Turn Towards the Sun

Rowan Hill #2

by Emma Davies

Lizzie wants nothing more than to start over and put the past behind her. So when she is offered the chance to live and work at Rowan Hill, a beautiful country estate and bustling community of artists, it feels like a dream come true.

But soon after her arrival a series of accidents and misunderstandings begins to threaten the happiness and livelihoods of everyone at Rowan Hill. And when suspicion quickly falls on Lizzie, she discovers that the past is not so easily forgotten.

To keep the life she has just begun to build, Lizzie will have to race to uncover the truth before there are disastrous repercussions for everyone involved. In this heartwarming story of friendship, loss and love, the stakes are high but so are the rewards. If Lizzie can find a way to stay true to herself, she might have a chance at something she has always wanted: a place to call home.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, British Literature

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2017

About the author

Emma Davies once applied for her dream job in the following manner;

'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well she's now a forty something mother of three, and is working on the rest.

By day she's a finance manager and looks at numbers a lot of the time, but by night she gets to use actual words and practices putting them together into sentences. Her twitter bio says she loves her family, her job, reading, writing, singing loudly in the car, and Pringles, so that must be true then.

Wave to her on twitter @Emdavies68

Letting in Light is her debut novel, and she is currently working on her second.

Reviews

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lizzie is surprised she's being invited at Rowan Hill for a job interview. She loves the workplaces with beautiful art and the tearoom with its special crockery and delicious cakes. Lizzie can't believe her luck when Ellie, who runs the place, tells her she wants her to start working as soon as possible and that accommodation will be provided. Lizzie wants to escape the world she grew up in and Rowan Hill means a new chance for her.

Ellie and Will are happy. Rowan Hill is a great place to live and Ellie's ideas have turned it into a happy and thriving place. Will is an artist and when he gets a commission in London Ellie knows this is the end of her idyllic bubble. She has to miss him for several months while she can't even bear to be away from him for even a few hours. How is she going to manage? With the help of her friends she might pull trough, but will there be a price?

Strange things are happening at Rowan Hill. At first there seem to be just misunderstandings, but after some time it's clear that someone's trying to disturb the peace deliberately. All evidence seems to point to Lizzy, but is she really the guilty one? Lizzie finally feels at home somewhere, would she ruin her chances at Rowan Hill or is someone else behind the disturbances?

Lizzie is a sweet girl. She's a bit naïve and unexperienced, but she's smart and she's a fast learner, which are qualities that make her fit right in at Rowan Hill. At first she's nervous, but soon she finds herself. Something puzzling is happening at Rowan Hill and she's at the center of the mystery. I couldn't wait to find out if my suspicions were right and the story kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked how Emma Davies combines a gripping confusing situation with a gorgeous place to stay and loving people who have plenty to give. Rowan Hill is important to Lizzy and I found the way she grows and finally forms friendships endearing.

I enjoyed reading about Ellie. She's strong and capable and loves with all her heart. Missing Will makes her sad and not very attentive. I could feel her heartache and admire how Emma Davies describes emotions in a beautiful open way. Lizzie and Ellie form an interesting friendship, which was lovely to read about. The romance of Emma Davies's story isn't only in bringing two people who are in love together, but it's everywhere. It's in the setting, everything about it is romantic, it's in the thoughts of the main characters and in the beauty they create. For me that's the best thing about her novels, I think it's absolutely wonderful and it always manages to enchant me.

Turn Towards the Sun is another wonderful story by Emma Davies about friendship and community. Rowan Hill is a special place, it's a spellbinding setting for a story. It's beautiful, bursting with creativity and the atmosphere is cozy. Emma Davies's scrumptious descriptions of the cakes Ellie and Lizzie are serving made my mouth water. I absolutely loved this fantastic story and highly recommend it.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of "Turn Towards the Sun" by Emma Davis.
The genre of this book is women's fiction. I find that that the author Emma Davis writes about friendship, betrayal, trust, community, self confidence ,hope and love. In this novel, which takes place at "Rowan Hill", an estate with artistic stores, and tea and scones, Lizzy, one of the main characters is hoping to make a fresh start in life. Lizzy comes from a life of poverty. Her father is a pimp, and her mother overdosed on drugs. Lizzy is insecure and is determined to prove her worth. The problem is that there are mistakes and situations that Lizzy is blamed for. In this novel , other characters are flawed, and someone is not who they seem to be. There is romance, friendship and a touch of mystery. I would recommend this book for anyone that likes women's fiction.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another engrossing book by Emma Davies!

Of course, I loved returning to Rowan Hill, and loved all the familiar faces and getting a glimpse at what we only imagined could be in Letting in Light. Ms Davies has a talent for making you feel apart of the character's world. Her descriptions are spot on, and I see them so clearly, just like if I was really there. I'm so glad she revisited this locale and characters, they are really special! I have to admit though, I wasn't as enchanted by this as her first one. I think it was due mostly to me having difficulty bonding early on with Lizzie. She grew on me, though, and by the end I truly cared.

I would recommend this particularly to those who read and enjoyed Letting in Light, but also those who enjoy British chick-lit with a little more backbone and those who like stories of those who can rise above their circumstances to make something of themselves.

**Many thanks to Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy for honest review purposes**

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Emma Davies and after reading this book I am going to read the others.

Lizzie wants to start over and put her past behind her. When she is offered a chance to live and work at a beautiful country estate in Roman Hill she decides it's just what she needs to start over.
When Lizzie arrives at Roman Hill a lot of the residents have different opinions of Lizzie. This leads to some trouble for Lizzie. Strange things happen at Rowan Hill and because she is a newcomer suspicions fall on her. Can she clear her name?

The story is being told by two different characters Lizzie and Ellie. Ellie's story was told in a previous book which caused some confusion as this is the first book I had read from Emma Davies.

Ellie's is experiencing a lot of self doubt and the book shows how both Lizzie and Ellie grow throughout both conquering their own problems.

I was sent this book via NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

[Skyesmum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story by this author.
I listened to it via KU audiobooks.

Oh what a tangled web we weave...a romance with twists along the way and some exciting parts mixed up.
Great angles and clever story writing made this one a fab listen, I finished it in 2 days as I was enjoying it so much.

Looking forward to listening to more from this author.

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books make you wish to grab the rest of the books in the series immediately and read them as sooner as possible- Emma Davies's TURN TOWARDS SUN is one of them.

Rowan Hill- where the story is centred around- pulls the readers in with its magic, I really did enjoy it. The characters were fun to be around- full of life and merriment. Narrated from two different perspectives, the writing gives the readers a chance to know the characters better and thus enjoy the story well. The havoc happening makes the story more interesting. I did figure out the person behind it very early, though. Still, I kept reading it to know the reason for causing all the troubles. It was nice to watch the main character growing into a sensible young woman- I was rooting for her from the beginning for she seemed so much in need of help. All in all, TURN TOWARDS THE SUN is a delightful book. I recommend it to everyone who enjoys women-centric stories.

Rating: 3.75 / 5

[Ann Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delighted to realise, within the first few pages, that Emma Davies was once again visiting Rowan Hill.

Her books are so consistently good, but each of her books has well-fleshed characters that you can really care about, and want to know more about.

I just love these books, and it is with trepidation that I move on to the last (so far!) of her books.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful return to Rowan Hill with a completely different story that is full of drama, friendship and even an OMG moment which had me completely shocked.

Let me start by saying that Turn Towards the Sun is a standalone novel, and definitely works as one, but its also the sequel to Letting In Light, and although the characters and story progresses from the first, there are a couple of brand new characters introduced, one of which Lizzie, who this book is focused on.

Lizzie comes from a very different background to everyone else at Rowan Hill, which you can tell just from how her chapters are written. She lacks self confidence, and if anything goes wrong she tends to think she must be to blame, as she believes she isn't as clever as the others,and that due to her background that everyone will blame her regardless.

Ellie and Will see something in her and are more than happy for her to work at Rowan Hill and learn a bit about everyone's businesses as a general gopher. What pleased me greatly was the amount of times where we really just how much more there is to Lizzie than there first seems.

It is of course wonderful to see the return of Ellie and Will, Finn and Ben, plus some of the people working in their studios at Rowan Hill. If you haven't read Letting In Light yet, I really don't want to spoil any of the specifics of where their story is heading in this book, but its a great continuation of their story, with some unexpected twists too.

There is are a couple of chapters with high drama which kept me so gripped to the book that I had absolutely know idea where I was, until my subconscious picked up I was at my stop!

One of the more major storylines in the book, I did sort of predict, and was happy with waiting for the people in the book to catch up to what I was thinking, up until the moment where I stopped and actually went OMG! at which point potential motivation became apparent and everything fell into place properly.

Full of writing that transports you beyond the pages and into life at Rowan Hill, Emma Davies' storytelling gets better with each book and she is becoming an author for me that I want to read more from. Turn Towards The Sun had everything I want from a novel, and I loved spending a day with it.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simplistic story

Very predictable. Lizzie and her insecurities frustrated me. And how they did not realize who the culprit was, I do not know. I wanted to shake Ellie to make her communicate with Will.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turn towards the sun by Emma Davies is a women's fiction and general fiction (adult) read.
Lizzie wants nothing more than to start over and put the past behind her. So when she is offered the chance to live and work at Rowan Hill, a beautiful country estate and bustling community of artists. It feels like a dream come true.
Fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story and the characters. This was a lovely feel good read. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I have discovered the wonderful writing of Emma Davies she has become one of my go to authors as I know I will always be guaranteed a brilliant, engaging read full of characters attempting to find happiness on both a personal and professional level whilst helping others out along the way. Turn Towards the Sun is the second full length novel from Emma and once again takes us back to the beautiful setting of Rowan Hill which was featured in Letting in Light. Rowan Hill is fast becoming a community of people all working individually with their little business yet coming together as one to make Rowan Hill the special place it is which the reader can sense so well throughout the book.

I was delighted to see we had another full length story from Emma as we eagerly await the next installments in her Tales from Appleyard series, Gooseberry Fool and Blackberry Way, as when the stories are this good you really don't like to be left waiting. This new book can be read as a stand alone as its main focus is on a different character from those we have met previously at Rowan Hill. Although the characters we grew to love and followed so closely make a welcome return and it was almost like we had just taken a little break from them for a few months yet it just like catching up with old friends after a brief absence. It felt like the reader was welcomed with open arms to read and enjoy the continuation of the story. I would suggest if you do love this story as much as I did then go back and read Letting in Light if only to enhance your reading experience and to bring greater understanding as to how certain characters reached the place they are now at and to understand their mindset and reasons for certain actions or opinions. Saying that you wouldn't miss out if you didn't but I know I would have regretted it if I hadn't read the first book.

From the start it felt like all the setting up and introduction of the main characters had been established in the first book and the author felt more ready and willing to introduce new characters and develop a major new storyline yet the old characters still featured and mixed well with the new and there were some aspects to their plots which had continual development throughout this book. Lizzie is the new female character we turn our attention to this time, she arrives fresh off the bus to Rowan Hill for an interview to work with Ellie and the team and help out where ever needed. Lizzie seems quite a closed book and I think she was like this for the majority of the story. It was evident she was hiding something and she believed if it came out into the open people would make rash judgements of her regardless of the good work she may have had already done. She wanted people to take her for what she was and how she acted now and not uncover her past which would taint the present.

Ellie likes Lizzie instantly and takes a chance and offers her the job with some on site accommodation as she will need all the help she can get over the next few months especially as her fiancée Will will be away working on a stained glass commission. So Ellie is left to run the tea rooms and keep a general eye on the Rowan Hill community all while organising her summer wedding. At times I think Lizzie came across as being that bit too closed off and slightly dim, she was so socially awkward and inappropriate at times. I don't mean that in the worst way but there were so many opportunities for her to speak the truth or offer her viewpoint and she never did and quite often she took things up so wrong where as someone else would have understood what was going on. Overall she lacked total faith and confidence in her abilities and really didn't give herself enough credit for what she was truly capable of. I could almost compare her to a butterfly. She came to Rowan Hill encased within a cocoon of hurt and lack of belief and over the time she spent with Ellie and co she went through a transformation with numerous ups and downs, the only question the reader kept asking was would she emerge out the other side a beautiful butterfly or would things get her down to much that she reverts back to past coping mechanisms?

Emma Davies really builds up a sense of the community feeling that Will was trying to establish at Rowan Hill and though he is absent for quite a lot of this book the remaining characters more than make up for this. This time I found some of the characters quite frustrating and Ellie was one of them. On one hand she seemed to get on with her job in the tea rooms and do her best for Lizzie and the others but on the other she appeared to be in some sort of melancholy over Will's absence and doubts regarding the wedding more like wedding nerves crept in. I wanted to shake her so many times and just say get over it. You're with the man of your dreams, you have a fantastic set up at Rowan Hill and yet you are questioning things. Why couldn't she see exactly what was in front of her eyes and I suppose I mean that in more ways than one as events start to take a slightly sinister turn. I did begin to slightly wonder when the plot as outlined in the blurb would come into play as it had mentioned a series of accidents and misunderstandings threaten the happiness of everyone at Rowan Hill but Emma Davies skilfully weaved this into the overall story. I loved the mystery element as incidents occurred that you knew were not the fault of Lizzie even though being the newbie and being so secretive suspicion instantly fell on her yet I didn't know who the culprit actually was. Well for quite some time I didn't but then it clicked with me but the reasons behind all the incidents I wouldn't have ever thought of and it was quite ingenious and meant for me that aspect of the storyline was extremely well done and had pulled the wool over my eyes.

I felt Turn Towards the Sun had even more depth than the first book which I had loved. There was such a great mix of feelings inspired by all the characters and events and the rising mystery and tension within the small setting was crafted to perfection. My earlier misgivings regarding Ellie completely disappeared as I felt she began to get her act together and the fog she seemed to have surrounded herself began to dissolve and the character I had loved in Letting in Light made a welcome return. I loved Turn Towards the Sun just as much as Letting in Light in fact even more so. I devoured it in a few hours and literally couldn't put the Kindle down so caught up was I in the story and the brilliant characters and setting Emma Davies has created.

Emma Davies for me is fast becoming one of those authors whose books you would by no questions asked as to whether you like the cover (which is gorgeous by the way) or whether the blurb appeals? I'd just rush out and buy her books as soon as publication day arrives. I really want another visit to Rowan Hill and I do hope that the author feels this could be possible. In the meantime I'm eagerly awaiting the publication of Gooseberry Fool with not long to wait until the 16th of February.

[Marjorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't aware when I purchased this book that it was a sequel. However, this is made abundantly clear as soon as you start reading. The Author has presumed that we, the reader, are already au fait with the world of Rowan Hill and the populace of this idyllic retreat. I nearly gave up because it was a pretty much impenetrable world but I persevered because so much of the tale is from Lizzie's point of view and she is as anew to this world as we are.

Over all I am glad I did as I enjoyed the tale. The plotting is strong, even if a little transparent as to the identity of the person wreaking all these terrible wrongs in the Tea Shop and Studios. The device of telling the tale from several viewpoints works well as it does allow you to get to know the characters a little more. That said, I found Ellie in particular to be annoying - she just wants everyone to be happy and crashes down in to self-flagellation whenever this goes awry - I desperately wanted to slap her face and tell her to grow up. Lizzie's meekness and anxiety at first annoyed me but as she began to grow and develop a little confidence I did warm to her. Patience, Helen, Jane, Alice and Gins are pretty much closed books to me as they are peripheral to this tale so just fill up page space and the male characters (Will, Ben and Finn) are really just names.

I did find myself getting annoyed at the way Lizzie's background was being dealt with. In many places everyone comes across a little sanctimonious just because she came from a family gripped by poverty so didn't get summer holidays or cinema visits or even nutritious food. I am sure this was not the way the author intended this to come across on the page but, to this reader, it did.

Strangely though, despite all my moaning, I did get sucked in to this peaceful world and found myself reading eagerly on and hoping that Lizzie would be believed. I was even rooting for Ellie's wedding to Will and hoping that all the misunderstandings would get sorted out. I know, I know in this genre they probably did but I still enjoyed getting there.

A solid book that took me quite some time to get into but was worth my perseverance.

[Joyce Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Lizzie, a young 20ish girl who has been brought up in a rough life with little advantages. She is working hard to better her circumstances, and has landed a job at Rowan Hill, a sort of cooperative set of shops in England. The story is told from the alternating view of Lizzie and Ellie, a woman who was instrumental in creating the Rowan Hill cooperative. Ellie's main story is told in an earlier book, which I had not read. This did lead to some confusion about the backstory of some of the characters. I would definitely recommend reading the first story before reading this one.

During the story a set of mischievous events take place that lend suspicion to Lizzie, the newest member of the area. The residents of the area are divided in their opinions of Lizzie, and this leads to some turmoil for this character. Ellie is portrayed as a person who is not usually bothered by events around her, but has been lately experiencing a lot of self doubt. This story highlights how Lizzie grows into a confident woman and finds a way to start her on a new path in life, and helps Ellie regain her equilibrium.

The surrounding characters are interesting and well developed. This story will make you feel satisfied and wonder what will happen to Lizzie and Ellie as they grow older.

[Colette Kebell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for those who loved "Letting in Light", or even for those who haven't yet read it.

I couldn't wait to get re-acquainted with Rowan Hill and I was about as far from disappointed as a person can get. This book is just as enchanting as the first in this series, but somehow it drew me in even more...to the point of not switching off my reading light til around 2am on more than one occasion. The story is so well written and draws you in from the outset, making you feel as though you yourself are part of this wonderful community. All the elements are there for the reading...friendship, love, new beginnings, intrigue, mystery and compassion. I'm not going to post any spoilers as I don't want to encroach on another person's reading enjoyment. This is definitely a book well worth reading, though you might like to start with "Letting in Light", so you fully appreciate the sense of belonging this book brings to your reading pleasure.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turn Towards the Sun is by Emma Davies. This is a sweet novel about the love a town has for each other and how they won’t let anyone interfere.
Lizzie has come to Rowen Hall to see if she can find a job and improve her life. She wants to improve her lot in life. Her work at Rowen Hall is just as she wished it to be. She stayed up late and got up early to please Ellie. Lizzie is a little clumsy and manages to break things but her heart is in the right place.
As time passes, the village is getting ready for Will and Ellie’s wedding. Ellie envisions a quaint good old-fashioned wedding, but her friend Fliss wants to try her hand at being a wedding planner so sets out to plan the wedding while life goes on for Elllie.
When strange things begin to happen in the village, all eyes turn to Lizzie as she is new. Was she the one doing the
vandalism and causing all the problems? When Lizzie runs away, she makes herself look very guilty.

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed the clottage on the hill series, I decided to read this duet and really wished I hadn’t.

I’m afraid they don’t match up to the expectations I had after reading the cottage series.

There were really unpleasant issues in both books. It certainly made this a difficult book to read and enjoy. It didn’t help that the dual POV between Ellie and Lizzie simply didn’t work for me - and the enormous cast of characters overwhelmed the rather flimsy plot.

I didn’t care about any of the characters and I didn’t like the way the author portrayed poor Lizzie. Sorry, I know how hard the author must have worked on this and her more recent books are definitely superior - but this story was boring and I ended up skimming it. Very disappointing.

[Jane Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, light read with some witty parts and some moving parts that all added up to the perfect book to read on cosy autumn evenings. I had not read the previous book in the series but it didn't affect my enjoyment at all.
The "whodunnit" part of the story was so clear to the reader that it surprised me that none of the characters (apart, of course, from the one wrongly suspected) saw what was going on, although the why and how still came as a surprise.
The best part for me though was the description of the tea room with the stained glass window - I would dearly love to visit that room, it was so beautifully described that I can picture it quite vividly!

[Jevgenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

Really beautiful story. Really hope there will be more of Rowan Hill in the future, I'm afraid I'm addicted to these characters now :) Feels like family reunion :) Hope there will be Lizzie's love story too... I don't know how about you, but when I read something good, something I really enjoy, I try to read it a bit slower, but couldn't stop myself and finished in 2 days lol
If I relly like a book, it will end up on my actual bookshelf ( usually I read on kindle), so maybe one day, when my daughters a lot older, they can enjoy it too , or I will read it again sometime. That book deffinately goes on bookshelf list :) Thank you x

[Karen M. Funk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real in the most delightful way! So many quotable lines and believable characters to relish, as well as satisfying resolutions to the difficulties faced. I recommend it to anyone still living life on this tortured planet. Only the dead can be excused from the lessons presented. I marked it up quite liberally! Can't wait to read more of her insightful stories.

Real in the most delightful way! I recommend it to anyone still living human life on this tortured planet. Only the dead can be excused from the lessons presented. I marked it up quite liberally. Can't wait to read more of her insightful stories.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This being recommended by Scribd as a similar novel to a collection of fairly silly cozy mysteries is a stretch. There is a respectable plot, but overall it’s a nauseating hash of melodramatic drivel and unrealistic responses to circumstances, with a bit of none-too-subtle shaming of classist prejudice thrown in. As it was the only thing I currently had downloaded, I doggedly persisted to the end but I can’t recommend bothering. Revolting platitudes about what is important in life and the nature of true friendship. It was quickly consumed as an audiobook, but I’m a little mad I’ll never retrieve those few hours.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, Fabulous Flippin Brilliant

Another 24 hours spent reading, with only rest stops and quick meals!

Emma Davies has done it again, another brilliant book, with real characters with class and strengths. Characters who make you want to read about them for ever, even though you know when you get to the end of the book you have to day goodbye :(

Will and Ellie's wedding is looming. The Rowan community is growing and lots of new characters, some returning ones and a sudden birth!

Emma Davies is a champion painter of stories that will grip you by the throat.

My only dislike is that they have to end sometime. Brilliant *****

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story and I loved Lizzie. I wanted to get more of her backstory, but I think that is part of the author's style.

Lizzie is trying to get away from her horrible home life and make something of herself. She takes a job and a room at Rowan Hill, where everyone is so nice to her. She feels like she isn't good enough to be friends with the residents at Rowan Hill and is nervous around everyone at first.

Things start going wrong, starting off small and then getting bigger. All things point to Lizzie and it throws the whole community into upheaval. Lizzie is determined to get to the bottom of things and prove to the people who took her in that she can be trusted.

A good sequel to the first book and those characters are all very prominent in the story. Things are more suggested than spelled out and I found that to be very intriguing. I would definitely check out more books from this author.

[Julie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!!

I chose this rating because reading this book gave me so much pleasure. Having already read Letting in Light it was a pure delight to just sit back, relax curled up in my comfy armchair and catch up with old and new friends in Turn towards the Sun. If your looking for a heart felt warm read then you can't go wrong with this lovely read. I rate Emma Davies as one of the best upcoming new authors that you simply must read!!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good follow up book

The second book about Rowan Jill is just as enjoyable as the first. It is nice to catch up with all the characters and how their lives have progressed since the first book. I would definitely recommend reading the first and second books about the Rowan Hill families. They are both well written and very descriptive. Reading about the cakes made my mouth water and I could easily picture the courtyard with the various craft shops clustered around it.

[sally whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great follow up book

This was so much better than the first although I really enjoyed that too. This had more going on in this a mystery to solve which I didn't guess, more great characters. Lizzie was quite annoying at first but I did warm to her by the end. I personally feel you need to read the first book before this as it gives the reader a better understanding/background. Highly recommend this book and if you like cakes you'll enjoy this 😁

[Sarah Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this was a bit light and fluffy - I really enjoyed it - I engaged with all the characters and thought they were all well written - except the main character Lizzy - she was well written but every now and then I just thought 'no she wouldn't say that' - also whilst I had a clear picture of all the other characters - I couldn't quite get a set picture of Lizzy which I found a bit frustrating but not enough to allow it to spoil the book for me!

[Carol North · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lizzie has had a tough life and is excited to be offered a job at Rowan Hill where she is able to live in and earn a wage. She settles in and makes new friends quickly finding herself enjoying a new life where she is useful and trusted. Then things start to go wrong, unexplained accidents and events that make Lizzie begin to question herself. If Lizzie isn't responsible, then who is? A magical story of love and loss filled with terrific characters.

[Janette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Letting In Light and so I was excited to start Turn Towards The Sun and I wasn't disappointed. Extremely well written I was immediately drawn into the story. It was good to catch up with characters from the previous book and to meet some new ones too. Lizzie is a new character who arrives for her job interview on the bus - I enjoyed her story and was hoping things would work out well for her. There are a series of twists and turns and it is not obvious who the villain is.

This book could be read as a stand alone novel but I would recommend reading Letting In Light first.

I really loved the friendships in the books and would love to visit the craft studios. A fantastic read - can't wait for Emma's next book!

[Maria Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start but picks up later

I would have given this book 5 stars except for the fact that the start felt slow. I read the first book and loved it, but this one seemed to take a little time to get going. I almost stopped reading it, but decided to give it another chance. It picked up towards the end, so I don't regret continuing.