What do you think?
Rate this book
The Wee Small Hours: A Cosy Small-Town Romance Stitched with Secrets, Quirky Friendships, and Unexpected Love
A cosy small-town romance about sleepless nights, unexpected friendships, and the healing power of love.
Annie Lambert hasn’t slept properly in years. Her remedy? Moonlit walks through her quiet Herefordshire town, where secrets linger and stories whisper in the shadows. When her mother moves back to Australia, Annie inherits the crumbling family home—and a seat in the Monday Afternoon Knitters Circle, a trio of spirited seventy-somethings determined to fix her life stitch by stitch.
Suddenly, Annie’s small-town world is anything but quiet. A homeless man and his loyal dog become her closest confidants. A charming ex-footballer arrives as a new client. And her rugged builder seems to have more than bricks on his mind. As romance sparks and renovations begin, Annie finds herself tangled in more than just yarn.
But when old wounds resurface and the knitting club’s secrets threaten to unravel, Annie must can she mend the lives around her while finally stitching together her own?
Perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary, Jenny Colgan, and cosy contemporary romance, The Wee Small Hours is a heartwarming story of second chances, found family, and love that blooms in the quietest moments.
Annie Lambert hasn’t slept properly in years. Her remedy? Moonlit walks through her quiet Herefordshire town, where secrets linger and stories whisper in the shadows. When her mother moves back to Australia, Annie inherits the crumbling family home—and a seat in the Monday Afternoon Knitters Circle, a trio of spirited seventy-somethings determined to fix her life stitch by stitch.
Suddenly, Annie’s small-town world is anything but quiet. A homeless man and his loyal dog become her closest confidants. A charming ex-footballer arrives as a new client. And her rugged builder seems to have more than bricks on his mind. As romance sparks and renovations begin, Annie finds herself tangled in more than just yarn.
But when old wounds resurface and the knitting club’s secrets threaten to unravel, Annie must can she mend the lives around her while finally stitching together her own?
Perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary, Jenny Colgan, and cosy contemporary romance, The Wee Small Hours is a heartwarming story of second chances, found family, and love that blooms in the quietest moments.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2025
3 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Rosa Temple
14 books31 followersRosa Temple began writing romantic comedies and chick lit as a ghost writer. In her notebooks, she constantly jotted down story ideas of her own and she eventually self published her first novella Sleeping With Your Best Friend. Rosa went on to self publish the following novels: Natalie's Getting Married, Single By Christmas and Dear..Anybody?
HQ Digital published three of her ebooks: Playing By The Rules, Playing Her Cards Right and Playing for Keeps.
On 26th May 2022 Simon & Schuster published The Slow Lane Walkers Club in 3 formats.
Rosa Temple is a Londoner and is married with two sons. She recently escaped to the Herefordshire countryside.
Visit her website https://www.rosatemple.co.uk/ for more!
HQ Digital published three of her ebooks: Playing By The Rules, Playing Her Cards Right and Playing for Keeps.
On 26th May 2022 Simon & Schuster published The Slow Lane Walkers Club in 3 formats.
Rosa Temple is a Londoner and is married with two sons. She recently escaped to the Herefordshire countryside.
Visit her website https://www.rosatemple.co.uk/ for more!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 2, 2025
This was such a cosy story and was one that I needed to help bring me some calm and peace.
I loved Rosie, and thought she was a very relatable character. She struggled to sleep and found peace in walking through her quiet town during the night when everything was peaceful. When she wasn't struggling to sleep, she was found with friends that were more like family knitting and chatting. Her life takes a twist when a famous retired footballer comes to her work and takes a liking to her. She then has to navigate the famous lifestyle along with the baggage that comes with a recently single dad.
Now I wasn't a huge fan of Reef when he came along, was it the fact that he played for Aston Villa and the fact that Man United was mentioned in not good way that made me dislike him more... most likely. I actually found his character to be rude and slightly over bearing, his jealously wasn't a trait I liked about him and it sometimes seeped from the pages that left me with a bitter taste. However, I did like when Anton came into Annie's life and I wont lie, I was routing him for the whole way through. He was just very likable and I felt that he was on Annie's level with her characteristics.
I really enjoyed the authors writing and pacing of the story as you really got to know all the characters in the story. The side characters felt just as important as the main ones. The story as a whole was very wholesome and was very refreshing for me due to the genres that I normally read.
If you're looking for something cosy and warm then look no further.
Thank you very much to Novel Tours and the Author the an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
I loved Rosie, and thought she was a very relatable character. She struggled to sleep and found peace in walking through her quiet town during the night when everything was peaceful. When she wasn't struggling to sleep, she was found with friends that were more like family knitting and chatting. Her life takes a twist when a famous retired footballer comes to her work and takes a liking to her. She then has to navigate the famous lifestyle along with the baggage that comes with a recently single dad.
Now I wasn't a huge fan of Reef when he came along, was it the fact that he played for Aston Villa and the fact that Man United was mentioned in not good way that made me dislike him more... most likely. I actually found his character to be rude and slightly over bearing, his jealously wasn't a trait I liked about him and it sometimes seeped from the pages that left me with a bitter taste. However, I did like when Anton came into Annie's life and I wont lie, I was routing him for the whole way through. He was just very likable and I felt that he was on Annie's level with her characteristics.
I really enjoyed the authors writing and pacing of the story as you really got to know all the characters in the story. The side characters felt just as important as the main ones. The story as a whole was very wholesome and was very refreshing for me due to the genres that I normally read.
If you're looking for something cosy and warm then look no further.
Thank you very much to Novel Tours and the Author the an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
December 8, 2025
This is one of those lovely books that you need to read when you want to relax with a gently love story on a cold wet day in a lovely hygge environment. It’s not a taxing read and I finished it over the space of a couple of days , though I did ignore anything that needed doing around the house !!!!!!
There are a wide mix of different characters who are in Annie’s life for you to get your teeth into from the glamorous ex footballer to the hunky builder who renovates her house, that we could all do with knowing!!! The Monday afternoon knitting club of ladies of a certain age to the homeless Dexter and his dog. But mainly it is about the lovely Annie who you will definitely finding yourself warming to .
I also loved the use of jazz songs to get you through the sleepless hours of the night that many of us encounter and I really appreciated the appendix of songs that Annie listened to at the back of the book, which have since given me a few more hours of enjoyment as I relaxed and listened to them
To say I loved The Wee Small Hours is an understatement and I wish I had several similar books that I could turn to when I just need to hunker down and read a lovely heartwarming story about a lovely main character. Rosa will definitely be one of those authors on my”Watch out for” list moving forwards.
There are a wide mix of different characters who are in Annie’s life for you to get your teeth into from the glamorous ex footballer to the hunky builder who renovates her house, that we could all do with knowing!!! The Monday afternoon knitting club of ladies of a certain age to the homeless Dexter and his dog. But mainly it is about the lovely Annie who you will definitely finding yourself warming to .
I also loved the use of jazz songs to get you through the sleepless hours of the night that many of us encounter and I really appreciated the appendix of songs that Annie listened to at the back of the book, which have since given me a few more hours of enjoyment as I relaxed and listened to them
To say I loved The Wee Small Hours is an understatement and I wish I had several similar books that I could turn to when I just need to hunker down and read a lovely heartwarming story about a lovely main character. Rosa will definitely be one of those authors on my”Watch out for” list moving forwards.
November 6, 2025
In The Wee Small Hours by @rosatempleauthor
Happy Day One of Book Tour 📖
What a sweet read!! I loved Annie and her odd family dynamic with the 3 old woman from knitting club!! She's a lonesome soul who is even more lonely after her mum moved away and the pandemic. She's bad with insomnia so often strolls the morning hours aimlessly.
She unexpectedly meets Reef..... jury is still out on him, Rosa has the big ego footballer behaviour written perfectly.... also who introduces the kid to the girl after 1 date!! That was a loss of points instantly 😂😂
Anton is an instant likable character! As soon as he sees her artwork he is smitten with her and very much has a foot in mouth approach 😂 I love how much he erks Annie!
Annie's goal of trying to keep everyone happy is exhausting... maybe she needs to put herself first which is definitely relatable!!
Such a great read! Thanks you Hollie at @novel.tours for a copy of this book! Loved it and highly recommend to any and everyone!!
Happy Day One of Book Tour 📖
What a sweet read!! I loved Annie and her odd family dynamic with the 3 old woman from knitting club!! She's a lonesome soul who is even more lonely after her mum moved away and the pandemic. She's bad with insomnia so often strolls the morning hours aimlessly.
She unexpectedly meets Reef..... jury is still out on him, Rosa has the big ego footballer behaviour written perfectly.... also who introduces the kid to the girl after 1 date!! That was a loss of points instantly 😂😂
Anton is an instant likable character! As soon as he sees her artwork he is smitten with her and very much has a foot in mouth approach 😂 I love how much he erks Annie!
Annie's goal of trying to keep everyone happy is exhausting... maybe she needs to put herself first which is definitely relatable!!
Such a great read! Thanks you Hollie at @novel.tours for a copy of this book! Loved it and highly recommend to any and everyone!!
October 31, 2025
This book just feels like a warm hug and I absolutely adored it! Rosa’s writing style is just so lovely and descriptive that it’s very easy to be drawn into the story.
Annie is one of those main characters that you just want to wrap up and keep safe, while also wanting to shake her and tell her to put herself first for a change. I really enjoyed accompanying her through the book and seeing her gradually figure things out in her life and what she wants and needs.
The characters surrounding Annie all have their roles to play in supporting or sometimes, hindering her, but they all felt like they fit and made sense to the story being told. I especially loved the older, knitting circle ladies who took Annie under their wings; guiding, helping, and also providing listening ears when needed. Their dynamic was wonderful and I’d definitely read a book based on them alone ~ I feel they have more secrets to tell than just the one revealed in this book!
Annie is one of those main characters that you just want to wrap up and keep safe, while also wanting to shake her and tell her to put herself first for a change. I really enjoyed accompanying her through the book and seeing her gradually figure things out in her life and what she wants and needs.
The characters surrounding Annie all have their roles to play in supporting or sometimes, hindering her, but they all felt like they fit and made sense to the story being told. I especially loved the older, knitting circle ladies who took Annie under their wings; guiding, helping, and also providing listening ears when needed. Their dynamic was wonderful and I’d definitely read a book based on them alone ~ I feel they have more secrets to tell than just the one revealed in this book!
December 2, 2025
I knew as soon as I spotted this front cover that I was going to enjoy this read.
With all the different elements, I was intrigued to see just how this would unravel.
Annie was such a relatable character and I really connected with her right from the start.
I loved seeing her relationship develop with the knitting group - this is definitely something I could see myself doing - although maybe it'll be in a few years when I'm the septugenarian!
This group of friends was just everything you'd expect from these ladies.
I want to say interfering ...but I obviously mean that in the nicest sense - maybe getting involved and "helping out" in a way that only the more mature know how to do - but I loved their interest in Annie and her gentlemen friends.
This was such a sweet read and I was totally immersed from start to finish.
It was my first read by this author and I loved the writing style and small town vibes - I'm really keen to read more from them in the future.
With all the different elements, I was intrigued to see just how this would unravel.
Annie was such a relatable character and I really connected with her right from the start.
I loved seeing her relationship develop with the knitting group - this is definitely something I could see myself doing - although maybe it'll be in a few years when I'm the septugenarian!
This group of friends was just everything you'd expect from these ladies.
I want to say interfering ...but I obviously mean that in the nicest sense - maybe getting involved and "helping out" in a way that only the more mature know how to do - but I loved their interest in Annie and her gentlemen friends.
This was such a sweet read and I was totally immersed from start to finish.
It was my first read by this author and I loved the writing style and small town vibes - I'm really keen to read more from them in the future.
November 30, 2025
Physiotherapist Annie Lambert struggles to sleep through the night, to the point that she is so sleepless she walks the streets. Her septuagenarian friends Bea, Judith and Rhiannon help her through life’s ups and downs via their Monday Afternoon Knitting Circle. Annie misses her family who live in Australia and these woman help bridge the gap and are intrigued by the two very different men who come into Annie’s life.
This is a book with family and friendship at the core. I enjoyed the plot and the playlist immensely. I read quite a lot of the book whilst travelling on several trains and interestingly many people, varying in ages, were knitting which made me smile. A great romantic read that I thoroughly recommend.
This is a book with family and friendship at the core. I enjoyed the plot and the playlist immensely. I read quite a lot of the book whilst travelling on several trains and interestingly many people, varying in ages, were knitting which made me smile. A great romantic read that I thoroughly recommend.
December 3, 2025
This was such a sweet cosy read, I loved the characters and the whole premise of the story.
Annie and her nighttime walks and the Monday afternoon knitters circle, you could feel all the emotions through the writing, such a lovely book.
A slow burn but exactly what made this story work, it was a book I couldn’t put down I just needed to know more and I wasn’t disappointed it was a beautiful story told in a beautiful way, absolutely loved this!
Annie and her nighttime walks and the Monday afternoon knitters circle, you could feel all the emotions through the writing, such a lovely book.
A slow burn but exactly what made this story work, it was a book I couldn’t put down I just needed to know more and I wasn’t disappointed it was a beautiful story told in a beautiful way, absolutely loved this!
November 24, 2025
A tender, cosy read that wraps you up in small-town charm and late-night secrets. Annie’s insomnia feels so real and relatable: a quiet window into grief, healing and second chances. Rosa Temple’s writing is soft, warm and full of heart. I devoured this in one sitting and wished I could step right into her world.
October 31, 2025
I have often raised my eyebrows reading this book as some reactions from the characters and some situations were unlikely to happen in real life. It is very rose-coloured.
☝️ HOWEVER
I was anxious to return to my reading either on the tram or in bed before going to sleep. It was so comforting and soothing! It was what I needed and I think we all need this kind of books from time to time to relax and look at life through rose-tinted glasses! 😉
🇬🇧 I would also recommend this book to people learning English as there are a lot of everyday life vocabulary, British English expressions, cultural aspects and references - I got nostalgic when I read it. Read it on an e-reader so that you can look directly into the dictionary and make notes.
☝️ HOWEVER
I was anxious to return to my reading either on the tram or in bed before going to sleep. It was so comforting and soothing! It was what I needed and I think we all need this kind of books from time to time to relax and look at life through rose-tinted glasses! 😉
🇬🇧 I would also recommend this book to people learning English as there are a lot of everyday life vocabulary, British English expressions, cultural aspects and references - I got nostalgic when I read it. Read it on an e-reader so that you can look directly into the dictionary and make notes.
November 28, 2025
❤️ Blurb A cosy small-town romance about sleepless nights, unexpected friendships, and finding love when you least expect it.
Annie Lambert hasn’t slept properly in years. Her remedy? Moonlit walks through her quiet Herefordshire town, where secrets linger and stories whisper in the shadows. When her mother returns to Australia, Annie inherits the crumbling family home—and a place in the Monday Afternoon Knitters Circle, a trio of spirited seventy-somethings determined to fix her life stitch by stitch.
Suddenly, Annie’s small-town world is anything but quiet. A homeless man and his loyal dog become her closest confidants. A charming ex-footballer arrives as a new client. And her rugged builder seems to have more than bricks on his mind. As romance sparks and renovations begin, Annie finds herself tangled in more than just yarn.
But when old wounds resurface and the knitting club’s secrets threaten to unravel, Annie must decide: can she mend the lives around her while finally stitching together her own?
The Wee Small Hours is a heartwarming novel about second chances, found family, and the healing power of connection—even in the loneliest hours.
💜 Review -
This was such a beautiful and heartwarming read. I was hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened and for Annie to have her happy ending that she deserves. I loved the small town place setting in the story and I loved the knitting group that Annie is in, they seemed like a fun and quirky group. Overall, a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the publisher and author, Rosa Temple for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Annie Lambert hasn’t slept properly in years. Her remedy? Moonlit walks through her quiet Herefordshire town, where secrets linger and stories whisper in the shadows. When her mother returns to Australia, Annie inherits the crumbling family home—and a place in the Monday Afternoon Knitters Circle, a trio of spirited seventy-somethings determined to fix her life stitch by stitch.
Suddenly, Annie’s small-town world is anything but quiet. A homeless man and his loyal dog become her closest confidants. A charming ex-footballer arrives as a new client. And her rugged builder seems to have more than bricks on his mind. As romance sparks and renovations begin, Annie finds herself tangled in more than just yarn.
But when old wounds resurface and the knitting club’s secrets threaten to unravel, Annie must decide: can she mend the lives around her while finally stitching together her own?
The Wee Small Hours is a heartwarming novel about second chances, found family, and the healing power of connection—even in the loneliest hours.
💜 Review -
This was such a beautiful and heartwarming read. I was hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened and for Annie to have her happy ending that she deserves. I loved the small town place setting in the story and I loved the knitting group that Annie is in, they seemed like a fun and quirky group. Overall, a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the publisher and author, Rosa Temple for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
There are some books that don’t just tell a story... they hum softly in your heart like a lullaby, and The Wee Small Hours is exactly that kind of book.
Reading it felt like sitting under a quiet night sky, the air cool, the world still, and the only sound being the gentle rhythm of your thoughts. Annie’s sleepless nights, her moonlit walks, and the comforting chaos of the Monday Afternoon Knitters Circle... it all felt so real, so tender. There’s something deeply relatable about her... how she moves through life feeling a little untethered, yet still holds on to hope in the smallest ways.
And the way the story unfolds, like slowly untangling a ball of yarn... every knot, every twist starts to make sense. You realize that healing, like knitting, takes patience, care, and a whole lot of love.
The characters? Oh, they’re pure warmth... the group of knitters, the quiet companionship of a man and his dog, and the slow-burn charm. Every interaction feels like a hug for the soul.
It’s one of those books that makes you pause, breathe, and maybe look up at the stars a little longer. A story about stitching life back together, one thread at a time. Definitely a re-read... the kind you reach for on nights you need a little peace and a reminder that everything will fall into place. 💫
Reading it felt like sitting under a quiet night sky, the air cool, the world still, and the only sound being the gentle rhythm of your thoughts. Annie’s sleepless nights, her moonlit walks, and the comforting chaos of the Monday Afternoon Knitters Circle... it all felt so real, so tender. There’s something deeply relatable about her... how she moves through life feeling a little untethered, yet still holds on to hope in the smallest ways.
And the way the story unfolds, like slowly untangling a ball of yarn... every knot, every twist starts to make sense. You realize that healing, like knitting, takes patience, care, and a whole lot of love.
The characters? Oh, they’re pure warmth... the group of knitters, the quiet companionship of a man and his dog, and the slow-burn charm. Every interaction feels like a hug for the soul.
It’s one of those books that makes you pause, breathe, and maybe look up at the stars a little longer. A story about stitching life back together, one thread at a time. Definitely a re-read... the kind you reach for on nights you need a little peace and a reminder that everything will fall into place. 💫
October 20, 2025
In this small-town cosy story, Annie is having a few problems. She can’t sleep. Her house is in desperate need of repairs. Her mother has moved to Australia. And she’s single. But what she does have, is a group of wonderful friends who are always looking out for her.
While Annie struggles to sleep, she spends the early hours of the morning walking around her quiet town and stopping to chat to a homeless man and his dog, a pair she has befriended.
During the day, she goes to work and joins her friends at knitting club. Through luck and a bit of meddling, two men arrive on the scene, throwing Annie’s life up in the air and waiting for her to see how it all lands.
Annie is determined to keep everyone happy, but she’s also learning how to think about her own happiness too. What does she end up with? You’ll have to read on to find out!
A huge thanks to Hollie at Novel Tours for having me on this tour! I’ve really enjoyed it.
While Annie struggles to sleep, she spends the early hours of the morning walking around her quiet town and stopping to chat to a homeless man and his dog, a pair she has befriended.
During the day, she goes to work and joins her friends at knitting club. Through luck and a bit of meddling, two men arrive on the scene, throwing Annie’s life up in the air and waiting for her to see how it all lands.
Annie is determined to keep everyone happy, but she’s also learning how to think about her own happiness too. What does she end up with? You’ll have to read on to find out!
A huge thanks to Hollie at Novel Tours for having me on this tour! I’ve really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews