes permanent. The pair definitely take their time finding their way back to each other, but it only adds to the complexity of the story. We get so many wholesome and meaningful details, especially about their past and their characters, and I absolutely loved that.
I really appreciated the flashback chapters because they gave so much context to moments referenced in the present timeline. Getting those backstories added so much depth to the story, really well written! Whilst there’s a lot of yearning in this book, there’s also so much wholesomeness, which makes it such a feel-good read. Some bits genuinely had me giggling and mentally kicking my feet in the air!
I also appreciate Lulu for giving the star of the series, Churchill, such an important role in this book. I love when interconnected stories fully utilise all the small details, it just makes the reading experience feel that much more special.
Also the ending!!!!I'm already sat waiting for the next book!!!!
A lot of exclamation marks in this review because I adored them book please read it!!!
Tropes
Single dad
Childhood best friends
Forced proximity
Small village
Yearning
Vet x teacher
2/5 spice 🌶️
March 3, 2026
Perfect. Flawless. No notes. Lulu writes the BEST second chance romances that sit with you to continue to obsess over.
Hendricks is a single dad who’s devoted to his son. He’s Max’s dad and a vet and that’s all he needs to be happy. And then that perfectly-segmented life starts to crack when his childhood best friend who vanished to Australia for six years and no contact with him returns.
Story is temporarily back in Valentine’s Nook. She’ll teach for a little bit while she’s with her parents and then she’ll escape back to the life she created for herself in Australia. The problem with that wall she built to protect herself is that Hendrix was always her weakness and that wall starts to crumble when he’s near.
The flashbacks were so beautiful. The pit in your stomach you’ll get from watching them together of the years and just watching the opportunities be interrupted. The emotional pull of their relationship and the back and forth of their fight to be together was complex and raw.
They fought their own battles to make themselves repair their broken friendship and that strong that keeps pulling them back to each other gets stronger the more they’re together. I couldn’t put this down and this is easily my favorite series from Lulu.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hendricks is a single dad who’s devoted to his son. He’s Max’s dad and a vet and that’s all he needs to be happy. And then that perfectly-segmented life starts to crack when his childhood best friend who vanished to Australia for six years and no contact with him returns.
Story is temporarily back in Valentine’s Nook. She’ll teach for a little bit while she’s with her parents and then she’ll escape back to the life she created for herself in Australia. The problem with that wall she built to protect herself is that Hendrix was always her weakness and that wall starts to crumble when he’s near.
The flashbacks were so beautiful. The pit in your stomach you’ll get from watching them together of the years and just watching the opportunities be interrupted. The emotional pull of their relationship and the back and forth of their fight to be together was complex and raw.
They fought their own battles to make themselves repair their broken friendship and that strong that keeps pulling them back to each other gets stronger the more they’re together. I couldn’t put this down and this is easily my favorite series from Lulu.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2026
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
Lulu simply does not miss! This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites because each book I just fall more and more in love with the Burlington Family.
Ans I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, friends to lovers is the superior trope. And when you make it a slow burn… 🫠🫠🫠
The tension, the longing. Hendricks and Story were fantastic. They put me through every single emotion, and had me wanting more!
✨ English Small Town
✨ Friends to Lovers
✨ Single Dad x Teacher
✨ It’s always been You
Lulu one of my comfort authors and her books always just make me happy. Her writing is so easy to get absorbed i. Ans she does family/found family dynamics so well.
And I think that why I love this series the way I do. I loved getting Hen and Story’s past and present and so many chances that they didn’t take… it made them finally figuring it out that much sweeter.
Also Max is my favorite. I love him.
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
Lulu simply does not miss! This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites because each book I just fall more and more in love with the Burlington Family.
Ans I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, friends to lovers is the superior trope. And when you make it a slow burn… 🫠🫠🫠
The tension, the longing. Hendricks and Story were fantastic. They put me through every single emotion, and had me wanting more!
✨ English Small Town
✨ Friends to Lovers
✨ Single Dad x Teacher
✨ It’s always been You
Lulu one of my comfort authors and her books always just make me happy. Her writing is so easy to get absorbed i. Ans she does family/found family dynamics so well.
And I think that why I love this series the way I do. I loved getting Hen and Story’s past and present and so many chances that they didn’t take… it made them finally figuring it out that much sweeter.
Also Max is my favorite. I love him.
March 22, 2026
I LOVE a new Lulu book!! I’ve read her entire back log and her books just keep getting better!! I absolutely adore Hendricks and Story. This was the longest slow
burn, but so worth it!!
burn, but so worth it!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
«I never said I didn't want you, Stor».
Esta es mi primera vez leyendo a la autora y, a pesar de que la tenía en la vista hace mucho tiempo y este libro forma parte de una serie, no me sentí para nada perdida con lo que iba leyendo 🫢
Lulu nos presenta la historia de dos mejores amigos, en donde todo el pueblo sabía que terminarían juntos en algún momento. Sin embargo, su relación termina abruptamente cuando Hen se entera que será papá y Story decide desaparecer del mapa hasta que años después se vuelven a encontrar 🥹
Personalmente es una lectura que se me hizo muy rápida y me atrapó muy fácil, ya que la historia es muy cute, pero la pluma de la autora es top ✨️
Además, el estilo narrativo de Lulu en donde nos daba aquellos vistazos al pasado, dejando caer momentos y datos que robaron mi corazón 🥹
So, más que agradecida de haber sido una de las lectoras ARC de este libro y estoy muy ansiosa por seguir leyendola <3
_________________
AMAZING, WONDERFUL, BRILLIANT ✨
I need to process this book, but I fell in love with this story ❤️
Esta es mi primera vez leyendo a la autora y, a pesar de que la tenía en la vista hace mucho tiempo y este libro forma parte de una serie, no me sentí para nada perdida con lo que iba leyendo 🫢
Lulu nos presenta la historia de dos mejores amigos, en donde todo el pueblo sabía que terminarían juntos en algún momento. Sin embargo, su relación termina abruptamente cuando Hen se entera que será papá y Story decide desaparecer del mapa hasta que años después se vuelven a encontrar 🥹
Personalmente es una lectura que se me hizo muy rápida y me atrapó muy fácil, ya que la historia es muy cute, pero la pluma de la autora es top ✨️
Además, el estilo narrativo de Lulu en donde nos daba aquellos vistazos al pasado, dejando caer momentos y datos que robaron mi corazón 🥹
So, más que agradecida de haber sido una de las lectoras ARC de este libro y estoy muy ansiosa por seguir leyendola <3
_________________
AMAZING, WONDERFUL, BRILLIANT ✨
I need to process this book, but I fell in love with this story ❤️
April 17, 2026
This MMC was so selfish and awful. I don’t believe he ever really grasps what he did and how much he hurt his best friend. If he did realize the gravity, I’m not sure he would have cared because he is so entitled that I’m sure he would think it’s fine that he was “in love” with his friend, sleeping with other people, and knocks someone up. This man is cuddling his best friend on the couch and is told he got someone pregnant and he is FLABBERGASTED that his friend leaves and stops speaking to him. Then, OF COURSE, she is a teacher and has to see his kid every single day.
March 12, 2026
I've loved this small town series that revolves around the Burlington siblings more and more with each book and couple that we meet. It's safe to say I'm a little obsessed with how LM pair up each sibling. Hearing that Hen and his mystery best friend turned enemy story was coming out I jumped at the chance to read it.
Hen and Story have a complicated past. Their story was full of pining, angst and a case of right person, always wrong timing. After their huge fall out and six years of total silence, these two find themselves back in Valentine Nook and forced into very close proximity. With their past looming over them and unresolved issues dogging them, these two have to finally clear the air and confront each other.
The way the characters had me in a choke hold was insane. Both the present and the small glimpses into the past that we get had my emotions running high. I felt for both of them but I definitely sympathized with Story so much more. Unlike Hen, she always knew how she felt about him and wore her heart on her sleave. Literally everyone knew how she felt but Hen and his instincts to stick his head in the sand when it came to Story was honestly my biggest pet peeve about him.
I loved him as a supportive brother and loving dad but as a romantic interest he definitely raised my blood pressure! I wanted to see more understanding from him and not so much blame. At times it felt like he made everything about him, how he needed her, how he was suffering, how lost and alone he felt when she left. He never really stopped to think, let alone acknowledge the huge part he played in hurting and driving Story away. He was always the one jumping to conclusions, running hot and cold without explanation and in the end, he lets Story make the first move. I never really felt like he fought for her as hard as Story did for him and that in balance in their relationship felt off to me.
In my eyes, Hen was way more at fault - claiming she was always the one but messing around with every other girl in the vicinity is crazy to me. Expecting her to lend her support while he Letting his twin get away with his a-hole behavior, also childish (I really hope Miles get's taken down a peg or two in his book!)
SAFETY INFO:
Hen and Story have a complicated past. Their story was full of pining, angst and a case of right person, always wrong timing. After their huge fall out and six years of total silence, these two find themselves back in Valentine Nook and forced into very close proximity. With their past looming over them and unresolved issues dogging them, these two have to finally clear the air and confront each other.
The way the characters had me in a choke hold was insane. Both the present and the small glimpses into the past that we get had my emotions running high. I felt for both of them but I definitely sympathized with Story so much more. Unlike Hen, she always knew how she felt about him and wore her heart on her sleave. Literally everyone knew how she felt but Hen and his instincts to stick his head in the sand when it came to Story was honestly my biggest pet peeve about him.
I loved him as a supportive brother and loving dad but as a romantic interest he definitely raised my blood pressure! I wanted to see more understanding from him and not so much blame. At times it felt like he made everything about him, how he needed her, how he was suffering, how lost and alone he felt when she left. He never really stopped to think, let alone acknowledge the huge part he played in hurting and driving Story away. He was always the one jumping to conclusions, running hot and cold without explanation and in the end, he lets Story make the first move. I never really felt like he fought for her as hard as Story did for him and that in balance in their relationship felt off to me.
In my eyes, Hen was way more at fault - claiming she was always the one but messing around with every other girl in the vicinity is crazy to me. Expecting her to lend her support while he Letting his twin get away with his a-hole behavior, also childish (I really hope Miles get's taken down a peg or two in his book!)
SAFETY INFO:
March 9, 2026
Another banger from Lulu Moore! We are now getting Hendricks & Story’s love story and boy is it sweet and full of so much non-communication. A classic best friends to enemies to lovers. Hen & Story have been best friends since they were six and thick as thieves. Both loved each other before they even knew what that meant but when Hendricks found out he was going to be a dad at 21 from a girl he randomly had hooked up with a few times in London, Story’s heart was broken and she ran away to Australia to teach. Now six years later and she’s back after her dad broke his leg and her parents needed help on the dairy farm & with his recovery. She’s taken a position teaching at the Valentine Nook school and guess who is one of her students? Hen’s five year old son Max. Forced together almost everyday for drop off and pick up they start very frosty with each other but as the weeks go by and they’re also forced on the Valentine’s Day Festival committee together as well they begin to thaw and reveal how they’ve both loved each other for as long as they can remember. But the timing is still off as Hendricks thinks she’s going back to Australia & she thinks he’s married or dating the bombshell who turns out to be Max’s nanny. There’s also the problem of Max’s absentee mom starting to call all the time and wanting a meeting between them and their solicitors. As everyone is rooting for them to get together we also get some scenes with Alex & his daughter and his fiancée, Lando & Holiday, a peek at the drama still to unfold with Hendrick’s twin Miles and the groom who almost ran him over in Aspen from Wylder Ranch & even more we get a look at the fact that Clemmie has a past with Santiago Torres the American polo player who hurt Miles badly enough in a match for him to be induced into a coma and Santiago to be banned from playing for two years. But he keeps showing up wherever Miles has a match… I love all the Burlington’s and getting more from the whole family and Hendricks is so sweet and such a loyal brother and friend and the best dad to Max. Story is so great too and the flashbacks to her and her storytelling and imagination were just so lovely, and to me, hit so close to who I was as a kid-it was perfect. She has so much heart too even though it’s bruised. We don’t get any major spice other than almost kisses until 80% in due to all the angst and yearning BUT then we get all the spice and it is perfect. These two get their HEA after six years apart due to not communicating to each other how much they love one another but it is such a lovely HEA it’s perfect. I cannot wait to read about Miles and his feisty redhead in the next book and get even more about Clem & Santi too!
April 14, 2026
I was expecting to really enjoy this.
I still enjoyed the writing and the characters.
Hendricks is an amazing dad, amazing brother, but he sounds like he kind of sucked as a teen love interest. A walking heart breaker, which just feels cruel towards Story. I didn't warm to him as a teen because of his behaviour.
Story was selfish in how she ran away when he really needed her, but I can understand that she reached her breaking point. That said, if the shoe were on the other foot, I think he would have stayed. I'm not convinced because of his past behaviour though.
Hendricks and Story (Sophie) say they loved one another as kids - then why did he go off with so many of her friends? He knew it hurt her from the valentine fair when they were 13 - he says it took him a month to get her to talk to him again.
Did he learn from that or stop it? Apparently not. That just seems cruel.
At secondary school and university, he was fine having girls he dated and slept with, but he finds out she kissed one guy and he clams up and is so jealous he punishes her for it by not keeping his promises (they'd planned to spend the summer together, go to the waterfall the next day. He didn't do any of that). So why one rule for me and another for thee? (And after all that, he discovers years later it was during a spin the bottle! He has term long fun buddies, and he cuts her off for playing spin the bottle. Hypocrite much, Hendricks?) Also, the times they did go to the waterfall was with others and he always went off with other girls, almost like rubbing her face in it. That's just mean. That made me actively dislike teen Hendricks.
Then her life in Australia - six years. Six years of her life, of reinventing herself after Hendricks, recovering from heartbreak, getting engaged to Noah, and there's never any development on that. It's like Noah and Sydney were there to be useful plot points, but for me they fell flat because his last 6 years were well explained, experienced, etc. Hers came across as useful and two dimensional, never explained or revisited.
How is her dad? That just sort of... disappeared.
I always feel so disappointed when an entire story, an entire book, could have been easily sorted if they communicated. If they were honest for once.
I love Lulu as a writer, but I found this book's relationship disappointing.
I loved Valentine Nook, loved the Burlington's, seeing the previous couples, Max was amazing. The main couple just didn't click for me.
I mean... communication guys.
Their chemistry when she returns... I just didn't feel it.
Both characters were good, I feel like we got to know Hendricks more, but Story was still a good character. I just wish the characters had been beefier, more rounded, given us more context and history - especially her time in Australia. I really, really wish I loved this, but I didn't. It was still a good read! It was still enjoyable, entertaining, but I feel like it could have done more.
I feel like a reader saying the cliché teachers line: I know you can do better.
I still enjoyed the writing and the characters.
Hendricks is an amazing dad, amazing brother, but he sounds like he kind of sucked as a teen love interest. A walking heart breaker, which just feels cruel towards Story. I didn't warm to him as a teen because of his behaviour.
Story was selfish in how she ran away when he really needed her, but I can understand that she reached her breaking point. That said, if the shoe were on the other foot, I think he would have stayed. I'm not convinced because of his past behaviour though.
Hendricks and Story (Sophie) say they loved one another as kids - then why did he go off with so many of her friends? He knew it hurt her from the valentine fair when they were 13 - he says it took him a month to get her to talk to him again.
Did he learn from that or stop it? Apparently not. That just seems cruel.
At secondary school and university, he was fine having girls he dated and slept with, but he finds out she kissed one guy and he clams up and is so jealous he punishes her for it by not keeping his promises (they'd planned to spend the summer together, go to the waterfall the next day. He didn't do any of that). So why one rule for me and another for thee? (And after all that, he discovers years later it was during a spin the bottle! He has term long fun buddies, and he cuts her off for playing spin the bottle. Hypocrite much, Hendricks?) Also, the times they did go to the waterfall was with others and he always went off with other girls, almost like rubbing her face in it. That's just mean. That made me actively dislike teen Hendricks.
Then her life in Australia - six years. Six years of her life, of reinventing herself after Hendricks, recovering from heartbreak, getting engaged to Noah, and there's never any development on that. It's like Noah and Sydney were there to be useful plot points, but for me they fell flat because his last 6 years were well explained, experienced, etc. Hers came across as useful and two dimensional, never explained or revisited.
How is her dad? That just sort of... disappeared.
I always feel so disappointed when an entire story, an entire book, could have been easily sorted if they communicated. If they were honest for once.
I love Lulu as a writer, but I found this book's relationship disappointing.
I loved Valentine Nook, loved the Burlington's, seeing the previous couples, Max was amazing. The main couple just didn't click for me.
I mean... communication guys.
Their chemistry when she returns... I just didn't feel it.
Both characters were good, I feel like we got to know Hendricks more, but Story was still a good character. I just wish the characters had been beefier, more rounded, given us more context and history - especially her time in Australia. I really, really wish I loved this, but I didn't. It was still a good read! It was still enjoyable, entertaining, but I feel like it could have done more.
I feel like a reader saying the cliché teachers line: I know you can do better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2026
Review
Honeysuckle Lane @lulumoorebooks
Available now
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
Honeysuckle Lane is the next installment of the amazing Burlington family and its just as amazing as the books that preceed it. This time. Its the turn of single dad and vet Hendrix, one of the twins and his childhood best friend Sophie, or Story as she is known by in the village.
Hendrix whilst training to be a vet discovers he is going to be a dad, Story was heartbroken, secretly being in love with him and abruptly moves to Australia unable to see him with another person and a baby.
Fast forward 6 years and Story is back helping out on the family farm whilst her dad recovers from an accident, getting a job at the school they met and where their friendship blossomed. Hendrix's adorable son max is in her class. So she will won't be able to avoid him for long, and this sets the scene for the whole book. The chemistry has always been there for these two, they now just need to be able to communicate and see what they have is so special,and they are meant for each other. Maybe the time apart is what they needed, as it wasn't the right time but now can they make it work.
It is a slow burn, but it's so good, Lulu always delivers. There is flashbacks which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you for letting me read another of your books, I have beem hooked for years. I can't wait for the rest of this series.
Honeysuckle Lane @lulumoorebooks
Available now
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
Honeysuckle Lane is the next installment of the amazing Burlington family and its just as amazing as the books that preceed it. This time. Its the turn of single dad and vet Hendrix, one of the twins and his childhood best friend Sophie, or Story as she is known by in the village.
Hendrix whilst training to be a vet discovers he is going to be a dad, Story was heartbroken, secretly being in love with him and abruptly moves to Australia unable to see him with another person and a baby.
Fast forward 6 years and Story is back helping out on the family farm whilst her dad recovers from an accident, getting a job at the school they met and where their friendship blossomed. Hendrix's adorable son max is in her class. So she will won't be able to avoid him for long, and this sets the scene for the whole book. The chemistry has always been there for these two, they now just need to be able to communicate and see what they have is so special,and they are meant for each other. Maybe the time apart is what they needed, as it wasn't the right time but now can they make it work.
It is a slow burn, but it's so good, Lulu always delivers. There is flashbacks which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you for letting me read another of your books, I have beem hooked for years. I can't wait for the rest of this series.
March 7, 2026
Oh my gosh, how adorable and cute this book is? And the ending? I wasn’t expecting that! I yelled so loud my mum asked me what was happening lol
I was curious to know about Hendricks and Story’s history ever since she appeared in “Wylder Ranch”, and what happened between them, and I’m not disappointed. I loved the little hints for the next book, and there’s a scene that made me wide my eyes over the implications IYKYK
Hendricks is such an amazing parent, I loved how gentle and supportive he was with Max, trying to be everything he ever needed, even if it meant putting his own life on hold. I loved reading his interactions with Miles, and their twin bond and how they could read each other’s minds. Miles being defensive over Hendricks was adorable; loved them.
Story was an interesting character, especially because we haven’t known her before this book. I adored the way she was trying to move on with her life, all the snippets from her life before coming back to Valentine Nook, and how she wasn’t planning to stay, but maybe fate had other plans for her.
I loved the flashbacks and how it explained the relationship between Hendricks and Story, how they went to friends to strangers to friends again to lovers. The dynamic between them is sweet and adorable, and this slow burn was slow, but so worth it.
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the end of this book, because now we’ll have to wait for Miles’ book (and maybe we’re getting Clem’s book too? 👀 I’m intrigued by that).
Thank you Lulu Moore and her team for the ARC 💜
I was curious to know about Hendricks and Story’s history ever since she appeared in “Wylder Ranch”, and what happened between them, and I’m not disappointed. I loved the little hints for the next book, and there’s a scene that made me wide my eyes over the implications IYKYK
Hendricks is such an amazing parent, I loved how gentle and supportive he was with Max, trying to be everything he ever needed, even if it meant putting his own life on hold. I loved reading his interactions with Miles, and their twin bond and how they could read each other’s minds. Miles being defensive over Hendricks was adorable; loved them.
Story was an interesting character, especially because we haven’t known her before this book. I adored the way she was trying to move on with her life, all the snippets from her life before coming back to Valentine Nook, and how she wasn’t planning to stay, but maybe fate had other plans for her.
I loved the flashbacks and how it explained the relationship between Hendricks and Story, how they went to friends to strangers to friends again to lovers. The dynamic between them is sweet and adorable, and this slow burn was slow, but so worth it.
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the end of this book, because now we’ll have to wait for Miles’ book (and maybe we’re getting Clem’s book too? 👀 I’m intrigued by that).
Thank you Lulu Moore and her team for the ARC 💜
March 12, 2026
Infinity Stars for Lulu Moore per usual! I devoured this book in a day! I loved the time hops from past and present Story and Hendricks. I was so invested in these two, and sweet little Max!
“Pushing through her damp hair forces her head back, and against my better judgment, I find her eyes again. “Hen . . . Hendricks, what are you doing?” “What I’ve been waiting to do for a long time.” My mouth dips to hers.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️.4
Story is back in Valentine Nook helping her dad and teaching at the local school, one problem; her new favorite student is the son of her long time love, one time best friend Hendricks Burlington, and he wants answers. Why did she run off to Australia without a word, his best friend just left when he needed her the most. But Story’s heart was broken when Hen told her he was going to be a dad. My heart broke right alongside hers!
I LOVE this family, I love seeing Alex as a dad, Lando and Holiday being their fancy selves and the CLIFFHANGER Lulu left us on Miles story! And oooh I can’t wait for Clemmies book too!
“I’ve barely got out my confirmation for the second time when his hands surround my face. Then his lips are on mine, crushing me, and twenty years of missed opportunities, of being too scared, of wondering what this moment would be like, are brought to a head.”
“Pushing through her damp hair forces her head back, and against my better judgment, I find her eyes again. “Hen . . . Hendricks, what are you doing?” “What I’ve been waiting to do for a long time.” My mouth dips to hers.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️.4
Story is back in Valentine Nook helping her dad and teaching at the local school, one problem; her new favorite student is the son of her long time love, one time best friend Hendricks Burlington, and he wants answers. Why did she run off to Australia without a word, his best friend just left when he needed her the most. But Story’s heart was broken when Hen told her he was going to be a dad. My heart broke right alongside hers!
I LOVE this family, I love seeing Alex as a dad, Lando and Holiday being their fancy selves and the CLIFFHANGER Lulu left us on Miles story! And oooh I can’t wait for Clemmies book too!
“I’ve barely got out my confirmation for the second time when his hands surround my face. Then his lips are on mine, crushing me, and twenty years of missed opportunities, of being too scared, of wondering what this moment would be like, are brought to a head.”
March 26, 2026
Honeysuckle Lane
(Book 3 in The Valentine Nook Chronicles)
By Lulu Moore
Story MacIntosh. My best friend since I was six. My permanent sunny day, whatever the weather.
Fun, sweet teenage Hendricks had owned my heart and broken it, but this guy . . . this guy? This guy could demolish it.
“Don’t make me regret telling you this, Story.” Miles breaks eventually, and I’m tempted to do a little jig on the spot. Winner. “But for what it’s worth, it’s only ever been you for him.”
I ate Hendricks and Story’s story up!! I love this series so much, I love Valentine Nook and I am obsessed with this Burlington siblings! Lulu are you hiding a Burlington cousin that’s single? 😂 I volunteer!! This story is so freaking sweet. We get flash backs and present day stories of Hendricks and Story. How their relationship developed as kids to teens. What happened to cause such a huge rift and how they found their way back together after so many years. It’s just so good, this whole series is fantastic!
Tropes:
Single Dad x School Teacher
Second Chance
Small Town
Ex-Best Friends
Yearning
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
Spice Starts at: 79%
Spice: 1/4
Stars: 4.5/5
Available on Kindle Unlimited
(Book 3 in The Valentine Nook Chronicles)
By Lulu Moore
Story MacIntosh. My best friend since I was six. My permanent sunny day, whatever the weather.
Fun, sweet teenage Hendricks had owned my heart and broken it, but this guy . . . this guy? This guy could demolish it.
“Don’t make me regret telling you this, Story.” Miles breaks eventually, and I’m tempted to do a little jig on the spot. Winner. “But for what it’s worth, it’s only ever been you for him.”
I ate Hendricks and Story’s story up!! I love this series so much, I love Valentine Nook and I am obsessed with this Burlington siblings! Lulu are you hiding a Burlington cousin that’s single? 😂 I volunteer!! This story is so freaking sweet. We get flash backs and present day stories of Hendricks and Story. How their relationship developed as kids to teens. What happened to cause such a huge rift and how they found their way back together after so many years. It’s just so good, this whole series is fantastic!
Tropes:
Single Dad x School Teacher
Second Chance
Small Town
Ex-Best Friends
Yearning
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
Spice Starts at: 79%
Spice: 1/4
Stars: 4.5/5
Available on Kindle Unlimited
April 13, 2026
The slow burn in this book hits hard. Like around 60/70% of the book and yes, I like it.
Hendricks and Story have been best friends since school and they always had feelings for each other, but they never managed to talk about those or act on them because of a very high dose of miscommunication and misinterpretation. Now, I don’t particularly enjoy this specific trope, however I have to say it made sense for the story and I believe it’s partly justified by the fact that they were teenagers during most of those occasions.
This book (as the previous ones) is connected to the lives of the other Burlington’s siblings and it’s something I really love. Not having only one book but also knowing how they all got to their book and how they are doing now that part of the story is over.
Here’s what you should know:
❤️Single dad x son’s teacher
❤️Ex best friends
❤️Small town (village)
❤️Slow burn
❤️Forced proximity
❤️Yearning
❤️Two povs, 1st person
❤️Spicy level 2/5
❤️Third of a series and there’s a novella that works as a prequel (you don’t need the other to understand this but you will find spoilers and you can have a bit more of context)
Hendricks and Story have been best friends since school and they always had feelings for each other, but they never managed to talk about those or act on them because of a very high dose of miscommunication and misinterpretation. Now, I don’t particularly enjoy this specific trope, however I have to say it made sense for the story and I believe it’s partly justified by the fact that they were teenagers during most of those occasions.
This book (as the previous ones) is connected to the lives of the other Burlington’s siblings and it’s something I really love. Not having only one book but also knowing how they all got to their book and how they are doing now that part of the story is over.
Here’s what you should know:
❤️Single dad x son’s teacher
❤️Ex best friends
❤️Small town (village)
❤️Slow burn
❤️Forced proximity
❤️Yearning
❤️Two povs, 1st person
❤️Spicy level 2/5
❤️Third of a series and there’s a novella that works as a prequel (you don’t need the other to understand this but you will find spoilers and you can have a bit more of context)
March 17, 2026
Lulu continues to deliver! This angsty slow burn, second chance, dual timeline, ex-best friends to lovers (with like 6 years of estrangement! Gah!!) had me emotional throughout. 🥹 I loved the dual timeline with snippets from childhood and the ways we watched each of them navigate discovering love even while they lacked the maturity and communication skills to be honest about it. I definitely wanted more once they finally found their way to each other and the courage to act on it and hope I get glimpses of them as the series continues!
What to expect:
👶Single dad
💜Childhood best friends
🏡Forced proximity
🏘️Small village
💜Yearning
🐾Vet x 📝teacher
💭 Therapist thoughts - I love love love childhood best friends because it is such a fertile trope for deep intimacy - a childhood best friend often knows all. But also growing up is hard we make mistakes and our young brains are barely formed...so when there's a leap to lovers it can go awry. The story illustrates that experience when Hendrix becomes a father while still in school and at a time when he and Story are just about to cross that threshold. This book is angsty AF but if you can roll with that slow burn, the payoff feels sweet because it's truly just the beginning...
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book!
What to expect:
👶Single dad
💜Childhood best friends
🏡Forced proximity
🏘️Small village
💜Yearning
🐾Vet x 📝teacher
💭 Therapist thoughts - I love love love childhood best friends because it is such a fertile trope for deep intimacy - a childhood best friend often knows all. But also growing up is hard we make mistakes and our young brains are barely formed...so when there's a leap to lovers it can go awry. The story illustrates that experience when Hendrix becomes a father while still in school and at a time when he and Story are just about to cross that threshold. This book is angsty AF but if you can roll with that slow burn, the payoff feels sweet because it's truly just the beginning...
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book!
March 12, 2026
I’m ready to pack up my bags and board my flight to Valentine Nook so I can experience the magic of the small village myself. I adored this slow burn, childhood friends-to-lovers, spicy romance so much! Hendricks is a now a single dad and still reeling from when his best friend, Story, left. He finally can admit his true feelings when she returns to the village, now his son’s school teacher. The slow-burn payout was well worth it because the yearning between these two was the best! I ate up the sweetness of the flashback chapters featuring Hendricks and Story’s developing friendship, and the found family and side characters were too fun! This charming love story was a delightful to read, and I am so happy that there are more down to earth royal Burlington siblings whose stories are forthcoming! 4.5 stars
Thanks to the author for the eARC
Thanks to the author for the eARC
March 12, 2026
ARC Review
I absolutely loved this book!
I had already fallen in love with this world, but Hendricks and Story made me love it even more!!
The story was perfectly written. The relationship building that was shown with the flash backs to their childhood added the perfect interest and tension to their current status!
Both characters not only had growth in their relationship but growth as individuals as well.
I laughed, I swooned, and the spice was spicing!!
I loved the cameos, but I loved the teasers for the next two siblings even more!!
I absolutely loved this book!
I had already fallen in love with this world, but Hendricks and Story made me love it even more!!
The story was perfectly written. The relationship building that was shown with the flash backs to their childhood added the perfect interest and tension to their current status!
Both characters not only had growth in their relationship but growth as individuals as well.
I laughed, I swooned, and the spice was spicing!!
I loved the cameos, but I loved the teasers for the next two siblings even more!!
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