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Meet Me at Willow Hall
She thought she’d never see him again…
Rachel Jones’ best friend’s wedding is the perfect distraction from her own broken heart. That is, until the moment she squeezes into her bridesmaid dress and looks up to see the man who walked out of her life three months ago, Anthony Bascombe!
Still just as gorgeous as she remembers, it’s clear Anthony’s been keeping a secret from her and Rachel’s determined to get to the bottom of it! The trouble is, the more time she spends around Anthony, the more she can’t help falling for him…
But Anthony’s already disappeared before, can Rachel trust that this time he’s back for good?
Rachel Jones’ best friend’s wedding is the perfect distraction from her own broken heart. That is, until the moment she squeezes into her bridesmaid dress and looks up to see the man who walked out of her life three months ago, Anthony Bascombe!
Still just as gorgeous as she remembers, it’s clear Anthony’s been keeping a secret from her and Rachel’s determined to get to the bottom of it! The trouble is, the more time she spends around Anthony, the more she can’t help falling for him…
But Anthony’s already disappeared before, can Rachel trust that this time he’s back for good?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2018
26 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 21, 2018
This was such a lovely heartwarming read, full of the spark of romance . Rachel had split with her boyfriend after he left a letter for her whilst he was in hospital. Heartbroken ,she is surprised when she bumps into him again. It's full of the spark of attraction, secrets, rekindling old relationships and looking to the future.I loved the setting. I could really imagine myself walking around Willow Hall and would love to return.
I can't wait to read more by this author.
I can't wait to read more by this author.
July 1, 2018
This is my first book by this author the cover really attracted me to it and I'm so glad it did as simply brilliant from the first page. Worth far more than the five stars I gave it was hooked from the first page and didn't want it to end. So heartwarming and romantic and full of weddings and being happy with the right person. It's about keeping a secret from your lived one and thinking its for the best when clearly it isn't. It was a laugh out loud book and such a beautiful setting to.
Rachel was left a letter from her boyfriend who was in hospital to say he didn't want to be with her any more and for a year she has struggled but her friend is getting married now and she's been asked to be a bridesmaid and she thinks it will distract her broken heart. She sees an advert for a wedding fair which is at the family home of her ex so she suggests going knowing he won't be there as he cant stand weddings. She goes and she bumps into Anthony her ex and she's shocked and really doesn't no how to cope she sees the rest of his family and slowly she starts to talk to Anthony and they eventually realise they are now both single and do start seeing each other but it's clear he's been keeping a secret can she find what it is and be happy together or not and there family home willow hall is starting to do weddings and she starts to help him and give suggestions. Also her work is having to close as they can't afford the shop any more so Anthony suggest moving it to willow hall as she does flowers and he says she can do them for the weddings. She gives Anthony a choice and can he make the right one or is it all or not.
Simply fantastic this book didn't want it to end at all highly recommend anyone to read it.
Rachel was left a letter from her boyfriend who was in hospital to say he didn't want to be with her any more and for a year she has struggled but her friend is getting married now and she's been asked to be a bridesmaid and she thinks it will distract her broken heart. She sees an advert for a wedding fair which is at the family home of her ex so she suggests going knowing he won't be there as he cant stand weddings. She goes and she bumps into Anthony her ex and she's shocked and really doesn't no how to cope she sees the rest of his family and slowly she starts to talk to Anthony and they eventually realise they are now both single and do start seeing each other but it's clear he's been keeping a secret can she find what it is and be happy together or not and there family home willow hall is starting to do weddings and she starts to help him and give suggestions. Also her work is having to close as they can't afford the shop any more so Anthony suggest moving it to willow hall as she does flowers and he says she can do them for the weddings. She gives Anthony a choice and can he make the right one or is it all or not.
Simply fantastic this book didn't want it to end at all highly recommend anyone to read it.
September 18, 2020
Meet Me at Willow Hall is utterly Delightful. This is a real love story.
I must admit to being swayed by covers and authors and I don’t always read the blurb so that I get a total surprise when I start reading. This was one of those books.
I was instantly moved by reading the letter that Anthony had sent to Rachel finishing their relationship and thought oh dear this is going to be a roller coaster! It couldn’t have been further from it, it was a thoroughly nice feel good book.
All the characters were really likable, the setting of Willow Hall was described beautifully and although life was almost too good to be true, it kind of made a nice change to see people succeeding in new business ventures and actually being happy. Ok, so real life isn’t like that all the time but who wants real life in a fiction book? Carla Burgess has created a perfect heartwarming summer read.
I must admit to being swayed by covers and authors and I don’t always read the blurb so that I get a total surprise when I start reading. This was one of those books.
I was instantly moved by reading the letter that Anthony had sent to Rachel finishing their relationship and thought oh dear this is going to be a roller coaster! It couldn’t have been further from it, it was a thoroughly nice feel good book.
All the characters were really likable, the setting of Willow Hall was described beautifully and although life was almost too good to be true, it kind of made a nice change to see people succeeding in new business ventures and actually being happy. Ok, so real life isn’t like that all the time but who wants real life in a fiction book? Carla Burgess has created a perfect heartwarming summer read.
August 4, 2018
Rachel has never got over Anthony dumping her by letter the previous year after he had been in a car accident and banning her from the hospital..... so what is she doing going to a wedding fair at his family home! When they bump into each other the sparks are still flying but she is trying on a wedding dress and he thinks that she is engaged to be married........ is it too late for him to admit what an idiot he has been and win her back?
Another lovely warm feel good book, predictable but that certainly doesn't stop the enjoyment of it.... Anthony and Rachel are a lovely couple and so you are rooting for them to sort it out
Another lovely warm feel good book, predictable but that certainly doesn't stop the enjoyment of it.... Anthony and Rachel are a lovely couple and so you are rooting for them to sort it out
February 10, 2020
Another great read.
January 10, 2021
I really enjoyed this book I enjoyed the storyline the writing just flowed and before I knew it I finished the book just a feel good story. Loved the description felt like I was at willow hall
April 21, 2020
Flaky heroine and quite annoying at times, I wanted to shout 'pull yourself together'. Anthony seems to be mentally affected by things, but so lovely that they get together in the end. However, I couldn't put it down and it was a fast read.
June 28, 2020
Sadly, this is another case of the blurb not matching the story content. (Really, publishers? Why you gotta be like that?)
We met Rachel and Anthony in Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, and that book concludes with them together; him slightly reluctantly, but otherwise quite happy. Right from the start of this book we read the letter that Anthony sent her after a work related accident, that tells her he doesn't love her and not to visit him in hospital again.
I get it. He's had a serious health scare and isn't sure he'll be able to walk again. But he really does some serious damage to her heart when he so cruelly breaks things off with her. He doesn't even have the decency to do so face-to-face! (It's better than a Post It note, I guess?)
So now a year has passed and they bump into each other. Rachel isn't over him, much to her chagrin. Luckily, it quickly comes to pass that he's still smitten with her. Only this time he's happy to express his feelings, so ... yay!
Yes, he is keeping a small secret, but she doesn't have to investigate for a long time to discover the answer. They actually have an adult conversation about it, and continue along. Until his next health scare when he tries to push her away again.
This is where the book loses some of its appeal for me. Without Anthony's POV we don't know why he's acting like a petulant toddler. No one else can figure it out either, not even his family members. To me, that's a bit hand wavy. (Don't look for logic! Let me distract you with some pretty flowers!) If a man acts an ass towards me, he's going to have to do some serious soul searching and grovelling in order to win me back.
I also wasn't a fan of Rachel's mum seeming to have no loyalty for her daughter. Everyone else was firmly on Rachel's side, but her mum only cared about what she wanted. (And is it just me or is it weird for her mum to have a crush on her beau? Ick.)
But overall it was an easy and quick read. Nothing too over-the-top dramatic, and no crazy heartbreak. It just needed a little bit more to explain Anthony's rotten attitude.
We met Rachel and Anthony in Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, and that book concludes with them together; him slightly reluctantly, but otherwise quite happy. Right from the start of this book we read the letter that Anthony sent her after a work related accident, that tells her he doesn't love her and not to visit him in hospital again.
I get it. He's had a serious health scare and isn't sure he'll be able to walk again. But he really does some serious damage to her heart when he so cruelly breaks things off with her. He doesn't even have the decency to do so face-to-face! (It's better than a Post It note, I guess?)
So now a year has passed and they bump into each other. Rachel isn't over him, much to her chagrin. Luckily, it quickly comes to pass that he's still smitten with her. Only this time he's happy to express his feelings, so ... yay!
Yes, he is keeping a small secret, but she doesn't have to investigate for a long time to discover the answer. They actually have an adult conversation about it, and continue along. Until his next health scare when he tries to push her away again.
This is where the book loses some of its appeal for me. Without Anthony's POV we don't know why he's acting like a petulant toddler. No one else can figure it out either, not even his family members. To me, that's a bit hand wavy. (Don't look for logic! Let me distract you with some pretty flowers!) If a man acts an ass towards me, he's going to have to do some serious soul searching and grovelling in order to win me back.
I also wasn't a fan of Rachel's mum seeming to have no loyalty for her daughter. Everyone else was firmly on Rachel's side, but her mum only cared about what she wanted. (And is it just me or is it weird for her mum to have a crush on her beau? Ick.)
But overall it was an easy and quick read. Nothing too over-the-top dramatic, and no crazy heartbreak. It just needed a little bit more to explain Anthony's rotten attitude.
September 14, 2019
This is an amazing book and spoke to me,I didn’t realise there were other books usually jump in back to front. It is about Rachel and Anthony being a perfect couple, it all starts off at a wedding fare which is also the home of her ex’s parents. Wanting a bit of a nose, she goes with her best friend Ella to see what’s it all about, not thinking she will come face to face with Anthony in a wedding dress (albeit seeing if the style will suit her, for the bridesmaid equivalent.
Seeing him has thrown her and quickly thinks of her work colleagues partner being who she is engaged to and this is really starts, the last time she saw him over a year ago he was in hospital following a serious car accident and he sent a letter saying it was over and to not visit the hospital, not understanding the method of his madness she turned up and he refused to see her, they had a perfect relationship although a little commitment shy they were so into each other and was living together.
Has the past year mellowed him and does his heart still belong to Rachel.
It is lovely how you immediately thrown in and you just know this is a sign of a book you won’t want to put down and not wish to end at the same time.
Seeing him has thrown her and quickly thinks of her work colleagues partner being who she is engaged to and this is really starts, the last time she saw him over a year ago he was in hospital following a serious car accident and he sent a letter saying it was over and to not visit the hospital, not understanding the method of his madness she turned up and he refused to see her, they had a perfect relationship although a little commitment shy they were so into each other and was living together.
Has the past year mellowed him and does his heart still belong to Rachel.
It is lovely how you immediately thrown in and you just know this is a sign of a book you won’t want to put down and not wish to end at the same time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2018
WTF Anthony? Why did he leave Rachel, who loved him, and still loves him? He had what he thought was a good reason but it's taken Rachel time to recover. AND then, he turns up. At the wedding of her best friend no less. These two will work their way back to each other, as you might imagine, but the road is not as easy as anyone could hope. Burgess has surrounded them with some nice characters, weddings (Rachel's in the flower business), and a little drama. Thanks to Netgalley for the pleasant read. It's well done chick lit!
July 29, 2019
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Definitely a cute rom-com novel and a very easy and quick read. However, it did not have an emotional connection with me. I found it repetitive at times and the climax was quite predictable.
I like to read short and sweet novels in between heavy ones just to break the monotony and to get myself geared up for the next extensive read. I have never read anything else by this author although I would give her other books another chance if I happen to tumble upon them.
Definitely a cute rom-com novel and a very easy and quick read. However, it did not have an emotional connection with me. I found it repetitive at times and the climax was quite predictable.
I like to read short and sweet novels in between heavy ones just to break the monotony and to get myself geared up for the next extensive read. I have never read anything else by this author although I would give her other books another chance if I happen to tumble upon them.
July 20, 2018
3.5 stars. A nice, quick read which follows on from Meet Me Under the Mistletoe. All the characters are lovely (although Anthony was quite frustrating at times) and the setting of Willow Hall was really nice. I could picture it perfectly and would have loved to have had my wedding there!
Recommend to anyone looking for a quick escape read on a nice sunny day.
Thanks kindly to Netgalley, publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review.
Recommend to anyone looking for a quick escape read on a nice sunny day.
Thanks kindly to Netgalley, publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review.
August 4, 2018
Rachel can’t forget Anthony. He cruelly dumped her whilst in hospital and she’s trying to pick up the pieces of her life. A wedding fayre at his childhood home buts changes into action that affect Rachel and the other important people in her life.
A heart warming romantic story that follows the usual structure. Predictable ending but that’s what is expected. A hug in book form and entertaining to boot. Fantastic descriptive writing that pulls you right into the story.
A heart warming romantic story that follows the usual structure. Predictable ending but that’s what is expected. A hug in book form and entertaining to boot. Fantastic descriptive writing that pulls you right into the story.
September 6, 2018
I wanted a ‘lovely’ book, the kind of book you emotionally invest in and root for your favoured ending. This was just such a book. I loved the bravery of Rachel facing what she’d lost (and risking it all again).
The actual text was emotive and ivocative I could see the Hall, I counted the windows and believed in the flower garden. An author with this talent will go far.
Absolutely loved this book, if your a fan of Heidi Swain, Holly Martin or Sarah Morgan this is your type of book!
The actual text was emotive and ivocative I could see the Hall, I counted the windows and believed in the flower garden. An author with this talent will go far.
Absolutely loved this book, if your a fan of Heidi Swain, Holly Martin or Sarah Morgan this is your type of book!
September 29, 2018
A lovely easy cosy read. I enjoyed this heartwarming romantic tale. Well written with characters I could empathise with. Predictable ending but this didn't detract from my enjoyment - a cosy hug of a book, perfect for a chilly evening on the sofa or for an easy holiday read. A feel good book with a feel good ending - perfect.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2018
This was a quick read which followed directly from the previous book, I enjoyed it quite a lot. The setting was lovely, the characters were nice and it was a super easy read.
I was sent this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was sent this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2019
It's been such a long while since i found a light, yet very heartwarming story. I'm so glad i discovered this book, looking forward to read more from the author. One thing i regret is i didn't know that this is actually the second book. I should've read meet me under the mistletoe first😢.
August 15, 2020
This is THE DEFINITION of a trashy romance. It was great I loved it, of course I did it is my ultimate guilty pleasure. But honestly it was so utterly predictable it I thought it was nice like that. A good honest, readable romance with boring names and a trashy love story. 4/5.
July 22, 2018
This is my first book by this author but I really enjoyed it... its a feel good book with a happy ending... great for a quick read... I'll definitely be adding more of her books to my TBR pile.
June 24, 2019
Predictable but perfectly cheery and easy to read
October 6, 2020
I really loved this, what a journey.I was sorry it finished so quickly x
January 30, 2021
Ah, the emotions in these books. Another great love story, but with a sudden ending. Always feel like with these books, you start to become invested. Then left wanting more!
December 21, 2022
Easy reading fairytale
September 28, 2025
i hate anthony.
July 26, 2018
ARC received via netgalley.
I loved this book!
It's such a perfect, feel good, summer romance... I inhaled it from start to finish in three or four hours and stayed up way too late to do so because I couldn't stop reading it.
It was addictive.
The book picks up not long after the events of Meet Me Under The Mistletoe, the first book of Rachel and Anthony's story - don't worry if you haven't read it, each book stands alone - and as the blurb suggests, Rachel and Anthony's happy for now at the end of their first story doesn't last.
Meet Me At Willow Hall deals with the whys of why Anthony pulled a dick move and broke up with Rachel - in a really shitty fashion, btw - and beautifully maneuvers them back together for their happy ever after using Willow Hall and a friends wedding as the perfect backdrop.
The book was sweet, funny, full of feels and romance and pretty free of angst!
I finished the book feeling all warm and fuzzy, giddy and happy, and I just think it's a perfect summer read.
I loved this book!
It's such a perfect, feel good, summer romance... I inhaled it from start to finish in three or four hours and stayed up way too late to do so because I couldn't stop reading it.
It was addictive.
The book picks up not long after the events of Meet Me Under The Mistletoe, the first book of Rachel and Anthony's story - don't worry if you haven't read it, each book stands alone - and as the blurb suggests, Rachel and Anthony's happy for now at the end of their first story doesn't last.
Meet Me At Willow Hall deals with the whys of why Anthony pulled a dick move and broke up with Rachel - in a really shitty fashion, btw - and beautifully maneuvers them back together for their happy ever after using Willow Hall and a friends wedding as the perfect backdrop.
The book was sweet, funny, full of feels and romance and pretty free of angst!
I finished the book feeling all warm and fuzzy, giddy and happy, and I just think it's a perfect summer read.
January 14, 2022
I got WAY too far into this book before I realized the connection to Meet Me Under the Mistletoe! (I would definitely recommend reading that one first, as it's technically the prequel.) I said I wanted the other one as a movie that would allow a PG13 rating, and my opinion remains consistent with this one. Meet Me Under the Mistletoe was sweeter, but this one definitely bumped up the spicy level. The thrills and roller coasters were still there too!
8/10 Romance
8/10 Romance
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August 11, 2021Warm and uplifting book. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
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