What do you think?
Rate this book
Willow Tree Hall #4
Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall
Romance blossoms under the stars in this feelgood love story for fans of Milly Johnson and Heidi Swain.
Lily Harper is an events organiser, but her neat, ordered world has just exploded. First she lost her job, then she lost her fiancé. Her five-year plan is looking increasingly shaky.
Lost and lonely, Lily heads home to her childhood village, and accepts the position of live-in housekeeper at the grand but welcoming Willow Tree Hall. It's not exactly her dream job – Lily is more used to arranging parties than pantries – but at least she's working.
Her first task is to arrange the Willow Tree Hall summer fete. Lily is in her element, writing to-do lists and organising bunting and baking – until her old flame Jack Carter turns up in the village. Lily hasn't seen Jack in over ten years, when he sped off on his motorbike, taking with him the pieces of her broken heart.
Lily vowed she would never forgive him. But as Willow Tree Hall weaves its magic, Lily finds she might just give Jack a second chance after all...
Full of warmth, tears, love and laughter, this is a gripping romance for fans of Heidi Swain and Philippa Ashley.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2019
263 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 15, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
‘Paddling pool time,’ she said, with a grunt. ‘Which at least will replace the horror of bath time. And then bedtime followed swiftly by gin o’clock.’
‘How marvellous,’ said the woman, giving Jack a once over that would make anyone blush. ‘Is that flashy car yours? How I do like a man with a fast-running motor!’ ‘Thank you,’ said Jack, his mouth twitching into a smile. Aunt Rose had to be at least seventy years old and was dressed in a very fashionable dress, jacket and matching hat from which protruded a large feather in the same hot pink colour. Sam sighed. ‘I’d like to say that you get used to my aunt’s flirting but don’t assume that you have to.’ ‘My darling nephew, I do not flirt!’ said Rose, with a throaty chuckle. ‘I merely stun and disarm.’
‘Men!’ said Rose, rolling her eyes. ‘They’re just too awful but oh! L’amour! Who can resist them? Now, have you tried Tinder? I mean, you get a few freaks obviously but the sex is marvellous!’
‘You’ve put on a pound or two, haven’t you, chubby?’ ‘Stress eating,’ the man told him, taking a step backward. ‘Mind you, that’s nothing compared to your grey hairs.’ ‘It’s being famous again,’ said Mick, rubbing his grey sideburns which he’d missed with the hair dye. ‘People wanting money everywhere I look. Vultures, the lot of them.’ ‘Poor you,’ said the stranger in a sympathetic tone. ‘You really enjoyed those years being has-beens after all, eh?’
My Review:
I’m continuing to enjoy my stay in the quaint little village of Cranley and the extensive grounds of Willow Tree Hall. This installment was considerably more angst-ridden than the last with significant career, personal, and family stressors present for the two new main characters of Lily and Jack, who both separately find themselves unemployed and back in their small village after more than a decade apart. Despite the heavier issues and concerns covered, Ms. Sherlock thoughtfully and shrewdly provided comic relief often through the always effervescent and outrageous flirting of great-aunt Rose. Aunt Rose continued to delight and entertain with her feisty attitude and joie de vivre. I aspire to be as cool at any age as Aunt Rose in her seventies. Although, there were several other oddly enticing and idiosyncratic visitors bringing in smirk-worth levity as well. I am enjoying my travels to this busy little hamlet and look forward to more adventures there.
New additions to my Brit Word List include budge up – to move over, make room for others; and scrumping - stealing apples from someone else’s orchard.
‘Paddling pool time,’ she said, with a grunt. ‘Which at least will replace the horror of bath time. And then bedtime followed swiftly by gin o’clock.’
‘How marvellous,’ said the woman, giving Jack a once over that would make anyone blush. ‘Is that flashy car yours? How I do like a man with a fast-running motor!’ ‘Thank you,’ said Jack, his mouth twitching into a smile. Aunt Rose had to be at least seventy years old and was dressed in a very fashionable dress, jacket and matching hat from which protruded a large feather in the same hot pink colour. Sam sighed. ‘I’d like to say that you get used to my aunt’s flirting but don’t assume that you have to.’ ‘My darling nephew, I do not flirt!’ said Rose, with a throaty chuckle. ‘I merely stun and disarm.’
‘Men!’ said Rose, rolling her eyes. ‘They’re just too awful but oh! L’amour! Who can resist them? Now, have you tried Tinder? I mean, you get a few freaks obviously but the sex is marvellous!’
‘You’ve put on a pound or two, haven’t you, chubby?’ ‘Stress eating,’ the man told him, taking a step backward. ‘Mind you, that’s nothing compared to your grey hairs.’ ‘It’s being famous again,’ said Mick, rubbing his grey sideburns which he’d missed with the hair dye. ‘People wanting money everywhere I look. Vultures, the lot of them.’ ‘Poor you,’ said the stranger in a sympathetic tone. ‘You really enjoyed those years being has-beens after all, eh?’
My Review:
I’m continuing to enjoy my stay in the quaint little village of Cranley and the extensive grounds of Willow Tree Hall. This installment was considerably more angst-ridden than the last with significant career, personal, and family stressors present for the two new main characters of Lily and Jack, who both separately find themselves unemployed and back in their small village after more than a decade apart. Despite the heavier issues and concerns covered, Ms. Sherlock thoughtfully and shrewdly provided comic relief often through the always effervescent and outrageous flirting of great-aunt Rose. Aunt Rose continued to delight and entertain with her feisty attitude and joie de vivre. I aspire to be as cool at any age as Aunt Rose in her seventies. Although, there were several other oddly enticing and idiosyncratic visitors bringing in smirk-worth levity as well. I am enjoying my travels to this busy little hamlet and look forward to more adventures there.
New additions to my Brit Word List include budge up – to move over, make room for others; and scrumping - stealing apples from someone else’s orchard.
January 24, 2020
A cute second chance romance where the Willow Tree Hall and the author's words charmed the young sweethearts to fall in love with each other again years later. Or had the love never gone?
Lily had the worst day where she lost her job and her man and forced to go back home where she met with Jack, her first love. Both were in the same boat and it was heartening to see them find their way back.
My second book by author Alison Sherlock, this was a love story with a few social issues. The author's writing made the book charming without it being too heavy handed. The characters were varied and eccentric, but it was Aunt Rose who was teh most charming.
Humor provided by the great aunt had me chuckling. There was warmth and a sense of camaraderie between the characters. Emotions peeked in at the right places, Lily's penchant for lists had a place of its own in the story.
Overall, the story was entertaining, the bar raised by Aunt Rose. She was cool and fabulous
Lily had the worst day where she lost her job and her man and forced to go back home where she met with Jack, her first love. Both were in the same boat and it was heartening to see them find their way back.
My second book by author Alison Sherlock, this was a love story with a few social issues. The author's writing made the book charming without it being too heavy handed. The characters were varied and eccentric, but it was Aunt Rose who was teh most charming.
Humor provided by the great aunt had me chuckling. There was warmth and a sense of camaraderie between the characters. Emotions peeked in at the right places, Lily's penchant for lists had a place of its own in the story.
Overall, the story was entertaining, the bar raised by Aunt Rose. She was cool and fabulous
November 11, 2022
4.5 out of 5 stars
February 15, 2020
A visit to Willow Tree Hall never fails to cheer me up and Alison Sherlock is once again on top form with the latest instalment of her fantastic series, Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall.
Lily Harper does not believe in spontaneity. Everything in her life is neat, ordered and tidy. With her five year plan something she rigidly adheres to, poor Lily only has to hear the phrase go with the flow to come out in hives! However, it looks like she might better start getting used to things being outside of her control because in a short space of time, she ends up losing her job and her fiancé! What is the events organiser going to do now? Lost, lonely and with no clue about what she is going to do now, Lily heads back home to her childhood village where she gets a job at Willow Tree Hall as a housekeeper which takes some adjustment as it’s far removed from her previous assignments, but at least she has a job and money coming in.
Her first task at the Hall is to get things ready for the summer fete and for the first time in a long while, Lily feels alive. She is in her element writing down lists and organising everything, however, little did Lily realise that working at the Hall will see her coming face to face with the man she had vowed never to forgive whom she has certainly never managed to forget: her ex Jack Carter, whom she hasn’t seen in ten years. Jack had left her heart-broken when he’d walked out of her life, taking pieces of her broken heart with him. She had thought she would never see him again, but fate clearly had made other plans for her. And worse, those old feelings she had tried so hard to bury had returned with a vengeance!
Fate – and Willow Tree Hall – has thrown the two former lovers back together again, but will they give their love another try? Or has too much water flown under the bridge for the two of them to ever take a leap of faith and a chance on a future together?
Feel-good, warm-hearted and wonderfully romantic, Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall is uplifting women’s fiction at its most gripping. A brilliantly written tale of starting over, second chances and new beginnings, Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall is a captivating and enjoyable read peppered with humour, emotion and
plenty of heart.
Jack and Lily are fantastic characters you cannot help but warm to. Brilliantly realised and richly drawn, you will grow to care for them as if they were your closest friends.
A perfect book to curl up with and lose oneself in, Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall is a romantic tale you are sure to enjoy!
Lily Harper does not believe in spontaneity. Everything in her life is neat, ordered and tidy. With her five year plan something she rigidly adheres to, poor Lily only has to hear the phrase go with the flow to come out in hives! However, it looks like she might better start getting used to things being outside of her control because in a short space of time, she ends up losing her job and her fiancé! What is the events organiser going to do now? Lost, lonely and with no clue about what she is going to do now, Lily heads back home to her childhood village where she gets a job at Willow Tree Hall as a housekeeper which takes some adjustment as it’s far removed from her previous assignments, but at least she has a job and money coming in.
Her first task at the Hall is to get things ready for the summer fete and for the first time in a long while, Lily feels alive. She is in her element writing down lists and organising everything, however, little did Lily realise that working at the Hall will see her coming face to face with the man she had vowed never to forgive whom she has certainly never managed to forget: her ex Jack Carter, whom she hasn’t seen in ten years. Jack had left her heart-broken when he’d walked out of her life, taking pieces of her broken heart with him. She had thought she would never see him again, but fate clearly had made other plans for her. And worse, those old feelings she had tried so hard to bury had returned with a vengeance!
Fate – and Willow Tree Hall – has thrown the two former lovers back together again, but will they give their love another try? Or has too much water flown under the bridge for the two of them to ever take a leap of faith and a chance on a future together?
Feel-good, warm-hearted and wonderfully romantic, Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall is uplifting women’s fiction at its most gripping. A brilliantly written tale of starting over, second chances and new beginnings, Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall is a captivating and enjoyable read peppered with humour, emotion and
plenty of heart.
Jack and Lily are fantastic characters you cannot help but warm to. Brilliantly realised and richly drawn, you will grow to care for them as if they were your closest friends.
A perfect book to curl up with and lose oneself in, Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall is a romantic tale you are sure to enjoy!
January 31, 2020
I've been a fan of this series from the very beginning; each book draws me in further and this one is a cracker!
Lily and Jack were teenage sweethearts, but somehow their dreams of a life together never came to fruition. Now, more than a decade later and after lives lived elsewhere, they both find themselves back in their home village of Cranley and bound together by Willow Tree Hall and the people there. How are they going to deal with being in such close proximity?
I adore the Willow Tree Hall series and everyone included in it! The more I read, the more real it becomes and I can easily believe that somewhere, nestled in the English countryside, this grand house and all the characters really exist. Alison Sherlock comes up with new and fresh ideas with each book, entirely different to what has gone before and yet it all manages to fuse together. I love them all but my absolute favourite has to be Rose - what a personality and a life she has had! Beautifully written, these are books which worm their way under my skin and I always have a warm feeling of anticipation when I have one on my tbr. I so hope there are more to follow! Expertly created, this fourth book is fully worth all five stars - and I do hope there is a fifth one in the pipeline!
Lily and Jack were teenage sweethearts, but somehow their dreams of a life together never came to fruition. Now, more than a decade later and after lives lived elsewhere, they both find themselves back in their home village of Cranley and bound together by Willow Tree Hall and the people there. How are they going to deal with being in such close proximity?
I adore the Willow Tree Hall series and everyone included in it! The more I read, the more real it becomes and I can easily believe that somewhere, nestled in the English countryside, this grand house and all the characters really exist. Alison Sherlock comes up with new and fresh ideas with each book, entirely different to what has gone before and yet it all manages to fuse together. I love them all but my absolute favourite has to be Rose - what a personality and a life she has had! Beautifully written, these are books which worm their way under my skin and I always have a warm feeling of anticipation when I have one on my tbr. I so hope there are more to follow! Expertly created, this fourth book is fully worth all five stars - and I do hope there is a fifth one in the pipeline!
January 24, 2020
Book 4, and the final one in the Willow Tree Hall series can be read as a standalone as Lily and Jack’s story is the focus. There are some familiar faces, for those of us who have read previous books in the series. and it’s good to reacquaint with those and see how their lives have moved on.
Lily and Jack, both have emotional baggage from their past to come to terms with, both individually and together. Their connection gives the story its slow-building sweet romance, with plenty of angst and anger to overcome.
The perilous state of the hall and the need to secure its future remains a perennial problem. Jack’s a catalyst in this, but friendship proves stronger than financial reward and makes you like him even more.
The authentically crafted, complex characters, and the delightful rural setting make this a lovely escapist story, perfect to read when you need a little me time.
I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Lily and Jack, both have emotional baggage from their past to come to terms with, both individually and together. Their connection gives the story its slow-building sweet romance, with plenty of angst and anger to overcome.
The perilous state of the hall and the need to secure its future remains a perennial problem. Jack’s a catalyst in this, but friendship proves stronger than financial reward and makes you like him even more.
The authentically crafted, complex characters, and the delightful rural setting make this a lovely escapist story, perfect to read when you need a little me time.
I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
February 15, 2020
I love this series however I did find the first third of this book to be a bit of a rocky start however I realise this conveys the awkwardness and pain in Lily and Jacks characters perfectly. Great to be back at the Hall with the Harris family. Entertaining read.
Thank you Netgalley.
Thank you Netgalley.
November 29, 2019
Willow tree hall and the surrounding village sounds like the perfect place to visit. I really enjoyed this book and all the interesting characters! Loved the story! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
May 5, 2024
This was a lovely book. It had a predictable ending, however the interesting characters made it an enjoyable read.
Amazon synopsis:
Lily Harper is an events organiser, but her neat, ordered world has just exploded. First she lost her job, then she lost her fiancé. Her five-year plan is looking increasingly shaky.
Lost and lonely, Lily heads home to her childhood village, and accepts the position of live-in housekeeper at the grand but welcoming Willow Tree Hall. It's not exactly her dream job – Lily is more used to arranging parties than pantries – but at least she's working.
Her first task is to arrange the Willow Tree Hall summer fete. Lily is in her element, writing to-do lists and organising bunting and baking – until her old flame Jack Carter turns up in the village. Lily hasn't seen Jack in over ten years, when he sped off on his motorbike, taking with him the pieces of her broken heart.
Lily vowed she would never forgive him. But as Willow Tree Hall weaves its magic, Lily finds she might just give Jack a second chance after all...
Amazon synopsis:
Lily Harper is an events organiser, but her neat, ordered world has just exploded. First she lost her job, then she lost her fiancé. Her five-year plan is looking increasingly shaky.
Lost and lonely, Lily heads home to her childhood village, and accepts the position of live-in housekeeper at the grand but welcoming Willow Tree Hall. It's not exactly her dream job – Lily is more used to arranging parties than pantries – but at least she's working.
Her first task is to arrange the Willow Tree Hall summer fete. Lily is in her element, writing to-do lists and organising bunting and baking – until her old flame Jack Carter turns up in the village. Lily hasn't seen Jack in over ten years, when he sped off on his motorbike, taking with him the pieces of her broken heart.
Lily vowed she would never forgive him. But as Willow Tree Hall weaves its magic, Lily finds she might just give Jack a second chance after all...
October 13, 2020
A .must read
I absolutely loved reading these books. The series of willow tree hall
I do hope there will be more in this series
All of the series was spell binding, a brilliant read you just can't put down
The characters are funny loyal loving with there own unique twist
I loved these books so much, I enjoyed ever single book in this 4 book series
I wish there were more to keep reading
You will not be disappointed with any of them
Allison please carry n this series it was fantastic and i would love to read more of the
Willow Tree Hall Series to catch up with what life has for the huge family and friends
5 Huge stars for every book in this series
Thank you Allison
I absolutely loved reading these books. The series of willow tree hall
I do hope there will be more in this series
All of the series was spell binding, a brilliant read you just can't put down
The characters are funny loyal loving with there own unique twist
I loved these books so much, I enjoyed ever single book in this 4 book series
I wish there were more to keep reading
You will not be disappointed with any of them
Allison please carry n this series it was fantastic and i would love to read more of the
Willow Tree Hall Series to catch up with what life has for the huge family and friends
5 Huge stars for every book in this series
Thank you Allison
November 24, 2025
This book was a continuation of the Willow Tree Hall series. I loved the story line that continued for Annie, Will, Aurther and Rose. I didnt like Lily character as she was written as quite stuck up and annoying. It also didnt follow the set up of the hall being turned into a Hotel which the whole start of the book set up, felt it forgot this until the end and had to quickly revisit it. The romance was sweet but no real story was in this book which was disappointing. I do love the author and her way she creates scenes that feel alive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2023
Life was pretty peculiar sometimes.
Isn't it time to leave the comfort zone of your past as well? Uncertainty is a fact of life. Something is going to be unexpected and test you. If you wrap your life in cotton wool, that's not living. That's just tip-toeing around life. You can't just settle. You need to go for it.
Nobody can hate you more than you appear to hate yourself, but we can try and work on that as well.
Isn't it time to leave the comfort zone of your past as well? Uncertainty is a fact of life. Something is going to be unexpected and test you. If you wrap your life in cotton wool, that's not living. That's just tip-toeing around life. You can't just settle. You need to go for it.
Nobody can hate you more than you appear to hate yourself, but we can try and work on that as well.
May 3, 2025
DNF at 20%.
I binge-read the Railway and Riverside Lane books. So I am going in reverse order here. They are formulaic but just what I was in the mood for at the moment. But this is somehow the first of this series that I started and just can't get into it.
The characters are unlikeable and there's far too much contradiction about the ML's feelings towards his parents/adoptive(?), as well as repeated mention of the *accident*.
I binge-read the Railway and Riverside Lane books. So I am going in reverse order here. They are formulaic but just what I was in the mood for at the moment. But this is somehow the first of this series that I started and just can't get into it.
The characters are unlikeable and there's far too much contradiction about the ML's feelings towards his parents/adoptive(?), as well as repeated mention of the *accident*.
January 12, 2021
Lily became a dispationate control freak after a tragedy struck her family, but when she sees Jack again she begins to return to herself. The Willow Tree Hall family members are a big group to try to organize and that's what Lily attempts to do; however she makes some mistakes and learns some life lessons. This was another delightful English countryside romance novel.
January 19, 2021
What a lovely and enchanting book! I absolutely devoured this story and finished it one day. I loved Lily and Jack and I found them both great protagonists as they are strong-willed, flawed in some way, realistic and easy to love. Although initially, Lily was uptight and meticulous, I never found her to be annoying and both Jack and Lily were adorable together.
April 3, 2020
An absolutely lovely series. I suppose you could read this as a stand-alone book, but the entire Willow Tree Hall is worth reading - great characters, a beautiful setting, and a great pace for the stories. I hope to read more by Alison Sherlock.
June 13, 2021
Brilliant
I have really enjoyed reading this series of books. The characters are warm and loving and the storyline and settings are great. A few inconsistencies throughout the books which is a shame. Because otherwise there are perfect
I have really enjoyed reading this series of books. The characters are warm and loving and the storyline and settings are great. A few inconsistencies throughout the books which is a shame. Because otherwise there are perfect
December 24, 2021
another sweet installment
The baggage these characters have is a bit more realistic than some of the others in this series. I liked both characters better, and Jacks basic integrity is great.
I’m hoping that Alex will get a love story soon! It seems like it should be his turn!
The baggage these characters have is a bit more realistic than some of the others in this series. I liked both characters better, and Jacks basic integrity is great.
I’m hoping that Alex will get a love story soon! It seems like it should be his turn!
Read
July 9, 2020Trust and you find love
Two old lovers reconnect in an unusual way as Willow Tree Hall warms people from within. New life, rekindled love and old rockers.
Two old lovers reconnect in an unusual way as Willow Tree Hall warms people from within. New life, rekindled love and old rockers.
November 4, 2020
A story you will fall in love with
I have loved this story From start to finish...although I hope the end isn’t the last i read about willow hall
I have loved this story From start to finish...although I hope the end isn’t the last i read about willow hall
Read
November 17, 2020good light reading book
March 16, 2021
A sweet easy read on a cold winter day!
May 1, 2021
Another fab story about Willow tree hall , including the family lily has returned home. Jack Carter has also called in to see Sam with something that will threaten them all.
May 31, 2021
Another delightful addition to the series
I liked the comradely of the family and friends. Each one had unused talents that benefited Willow Tree Hall. Second chances galore.
I liked the comradely of the family and friends. Each one had unused talents that benefited Willow Tree Hall. Second chances galore.
June 10, 2021
Liked the previous books but disliked the main characters in this one. Wouldn't read again.
June 26, 2021
An easy read
A light hearted romance ,perfect for a bit of weekend escapism.
I loved catching up with the characters from the other books in this series.
A light hearted romance ,perfect for a bit of weekend escapism.
I loved catching up with the characters from the other books in this series.
July 10, 2021
Sweet
A sweet and enjoyable read. It was a perfect winter read. Thank you Alison. I’m becoming a huge fan of yours.
A sweet and enjoyable read. It was a perfect winter read. Thank you Alison. I’m becoming a huge fan of yours.
September 23, 2021
Easy reading, hard to put down
As with all the previous 3 books, this grabs you from the very beginning. Can’t wait for the next one
As with all the previous 3 books, this grabs you from the very beginning. Can’t wait for the next one
July 11, 2022
Great story and characters. Love the series.
June 30, 2023
excellent
Book number 4 has not disappointed- Introduction of new characters in this heart warming book has made it another good read to lose yourself in- Would highly recommend-
Book number 4 has not disappointed- Introduction of new characters in this heart warming book has made it another good read to lose yourself in- Would highly recommend-
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews