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Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm
Secrets...we all have them.
Clay’s inheritance of Maple Syrup Farm came at the perfect time. Leaving city life behind he headed for maple-tree surrounded Ashford, Connecticut. Getting the farm in working order again might be back breaking work – but it seems to be the only way for Clay to finally forget about the girl who once broke his heart…
Lucy’s had enough of rules and the stress of planning her life down to the very last detail. Looking for an adventure she stumbles upon Maple Syrup Farm and its gorgeously gruff owner. This could be the perfect place to hide out…!
But the tranquillity and warmth of Maple Tree Farm is enough to heal even the most battered of hearts. There are very few problems in life that can’t be cheered up by maple syrup!
The new standalone novel from bestselling author of the Gingerbread Cafe trilogy and The Bookshop on the Corner, Rebecca Raisin.
Clay’s inheritance of Maple Syrup Farm came at the perfect time. Leaving city life behind he headed for maple-tree surrounded Ashford, Connecticut. Getting the farm in working order again might be back breaking work – but it seems to be the only way for Clay to finally forget about the girl who once broke his heart…
Lucy’s had enough of rules and the stress of planning her life down to the very last detail. Looking for an adventure she stumbles upon Maple Syrup Farm and its gorgeously gruff owner. This could be the perfect place to hide out…!
But the tranquillity and warmth of Maple Tree Farm is enough to heal even the most battered of hearts. There are very few problems in life that can’t be cheered up by maple syrup!
The new standalone novel from bestselling author of the Gingerbread Cafe trilogy and The Bookshop on the Corner, Rebecca Raisin.
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2015
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August 6, 2017
Cute read taking us back to Ashford with a new cast of characters but also revisiting the old friends from the Gingerbread Cafe. Sweet but not too sugary Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is another charming book from Rebecca Raisin.
July 14, 2015
Secrets of Maple Syrup Farm by Rebecca Raisin is a 2015 Carina UK publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As sad as I was to say goodbye to the wonderful folks at the Gingerbread Cafe, I couldn't wait to see what new adventures Rebecca Raisin had in story for us.
This new book is centered around Lucy, a young woman who has put her dreams on hold in order to care for her chronically ill mother. But, when her mother begs her to take a year off and travel, and apply to a prestigious art school in order to start lining out her future, Lucy is torn, but she can't say no to what could be her mother's dying wish. So, arrangements are made with Lucy's aunt, a woman who is estranged from Lucy's mother, but who promises to step up and take care of her while Lucy is away.
The deal was for Lucy to hop on the first bus she comes to and let the adventure work it's way out according to the way fate would have it... and wouldn't you know, Lucy meets a woman on the bus named Cee Cee, who tells her all about a Maple farm in Ashford, Connecticut, and a young man named Clay who recently inherited the farm and is in dire need of help....
While I loved the light and cozy stories of the Gingerbread Cafe, I would have to say this author really outdid herself with this one.
Only a few minor complaints, mainly that a few areas of the story were not explained in full or glossed over and not fleshed out enough, such as the malady Lucy's mom suffered from.
Other than that, the characters literally come to life and the story is so touching and sweet, I found myself checking my supply of tissues.
Clay is closed off, more stubborn than a mule, cynical, and obviously hurt and bitter. At times he had me so frustrated I felt like Lucy did and wanted to hit him over the head with a baseball bat. But, of course we know he must have been raked over the coals in the past to have become so disillusioned about love, and to have lost all his faith in humanity.
Lucy, is a delightful character full of courage and hope, but also has her secrets and insecurities. I loved watching her chisel away at Clay's stone like exterior a little at a time. Her enthusiasm and optimism is in stark contrast to Clay's personality, but it seems it might be catching, as Clay seems incapable of holding on to his stoicism when she is in his presence, although he certainly fights her every step of the way.
The side story of a set of journals Lucy unearths, apparently written by Clay's uncle, the man he inherited the farm from, tells of a tragic love story, epic in the tradition of Romeo and Juliet as it ended without a traditional happy ever after, but the man's deep love for his lost lover was such an inspiration for Lucy as she saw in him a kindred spirit.
“I closed the journal, running a hand along it's cover. 'Most people would die to find a love like he describes.
“Was it worth it though? He spent the rest of his life missing her.”
“How could he not get it?” Clay obviously didn't feel love as deeply.
“ Of course it was! Because he loved her with everything: his soul, his heart, his body. She was his world, so the real world faded to black. Don't you see? He found another kind of beauty here. And he could see her here. He wasn't hiding , he was seeking salvation the only way he knew how.”
“ He loved her fiercely, he couldn't function without her. He's a hero, really. A proper real life hero, who worshiped a woman above all else”.
The mystery surrounding Clay's uncle and his sketches added a surprising twist to the story and touched Clay and Lucy personally.
The procedure of making maple syrup was fascinating, and I enjoyed learning about this process. It was also a delight to touch base with Cee Cee and Lil and I enjoyed the occasional forays into the Gingerbread cafe.
This story is a tiny bit edgier than previous books by this author, as she adds in some real conflict and evokes a stronger emotional response in the reader, but still holds true to the magical atmosphere we have come to love surrounding Ashford, Connecticut. The writing is crisp and sharp, the characters well defined, and the story is warm and inspiring. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to romance lovers of all kinds.
4.5 stars
As sad as I was to say goodbye to the wonderful folks at the Gingerbread Cafe, I couldn't wait to see what new adventures Rebecca Raisin had in story for us.
This new book is centered around Lucy, a young woman who has put her dreams on hold in order to care for her chronically ill mother. But, when her mother begs her to take a year off and travel, and apply to a prestigious art school in order to start lining out her future, Lucy is torn, but she can't say no to what could be her mother's dying wish. So, arrangements are made with Lucy's aunt, a woman who is estranged from Lucy's mother, but who promises to step up and take care of her while Lucy is away.
The deal was for Lucy to hop on the first bus she comes to and let the adventure work it's way out according to the way fate would have it... and wouldn't you know, Lucy meets a woman on the bus named Cee Cee, who tells her all about a Maple farm in Ashford, Connecticut, and a young man named Clay who recently inherited the farm and is in dire need of help....
While I loved the light and cozy stories of the Gingerbread Cafe, I would have to say this author really outdid herself with this one.
Only a few minor complaints, mainly that a few areas of the story were not explained in full or glossed over and not fleshed out enough, such as the malady Lucy's mom suffered from.
Other than that, the characters literally come to life and the story is so touching and sweet, I found myself checking my supply of tissues.
Clay is closed off, more stubborn than a mule, cynical, and obviously hurt and bitter. At times he had me so frustrated I felt like Lucy did and wanted to hit him over the head with a baseball bat. But, of course we know he must have been raked over the coals in the past to have become so disillusioned about love, and to have lost all his faith in humanity.
Lucy, is a delightful character full of courage and hope, but also has her secrets and insecurities. I loved watching her chisel away at Clay's stone like exterior a little at a time. Her enthusiasm and optimism is in stark contrast to Clay's personality, but it seems it might be catching, as Clay seems incapable of holding on to his stoicism when she is in his presence, although he certainly fights her every step of the way.
The side story of a set of journals Lucy unearths, apparently written by Clay's uncle, the man he inherited the farm from, tells of a tragic love story, epic in the tradition of Romeo and Juliet as it ended without a traditional happy ever after, but the man's deep love for his lost lover was such an inspiration for Lucy as she saw in him a kindred spirit.
“I closed the journal, running a hand along it's cover. 'Most people would die to find a love like he describes.
“Was it worth it though? He spent the rest of his life missing her.”
“How could he not get it?” Clay obviously didn't feel love as deeply.
“ Of course it was! Because he loved her with everything: his soul, his heart, his body. She was his world, so the real world faded to black. Don't you see? He found another kind of beauty here. And he could see her here. He wasn't hiding , he was seeking salvation the only way he knew how.”
“ He loved her fiercely, he couldn't function without her. He's a hero, really. A proper real life hero, who worshiped a woman above all else”.
The mystery surrounding Clay's uncle and his sketches added a surprising twist to the story and touched Clay and Lucy personally.
The procedure of making maple syrup was fascinating, and I enjoyed learning about this process. It was also a delight to touch base with Cee Cee and Lil and I enjoyed the occasional forays into the Gingerbread cafe.
This story is a tiny bit edgier than previous books by this author, as she adds in some real conflict and evokes a stronger emotional response in the reader, but still holds true to the magical atmosphere we have come to love surrounding Ashford, Connecticut. The writing is crisp and sharp, the characters well defined, and the story is warm and inspiring. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to romance lovers of all kinds.
4.5 stars
June 30, 2015
Having waited for 6 months for this book to be released, the second I saw it available on Netgalley I jumped on requesting it, and started reading it the same evening. I had been a bit worried that it may not live up to my expectations, but my fears were eradicated within the first few pages.
I was hooked on Secrets at Maple Farm almost instantly. The book starts on a serious note, and had a real depth and compassion to it, that I haven't seen in Rebecca's writing before. Lucy, has a sick mum with a long term illness who Lucy works incredibly hard in order to take care of. However after a few years of their lives being like this, Lucy's mum gets Lucy to make a promise...
.. to go on an adventure for 1 year, to jump on the first bus out of Detroit and start the adventure wherever it goes, and to stay away for a full year. Just one year for Lucy to live life to its full, without worrying about her mum.
This journey takes her into Ashford, Conneticut, where the residents take her to their hearts immediately, and she some how manages to persuade moody Clay to let her be a farmers assistant on the Maple Syrup farm that he inherited.
I was delighted to be back in Ashford, home of the Gingerbread Cafe. If I am coming across as a bit of a Rebecca Raisin fangirl, then I am sorry, but once you read some of her books, I'm sure you will see why. This can be read as a stand alone, and you don't need to have met all the recurring characters before, as the relevant back story is provided. However I will say it was wonderful to meet up with old friends including Sarah at the bookshop, CeeCee and Lil in the Cafe and just seeing how they have been progressing with their lives.
The book title mentions secrets, and there were plenty of secrets to be revealed in this story. The majority of them I didn't guess at, or at least not until the last minute, and I think it was partly these secrets that added to the unputdownable nature of this book..
I knew from the first chapter, that I would be reading this in one sitting, as just didn't want to stop for any reason. Please do clear some time when you read this, so you can relax into the story and enjoy it fully.
Lucy is a lovely character, she is desperate to try and do the right thing by everyone and its clear how much she loves her mum. Clay took a lot of getting used to, and I found I was warming to him, at about the same pace that Lucy was. He is a moody, reclusive man, and didn't like admiring he needed help.
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm, introduced me to a world of how to make maple syrup, as well as all the foods that you can put maple syrup into. Purely because the ladies of the Gingerbread Cafe, the food and baking descriptions will make you hungry as your read this, so make sure you have your snacks ready!
As I suspect you may be able to tell, I adored this book. It is a fantastic story by an exceptionally talented lady, and I am counting down the days until the next new Rebecca Raisin book is out.
Thank you so much to Carina and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest review.
I was hooked on Secrets at Maple Farm almost instantly. The book starts on a serious note, and had a real depth and compassion to it, that I haven't seen in Rebecca's writing before. Lucy, has a sick mum with a long term illness who Lucy works incredibly hard in order to take care of. However after a few years of their lives being like this, Lucy's mum gets Lucy to make a promise...
.. to go on an adventure for 1 year, to jump on the first bus out of Detroit and start the adventure wherever it goes, and to stay away for a full year. Just one year for Lucy to live life to its full, without worrying about her mum.
This journey takes her into Ashford, Conneticut, where the residents take her to their hearts immediately, and she some how manages to persuade moody Clay to let her be a farmers assistant on the Maple Syrup farm that he inherited.
I was delighted to be back in Ashford, home of the Gingerbread Cafe. If I am coming across as a bit of a Rebecca Raisin fangirl, then I am sorry, but once you read some of her books, I'm sure you will see why. This can be read as a stand alone, and you don't need to have met all the recurring characters before, as the relevant back story is provided. However I will say it was wonderful to meet up with old friends including Sarah at the bookshop, CeeCee and Lil in the Cafe and just seeing how they have been progressing with their lives.
The book title mentions secrets, and there were plenty of secrets to be revealed in this story. The majority of them I didn't guess at, or at least not until the last minute, and I think it was partly these secrets that added to the unputdownable nature of this book..
I knew from the first chapter, that I would be reading this in one sitting, as just didn't want to stop for any reason. Please do clear some time when you read this, so you can relax into the story and enjoy it fully.
Lucy is a lovely character, she is desperate to try and do the right thing by everyone and its clear how much she loves her mum. Clay took a lot of getting used to, and I found I was warming to him, at about the same pace that Lucy was. He is a moody, reclusive man, and didn't like admiring he needed help.
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm, introduced me to a world of how to make maple syrup, as well as all the foods that you can put maple syrup into. Purely because the ladies of the Gingerbread Cafe, the food and baking descriptions will make you hungry as your read this, so make sure you have your snacks ready!
As I suspect you may be able to tell, I adored this book. It is a fantastic story by an exceptionally talented lady, and I am counting down the days until the next new Rebecca Raisin book is out.
Thank you so much to Carina and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest review.
July 10, 2015
Title: Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm
Author: Rebecca Raisin
Publisher: Carina UK
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm" by Rebecca Raisin
What I liked about this novel....
This was another one of this author's great novels that I did enjoy reading. It was so interesting to know that Lucy's mum who was suffering from a long term illness wanted her daughter... something special for her daughter. So, we find Lucy on an adventure for a year...ending up in Ashford, Connecticut where her life would be changed forever. Why was that? Lucky was there to live her life to the fullest for one year not worrying of her sick mum. It was there in Ashford that she meets some wonderful people....even that moody Clay who she persuaded to give her a job as a 'farmers assistant' on the Maple syrup farm in which he had inherited. I loved how this author was able to bring the readers back to Ashford, Connecticut which was the home of the famous 'Gingerbread Cafe' that if you are a reader of this author novels you will know all about that cafe... meeting up with many old friends..like CeeCee, and Lil to name a few.
Yes, "Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm' is of many secrets that will be dealt with in this read, however, . I was happy to say I was able to guess a few of them early in this well written read. The storyline will keep you turning the pages till the end because you will not want to miss anything. The heroine in the read really loves her mum and wanted to obey her but for me I found it so hard to do what Lucy had done...and that was obeying her mum wishes. The hero, Clay...well I was able to catch what may have been his secret from what this author presented this story... still it was a good read in how this author presented it all to the reader. I don't want to give too much away other than to say pick up "Secrets of Maple Syrup Farm" and see how well this story is brought out. Questions will be answered...Will Lucy decide on the trip to Paris...for a career as an artist or stay in Ashford? Will their be something for Lucky in Ashford besides wanting to be that artist?
What else I liked about this novel...
There was definitely a learning process of how maple syrup is made that this author covers so well in the read and I don't want to leave out all of those good baking descriptions that the ladies of the Gingerbread Cafe turned out as well in the foods you can use with maple syrup. I will say there were a few recipes that were new to me to what you could use maple syrup in!
I will say that it will be interesting to see what more may come of Lucy, Clay and her mum that only this author can do so very well especially in the small town of Ashford....what a great place to live.
December 31, 2015
Having loved the previous books the author has written I couldn't wait to get stuck into this one. I downloaded it as soon as I could and read it in two days, staying up late to finish it the second day, even though I am currently on holiday! This author is a must read for me.
Lucy is a brilliant character. She has guts, strength, and she is ballsy! She doesn't take nonsense from anyone, knows her own mind, but deep down is very much a mummy's girl who would do anything for her mum. In fact it is a promise she makes to her mum which brings her to the village of Ashford.
Of course this allows us to reconnect with the much loved characters we have met in previous books - Lil, Cee Cee, Damon etc. For me this added another dimension to the story. We are meeting a new character in Lucy, yet able to meet others we have fallen in love with.
What can I say about Clay? Mmmm nope, nothing I could say would describe him the way I envisage him. Let's just say he has a body a male model would be proud of, but an attitude as well. He has been badly hurt in the past and can't see past it.
Lucy is a romantic, looks on the bright side of life, and expects others to do the same. What could possibly go wrong when she meets hard headed, stubborn Clay? Let the fireworks commence.
Love the author, loved this book, and can't wait to follow the further adventures of Lucy, Clay et al!
Lucy is a brilliant character. She has guts, strength, and she is ballsy! She doesn't take nonsense from anyone, knows her own mind, but deep down is very much a mummy's girl who would do anything for her mum. In fact it is a promise she makes to her mum which brings her to the village of Ashford.
Of course this allows us to reconnect with the much loved characters we have met in previous books - Lil, Cee Cee, Damon etc. For me this added another dimension to the story. We are meeting a new character in Lucy, yet able to meet others we have fallen in love with.
What can I say about Clay? Mmmm nope, nothing I could say would describe him the way I envisage him. Let's just say he has a body a male model would be proud of, but an attitude as well. He has been badly hurt in the past and can't see past it.
Lucy is a romantic, looks on the bright side of life, and expects others to do the same. What could possibly go wrong when she meets hard headed, stubborn Clay? Let the fireworks commence.
Love the author, loved this book, and can't wait to follow the further adventures of Lucy, Clay et al!
July 9, 2015
Magical, breathtaking details, and secrets around each corner...
I couldn't be more in love with Rebecca's new story!
Clay is this heart throb who just wants to be left alone...
Lucy is taking a year to find herself, a request made by her mother who she has been taking care of.
They need each other more than they know at the time and magic is in the air for these two!
Lucy finds Ashford randomly during her travels and chooses to make it her home during this period in her life.
She meets some of my favorite characters for the Gingerbread series - Ceecee, Lil, Sarah and a handful of others! Such a magical town to live in and Lucy is really starting to get attached and doesn't know what she will do at the end of her year, will she leave? Stay?
Lucy and Clay first meet when she goes to the farm in search of a job. Farm assistant, why not? She is worked to the bone day in and day out and becomes closer to Clay then she ever dreamed.
As time goes on she decides to take a trip to Paris - will this be the trip of a lifetime for the budding artist? Or will she give it up to stay in Ashford? Only time will tell and you need to read this amazing tale to learn more and fall in love with Maple Syrup Farm
I couldn't be more in love with Rebecca's new story!
Clay is this heart throb who just wants to be left alone...
Lucy is taking a year to find herself, a request made by her mother who she has been taking care of.
They need each other more than they know at the time and magic is in the air for these two!
Lucy finds Ashford randomly during her travels and chooses to make it her home during this period in her life.
She meets some of my favorite characters for the Gingerbread series - Ceecee, Lil, Sarah and a handful of others! Such a magical town to live in and Lucy is really starting to get attached and doesn't know what she will do at the end of her year, will she leave? Stay?
Lucy and Clay first meet when she goes to the farm in search of a job. Farm assistant, why not? She is worked to the bone day in and day out and becomes closer to Clay then she ever dreamed.
As time goes on she decides to take a trip to Paris - will this be the trip of a lifetime for the budding artist? Or will she give it up to stay in Ashford? Only time will tell and you need to read this amazing tale to learn more and fall in love with Maple Syrup Farm
September 17, 2025
*linger by the cranberries playing in the background*
3.5⭐️When I saw the word ‘secret’ in the title of this book I assumed it had something to do with murder or something dark, I was wrong. There’s a secret alright, but not one that I would have guessed. If you’re looking for a story thats wholesome, full of friendship, community, forgiveness, and some ~romance~ (without the spice 😕) sprinkled in you’ve picked the right book.
3.5⭐️When I saw the word ‘secret’ in the title of this book I assumed it had something to do with murder or something dark, I was wrong. There’s a secret alright, but not one that I would have guessed. If you’re looking for a story thats wholesome, full of friendship, community, forgiveness, and some ~romance~ (without the spice 😕) sprinkled in you’ve picked the right book.
September 8, 2025
Loved this, such a lovely heart warming story. Hallmark vibes and exactly what I needed!
July 21, 2015
Lucy is taking care of her sick mother. She's working as many hours as she can, so she can pay the bills. When she comes home she has her mother to look after. Because Lucy's mother thinks it's been enough she tells Lucy that she should go away for a year. They used to travel around together and were used to a nomadic existence. Now it's time for Lucy to have her own adventure. She loves drawing and painting and her mother wants her to have a chance at a career, she wants Lucy to follow her passion. That's why she asks the sister she's fallen out with to take care of her, so Lucy can go away.
Lucy is reluctant to leave, but she does what her mother asks of her. She ends up in Ashford. She meets someone from Ashford, CeeCee, on the bus and immediately becomes friends with her. When CeeCee invites her for a meal at the Gingerbread Café Lucy becomes friends with the owner Lily as well. She learns that a newcomer in Ashford named Clay needs help at his maple syrup farm. Lucy asks him if she can have the job and he hires her on the spot. At first Clay doesn't speak to her at all, but slowly they're connecting. Lucy is working on her art and has applied for a scholarship in Paris. It's her plan to travel the world after she's worked on the farm for a few months. Will she be able to leave the wonderful Ashford behind?
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is a wonderful book about a girl who needs to start living. Lucy wants to look after her sick mother, but her mother wants her to go, to spend a year on her own, just thinking about what she wants and not what her mother needs for a change. I think that was a lovely and selfless gesture. The nature of the illness remains a secret for quite a long time, but I could more or less guess what was the matter. I felt bad for Lucy as it's hard to see a loved one suffer so badly. Clay is a broken man, but together they start healing a little. I liked watching that process.
Everyone in Ashford is so warm and loving. It was great to meet a few old friends from Rebecca Raisin's previous books again. I like that Rebecca Raisin has built a wonderful community with caring and welcoming people. Lucy needs some support. She's done the supporting for way too long. It's time to work on her art and to work on her self confidence. I liked the way she talks to Clay, they have such a great connection and a lot of great chemistry. He has some secrets of his own, again I could guess what they were, but that didn't matter as the story is so wonderful. I like the way Rebecca Raisin has told this story. It's more mature than her previous books and it's a little bit deeper. Two amazing people need to learn how to trust and how to share, which is a great theme for a story. Rebecca Raisin's books are like hot chocolate, they're warm, comforting, and deliciously sweet.
Lucy is reluctant to leave, but she does what her mother asks of her. She ends up in Ashford. She meets someone from Ashford, CeeCee, on the bus and immediately becomes friends with her. When CeeCee invites her for a meal at the Gingerbread Café Lucy becomes friends with the owner Lily as well. She learns that a newcomer in Ashford named Clay needs help at his maple syrup farm. Lucy asks him if she can have the job and he hires her on the spot. At first Clay doesn't speak to her at all, but slowly they're connecting. Lucy is working on her art and has applied for a scholarship in Paris. It's her plan to travel the world after she's worked on the farm for a few months. Will she be able to leave the wonderful Ashford behind?
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is a wonderful book about a girl who needs to start living. Lucy wants to look after her sick mother, but her mother wants her to go, to spend a year on her own, just thinking about what she wants and not what her mother needs for a change. I think that was a lovely and selfless gesture. The nature of the illness remains a secret for quite a long time, but I could more or less guess what was the matter. I felt bad for Lucy as it's hard to see a loved one suffer so badly. Clay is a broken man, but together they start healing a little. I liked watching that process.
Everyone in Ashford is so warm and loving. It was great to meet a few old friends from Rebecca Raisin's previous books again. I like that Rebecca Raisin has built a wonderful community with caring and welcoming people. Lucy needs some support. She's done the supporting for way too long. It's time to work on her art and to work on her self confidence. I liked the way she talks to Clay, they have such a great connection and a lot of great chemistry. He has some secrets of his own, again I could guess what they were, but that didn't matter as the story is so wonderful. I like the way Rebecca Raisin has told this story. It's more mature than her previous books and it's a little bit deeper. Two amazing people need to learn how to trust and how to share, which is a great theme for a story. Rebecca Raisin's books are like hot chocolate, they're warm, comforting, and deliciously sweet.
March 19, 2018
I read this for the first time in 2015 but somehow forgot to post my review anywhere so I’m endeavouring to rectify that now. This is a lovely story of Lucy following her Mum’s instructions and going on an adventure for a year! She jumps on a bus and ends up in Ashford, Conneticut where she persuades Clay to let her be an assistant on the Maple Syrup Farm that he has inherited. Whilst this works as a standalone, Ashford is the setting for other books by this author and it was great to reconnect with some of the characters from that story in this one.
As the title implies, there are so many secrets to be revealed and the great characters and the relationship development seemed to happen at an appropriate pace. I recommend you not to read this whilst you’re hungry - the sumptuous descriptions of the delicious food will have your mouth watering and had me snacking whilst reading! I also learnt a lot about Maple Syrup, too!
This is another brilliant story from this highly talented author and I have no hesitation in highly recommending it.
I requested and received a copy of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
As the title implies, there are so many secrets to be revealed and the great characters and the relationship development seemed to happen at an appropriate pace. I recommend you not to read this whilst you’re hungry - the sumptuous descriptions of the delicious food will have your mouth watering and had me snacking whilst reading! I also learnt a lot about Maple Syrup, too!
This is another brilliant story from this highly talented author and I have no hesitation in highly recommending it.
I requested and received a copy of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
August 17, 2015
The Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is the first book by Rebecca Raisin I have had the pleasure of reading. I could not wait to send my little bookworms to play with their lovely daddy while I snuggled down on my comfy sofa and happily dived into the world of the magical maple trees, the picturesque town of Ashford and it's welcoming residents I heard so much about.
I quickly discovered that the story-line of The Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is highly addictive and utterly captivating.
Lucy is such a beautiful, a caring and a hardworking person she loves her poorly mother and would do absolutely anything for her but Crystal, Lucy's mother, wants more for her precious daughter. Lucy loves to paint. Painting is her passion and a way of expressing her feelings and moods. Crystal encourages Lucy to take a year off to discover the world beyond her mothers bedside, to find herself and also finally apply for a scholarship to the famous Van Gogh Institute in Paris. The first bus Lucy jumps on drives her straight to Ashford and the welcoming arms of its residents.
I felt for Lucy and her constant worries centered around her mother diseases and the mixed feelings of frustration and fear of what the future may hold for their little family unit. I understood why Crystal encouraged Lucy to go off and experience again some much needed happiness and other life pleasures. I was so happy when Lucy met the wonderful CeeCee and consequently landed herself a "farm assistant" job in Ashford.
I loved the character of Clay even though he was a man of a few words and aside of his trust issues, he certainly had plenty of charisma and later I discovered he also possessed a big heart, a glorious body and a magical smile ! There were plenty of hilarious and sparkly scenes between Lucy and Clay. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages when the two of them bickered and threw witty remarks at each other. The dynamic between Lucy and Clay grew, developed and deepen into something more meaningful and complex as the story progressed.
I absolutely adored the colourful, warm and very friendly residents of Ashford. CeeCee, Lil, Becca, Henry and lots of others were eager to help Lucy, shower her with love and provide shoulder to cry on. I was delighted to see their friendship grow and develop from the first time Lucy entered their life.
The author's descriptions of the settings and the festivities were just so vivid and mesmerising that I felt like I was there taking a walk around Ashford, peeking inside the shops, tasting the delicious treats that CeeCee and Lil prepared and enjoying the hard work Lucy and Clay had endure to re-awake the Maple Syrup Farm once again.
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is a book about love, life and opportunities. There were surprises and twists sprinkled with humour and romance. It ticked all my boxes of a spectacular read and kept me highly entertained right to the end.
Rebecca Raisin is a fabulous author and I can't wait to read her next book!
I quickly discovered that the story-line of The Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is highly addictive and utterly captivating.
Lucy is such a beautiful, a caring and a hardworking person she loves her poorly mother and would do absolutely anything for her but Crystal, Lucy's mother, wants more for her precious daughter. Lucy loves to paint. Painting is her passion and a way of expressing her feelings and moods. Crystal encourages Lucy to take a year off to discover the world beyond her mothers bedside, to find herself and also finally apply for a scholarship to the famous Van Gogh Institute in Paris. The first bus Lucy jumps on drives her straight to Ashford and the welcoming arms of its residents.
I felt for Lucy and her constant worries centered around her mother diseases and the mixed feelings of frustration and fear of what the future may hold for their little family unit. I understood why Crystal encouraged Lucy to go off and experience again some much needed happiness and other life pleasures. I was so happy when Lucy met the wonderful CeeCee and consequently landed herself a "farm assistant" job in Ashford.
I loved the character of Clay even though he was a man of a few words and aside of his trust issues, he certainly had plenty of charisma and later I discovered he also possessed a big heart, a glorious body and a magical smile ! There were plenty of hilarious and sparkly scenes between Lucy and Clay. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages when the two of them bickered and threw witty remarks at each other. The dynamic between Lucy and Clay grew, developed and deepen into something more meaningful and complex as the story progressed.
I absolutely adored the colourful, warm and very friendly residents of Ashford. CeeCee, Lil, Becca, Henry and lots of others were eager to help Lucy, shower her with love and provide shoulder to cry on. I was delighted to see their friendship grow and develop from the first time Lucy entered their life.
The author's descriptions of the settings and the festivities were just so vivid and mesmerising that I felt like I was there taking a walk around Ashford, peeking inside the shops, tasting the delicious treats that CeeCee and Lil prepared and enjoying the hard work Lucy and Clay had endure to re-awake the Maple Syrup Farm once again.
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is a book about love, life and opportunities. There were surprises and twists sprinkled with humour and romance. It ticked all my boxes of a spectacular read and kept me highly entertained right to the end.
Rebecca Raisin is a fabulous author and I can't wait to read her next book!
November 4, 2025
I can never fault Rebecca Raisin’s books - she tells a story with the most beautiful detail it feels like you can see and hear and smell and taste everything! The different stories were so lovely to read and a perfect autumnal read 🍂
July 10, 2015
Secrets at Maple Sugar Farm by Rebecca Raisin pub date 7-17-15
Great Contemporary Romance
Lucy, 28, and her mother live in Detroit and have always been travelers; on to the next adventure until her mother became ill. As her mother lays in a hospital bed she has a request she makes of Lucy, a promise Lucy does not want to make, but must for hers mothers peace of mind. The request is for Lucy to quit her job, get on the first bus out town without looking at the destination, and spend a year working and saving money; she then wants Lucy to apply to the Van Gogh Institute of Paris for an art scholarship. Lucy is a bundle of nerves, how can she do this-leave her mother-never, no money, no way to pay her critically ill mothers and her bills, and she doesn’t considerate herself talented enough for the art institute. The promise she makes her mother is breaking her in pieces, but deep inside she felt a spark. So begins Lucy’s adventure.
Lucy’s journey ends in Ashford, Connecticut home of the Maple Sugar Farm and the town hard to leave, according to CeCe, a passenger on the bus. Small town USA is a wonderful place. She directed to the café, the B and B and a job with Clay at the syrup farm. Everyone is kind, warm, helpful except Clay the Hunk with a capital H. No one knows why Clay avoids everyone in town and stays at the run down farm inherited from his Uncle Jessup. The town’s people say the ghost of the former owner, Jessup, haunts the farm and walks through the orchard of maple tree he loved so much. Clay and Lucy snark and bite at one another constantly, but Lucy will not give up, she must have the money from this job. Attraction is burning brightly. Ms. Raisin created a wonderful story full of mysteries on the farm from ghost, Lucy’s mother what is she hiding from Lucy, from hidden journals to paintings, small town values, small town gossip, small town caring, strong characters, an old love story that consumed one person, the mystery of what happened to Clay to close himself off, two main characters fighting love, and a plot that was interesting from start to finish with twist and turns. The pacing was good and moved at just the right pace. I loved watching Lucy and Clay grow in character, love, and solve the mysteries of the farm and Jessup.
This is a story of separation, healing, growth, letting go and living life, realizing dreams, acceptance, commitment, and love. There is so much emotion in this book from the heights of happiness to the depths of despair and sadness. I cried at one point in the story and laughed in others.
I recommend this book and give it 5 stars, it is a wonderful story well written. There is a very small amount of sex, nothing explicit, nothing descriptive and handled wonderfully by Ms. Raisin. I look forward to Ms. Raisin’s next book.
I received this book from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest opinion.
August 22, 2015
I would like to thank Rebecca Raisin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
When we first meet Lucy her life is endless shifts at a diner she hates and hospital visits to see her mum. Her mum tells Lucy to take some time out and go travelling. This is where Lucy ends up in Ashford.
Right from page one I liked Lucy, she wanted to do her best by her mom, but at the same time she has given up so much. Lucy instantly meets CeeCee who fans of Rebecca's other books will know from The Gingerbread Cafe trilogy. Don't get me wrong this book can be read as a standalone but for me it was lovely to see some characters from other books.
Rebecca also introduces some new characters, there is the smouldering hot Clay who has a body to die for and I know why Lucy would find herself watching him. Although when I was originally told about this Clay was tall dark and handsome (my kind of man). I haven't forgiven Bec for changing his hair colour to dirty blonde.
The story is based around the maple syrup farm where both Lucy and Clay have secrets but the farm it's self has a massive secret, would they all be found out? I loved the research Bec has done around how to produce maple syrup and found this added another dimension to this story. I stayed up one night to read this in one sitting and totally enjoyed it, hoping to hear more from Clay and Lucy.
When we first meet Lucy her life is endless shifts at a diner she hates and hospital visits to see her mum. Her mum tells Lucy to take some time out and go travelling. This is where Lucy ends up in Ashford.
Right from page one I liked Lucy, she wanted to do her best by her mom, but at the same time she has given up so much. Lucy instantly meets CeeCee who fans of Rebecca's other books will know from The Gingerbread Cafe trilogy. Don't get me wrong this book can be read as a standalone but for me it was lovely to see some characters from other books.
Rebecca also introduces some new characters, there is the smouldering hot Clay who has a body to die for and I know why Lucy would find herself watching him. Although when I was originally told about this Clay was tall dark and handsome (my kind of man). I haven't forgiven Bec for changing his hair colour to dirty blonde.
The story is based around the maple syrup farm where both Lucy and Clay have secrets but the farm it's self has a massive secret, would they all be found out? I loved the research Bec has done around how to produce maple syrup and found this added another dimension to this story. I stayed up one night to read this in one sitting and totally enjoyed it, hoping to hear more from Clay and Lucy.
June 14, 2017
This book kept me riveted the whole way through
The characters were so delicious that I could have almost eaten them. Each with their unique things going on in their lives, but all so willing to help each other along the way.
I could see myself in their shoes no matter what age or sex they were as it was so well written. At times it felt that I actually was part of the story, like I was breathing the same air as them, and as though they were waiting for me to just dive right in.
I wanted to be a part of their story because it was so loving even though their paths weren't always easy. To live in a place where you are so cared about must be lovely.
Rebecca Raisin acknowledges that a town like that is not always easy to live in, but also shows us what both sharing courage and kindness in a group can do to enrich the lives of everyone that they touch.
This book kept alive my belief that there is still goodness in the world, and I loved that.
The great part is that Rebecca has many other books that I can now read too!
Thank you for a wonderful read :)
The characters were so delicious that I could have almost eaten them. Each with their unique things going on in their lives, but all so willing to help each other along the way.
I could see myself in their shoes no matter what age or sex they were as it was so well written. At times it felt that I actually was part of the story, like I was breathing the same air as them, and as though they were waiting for me to just dive right in.
I wanted to be a part of their story because it was so loving even though their paths weren't always easy. To live in a place where you are so cared about must be lovely.
Rebecca Raisin acknowledges that a town like that is not always easy to live in, but also shows us what both sharing courage and kindness in a group can do to enrich the lives of everyone that they touch.
This book kept alive my belief that there is still goodness in the world, and I loved that.
The great part is that Rebecca has many other books that I can now read too!
Thank you for a wonderful read :)
November 5, 2020
This was probably one of the worst books ever. The story sucked. The writing style sucked. Everything in this books sucked. The only reason I finished it was that I was super bored and had only this audiobook.
August 18, 2015
Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm is by an author that is new to me and I loved this book so much I will be reading the rest of her books as well. It's no secret that I love to read books in a series, so when I found out this was just one of several books in this series, I felt less disappointed when I finished, knowing there is more, because this book was so good I got a book hangover from it!
Lucy is a 28 year old girl when we meet her at the beginning of this book, and we quickly find out that she is the sole person taking care of her mother, working two jobs just to keep her mom in treatment and to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. Her mother Crystal suffers from ALS and it is to the point where the doctor is letting Lucy know her mom is going to need around the clock care. Lucy loves her mom so much she would do anything for her including giving up having things for herself, and going out with her friends. Up to this time, Lucy and her mother Crystal lived a nomadic life going from place to place and living "in the moment" travelling anywhere they wanted to, putting away any extra money, then picking up and going somewhere new. So the fact that her mom is restricted to a hospital bed more often than not greatly upsets Lucy, and she does whatever she can to make her mom happy, encouraging her to get better so they can go somewhere new, but both of them secretly knowing that is a thing of the past. Her mother's case is quite advanced. Lucy does not want her mom to be in the hospital for the rest of her life and she is preparing to bring her mom home and take care of her there rather than a nursing home.
One day she goes to see her mom and her mother tells her that she wants her to take a year off and go to the Art Institute in Paris as she is really a gifted artist, but does not have the confidence in herself that her work is great. Lucy is so upset but her mom tells her she is 28 and that she will be there when Lucy gets back and she needs to go tomorrow, gives her what money she has saved up, and tells her to take the first bus out of town, stop there, work and sign up for the Art Institute. She also tells Lucy she has been in touch with her long estranged sister, and that her sister will help her while Lucy is gone. It is with a heavy heart the next day when she gets on the first bus out-to Ashford, Connecticut. Every mile they go, Lucy gets more and more upset.
On the bus she meets CeeCee, a kind woman who immediately takes Lucy under her wing. CeeCee tells her where to go to get lodgings, and tells her when she is through to go to the Gingerbread Cafe where she works. CeeCee feeds her, and she also meets Lily the owner of the Cafe and they tell her that Clay, a new person in town really needs the help at his Maple tree farm desperately and to be strong as Clay is a recluse and they worry about him. She walks down to the Farm and immediately feels a connection to the place, as an artist, she can see the beauty in the trees! She can also feel there is a story in the woods! After a surly Clay grudgingly tells her she can have a job on trial basis. Lucy goes back to town and tells Lily and CeeCee the good news.
There are so many wonderful aspects to this book, the first and foremost being the wonderful cast of supporting characters, and the way they take Lucy into the fold. The plot is filled with things that happen, and add to the story to make it a memorable read, and to keep one guessing! There is a lot of intrigue also, like who was the previous owner of the farm and while Clay does know his uncle left him the farm he knows nothing about him. On the other hand Lucy discovers some amazing things about this man. Everything is falling into place and Clay is starting slowly but surely let Lucy into his life. While digging up the floor to put down new flooring, Lucy discovers a little chest and while Clay wants to just leave it and bury it again, Lucy grabs it!
1 What is in the chest?
2 Why is Clay so secretive?
3 What it the main secret of the farm?
4 Will Lucy get to go to Paris?
5 What does the town do to rally around Clay, whether he wants them to or not?
6 What does Lucy find in an abandoned cottage that she finds on the property Clay had no idea was even there?
7 What will become of Lucy's Mom, and will she and her sister finally make up after almost 30 years?
8 Will Clay and Lucy make a connection?
Read this book, find out what is going on and when you are finished- be prepared for a book hangover! This book touched me on so many levels and it left a warm feeling in my heart when I finished it.
I gave this book 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who loves a good story, filled with intrigue, great characters, and the power of love!
Lucy is a 28 year old girl when we meet her at the beginning of this book, and we quickly find out that she is the sole person taking care of her mother, working two jobs just to keep her mom in treatment and to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. Her mother Crystal suffers from ALS and it is to the point where the doctor is letting Lucy know her mom is going to need around the clock care. Lucy loves her mom so much she would do anything for her including giving up having things for herself, and going out with her friends. Up to this time, Lucy and her mother Crystal lived a nomadic life going from place to place and living "in the moment" travelling anywhere they wanted to, putting away any extra money, then picking up and going somewhere new. So the fact that her mom is restricted to a hospital bed more often than not greatly upsets Lucy, and she does whatever she can to make her mom happy, encouraging her to get better so they can go somewhere new, but both of them secretly knowing that is a thing of the past. Her mother's case is quite advanced. Lucy does not want her mom to be in the hospital for the rest of her life and she is preparing to bring her mom home and take care of her there rather than a nursing home.
One day she goes to see her mom and her mother tells her that she wants her to take a year off and go to the Art Institute in Paris as she is really a gifted artist, but does not have the confidence in herself that her work is great. Lucy is so upset but her mom tells her she is 28 and that she will be there when Lucy gets back and she needs to go tomorrow, gives her what money she has saved up, and tells her to take the first bus out of town, stop there, work and sign up for the Art Institute. She also tells Lucy she has been in touch with her long estranged sister, and that her sister will help her while Lucy is gone. It is with a heavy heart the next day when she gets on the first bus out-to Ashford, Connecticut. Every mile they go, Lucy gets more and more upset.
On the bus she meets CeeCee, a kind woman who immediately takes Lucy under her wing. CeeCee tells her where to go to get lodgings, and tells her when she is through to go to the Gingerbread Cafe where she works. CeeCee feeds her, and she also meets Lily the owner of the Cafe and they tell her that Clay, a new person in town really needs the help at his Maple tree farm desperately and to be strong as Clay is a recluse and they worry about him. She walks down to the Farm and immediately feels a connection to the place, as an artist, she can see the beauty in the trees! She can also feel there is a story in the woods! After a surly Clay grudgingly tells her she can have a job on trial basis. Lucy goes back to town and tells Lily and CeeCee the good news.
There are so many wonderful aspects to this book, the first and foremost being the wonderful cast of supporting characters, and the way they take Lucy into the fold. The plot is filled with things that happen, and add to the story to make it a memorable read, and to keep one guessing! There is a lot of intrigue also, like who was the previous owner of the farm and while Clay does know his uncle left him the farm he knows nothing about him. On the other hand Lucy discovers some amazing things about this man. Everything is falling into place and Clay is starting slowly but surely let Lucy into his life. While digging up the floor to put down new flooring, Lucy discovers a little chest and while Clay wants to just leave it and bury it again, Lucy grabs it!
1 What is in the chest?
2 Why is Clay so secretive?
3 What it the main secret of the farm?
4 Will Lucy get to go to Paris?
5 What does the town do to rally around Clay, whether he wants them to or not?
6 What does Lucy find in an abandoned cottage that she finds on the property Clay had no idea was even there?
7 What will become of Lucy's Mom, and will she and her sister finally make up after almost 30 years?
8 Will Clay and Lucy make a connection?
Read this book, find out what is going on and when you are finished- be prepared for a book hangover! This book touched me on so many levels and it left a warm feeling in my heart when I finished it.
I gave this book 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who loves a good story, filled with intrigue, great characters, and the power of love!
July 14, 2015
{review copy}
Posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015...
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is the latest book by Rebecca Raisin, an author whose books I love more than anything. There’s something about Rebecca’s books that are so warm and inviting that I find I never want to leave them and Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm was no exception. Here, we meet Lucy who is a kind-hearted, caring character who is lovely but really does need to have a bit more self-belief. Lucy’s mum has an illness which will see her health decline and her lifespan gradually decrease and so other than working her fingers to the bone, Lucy dedicates her time to caring for her mum. Lucy answers her mum’s every request which is why when her mum asks her to take a year out, a year to focus on herself and live her own life, Lucy begrudgingly gets on a bus and finds herself in Ashford, the place I fell in love with back in Rebecca’s previous books. The story that follows is so charming and enticing, another winner of a novel from Rebecca that will send you on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster but leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
There’s a tender and touching exploration of the relationship between mother and daughter all throughout this novel. I loved the bond between Lucy and her mum, how they were the best of friends and how they had so much love and respect for each other. At times I felt like I could identify with their relationship and see similarities to the bond I had with my mum – the laughter in the toughest of circumstances, the regular texting and always seeking out the latest gossip rather than wallowing in the sadness life brings. They were so close and it must have been so difficult for both Lucy and her mum to even consider Lucy taking a year away but that it happened, to me, showed the immense care they had for each other and how to each of them, the wishes and happiness of the other person was the most important thing in the world.
When Lucy is in Ashford, her life changes completely but I did like how she never lost touch with her mum and always tried to get in touch, even with a little message, to show she was still there for her. Equally, it was just as inspiring and uplifting to see Lucy let go and build her own life. I just knew as soon as she got on that bus to Ashford that she was going to fit right in. Rebecca’s Ashford is the place I would most like to live in the world. There is such heart, soul and magic to that town, let me tell you. Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by a Gingerbread café, little bookshop and a maple syrup farm? I got a little kick out of meeting all the characters from Rebecca’s previous books again – CeeCee, Lil, Sarah and Becca to name but a few of the delightful characters brought back. The spirit of friendship in this book is a joy to read. The characters liven things up with their love of life and laughter and I always adore how they come together in a crisis and are always thinking of the next thing they can do to help. They’re so thoughtful and generous with their time and no wonder nobody ever wants to leave Ashford with neighbours like them.
The main strand of this story revolves around Lucy and Clay. Lucy is in need of a job and Clay is in need of a worker on the maple syrup farm he has inherited, though he’s not likely to admit it in a hurry. Lucy is strong though and wins him over quite quickly, or at least wins herself a job since Clay is not the easiest person to connect with. Clay is a little offhand and a little uptight and I couldn’t figure out why. There was something about him that we get a glimpse of on occasions that showed there was a little more to his character than just a grumpy soul but I was intrigued and really wanted to know what had turned him into this person who really needed to lighten up. Getting to know Clay was one of the most interesting parts of this novel and I was whooping and shouting and encouraging (on the inside) to get him to open up a bit. I was seriously crazy excited the first time he laughed properly. He was all brooding and mysterious and I found his story surprising but quite heartening. I could ramble about Clay all week long…
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm was a story that captured me instantly and it flowed in such an easy manner it made it difficult to put down. I’ve found that every time Rebecca has a new book, each one seems to have a bit more depth and substance to it which is really lovely to read. I like seeing every layer built up and Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm does live up to its title as there are secrets always just around the corner. Rebecca constructs beautiful sentence after beautiful sentence and turns them into a gorgeous book. I lost count of the number of sentences, of quotes that I highlighted on my Kindle because they resonated with me or because they were simply stunning. The naturally descriptive tone to her writing is enchanting and whether she was describing the baking at the café, the feel of the bookshop, the artwork or the parts that made the farm come to life, she makes you want to get on a bus straight to Ashford, make it your home and never, ever leave.
July 13, 2017
felt enjoyed this light hearted read with a bit of mystery thrown in. Great characters that made me smile.
September 30, 2024
A Hallmark movie in book form! Enjoy!
September 22, 2025
This was a sweet read. This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it.
November 1, 2025
too cheesy romantic for my liking but cute for just a feel good story to pass the time.
loved all the foods that was mentioned throughout..
tempted to try making the easy sounding bakes.
loved all the foods that was mentioned throughout..
tempted to try making the easy sounding bakes.
September 30, 2019
Nice little love story.
Lots of work to make maple syrup.
Lots of work to make maple syrup.
September 23, 2025
not a fan at all.
For a girl from Detroit she uses Australias phrases
the Connecticut community she finds talks like they're gone with the wind deep south.
There are sooooo many typos and grammatical errors.
For a girl from Detroit she uses Australias phrases
the Connecticut community she finds talks like they're gone with the wind deep south.
There are sooooo many typos and grammatical errors.
July 27, 2015
Rebecca Raisin is an author that writes such delicious stories you can't help but devour them in one sitting. The Gingerbread series kicked off with Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe and I was hooked. Each book in the series was like adding icing on to the cake, making each more delicious than the last. Rebecca's style of writing ensures the characters she penned become like true friends. I really miss them when the book ends.
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm sees Lucy beginning a journey. For the last ten years she had been caring for her sick mother, working double shifts to pay the rent and generally putting her own life on hold. All that changes when her mother makes her promise to take a year out - a year to find herself and discover what she wants in life. Her mother secretly hopes she'll apply for a scholarship to art college in France, believing she has what it takes as an artist; a belief not shared by Lucy. She literally has no confidence in herself at all, her only focus is providing comfort for her mother.
When Lucy gets on the first bus leaving town I wonder where she's going only guessing towards the end of the journey when I realise she's sat next to CeeCee - my heart literally melted, this women is a heart on legs and knowing Lucy was headed for Ashford made me sit grinning like an idiot.
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is a book that encapsulates everything that is Ashford and its inhabitants. It's a story that highlights the closeness of a community with big hearts, each and every resident giving freely of their time and advice to each other when needed. Rebecca has tapped into the charm, love and characters of a small community in much the same way as Lucy finds herself doing at Maple Syrup Farm, where she found herself a job as a farmhand. The goodness flows and with it barriers are lowered.
With each book Rebecca has written I find the storylines go a little bit deeper, the characters I've previously come to know and love providing a solid framework for the stories to rest upon. This story demonstrates the need to give time to ourselves as well as other people. Lucy had to learn that it was alright to take as well as to give. This story demonstrates time and again that there is always a reason for our actions, although the motivation behind them is not always clear at the time. Lucy's mum did her the biggest favour, although it wasn't clear to Lucy at the time by making her travel, proving that if we love someone we should set them free, although heart breaking she gave Lucy her wings.
This is a beautiful book, focusing on relationships between mothers and daughters, friendship, love and trust. I smiled, laughed and cried throughout Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm. If you like me are looking for a read that will pull at your heart strings, make you smile and awww then this is a book for you. It is a sensory book that one minute will have you drooling at the food and the next sniffing with emotion. The descriptions are so vivid, smells and tastes seem so real I’m sure I gained weight just reading about them. It has characters that I'd be proud to call my friends and a town that I'd move to tomorrow. There’s nothing like a small town community to close ranks and protect it’s own, residents and visitors alike. Rebecca has done it again, delivering exactly what I expected and more. I highly recommend this book and urge you to head to amazon and order it now - you won't be disappointed. Once again, I loved it, loved it, loved it
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm sees Lucy beginning a journey. For the last ten years she had been caring for her sick mother, working double shifts to pay the rent and generally putting her own life on hold. All that changes when her mother makes her promise to take a year out - a year to find herself and discover what she wants in life. Her mother secretly hopes she'll apply for a scholarship to art college in France, believing she has what it takes as an artist; a belief not shared by Lucy. She literally has no confidence in herself at all, her only focus is providing comfort for her mother.
When Lucy gets on the first bus leaving town I wonder where she's going only guessing towards the end of the journey when I realise she's sat next to CeeCee - my heart literally melted, this women is a heart on legs and knowing Lucy was headed for Ashford made me sit grinning like an idiot.
Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is a book that encapsulates everything that is Ashford and its inhabitants. It's a story that highlights the closeness of a community with big hearts, each and every resident giving freely of their time and advice to each other when needed. Rebecca has tapped into the charm, love and characters of a small community in much the same way as Lucy finds herself doing at Maple Syrup Farm, where she found herself a job as a farmhand. The goodness flows and with it barriers are lowered.
With each book Rebecca has written I find the storylines go a little bit deeper, the characters I've previously come to know and love providing a solid framework for the stories to rest upon. This story demonstrates the need to give time to ourselves as well as other people. Lucy had to learn that it was alright to take as well as to give. This story demonstrates time and again that there is always a reason for our actions, although the motivation behind them is not always clear at the time. Lucy's mum did her the biggest favour, although it wasn't clear to Lucy at the time by making her travel, proving that if we love someone we should set them free, although heart breaking she gave Lucy her wings.
This is a beautiful book, focusing on relationships between mothers and daughters, friendship, love and trust. I smiled, laughed and cried throughout Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm. If you like me are looking for a read that will pull at your heart strings, make you smile and awww then this is a book for you. It is a sensory book that one minute will have you drooling at the food and the next sniffing with emotion. The descriptions are so vivid, smells and tastes seem so real I’m sure I gained weight just reading about them. It has characters that I'd be proud to call my friends and a town that I'd move to tomorrow. There’s nothing like a small town community to close ranks and protect it’s own, residents and visitors alike. Rebecca has done it again, delivering exactly what I expected and more. I highly recommend this book and urge you to head to amazon and order it now - you won't be disappointed. Once again, I loved it, loved it, loved it
July 20, 2015
"Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm" is all about Lucy, who after years of looking after her sick mum, makes the harrowing journey from her home in Detroit, to anywhere the first bus heading out of town is going.
She really doesn’t want to go, but her mum made her promise that she would have a year to herself, which included applying for a scholarship at the ‘Da Vinci Institute’ in Paris to follow her dream of becoming an artist.
Lucy’s bus takes her to the little village of Ashford, the home of ‘The Gingerbread Café’, from Rebecca’s previous books.
Can Lucy truly be happy in Ashford, especially when she misses her mum so much?
The story starts off quite serious and emotional and you feel Lucy’s pain at what her mum is asking her to do, but a promise is a promise and she knows that she can’t let her mum down.
When Lucy arrives in Ashford, and especially starts working at the farm, the book comes alive.
I love Lucy; She is a wonderful young woman who has had to deal with so much, with looking after her mum who has spent the last few years in and out of hospital, to working two jobs just to keep a roof over their heads.
She is a bold woman, with a wicked sense of humour and a strong determination, especially where Clay is concerned.
Clay on the other hand is a sexy, hot bloke, who’s also a bit of a loner and moody. His reactions to Lucy’s foot-in-mouth moments are comical and the pair really bounce off one another. I felt myself routing for them to finally get together.
The story goes back in time via old man Jessop’s journal, Clay’s uncle who originally owned the farm. Reading all about his love for the one woman who stole his heart and how he never got over losing her was so sad, yet meaningful, and it teaches us how precious life is.
The attention to every last detail, especially how they collected the Maple Syrup, was beautifully written and I could imagine being in the field with those trees, smelling the country air and sitting watching the maple syrup dripping into the buckets. I wanted to taste their home grown syrup and keep some to spread it on my toast!
I have never read any of Rebecca Raisin’s books before, but after reading "Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm", I feel the need to, as I would love to know more about the characters that are in this book, and in Rebecca’s "The Gingerbread Café Trilogy", such as Ceecee, Lily and Sarah. That said, this book can be read as a stand alone.
I like the idea of having separate books that are interwoven and set in the same town. By writing the characters into numerous books we get to see how they have developed and grown throughout the years, thus making the books more interesting and giving the readers a connection to all the books.
The story is cleverly written with some amazing, caring and wonderful people, giving you the feeling of being part of the Ashford community. I would love to visit a place where all the town folk take care, help and look after one another.
An amazing, well written book that had me attached to the pages and constantly engrossed in the plot. I hope to read more about Lucy and Clay in any more books that Rebecca may write that are set in Ashford.
"Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm", is a must read, especially for those that like their romantic books.
www.whisperingstories.com
She really doesn’t want to go, but her mum made her promise that she would have a year to herself, which included applying for a scholarship at the ‘Da Vinci Institute’ in Paris to follow her dream of becoming an artist.
Lucy’s bus takes her to the little village of Ashford, the home of ‘The Gingerbread Café’, from Rebecca’s previous books.
Can Lucy truly be happy in Ashford, especially when she misses her mum so much?
The story starts off quite serious and emotional and you feel Lucy’s pain at what her mum is asking her to do, but a promise is a promise and she knows that she can’t let her mum down.
When Lucy arrives in Ashford, and especially starts working at the farm, the book comes alive.
I love Lucy; She is a wonderful young woman who has had to deal with so much, with looking after her mum who has spent the last few years in and out of hospital, to working two jobs just to keep a roof over their heads.
She is a bold woman, with a wicked sense of humour and a strong determination, especially where Clay is concerned.
Clay on the other hand is a sexy, hot bloke, who’s also a bit of a loner and moody. His reactions to Lucy’s foot-in-mouth moments are comical and the pair really bounce off one another. I felt myself routing for them to finally get together.
The story goes back in time via old man Jessop’s journal, Clay’s uncle who originally owned the farm. Reading all about his love for the one woman who stole his heart and how he never got over losing her was so sad, yet meaningful, and it teaches us how precious life is.
The attention to every last detail, especially how they collected the Maple Syrup, was beautifully written and I could imagine being in the field with those trees, smelling the country air and sitting watching the maple syrup dripping into the buckets. I wanted to taste their home grown syrup and keep some to spread it on my toast!
I have never read any of Rebecca Raisin’s books before, but after reading "Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm", I feel the need to, as I would love to know more about the characters that are in this book, and in Rebecca’s "The Gingerbread Café Trilogy", such as Ceecee, Lily and Sarah. That said, this book can be read as a stand alone.
I like the idea of having separate books that are interwoven and set in the same town. By writing the characters into numerous books we get to see how they have developed and grown throughout the years, thus making the books more interesting and giving the readers a connection to all the books.
The story is cleverly written with some amazing, caring and wonderful people, giving you the feeling of being part of the Ashford community. I would love to visit a place where all the town folk take care, help and look after one another.
An amazing, well written book that had me attached to the pages and constantly engrossed in the plot. I hope to read more about Lucy and Clay in any more books that Rebecca may write that are set in Ashford.
"Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm", is a must read, especially for those that like their romantic books.
www.whisperingstories.com
September 14, 2016
Synopsis:
Maple sugar kisses
Lucy would do anything for her mom…but she never expected to end up promising to leave her. After her mom got sick, Lucy dropped everything to take care of her, working all hours in a greasy diner just to make ends meet and spending every spare moments she had by her mom’s hospital bedside.
Now, Lucy is faced with a whole year of living by her own rules, starting by taking the first bus out of town to anywhere…
Except she didn’t expect to find her next big adventure just around the corner! Especially when on her first day in town she bumps into grumpy, but oh-so-delicious Clay amidst the maple trees. Surrounded by the magic of Ashford, Lucy has the chance to change her life forever and finally discover a life she wants to live! (Goodreads)
Review:
Secrets Of Maple Syrup Farm is a story about taking chances, learning to be on your own, overcoming your past, following your dreams, and family obligations and love. It is a great read and one that should not be missed.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Lucy is a strong brave woman, even though she does not think she is. She had to be to do as her mother asked and leave to go on a year long adventure. Not many people would be able to do that, me included. She is giving and loving and is a people pleaser. Clay is a guarded and very private person. You can tell he has a lot of baggage and he just wants to be left alone. But being the caring person that Lucy is, she has to try to break through his shell. I really enjoyed reading the interaction between the two of them. The secondary characters were also fun to get to know and added a lot to the story.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I felt like I was right there through the book, watching all the action taking place. She is also very talented in evoking emotions from the reader. At times I laughed, other times I had tears in my eyes and sometimes I could feel the tension from all the secrets.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written romance book. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Carina Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Maple sugar kisses
Lucy would do anything for her mom…but she never expected to end up promising to leave her. After her mom got sick, Lucy dropped everything to take care of her, working all hours in a greasy diner just to make ends meet and spending every spare moments she had by her mom’s hospital bedside.
Now, Lucy is faced with a whole year of living by her own rules, starting by taking the first bus out of town to anywhere…
Except she didn’t expect to find her next big adventure just around the corner! Especially when on her first day in town she bumps into grumpy, but oh-so-delicious Clay amidst the maple trees. Surrounded by the magic of Ashford, Lucy has the chance to change her life forever and finally discover a life she wants to live! (Goodreads)
Review:
Secrets Of Maple Syrup Farm is a story about taking chances, learning to be on your own, overcoming your past, following your dreams, and family obligations and love. It is a great read and one that should not be missed.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Lucy is a strong brave woman, even though she does not think she is. She had to be to do as her mother asked and leave to go on a year long adventure. Not many people would be able to do that, me included. She is giving and loving and is a people pleaser. Clay is a guarded and very private person. You can tell he has a lot of baggage and he just wants to be left alone. But being the caring person that Lucy is, she has to try to break through his shell. I really enjoyed reading the interaction between the two of them. The secondary characters were also fun to get to know and added a lot to the story.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I felt like I was right there through the book, watching all the action taking place. She is also very talented in evoking emotions from the reader. At times I laughed, other times I had tears in my eyes and sometimes I could feel the tension from all the secrets.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written romance book. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Carina Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 16, 2015
Lucy has been run ragged working double shifts in the diner so she can pay the rent and also the hospital fees for her seriously ill mother. She doesn’t find this routine a chore, it’s just what is needed at this moment in time. However, her passion is art, especially painting, and her dream would be to further her learning at The Van Gogh Art Institute in Paris. Her mom asks her for one favour and that is to take a year off from the daily routine of working and looking after her and to travel and apply to the Art Institute in Paris to pursue her dream. Lucy reluctantly agrees and promises her mom she will have an adventure for a year. She packs her bags, catches the first bus and ends up in the sleepy town of Ashford, Connecticut. The town is very warm and welcoming to Lucy and she soon makes friends. However, she needs to find a job asap to help save for her Art course and also to send money back home for her mom.
On the outskirts of the town is a rundown farm, Maple Syrup farm. Lucy finds out that the new owner of the farm is looking for a farm hand. Lucy has never worked on a farm, but wonders how hard can it be? She sets off to introduce herself to the new owner and is immediately met with a moody, hunk of a man named Clay. Sparks fly immediately between them but they agree on a trial for Lucy to work on the farm.
What follows is a wonderful tale of friendship, new beginnings. A tale of a mysterious history of the farm and it’s previous and present owner. A tale of community spirit.
I loved all the characters from the story. Ceecee and Lil sounded so warm and friendly and Rebecca first introduced us to them in her Gingerbread Café series.
Clay, the moody ‘love god’ sounded gorgeous even with his moodiness. I’d love to hear more from Rebecca with a follow up to Lucy and Clay’s growing friendship.
At the end of the novel we are given a glimpse into Rebecca’s next book; The Little Bookshop on the Seine. This follows the story of Sarah the bookshop owner from the town of Ashford.
I really can’t recommend this book enough and I need to catch up with Rebecca Raisin’s back catalogue with the wonderful characters from Ashford, Connecticut. A gorgeous, warm hearted, romantic 5/5* read.
On the outskirts of the town is a rundown farm, Maple Syrup farm. Lucy finds out that the new owner of the farm is looking for a farm hand. Lucy has never worked on a farm, but wonders how hard can it be? She sets off to introduce herself to the new owner and is immediately met with a moody, hunk of a man named Clay. Sparks fly immediately between them but they agree on a trial for Lucy to work on the farm.
What follows is a wonderful tale of friendship, new beginnings. A tale of a mysterious history of the farm and it’s previous and present owner. A tale of community spirit.
I loved all the characters from the story. Ceecee and Lil sounded so warm and friendly and Rebecca first introduced us to them in her Gingerbread Café series.
Clay, the moody ‘love god’ sounded gorgeous even with his moodiness. I’d love to hear more from Rebecca with a follow up to Lucy and Clay’s growing friendship.
At the end of the novel we are given a glimpse into Rebecca’s next book; The Little Bookshop on the Seine. This follows the story of Sarah the bookshop owner from the town of Ashford.
I really can’t recommend this book enough and I need to catch up with Rebecca Raisin’s back catalogue with the wonderful characters from Ashford, Connecticut. A gorgeous, warm hearted, romantic 5/5* read.
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