Blue Skies Ahead

by Jessica Redland

The start of a BRAND NEW series from MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLER Jessica Redland. ‘This is an exciting new start for you all. Blue skies are ahead.’

Leaving behind everything she thought she knew, Grace arrives at Hazelwick Farm with her teenage daughter, Maddie, and her mother, Frances, ready to build a new life together.

Grace has dreamt of fresh air, open skies and days filled with taking care of the animals while building a family business together. But starting over isn’t as simple as she hoped.

Maddie has barely spoken to her since the divorce from her father and Grace doesn’t know how to fix what she doesn’t fully understand. Between strained silences at home, and the demands of getting the farm ready to open for business, Grace begins to wonder if she’s made a mistake. Yet life at Hazelwick Farm has its surprises. Grace keeps crossing paths with handsome tenant, Caleb, whether she means to or not. Could this unexpected connection be the start of something she never saw coming?

Escape to the countryside with a heartwarming, uplifting multigenerational story of family, fresh starts and finding love when you least expect it from multi-million copy bestseller Jessica Redland.

Praise for Jessica

'There is so much to make you smile in Jessica's stories and they are always uplifting reads, which will make you really glad you decided to pick up a copy.' Jo Bartlett

'Jessica Redland writes from the heart, with heart, about heart' Nicola May

'A heartwarming story of true friendship, love and romance set in the gorgeous backdrop of the Lakes. A cosy hug of a read that left me feeling warm inside.’ Julie Caplin

’I enjoyed a wonderful escape to the Lake District in this tale of loss, love and rediscovery.’ Gillian Harvey

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Womens Fiction

520 pages, Paperback

Published July 27, 2026

About the author

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

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

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

Reviews

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Jessica Redland’s books, and I was delighted to hear she has a new series out — especially one set, like many of her previous favourites, on a country farm. She has such a gift for transporting you out of the city and straight into the heart of the countryside, with realistic, relatable characters and a wonderfully grounded sense of place. This one even comes complete with a very grumpy teenager, written with her usual mix of humour and empathy.

When Grace and her husband break up, she heads to her mum Frances’s for a much needed holiday, taking along Maddie — her very grumpy teenage daughter. When they stumble across Hazelwick Farm for sale, Grace takes it as a sign, and she and Frances decide to buy it together. Frances will run the café, Grace will take on the farm work, and Maddie… well, Maddie might help if she can shake off her bad mood. The story is full of twists and turns, including a few I genuinely didn’t see coming, and it’s left me eager for the next book in the series.

It’s a gorgeous start to the series, full of family, fresh starts and the kind of countryside charm Jessica Redland writes so well. Grace’s leap into farm life, Frances’s café dreams and Maddie’s teenage moods make for a story that’s both heartfelt and entertaining, with plenty of twists I genuinely didn’t see coming. Honestly, I now want to know if cow cuddling is a real thing — Jessica Redland makes it sound delightful. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes them.

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to discover that Jessica Redland was starting a new series. Her books never fail to delight me even though I know I’ll be off on an emotional rollercoaster, and Blue Skies Ahead did not let me down.

Set in Northumbria, an area I am not familiar with, Jessica’s writing created a real sense of place. I could imagine the local villages and would love a chance to explore. The setting of Hazelwick Farm absolutely captured my imagination, and I’m already relishing the thought of returning in future books.

One of the core threads in this book is the conflict between protagonist Grace and her daughter, Maddie. As a mother to a daughter, I completely understood the feeling of walking on eggshells, waiting for a teenager to erupt with more vitriol. This element felt as though the author had been a fly on the wall at some of our more vocal showdowns. Yet despite that difficult topic, the exchanges still maintained the love between a mother and daughter, which is usually unbreakable. I certainly emerged unscathed in the end.

I truly liked Grace and the sense of empowerment she found as she took on the challenge of starting a new business with her mother. Supported by her best friend, she was well placed to embark on the brave vision they shared for the farm. The added element of local vet, Caleb, brought the opportunity to consider romance despite her badly bruised heart.

The feeling of community is undeniable, and I loved meeting the supporting characters. I already have my favourites and hope to meet them again as the series continues.

This is a strong start for a new series, and I am already looking forward to seeing what the future holds. Jessica Redland’s handling of emotional storylines is incomparable. With twists I genuinely never saw coming, this is an emotional read, but the result is beautiful, and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

More please!

[ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Blue Skies Ahead
ARC Provided By: Netgalley, Boldwood Books
Author: Jessica Redland
Expected Release Date: 07|27|2026
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Main Characters: Grace, Maddie, Francis + Caleb
Book Type: Standalone

This was such a beautiful read. I absolutely loved each of the characters and the author did an amazing job bringing out the emotional depth within the story.

It made me think about my relationship with my own mama as a teenager and how I related to Maddie in most ways in the beginning.

I was also very happy to see that Grace got closure to her past and was able to move on to her new life and relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Author Jessica Redland for the arc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

I have read 18 of Jessica's books so far and each one is as delightful as the previous one. I think this is book one of a new series which is always reason for celebration.

A book with 51 chapters means they're all a good, short length, but not too short.

Within teh first couple of pages I disliked some characters. But I think that might have been the intention. Which is a surprise as in her previous books, whilst some characters are nicer than others, there is rarely anyone I dislike that much. Happily the main target of my wrath - Grace's former boss - is a bit character so I didn't have to put up with him for long.

I did like Grace, I thought she was great. She felt very real, very human, and I felt for her, dealing with so much. I also enjoyed this sort of sandwich generation relationships with her daughter and her mum. That felt very relateable.

I found her daughter Maddie a bit grating, particularly at the start. But that's less about her being a bad character (which she isn't) and more to do with the fact that I think all youths are loud and messy and loud and loud, so I already had a bit of an issue with her. But this fractured relationship she had with her mum was so real and I think a lot of readers will relate to.

I didn't really gel with this one overall though which is a surprise. Let me clarify - I still loved it. I love Jessica's writing, her storytelling, the characters, the sentiment behind it all was lovely. But there was just something at the back of my mind that meant I couldn't focus on it. Maybe it was because I personally couldn't relate to the characters or the story, I don't know, it's hard to pinpoint one specific thing. But if I had to dig really deep into it I might put it down to there being a lot going on. I love books with multiple plotlines so that's not a big issue, but we've got divorce, house moves, romance, job losses, breakups, teenage angst, bereavement - there's a lot to keep on top and it felt a bit forced at times and a bit unrealistic, which is fine in say a fantasy novel, but not a contemporary romance I don't think.

I can't deny it is a feel good, happy, uplifting, joyful, loving gem of a book. She is a go-to author for those type of books. Perfect for reading on a sun lounger with a glass of cold white wine. But as a winter gremlin, I must say my heart lies with her Christmas novels.

I hate the fact that I've put a negative comment in a review for a Jessica Redland book because I absolutely love her and all her books have been first-class so I apologise to Jessica for that. She is still one of my absolutely favourite authors.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

You always know you can be sure of a really good storyline with a book by Jessica Redland and this is no exception, its a brilliant book. We meet Grace saying goodbye to her daughter Maddie on the last day at school before half-term. Its the February half-term and the day before valentine's day, but Maddie won't be celebrating with her boyfriend Alfie and she is sure that her mother won't care as she thinks he wasn't liked. She was probably right and Grace thought him to be cocky and arrogant, but she didn't expect him to have cheated on Maddie with her best-friend ( now ex best-friend). Grace works at the local equestrian centre, just outside Twyford in Berkshire as an "equine-assisted therapist", but she doesn't like the new boss there one little bit but she didn't expect to be told her job wasn't working and they were going to sell her lovely horses she worked with. She is more upset about not working with her favourite horses any more than not working at the stables, but then she finds out that her house has been sold and she is devastated, it must be why they call it unlucky on Friday the 13th!
Grace and Maddie then travel up north to the dairy farm where she grew up in Northumberland. When they discover a property that would be ideal for them all to live and work together, this seems to be ideal, except for a moody teenager, but on the plus side there are "cuddle cows", so it seems like fate has brought them all together. But things don't go as smoothly as they would have liked at the beginning, they all have some good ideas for bringing in both customers and money and they are determined to make it work.
I really loved this book and felt like I really knew everyone and was totally immersed in the storyline from the beginning. A fabulous start to a new series, it is a perfect summer read it proves that their are always blue skies ahead, I can't wait to read more in the series and I have given it five stars.

#Netgalley
#JessicaRedland
#BlueSkiesAhead
#BoldwoodBooks

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Coates' husband decided that he needed a new life and moved to Finland leaving Grace and their 17 year old daughter behind. They had to sell the house and moved in with her mother until she figured out what to do next. At the same time, she was let go from her job as an animal therapist, as the new owner of the horse farm wanted to go in a different direction. Grace and Maddie always had a great relationship, but since she turned 16, she became a surly teenager, who barely talked to her mother, and spent most of her time in her room. Grace and her mother decide they both need a new start, so purchased Hazelwick Farm in north Northumberland. Grace and Francis were so hoping this would be a new start for Maddie as well, and there would be three generations of women working together. Unfortunately, Maddie became worse in my opinion. The women had their work cut out for them, as the owners of the farm had lied to them and they had a lot to do to get it up and running properly, as well as to have visitors. The one income stream they had was the rental of a small house on the property, rented by Caleb Nash. Caleb was a farrier, blacksmith and vet, who ended up working with them to take care of the animals. Proximity is a trope I enjoy, because the more time Caleb and Grace spent together, the more their feelings toward one another grew.

Jessica Redland is an auto-read author for me. She writes wonderful uplifting stories about normal people and normal problems. Maddie was an annoying character. I once had a teenager that age, and she didn't talk to me or act that way. I wanted to reach into the book and shake her. As the story progresses, we finally find out what her issues were, but if she had talked to her mom, those two years of misery could have been avoided. I really liked Caleb. He had some trauma in his background and as he and Grace got to know each other, he was able to share it, and that helped with his healing. Maddie was a great mom, daughter, friend and wife (when she was married). I really liked her and wanted things to work out. Themes dealing with mental health, some cruelty to animals (not graphic), family, friends supporting one another, starting anew, peer pressure and the healing effect of animals are all a big part of the story. I had never heard of cow cuddling, but now I want to do it, especially if I have to travel to the UK to find highland coos. Once again, I felt warm fuzzies when I listened to this book and highly recommend it. Karen Cass does a lovely job with this book, giving voice to the various characters and with perfect tone and pacing.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Redland has done it again! Blue Skies Ahead is a heartwarming, uplifting story about second chances, family, healing, and finding the courage to start over when life doesn't go according to plan.

I absolutely loved spending time at Hazelwick Farm. The Northumberland setting was beautifully described, and I could easily picture the countryside, the horses, the Highland cows, and all the wonderful animals that made the farm feel so special. Honestly, after reading this book, I want to visit and cuddle a cow myself!

Grace was such a relatable and easy character to root for. After facing divorce, job loss, and a strained relationship with her teenage daughter, she embarks on a fresh start alongside her mam, Frances. I especially loved the mother-daughter relationship between Grace and Frances, which was full of warmth, support, and genuine affection. The challenges between Grace and Maddie felt realistic too, bringing plenty of emotion to the story as they both navigated difficult changes.

As always, Jessica Redland creates characters who feel like real people and a community you wish you could be part of. There were moments that made me smile, moments that tugged at my heart, and plenty of hope woven throughout the story. The gentle romance was a lovely addition, but for me, the real heart of the book was the family relationships and personal growth.

Warm, comforting, and full of charm, Blue Skies Ahead feels like a hug in book form. I was completely invested in Grace's journey and didn't want the story to end. A wonderful start to what I hope will be a long-running series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ann-Maree · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars - Blue Skies Ahead by Jessica Redland

Blue Skies Ahead is a story about starting over when life hasn't quite turned out the way you expected.

Grace is newly divorced and finds herself beginning again at Hazelwick Farm, close to where she grew up. She's trying to build a new business with her mother while also dealing with her teenage daughter, Maddie, who is angry, distant and barely speaking to her. At the same time, Grace is still trying to understand exactly what went wrong with her marriage.

I have to admit, I found Maddie a little grating at times! Although that could simply be because I had boys and never had to deal with a teenage daughter. 😂 There were definitely moments when I wanted to tell her to give her mum a break.

What I really enjoyed, though, was the heart of this story. I've always enjoyed Jessica Redland's writing and storytelling, and once again she creates characters you become invested in. This isn't just about finding romance after divorce. It's about fresh starts, fractured relationships and the quiet courage it takes to rebuild your life when everything changes.

Grace and her family certainly have their fair share of trauma, misunderstandings and unexpected curveballs along the way, and not everything is magically fixed overnight.

And of course, there's Caleb. ❤️ I enjoyed watching that relationship develop alongside everything else Grace was trying to navigate rather than having the romance completely take over the story.

Overall, this was a lovely feel-good countryside read about family, second chances and finding your feet again after life knocks you sideways.

Not my absolute favourite Jessica Redland book, but another enjoyable read from an author whose stories I always look forward to.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Skies Ahead is a story of hope that takes its time to find the sunshine.

This was quite a different reading experience for me. The first half of the book was emotionally difficult because everything seemed to be going wrong for the main character. She lost so much in such a short space of time, and the way she was treated, particularly by her daughter, left me feeling frustrated and even a little angry on her behalf. I completely understood why the story needed to begin there, but it made this part of the book harder to enjoy, and I found myself skimming sections because I was so eager for things to finally improve.

Thankfully, they did.
Once the story turned the corner, it became the uplifting, heartwarming novel I had hoped it would be. Watching relationships heal, seeing characters grow, and discovering the future that was waiting for them made the emotional investment worthwhile. 

I especially loved the venture that developed as the story unfolded, and it gave the ending a real sense of purpose, hope and new beginnings.

Jessica Redland writes characters who feel real, and even when they frustrated me, I cared about what happened to them. While the heavy emotional weight of the first half means this isn't a book I would personally revisit, I know many readers will appreciate the realistic portrayal of rebuilding a life after everything seems to fall apart.

A touching story about resilience, second chances and finding blue skies after the storm.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Jessica Redland for the opportunity to read and review Blue Skies Ahead.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Skies Ahead is a wonderfully comforting story about fresh starts, fractured relationships, and the quiet courage it takes to rebuild a life. Jessica Redland brings her signature warmth to Hazelwick Farm, creating a setting that feels like a breath of fresh air — wide skies, new possibilities, and a family trying their best to find their footing again.

Grace is instantly relatable as a woman determined to create something meaningful after a painful divorce, even as she struggles to reconnect with her teenage daughter. The tension between them is tenderly drawn, never melodramatic, and it gives the story real emotional depth. Frances adds a lovely multigenerational layer, grounding the family with humour and heart.

The farm itself becomes a character — chaotic, hopeful, and full of unexpected moments, including Grace’s growing connection with Caleb, the quietly charming tenant who keeps crossing her path. Their interactions are subtle and sweet, adding just the right touch of romance without overshadowing the family journey.

This is a warm, uplifting read about second chances, healing old wounds, and discovering that sometimes the life you build from scratch can be even better than the one you left behind.

A perfect escape for readers who love heartfelt women’s fiction with countryside charm and plenty of hope.

With thanks to Jessica Redland, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Boldwood Books, Jessica Redland & NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of Blue Skies Ahead, so grateful for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication.

Jessica writes in such a beautiful tone - always touching on sensitive topics in such a gentle manner.

Blue Skies Ahead was a fantastic read - centred around single mother Grace and her teenage daughter Maddie, this story follows their journey as they move away from the town they’ve lived in for 25 years, starting anew at the beautiful Hazelwick Farm.

Their journey doesn’t come easy, with their fair share of trauma, miscommunication, and curveballs thrown their way, but the feel-good nature of the story makes the upset each character faces feel a little lighter, not just for the characters, but for us as the readers too.

Whilst romance does bloom in the story for many characters, the focus is family relationships, and the way in which one small misunderstanding can shape so much is something so relatable. The journey each character goes on, combined with the healing elements that the animals bring, was a beautiful and unique story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - an uplifting story that made me laugh, cry and fall in love with the characters.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful book. The characters were interesting, and the location was wonderful. The relationship between the mother, her troubled daughter and the grandmother was well portrayed and very realistic. It was truly a special book.

Amazon synopsis:
Leaving behind everything she thought she knew, Grace arrives at Hazelwick Farm with her teenage daughter, Maddie, and her mother, Frances, ready to build a new life together.

Grace has dreamt of fresh air, open skies and days filled with taking care of the animals while building a family business together. But starting over isn’t as simple as she hoped.

Maddie has barely spoken to her since the divorce from her father and Grace doesn’t know how to fix what she doesn’t fully understand. Between strained silences at home, and the demands of getting the farm ready to open for business, Grace begins to wonder if she’s made a mistake.

Yet life at Hazelwick Farm has its surprises. Grace keeps crossing paths with handsome tenant, Caleb, whether she means to or not. Could this unexpected connection be the start of something she never saw coming?

[theweebookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, I am a huge fan of Jessica Redland so when I found out she had written a new series, I knew I had to read it.

This series is set in Northumberland and the author's descriptions are amazing as usual.

The book focuses on Grace and her teenage daughter Maddie. Grace is at a crossroads in her life after splitting from her husband. She decides to relocate and buy a farm with her mum. They build this up from scratch and I loved the descriptions of the activities on the farm, especially the horses and cuddle cows.

Unfortunately Maddie does not want to move, is unhappy and downright nasty to her mum. Having had a teenage daughter I remember the teenage years but Maddie was something else! As the story develops we come to understand Maddie more and why she is behaving as she is.

I felt this was a beautifully written and very true to life story that I am sure will resonate with many people. It is a well crafted story of family relationships, life changing decisions and friendship with a touch of romance that Jessica is so good at.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next installment.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your life has been turned upside down, you have to start over, find a new place to start, and that is what Grace, her 17-year-old daughter, Maddie, and her mother, Frances does. They went out looking at property for sale, and discovered a farm, that had heavy horses, and it had a café, and they decided to buy it. After buying it, they discovered it was as it appeared to be on paper, but they had to move forward. It is a story that will take you through all they are learning, some mistakes, but they chose to try to correct them. They learned what they are capable of, what they need to improve on, as they struggle, they are focused on fixing and don't realize, some of the changes that has happened and is happening. Things started to change, and the farm grew, they all grew, and we get to see all that they went through to get to where they are now. Sometimes life sends you to a new path so you can see who you are now, when you have got in a rut.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Grace's husband walks out of their marriage, she reaches a crossroads in her life. When she also loses her job, she decides to head home to her family up north.
It's a difficult time for her, with teenage daughter Maddie a complete nightmare and so changed from the lovely sunny girl she once was, but Grace decides it's time to live her life for her.
When her mum Frances takes her out to explore the local villages, they come across Hazelwick Farm, a working experience farm, and decide to take a leap of faith when they see it up for sale and go into business together, with Grace running the farm, and Frances running the cafe.
Things however are not quite as they seem, and they realise quickly they need to work quickly to turn things around.
Their tenant in the cottage, Caleb, is also a strange character who runs hot and cold, and adds to the mix of obstacles to get over.
Can their new start bring happiness to them all?
A lovely story of new beginnings, hope, love the most adorable set of furry friends.......

[Gaye Teather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another fabulous story from Jessica Redland who never fails to deliver a warm, humane and entertaining read filled with believable characters. I loved the three generational element with teenage Maddie, her mum Grace and her grandma. Graces husband has left her after a long marriage with no explanation and Grace has to move home. She comes upon, and falls in love with, a farm in the countryside and begins to rebuild her life. The area sounds so beautiful and I could really imagine being there and the tranquility the three women needed to move on. I loved all the many animals from small pets to horses, goats and cows. There was also romance, family problems to resolve and an array of lovely characters. This book will delight anyone who loves animals, beautiful settings and a captivating storyline. My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a pre release copy which it is my privilege to review.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica is fast becoming my go to author for feel good, cosy stories. Blue Skies ahead is a contemporary family drama about second changes and healing. After Grace’s marriage breaks down and she is fired from her job shoe goes to spend some time with her mother Frances who is also looking for a change. The two come across Hazelwick Farm which has a combination of farm visit and cafe and decide to take it on.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing them all get a second chance. Grace and her teenage daughter Maddie’s relationship was quite tense at times and was nice to see them reconnect. I loved Grace’s support from her mam and friend Jude. It was nice to see her get some resolution over why her husband left and see her move on. It was interesting to learning about different forms of animal based therapy and I’m definitely keen to had to the farm to cuddle a cow! The first in a new series and ai can’t wait to dive back into this world again.

[Katie Peal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Redland has done it again. Blue Skies Ahead was exactly the book I needed over the last couple of days. I was looking for something comforting and uplifting to take my mind off a few health-related worries, and this delivered that perfectly.

Jessica's books always feel like a warm hug, and Hazelwick Farm is somewhere I never wanted to leave. Grace's journey of starting over felt authentic and hopeful, and I loved the family dynamics between the three generations. There were emotional moments, plenty of warmth, and just the right amount of romance to leave me smiling.

The Northumberland setting is beautifully brought to life, making it easy to escape into the story and forget the outside world for a while.

If you're looking for a heartfelt story about fresh starts, family and hope, I can't recommend this enough. I'll be counting down the days until the next instalment from Northumberland.

[Dawn Probert · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite authors. I love a new story from Jessica. Neely divorced Grace has moved from Reading to her old stomping ground with her Mum to pool resources and buy a farm. Her teenage daughter Maddie is angry and bitter and their relationship is strained and fractious.
Grace loves the farm and keeps bumping into her tenant Caleb.
A throwaway comment from him leads her to investigate the claims from the old owner of the farm and farm shop and she realises she didn’t do her sue diligence about the farm. Not to be deterred she pulls support from her bestie Jude and they make a plan to make the farm work. With the help of a herd of cuddle cows she works through her problems. This was a heartwarming story and I’m glad there will be more in the series so I can keep upto date and have cameos.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Redland is an absolute auto read for me, in fact it often jumps to the top of my TBR pile.

And this new one certainly did not disappoint! I couldn’t wait to get stuck in and also couldn’t put it down.

The characters are all wonderful and so well written and developed, the relationship between mum and daughter was so real and I really felt for Grace throughout the book. Grace is such a strong character, but it was good to see her vulnerable side too.

The setting was absolutely perfect, the author clearly having done her research on everything to do with the farm and all the animals. She brought everything to life and you really will feel you are there and will want to visit a real life farm when you finish this book.

So if you love Jessica’s books, you will love this one, if you haven’t read her books before, now is definitely the time to start!

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very easy 5 stars for me.

I was really excited when I found out we were about to get a new series in a new setting. I've enjoyed everything I've read by Jessica Redland so I already suspected I would enjoy this book and as usual it did not let me down.

\I loved all the main characters especially Grace and Jude and I loved the dynamics of there friendship and how well they got on. Francis her mother was also lovely. It was wonderful going on this journey with this group of caracters and I can't wait for the rest of this collection to see who else we're going to meat. Maddie was not nice to start with however she grew on me throughout the book. I am excited for the rest of this series and the best thing is Jessica is a gift that keeps on giving as we're getting her forth book this year in October where we will be returning to the lakes.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this emotional and heartwarming story set in Northumberland. Grace's life as she knew it has imploded, and she decides to embrace the change and move back to her home county. She is experiencing a fraught relationship with her teenager that is wholly relatable and is still grieving a marriage that ended when she isn't sure why. Positively, she has the finances to start over and familial support from her mother and sister. As always with this author, the characters are believable and relatable. You are drawn into Grace's life and fully invested, wanting things to work out for her. As the setting is a farm, there are lots of animal characters who bring an added and much-welcome quality to the story. I like the story's balance of emotions, the strong familial connection and the gentle romance.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure it’s been to spend time at Hazelwick Farm, getting to know Grace, her daughter Maddie and her mother Frances, three generations of women who take a chance on finding a new way of life in the beautiful Northumberland countryside. Life hasn’t been easy for either Grace or Maddie and there are challenges along the way for both of them but gradually the peace of the countryside and their shared venture of creating an Animal Encounter experience at the once neglected Hazelwick Farm begins to heal their pain.

I found much to enjoy in this gentle story which doesn’t shy away from important issues but does so with a lovely light touch and this author’s unique trademark of making the ordinary into the extraordinary. I know that lots of research goes into bringing a book to fruition and this really pays off as I feel like I have spent the last two days on the farm. I’ve enjoyed learning alongside Grace, Francis and Maddie, delighting in their shared happiness whilst at the same time becoming invested in their problems especially the initial difficult relationship between Maddie and Grace which is explored in a sympathetic and realistic way.

Beautifully written, with an abundance of gorgeous animals and some really special characters this lovely opening book brings this new series to life. Reading Blue Skies Ahead is like being wrapped in a warm hug and I’m especially delighted that this is just the start of the adventure.

[Luisa Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderfully warm and uplifting. The story of Grace, a woman having to start over in her personal life and career whilst negotiating the tribulations of supporting a difficult teen, it was lovely to follow her move to Northumberland and the new farm centre she builds with the women closest to her. I was impressed by Grace’s emotional maturity - she manages to be patient and empathetic without being a walkover. She understands her own needs and is supportive of others. Hurrah for her finding the happiness she deserved, not only in her family, friendships and business, but in her romance with the adorable Caleb. Beta heroes rock!

[Barb Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about second chances, finding your way when life throws arrows at you and how family and friends can be a lifeline when all else fails. Grace needs to sell her home after her divorce and her daughter Maddie is furious. When Grace goes back home to visit family, she realizes how much she missed her family. When the opportunity to buy a farm nearby comes around, she and her mam join forces to go into business together. There are struggles, there is heartache but mostly there is hope and the realization that life can look better around the corner. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review,

[Susanne Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

You really can’t go wrong with a Jessica Redland book. You know you are going to heart, family and community. I loved Grace and how she really cared for her horses, and her daughter Maddie even when she makes life difficult. Grace has a great relationship with her mam and I loved how they couldn’t wait to live and work together.

Grace has been through a lot, and she tries to bring everyone together and start a new business with her mam with a therapy farm and cafe. Her initial encounters with Caleb really made me chuckle.

I loved all the information about the farm; the horses and the cuddle cows (who knew that was even a thing?!)

A great start to a new series and I can’t wait for more.

[Dawn Griffith Hansard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore reading books by Jessica Redland. After finishing each one, I find that I'm ready to move to an English Village, sip tea with cake in a cafe and have Sunday lunch in the local. Redlands characters ate people that I want to spend time with and get to know better. Her storyline are always relevant, not shy about addressing complicated issues and always leave me with things to think about. After reading this book, I think I'd love to cuddle a cow! I look forward to getting to know more characters in this series! Thanks #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks

[Lorraine Joad · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic start to a new series by Jessica. I could not put this down. The storyline, characters and animals make up a real feel good read that you do not want to miss. I would love to live on Hazelwick Farm and help them with the animals and visit the cafe for a coffee and a wonderful slice of cake. I cannot wait for the next instalment. Well done Jessica you have written another first class story to totally immerse yourself in. I am bereft now I’ve finished it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. It really was an absolute pleasure.

[Pam Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Redland has done it again with a wonderful new setting in Northumberland. Grace has found herself ready for a new challenge after the end of her marriage and job she loved with horses. Her solution turns out to be life -changing for herself and other generations in her family, that is her mother and her troublesome teenage daughter. Struggling to understand why her marriage ended, Grace puts all her energy into Hazelwick Farm and her love of the animals meshes perfectly with her mother's passion fo baking. Together, they work at building up the farm and cafe and their enthusiasm is infectious. Grace;s daughter is also struggling with the ending of the family life she loved, some toxic friends from her school days and all the pressures of deciding what she wants to do next. Maggie finds herself drawn to Caleb, their tenant, and their slow burn romance underpins the story. There is so much potential in this setting. The love and friendship between the generations makes for a cosy feel of stability and the beautiful Northumberland setting adds to the book's appeal.
Thanks to the publisher

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all of Jessica Redland's books as my easy, relaxing reads and will keep reading so 3 stars doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. You know what you are going to get: cosy romance, animals, small town/countryside shopkeepers, mild enemies (or misunderstanding) to lovers with a sensitive, practical and conpetent man and this gave all of these. Readers of the hedgehog hollow series will like all the animals. The large chunks of exposition bothered me, and the clunky repetition of the title motto throughout and when wrapping up, again both are part of Jessica Redland's signature style but I would prefer more trust in the reader to "get it".