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The Little Duck Pond Cafe #1
Spring at the Little Duck Pond Cafe
Fleeing from a romance gone wrong, Ellie Farmer arrives in the pretty little village of Sunnybrook, hoping for a brand new start that most definitely does not include love! Following an unscheduled soak in the village duck pond, she meets Sylvia, who runs the nearby Duck Pond Café. Renting the little flat above the café seems like the answer to Ellie's prayers. It's only for six months, which will give her time to sort out her life, far away from cheating boyfriend Richard.
But is running away from your past ever really the answer?
Clashing with the mysterious and brooding Zack Chamberlain, an author with a bad case of writer's block, is definitely not what Ellie needs right now. And then there's Sylvia, who's clinging so hard to her past, she's in danger of losing the quaint but run-down Duck Pond Café altogether.
Can Ellie find the answers she desperately needs in Sunnybrook? And will she be able to help save Sylvia's little Duck Pond Café from closure?
But is running away from your past ever really the answer?
Clashing with the mysterious and brooding Zack Chamberlain, an author with a bad case of writer's block, is definitely not what Ellie needs right now. And then there's Sylvia, who's clinging so hard to her past, she's in danger of losing the quaint but run-down Duck Pond Café altogether.
Can Ellie find the answers she desperately needs in Sunnybrook? And will she be able to help save Sylvia's little Duck Pond Café from closure?
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 22, 2018
379 people are currently reading
966 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
April 5, 2018
5☆ A Charming, feel good read, that I fell in love with!
First of all I want to start by saying this is one of my favourite spring covers so far.
It's gorgeous and makes me smile!
Spring at The Little Duck Pond Café is the first book in a fabulous new series. I am very excited about!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this delightful short story. It made me laugh out loud so many times, it warmed my heart, bought back memories of my Aunt and her Alzheimer's, I loved all the wonderful quirky characters and best of the gorgeous duck pond and the beautiful Café.
When Sylvia takes Ellie in after she falls In the sludge of the duck pond, Ellie is shocked by what she sees in Sylvia's eclectic Café. There is clutter & antiques everywhere. Each holding a special place in Sylvia and her late husband heart.
Ellie is running away from a broken heart and Sylvia offers her a 6month lease on the flat above The Little Duck Pond Café.
Ellie jumps at the chance, packs her bag and leaves to start a new adventure in the Town her mum grew up in.
Sylvia has decided that in 6months time she is going to sell the quaint but eclectic Little Duck Pond Café. But Ellie has other ideas she thinks she can save it.
Zak is Sylvia's Nephew and he first meets Eellie when she is climbing up his tree taking photographs of the gorgeous quaint village.
He is very handsome and might just be what Ellie needs to get over her cheating Ex!
I adored this charming, heartwarming short story and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
If you are looking for a feel good, laugh out loud, poignant read that will melt your heart, make your tummy rumble and make you fall in love with The Little Duck Pond Café then this is definitely a book to read!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
First of all I want to start by saying this is one of my favourite spring covers so far.
It's gorgeous and makes me smile!
Spring at The Little Duck Pond Café is the first book in a fabulous new series. I am very excited about!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this delightful short story. It made me laugh out loud so many times, it warmed my heart, bought back memories of my Aunt and her Alzheimer's, I loved all the wonderful quirky characters and best of the gorgeous duck pond and the beautiful Café.
When Sylvia takes Ellie in after she falls In the sludge of the duck pond, Ellie is shocked by what she sees in Sylvia's eclectic Café. There is clutter & antiques everywhere. Each holding a special place in Sylvia and her late husband heart.
Ellie is running away from a broken heart and Sylvia offers her a 6month lease on the flat above The Little Duck Pond Café.
Ellie jumps at the chance, packs her bag and leaves to start a new adventure in the Town her mum grew up in.
Sylvia has decided that in 6months time she is going to sell the quaint but eclectic Little Duck Pond Café. But Ellie has other ideas she thinks she can save it.
Zak is Sylvia's Nephew and he first meets Eellie when she is climbing up his tree taking photographs of the gorgeous quaint village.
He is very handsome and might just be what Ellie needs to get over her cheating Ex!
I adored this charming, heartwarming short story and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
If you are looking for a feel good, laugh out loud, poignant read that will melt your heart, make your tummy rumble and make you fall in love with The Little Duck Pond Café then this is definitely a book to read!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
April 6, 2018
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Ellie Farmer is in Sunnybrook, Surrey, taking photos for her mum who has Alzheimer’s, as her mum grew up in the area and Ellie is hoping to jog her memory with pictures of some of the local places. The little village is lovely, and the residents are even nicer. Something that Ellie quickly realises when she falls into the duck pond.
Sylvia runs the ‘Duck Pond Café’ and helps Ellie in her hour of need with a change of clothes, a warm drink and a listening ear. Ellie tells her all about her situation with her mum and her ex-boyfriend.
Being the helpful person she is, Sylvia offers Ellie the flat above the café on a six month lease and tells her about a job just down the road. After some persuasion, Ellie agrees to move to Sunnybrook, but will six-month be long enough?
‘Spring at the Little Duck Pond Café’ is the first in a planned series of book by author Rosie Green (alias of another author).
The book, at only 127 pages, is quite short, but it sure packed a lot in and was a joy to read. I was hooked from the very beginning and read it within a couple of hours. I didn’t want it to end.
Ellie is a lovely character. So down to earth and very realistic. She is caring and always one to offer a helping hand. She has had a rough time lately and is trying to move on, so moving to Sunnybrook is perfect for her.
There are also lots of other amazing characters in the book, including Fen, Rose, Maisie and the gorgeous Zak. Zak is a writer struggling with writer’s block and has headed to Sunnybrook to try and work on his book. He is a mixed up character, but his heart is always in the right place.
This waa just an enjoyable story. It had me laughing and smiling for most of the way through. There are some touching moments, especially with Ellie’s Mum, which was handled with pure compassion and knowledge.
I now can’t wait for book two – ‘Summer at the Little Duck Pond Café’
Ellie Farmer is in Sunnybrook, Surrey, taking photos for her mum who has Alzheimer’s, as her mum grew up in the area and Ellie is hoping to jog her memory with pictures of some of the local places. The little village is lovely, and the residents are even nicer. Something that Ellie quickly realises when she falls into the duck pond.
Sylvia runs the ‘Duck Pond Café’ and helps Ellie in her hour of need with a change of clothes, a warm drink and a listening ear. Ellie tells her all about her situation with her mum and her ex-boyfriend.
Being the helpful person she is, Sylvia offers Ellie the flat above the café on a six month lease and tells her about a job just down the road. After some persuasion, Ellie agrees to move to Sunnybrook, but will six-month be long enough?
‘Spring at the Little Duck Pond Café’ is the first in a planned series of book by author Rosie Green (alias of another author).
The book, at only 127 pages, is quite short, but it sure packed a lot in and was a joy to read. I was hooked from the very beginning and read it within a couple of hours. I didn’t want it to end.
Ellie is a lovely character. So down to earth and very realistic. She is caring and always one to offer a helping hand. She has had a rough time lately and is trying to move on, so moving to Sunnybrook is perfect for her.
There are also lots of other amazing characters in the book, including Fen, Rose, Maisie and the gorgeous Zak. Zak is a writer struggling with writer’s block and has headed to Sunnybrook to try and work on his book. He is a mixed up character, but his heart is always in the right place.
This waa just an enjoyable story. It had me laughing and smiling for most of the way through. There are some touching moments, especially with Ellie’s Mum, which was handled with pure compassion and knowledge.
I now can’t wait for book two – ‘Summer at the Little Duck Pond Café’
April 4, 2018
Favorite Quotes:
… all the bravado drains out of me, leaving me feeling like a balloon three days after the party.
After all, they do say the joy of being a grandparent is that you can hand the little terror back at the end of the day . . .
My Review:
While reading, I vacillated in how to rate this slowly developing and somewhat bittersweet tale about a small British village, where each of the main characters appears to be in a transitional stage in their lives. The premise was relevant and the storylines and writing were chaste enough for my elderly mother’s church ladies book club, yet still held my attention, which is rare ;). As the first story in a trilogy, the stage was being set for subsequent installments, which was thankfully done without feeling like an information dump - yet it felt a bit flat to me. While there were humorous items and amusing observations, the story seemed to come up a little short of a Four-Star ranking, but close enough. I enjoyed the quirky characters and look forward to their future antics and adventures and proudly have two new additions to my Brit vocabulary list which now includes “came a cropper” which is to fall headlong, and “browned off” which is to be greatly annoyed. I do love being able to claim learning something new.
… all the bravado drains out of me, leaving me feeling like a balloon three days after the party.
After all, they do say the joy of being a grandparent is that you can hand the little terror back at the end of the day . . .
My Review:
While reading, I vacillated in how to rate this slowly developing and somewhat bittersweet tale about a small British village, where each of the main characters appears to be in a transitional stage in their lives. The premise was relevant and the storylines and writing were chaste enough for my elderly mother’s church ladies book club, yet still held my attention, which is rare ;). As the first story in a trilogy, the stage was being set for subsequent installments, which was thankfully done without feeling like an information dump - yet it felt a bit flat to me. While there were humorous items and amusing observations, the story seemed to come up a little short of a Four-Star ranking, but close enough. I enjoyed the quirky characters and look forward to their future antics and adventures and proudly have two new additions to my Brit vocabulary list which now includes “came a cropper” which is to fall headlong, and “browned off” which is to be greatly annoyed. I do love being able to claim learning something new.
April 7, 2018
This story was a real delight I really enjoyed getting to know Ellie and the lovely people who live in Sunnybrook. It's only a short story but in that time you meet Ellie who is having a terrible time of it what with family and romantic issues. That's where The Little Duck Café comes in and provides a break that is just what Ellie needs. The length of the story meant I read this book over one evening even though it is a shorter length I didn't feel like the story was rushed which was perfect.
There is a lovely heartwarming vibe to the story that is a perfect pick me up but there is also a more deeper emotional aspect to the story as you see Ellie and her mother interact. Even though the weather isn't very Spring like at the moment this book definitely made me smile and made me look forward to the months ahead!
I'm so happy that this will be a series and I get to re-visit Sunnybrook and the people who live there. Spring at The Little Duck Pond is a wonderful story with themes of new beginnings, friends, family and of course romance!
Five stars from me!
With thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
There is a lovely heartwarming vibe to the story that is a perfect pick me up but there is also a more deeper emotional aspect to the story as you see Ellie and her mother interact. Even though the weather isn't very Spring like at the moment this book definitely made me smile and made me look forward to the months ahead!
I'm so happy that this will be a series and I get to re-visit Sunnybrook and the people who live there. Spring at The Little Duck Pond is a wonderful story with themes of new beginnings, friends, family and of course romance!
Five stars from me!
With thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
April 9, 2018
My Review Spring at The Little Duck Pond Café by Rosie Green
A sweet romance story. Extremely digestible and not too long-winded.
The Good
A sweet family story, love the mum dementia angle and cozy cafe and cakes. The characters were delightful and Zac the dreamer type of man you could fall in love with.
The Bad
No sex for sex sake!
The Ugly
Dementia is ugly. I did like the way that the author referred to The Thing. I think all woman do that I remember calling someone monster toad for a long time!
An enjoyable Novella - 4 Stars
A sweet romance story. Extremely digestible and not too long-winded.
The Good
A sweet family story, love the mum dementia angle and cozy cafe and cakes. The characters were delightful and Zac the dreamer type of man you could fall in love with.
The Bad
No sex for sex sake!
The Ugly
Dementia is ugly. I did like the way that the author referred to The Thing. I think all woman do that I remember calling someone monster toad for a long time!
An enjoyable Novella - 4 Stars
July 1, 2019
The good stuff first - this is a charming little book, a quick read and reasonably well edited.
The less good stuff - the book attempts to be too many things and doesn’t quite accomplish any of them.
The protagonist is Ellie (I finished this story 20 minutes ago and had to look up her name, that says a lot right there) who ends up in a cute little English village when her city life goes down the toilet in the most overused cliched way possible (sidebar - that she refers to the OW as ‘Thing’ is horrid, the ex who couldn’t keep it in his pants gets the benefit of the doubt and more respect than he’s due, but his mistress does not). Ellie is then surrounded by a new and eclectic friend group, all of whom will doubtless show up as protagonists in future novels in the series. It had potential to be a great ensemble piece, but not enough was given about the secondary characters to make them fully fledged. Again, I think because the writer is saving them for future books.
Ellie has the self esteem of a bowl of potato salad. She’s one of those irritating heroines who falls over her feet and face in the presence of testosterone. (No one is going to accidentally say ‘loving room’ instead of living room because they’re attracted to the man in the room. Come on.)
Zak is the hero, I think. He’s described in the blurb as broody, but he’s not actually in the book much, certainly not enough to make any impression. Their interactions over the span of the story measure in the single digits. This is really not a romance, despite how it’s marketed.
But it’s not the character piece that it aims to be either. Ellie doesn’t experience any growth. She doesn’t tackle her demons, doesn’t look at her own culpability in how her life unfolded. She doesn’t even forge out her own new path, simply lets a different bunch of people make decisions for her. It’s deeply unsatisfying as a reader to see no difference in a character from page 1 to 127.
So it’s cute, safe, and short. But it’s incredibly empty.
The less good stuff - the book attempts to be too many things and doesn’t quite accomplish any of them.
The protagonist is Ellie (I finished this story 20 minutes ago and had to look up her name, that says a lot right there) who ends up in a cute little English village when her city life goes down the toilet in the most overused cliched way possible (sidebar - that she refers to the OW as ‘Thing’ is horrid, the ex who couldn’t keep it in his pants gets the benefit of the doubt and more respect than he’s due, but his mistress does not). Ellie is then surrounded by a new and eclectic friend group, all of whom will doubtless show up as protagonists in future novels in the series. It had potential to be a great ensemble piece, but not enough was given about the secondary characters to make them fully fledged. Again, I think because the writer is saving them for future books.
Ellie has the self esteem of a bowl of potato salad. She’s one of those irritating heroines who falls over her feet and face in the presence of testosterone. (No one is going to accidentally say ‘loving room’ instead of living room because they’re attracted to the man in the room. Come on.)
Zak is the hero, I think. He’s described in the blurb as broody, but he’s not actually in the book much, certainly not enough to make any impression. Their interactions over the span of the story measure in the single digits. This is really not a romance, despite how it’s marketed.
But it’s not the character piece that it aims to be either. Ellie doesn’t experience any growth. She doesn’t tackle her demons, doesn’t look at her own culpability in how her life unfolded. She doesn’t even forge out her own new path, simply lets a different bunch of people make decisions for her. It’s deeply unsatisfying as a reader to see no difference in a character from page 1 to 127.
So it’s cute, safe, and short. But it’s incredibly empty.
January 10, 2020
OMG, what a delight to finally see where it all began! To see Ellie in the aftermath of her break up with Richard. How she first meet Zak and Maisie! Oh and off course, Sylvia and meeting Rose! I am going to sound so sloshy but my heart just sang. I will admit cried too!
I absolutely adore this series, and I will admit it’s so nice to be back with one of the original girls. Don’t get me wrong I do love Madison, Katja and Primose but there is something so special about Ellie, Fen and Jaz. This trio is the foundation of this series and I am so glad that it got extended from the original plan of just three books!! Three books! Who would Adam and Eve it!
Because I, wrongly, started the series at book two I missed out on the initial meet up, not that I ever felt like I was missing something. I really wasn’t, but it just adds to the magic reading book one and seeing how it all began with climbing a tree and a dip in the pond.
This series has always made me smile, and it’s one I love dipping back into. I am with old friends and seeing Ellie and Zak fall in love was so lovely especially as I am going to read book eight! And well it’s about Ellie and Zak!
I did fee for Ellie at the start with her breakup and you see the loss of confidence in her. But the meeting of Maisie soon changed that for her and it opened Zaks eyes too! These novellas are just one of pure heart-thumping love, one to last the lifetime. Yes, we have a bit of drama now and again with misconceptions but in this novella that was a bare minimum and in such few pages you are given a new family to care about and to love as your own.
I know there is a 9th book on its way too, I can’t wait for that. But with such a huge cast of characters, I really can’t see this series slowing down. Now I have read the first book I now have the complete history of the girls and can enjoy it even more!!
I absolutely adore this series, and I will admit it’s so nice to be back with one of the original girls. Don’t get me wrong I do love Madison, Katja and Primose but there is something so special about Ellie, Fen and Jaz. This trio is the foundation of this series and I am so glad that it got extended from the original plan of just three books!! Three books! Who would Adam and Eve it!
Because I, wrongly, started the series at book two I missed out on the initial meet up, not that I ever felt like I was missing something. I really wasn’t, but it just adds to the magic reading book one and seeing how it all began with climbing a tree and a dip in the pond.
This series has always made me smile, and it’s one I love dipping back into. I am with old friends and seeing Ellie and Zak fall in love was so lovely especially as I am going to read book eight! And well it’s about Ellie and Zak!
I did fee for Ellie at the start with her breakup and you see the loss of confidence in her. But the meeting of Maisie soon changed that for her and it opened Zaks eyes too! These novellas are just one of pure heart-thumping love, one to last the lifetime. Yes, we have a bit of drama now and again with misconceptions but in this novella that was a bare minimum and in such few pages you are given a new family to care about and to love as your own.
I know there is a 9th book on its way too, I can’t wait for that. But with such a huge cast of characters, I really can’t see this series slowing down. Now I have read the first book I now have the complete history of the girls and can enjoy it even more!!
January 11, 2020
What I Loved: The charming conversations in this cozy story made this book so lovable. I loved the way Ellie thinks with funny things like “Oh nightmare!”
How I Felt: I loved the characters in this book. Sylvia is probably my favorite character actually and I would love to see more of her in another book (and maybe I will get to since this is a series). Ellie is a bit of a hot mess with all the things going wrong in her life and I appreciated her character flaws that came with these issues. The romance was perfect and I enjoyed that story line. I felt that the two characters had chemistry and found myself rooting for them from the beginning.
Overall: This is a quick read with a very light-hearted feel. The story was endearing and the writing was well-done.
To Read or Not To Read: If you are looking for a quick read to lighten your mood, this is it!
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my honest, unbiased review voluntarily.
This review will post to my blog on 1/13/20. All of my reviews can be found at: https://shejustlovesbooks.com/
How I Felt: I loved the characters in this book. Sylvia is probably my favorite character actually and I would love to see more of her in another book (and maybe I will get to since this is a series). Ellie is a bit of a hot mess with all the things going wrong in her life and I appreciated her character flaws that came with these issues. The romance was perfect and I enjoyed that story line. I felt that the two characters had chemistry and found myself rooting for them from the beginning.
Overall: This is a quick read with a very light-hearted feel. The story was endearing and the writing was well-done.
To Read or Not To Read: If you are looking for a quick read to lighten your mood, this is it!
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my honest, unbiased review voluntarily.
This review will post to my blog on 1/13/20. All of my reviews can be found at: https://shejustlovesbooks.com/
January 14, 2020
Spring At The Little Duck Pond Cafe was a simple sweet romance/small town story. It's the first book in a series and its a pleasant bit of escapism for anyone that likes clean romances. OK, its not 100 % a romance, though there is something brewing with Ellie and Zack.
Ellie ends up in Sunnybrook in hopes of helping her mother, but has also found a new life there, almost by accident when she meets Sylvia after falling into the duck pond.
She's dealing with a failing relationship and the failing health of her mother that has early onset dementia.
I love Ellie's love for her mother, but I wish it would have been more realistic. There are medications that slow the progression of the disease.
I also loved all of Ellie's new friends in Sunnybrook and how she took to helping them, especially Fen.
This was a fabulous start to a series, and I really look forward to revisiting the characters in the next books.
Ellie ends up in Sunnybrook in hopes of helping her mother, but has also found a new life there, almost by accident when she meets Sylvia after falling into the duck pond.
She's dealing with a failing relationship and the failing health of her mother that has early onset dementia.
I love Ellie's love for her mother, but I wish it would have been more realistic. There are medications that slow the progression of the disease.
I also loved all of Ellie's new friends in Sunnybrook and how she took to helping them, especially Fen.
This was a fabulous start to a series, and I really look forward to revisiting the characters in the next books.
July 1, 2023
I have enjoyed many book series which are made up of standalone stories and somehow I never seem to read them in the right order! This hasn’t affected the flow of the writing, but today I decided to search back through my Kindle TBR library for the first in the Little Duck Pond Café series to relish the initial appearance of a few of the main characters and I’m so glad I did. What a joy this book is and a fitting introduction to the rest of the stories I have been enjoying. Thoroughly recommended.
July 5, 2018
Two thumbs up! Ellie was easy to relate to, especially with her nicknaming certain pieces or people in her life - Thing. Haha The story had so much to offer and I was amazed of everything tucked in between the pages for a novella. I want to go to Sunnybrook and visit the Little Duck Pond Cafe! A quick and delightful read over my holiday break!
July 6, 2022
This was a super short and sweet romance. I liked the characters and the way they interacted with each other. Zak's daughter was a surprise and the book did become heavy for a while there but the way everything was wrapped up in the end was upto my expectations. Plus all the bakery talk made me crave sweeets so much lol!
June 27, 2021
Una lectura rápida, entrañable y feelgood a la vez que trata temas relevantes como la paternidad, la demencia senil, la superación de la muerte o las adicciones.
December 3, 2023
Really enjoyed this book can't wait to carry-on with the series
February 2, 2019
Another great read look forward to next one
December 22, 2020
This book was just what I needed after reading so many dark books lately. so fluffy and adorable and despite the length of the book, it handled some really important issues and I was hooked from the minute it started. I won't lie, I did bubble up at some of the scenes including Ellie's mother, who has early-onset Alzheimer's because this has affected someone very close to me and the book was able to describe the disease very accurately. slightly intimidated that the series is currently 14 books long HOWEVER if they're all as enjoyable as this one was, I'm super excited for it :))
June 9, 2025
This was really cute and left me feeling all warm and fuzzy.
April 11, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this review copy, given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for organising the Blog Tour and giving me the opportunity to be part of it.
Ellie Farmer is running away from her cheating boyfriend, Richard. She’s also looking after her mum, who has just been diagnosed with early onset dementia. When she visits the little village of Sunnybrook to take some photos for her mum’s memory book, she falls in love with the place and decides to rent the little flat above the Duck Pond Café whilst the sale of hers and Richard’s home is underway. Whilst staying in Sunnybrook, she meets the mysterious handsome author, Zack Chamberlain. She tries her best not to have feelings for him, but it’s very difficult! Ellie has some big decisions to make - is running away to Sunnybrook the answer or should she stay at home and work things out with Richard?
Wow, what a lovely book! This was such a wonderful read! Initially, I wasn’t sure how to take the character of Ellie. She seemed a bit of ‘walk-over’, quite willing to take back her boyfriend Richard, even though he’d cheated on her. I felt the need to give her a good shake and tell her to pull herself together! As the book went on though, she blossomed into this wonderful character that was just so likeable that you couldn’t help but love her! Obviously poor Ellie has it hard, trying to juggle her emotions about Richard and caring for her mum with early onset dementia. Throwing the handsome Zack into the equation was always going to give Ellie another dilemma to ponder over.
The setting was absolutely perfect and I spent the book with visions in my mind of the kind of place that everybody would want to live. The Duck Pond Café was ‘quirky’ to begin with but you just knew what was going to happen with it by the end of the story! The ending was left nicely open for future books of the series, and I can’t wait for these to come out to carry on the tale of Ellie and her mum.
It’s a nice short book, easily read in a day or so. It was also a complete breath of fresh air to have something that was so easy to read and uncomplicated. A story of friendship, family and romance. What more could you want! Absolutely fabulous!!
Ellie Farmer is running away from her cheating boyfriend, Richard. She’s also looking after her mum, who has just been diagnosed with early onset dementia. When she visits the little village of Sunnybrook to take some photos for her mum’s memory book, she falls in love with the place and decides to rent the little flat above the Duck Pond Café whilst the sale of hers and Richard’s home is underway. Whilst staying in Sunnybrook, she meets the mysterious handsome author, Zack Chamberlain. She tries her best not to have feelings for him, but it’s very difficult! Ellie has some big decisions to make - is running away to Sunnybrook the answer or should she stay at home and work things out with Richard?
Wow, what a lovely book! This was such a wonderful read! Initially, I wasn’t sure how to take the character of Ellie. She seemed a bit of ‘walk-over’, quite willing to take back her boyfriend Richard, even though he’d cheated on her. I felt the need to give her a good shake and tell her to pull herself together! As the book went on though, she blossomed into this wonderful character that was just so likeable that you couldn’t help but love her! Obviously poor Ellie has it hard, trying to juggle her emotions about Richard and caring for her mum with early onset dementia. Throwing the handsome Zack into the equation was always going to give Ellie another dilemma to ponder over.
The setting was absolutely perfect and I spent the book with visions in my mind of the kind of place that everybody would want to live. The Duck Pond Café was ‘quirky’ to begin with but you just knew what was going to happen with it by the end of the story! The ending was left nicely open for future books of the series, and I can’t wait for these to come out to carry on the tale of Ellie and her mum.
It’s a nice short book, easily read in a day or so. It was also a complete breath of fresh air to have something that was so easy to read and uncomplicated. A story of friendship, family and romance. What more could you want! Absolutely fabulous!!
March 30, 2018
I found this to be such fun to read! The characters were adorable, as was the setting, and the book managed to pack so much in considering it is only really a novella! I'm desperate for more installments!!
We first meet Ellie as she's plucking up the courage to climb a tree!! What a way to start a book! But you soon find out there's a good reason for her mission and the lengths she goes to help her mum who has early onset Alzheimers, is admirable and just makes you love her even more! Ellie is also trying to escape the heartbreak she's suffering after finding out her boyfriend has been cheating on her, so maybe she needs an escape!
She is soon offered the chance to move on and make a new start and although she is a little hesitant she can see no other option, so grabs the opportunity to live in a flat above The Little Duck Pond Cafe where she has made a strong bond with the wonderful owner Sylvia. In her seventies she is finding the cafe a little bit of a struggle, but has many happy memories there, so in Ellie she finds someone she can talk to and to help out. Ellie also takes on a little job at a nearby bakery where she meets some different characters - some more likeable than others!!
Sylvia is also the great aunt to Zack who Ellie had the misfortune of annoying when she was trying to climb the tree in his front garden, so they don't get off to the best start, but the more time they begin to spend with each other thanks to Sylvia, the more they get to see different sides to one another
I loved the whole community feel of this and was totally swept up in the lives of the characters who all just felt like the kind of people you hope to meet and become friends with!
We first meet Ellie as she's plucking up the courage to climb a tree!! What a way to start a book! But you soon find out there's a good reason for her mission and the lengths she goes to help her mum who has early onset Alzheimers, is admirable and just makes you love her even more! Ellie is also trying to escape the heartbreak she's suffering after finding out her boyfriend has been cheating on her, so maybe she needs an escape!
She is soon offered the chance to move on and make a new start and although she is a little hesitant she can see no other option, so grabs the opportunity to live in a flat above The Little Duck Pond Cafe where she has made a strong bond with the wonderful owner Sylvia. In her seventies she is finding the cafe a little bit of a struggle, but has many happy memories there, so in Ellie she finds someone she can talk to and to help out. Ellie also takes on a little job at a nearby bakery where she meets some different characters - some more likeable than others!!
Sylvia is also the great aunt to Zack who Ellie had the misfortune of annoying when she was trying to climb the tree in his front garden, so they don't get off to the best start, but the more time they begin to spend with each other thanks to Sylvia, the more they get to see different sides to one another
I loved the whole community feel of this and was totally swept up in the lives of the characters who all just felt like the kind of people you hope to meet and become friends with!
March 23, 2018
Ellen needs a break. Her so called boyfriend has had a one night stand and she kicked him out. On deciding to forgive him, he said he didn’t want to come back. They had bought a house together and were planning a family so this has brought Ellen’s world to come crashing down. Her mother has early onset Alzheimer's and so to cheer herself and her mother up, Ellen decides to visit her Mum’s old stamping ground and take some pictures for her memory book. What transpires from this visit changes things. I won’t say too much other than to say this is an uplifting tale and a wonderful start to Spring. A time of new life and new beginnings and for some a chance to turn over a page and never look back. I really enjoyed this. It’s a novella length book, perfect for over a coffee or two. Find a comfy chair, a drink and a cake and breathe in some spring-time magic.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
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For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
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April 23, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I loved the blurb for this one and as soon as I saw the cover I fell in love!
It is a fairly light hearted read that really warmed me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing style flowed so well and the pace was spot on, it is a great plot and I read it in a few hours. The characters are great and I really loved the interaction between them, it really brought the story to life. The Duck Pond Café and the little village is most definitely a place that I would have loved to visit!!
Five stars - A lovely sweet read that I couldn't help but love!!
I loved the blurb for this one and as soon as I saw the cover I fell in love!
It is a fairly light hearted read that really warmed me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing style flowed so well and the pace was spot on, it is a great plot and I read it in a few hours. The characters are great and I really loved the interaction between them, it really brought the story to life. The Duck Pond Café and the little village is most definitely a place that I would have loved to visit!!
Five stars - A lovely sweet read that I couldn't help but love!!
February 27, 2020
This was mighty cute.. I mean it wasn’t revolutionary or anything but Ellie and Zak were so cute together and the Little Duck Pond Cafe and when can I move to some quaint little village like Sunnybrook?
April 18, 2020
A perfect little ray of sunshine in the form of a novella.
This was such a lovely read. Short, easily digestible and full
of happiness.
Although this was only a relatively short story with only 127 pages, this novella was packed full of feel good content. A very subtle romance that addresses so much more than just romantic love.
The characters in this book are all unique but also so relatable. The author touched upon a range of people, from the overly confident, disliked bakery owner, to the shy pushover who's finally finds the confidence to stand up for herself. Each character was described so well and I had a really good image of each of the characters in the book. Obviously the main characters of the book Ellie and Zak were my favourites. Although the book followed their story of Ellie and Zak getting to know one another I really felt like there just wasn't enough content about them. And for a romance, they were rarely together at all in the book. So at the end of the story where they admitted their feelings to each other I was kind of thinking 'but you hardly even know each other?!'. As much as I loved the will they/won't they development of their relationship I just wanted to read more about it and see it blossoming more. This isn't a bad thing though, I suppose it means that I just loved the characters and wanted to know more!
One of the things I loved most about this book was the heart-wrenching truths about reality that it touched upon. It touched upon these issues so sensitively and took such a positive approach to them it was heartwarming to read. Reading about one of the characters who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease saddened me but it was addressed with such sensitivity and compassion I couldn't help but smile.
When I finished this book I was so excited to move on to the next book in the series of 7. I couldn't wait to read about how the relationships developed and what happened after the end confessions. But then I found out that the series doesn't follow on from the story of Zak and Ellie and can be read without even having read the first book in the series! I WAS GUTTED. There was so much more I needed to know! Did Ellie get the life she wanted? Did her mum agree to move away with her so that they could be near The Little Duck Pond Cafe? I guess I'll never know and I'm a little disappointed with that. The abrupt ending felt like it was only the beginning of the book which is a little annoying.
But honestly, what I did read I loved! I didn't want it to end.
This was such a joyful, heartwarming book. It was so refreshing to read something that just made me smile throughout with no gut-wrenching plots or negativity. I would highly recommend this for a little feel good
read.
This was such a lovely read. Short, easily digestible and full
of happiness.
Although this was only a relatively short story with only 127 pages, this novella was packed full of feel good content. A very subtle romance that addresses so much more than just romantic love.
The characters in this book are all unique but also so relatable. The author touched upon a range of people, from the overly confident, disliked bakery owner, to the shy pushover who's finally finds the confidence to stand up for herself. Each character was described so well and I had a really good image of each of the characters in the book. Obviously the main characters of the book Ellie and Zak were my favourites. Although the book followed their story of Ellie and Zak getting to know one another I really felt like there just wasn't enough content about them. And for a romance, they were rarely together at all in the book. So at the end of the story where they admitted their feelings to each other I was kind of thinking 'but you hardly even know each other?!'. As much as I loved the will they/won't they development of their relationship I just wanted to read more about it and see it blossoming more. This isn't a bad thing though, I suppose it means that I just loved the characters and wanted to know more!
One of the things I loved most about this book was the heart-wrenching truths about reality that it touched upon. It touched upon these issues so sensitively and took such a positive approach to them it was heartwarming to read. Reading about one of the characters who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease saddened me but it was addressed with such sensitivity and compassion I couldn't help but smile.
When I finished this book I was so excited to move on to the next book in the series of 7. I couldn't wait to read about how the relationships developed and what happened after the end confessions. But then I found out that the series doesn't follow on from the story of Zak and Ellie and can be read without even having read the first book in the series! I WAS GUTTED. There was so much more I needed to know! Did Ellie get the life she wanted? Did her mum agree to move away with her so that they could be near The Little Duck Pond Cafe? I guess I'll never know and I'm a little disappointed with that. The abrupt ending felt like it was only the beginning of the book which is a little annoying.
But honestly, what I did read I loved! I didn't want it to end.
This was such a joyful, heartwarming book. It was so refreshing to read something that just made me smile throughout with no gut-wrenching plots or negativity. I would highly recommend this for a little feel good
read.
April 9, 2018
~4.5 Stars~
Spring at the Little Duck Pond Café by Rosie Green is one of those charming reads that pulls you in and doesn’t let you escape until the last page is finished.
Poor Ellie Farmer has had a bad time of it lately. She discovers her long-time boyfriend whom she thought she would be living a great life with has committed the ultimate betrayal. Even worse, her mother has been recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. She has traveled to the village of Sunnybrook to take a picture that she is hoping will help her mother. She doesn’t suspect that this will be the start of a brand new life for her. When she meets sweet Sylvia who runs a café, she offers Ellie a lifeline, a flat that is for rent. This respite might just be what she needs if she can stay away from Zack Chamberlain, the broody but sexy man she ran into while trying to take that picture for her mother.
This book is about Ellie and her journey to discover who she is now that she isn’t in a relationship. She made many sacrifices for her ex who just threw those right in her face, so I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her grow into a woman who is confident in herself. She is loving and loyal. She is trying to do what is best for her mother, and she ends up helping Sylvia a lot as well. Ellie grows even more when she and Zack spend more time together. Both of them have been through a great deal of pain, so I loved watching them heal one another as they developed even deeper feelings for each other.
This is a story about Ellie and Zack, but I loved how the secondary characters were weaved into the book. In my opinion, that added even more depth and made me feel like I was a person living there in Sunnybrook. Green created a community of characters with each of them having a story to tell. I am hoping to return to learn more about the other characters, and I do believe they have quite the stories to tell!
***Read and Reviewed for Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews***
Spring at the Little Duck Pond Café by Rosie Green is one of those charming reads that pulls you in and doesn’t let you escape until the last page is finished.
Poor Ellie Farmer has had a bad time of it lately. She discovers her long-time boyfriend whom she thought she would be living a great life with has committed the ultimate betrayal. Even worse, her mother has been recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. She has traveled to the village of Sunnybrook to take a picture that she is hoping will help her mother. She doesn’t suspect that this will be the start of a brand new life for her. When she meets sweet Sylvia who runs a café, she offers Ellie a lifeline, a flat that is for rent. This respite might just be what she needs if she can stay away from Zack Chamberlain, the broody but sexy man she ran into while trying to take that picture for her mother.
This book is about Ellie and her journey to discover who she is now that she isn’t in a relationship. She made many sacrifices for her ex who just threw those right in her face, so I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her grow into a woman who is confident in herself. She is loving and loyal. She is trying to do what is best for her mother, and she ends up helping Sylvia a lot as well. Ellie grows even more when she and Zack spend more time together. Both of them have been through a great deal of pain, so I loved watching them heal one another as they developed even deeper feelings for each other.
This is a story about Ellie and Zack, but I loved how the secondary characters were weaved into the book. In my opinion, that added even more depth and made me feel like I was a person living there in Sunnybrook. Green created a community of characters with each of them having a story to tell. I am hoping to return to learn more about the other characters, and I do believe they have quite the stories to tell!
***Read and Reviewed for Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews***
May 18, 2019
If you are after a quick read for a lovely warm afternoon in the garden, then look no further than Spring at The Little Duck Pond Cafe. I don’t know about you but, if I see a book with a cafe mentioned, the impression of a welcoming community and a mysterious stranger… then yep I am more than likely to give it a read! This book had all that and then, some fabulous characters, a good amount of humour and a great way to the start of a wonderful sounding series.
The Little Duck Pond Cafe would be a minimalists nightmare, for me it sounds brilliant. The owner is Sylvia and she has, well, let us say she has an obsession with antiques and nick-nacks, and they are displayed in the cafe. Sylvia takes pity on a very bedraggled Ellie Farmer when she had a slight mishap at the village pond. Ellie has not made the best first impression as she has already had a run in when she was caught trespassing!
Why Ellie paid a visit to the village of Sunnybrook and the reason for the trespassing soon becomes clear. It is a story that many can associate with and it adds such an emotional angle to the story. Talking of emotions, I do tend to be an emotional soppy sod when it comes to getting immersed in a story. This story had lumps in my throat on a few occasions and the story is only 127 pages! I should also mention that along with lumpy throat moments I also had a few grinning like a loon moments as well.
For such a short read, this book delivered fabulously. It made me feel welcomed into the cafe and the lives of the characters and it didn’t take me long to discover that I was caring about what happened to them. The setting sounds so idyllic and has left me looking forward to the next instalment of this series.
If you are after a quick feel good story then you should definitely pick up Spring at The Little Duck Pond Cafe
The Little Duck Pond Cafe would be a minimalists nightmare, for me it sounds brilliant. The owner is Sylvia and she has, well, let us say she has an obsession with antiques and nick-nacks, and they are displayed in the cafe. Sylvia takes pity on a very bedraggled Ellie Farmer when she had a slight mishap at the village pond. Ellie has not made the best first impression as she has already had a run in when she was caught trespassing!
Why Ellie paid a visit to the village of Sunnybrook and the reason for the trespassing soon becomes clear. It is a story that many can associate with and it adds such an emotional angle to the story. Talking of emotions, I do tend to be an emotional soppy sod when it comes to getting immersed in a story. This story had lumps in my throat on a few occasions and the story is only 127 pages! I should also mention that along with lumpy throat moments I also had a few grinning like a loon moments as well.
For such a short read, this book delivered fabulously. It made me feel welcomed into the cafe and the lives of the characters and it didn’t take me long to discover that I was caring about what happened to them. The setting sounds so idyllic and has left me looking forward to the next instalment of this series.
If you are after a quick feel good story then you should definitely pick up Spring at The Little Duck Pond Cafe
July 6, 2018
I knew I was going to enjoy this cute little novella as soon as the author started talking about knickers when we had only got no further than the beginning of Chapter Two. I can easily get onboard with a writer who isn’t afraid to shoehorn wet undies into a book early on for the sake of laughs!
Humour was one of the strongest thread running through this story, along with romance and friendship, so it was an easy book to take to quickly. You are going to get exactly what you expect from the cover – a sweet, happy story set in a cute village with added ducks. What’s not to like? What you will also be getting are some real family issues, well-formed characters and a healthy dose of the warm fuzzies, so this is the perfect read when you are wanting a mood-lifting book. It’s also short so you can get your happiness hit quickly if you are pushed for time.
Because it is only a short novella, a lot happens very quickly so there isn’t much time for the reader to draw breath or for the characters to spend navel-gazing. Problems arise and get resolved very quickly out of necessity and you might find that you are questioning whether things can honestly happen that quickly in real life – fast friendships and romances formed, heartbreak forgotten and new jobs and homes found. Don’t bother, of course they can’t, but who cares? This isn’t real life, it’s pure escapism and all the better for it. That is exactly what you are looking for in this type of book.
This is a speedy and satisfying read for an idle ninety minutes when you are looking for an undemanding distraction. It’s a little ray of sunshine on your Kindle, with enough going on to be satisfying. I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
Humour was one of the strongest thread running through this story, along with romance and friendship, so it was an easy book to take to quickly. You are going to get exactly what you expect from the cover – a sweet, happy story set in a cute village with added ducks. What’s not to like? What you will also be getting are some real family issues, well-formed characters and a healthy dose of the warm fuzzies, so this is the perfect read when you are wanting a mood-lifting book. It’s also short so you can get your happiness hit quickly if you are pushed for time.
Because it is only a short novella, a lot happens very quickly so there isn’t much time for the reader to draw breath or for the characters to spend navel-gazing. Problems arise and get resolved very quickly out of necessity and you might find that you are questioning whether things can honestly happen that quickly in real life – fast friendships and romances formed, heartbreak forgotten and new jobs and homes found. Don’t bother, of course they can’t, but who cares? This isn’t real life, it’s pure escapism and all the better for it. That is exactly what you are looking for in this type of book.
This is a speedy and satisfying read for an idle ninety minutes when you are looking for an undemanding distraction. It’s a little ray of sunshine on your Kindle, with enough going on to be satisfying. I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
January 20, 2020
I fell for Ellie right out of the gate because she manages to get herself into all kinds of embarrassing scrapes in the first few minutes of the story. I felt like we were kindred spirits. And then her life really starts to fall apart when she realizes she has to break things off with her cheating boyfriend. Plus her mother is suffering from early onset Alzheimer's and Ellie is understandably struggling with that. I don't have the misfortune of a recently cheating boyfriend, but I did recently lose my mother to Alzheimer's. So I understand Ellie's turmoil in these early days. And I need to note it because it is going to be a big factor in the plot of this book and subsequent books in the series, but isn't in the blurb.
Ellie is fortunate to literally fall into a new life in this small town of Sunnybrook. She thinks it is going to be temporary, but you know she is going to get sucked in to the small town life and all of the quirky new friends she is able to make. I want to hang out with these women and feel like they are going to be able to teach each other a lot in spite of their age differences. Plus when you have a hottie writer like Zak right there, how could you want to leave? He has his own damaged past and secrets, but I feel like the two of them could make things work and really heal each other.
I was slightly unsure about how I was going to feel when this story started. But then I found myself getting completely sucked in to all of their lives and was disappointed when I got to the end. I am glad to see that there is a whole series to follow this one and will likely continue on with it as time allows.
Ellie is fortunate to literally fall into a new life in this small town of Sunnybrook. She thinks it is going to be temporary, but you know she is going to get sucked in to the small town life and all of the quirky new friends she is able to make. I want to hang out with these women and feel like they are going to be able to teach each other a lot in spite of their age differences. Plus when you have a hottie writer like Zak right there, how could you want to leave? He has his own damaged past and secrets, but I feel like the two of them could make things work and really heal each other.
I was slightly unsure about how I was going to feel when this story started. But then I found myself getting completely sucked in to all of their lives and was disappointed when I got to the end. I am glad to see that there is a whole series to follow this one and will likely continue on with it as time allows.
November 19, 2023
Full review - https://booksteacupreviews.com/2023/1...
In short pages author perfectly introduced all characters with their background, engaging writing and also represented the theme and layers of a struggling single dad, postpartum depression, Alzheimer’s and how it affects the loved ones, letting go of the past, standing up for yourself and not judging a person before knowing their story.
Ellie is a lovely character. She is friendly, caring, and down-to-earth. I could get why she felt overwhelmed with so many things happening in life. Even though her decision to move to Sunnybrook was impulsive, I liked how she moved on after that and made a life in the village. I loved how she helped, Fern, Sylvia, and especially Zak.
Zak is struggling with writer’s block and has lots of baggage. At first, I couldn’t get why he was so aloof and kept his distance even though it was clear he liked Ellie but the more he talked about his past the more I wanted to hug him. He deserved someone special and Ellie was exactly the person. I liked how he eventually realized that and also got over his guilt and regret.
Sylvia is the best character. She is fun, and charming, and I loved how she helped Ellie to move on in life and settle with everything. I’m glad she too got her development here. She and Mick make a lovely couple. I hope to see more of them in the next books of this series.
I also liked other secondary characters- Fern and Jaz, Maisie and Rose. Even Madeline was fun and added a little drama to the story.
Romance isn’t at the center of the story but it was cute. Even though the story is short it felt like both Ellie and Zak took their time to get together which was realistic and felt genuine.
The climax was unexpected and surprising. It was a scary thing for a parent to go through but I liked how that incident opened Zak’s eyes and helped him make decisions both for his life and for Ellie. The end is lovely and heartwarming.
Why 4 stars –
I don’t have any fix point except I wanted more. Maybe more of romance and drama.
Overall, Spring at the Little Duck Pond Cafe is cute, lovely, and delightful chick-lit that would warm your heart in just a few pages. It’s the perfect book to read over breakfast with a coffee or two.
In short pages author perfectly introduced all characters with their background, engaging writing and also represented the theme and layers of a struggling single dad, postpartum depression, Alzheimer’s and how it affects the loved ones, letting go of the past, standing up for yourself and not judging a person before knowing their story.
Ellie is a lovely character. She is friendly, caring, and down-to-earth. I could get why she felt overwhelmed with so many things happening in life. Even though her decision to move to Sunnybrook was impulsive, I liked how she moved on after that and made a life in the village. I loved how she helped, Fern, Sylvia, and especially Zak.
Zak is struggling with writer’s block and has lots of baggage. At first, I couldn’t get why he was so aloof and kept his distance even though it was clear he liked Ellie but the more he talked about his past the more I wanted to hug him. He deserved someone special and Ellie was exactly the person. I liked how he eventually realized that and also got over his guilt and regret.
Sylvia is the best character. She is fun, and charming, and I loved how she helped Ellie to move on in life and settle with everything. I’m glad she too got her development here. She and Mick make a lovely couple. I hope to see more of them in the next books of this series.
I also liked other secondary characters- Fern and Jaz, Maisie and Rose. Even Madeline was fun and added a little drama to the story.
Romance isn’t at the center of the story but it was cute. Even though the story is short it felt like both Ellie and Zak took their time to get together which was realistic and felt genuine.
The climax was unexpected and surprising. It was a scary thing for a parent to go through but I liked how that incident opened Zak’s eyes and helped him make decisions both for his life and for Ellie. The end is lovely and heartwarming.
Why 4 stars –
I don’t have any fix point except I wanted more. Maybe more of romance and drama.
Overall, Spring at the Little Duck Pond Cafe is cute, lovely, and delightful chick-lit that would warm your heart in just a few pages. It’s the perfect book to read over breakfast with a coffee or two.
May 13, 2018
This is the story of the Ellie Farmer who is visiting the village of Sunnybrook for personal reasons and realises that she has fallen in love with the place. And I have to say, I fell in love with it too!
From the quirky cafe (renovation alert-you know I love big renovation projects!), to the ‘artisan’ bakery, to the gorgeous little duck pond itself, to the great cast of characters, I was so taken with this book and thrilled to a) be part of the blog tour that promotes it and b) see it was part of a series and so I’d get to visit again!! The instant we met Ellie, I was in. In, in, in! With sparkliness and comedy from the off, it was totally up my street.
As well as all of that I’m always a fan of cliches done well and there’s a few in this book that made me nod along and smile. Ellie has a romantic history that has made her decide that men are off the cards, and I welcomed the unexpected romance, which I thought was both well done and nicely explained! I was a bit worried about her mum, and to be honest I’m not the biggest fan of such serious issues (dementia) being introduced to light-hearted books, but that’s just because I’d rather a book like this to have pure escapism form serious issues. Saying that it was well done and added to the general warmth of the book.
A lovely, lovely book that has made me decide to go back to my roots for Chick Lit May so many thanks to both the author and Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for the book in return for an honest review. Roll on the next book!
Rating: 4.5/5
From the quirky cafe (renovation alert-you know I love big renovation projects!), to the ‘artisan’ bakery, to the gorgeous little duck pond itself, to the great cast of characters, I was so taken with this book and thrilled to a) be part of the blog tour that promotes it and b) see it was part of a series and so I’d get to visit again!! The instant we met Ellie, I was in. In, in, in! With sparkliness and comedy from the off, it was totally up my street.
As well as all of that I’m always a fan of cliches done well and there’s a few in this book that made me nod along and smile. Ellie has a romantic history that has made her decide that men are off the cards, and I welcomed the unexpected romance, which I thought was both well done and nicely explained! I was a bit worried about her mum, and to be honest I’m not the biggest fan of such serious issues (dementia) being introduced to light-hearted books, but that’s just because I’d rather a book like this to have pure escapism form serious issues. Saying that it was well done and added to the general warmth of the book.
A lovely, lovely book that has made me decide to go back to my roots for Chick Lit May so many thanks to both the author and Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for the book in return for an honest review. Roll on the next book!
Rating: 4.5/5
June 16, 2020
I've been looking for a 'before bed' relaxing read for simply ages. I have now read- and reread- every book written by MC Beaton. Unfortunately, I have recently learned the she has passed away and I was desolate. I downloaded numerous offerings, from different authors, to my beloved Kindle and had almost given up hope when I stumbled upon this creation by Rosie Green (Hi Rosie). I couldn't believe I had found her at last. This book was everything I had been searching for. I read it as slowly as I could, to make it last. I even read the comments page again, but eventually I had to concede that I had finished it. I immediately shared the good news with our daughter (who was also a Beaton fan) and was similarly searching for a new author. I tentitively began to read book 2 and was a little concerned at first because I saw no reference to the characters in book 1, whom I have grown to know and love. However, as the new story unfolded Rosie gently began to entwine memories, people and places that were familiar to me. GREAT JOY. I'm now on Chapter 2.
I won't spoil the read for anyone else, but suffice it to say that I have just purchased the other 9 books in the series and am fervently 'following' Rosie, ever hopeful that she continues her delightful writing for at least as long as MC Beaton did. Many thanks Rosie. Keep up the good work.
I won't spoil the read for anyone else, but suffice it to say that I have just purchased the other 9 books in the series and am fervently 'following' Rosie, ever hopeful that she continues her delightful writing for at least as long as MC Beaton did. Many thanks Rosie. Keep up the good work.
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