Hedgeman

by Helen Ryan

Still grieving after the death of her mother, Jilly decides to rent a cottage in the wilds of Derbyshire and write her mother’s biography. A series of events follow from this plan which feature a fox, an axe, a hawk, a party on the eve of the summer solstice - and a man who emerges from a hedge. Hedgeman is dark, brooding, reclusive and very irritable. He also has a secret - which he’s unwilling to share with Jilly. ‘Whatever Hedgeman’s demons might be – and Jilly was certain he had them – he had not revealed them to her or even hinted at the possibility of ever allowing Jilly to know of them. She may be allowed admittance to his Lodge and his library and to glimpses of his life on the farm with the wondrous Jezebel and faithful Benj, but over his mind and thoughts, Jilly was excluded. “Keep out. Trespassers will be prosecuted,” she thought, and smiled to herself. It was strange how much one can learn about someone else in what is not revealed rather than what is.’

Genres: Romance

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 22, 2015

Reviews

[Lynda Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice Little Story

I was looking for something light, and happed across this title. I’m so glad I accepted the offer to enjoy this book for free. It was the perfect choice as a “palate cleanser” between more serious titles. The story moves quickly and the authors characters are believably flawed and natural. I enjoyed the book enough to check out some of her other titles to break up some of the series I get caught up in.

[Hannah Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite liked this! Not my usual type of thing but I enjoyed it. Characters developed well, despite or maybe because of some irritating traits, which were actually well within the realms of actual possibility for a human being, as opposed to badly written character. It had a satisfying ending. Quite nice for a change of pace!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this book. Jilly came to enjoy a little cottage to write a bio of her mother. The farmer who owned the property was Garth. They were falling for each other, but he just didn't explain his life.

[Cally Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subtle and clever

And not perfect because life isn’t but like life. It’s very good. Jilly and Garth sort their way thru it

[Royce Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

This is a pretty good book, a little different, enough to make it interesting. Give it a try,I think you will like it.

[Allie Cresswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Helen Ryan’s writing and recommend you go and buy one her books. Like me, she writes without the support of an agent or a publishing house, plugging away at her books just because she is a born writer who can’t do anything else. Like me, she writes in a number of different genres, so there is sure to be something that appeals.

I’ve had this one on my TBR pile for a while, and came to it just after a particularly challenging read about abuse. Some of Helen’s books are dark and gritty - she tells the truth about things even when those things are ugly. But this book isn’t like that. It’s a familiar story of a woman who rents a country cottage in order to come to terms with a family bereavement. The countryside and one local man in particular helps her to come to terms with what has happened to her. It was just what I needed and I lapped it up.