The Honeyfield Bequest

Honeyfield #1

by Anna Jacobs

1901, Wiltshire. Young Kathleen Keller is being forced into marriage with a man she despises by her cruel father. In an act of desperation, she runs away in a bid for a safer life, although one she might not have otherwise have chosen. But when tragedy strikes, Kathleen is left vulnerable and one man threatens the fragile peace she has made for herself.Meanwhile, Nathan Perry works for his father's accountancy firm but yearns for something more satisfying. He is brought in to help with the purchase of Honeyfield House, intended as a safe house for women in trouble by a charitable benefactor, and there encounters Kathleen. Their lives are set to intertwine and neither will be the same again.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2016

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Amina (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, but I couldn't. The story could've been awesome as it had solid material but it didn't go the way I thought it would.
Kathleen is an independant, thinking woman in a time where women were only destined to cook and bear children.
She had a violent father who not only took all of her wages but to make things worse, wanted to marry her to an even more violent man.
So far, things are going smoothly. But the moment Kathleen decides to run away, I realised she wasn't that force of nature as I thought she was.
She was terrified, I understand that, but for me, she was too afraid for someone who's life was in serious danger.
Never mind, I kept reading, and things weren't getting any better. Kathleen got married to assure her safety and her husband wasn't exactely a light as he often admited.
Kathleen gets pregnant and gives birth twice, this could have changed the way things would go now that her and especially her children were in a life threatening situation, but all she does is panicking again and again.
Also, in this story, some people have some "special gifts" like finding lost objects, feeling and seeing ghosts, a bit weired but I've read weirder stuff.
Chapter after chapter, I kept waiting for a surprising plot twist that never came, instead, disappointment was au rendez-vous.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t realised that Anna Jacobs’ honeyfield trilogy carried on from the Greyladies trilogy, so I was pleased to find I’ve read the books in the correct order. Her books are all very similar, but I find the books entertaining and easy reads.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first thoughts on reading the book description and first few pages was, here we go again. A repeat of all the other books. Innocent young girl has an abusive father who forces her to marry a brute, girl runs away, meets the man of her dreams, hides from father and said brute until a final confrontation then lives happily ever after. And yes to a certain extent this book does fall into that formula but there is a bit of a twist to it that makes the story more enjoyable. Kathleen is the innocent young girl of the story. She loves to read and dreams of being able to open a business one day. Her father is controlling and mean, he hits her, he drinks a lot and thinks women should be seen and not heard. He decides Kathleen needs to marry, Kathleen disagrees with this, so dad locks her in her room until the marriage can take place, letting her out only to go to her job ad a waitress. He doesn't know that on her coffee breaks Kathleen has been meeting with a man named Ernest. Ernest is the son of a wealthy carter in town. He is a simple man, not very bright, probably has some sort of developmental delay, but he is a kind hearted soul. Kathleen agrees to run off with him and marry in secret. She does not love Ernest, but cares for him and feels that's good enough for a marriage, considering she never wanted to marry in the first place. So they sneak off get married and live first with Ernest's friend and former family housekeeper Rhoda, and eventually in their own home. Kathleen delivers two strong healthy children to her delight and that of her new father in law who fears his evil nephew Godfrey will come after the children, especially the oldest who's a boy. Ernest dies leaving Kathleen a widow, her father in law protects her until his death, then Kathleen is forced to disappear into the night for her and her children's safety. The other main character in Nathan Perry. He also has a bullying father and is forced to work in the famiky accountant firm which he hates. Nathan is related to the Latimer family of Greyladies fame. He sells Harriet Latimer Honeyfield House, Harriet being the main character from book 1 of the Greyladies books. She intends to run it as a safe house for abused women. It's here where Nathan and Kathleen come together although unlike other books it's very near the end of the story. So while I feared it would be the same old thing I quite liked the twist of Kathleen being a widowed mother of two who actually stands on her own two feet and supports herself a bit for most of the story. I loved seeing characters from Greyladies make appearances, even Alex, the love interest from book three makes an appearance although he's just seen from a distance or spoken about and doesn't really play a part in the story. I look forward to seeing what the next two books have in store, and hope we get to see more of Kathleen, Nathan, Sal and the children.

[Ozbernie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ sadly this book was just simply ‘bleh’ for me.

I thought that I would love this first book in the series and was all ready to hop on the trilogy adventures of the Honeyfield series, however it just didn’t do it for me.

It’s been a while that a book was this non engaging and even though I saw a huge potential in the plot, the story just didn’t go anywhere. Only around page 200 was there a bit of engaging of my attention that began to take place however even that was written in quite a shallow prose.

For me personally, it was not my cup of tea even though the beautiful legacy of the Greyladies (from Anna Jacobs Greyladies series) was touched upon, it still just went nowhere.

I guess this is the risk when you read a series from an author. As much as a series can still be read without the context of previous series there is the potential to erode the essence of the story without the history and foundations from previous characters and plots that it’s built upon.

A very simple storytelling is how I would say this novel is ~ missing depth and substance altogether….may have felt differently reading previous series.

[Joy Norman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book with its twists and turns.so many parents who were so cruel and treated a female as a nobody. No chance to better yourself only to wash iron and cook amongst all that look after all the children and clean.hmmmmm!! The women were treated like second class citizens with no hope of moving away from that same environment.we see Kathleen as quite different as she has taught herself to read however because she is not married her father arranges a partner for her.This starts a nightmare for Kathleen however good wins out in the end

[MRS S PUSEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author never disappoints.

Brilliant story what a kind man to marry Kathleen he just wanted to look after her and make sure her father wouldn't make her marry that awful other one,and with the help of the greyladies and Nathen after the death of her husband .Thank goodness her father changed his mind and helped her i was thinking he was going to sell her to the other Seaton but thankfully it all worked out in the end.

[Jim Shanahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The story was interesting throughout, and the characters felt real and truly alive. The story flowed naturally, and the finish leaves you with a sense of satisfaction. The drama is very immersive and I would read more from this author without hesitation. For the type of story this is, historical drama with romance and danger, it could not be better written. Five stars.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 out of 5.
Solid story and it kept me engaged but I didn't love it.

https://lozlowlibrary.wordpress.com/2...

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen

Kathleen ran away from home as her father wanted her to marry a bully ,she had the help of a man who she married but not a love match but they were happy when he died all her problems started 5 STARS .

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the first book, but nevertheless an easy read, well written and rounded characters.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit melodramatic but an easy read.

[Marisa Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts out well, dips slightly in the midlle and then gets interesting again. An enjoyable historical romance.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 1st in the honeyfield series, I really enjoyed this about Kathleen and her life after she runs away from home. I look forward to reading book 2.

[Lauren Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another easy read, my first Anna Jacobs book. Keen to read more in the series

[Lois Barnard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and fun read

[Cyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that I have discovered this wonderful author, I am devouring her books! Cannot get enough!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous start to a series by Anna Jacob. Her books are like a family. Wrap you in a big hug. Can’t wait to read the second one

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read from Anna well worth reading

[Kees · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really nice book - nothing insane but just a rly nice read

[Maggie Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical is so good.I bought this trilogy from tick tok shop this was a good read this was fantastic xx

[Sadie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story about how women were treated and classed in the early 1900. Today it is still happening.

[william shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story.

[Roslin Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book

[John Milliner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another interesting Read

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second Anna Jacobs. The narration of the first was so awful that I thought I would give the author another go. This lifted my rating from a 2to a 3. Won’t rush for more. This was an easy to read book but a thin story of women rescued by men they instantly fall in love with - what could go wrong. Passable but you can find much better.