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Rosemary Lane #3
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane
Curl up with this uplifting festive read – perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley and Carole Matthews.‘This wonderful story put a huge smile on my face’ Lucy Coleman
Last winter she had a plan.
Lucy fell in love with tumbledown Rosemary Cottage as a child. So thirty years on, when she loses her city job and discovers the cottage is for sale, it feels like fate. She’ll raise her children in Burley Bridge and transform the cottage into a B&B with her husband.
But a year can change everything . . .
Now Lucy is juggling two children and a B&B, but on her own. Christmas looks set to be their last on Rosemary Lane – until she meets James, a face from her past and someone who might offer a different kind of future . . .
Should Lucy leave the cottage behind? Or could this winter on Rosemary Lane be the start of something new?
Praise for Ellen
‘Warm, funny and poignant’ The Daily Mail
‘A novel as comforting as a slice of homemade apple pie’ Red
’Brilliant . . . manages to capture family life perfectly’ Chick Lit Reviews
Last winter she had a plan.
Lucy fell in love with tumbledown Rosemary Cottage as a child. So thirty years on, when she loses her city job and discovers the cottage is for sale, it feels like fate. She’ll raise her children in Burley Bridge and transform the cottage into a B&B with her husband.
But a year can change everything . . .
Now Lucy is juggling two children and a B&B, but on her own. Christmas looks set to be their last on Rosemary Lane – until she meets James, a face from her past and someone who might offer a different kind of future . . .
Should Lucy leave the cottage behind? Or could this winter on Rosemary Lane be the start of something new?
Praise for Ellen
‘Warm, funny and poignant’ The Daily Mail
‘A novel as comforting as a slice of homemade apple pie’ Red
’Brilliant . . . manages to capture family life perfectly’ Chick Lit Reviews
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2019
143 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
November 22, 2019
5☆ This Book will Melt your Heart, Capture all your Emotions and leave you Wanting More!
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane is part of a series which I haven't yet read, but you can most definitely read it as a standalone!
Lucy has always loved Rosemary Cottage in Burley Bridge and wished it was hers from a very young age.
She has just been forced out of her job so Maybe it's come at the right time to embark on a new journey.
After a surprise visit to Burley Bridge, Lucy convinced hubby Ivan that buying Rosemary Cottage was the best idea for their family. So a few months later they moved in to start a new life. With plans to open up the cottage as a B&B.
With the B&B up and running and Lucy's children settling in really well... Ivan is getting itchy feet.
Maybe buying Rosemary Cottage wasn't the best idea after all! Especially when tragedy strikes sending Lucy into turmoil and grief.
I really loved Jame's story too, he was Lucy's childhood friend and his support and friendship to Lucy, despite everything he is going through with his Dad and Family was so Heart Warming!
The story melted my heart and I was rooting for Lucy and her wonderful children the whole way through. Despite everything that is thrown at her, her love, strength and courage simply shines through.
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane is an incredibly Touching and Warm story of New Beginnings, Loss, Heartache, Starting Over, Family, Fitting In and Friendships.
The Characters are very well written, Endearing and loveable.
The plot is engrossing, emotional, captivating and heart warming and I couldn't put it down.
It's not particularly festive but the story more than makes up for it.
If you are looking for a wonderful book that will,Touch your heart, capture all your emotions and leave you wanting morethen I highly recommend Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane!
Thank you to Sabah From Avon books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/1...
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane is part of a series which I haven't yet read, but you can most definitely read it as a standalone!
Lucy has always loved Rosemary Cottage in Burley Bridge and wished it was hers from a very young age.
She has just been forced out of her job so Maybe it's come at the right time to embark on a new journey.
After a surprise visit to Burley Bridge, Lucy convinced hubby Ivan that buying Rosemary Cottage was the best idea for their family. So a few months later they moved in to start a new life. With plans to open up the cottage as a B&B.
With the B&B up and running and Lucy's children settling in really well... Ivan is getting itchy feet.
Maybe buying Rosemary Cottage wasn't the best idea after all! Especially when tragedy strikes sending Lucy into turmoil and grief.
I really loved Jame's story too, he was Lucy's childhood friend and his support and friendship to Lucy, despite everything he is going through with his Dad and Family was so Heart Warming!
The story melted my heart and I was rooting for Lucy and her wonderful children the whole way through. Despite everything that is thrown at her, her love, strength and courage simply shines through.
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane is an incredibly Touching and Warm story of New Beginnings, Loss, Heartache, Starting Over, Family, Fitting In and Friendships.
The Characters are very well written, Endearing and loveable.
The plot is engrossing, emotional, captivating and heart warming and I couldn't put it down.
It's not particularly festive but the story more than makes up for it.
If you are looking for a wonderful book that will,Touch your heart, capture all your emotions and leave you wanting morethen I highly recommend Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane!
Thank you to Sabah From Avon books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/1...
November 18, 2019
The cover totally appealed to me when I started reading this book. I loved the colours and the snowflakes screamed “Christmas!” at me. However, if you are not into very Christmassy books, then this will be for you. This novel covers several years and whilst Christmas does feature, the passage of time means you are transported through all of the seasons. As such, I think this is a book you could read all year round.
Stereotypically, Christmas novels are warm and uplifting. Instead, I found this read quite sad in places and really sympathised with Lucy and her circumstances. It was rather emotional and I could not predict how she would behave over the story. This element made the read more enjoyable; the surprises in plot development meant it was an engaging story and something a little bit different from the many seasonal books out there.
For the most part, I liked all of the characters. However, I found Lucy’s mother incredibly annoying. As in, I don’t think I could have put up with her living with me! She is so interfering and heartless towards Lucy’s dad, that I really wanted Lucy to stand up to her. Unfortunately, Lucy remains considerate and chooses her words carefully; yes, she is setting the right example, but seriously, I don’t think that was particularly realistic. Surely Lucy would have to properly snap at some point?
Berry describes Lucy’s garden in such wonderful detail that I could vividly picture if in my head. And I even felt horticulturally inspired! It is a symbol of so many things in the novel and the freedom that Lucy allows her garden to grow represents that increasing independence she feels as the story develops. Set in Yorkshire, I could easily imagine Lucy’s B&B hosting many travellers as they escape on walks in to the hills. It felt so idyllic and not remote in the slightest.
This book is part of a series but thankfully, you do not need to read it in order. I am coming across more and more books like this – they are set in the same place and the series “travels” around location. Meaning you focus on different characters, I look forward to see if Lucy appears in the other books in the series. My enjoyment of this story means I will certainly look up Berry’s other novels.
A lovely read. It was satisfying, immersive and enjoyable. I was emotionally connected to Lucy and I desperately wanted to see her succeed. Love and romance are not on the cards for this story; it is a novel about adaptation and realising one’s own identity. Christmas is a great bonus but, as I have already mentioned, I cannot see why this book could not be read at any point in the year.
With thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Stereotypically, Christmas novels are warm and uplifting. Instead, I found this read quite sad in places and really sympathised with Lucy and her circumstances. It was rather emotional and I could not predict how she would behave over the story. This element made the read more enjoyable; the surprises in plot development meant it was an engaging story and something a little bit different from the many seasonal books out there.
For the most part, I liked all of the characters. However, I found Lucy’s mother incredibly annoying. As in, I don’t think I could have put up with her living with me! She is so interfering and heartless towards Lucy’s dad, that I really wanted Lucy to stand up to her. Unfortunately, Lucy remains considerate and chooses her words carefully; yes, she is setting the right example, but seriously, I don’t think that was particularly realistic. Surely Lucy would have to properly snap at some point?
Berry describes Lucy’s garden in such wonderful detail that I could vividly picture if in my head. And I even felt horticulturally inspired! It is a symbol of so many things in the novel and the freedom that Lucy allows her garden to grow represents that increasing independence she feels as the story develops. Set in Yorkshire, I could easily imagine Lucy’s B&B hosting many travellers as they escape on walks in to the hills. It felt so idyllic and not remote in the slightest.
This book is part of a series but thankfully, you do not need to read it in order. I am coming across more and more books like this – they are set in the same place and the series “travels” around location. Meaning you focus on different characters, I look forward to see if Lucy appears in the other books in the series. My enjoyment of this story means I will certainly look up Berry’s other novels.
A lovely read. It was satisfying, immersive and enjoyable. I was emotionally connected to Lucy and I desperately wanted to see her succeed. Love and romance are not on the cards for this story; it is a novel about adaptation and realising one’s own identity. Christmas is a great bonus but, as I have already mentioned, I cannot see why this book could not be read at any point in the year.
With thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2019
2.5 stars
Maybe it's just me but for some reason I got the impression that this would be a cute, fun, holiday read for the winter season based on the cover. Well, shame on me for judging a book by the cover because it really was neither cute or fun. It was more of a serious novel with a slower pace covering a two to three year span.
One thing it did do well was cover the setting of a cozy small town. Seriously. The setting may have been the best part of the whole novel and it made me just want to pack up and go to the closest small town where I could become a recluse in a Bed and Breakfast.
The main thing that I struggled with in this novel was the amount of 'sad' things that were occurring in what felt like a short period of time. I understand in reality many sad things occur in life but man, in this story, it was one blow after another--especially for the main character Lucy. I like when stories can get emotional but there were too many negative events that happened in this novel which took away from the overall story.
When I picked up this novel, I thought the story would be related to the winter/holiday season but again, that was my mistake coming to that conclusion based on the cover. Yes, the story included Christmas but it also included Halloween and Easter and wasn't specifically geared towards the winter season.
It was an okay read but there wasn't anything that made the story beyond average or memorable (aside from the abundance of negative events occurring to the main character Lucy in succession).
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Maybe it's just me but for some reason I got the impression that this would be a cute, fun, holiday read for the winter season based on the cover. Well, shame on me for judging a book by the cover because it really was neither cute or fun. It was more of a serious novel with a slower pace covering a two to three year span.
One thing it did do well was cover the setting of a cozy small town. Seriously. The setting may have been the best part of the whole novel and it made me just want to pack up and go to the closest small town where I could become a recluse in a Bed and Breakfast.
The main thing that I struggled with in this novel was the amount of 'sad' things that were occurring in what felt like a short period of time. I understand in reality many sad things occur in life but man, in this story, it was one blow after another--especially for the main character Lucy. I like when stories can get emotional but there were too many negative events that happened in this novel which took away from the overall story.
When I picked up this novel, I thought the story would be related to the winter/holiday season but again, that was my mistake coming to that conclusion based on the cover. Yes, the story included Christmas but it also included Halloween and Easter and wasn't specifically geared towards the winter season.
It was an okay read but there wasn't anything that made the story beyond average or memorable (aside from the abundance of negative events occurring to the main character Lucy in succession).
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
September 12, 2019
A sweet, uplifting story that will hug your heart!
Struggling to come to terms with a lot of hurt and disappointment, there are moments when Lucy feels overwhelmed. With two children and their future to secure, she ploughs forward, determined to get things back on track.
When she crosses paths with James, someone she hasn’t seen since she was 13 years old, his kindness, and patience, shatter the walls of the dam holding back her tears. He has a son of his own who lives with him for half of the week and he just seems to understand. He isn’t fazed at all by the snotty mess of a woman in front of him, crying her heart out.
I loved the time frame over which the story developed and kept turning the pages avidly, willing Lucy on. This wonderful story put a HUGE smile on my face as I turned the final pages – and I’m sure it will do the same for you, too!
Struggling to come to terms with a lot of hurt and disappointment, there are moments when Lucy feels overwhelmed. With two children and their future to secure, she ploughs forward, determined to get things back on track.
When she crosses paths with James, someone she hasn’t seen since she was 13 years old, his kindness, and patience, shatter the walls of the dam holding back her tears. He has a son of his own who lives with him for half of the week and he just seems to understand. He isn’t fazed at all by the snotty mess of a woman in front of him, crying her heart out.
I loved the time frame over which the story developed and kept turning the pages avidly, willing Lucy on. This wonderful story put a HUGE smile on my face as I turned the final pages – and I’m sure it will do the same for you, too!
November 3, 2022
Much better than the previous book by this author, a good story, not too sweet and sickly. A bit festive but not too much. A happy ending of course! I will definitely read the third one!
December 2, 2019
This was a book of moments. A book which showed me life as it went through the different emotions. And people living that life had to pull themselves together to get back to it.
Lucy had loved Rosemary Cottage from childhood. So when an opportunity turned up to buy it, she snapped it up. But life threw a curveball when she lost her husband to an accident. She soon started to live again after a year. Both Lucy and James's life were well shown.
My first book by author Ellen Berry, this story worked as a standalone. Warmth and reality made it captivating. There was something honest about the grief shown. Ellen's writing pulled me in with its depth and portrayal of human nature.
Both Lucy and neighbor James had had a tough life with their ups and downs. Their friendship was well detailed. This was not a romantic book per se, but a story of strength. This was about living life again, finding the joy in relationships even those difficult ones.
The story was heartwarming and made me read it at one go. One of the sweetest Christmas reads.
Lucy had loved Rosemary Cottage from childhood. So when an opportunity turned up to buy it, she snapped it up. But life threw a curveball when she lost her husband to an accident. She soon started to live again after a year. Both Lucy and James's life were well shown.
My first book by author Ellen Berry, this story worked as a standalone. Warmth and reality made it captivating. There was something honest about the grief shown. Ellen's writing pulled me in with its depth and portrayal of human nature.
Both Lucy and neighbor James had had a tough life with their ups and downs. Their friendship was well detailed. This was not a romantic book per se, but a story of strength. This was about living life again, finding the joy in relationships even those difficult ones.
The story was heartwarming and made me read it at one go. One of the sweetest Christmas reads.
November 12, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.
Heartwarming, emotional, and with utterly endearing characters, SNOWDROPS ON ROSEMARY LANE by Ellen Berry is a simply wonderful story.
When Lucy was younger she used to love to visit her relatives in Burley Bridge where she had summer friendships and ran wild in the countryside. And there was always Rosemary Cottage which felt special to her, a place where she would love to live one day. Fast-forward and Lucy is an adult, happily married with her two lovely children, and when a severance package gives them an opportunity for a new life, Lucy jumps at the chance. Now the proud owners of Rosemary Cottage which they are running as a B&B, Lucy feels like she was born to this country lifestyle and with a lot of hard work, her dreams may just come true. But when tragedy strikes, Lucy's life is turned upside down and it looks like leaving the countryside behind them is the only choice. But when Lucy meets one of her old summer friends from her childhood, who is going through is own family worries and issues, the possibility of a different future opens up before them.
Engaging, compelling, and captivating from beginning to end, SNOWDROPS ON ROSEMARY LANE by Ellen Berry is everything I wanted it to be and more. I laughed, I cried, and I worried alongside Lucy and the rest of the characters in this homely and lovely setting which comes alive on every page, and I sat up until the wee hours to finish this special story. A must-read for Christmas fiction fans and readers who just love a well-written and in-depth story, SNOWDROPS ON ROSEMARY LANE is sure to hit the spot. I look forward to more from this talented author.
Heartwarming, emotional, and with utterly endearing characters, SNOWDROPS ON ROSEMARY LANE by Ellen Berry is a simply wonderful story.
When Lucy was younger she used to love to visit her relatives in Burley Bridge where she had summer friendships and ran wild in the countryside. And there was always Rosemary Cottage which felt special to her, a place where she would love to live one day. Fast-forward and Lucy is an adult, happily married with her two lovely children, and when a severance package gives them an opportunity for a new life, Lucy jumps at the chance. Now the proud owners of Rosemary Cottage which they are running as a B&B, Lucy feels like she was born to this country lifestyle and with a lot of hard work, her dreams may just come true. But when tragedy strikes, Lucy's life is turned upside down and it looks like leaving the countryside behind them is the only choice. But when Lucy meets one of her old summer friends from her childhood, who is going through is own family worries and issues, the possibility of a different future opens up before them.
Engaging, compelling, and captivating from beginning to end, SNOWDROPS ON ROSEMARY LANE by Ellen Berry is everything I wanted it to be and more. I laughed, I cried, and I worried alongside Lucy and the rest of the characters in this homely and lovely setting which comes alive on every page, and I sat up until the wee hours to finish this special story. A must-read for Christmas fiction fans and readers who just love a well-written and in-depth story, SNOWDROPS ON ROSEMARY LANE is sure to hit the spot. I look forward to more from this talented author.
December 26, 2020
SPONSORERET ANMELDELSE
Jeg havde ikke før læst noget af Ellen Berry eller Fiona Gibson, som hun rigtigt hedder, så jeg vidste ikke, hvad jeg kunne forvente. Efter en hurtig Google-søgning ser det ud til, at denne bog er den eneste, der er oversat til dansk, og det er en skam. Forfatteren skriver virkelig godt, og jeg blev hurtigt fanget i historien. Jeg fløj igennem siderne, mens jeg skiftevis smilede fra øre til øre for derefter at tørre tårerne væk fra kinderne.
"Ribstyvene" ser ud til at være nummer 3 i Rosemary Lane-serien. Jeg har ikke læst de første i serien, og umiddelbart har jeg ikke manglet yderligere information, som man måske har fået at vide i de første bøger.
Bogens forside er et smukt snelandskab, men handlingen foregår over hele året, så jeg vil ikke kalde det en sæsonbetonet bog.
Den kvindelige hovedperson Lucy er i starten af 40'erne, gift og mor til to. Hun lokker familien med til den lille landsby Burley Bridge og begyndelsen på et meget anderledes liv, væk fra anonymiteten, storbyen og karriereræset. Jeg kan ikke lade være med at beundre hende - det er så modigt bare at springe ud i det og gå målrettet efter sin drøm.
Den mandlige hovedperson James er i starten af 40'erne og alenefar til drengen Spike, der dog bor det meste af tiden ved sin mor. James' far Kenny bor lige udenfor Burley Bridge, og James kommer til at tilbringe mere og mere tid hos sin stædige far, der nægter at indse, at han ikke kan klare sig selv. James' bror Rod skulle egentligt tage sig af faren, men han er stukket af med en ny kvinde (igen) uden at informere James om det.
Jeg er jævnaldrende med Lucy og James, så jeg lægger især mærke til deres forhold til deres aldrende forældre. På et eller andet tidspunkt skifter forældre og børn roller, så skal børnene tage sig af forældrene. Det tidspunkt er James nået til, selvom hans far absolut ikke er enig. Lucy derimod kæmper med sin omklamrende mor Anna, der hellere end gerne vil overtage kontrollen over Lucys liv, da Lucy pludselig bliver alenemor. Derudover er Anna ekspert i at give sin datter skyldfølelse - jeg tror, at det er sådan noget, der står i forælder-manualen.
Jeg er selv gift, så jeg nyder at læse om voksne i et ægteskab, hvor alting for længst er blevet hverdag. Lucy og Ivans ægteskab er et smukt eksempel på et rigtigt godt ægteskab, hvor de lytter til hinanden og går på kompromisser. Hvorimod Lucys forældres ægteskab er ikke et direkte skræk-eksempel, men det er langt fra et ideelt forhold. Jeg har ondt af Lucys far Paddy, der ikke har indflydelse på noget som helst, og hans kone er virkelig kold overfor ham, når han er syg.
Forfatteren er virkelig god til at beskrive de forskellige relationer, som mennesker har til hinanden, og hvor forskellige de kan være. Derudover er der de smukkeste beskrivelser af naturen i og omkring Burley Bridge.
Jeg håber, at Palatium Books eller andre forlag vælger at oversætte flere bøger af denne forfatter, fordi jeg er fan.
Jeg havde ikke før læst noget af Ellen Berry eller Fiona Gibson, som hun rigtigt hedder, så jeg vidste ikke, hvad jeg kunne forvente. Efter en hurtig Google-søgning ser det ud til, at denne bog er den eneste, der er oversat til dansk, og det er en skam. Forfatteren skriver virkelig godt, og jeg blev hurtigt fanget i historien. Jeg fløj igennem siderne, mens jeg skiftevis smilede fra øre til øre for derefter at tørre tårerne væk fra kinderne.
"Ribstyvene" ser ud til at være nummer 3 i Rosemary Lane-serien. Jeg har ikke læst de første i serien, og umiddelbart har jeg ikke manglet yderligere information, som man måske har fået at vide i de første bøger.
Bogens forside er et smukt snelandskab, men handlingen foregår over hele året, så jeg vil ikke kalde det en sæsonbetonet bog.
Den kvindelige hovedperson Lucy er i starten af 40'erne, gift og mor til to. Hun lokker familien med til den lille landsby Burley Bridge og begyndelsen på et meget anderledes liv, væk fra anonymiteten, storbyen og karriereræset. Jeg kan ikke lade være med at beundre hende - det er så modigt bare at springe ud i det og gå målrettet efter sin drøm.
Den mandlige hovedperson James er i starten af 40'erne og alenefar til drengen Spike, der dog bor det meste af tiden ved sin mor. James' far Kenny bor lige udenfor Burley Bridge, og James kommer til at tilbringe mere og mere tid hos sin stædige far, der nægter at indse, at han ikke kan klare sig selv. James' bror Rod skulle egentligt tage sig af faren, men han er stukket af med en ny kvinde (igen) uden at informere James om det.
Jeg er jævnaldrende med Lucy og James, så jeg lægger især mærke til deres forhold til deres aldrende forældre. På et eller andet tidspunkt skifter forældre og børn roller, så skal børnene tage sig af forældrene. Det tidspunkt er James nået til, selvom hans far absolut ikke er enig. Lucy derimod kæmper med sin omklamrende mor Anna, der hellere end gerne vil overtage kontrollen over Lucys liv, da Lucy pludselig bliver alenemor. Derudover er Anna ekspert i at give sin datter skyldfølelse - jeg tror, at det er sådan noget, der står i forælder-manualen.
Jeg er selv gift, så jeg nyder at læse om voksne i et ægteskab, hvor alting for længst er blevet hverdag. Lucy og Ivans ægteskab er et smukt eksempel på et rigtigt godt ægteskab, hvor de lytter til hinanden og går på kompromisser. Hvorimod Lucys forældres ægteskab er ikke et direkte skræk-eksempel, men det er langt fra et ideelt forhold. Jeg har ondt af Lucys far Paddy, der ikke har indflydelse på noget som helst, og hans kone er virkelig kold overfor ham, når han er syg.
Forfatteren er virkelig god til at beskrive de forskellige relationer, som mennesker har til hinanden, og hvor forskellige de kan være. Derudover er der de smukkeste beskrivelser af naturen i og omkring Burley Bridge.
Jeg håber, at Palatium Books eller andre forlag vælger at oversætte flere bøger af denne forfatter, fordi jeg er fan.
May 6, 2020
Really enjoyed this 3rd installment of the Rosemary Lane story. The main characters from the previous 2 books didn't feature heavily but a new family was introduced. The new family fitted into the village but there is tragedy when Lucy's husband it killed in a car accident. The story follows Lucy rebuilding her life with the help of her friends, old and new. A delightful series. Thank you to tbc for the chance to read this title in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2019
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry is a women's fiction book that I really enjoyed. Lucy fell in love with Rosemary Cottage when she was a child. After losing her job in the City, she discovers, the cottage is for sale. Lucy, her husband, and two children move to Rosemary's cottage to fix it up into a B&B. Lucy husband gets restless, so he returns to his city to his job, commuting back on weekends. A year later, after tragedy strikes, Lucy has a lot of decisions to make. What a lovely book, I will be reading more books by this author. I highly recommend this book.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.
December 9, 2019
Ever since she was a child, Lucy has dreamed of living in Rosemary Cottage, tucked away in the gorgeous Yorkshire countryside. Thirty years later, her dreams come true when she and her family move into the cottage and turn it into a beautiful B&B. But dream can soon turn to nightmares, and after a tragic event strikes just before Christmas, Lucy and her family must once again adapt to a new way of life.
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane spans around two years, beginning shortly before Lucy and her family decide to move into the cottage, and although it covers such a long period of time the book remains very well paced and doesn't drag in the slightest. Although the book begins by focusing just on Lucy and her family, it does change narrative slightly after a while, with the introduction of James - after that point, the narrative alternates between James and his struggles looking after his elderly father, and Lucy and her attempts to manage her family and the B&B.
All in all, I found this book to be quite enjoyable, but something about it just felt a tiny bit flat to me. There was a few attempts at drama, but they were dropped quite quickly, and so the book just felt a bit like it was plodding along after a while - there was no feeling of it building up to anything. Essentially, I didn't not enjoy it, but I probably wouldn't read it again. But, if you enjoy Hallmark Christmas films, this would definitely be up your alley, as it has a lovely cast of characters and a beautiful setting.
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane spans around two years, beginning shortly before Lucy and her family decide to move into the cottage, and although it covers such a long period of time the book remains very well paced and doesn't drag in the slightest. Although the book begins by focusing just on Lucy and her family, it does change narrative slightly after a while, with the introduction of James - after that point, the narrative alternates between James and his struggles looking after his elderly father, and Lucy and her attempts to manage her family and the B&B.
All in all, I found this book to be quite enjoyable, but something about it just felt a tiny bit flat to me. There was a few attempts at drama, but they were dropped quite quickly, and so the book just felt a bit like it was plodding along after a while - there was no feeling of it building up to anything. Essentially, I didn't not enjoy it, but I probably wouldn't read it again. But, if you enjoy Hallmark Christmas films, this would definitely be up your alley, as it has a lovely cast of characters and a beautiful setting.
December 13, 2019
More of an all year round type of story and not so much a Christmas story. The book starts off really cute and then when tragedy strikes it becomes very somber and depressing for a good portion. I was glad the story ended on a positive note. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 23, 2019
I have been a fan of Ellen's work for quite a while now. I have read and loved each of her books to date. I was drawn to this book from the cover alone as the cottage on the front cover is exactly how I imagined my dream house as a child! I read the synopsis and I just knew that this would be another delightful read from Ellen Berry. I got a cup of tea in one hand and settled down with the book in the other and began to read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Snowdrops On Rosemary Lane' but more about that in a bit.
I couldn't help but take to Lucy from the first moment I met her. The story begins thirty years ago, when Lucy was a child and she often spent her school holidays with her aunt and uncle who lived in an adorable sounding village. Lucy hung around with a little crowd of kids, who were all of a similar age to her. The story then fast forwards to the present day and we meet Lucy when she is happily married to Ivan, they have two children together and another on the way. Both also have successful careers, although Lucy soon leaves her job with a generous pay off. Lucy takes this as a sign that she is destined for other things. They end up buying a cottage in the village where Lucy spent a lot of her holidays as a child and they work at changing the use of the cottage into a Bed & Breakfast place. Both settle down into village life and they soon start to make friends. Sadly their third pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. I felt so, so sorry for Lucy at this point and if I could have jumped inside the pages of the book to give her a hug then I would have done. Lucy throws herself into her work. There's trouble on the horizon but I don't want to say too much more what happens as I would hate to give too much away. Lucy meets up with some of her childhood acquaintances and renews her friendships with them. What does the future hold for Lucy and her children? Well that would be giving too much away so to find out what happens you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
As with all of Ellen's books, I was drawn into this story from the start and reading the book became seriously addictive. If I had to put the book down for any reason, then I would try to come up with every excuse in the book to enable me to get back to reading this delightful read. I was an addict in desperate need of my next fix. I made the fatal mistake of beginning to read this book shortly before I went to bed and let's just say I ended up reading long into the night because I couldn't stop reading. I soon reached the end of the story which I was disappointed about. I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just didn't want the book to end.
'Snowdrops On Rosemary Lane' is superbly written but then I tend to find that that is always the case with Ellen's books. She creates strong lead characters that are impossible to dislike and I would guess that a lot of people can empathise with what the lead characters go through. For example I found myself feeling great sympathy for Lucy when she suffers the miscarriage. I haven't suffered such a thing myself but somebody close to me has and I have seen how they have been affected by their experiences. Ellen certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start. Once she has your attention, she will not let it go until the moment you have finished reading the last word on the last page. I also find that Ellen uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I felt myself going through every emotion that the lead characters were going through and I felt as though I was part of the story myself.
In short, Ellen Berry (aka Fiona Gibson) has done it again and she has written one festive cracker of a book, which deserves to go to the top of the bestsellers list. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I would definitely recommend this author and her books to other readers. I will most definitely be reading more of Ellen's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I couldn't help but take to Lucy from the first moment I met her. The story begins thirty years ago, when Lucy was a child and she often spent her school holidays with her aunt and uncle who lived in an adorable sounding village. Lucy hung around with a little crowd of kids, who were all of a similar age to her. The story then fast forwards to the present day and we meet Lucy when she is happily married to Ivan, they have two children together and another on the way. Both also have successful careers, although Lucy soon leaves her job with a generous pay off. Lucy takes this as a sign that she is destined for other things. They end up buying a cottage in the village where Lucy spent a lot of her holidays as a child and they work at changing the use of the cottage into a Bed & Breakfast place. Both settle down into village life and they soon start to make friends. Sadly their third pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. I felt so, so sorry for Lucy at this point and if I could have jumped inside the pages of the book to give her a hug then I would have done. Lucy throws herself into her work. There's trouble on the horizon but I don't want to say too much more what happens as I would hate to give too much away. Lucy meets up with some of her childhood acquaintances and renews her friendships with them. What does the future hold for Lucy and her children? Well that would be giving too much away so to find out what happens you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
As with all of Ellen's books, I was drawn into this story from the start and reading the book became seriously addictive. If I had to put the book down for any reason, then I would try to come up with every excuse in the book to enable me to get back to reading this delightful read. I was an addict in desperate need of my next fix. I made the fatal mistake of beginning to read this book shortly before I went to bed and let's just say I ended up reading long into the night because I couldn't stop reading. I soon reached the end of the story which I was disappointed about. I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just didn't want the book to end.
'Snowdrops On Rosemary Lane' is superbly written but then I tend to find that that is always the case with Ellen's books. She creates strong lead characters that are impossible to dislike and I would guess that a lot of people can empathise with what the lead characters go through. For example I found myself feeling great sympathy for Lucy when she suffers the miscarriage. I haven't suffered such a thing myself but somebody close to me has and I have seen how they have been affected by their experiences. Ellen certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start. Once she has your attention, she will not let it go until the moment you have finished reading the last word on the last page. I also find that Ellen uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I felt myself going through every emotion that the lead characters were going through and I felt as though I was part of the story myself.
In short, Ellen Berry (aka Fiona Gibson) has done it again and she has written one festive cracker of a book, which deserves to go to the top of the bestsellers list. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I would definitely recommend this author and her books to other readers. I will most definitely be reading more of Ellen's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
February 10, 2022
Attraverso la narrazione in terza persona, il lettore entra in punta di piedi nella vita di Lucy e si trova a vivere una fase della sua vita fatta di alti e bassi, di amore e di delusione, di amicizie e speranza.
Nella vita di Lucy capita un’evento che le dà la possibilità di dare una svolta alla sua vita e realizzare il sogno d’infanzia di comprare il Rosmary cottage. Con entusiasmo ristruttura il cottage per trasformarlo in un B&B e creare una nuova attività familiare a cui partecipa anche il marito. L’entusiasmo e la forza di reagire sono una sua prerogativa ed è una parte di sé stessa che a lungo aveva lasciato assopire quando la sua vita di prima era diventata abitudinaria. Ama quello che sta facendo, si sente in sintonia con il marito Ivan e spera di vedere crescere i figli Marnie e Sam in un ambiente più accogliente rispetto alla città in cui sono nati. La prima cosa che colpisce di lei è l’accoglienza che ha nei confronti di tutti e la dimostra non solo con i gesti ma anche creando un ambiente che faccia sentire le persone a proprio agio.
Con Ivan sembra esserci complicità, ma l’unione si incrina appena le ambizioni lavorative di lui fanno capolino, fino al dolore che ne consegue. Il crollo che prova Lucy è il fondo che le permetterà di risalire e di avere la vita che merita e mostrare quando il cuore può sopportare il dolore ma, allo stesso tempo, quando amore può contenere.
Al contrario di Lucy, James non ha dei bei ricordi d’infanzia che lo legano a Burley Bridge e ci torna solamente per far visita all’anziano padre. cresce in una famiglia atipica e la sua formazione è basata sull’indipendenza e sull’arte dell’arrangiarsi. Appena ne ha la possibilità scappa dal paese e, grazie alle sue abilità nella lavorazione del legno, trova lavoro come falegname. Il suo personaggio è ruvido ma sensibile e la voglia di essere amato a tratti urla attraverso le pagine. Il racconto della sua famiglia è commuovente e non è banale, tanto che la sua storia di bambino cresciuto in una famiglia così risulta molto credibile.
Il legame che l’autrice è riuscita a creare fra Lucy e James è qualcosa di davvero unico perché è un’amicizia che si rilega tanti anni dopo che le loro vite si sono separate, dove la vita li ha messi davanti agli avvenimenti che li ha portati a essere quello che sono in quel momento.
Accanto a loro ci sono dei personaggi secondari caratterizzati molto bene e che entrano in scena con discrezione non offuscandoli e rendendo piacevole le interazioni. Ci sono stati dei momenti dove la familiarità si percepiva tantissimo facendo risaltare la parte commuovente della storia.
La narrazione che utilizza l’autrice è in terza persona e, per mio gusto, si perde tanto in descrizioni, aneddoti e azioni che alle volte mi hanno distratta. Certamente la visione che dona al lettore è non solo completa ma anche minuziosa, però credo che se avesse utilizzato una narrazione in prima persona, ci sarebbe stata più empatia sia con Lucy che con James.
Scritto ciò, rimane una narrazione fluida e capace di emozionare, l’atmosfera natalizia è incantevole e quello che ho apprezzato tantissimo è il far percepire il senso della comunità, la tenacia nel non mollare mai e l’istinto della speranza. È un libro sulle seconde possibilità che non si fanno scappare perché l’esperienza di vita ha insegnato a non farlo.
Nella vita di Lucy capita un’evento che le dà la possibilità di dare una svolta alla sua vita e realizzare il sogno d’infanzia di comprare il Rosmary cottage. Con entusiasmo ristruttura il cottage per trasformarlo in un B&B e creare una nuova attività familiare a cui partecipa anche il marito. L’entusiasmo e la forza di reagire sono una sua prerogativa ed è una parte di sé stessa che a lungo aveva lasciato assopire quando la sua vita di prima era diventata abitudinaria. Ama quello che sta facendo, si sente in sintonia con il marito Ivan e spera di vedere crescere i figli Marnie e Sam in un ambiente più accogliente rispetto alla città in cui sono nati. La prima cosa che colpisce di lei è l’accoglienza che ha nei confronti di tutti e la dimostra non solo con i gesti ma anche creando un ambiente che faccia sentire le persone a proprio agio.
Con Ivan sembra esserci complicità, ma l’unione si incrina appena le ambizioni lavorative di lui fanno capolino, fino al dolore che ne consegue. Il crollo che prova Lucy è il fondo che le permetterà di risalire e di avere la vita che merita e mostrare quando il cuore può sopportare il dolore ma, allo stesso tempo, quando amore può contenere.
Al contrario di Lucy, James non ha dei bei ricordi d’infanzia che lo legano a Burley Bridge e ci torna solamente per far visita all’anziano padre. cresce in una famiglia atipica e la sua formazione è basata sull’indipendenza e sull’arte dell’arrangiarsi. Appena ne ha la possibilità scappa dal paese e, grazie alle sue abilità nella lavorazione del legno, trova lavoro come falegname. Il suo personaggio è ruvido ma sensibile e la voglia di essere amato a tratti urla attraverso le pagine. Il racconto della sua famiglia è commuovente e non è banale, tanto che la sua storia di bambino cresciuto in una famiglia così risulta molto credibile.
Il legame che l’autrice è riuscita a creare fra Lucy e James è qualcosa di davvero unico perché è un’amicizia che si rilega tanti anni dopo che le loro vite si sono separate, dove la vita li ha messi davanti agli avvenimenti che li ha portati a essere quello che sono in quel momento.
Accanto a loro ci sono dei personaggi secondari caratterizzati molto bene e che entrano in scena con discrezione non offuscandoli e rendendo piacevole le interazioni. Ci sono stati dei momenti dove la familiarità si percepiva tantissimo facendo risaltare la parte commuovente della storia.
La narrazione che utilizza l’autrice è in terza persona e, per mio gusto, si perde tanto in descrizioni, aneddoti e azioni che alle volte mi hanno distratta. Certamente la visione che dona al lettore è non solo completa ma anche minuziosa, però credo che se avesse utilizzato una narrazione in prima persona, ci sarebbe stata più empatia sia con Lucy che con James.
Scritto ciò, rimane una narrazione fluida e capace di emozionare, l’atmosfera natalizia è incantevole e quello che ho apprezzato tantissimo è il far percepire il senso della comunità, la tenacia nel non mollare mai e l’istinto della speranza. È un libro sulle seconde possibilità che non si fanno scappare perché l’esperienza di vita ha insegnato a non farlo.
December 15, 2019
Before I started reading Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry I was expecting it to be a light-hearted, festive novel about a family running a B&B in the English countryside. The image on the front cover made me think about one of my favourite Christmas movies, The Holiday. I imagined that the book would be a bit like that movie: a bit sad at times, but ultimately a fun read that I would want to enjoy year after year. Perhaps my expectations were a bit too lofty though, because I was ultimately disappointed by Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane.
In every creative writing class I have ever participated in, it has been taught that the protagonist of a story needs a purpose. It doesn’t really matter what this purpose is exactly, they just need to yearn to do/say/learn/accomplish something by the end of a story. The purpose should naturally make sense for the character in question. If a character lacks a purpose, then there isn’t really much point to the story being told. This purpose is what keeps the reader engaged with the story. The main issue I have with Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane is that the protagonist Lucy lacks a consistent purpose.
During the course of the story, Lucy experiences a significant personal tragedy, and she spends the rest of the book trying to emotionally heal and move on. In most circumstances, this would constitute a meaningful purpose for a protagonist to have, but it doesn’t really work in the case of Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane for a few reasons. Firstly, this tragedy does not occur until about 40-45% of the way through the book. This meant that for the first hundred pages I found myself wondering what the plot of the book actually was. I read this first section of the book waiting for the drama to actually pick up, because it really constituted little more than a summary of the character’s lives for the first hundred pages. I feel that this could all have been summarised a bit more succinctly. The tragedy was also not entirely unexpected – I had a general idea of what was going to happen about 40-50 pages before it actually occurred.
Secondly, I think it would have been fascinating to read about the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Instead, the author pushes the fast forward button, and before you know it you are reading about Lucy’s life two years after this tragic event. The pacing in this book is, quite frankly, awkward. Thirdly, the plot still does not pick up after this tragedy. I read this book with a sense of impatience, waiting for something to happen. There were a few attempts at creating drama, but these quickly tapered off before they became interesting. I feel like this story had real potential, but it just never really picked up. There are several minor plot points in Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane that I would have loved to read more about, but I never got the chance.
If I were to change one thing about this book, it would be the timeline. I would make the period before the tragedy a bit shorter, and focus a bit more on the immediate aftermath of the tragedy as well. I agree that it was nice to see how the characters moved on after two years, so I would not make any changes to that part of the book. Ultimately, I think that the primary issues with this book are the pacing and the fact that the plot never really picked up.
That being said, I did really enjoy the author’s writing. I love the world that she has created in Burley Bridge, so I will certainly look out for other books by the author. Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane is part of a series of books set in Burley Bridge, but it can be read as a stand alone novel.
I struggled with what rating to give this book, but I ultimately decided on three star instead of two. It’s not a bad book by any means, its just not a great one either. I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books for my advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
In every creative writing class I have ever participated in, it has been taught that the protagonist of a story needs a purpose. It doesn’t really matter what this purpose is exactly, they just need to yearn to do/say/learn/accomplish something by the end of a story. The purpose should naturally make sense for the character in question. If a character lacks a purpose, then there isn’t really much point to the story being told. This purpose is what keeps the reader engaged with the story. The main issue I have with Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane is that the protagonist Lucy lacks a consistent purpose.
During the course of the story, Lucy experiences a significant personal tragedy, and she spends the rest of the book trying to emotionally heal and move on. In most circumstances, this would constitute a meaningful purpose for a protagonist to have, but it doesn’t really work in the case of Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane for a few reasons. Firstly, this tragedy does not occur until about 40-45% of the way through the book. This meant that for the first hundred pages I found myself wondering what the plot of the book actually was. I read this first section of the book waiting for the drama to actually pick up, because it really constituted little more than a summary of the character’s lives for the first hundred pages. I feel that this could all have been summarised a bit more succinctly. The tragedy was also not entirely unexpected – I had a general idea of what was going to happen about 40-50 pages before it actually occurred.
Secondly, I think it would have been fascinating to read about the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Instead, the author pushes the fast forward button, and before you know it you are reading about Lucy’s life two years after this tragic event. The pacing in this book is, quite frankly, awkward. Thirdly, the plot still does not pick up after this tragedy. I read this book with a sense of impatience, waiting for something to happen. There were a few attempts at creating drama, but these quickly tapered off before they became interesting. I feel like this story had real potential, but it just never really picked up. There are several minor plot points in Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane that I would have loved to read more about, but I never got the chance.
If I were to change one thing about this book, it would be the timeline. I would make the period before the tragedy a bit shorter, and focus a bit more on the immediate aftermath of the tragedy as well. I agree that it was nice to see how the characters moved on after two years, so I would not make any changes to that part of the book. Ultimately, I think that the primary issues with this book are the pacing and the fact that the plot never really picked up.
That being said, I did really enjoy the author’s writing. I love the world that she has created in Burley Bridge, so I will certainly look out for other books by the author. Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane is part of a series of books set in Burley Bridge, but it can be read as a stand alone novel.
I struggled with what rating to give this book, but I ultimately decided on three star instead of two. It’s not a bad book by any means, its just not a great one either. I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books for my advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2020
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane
by Ellen Berry
Romance , Women's Fiction
Pub Date : Nov. 11, 2019
384 pages
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description:
Last winter she had a plan.Lucy fell in love with tumbledown Rosemary Cottage as a child. So thirty years on, when she loses her city job and discovers the cottage is for sale, it feels like fate. She’ll raise her children in Burley Bridge and transform the cottage into a B&B with her husband.But a year can change everything . . .Now Lucy is juggling two children and a B&B, but on her own. Christmas looks set to be their last on Rosemary Lane – until she meets James, a face from her past and someone who might offer a different kind of future . . .Should Lucy leave the cottage behind? Or could this winter on Rosemary Lane be the start of something new?
🎄MY REVIEW🎄
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane is a story about dreams, strength, love, loss, hope and second chances. A gripping story line that will pull you I'm and not let you go til the very last page.
It is the third book in the Rosemary Lane series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone with no problem at all.
The characters are incredibly easy to love. I laughed and cried my way through this story. I connected with Lucy in such a powerful way. I hope to read more of these characters soon.
Not a big fan of Christmas books? Thats ok you will still enjoy this story. It takes place over several years so there is several holidays not just Christmas.
This was my first book by this author and definitely won't be my last. Ellen Berry sure knows how to pull on your heartstrings.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Thank you to NetGalley ,Ellen Berry, and the Publisher
for the chance to read and review this amazing read. . I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !
#NetGalley
#SnowdropsonRosemaryLane
by Ellen Berry
Romance , Women's Fiction
Pub Date : Nov. 11, 2019
384 pages
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description:
Last winter she had a plan.Lucy fell in love with tumbledown Rosemary Cottage as a child. So thirty years on, when she loses her city job and discovers the cottage is for sale, it feels like fate. She’ll raise her children in Burley Bridge and transform the cottage into a B&B with her husband.But a year can change everything . . .Now Lucy is juggling two children and a B&B, but on her own. Christmas looks set to be their last on Rosemary Lane – until she meets James, a face from her past and someone who might offer a different kind of future . . .Should Lucy leave the cottage behind? Or could this winter on Rosemary Lane be the start of something new?
🎄MY REVIEW🎄
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane is a story about dreams, strength, love, loss, hope and second chances. A gripping story line that will pull you I'm and not let you go til the very last page.
It is the third book in the Rosemary Lane series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone with no problem at all.
The characters are incredibly easy to love. I laughed and cried my way through this story. I connected with Lucy in such a powerful way. I hope to read more of these characters soon.
Not a big fan of Christmas books? Thats ok you will still enjoy this story. It takes place over several years so there is several holidays not just Christmas.
This was my first book by this author and definitely won't be my last. Ellen Berry sure knows how to pull on your heartstrings.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Thank you to NetGalley ,Ellen Berry, and the Publisher
for the chance to read and review this amazing read. . I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !
#NetGalley
#SnowdropsonRosemaryLane
October 18, 2020
Now, I never knew that I had read Ellen Berry's books but this one, the writing as I read it felt like I was having a story from an old friend and instantly knew that I'd love this book, from the cover to the blurb, I was drawn.
I was read The Mom Who Got Her Life Back by Fiona Gibson on audiobook and I have to say it was much loved, I absolutely adored it! It was addictive, funny and it was well written, so this book, I knew it was going to go the same way when I realised that Ellen Berry was Fiona Gibson and wow, was I right.
This was a good book and whilst the cover advertises and almost teases us with Christmas, the actual book covers a lot of time and so both Christmas and NON-Christmas lovers will be included here. Now, whilst this isn't a typically light, or funny book, I still enjoyed reading it and with some others, despite it being a sad or painful book in parts, if the characters are strong and well developed, you can forgive the sad plotlines. And the characters were very good but that didn't surprise me given her previous works! Berry writes so wonderfully and leaves nothing short in the imagination, capturing exactly what she see's in her onto the pages for you to lap up.
Though part of a series, which I will now be getting round to reading, these don't have to be read before hand and there is something wonderful about that because series' and stand alone book.
I don't give five stars very often, but this is a thumbs up from me!
I was read The Mom Who Got Her Life Back by Fiona Gibson on audiobook and I have to say it was much loved, I absolutely adored it! It was addictive, funny and it was well written, so this book, I knew it was going to go the same way when I realised that Ellen Berry was Fiona Gibson and wow, was I right.
This was a good book and whilst the cover advertises and almost teases us with Christmas, the actual book covers a lot of time and so both Christmas and NON-Christmas lovers will be included here. Now, whilst this isn't a typically light, or funny book, I still enjoyed reading it and with some others, despite it being a sad or painful book in parts, if the characters are strong and well developed, you can forgive the sad plotlines. And the characters were very good but that didn't surprise me given her previous works! Berry writes so wonderfully and leaves nothing short in the imagination, capturing exactly what she see's in her onto the pages for you to lap up.
Though part of a series, which I will now be getting round to reading, these don't have to be read before hand and there is something wonderful about that because series' and stand alone book.
I don't give five stars very often, but this is a thumbs up from me!
November 11, 2019
Childhood memories can be powerful, and Lucy’s love of the cottage on Rosemary Lane stayed with her for thirty years. When her career reaches a crossroads, she convinces her husband that living there would be perfect for their family. For a while it is. Then life happens and tragedy strikes and Lucy is left to rebuild her family, but will it be at the cottage on Rosemary Lane?
Whilst this story is not exclusively festive, there are many Christmassy references and touches, which show the best and worst of the season. Told from mainly from Lucy’s point of view, this is a lovely tale of family life in a small Yorkshire village, it is a story of bereavement and loss and starting over. There are some strong friendships, and interesting romantic possibilities overlaid with courage, emotion and humour. The story draws you in, and it becomes important what happens to Lucy and her young family.
The rural setting is well described and the cast of characters diverse and realistic. James’ story is intricately woven into the main plot in a believable way, with just the right amount of serendipity. The story brings hope out of tragedy and leaves the reader with a feel-good hug.
I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Whilst this story is not exclusively festive, there are many Christmassy references and touches, which show the best and worst of the season. Told from mainly from Lucy’s point of view, this is a lovely tale of family life in a small Yorkshire village, it is a story of bereavement and loss and starting over. There are some strong friendships, and interesting romantic possibilities overlaid with courage, emotion and humour. The story draws you in, and it becomes important what happens to Lucy and her young family.
The rural setting is well described and the cast of characters diverse and realistic. James’ story is intricately woven into the main plot in a believable way, with just the right amount of serendipity. The story brings hope out of tragedy and leaves the reader with a feel-good hug.
I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
December 26, 2019
This was a really good heart-warming read. I can’t quite pinpoint why this was set aside from your typical holiday reads but it really was. It was something about the underlying mystery surrounding the situation I think. It was warm, there was heart-break at times, but it was hopeful all the same. I loved reading about the close-knit village community. It worked well as a standalone book but is also part of a series. It’s also not hugely Christmas-Focused which means that if you’re not into Christmas books then you’ll enjoy this. It’s more ‘Winter’ themed than anything else. Beautiful and a story of strength throughout an unpredictable life course.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher and author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Check out my blog for more book related posts and to enquire about future reviews, blog tours and cover reveals.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher and author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Check out my blog for more book related posts and to enquire about future reviews, blog tours and cover reveals.
November 18, 2019
Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane: A heartwarming read to curl up with this winter by [Berry, Ellen]I suppose our recent snow has made me in the mood for wintery books. Ellen Berry, author of Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane, created a fun book to read.
Lucy Riddock enjoyed spending her summers in Burley Bridge. It was while she was here that she found Rosemary Cottage. So for her 10th anniversary she encourages her husband to move here and make Rosemary Cottage a Bed and Breakfast.
As the story continues sh faces the sudden death of her husband in an accident. Then she meets a friend from her school years. The changes bring with them many questions as to her and her children's future or for Rosemary Cottage?
I enjoyed this book very much and I recommend it to readers of this genre. Even though it was part of a series which I had not read I was able to connect with the characters and the story easily. This book shows the importance of family and second chances. It made a home in my heart.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
#SnowdropsOnRosemaryLane #NetGalley
Lucy Riddock enjoyed spending her summers in Burley Bridge. It was while she was here that she found Rosemary Cottage. So for her 10th anniversary she encourages her husband to move here and make Rosemary Cottage a Bed and Breakfast.
As the story continues sh faces the sudden death of her husband in an accident. Then she meets a friend from her school years. The changes bring with them many questions as to her and her children's future or for Rosemary Cottage?
I enjoyed this book very much and I recommend it to readers of this genre. Even though it was part of a series which I had not read I was able to connect with the characters and the story easily. This book shows the importance of family and second chances. It made a home in my heart.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
#SnowdropsOnRosemaryLane #NetGalley
January 9, 2020
A cosy read with all the elements of the season and delights of village life though containing a dose of melancholy and sadness because of events that occur.
Lucy thinks she has realized her childhood dream when she moves to Rosemary Cottage in a little village and opens a B&B.
Though her husband Ivan isn't too keen they settle down nicely with their kids.
Until circumstances change and everyone is left to cope and move on.
James is forced into the role of sole caretaker of his elderly and increasingly confused father when his brother skips out without warning. Meeting Lucy is the silver lining of his trips back home every weekend and they strike up a friendship.
Descriptions of Lucy's garden and her flower arrangements made me want to garden myself!
Overall a comfy read though it left a few questions unanswered!
Lucy thinks she has realized her childhood dream when she moves to Rosemary Cottage in a little village and opens a B&B.
Though her husband Ivan isn't too keen they settle down nicely with their kids.
Until circumstances change and everyone is left to cope and move on.
James is forced into the role of sole caretaker of his elderly and increasingly confused father when his brother skips out without warning. Meeting Lucy is the silver lining of his trips back home every weekend and they strike up a friendship.
Descriptions of Lucy's garden and her flower arrangements made me want to garden myself!
Overall a comfy read though it left a few questions unanswered!
April 14, 2020
The third book in the Rosemary Lane series, although I haven’t read the first one and I’m reluctant to spend nearly £8 on a paperback book from Amazon!
Rosemary Cottage is set in the idyllic village of Burley Bridge in Yorkshire. I loved Lucy’s character who realised her dream of living in Rosemary Cottage. It’s not difficult to imagine the beautiful garden and cottage and of course, the village itself. After taking redundancy from her job in Manchester, Lucy and her husband buy the cottage and she fulfils here dream of turning it into a bed and breakfast. Obviously, nothing ever goes as planned but I won’t elaborate as don’t want to spoil it.
I read this book in a day, I enjoyed it so much. A definite 🌟🌟🌟🌟 read from me.
Rosemary Cottage is set in the idyllic village of Burley Bridge in Yorkshire. I loved Lucy’s character who realised her dream of living in Rosemary Cottage. It’s not difficult to imagine the beautiful garden and cottage and of course, the village itself. After taking redundancy from her job in Manchester, Lucy and her husband buy the cottage and she fulfils here dream of turning it into a bed and breakfast. Obviously, nothing ever goes as planned but I won’t elaborate as don’t want to spoil it.
I read this book in a day, I enjoyed it so much. A definite 🌟🌟🌟🌟 read from me.
January 22, 2020
A powerful, emotive read throughout. Im unsure why but I didn’t fully connect with the main character Lucy, her story is powerful but something was awry. An enjoyable book set in Rosemary Lane with the appearance of some old characters and the pleasure of meeting new characters. I feel the coziness of others books in the series was missing.
Thank you Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley
December 6, 2020
Just a sweet little Christmas diversion. Perfect time for it actually. Might try her others!
November 27, 2022
Het begin is wat triest, maar daarna wordt het verhaal gelukkig wel weer wat lichter. Dit deel is wel heel anders dan deel 1 en 2. Hoewel de hoofdpersonen van deel 1 en 2 wel een keer voorkomen in het verhaal en Lucy woont in het huis waar Della en Roxanne als kind gewoond hebben, zijn er verder niet heel veel links met de twee zussen. In het begin vond ik dat jammer, omdat ik graag had geweten hoe het met de twee zussen gaat. Toch vind ik dit verhaal ook erg leuk en doordat het in hetzelfde dorp afspeelt, past het toch bij de andere twee delen. Nog een verschil met deel 1 en 2 is dat dit boek over een grotere tijdsperiode speelt. Bij dit verhaal past dat. Ook leer je Lucy en de andere personages goed kennen. Het einde vind ik erg leuk. Een mysterie wordt toch nog opgelost.
August 16, 2024
Lovely Read
July 14, 2025
A good story but slightly annoying that it took the main character so long to realise she was in love with the main man, even fancing another man.
December 19, 2019
I really wanted to like this book, but it was an effort to keep going with it.
I really enjoy the occassional foray into Women's Fiction and, as I'm not a regular reader, I don't have any favourite authors in the genre, I just pick a book on the cover and description and this book looked and sounded good.
However, I found it really slow to start and to keep going. There were too many frustrating characters and there seemed to be no real direction for the story (is it woman conquering all and winning? Is it a love story? Is it about him? Her? The community)? I still didn't really know what it was about at the end!
This book has had lots of good reviews and I have to just conclude that it just wasn't for me.
I really enjoy the occassional foray into Women's Fiction and, as I'm not a regular reader, I don't have any favourite authors in the genre, I just pick a book on the cover and description and this book looked and sounded good.
However, I found it really slow to start and to keep going. There were too many frustrating characters and there seemed to be no real direction for the story (is it woman conquering all and winning? Is it a love story? Is it about him? Her? The community)? I still didn't really know what it was about at the end!
This book has had lots of good reviews and I have to just conclude that it just wasn't for me.
December 16, 2019
Lucy grew up with great memories of the cottage on Rosemary Lane. Her dream comes true when she and her husband are able to purchase it later in life and open a bed & breakfast. Tragedy then strikes, and Lucy is forced to make decisions on how to move forward and whether to stay in the cottage or not. To me, this book was fairly predicable. I thought it was going to be a Christmas story, but the holiday season was not a primary focus.
January 26, 2020
5/5 *3RD BOOK IN SERIES* *WONDERFUL AS A STANDALONE* *I READ THIS BEFORE THE OTHER TWO*
I stumbled upon this book post-gym session, in the local Supermarket. Instantly mesmerised by the cover art, I had to pick it up. The bookworm in my head had already started knocking on the door having loved the crisp, fresh sounding title. The book exuded happiness and warmth in all its glory.
Surprisingly, it's a book I would not have picked up since it's not within my realm of comfort- the dark, grusome murder mysteries or utterly psychopathic, mind-bending thrillers. Regardless. I enjoyed every page of this happiness-inducing book. Happiness is contagious. This book is it. It is contagious!
The beginning was everything a person could hope for when looking for a date night with a book~ the idyllic illusion of a typical happy bookworm huddled on the window sill looking out at the beautiful landscape, warm and cosy with a mug of hot cocoa (*cough* tea) reading a heartwarming book.
Ellen Berry does a magnificent job with descriptions and throwbacks. Bringing sheer joy to her writing, it's as if you're living the life she's writing about. I have been looking for something exactly like this. She digs deeper still with the suspense, the repeated yet occasional realization of the heroine that she may have made the worst mistake of her life...by choosing her dream. This speaks volumes about a career-minded woman with a family. How she's constantly plagued with troubling thoughts of with could have been or should have been if she hadn't followed her heart. How she's reliving her past to figure out where she went wrong and how she could have been so selfish, so manipulative.
On a much happier note Berry really emphasises on the good, the happy, the overwhelming, meaning if the plot goes even subtly awry, you really feel the emotions. I have to say this book does touch some serious topics of bereavement and deteriorating health but she does it with such elegance that it's not all doom and gloom.
You see how much strength the heroine has and you'll be in complete awe of just how much she can accomplish. There is a very domestic vibe to this book which makes it all the more welcoming and happy. The book also emphasises how important friendship is and the connections you make don't just vanish they stay forever, no matter how many years you've been apart!
So all in all this book is a feel-good, take-for-a-bath, live-and-let-live, live-life-on-your-own-terms HAPPY book.
Snowdrops put a huge smile on my face. I couldn't have asked for anymore. Came at just the right time too.
Can't wait to read more books from her!
Happy Reading x
I stumbled upon this book post-gym session, in the local Supermarket. Instantly mesmerised by the cover art, I had to pick it up. The bookworm in my head had already started knocking on the door having loved the crisp, fresh sounding title. The book exuded happiness and warmth in all its glory.
Surprisingly, it's a book I would not have picked up since it's not within my realm of comfort- the dark, grusome murder mysteries or utterly psychopathic, mind-bending thrillers. Regardless. I enjoyed every page of this happiness-inducing book. Happiness is contagious. This book is it. It is contagious!
The beginning was everything a person could hope for when looking for a date night with a book~ the idyllic illusion of a typical happy bookworm huddled on the window sill looking out at the beautiful landscape, warm and cosy with a mug of hot cocoa (*cough* tea) reading a heartwarming book.
Ellen Berry does a magnificent job with descriptions and throwbacks. Bringing sheer joy to her writing, it's as if you're living the life she's writing about. I have been looking for something exactly like this. She digs deeper still with the suspense, the repeated yet occasional realization of the heroine that she may have made the worst mistake of her life...by choosing her dream. This speaks volumes about a career-minded woman with a family. How she's constantly plagued with troubling thoughts of with could have been or should have been if she hadn't followed her heart. How she's reliving her past to figure out where she went wrong and how she could have been so selfish, so manipulative.
On a much happier note Berry really emphasises on the good, the happy, the overwhelming, meaning if the plot goes even subtly awry, you really feel the emotions. I have to say this book does touch some serious topics of bereavement and deteriorating health but she does it with such elegance that it's not all doom and gloom.
You see how much strength the heroine has and you'll be in complete awe of just how much she can accomplish. There is a very domestic vibe to this book which makes it all the more welcoming and happy. The book also emphasises how important friendship is and the connections you make don't just vanish they stay forever, no matter how many years you've been apart!
So all in all this book is a feel-good, take-for-a-bath, live-and-let-live, live-life-on-your-own-terms HAPPY book.
Snowdrops put a huge smile on my face. I couldn't have asked for anymore. Came at just the right time too.
Can't wait to read more books from her!
Happy Reading x
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