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Willow Tree Hall #1
A House to Mend a Broken Heart
Everyone is hiding from something...
Full of warmth, laughter, tears and heartache. Find out if there is a happy-ever-after at Willow Tree Hall. Perfect for the fans of Milly Johnson and Lucy Diamond.
Willow Tree Hall has seen much better days and has been the proud ancestral home of the Earl and Countess of Cranley for centuries.
With no qualifications and escaping her past Annie Rogers takes the job as housekeeper to widowed Arthur, the charming current Earl of Cranley. After a bad fall puts Arthur in hospital, it's up to his reluctant heir, Sam Harris, to lend a helping hand and try to find a sustainable future for the Estate.
With the house requiring a full renovation, Annie suddenly finds herself completely out of her depth with a team of dodgy builders and Sam watching critically from the side-lines.
With Sam running from his past and Annie hiding from hers, just maybe together they can bring Willow Tree Hall back to life.
The start of a beautiful new series focussing on the lives and loves, trials and tribulations of all those who live and work at Willow Tree Hall.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
508 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
September 26, 2017
5☆ Full of charm, warmth and a sprinkle of Romance
A House to Mend a Broken Heart is the very first book I have read by Alison Sherlock, and I'm happy to say it won't be my last.
A House to Mend a Broken Heart is beautifully written, it's a book about family, relationships, love, humour, new beginnings all centered around the beautiful Stately home.
When Sam turns up to find his Grandfather Arthur in hospital he knows he should help to look after Willow Tree Hall but he is very reluctant to do so.
You see Willow Tree Hall is a gorgeous stately home and has been passed down through the generations and Arthur the current Earl and his sister Rose are the current owners, and Sam is set to be it's new owner and Earl.
However he has no interest whatsoever in becoming an Earl or acquiring his families estate.
He wants a different life, even though he is well aware of how much it means to his family.
Annie is the housekeeper at Willow Tree Hall and she has grown to love it dearly.
Annie has a very close relationship with Arthur, and Sam is not one bit impressed by her.
In fact sparks fly between Sam and Annie as he believes Annie's intentions are not honest.
Willow Tree Hall isn't in the best of conditions for a grand Stately home, it's in desperate need for some TLC, and renovations.
So what Sam decides to do.... is hire a cowboy company which causes nothing but trouble and mishaps.
It's time for Sam to step up and sort things out!
I adored Annie and Sam's relationship, the banter between them, the obvious chemistry.
I loved how dispite how Sam wants to dislike Annie and Willow Tree Hall, something obviously is softening him up.
Now whether that is the mischievous matchmaking Rose and Arthur are meddling with or the charm of Willow Tree itself..... I guess you will just have to discover that bit for yourself!
Alison has swept me away with the beauty and charm of Willow Tree Hall and the Characters within.
A very easy/ feel good vibe with a dash of humour and a sprinkling of Romance makes this book the perfect holiday read.
A great book for those who love Chick Lit and Humour, romance and holiday reads.
I received this book from the Publisher for free via Netgalley, in which I voluntarily reviewed.
My Review is also on my blog website:
http://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/09...
A House to Mend a Broken Heart is the very first book I have read by Alison Sherlock, and I'm happy to say it won't be my last.
A House to Mend a Broken Heart is beautifully written, it's a book about family, relationships, love, humour, new beginnings all centered around the beautiful Stately home.
When Sam turns up to find his Grandfather Arthur in hospital he knows he should help to look after Willow Tree Hall but he is very reluctant to do so.
You see Willow Tree Hall is a gorgeous stately home and has been passed down through the generations and Arthur the current Earl and his sister Rose are the current owners, and Sam is set to be it's new owner and Earl.
However he has no interest whatsoever in becoming an Earl or acquiring his families estate.
He wants a different life, even though he is well aware of how much it means to his family.
Annie is the housekeeper at Willow Tree Hall and she has grown to love it dearly.
Annie has a very close relationship with Arthur, and Sam is not one bit impressed by her.
In fact sparks fly between Sam and Annie as he believes Annie's intentions are not honest.
Willow Tree Hall isn't in the best of conditions for a grand Stately home, it's in desperate need for some TLC, and renovations.
So what Sam decides to do.... is hire a cowboy company which causes nothing but trouble and mishaps.
It's time for Sam to step up and sort things out!
I adored Annie and Sam's relationship, the banter between them, the obvious chemistry.
I loved how dispite how Sam wants to dislike Annie and Willow Tree Hall, something obviously is softening him up.
Now whether that is the mischievous matchmaking Rose and Arthur are meddling with or the charm of Willow Tree itself..... I guess you will just have to discover that bit for yourself!
Alison has swept me away with the beauty and charm of Willow Tree Hall and the Characters within.
A very easy/ feel good vibe with a dash of humour and a sprinkling of Romance makes this book the perfect holiday read.
A great book for those who love Chick Lit and Humour, romance and holiday reads.
I received this book from the Publisher for free via Netgalley, in which I voluntarily reviewed.
My Review is also on my blog website:
http://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/09...
July 4, 2017
Oh boy, guys, it is already three years since Alison Sherlock has published a new book! Amazing... I've read all of Alison's previous books and loved all of them, so having seen she finally has a new book out was like getting an earlier birthday present - there is always so much warmth to Ms Sherlock's writing, and the stories are simple but always very uplifting. I really couldn't wait to start reading "A House to Mend a Broken Heart".
The stately home Willow Tree Hall was a character itself in this story. I really liked to see all the refreshing changes being done to it, and I loved how much the characters adored the house, how they loved it and couldn't imagine living somewhere else. Of course, not all of them, and Alison Sherlock has truly well captured the difference between the generations and their argumentation, and really, you could see the reasons of both sides. I could understand that not all young people are interested in inheriting stately home, look after it and its tenants, that they had other ideas for their lives, but I also could understand the older generation who wanted the places to stay in the families. The characters were not too complicated or too complex, but as the whole story was relatively simple it just worked perfectly and there was enough depth and background to them to just fall for them. Annie was lovely and she wore her heart on her sleeve, although there were moments that she seemed so indecisive and doubting in herself and they were annoying, those moments, even though we knew where all those insecurity was coming from.
Sam, well, Sam. To be honest at the very beginning of the book I was dead sure that I know how it's going to end and who's going to be Annie's love interest, but I was wrong. I think that I fell a little bit in love with Sam, especially in the second part of the book where he started to show his real self and turned out to be the perfect guy. But what I liked most in the characters was that they were developing, not staying in place.
I also adored the background characters, well, maybe with the exception of Cassandra, but there is no way you can like Cassandra, she was made by the author to be disliked, but the rest of them, Arthur, Alex or especially Sam Aunt's Rose, were colourful and vivid, I personally think that there was more life in them as in Annie, but pssst, Annie was also lovely. I really liked how Rose liked to shock Will and Sam with her stories and telling them what she was up to, and her passion to her vintage clothes was shining through the pages.
Annie and Sam's stories weren't rushed and they were developing in just the right way, with the right amount of bits being revealed about their backgrounds, letting us understand what made them and what makes them tick. This relationship was slowly developing and growing and I liked it, because it was not too wishy - washy, too sweet, it just felt realistic.
There were moments that felt too far - fetched for my liking, for example with Cassandra, the way she treated people and how quickly her thread has ended, and the way the big music mogul Sam has managed to hire the first builder he set his eyes on to renovate the house, and maybe I'd love to see some more twists and turns, as the story was on a very steady level, but altogether I really enjoyed it. I love Alison Sherlock's writing style, it is warm and inviting, that was getting better and better with the story progressing, and I didn't have any problems to feel a part of the story.
So yes, altogether the story maybe was a little clichéd and predictable, but you know what? It didn't bother me so much this time because it just worked - all the elements worked well together. It was an easy, adorable read with likeable characters, a prefect mix of funny and poignant. The ending seemed a little too rushed for my liking and when at the beginning it was so hard and difficult with the house, at the end it seemed as if it was renovating itself but "A House to Mend a Broken Heart" really was a lovely, peaceful story about families, second chances, expectations, hope and love - a brilliant, uplifting mix of romance, drama and fun. Recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
November 29, 2017
The story is simple Annie takes up a job as a housekeeper to Arthur. A fall puts Arthur in the hospital and enter Sam Harris. And the story starts initially with antagonism between Annie and Sam, and this tension soon turns to love.
This is my first book by Alison Sherlock and I must say I was delighted with the dialogues between Sam and Annie. It was pleasant to go on a journey with seeing their dislike turn to love.
The other secondary characters played their parts and the plot worked aptly for them. Cassandra, especially, was truly a hated character, well depicted by the author. I wished Sam was a stronger person who stood up for Annie in the face of Cassandra's spiteful comments. And I wanted Annie to be more confident, but those are just tiny niggles.
Alison's description of the stately home of Willow Tree Hall made me long to see the inside of such a home.
On the whole, this was a romantic feel-good book, initially slow to develop but it does make a great read.
This is my first book by Alison Sherlock and I must say I was delighted with the dialogues between Sam and Annie. It was pleasant to go on a journey with seeing their dislike turn to love.
The other secondary characters played their parts and the plot worked aptly for them. Cassandra, especially, was truly a hated character, well depicted by the author. I wished Sam was a stronger person who stood up for Annie in the face of Cassandra's spiteful comments. And I wanted Annie to be more confident, but those are just tiny niggles.
Alison's description of the stately home of Willow Tree Hall made me long to see the inside of such a home.
On the whole, this was a romantic feel-good book, initially slow to develop but it does make a great read.
June 30, 2017
I found this book to be a fabulous read. I adored learning about Willow Tree Hall and it's occupants, I really could picture the house after Alison Sherlock did a lovely job of setting the scene. I love stately homes so it made a refreshing change to read about one in such a lighthearted way. It really felt like the plot was really an up to date look at stately homes as like in the book, the younger generation wanting to do something else than live in a big house looking after tenants etc.
I loved the character of Annie and I thought she was a lovely sweet girl however way out of her depth being a housekeeper! It was really nice to see how she grew not only as a person but within her job as well. Sam, well I did fall a little bit in love with. In the beginning he was not wanting a part of being an earl and looking after Willow Tree Hall but with his grandfather Arthur in hospital he had to come back and see how things really are. I also loved seeing how he grew as a person and getting more involved in the day to day running of a house. The relationship that grew between Sam and Annie was very endearing to read and very sweet, at times it was bordering on a bit too sweet but I still loved it.
I did feel the plot was a tad predictable but I like predictable and it made it a really sweet book to escape to during this rainy British summer! I loved the other characters in the book, Megan, Alex, Arthur, Rose and Will and I really hope we get to see more of Will's story in the future.
I loved Alison's writing style and I loved how she alternated between Annie and Sam so we got to see their perspective on things. I will be looking forward to revisiting Willow Tree Hall in the future to see how my favourite stately home is getting along!
I received a copy of the book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I loved the character of Annie and I thought she was a lovely sweet girl however way out of her depth being a housekeeper! It was really nice to see how she grew not only as a person but within her job as well. Sam, well I did fall a little bit in love with. In the beginning he was not wanting a part of being an earl and looking after Willow Tree Hall but with his grandfather Arthur in hospital he had to come back and see how things really are. I also loved seeing how he grew as a person and getting more involved in the day to day running of a house. The relationship that grew between Sam and Annie was very endearing to read and very sweet, at times it was bordering on a bit too sweet but I still loved it.
I did feel the plot was a tad predictable but I like predictable and it made it a really sweet book to escape to during this rainy British summer! I loved the other characters in the book, Megan, Alex, Arthur, Rose and Will and I really hope we get to see more of Will's story in the future.
I loved Alison's writing style and I loved how she alternated between Annie and Sam so we got to see their perspective on things. I will be looking forward to revisiting Willow Tree Hall in the future to see how my favourite stately home is getting along!
I received a copy of the book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
July 14, 2017
I read this book on holiday and it was the perfect escapism. I fell in love with the house as much as Annie and Sam...made me want to find my own stately home to renovate. Gorgeous 'will they, won't they' romance and a wonderfully eclectic cast of colourful secondary characters. Fabulous.
October 11, 2017
3.75 stars
I was pretty surprised by how much I enjoyed this since I don't usually have much luck with free Kindle books.
It was actually well written, I genuinely cared for secondary characters (a rare occurrence), and I even enjoyed the parts about Willow Tree Hall's renovation (even rarer).
BUT. (Because there's always a "but" with me....)
I disliked the sassy gay best friend trope since Alex could have been an entertaining character without shouting "fabulous!" on every page. He could have also been a great interior designer without losing his shit over expensive handbags and dresses.
Then came the whole Cassandra situation. Sam (hero) was already friends with Anne (heroine and his family estate's housekeeper) when Cassandra (Sam's "popstar" girlfriend) arrived and started treating Anne like trash. In front of Sam. Who did nothing. And it wasn't even a one-off, Cassandra was a colossal bitch to Anne throughout the book, and Sam was present at practically every occasion. He only broke up with her when he heard her sing without proper equipment and couldn't believe she was so bad in real life. Apparently he couldn't stomach her lying to the world, but was just fine with her disrespecting and verbally abusing his family and friends.
The author also forgot to resolve , who never did tell Sam or Steve about it. That plot line was just... abandoned?
Lastly, the ending. I liked Sam and Anne together but
So yes, the last 10% knocked a whole star off for me but the rest of the book proved a great escape from a super stressful week.
I was pretty surprised by how much I enjoyed this since I don't usually have much luck with free Kindle books.
It was actually well written, I genuinely cared for secondary characters (a rare occurrence), and I even enjoyed the parts about Willow Tree Hall's renovation (even rarer).
BUT. (Because there's always a "but" with me....)
I disliked the sassy gay best friend trope since Alex could have been an entertaining character without shouting "fabulous!" on every page. He could have also been a great interior designer without losing his shit over expensive handbags and dresses.
Then came the whole Cassandra situation. Sam (hero) was already friends with Anne (heroine and his family estate's housekeeper) when Cassandra (Sam's "popstar" girlfriend) arrived and started treating Anne like trash. In front of Sam. Who did nothing. And it wasn't even a one-off, Cassandra was a colossal bitch to Anne throughout the book, and Sam was present at practically every occasion. He only broke up with her when he heard her sing without proper equipment and couldn't believe she was so bad in real life. Apparently he couldn't stomach her lying to the world, but was just fine with her disrespecting and verbally abusing his family and friends.
The author also forgot to resolve , who never did tell Sam or Steve about it. That plot line was just... abandoned?
Lastly, the ending. I liked Sam and Anne together but
So yes, the last 10% knocked a whole star off for me but the rest of the book proved a great escape from a super stressful week.
May 26, 2018
It has been a while since I last read a book by Alison Sherlock and I'm really not sure why I left it that long, as I really like this author and her writing style and storytelling skills.
A House to Mend A Broken Heart drew me in even more than I was expecting it to, to the extent that I read it in a few hours flat, in pretty much one sitting. It just gave me such a sense of calm and good feeling as I read it, that I didn't want to let it go.
From the moment that Annie meets Sam I loved every interaction between the pair, there is some great banter, and there was a certain sense of satisfaction seeing Sam hire soe incredibly dodgy builders for trying to renovate his family home, Willow Tree Hall.
Both of our leads have things in their past which need to be revealed, while one of my favorite characters as Aunt Rose who was a breath of fresh air wherever she appeared - and I may be jealous of her wonderful wardrobe too.
There is a lot to enjoy in this book and by the end I had an incredibly clear picture of Willow Tree Hall, and just how amazing it could look. I loved the various story threads about family coming in many shapes and sizes and also seeing how Sam's character greatly changed from workaholic to well far more rounded man.
Plenty of smiles to be had reading this, and the characters are developed with a bit of emotional depth to them too, which made the book feel very real in addition to enjoyable.
Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
A House to Mend A Broken Heart drew me in even more than I was expecting it to, to the extent that I read it in a few hours flat, in pretty much one sitting. It just gave me such a sense of calm and good feeling as I read it, that I didn't want to let it go.
From the moment that Annie meets Sam I loved every interaction between the pair, there is some great banter, and there was a certain sense of satisfaction seeing Sam hire soe incredibly dodgy builders for trying to renovate his family home, Willow Tree Hall.
Both of our leads have things in their past which need to be revealed, while one of my favorite characters as Aunt Rose who was a breath of fresh air wherever she appeared - and I may be jealous of her wonderful wardrobe too.
There is a lot to enjoy in this book and by the end I had an incredibly clear picture of Willow Tree Hall, and just how amazing it could look. I loved the various story threads about family coming in many shapes and sizes and also seeing how Sam's character greatly changed from workaholic to well far more rounded man.
Plenty of smiles to be had reading this, and the characters are developed with a bit of emotional depth to them too, which made the book feel very real in addition to enjoyable.
Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 9, 2017
I guess I have to mention the lovely cover which definitely attracted my attention along with reading the description for the book my mind was made up. The story pulled me in straight away with an easy going writing style that made me feel so comfortable. I completely loved the feel of the book it had a wonderful sentimental feel to it that just may have slightly tugged at my heart strings.
The whole family was a delight to get to know and I especially liked Rose with her lively ways and her matchmaking skills. From the disastrous builders to the prickly and reluctant heir Sam, Annie really has her work cut out trying to keep everything running smoothly. Annie is easily likeable, she really does try to do her best even if she sometimes makes mistakes. The house itself was easily imagined thanks to Alison Sherlock's lovely writing and I even felt a little heartbroken when everything seemingly begins to fall apart around them. All of the characters in this book are developed well and I really felt as if I got to know everyone at Willow Tree Hall.
It really was a lovely way to spend a few hours and relax with curled up on the sofa. I loved getting to know the characters and stepping inside Willow Tree Hall. I wished I could have spent a little while longer there which is a definite sign of a an engaging story.
Full of warmth it really is a delightful read!
With thanks to Yasemin at Aria & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The whole family was a delight to get to know and I especially liked Rose with her lively ways and her matchmaking skills. From the disastrous builders to the prickly and reluctant heir Sam, Annie really has her work cut out trying to keep everything running smoothly. Annie is easily likeable, she really does try to do her best even if she sometimes makes mistakes. The house itself was easily imagined thanks to Alison Sherlock's lovely writing and I even felt a little heartbroken when everything seemingly begins to fall apart around them. All of the characters in this book are developed well and I really felt as if I got to know everyone at Willow Tree Hall.
It really was a lovely way to spend a few hours and relax with curled up on the sofa. I loved getting to know the characters and stepping inside Willow Tree Hall. I wished I could have spent a little while longer there which is a definite sign of a an engaging story.
Full of warmth it really is a delightful read!
With thanks to Yasemin at Aria & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
July 7, 2017
This is the first book I have read by Alison .. A House to Mend a Broken Heart has such a sweet, simple but enticing cover.
You generally get a feeling from the first page whether it’s going to be an enjoyable story and this was no exception. Annie is a rather naive girl working as a housekeeper at a stately home. She has become attached to the Earl and views Arthur as a surrogate grandpa.
Following an accident that she perceives as her fault, Arthur ends up in hospital which prompts his estranged grandson to return. Sam of course blames Annie, is resentful of her relationship with Arthur and assumes she is ‘after’ something.
This is a lovely easy read, it delves into family relationships, exploring how the older generation cherish Willow Tree Hall and their title whereas the younger generation aren’t so interested.
It’s interesting watching as the place is renovated even if there are a few cowboy builders involved! It sounds a divine place, somewhere I would love to visit and Arthur sounds a sweetie along with his sister Rose. I think they would give a very warm welcome.
I quite liked Annie, she certainly had her work cut out as a housekeeper and would probably have fared better in a different position, however it’s nice to see her blossom. From the beginning I was fairly sure how things would pan out, there has to be a romance somewhere. It was a refreshing book to read, full of lovely characters who all made an impression. The ending winds up satisfactorily and left me with a smile. Perfect as a holiday read, relax and enjoy.
Thanks to the author, Yasemin at Aria and Netgalley for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
You generally get a feeling from the first page whether it’s going to be an enjoyable story and this was no exception. Annie is a rather naive girl working as a housekeeper at a stately home. She has become attached to the Earl and views Arthur as a surrogate grandpa.
Following an accident that she perceives as her fault, Arthur ends up in hospital which prompts his estranged grandson to return. Sam of course blames Annie, is resentful of her relationship with Arthur and assumes she is ‘after’ something.
This is a lovely easy read, it delves into family relationships, exploring how the older generation cherish Willow Tree Hall and their title whereas the younger generation aren’t so interested.
It’s interesting watching as the place is renovated even if there are a few cowboy builders involved! It sounds a divine place, somewhere I would love to visit and Arthur sounds a sweetie along with his sister Rose. I think they would give a very warm welcome.
I quite liked Annie, she certainly had her work cut out as a housekeeper and would probably have fared better in a different position, however it’s nice to see her blossom. From the beginning I was fairly sure how things would pan out, there has to be a romance somewhere. It was a refreshing book to read, full of lovely characters who all made an impression. The ending winds up satisfactorily and left me with a smile. Perfect as a holiday read, relax and enjoy.
Thanks to the author, Yasemin at Aria and Netgalley for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
January 22, 2018
Romantic
I didn't think this would be that gripping but I've lost hours gripped as I've watched the story of willow tree hall unfold. It has a sad beginning as it throws the reader straight in. Your soon left with questions you just need to know the answer too. It's a light romance though. It is also set around the Christmas period which always gets people feeling all lovey dovey. I would definitely recommend this book to people who are into their romances. My least favourite character is Steve because he highlights a typical narasastic bloke. My favourite character is Annie as she highlights that you can choose your family if you want too.
Annie is a house keeper on a grand estate but when the Earl is put in hospital his grandsons Sam and will feel like they have to fix willow tree hall with the help of Annie. Things do not always go to plan and Sam and Annie end up spending a lot of time together it is great to watch their love blossom and transform i can't wait for the next book to come out this year!
I didn't think this would be that gripping but I've lost hours gripped as I've watched the story of willow tree hall unfold. It has a sad beginning as it throws the reader straight in. Your soon left with questions you just need to know the answer too. It's a light romance though. It is also set around the Christmas period which always gets people feeling all lovey dovey. I would definitely recommend this book to people who are into their romances. My least favourite character is Steve because he highlights a typical narasastic bloke. My favourite character is Annie as she highlights that you can choose your family if you want too.
Annie is a house keeper on a grand estate but when the Earl is put in hospital his grandsons Sam and will feel like they have to fix willow tree hall with the help of Annie. Things do not always go to plan and Sam and Annie end up spending a lot of time together it is great to watch their love blossom and transform i can't wait for the next book to come out this year!
October 26, 2017
I enjoyed this book, looking forward to the next one in the series
December 16, 2022
Predictable, but in a good way.....
July 10, 2017
This cover grabbed my attention and I knew I needed to read this book. This story contained family drama mixed with some relationship dilemmas and an old house whose owner has a big heart and who sacrifices for himself to provide for his tenants (and employees). I knew that Annie could get the cold-hearted Sam to open up and to see what he had in front of him. Delightful vacation read!
June 28, 2017
Having seen a lot about this forthcoming book, I was really looking forward to finally getting to read it - and I was not disappointed. This is a thoroughly entertaining rom-com, and Alison Sherlock knows her stuff!
This story centres around a stately home, the people who live there and their connections to the local community. It's a real feel-good novel, with a touch of romance, disaster and success all flowing between the covers. A perfect 21st century novel, proving that we are all more equal in these enlightened times.
There are some lovely little side tales in this one, some very funny scenes, and a few Cinderella and glamorous moments..The characters are individually created, and very amusing they are too! It's one of those books that you reach the end and the kindle tells you that's you reached 100% and you think "what, already?". Always the sign of a wonderful read, and I have no hesitation in recommending this one.
I received an arc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
This story centres around a stately home, the people who live there and their connections to the local community. It's a real feel-good novel, with a touch of romance, disaster and success all flowing between the covers. A perfect 21st century novel, proving that we are all more equal in these enlightened times.
There are some lovely little side tales in this one, some very funny scenes, and a few Cinderella and glamorous moments..The characters are individually created, and very amusing they are too! It's one of those books that you reach the end and the kindle tells you that's you reached 100% and you think "what, already?". Always the sign of a wonderful read, and I have no hesitation in recommending this one.
I received an arc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
July 4, 2017
Delightful! Annie is terrific and I loved her relationship with not only Sam but also with Arthur, who really is key to this whole thing. This is a good example of grown up chick lit- a wonderful set of characters (who you'd love to sit down with), a problem to solve (the renovation), and a skeptical pair of potential partners. Watching Annie and Sam work together was entertaining. Thanks to Netgalley of rthe ARC. Try this one for a well written, relaxing, and thoroughly enjoyable read.
June 21, 2017
A wonderful romance. I loved the characters and couldn't wait until the end to see what happened.
June 11, 2017
A lovely story of family, expectations, assumptions and love. I don't think there was a character in this book I did not like! Except maybe the builder!
Annie has had a rough life and is so happy to be working at Willow Tree Hall. A wonderful old estate that has passed down through generations to the eldest son. Arthur and his sister, Rose are getting on in age and Sam is the eldest grandson and future Earl.
He wants nothing to do with the house or the life of an Earl. When he comes home to find his grandfather has taken a tumble on the stairs and is in hospital he gets to meet the new housekeeper who he assumes is after something.
But nothing is as it seems here. As Sam and Annie learn to trust each other and let go of their pasts will romance bloom? Maybe with a nudge or two from Arthur and Rose?
A delightful book of new beginnings and hope, I really enjoyed this one!
Release Date is July 1, 2017 (Aria)
Annie has had a rough life and is so happy to be working at Willow Tree Hall. A wonderful old estate that has passed down through generations to the eldest son. Arthur and his sister, Rose are getting on in age and Sam is the eldest grandson and future Earl.
He wants nothing to do with the house or the life of an Earl. When he comes home to find his grandfather has taken a tumble on the stairs and is in hospital he gets to meet the new housekeeper who he assumes is after something.
But nothing is as it seems here. As Sam and Annie learn to trust each other and let go of their pasts will romance bloom? Maybe with a nudge or two from Arthur and Rose?
A delightful book of new beginnings and hope, I really enjoyed this one!
Release Date is July 1, 2017 (Aria)
June 15, 2017
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased review.
A very well written book and a great beginning to a new series. Good plot with a great cast of characters. Loved the book and look forward to reading more in this series.
A very well written book and a great beginning to a new series. Good plot with a great cast of characters. Loved the book and look forward to reading more in this series.
May 26, 2017
This was a fun and sweet book!
Willow Tree Hall is a beautiful estate, but it has been falling apart in recent years. Annie, the new-ish housekeeper, has grown close to Arthur, the owner, and cares for him very much. After Arthur is injured his grandson Sam comes home for the first time since they had an argument nearly one year earlier.
The growth of Annie and Sam's respect for each other as they work to fix up Willow Tree Hall and get to know each other seemed to happen in a really organic way. The story and relationships didn't feel forced or rushed, and I liked how they revealed little bits of their story at a time.
I think the author also did a great job creating two distinct narrative voices. I really liked getting to see things from both Annie and Sam's perspective.
The secondary characters, Annie and Sam's friends and family, added a lot of humor and heart. I would love to see another story set at Willow Tree Hall, maybe for Sam's younger brother Will.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Willow Tree Hall is a beautiful estate, but it has been falling apart in recent years. Annie, the new-ish housekeeper, has grown close to Arthur, the owner, and cares for him very much. After Arthur is injured his grandson Sam comes home for the first time since they had an argument nearly one year earlier.
The growth of Annie and Sam's respect for each other as they work to fix up Willow Tree Hall and get to know each other seemed to happen in a really organic way. The story and relationships didn't feel forced or rushed, and I liked how they revealed little bits of their story at a time.
I think the author also did a great job creating two distinct narrative voices. I really liked getting to see things from both Annie and Sam's perspective.
The secondary characters, Annie and Sam's friends and family, added a lot of humor and heart. I would love to see another story set at Willow Tree Hall, maybe for Sam's younger brother Will.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 14, 2017
This was a really good book, a wee bit more depth than your average chic lit, but I loved all the characters and if it was possible I would be first in line to see Willow Hall, and I wish Arthur was real because I adored him. Definitely recommend this book
May 16, 2017
I LOVED this book! It was a wonderful, tottaly enchanting story, the perfect beach read. The story were suprising yet familiar, and the characters felt like old friends. I also think it would make an amazing RomCom movie!
June 6, 2017
This was an easy read, that got better in the second half of the book.
I did find two of the main characters Annie and Sam a bit irritating in the first half of the book, she kept thinking she was no good as a housekeeper (which was right!) and she also kept 'blushing' all the time, which got a bit wearing. Sam was this big music manager, but he still managed to hire the first builder he spoke to to renovate his family home, Willow Tree Hall, and of course they were cowboys and made a complete mess of it. And yet every time he visited he thought they were doing OK, even though it was blatantly obvious they weren't. Eventually he figured out they seemed to be demolishing it instead of fixing it and managed to fire them - at last! - and find someone who actually knew what they were doing.
The side characters were lovely, especially Sam's grandfather Arthur, the current Earl, and Arthur's sister, Sam's Aunt Rose. They both sounded lovely people who had just carried on regardless, even though Willow Tree Hall had been crumbling around their ears from lack of money to do anything about it.
The second half of the book where things started to come together a bit more as the house was getting renovated properly, and Christmas was just around the corner so there was a more festive feel to it, was much more enjoyable.
I really liked the story of the house being renovated and coming back to life. A pleasant read.
I did find two of the main characters Annie and Sam a bit irritating in the first half of the book, she kept thinking she was no good as a housekeeper (which was right!) and she also kept 'blushing' all the time, which got a bit wearing. Sam was this big music manager, but he still managed to hire the first builder he spoke to to renovate his family home, Willow Tree Hall, and of course they were cowboys and made a complete mess of it. And yet every time he visited he thought they were doing OK, even though it was blatantly obvious they weren't. Eventually he figured out they seemed to be demolishing it instead of fixing it and managed to fire them - at last! - and find someone who actually knew what they were doing.
The side characters were lovely, especially Sam's grandfather Arthur, the current Earl, and Arthur's sister, Sam's Aunt Rose. They both sounded lovely people who had just carried on regardless, even though Willow Tree Hall had been crumbling around their ears from lack of money to do anything about it.
The second half of the book where things started to come together a bit more as the house was getting renovated properly, and Christmas was just around the corner so there was a more festive feel to it, was much more enjoyable.
I really liked the story of the house being renovated and coming back to life. A pleasant read.
October 12, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. Annie is a sweet girl who is tired of working as a chambermaid on an ocean liner and comes home wanting to live near her childhood friends. Megan gets her a position as housekeeper in a stately manor house Willow Tree Hall where Megan cleans twice weekly. This is perfect for Annie who grew up on the estate as her father was groundskeeper. Annie falls in love with the elderly owner Arthur and his sister Rose. Oh the grandson Sam Harris comes home to see how the house needs repair, reluctant to leave his high flying job managing singers and rockgroups. Being buried in the countryside is not his idea of fun and his younger brother is not any happier to help the family manor become updated. Although they grew up there after their parents died, they have gone on with their lives and childhood memories have been forgotten s well as their grandfather.
Some of this book had my mouth wide open in shock and surprise as the poor stately manor is treated so badly while trying to make it comfortable for Arthur to come home after he ends up in hospital after a leaky roof accident.
Please read this book if you like to be entertained on your days off or before bed. I really looked forward to picking it up and did not want it to end, I found it so interesting! I will even read it again one day I enjoyed it so much! This writer has created characters I liked to read about.
Some of this book had my mouth wide open in shock and surprise as the poor stately manor is treated so badly while trying to make it comfortable for Arthur to come home after he ends up in hospital after a leaky roof accident.
Please read this book if you like to be entertained on your days off or before bed. I really looked forward to picking it up and did not want it to end, I found it so interesting! I will even read it again one day I enjoyed it so much! This writer has created characters I liked to read about.
August 7, 2017
Annie loves her job as housekeeper at Willow Tree Hall, ok she might have lied a bit about her experience to get the job, but she has a great relationship with Arthur the elderly Earl of Cranley........that is until he falls on the stairs and is hospitalised.
Sam is the eldest grandson of Arthur and next in line for the title, but he doesn't want it and the last thing that he wants is to run the estate - he is far too busy running his company representing music artists. So when he has to come back home to help out he is not best pleased - and who is this girl Annie who seems to be loved by everything......he is sure there is something dodgy going on there!
He cannot believe that state of repair of the hall and realises that he has to do something about, even though his plan is to sell the lot, and so gets in a company of dodgy builders and goes back to America leaving Annie in charge. Annie is horrified, they are destroying the hall and when they take out the staircase leaving her upstairs it is the final straw - something must be done about it - Sam needs to step up to the plate!
A lovely story with some great characters and although it is pretty predictable it is still compulsive reading and I thoroughly enjoyed it
Sam is the eldest grandson of Arthur and next in line for the title, but he doesn't want it and the last thing that he wants is to run the estate - he is far too busy running his company representing music artists. So when he has to come back home to help out he is not best pleased - and who is this girl Annie who seems to be loved by everything......he is sure there is something dodgy going on there!
He cannot believe that state of repair of the hall and realises that he has to do something about, even though his plan is to sell the lot, and so gets in a company of dodgy builders and goes back to America leaving Annie in charge. Annie is horrified, they are destroying the hall and when they take out the staircase leaving her upstairs it is the final straw - something must be done about it - Sam needs to step up to the plate!
A lovely story with some great characters and although it is pretty predictable it is still compulsive reading and I thoroughly enjoyed it
July 18, 2017
This was really disappointing, probably because I went into it with too-high hopes. Based on the adorable cover, I thought it was going to be a sweet little romance, perfect for summertime.
But in all actuality, it was set at Christmas (I really don't enjoy holiday reads outside of winter) and the main characters were so far removed from reality, it was impossible to enjoy the story.
The most well-developed character was actually the house, Willow Tree Hall. Those were my favorite parts of the story--reading about the renovations because it was the most believable.
The damsel in distress narrative is so overused and outdated. Annie had no depth at all and behaved like a 13 year old girl. Sam was the definition of a "masculine man," out of touch with his emotions and complete with an inability to communicate.
The writing took a plunge about halfway through, and the timeline was quite inconsistent. I'm sad this was a bust.
I was given a free ebook copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
But in all actuality, it was set at Christmas (I really don't enjoy holiday reads outside of winter) and the main characters were so far removed from reality, it was impossible to enjoy the story.
The most well-developed character was actually the house, Willow Tree Hall. Those were my favorite parts of the story--reading about the renovations because it was the most believable.
The damsel in distress narrative is so overused and outdated. Annie had no depth at all and behaved like a 13 year old girl. Sam was the definition of a "masculine man," out of touch with his emotions and complete with an inability to communicate.
The writing took a plunge about halfway through, and the timeline was quite inconsistent. I'm sad this was a bust.
I was given a free ebook copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2017
This is a delightful story set in the countryside of England. For me it was the perfect blend of romance and comedy with the wonderful backdrop of an estate in need of repair.
The two main characters, Annie and Sam, are so different yet become drawn to each other. Annie is the housekeeper hired by Sam's grandfather. She isn't trained as one, but rather took the job to escape from what she sees as a failed past. Sam is quite successful in business, but has let it take over his life and become distant from his family.
Sam is eager to get rid of the family estate and has no desire to run it as the next Earl of Cranley. Annie is desperate to not lose the first place that feels like home since her father's death.
Like all good romances, this book has the attraction build over time with some bumps in the road.
The description mentions more books to come with Willow Tree Hall being the cornerstone. I'm looking forward to them!
Note ~ I did receive an advance reader copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The two main characters, Annie and Sam, are so different yet become drawn to each other. Annie is the housekeeper hired by Sam's grandfather. She isn't trained as one, but rather took the job to escape from what she sees as a failed past. Sam is quite successful in business, but has let it take over his life and become distant from his family.
Sam is eager to get rid of the family estate and has no desire to run it as the next Earl of Cranley. Annie is desperate to not lose the first place that feels like home since her father's death.
Like all good romances, this book has the attraction build over time with some bumps in the road.
The description mentions more books to come with Willow Tree Hall being the cornerstone. I'm looking forward to them!
Note ~ I did receive an advance reader copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
November 13, 2017
There’s a lot to like about this book, set in a stately home in need of TLC ✔️ loveable Grandad ✔️ Sassy aunt ✔️ charming romance ✔️ Christmas ✔️
A House to Mend a Broken Heart is, in my opinion, a thoroughly enjoyable read. I warmed to the characters quickly, the Grandad, Arthur was my favourite, although I do wonder if the fabulous daaahling gay best friend character is becoming a little too cliche now.
The plot moved along at a good pace, a little predictable, but it kept me interested and I was totally invested in Willow Tree Hall being ready for Christmas. I really only had one niggle with the plot, the event at the end felt a bit rushed ~ I’m not saying more because I don’t want to spoil anything ~ it could have been slowed down a notch.
This book is the start of a new series, based around Willow Tree Hall, I’ll definitely be looking forward to catching up with Annie, Sam, Arthur and the gang.
I’m giving A House to Mend a Broken Heart 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I bought this book myself and was not asked to give a review. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.
A House to Mend a Broken Heart is, in my opinion, a thoroughly enjoyable read. I warmed to the characters quickly, the Grandad, Arthur was my favourite, although I do wonder if the fabulous daaahling gay best friend character is becoming a little too cliche now.
The plot moved along at a good pace, a little predictable, but it kept me interested and I was totally invested in Willow Tree Hall being ready for Christmas. I really only had one niggle with the plot, the event at the end felt a bit rushed ~ I’m not saying more because I don’t want to spoil anything ~ it could have been slowed down a notch.
This book is the start of a new series, based around Willow Tree Hall, I’ll definitely be looking forward to catching up with Annie, Sam, Arthur and the gang.
I’m giving A House to Mend a Broken Heart 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I bought this book myself and was not asked to give a review. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 11, 2019
I get through a lot of books, over 100 this year, so am always pleased to discover a new (to me) author and I thought I had found another favourite. Alison Sherlock’s debut novel “The desperate bride’s diet club” was brilliant so I happily bought the follow-up “The desperate wife’s survival plan” which was a reasonable read but didn’t tug at my emotions nearly as much. Despite feeling a bit let down I bought “Love begins at Willow Tree Hall” book #1 in the Willow Tree Hall series (which was originally published as “A House to mend a broken heart”) but I’m sorry to say it all feels rather bland and unimaginative.
Perhaps I have been reading too many of this sort of book and need a change? I’m setting it aside for now at 25%, not sure if I will get back to it with so many other books in my “to read” pile. I'll give it 2.5 rounded up to 3 because if I had nothing better to read I would probably finish it.
Perhaps I have been reading too many of this sort of book and need a change? I’m setting it aside for now at 25%, not sure if I will get back to it with so many other books in my “to read” pile. I'll give it 2.5 rounded up to 3 because if I had nothing better to read I would probably finish it.
July 29, 2017
A well written and thoroughly enjoyable book. I hadn't read any of Alison's previous books but will be looking out for them now. I really enjoyed this book.
I loved the setting of this book - the stately home Willow Tree Hall and how much the hall means to each of the characters in the story. I enjoyed the main characters as well as the supporting cast. I really liked Sam's grandfather Arthur and his sister Aunt Rose.
The story was slightly predictable with the havoc caused by the cowboy builders hired by Sam but this didn't detract from the story. It was an easy read, well written with warm likeable characters (apart from Cassandra).
A lovely story of family, second chances and love with a perfect ending. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the setting of this book - the stately home Willow Tree Hall and how much the hall means to each of the characters in the story. I enjoyed the main characters as well as the supporting cast. I really liked Sam's grandfather Arthur and his sister Aunt Rose.
The story was slightly predictable with the havoc caused by the cowboy builders hired by Sam but this didn't detract from the story. It was an easy read, well written with warm likeable characters (apart from Cassandra).
A lovely story of family, second chances and love with a perfect ending. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2020
https://clavie.co/2020/04/14/book-rev...
Annie is the housekeeper to Arthur. When he has an accident the only living relatives comes by. With a negative history we are introduced to Sam and Will. I seem to like positive fluffy novels the most. This one is written well, I just found my last read really easy to get into. Willow Tree Hall is an estate that is to be left to Sam to maintain as their parents passed away very young and they are the only relatives that can maintain it as their elders cannot. After around 50 pages in (eBook reading) I began to get bored as you can sum up a lot of the pages as nothing really changes. It’s a very slow progression with not much happening, I’ve found from the beginning that it could have been written at a gripping pace to properly entice the reader in.
Annie is the housekeeper to Arthur. When he has an accident the only living relatives comes by. With a negative history we are introduced to Sam and Will. I seem to like positive fluffy novels the most. This one is written well, I just found my last read really easy to get into. Willow Tree Hall is an estate that is to be left to Sam to maintain as their parents passed away very young and they are the only relatives that can maintain it as their elders cannot. After around 50 pages in (eBook reading) I began to get bored as you can sum up a lot of the pages as nothing really changes. It’s a very slow progression with not much happening, I’ve found from the beginning that it could have been written at a gripping pace to properly entice the reader in.
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