Saving Willowbrook

by Anna Jacobs

Futures are fought for and love is found afresh in the Wiltshire countryside…When Ella discovers that her husband, Miles, is secretly planning to sell the farm her family has owned for hundreds of years, it’s the final straw. Her already rocky marriage is over.

Determined to save Willowbrook and protect her daughter’s future, Ella resolves to build the farm into a successful B&B. New arrival in the village Cameron offers to help, but can Ella trust her instincts?

With a determined and vindictive Miles plaguing her efforts, Ella must find the courage to put faith in Cameron if she hopes to save her home.

An emotional contemporary saga of family and commitment perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Jojo Moyes.

Praise for Saving Willowbrook‘This gentle English romance will keep readers happily entertained’ Booklist

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2009

About the author

Anna Jacobs has 87 novels published as of April 2019. She writes historical sagas and modern novels alternately, and in the past has written historical romances and fantasy novels (the latter as Shannah Jay).

She's addicted to story-telling and writes three novels a year. You can find a list of books and series on her website at www.annajacobs.com

Anna reads 3 novels a week. Happy reading, everyone.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two words: predictable fluff. Once Ella meets Cameron and Oliver re-enters Rose's life, we all know how things are going to go. The characters are either good (e.g. Ella, Cameron, Rose and Oliver) or bad (e.g. Miles the selfish ex-husband and Brett Harding, the local alcoholic). There are no shades of grey.

There are many flaws in the writing including the following **spoiler alert**:

- Ella can't make a living with her farm by renting out chalets. After three years, she hasn't repaid Miles any of the £50,000 she owes him. Yet Cameron decides to quit his job to live with her on the farm. How will they make a living?
- the company DevRaCom needs the land development around Willowbrook to happen in order to stay afloat. Does that mean all their other hotels and land developments aren't profitable? If so, why is Miles so determined to get a job there? Why doesn't he apply to other more profitable companies?
- Miles doesn't earn enough to cover much more than his expensive car and clothes. He doesn't have a steady job. Yet there are many references to how helpful it would be if he paid child support (maintenance) to Ella. Doesn't she know he doesn't have a steady job?
- Ella feels she needs child support because her daughter, Amy will need a wheelchair and have other medical costs in the future. Doesn't the UK's National Health Service cover any of these costs?
- Rose is struggling financially yet she feels her wildlife paintings are valuable. Instead of locking them away to potentially be used in a future book, why doesn't she make copies and then sell the originals? Who's going to buy a book of artwork by an unknown artist?

Clearly, the author doesn't understand financial matters. None of it made sense. But it's an easy read.

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely, it is lighthearted and easy reading, as most of Anna Jacobs books are. The characters are all so real. I fell in love with Ellie's young disabled daughter Amy, she got on with her disability and did not make a fuss. The characters of Ellie and Cameron, and Willbrook have you hooked on this book, also as the characters of Rose and Oliver. So you must read it to find out, as I am not giving the game away. This is a five star read for me and recommended.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* An enjoyable read about Ella who discovers that her husband, Miles, is secretly planning to sell the farm her family has owned for hundreds of years. This is the last straw and along with his rejection of their disabled daughter she determines to make a success of turning her home into a B&B. Into her life comes Cameron but is he all he seems?
Some will call this predictable in its plot development and as a Romance. But It is no more so than you would find in any Thriller/Mystery/Suspense/Horror/Western Genre!

Stop the snobbiness. All fiction authors have some formulaic plotlines, but it is how they write which determines a best seller, literary recognition, or just a right good read!!!!!!!

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a little slow in the beginning, and it never really got exciting in that can't-put-it-down way I love about books. It was never terrible either. Just okay.

[Michele Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mitch

Book is great as always what love about your books they go straight into the story which is wonderful can't put it down

[Annie Parratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welbreck Farm

Brilliant from start to finish . Never read any of Anna’s books before but thoroughly enjoyed it will defiantly be adding her to my list of favourite authors

[Cyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story

[John Milliner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful story I read this in a day and a half, very much don't put down.

[Omaira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me dieron este libro y la verdad es que me enamoré inmediatamente de su sinopsis, no porque tuviera nada especial, sino porque parecía prometer un romance bonito con un pequeño toque dramático. Finalmente, ha sido una lectura que no me ha desagradado, pero tampoco me ha hecho sentir tanto como yo esperaba.

Ella, la protagonista, descubre que Miles, su marido, está intentando vender a escondidas la granja que ha pertenecido a su familia durante varias generaciones. Esto es la gota que colma el vaso, pues su matrimonio va mal desde hace tiempo y Ella tiene más que claro que su marido es un ambicioso al que su familia le importa poco o nada. Aunque es duro, Ella decide intentar salir adelante con la única compañía de Amy, su hija pequeña que tiene SMA (Spinal muscular atrophy), algo que solo afecta a su capacidad de movimiento y de andar, pero Miles cree que esto también la hace dependiente a nivel mental, motivo por el cual le hace ciertos desprecios.

Ahora, unos años después, el libro se centra en mostrar como Ella ha reconvertido la granja en un pequeño hotelito y lo difícil que está siendo evitar que su ex marido y una empresa le quiten lo que es suyo para construir algo nuevo y hacerse ricos ellos. Lo que Ella no espera es que la llegada de Cameron a su vida lo cambie todo…

La parte de romance es muy previsible, ya que no hay ninguna duda de que Cameron y Ella se enamorarán y que el principal problema será que Cameron le ha ocultado a Ella la verdad sobre su identidad. Les vi química, pero todo entre ellos se desarrolla con demasiada rapidez y no pude evitar echar de menos más conversaciones entre ambos o instantes que justificaran el gran amor que parecen sentir de repente. Respecto a ellos, lo que más mantuvo mi interés fue que tenía ganas de ver cómo reaccionaba Ella cuando Cameron se sincerara con ella. En los últimos capítulos fue cuando más disfruté de su relación y hasta vi que formaban un buen equipo. Lo que sí estuvo muy bien en todo momento fue el papel de la hija de Ella, ya que la niña se hace querer y me gustó cómo reaccionó ante ciertas cosas.

De resto, el otro pilar fundamental de la trama es la lucha de Ella por conservar su granja, y no voy a negar que la actitud de su ex marido me tenía confundida, pues estaba claro que era un egoísta y aún así parecía que su intención no era hacer daño.

Lo único que sí que me sobró totalmente fue la inclusión en la historia de Rose y Oliver. Rose es la prima de Ella y es una artista que quiere sacar adelante un proyecto que tiene, mientras que Oliver es su ex y quiere reconquistarla. Son buenas personas, pero no aportaban prácticamente nada y solo servían para distraer.

En general, no hay ninguna gran sorpresa en la trama, pero esto no hubiera sido un problema si al menos se hubieran desarrollado mejor ciertos detalles. Es una lectura sencilla que no aburre, pero no deja huella.

[Stephanie Sellers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite this book being an incredibly easy read, I was so disappointed with this book. The writing just wasn’t what I wanted it to be. The characters were flat, and boring and was lacking the real realities of how relationships develop. The language and the characters motivations didn’t seem real and these didn’t feel like real people to me, they were plain, boring and naive characters in a book that lacked real depth.
The storyline was interesting, but not unique in anyway and was entirely predictable.
I also came across a spelling error in the book, which just adds to the lack of care that is presented.
I wanted to like this book, but was sorely disappointed with the results.
It’s a quick read though for someone who doesn’t want to commit to a big novel, but really wouldn’t recommend this to anyone.

[MRS S PUSEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

This story was quite different to this authors other books I've read more like modern-day version which I really enjoyed the daughter was such an amazing child for her age her disability made her strong and she had a mind that new what she wanted in life,pity her father was so horrible thank goodness for her mother who loved and cared for her.would recommend this author to all readers.

[Freya Rodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, i fell in love with the characters especially Ella, Amy and Cameron. Further on in the book i also really enjoyed Rose and Oliver’s connection over time and never wanted to put the book down. I borrowed this book from my nanny but i will definitely be buying myself a copy!

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willowbrook

This author never disappoints her books just draw you in i can teacher books for hours. It has it all adventure mystery a haunted house what more can you want .5 STARS.

[wendy angela palmer-hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful

As always with Anna Jacobs her books are a joy, and to have a one of is a treat, she is wonderful author I enjoy all books that she has written.

[jacqueline pulford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Wonderful story great people well discover you could imagine it couldnt wait for justice and happy endings dad it ended

[Pamela Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very much like the Wilshire girls,it could have been there No 4,,come on Anna change the format.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this light interesting book; just what I was looking for;. This is my first novel of Anna Jacobs; looking forward to getting to know her.

[Caroline Cuell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! This book gave me all the feels! I will have to read more by Anna Jacob’s!

[Margaret Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant book as always

[Linda Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

[Ann Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella is living in Willowbrook, a house owned by her family for centuries. Her ex husband is wanting to sell the house.

[Alexi Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found at a mini library and it was decent book, have never read anything by this author before but would again. Is multiple character story flows well, light and an easy quick read.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella finds out that her awful husband Miles, is trying to sell her family farm in Wiltshire. It is the last straw for their marriage and she evicts him from the house. Ella struggles to run a bed and breakfast business (of which she has loaned some money from Miles to keep it going) and bring up her daughter, Amy who has a muscular disease. Cameron arrives at the bed and breakfast on behalf of a big development company, who want to knock down the farmhouse and it's barns, in order to build a hotel complex. Cameron immediately discovers that one of the barns has a secret room which dates back to medieval times and suggests that it should be listed as soon as possible. Falling in love with the farm, he leaves the development company and spends a lot of time with Ella. But has Miles finally given up trying to sell it? There are some great characters in this book, some the reader will love and some they will hate!
My first Anna Jacobs book and not usually my sort of book, but I quite enjoyed this.

[E.A. Harwik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading Saving Willowbrook by Anna Jacobs. Saving Willowbrook is a wonderful snapshot of modern day rural life and the pressures financially superior urban dwellers apply. How folk flock to the uncomplicated country atmosphere to escape the over crowding of their grimy existence and in doing so bring unneeded baggage with them to share. Winding through this underlying theme is the most wonderfully moving story of love and commitment a person could ever hope to encounter. I enjoyed every minute of this charming read. --- An example of women's fiction at it's very best, five stars.

[Donnelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the style of the first chapter very off-putting, but it improved as it went on. Nothing stunning or ground-breaking, but a pleasant enough read. I mostly picked it up at the library because my parents-in-law owned a property called Willowbrook!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy read. Not great literature but a nice story. I would love to visit the fictional Willowbrook.

[Dpic]

delightful

[Nandy8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable romance by a British author. Enjoyed the setting with predictable, but likable characters.

[Roslin Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book