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Peppercorn Street #2

Cinnamon Gardens

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Now that Nell's three sons are in work, she's ready to build a new life for herself. She's been left a house in England by an elderly aunt and decides to leave Australia for a while.But her house on Peppercorn Street isn't fit to live in and Nell is happy to sell it and allow a builder to create Cinnamon Gardens. Her elderly neighbour Winifred however wants to stay in the only home she's ever known. Violence escalates as someone tries to frighten the old lady into selling, and to make matters worse, her young friend Janey is being stalked.Can Nell build a new life with a new love? Will she find out why her parents quarrelled with their relatives? And, more importantly, what can she and her new friends do to help each other stay safe?

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2015

168 people are currently reading
165 people want to read

About the author

Anna Jacobs

234 books520 followers
Anna Jacobs has 87 novels published as of April 2019. She writes historical sagas and modern novels alternately, and in the past has written historical romances and fantasy novels (the latter as Shannah Jay).

She's addicted to story-telling and writes three novels a year. You can find a list of books and series on her website at www.annajacobs.com

Anna reads 3 novels a week. Happy reading, everyone.

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5 stars
517 (50%)
4 stars
331 (32%)
3 stars
128 (12%)
2 stars
35 (3%)
1 star
23 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Suze.
1,884 reviews1,298 followers
April 21, 2017
Nell thinks her sons are old enough to move out. She's done caring for them and paying for their evenings out. She's inherited a house in England and wants to leave Australia to finally have her own life. When she arrives at Peppercorn Street she's shocked by the state of her house, but fortunately Angus, a kind neighbor helps her whenever he can. She also meets Winifred, an old lady who's trying to live her life to the fullest. Winifred and Janey, a teenage mother with an adorable baby named Millie, are good friends and they spend a lot of time together. They make Nell feel at home straight away.

Nell is happier than she's ever been, but the people around her aren't so lucky. Angus is being treated unfairly by a police officer just because he has a title, someone wants to force Winifred to sell her home and Janey is being stalked. An aggressive property developer wants to buy Nell's house, but is she willing to sell the place or is she thinking about it as a result of being pressured? Will Nell find more than friendship in her new surroundings and has life indeed given her a second chance?

Cinnamon Gardens is a wonderful story. Nell is a strong and determined woman. She's kind, but she also stands up for herself. Her sons are quite spoiled, but she's done with their behavior and tells them it's time they start taking care of themselves. I loved the way she handles the situation and reading about her courage to move to a completely different country and start over put a big smile on my face. Angus is a kind man and he makes sure she feels welcome. I immediately loved their honest and meaningful connection. They are incredibly sweet together and I really enjoyed reading about their relationship.

Winifred is a fabulous person. She's kind to others, she bakes delicious cakes and she's independent. I loved the beautiful friendship she has with Janey. Janey is taking care of Millie on her own and she doesn't have many friends or supportive relatives, but she's capable and is working hard to give Millie a good start in life. Janey is kindhearted and Millie is a very cute baby. Janey does everything she can to keep her daughter safe and I loved her responsible behavior and perseverance. She never gives up and has a lovely positive attitude. I also liked the precious bond she and Winifred have together a lot. It's a heartwarming unusual friendship.

Cinnamon Gardens is part of a gorgeous setting. I loved reading about Peppercorn Street again. The neighbors are all nice to each other and genuinely interested in one another and their warmth gives the story a charming atmosphere. Anna Jacobs is a skilled storyteller with a delightful style that makes her books feel special from beginning to end. Reading her books feels like unwrapping an amazing gift and I highly recommend all of them. Cinnamon Gardens is a fantastic story, a book I could read again and again.
Profile Image for Barbara Hackel.
2,917 reviews45 followers
May 10, 2017
When a divorced mother of three grown boys decides to sell her house in Australia and move to a recently inherited house in England, her sons are aghast at her nerve of deserting them, never mind that the youngest is eighteen and their father lives in the same town as them with his new wife. But for some reason they think she is kidding and will come round! When the house sells the first time it is shown, a better than asking price is offered if she will get out within two weeks. A master of organization, Neil arranges a flat for her two unmarried sons, clears the house and gets it empty and actually leaves for England in two weeks, leaving her sons moved and unprepared for actually living on their own.

Once in England, she moves into the house she has inherited from a great aunt. The house has a bad case of dry rot, and within a short while she finds herself selling and moving once again. But by this time she has made friends in the neighborhood and one special friend in particular.

This is the second of a series about Peppercorn Street and the neighbors who live there. Even while challenged by muggings, arson, and stalking, they work together and help take care of each other. The characters we came to love in the first book of the series are all here, and they graciously incorporate the newer characters as well.

Perhaps what I like best about these books is the step back in time you feel in this neighborhood. Sure they have mobile phones and computers, but more importantly, they have time and concern to check on neighbors who become friends. The sense of community is ever present, and everyone is willing to do whatever is needed to help another friend. It is like a throw back to a gentler time and incorporates generations from baby to octogenarian.The kind of book that tugs at your heart and restores your faith in humanity! Good for all ages.
Profile Image for Louise Armstrong.
Author 34 books15 followers
May 21, 2018
Like all the people who gave this book lots of stars, my MIL loved this book. She gave me loads of them, and I read them. Good storytelling, I agree, but the plots and the characters were not to my taste.

Life was, and still is, hard for many working class women - they were not educated. They were not taught to think. So they don't, and this book caters for people who see the world through a very limited lens. They try to do their best and would love a legacy because it's pretty much the only way they can imagine their lives changing.

I really didn't like the main character complaining because her sons were louts and didn't help her in the house. She was full of self pity, and showed no appreciation of the fact that sons do what mothers teach them to do. She even says at one point it was too much like hard work to teach her kids to cook and clean up after themselves. So why be surprised that they don't do it now? In another book one of her sons marries a woman who at once says she's not a slave and teaches the son to do his share, and even then the penny doesn't drop. I wish more people understood that children do what their parents teach them to do. Simples! If your teenager does not know how to wash his own clothes, it's your fault. End of.
Profile Image for Lynn Smith.
2,040 reviews34 followers
April 24, 2019
Book 2 of the Peppercorn series sees further developments in young single mum Janey and Winifred's lives as well as the introduction of Angus Denning the owner of the stately home at the bottom of the street and of Nell who inherits her aunt's house and leaves her home in Australia, her 3 grown up sons and feels ready to build a new life for herself. She’s been left a house in England by an elderly aunt and decides to leave Australia to start a new chapter in Wiltshire.
Profile Image for Sonia Bellhouse.
Author 8 books13 followers
December 8, 2016
Continues the story from Peppercorn Street - adds new characters and develops others. An easy
and enjoyable read
Profile Image for Charlynnn.
244 reviews1 follower
December 28, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed the first book so came on to the second one with anticipation! I generally do not like small town stories but something about the author’s writing style being crisp and not too draggy, caught my attention. I have a short attention span and amazingly, this book with its right balance of details and pace was perfect for me. I even brought it to read on a long flight and it was good! Can’t wait for book 3! Some of the characters continue on from book one like Janey and Winifred but the author cleverly added new characters just to give the story more bite.
95 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2020
Another brilliant story from this author

Nell was such a strong women to have left her son's to fend for themselves after year's of bringing them up more or less on her own good on her for wanting a life of her own and getting rid of the husband she had,her two younger son's soon learnt to grow up the hard way.Angus was a lovely man i can't wait to read the next book.I glad they caught Janeys dad what an evil man now I hope they get the unscrupulous builder who pesters the older folk to sell their properties.It was lovely to catch up with all the people as well.
Profile Image for mois reads .
536 reviews1 follower
November 1, 2018
Angus and Nell

Nell came to England from Australia to start a new life she was left a house in Wiltshire by a great aunt .
She met Angus and they had some exciting and scary times .definitely worth reading 5 stars .
292 reviews
December 22, 2018
I listened to the book on audio. Sadly the narrator was awful - absolutely the worst Australian accent - so that was a poor start. The story is standard Cinderella stuff. Simple - I will give this author another go (without the narrator).
83 reviews
February 15, 2022
Another absolutely fantastic read, the second book in the Peppercorn Street series, such a wonderful story beautifully told! Anna Jacobs is fast becoming a favourite author of mine and I can not wait to read more of her work.
556 reviews2 followers
September 23, 2024
A pleasant easy read if somewhat predictable. Nell was divorced, living in Australia with her two youngest sons. These two sons are very dependent on their mother and Nell yearns to break free and live here own life. She is given the chance to do this when she inherits a house in England.
Profile Image for Katie Jackson.
29 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2025
Very very similar to the first book (situation altered to new names), which is slightly disappointing - if you need a very easy read that takes no concentration whatsoever, this is the book for you, but not sure if you need to read book 2 if you have read book 1!
Profile Image for Sara.
520 reviews4 followers
October 9, 2025
Audiobook. A gentle tale of found family. In the end, everything works out with the bad guys in prison and the good guys surrounded by people who love them. Sometimes you need a gentle story that is comforting.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
1,247 reviews17 followers
August 3, 2017
Part 2 was as good as part 1. Same awesome writing and story line. Loved the characters.
Well written I can't wait for number 3
Profile Image for Ann.
581 reviews4 followers
August 11, 2017
Another good story from Anna Jacobs, I haven't read the first in the series and I'm not sure whether to go back and read it but I will look out for the next books.
Profile Image for Heidi.
921 reviews
August 21, 2017
Excellent book... LOVE this series and can't wait for the next one!!
Profile Image for Joy.
452 reviews6 followers
August 14, 2018
Book two of the peppercorn series. Anna Jacobs really is the queen of family sagas. Looking forward to reading saffron lane and bay tree cottage.
250 reviews4 followers
December 17, 2019
Pretty much exactly the same plot as in first book! I don’t understand how some of the characters haven’t had nervous breakdowns with all the same mayhem going on.
29 reviews
December 14, 2020
Great Reading

Great story. Great characters, you can ‘see’ them. Also follow on from the first book. A pleasure to read
Thankyou to the Author 😃😃
Profile Image for Cherrie.
460 reviews3 followers
February 28, 2022
Really enjoying this series by Anna Jacobs. I just love all the different characters and their stories. Looking forward to meeting some new characters in the next book in the series.
Profile Image for June Staff.
67 reviews
September 4, 2022
I have ordered the next tow in the series as I am hooked on knowing what happened next now.
Profile Image for Donna.
17 reviews
April 8, 2023
Never had a bad Anna Jacobs book brillant from start to finish
2 reviews
June 18, 2023
Fabulous Read!

First book and this one were brilliant. I am looking forward to reading book number 3 in the series! Cannot wait!
Profile Image for Tiina.
1,067 reviews
September 3, 2023
This was a bit of a romance and a bit of a mystery. Nice enough! I liked it that the main character was determined enough to take that step she took in the beginning.
Smooth going, easy to read.
136 reviews
December 30, 2023
Having read the first book in series, had to follow on with this one to see what happened next. Wasn’t disappointed, great flow of a read.
Profile Image for Cath.
206 reviews
April 23, 2024
Listened to this on Audible while painting.
Loved it. Now on to Saffron Lane.
27 reviews
February 14, 2021
As enjoyable as book 1. Hea ending and i like how there are continuing characters
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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