The Hotel at Honeymoon Station

by Tilly Tennant

Run away to the Dorset countryside, to the sleepy village of Honeymoon, where rose-adorned thatched cottages soak up the sunlight and Emma is risking everything for a brave new start on life and love…

When Emma’s useless fiancé tells her a lie she cannot forgive, she decides enough is enough. She leaves him, quits her dead-end job and travels hundreds of miles away to the ancient village of Honeymoon in the Dorset countryside, to help her friend Tia turn the old train station into a boutique hotel.

Tia has told Emma that it will be a project, but when Emma arrives in Honeymoon and sees a weed-choked crumbling ruin, her vision of an idyllic life in Dorset begins to disintegrate. But when she meets twinkly-eyed builder Aiden in the village shop, and sparks fly between them, she can’t help but feel that the stars have for once aligned.

As work begins on the hotel, Emma and Aiden grow closer, and on sun-dappled evening walks, he tells her the secrets of the village. But there are some villagers who wish that Emma had never arrived in Honeymoon… And when Emma is involved in a terrible accident on site, and then discovers what Aiden has been keeping from her, it feels like the universe is telling her to leave Honeymoon for good. What if she was wrong to say goodbye to all that was safe and familiar? Will she ever be able to find her happy-ever-after in Honeymoon?

A completely gorgeous and romantic read about being brave and taking chances on love and life. Fans of Shari Low, Jill Mansell and Milly Johnson will be enchanted by The Hotel at Honeymoon Station.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Ebooks, Fiction

311 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2021

About the author

Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. After years of dismal and disastrous jobs, including paper plate stacking, shop girl, newspaper promotions and waitressing (she never could carry a bowl of soup without spilling a bit), she decided to indulge her passion for the written word by embarking on a degree in English and creative writing, graduating in 2009 with first class honours. She wrote her first novel in 2007 during her first summer break at university and has not stopped writing since. She also works as a freelance fiction editor, and considers herself very lucky that this enables her to read many wonderful books before the rest of the world gets them.

Tilly is represented by the wonderful, gorgeous Peta Nightingale at LAW.

Reviews

[Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....

And Tilly Tennant did it again! I’ve yet to read one of her books I don’t totally fall in love with, be it the story, the characters, the setting or all three… What a delightful read! I just managed to read it in less than 24 hours so involved I got in Emma and Tia’s lives.

Emma is frustrated with her life. Her sister is off to Iceland to start her dream job and her (piece of sh*t) boyfriend and coworker are taking advantage of her, so when she gets reacquainted with Tia, an old school friend, she decides to embark on a new adventure and help her turn an old train station into a boutique hotel.

I felt for Emma so much the first third of the book! It was so painful to see how she was a doormat to her boyfriend (it’s better being single than having a boyfriend like that!). It took a while for her blindfold to fall off her eyes but once it did it was such a pleasure seeing the new Emma emerge.

Honeymoon was such a gorgeous place and all the people there so charming (yes, even Sid!). The writing was so good it made me feel I was there in Nell’s shop or Darcie’s cafe along the girls. Blake and Aiden sounded quite dreamy and I wouldn’t have minded working alongside them on the hotel renovations even though I absolutely hate physical work! It was a bit frustrating seeing Emma denying herself a new shot in love as it was clear from the beginning that they had great chemistry and that Aiden could be so good for her.

Some of Emma’s reactions to Tia were a bit out of scale, but hey, renovations can be quite stressful so I guess I can forgive her.

Fun, escapist read about new beginnings and the importance of taking chances when you feel stalled in your life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shivani (shivsreads_ ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a new beginning, a journey of self-growth, friendship and love.

The Hotel at Honeymoon Station by Tilly Tennant is the story of Emma who is stuck at a dead-end job, living with a dead-beat fiancée and feeling a little lost because her little sister has finally grown up and is moving to another country for her job. Emma has a run in with an old friend, Tia who is looking for a partner to convert an old run-down train station in rural Dorset into a boutique hotel. What follows is Emma’s journey as she decides to partner with Tia, moves to the sleepy village of Honeymoon, works on the renovations to build a hotel that is in working order and overall, adjusts to her new life.

Emma is a cautious and practical woman who thinks through every decision. Tia is a free spirited and fly by the seat of your pants kind of woman. So, you can only imagine how interesting and at times difficult it would be for this odd pair to tackle this project. It has to be said that the author has done a good job of representing the tension, arguments, doubts that arise when there is a business relationship between the friends. But there is also a good mention on the familiarity and trust that they share.

The idea on which this plot was based is a good one. But I found the pacing of majority of the story a little sluggish. Almost 30% of the book consists of Emma’s life before she even decides to take up Tia’s offer. Most of it is about how boring and frustrating she finds her job and relationship. There is a lot of focus on her failing relationship with Dougie and it honestly got on my nerves that she could not see the obvious lies he was feeding her. This really dragged the story a bit. Emma’s concerns and fears after arriving in Honeymoon were also expressed in far too much detail. But then all her doubts and issues seemed to be resolved quite quickly in the end.

Nonetheless, the author’s writing is superior. Her vivid descriptions of the charming village of Honeymoon and the completed hotel made me wish that they were real. The steady build in the relationship between Aidan and Emma was made to seem organic. Aidan’s stories about the village and its people were interesting and cute. When I finished reading this book, it made me feel good.

Was this book worth my time? Yes. Whatever my issues with the characters and the pacing may be, the plot was overall enjoyable.

Will I be re-reading this book? Probably not.

Do I recommend the book to others? Yes. I think that my lukewarm feelings about this story is solely because I expected something different and fast paced. If you even slightly liked the blurb, then I suggest that you give this book a try and make up your own mind about it.

I recommend this book for those who like reading about small town charms, new beginnings, perseverance and love.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing an early reader copy of the book with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

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[Brenda Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why have I not read this author before?
Sweet story about two women, friendship, dreams and finding your place.
Emma has been mothering all those in her life since her mother's unexpected death - Emma was 8 and just wanted to make everything ok. Including being a mom for her younger sister, born shortly before their mother's death.
Her sister moves to Iceland. Her dad insists he is independent. All that is left is facing her poor work and engagement relationships.
Struggling with her defining her own needs, Emma liberally runs into Tia - a high school acquaintance about to start her life over. Tia wants to buy Honeymoon Station- renovate into a boutique hotel.
Emma jumps in.
Though all in the small town are not pleased with their presence, the women stride forward. As does Emma's self confidence.
Sweet story, easy read with lovely people.

[Wendy W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was just a delight to read! A lovely little village named Honeymoon, a decrepit old train station, and two determined women with enough vision and perseverance to turn the station into a small hotel. Add to this a couple of builder brothers and this is just the kind of story that makes me happy.

Emma is frustrated with a deadbeat fiance and a job that is going nowhere, so when she bumps into an old-school acquaintance with big dreams, she can’t stop thinking about what could be. Then she finds out her fiance has been lying to her, she risks everything and kicks him out of the house, leaves her job, sells her house, and moves to picturesque Dorset, and the village of Honeymoon, with her friend, Tia, to turn a derelict train station into a boutique hotel.

Anyone who’s ever done a renovation can predict that not everything goes smoothly. But, with the local builder brothers, Aiden and Blake, at least the women know they have the most responsible builders plus some pretty interesting times off-site.

This book was just pure fun. I admired the women’s tenacity and determination to take on such a huge project, without any experience. The pacing of this book was excellent, it hooked me from the very beginning until the end.

[Frenchorchidea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always so so excited when I start reading a new book by Tilly Tennant. She is one of my top favorite author, she never deceives me. But this time and of the first time I haven't been totally thrilled by this book. The start of it is really good and then when you start getting towards the middle, the story starts to be a bit slow and not so entertaining. Fortunately the end is super good. All in all this was a good book but not to my taste. Maybe it was not the good time for me to read it? I don't know exactly but I felt like something more exciting was missing from this book. But maybe you will love this book so make sure to give it a try because Tilly Tennant is a really good author!

[Matou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished this journey with Emma, Tia, the Ronson brothers and the Honeymoon inhabitants. Where to start? The writing flows smoothly and easily, so the reading experience is pleasant. You find yourself 20% through the book in the blink of an eye.

I related to Emma on some points, particularly the fact that despite doing more or less everything by the books, she still didn’t feel like she had achieved anything. That missing feeling of fulfillment is quite familiar, and seeing Emma stepping out of her comfort zone was empowering.

Now to be perfectly honest, the indications at Aidan/Emma’s relationship scared me at first, because it’s hinted at very heavily and early on. Fortunately, it turned out great from their very first exchange. Their dynamic seemed natural and they were both quite endearing!

Aidan was a nice and sweet character. Same for Emma’s aunt and her sister, Elise: their relationship was heartwarming. I was more lukewarm on Tia, who was sometimes a bit too much for me to handle.

The ending was adorable, even if a bit “rushed” considering the difference in the time treatment (compared to the beginning of the book— we went from a day by day story to sudden jumps in months). The last 10% were very sweet and made me grin a lot. Even good old Sid made me laugh in the end!

Now, onto the things that bothered me, hence the 3 stars rating.

First, the toxic relationship between Dougie and Emma. He is, as the blurb states, a complete manipulative and disrespectful douche bag she should have dumped way sooner. But her way of monitoring him felt a bit weird— even if “understandable” given the context. Still, I guess having to unhealthily monitor your partner means there must have been clear enough red flags to put an end to that relationship before it took such proportions... So that made me a bit uncomfortable, but fortunately this only concerns the beginning of the story— and that’s a very personal feeling!

Another major bother for me was some of Emma’s weird/annoying reactions, verging on a childish stubbornness and a tendency to be quite judgmental. I was hoping for it to be part of her character development but unfortunately, it remained that way most of the book, to the point it became irritating. I am a super stressed and anxious person myself, but even while trying to be understanding, there were countless times I just wanted to tell Emma to CHILL OUT a little. She did, eventually. At the very, very end of the book.

I do understand that Emma is really insecure and used to being deceived, manipulated and betrayed. Her constant pessimism is almost a defense mechanism at this point. Unfortunately, it ended up starting to actually wear me down— which was a bit underwhelming considering I was expecting a feel-good story.

So these two points are my main criticisms. That being said, it was an overall pleasant read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read all of these authors books, but the ones I have read have been fabulous. The Hotel at Honeymoon Station is another wonderful and heartwarming read. Perfect for summer escapism.

The main two characters in this book are Emma and Tia. They kind of were friends at school but not really in the same social circles. They are definitely characters that are chalk and cheese. Emma, I discovered has had more to worry about as she has grown up than Tia. Whereas Tia is more energetic and outgoing, Emma is more reserved and staid. She will admit to being boring, with no imagination. So, given this, it is quite surprising for her to take on a project that means walking away from the monotony of her, life, her waste of space boyfriend and her family.

Even though it does appear out of character, she wants a new start. Something she can get excited about and with a friend in the form of Tia.

I love how the author brought these two characters together and not only embraced their differences but made them part of the story. While it is mainly more about Emma, Tia has a very large and important part to play. As do, the erm local builders! The author has once again played on differences with the buff, building, brothers Aiden and Blake, and to great effect as well I may add.

The story was entertaining as well as being a discovery about the characters themselves. Starting a new life when you are risking everything is going to be scary. Emotions, worries, stress, finances are all going to work the way to the surface at some point. What you do with them once they are there though, well you will have to read and discover yourself.

This is a wonderful story, gorgeous and with a mostly welcoming community. Finding their way in and around the area is another way of the author showing the differences, not only with Emma and Tia but also with Aiden and Blake.

This is a gorgeous story and one that I read over two sittings, although if I had started it earlier in the day I would have easily read it in one. This is a story that is about family and friends as well as finding the courage to stand up and take a chance. If you have read this authors books before then you know you are going to be in for a treat. This is one for fans of contemporary fiction with a heartfelt warmth to it and a good dash of romance. It is one I would definitely recommend.

[Jade aka MrsTosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying I love the cover. The colours are so warm and vibrant and it just makes me want to pack a bag and head down to the coast.

This is a book about family, friendship and new beginnings. Stuck in a toxic relationship with what I can only describe as a man-child, happily sitting on his arse or fishing whilst Emma takes care of them both and all the bills without any support. She has finally had enough and after one lie too many she decides to embark on a new challenge with an old friend from school renovating an old train station into a hotel.

I liked the setting of the book, Tilly Tennant always managed to paint a beautiful picture and drag you in, as I said about the cover it just makes you want to take a trip to Dorset.

I found Emma's character a little challenging at times and I wanted to give her a shake, especially for putting up with so much and letting people walk all over her. I think it made me not like her character as much as I could have as it happens for most of the book. The romance element was good, if nota little fast and full on, but I guess if you know, you know.

All in all another lively book from the author.

Expected publication date - 18th June 2021.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma needs a change in her life. She's working a dead end job, has a loser for a fiance and her sister is leaving the country for a new job. Emma runs into Tia who would like to buy an empty building and turn it into a small hotel. Together the girls move to the small village of Honeymoon in Dorset and find their building is in very bad shape. The whole village is excited about the plans and all pitch in to help open the old train station. It's going to be a blessing to all if they can ever get everything done. Of course there is a love interest and enough problems to help the girls friendship become even more secure. This is a sweet easy read. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully warm story about friendship, learning about and believing in yourself. Emma and Tia are great lead characters, so different in personality but both committed to opening up the old railway station, and their interactions with eachother and the villagers was lovely to see. This is a lovely, easy to read story which took me away to beautiful Dorset- I could quite easily envisage a stay at Honeymoon Station.

[Suzanne Rogerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely story, perfect to sit back and relax to.

Review update 20th June 2021

The main character Emma has her personal issues and hang-ups, not to mention the useless boyfriend who I couldn't wait for her to get rid of. When she finally comes to her senses, she makes the rash decision to sell up and buy a run down train station with an old school friend. With hopes to renovate and turn it into a hotel, things don't go as planned, especially when the builders turn out to be two hunky brothers who are single.
Emma tries to stay level headed, but her sensible nature stands in the way of happiness.

There are plenty of trials in the renovation too, including opposition from locals and the weather stands in the way of finishing the project before the money runs out.
I enjoyed being along for the renovation ride and willed Emma to allow herself the chance to be happy.

It was a satisfying story and I wish I could go and spend a romantic weekend at The Honeymoon Station Hotel!

[Lucy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone can see Emma's deadbeat boyfriend Dougie is a waste of space apart from Emma, they say love is blind.

A gorgeous book that will whisk you away to sunnier happier times in beautiful Dorset.

It will make you forget what we are living through at the moment and pop a smile on your face as you sink into a lovely countryside read.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Hotel At Honeymoon Station' by Tilly Tennant.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Tilly Tennant, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 18th June 2021.

This is the first book I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Shari Low, Jill Mansell and Milly Johnson will be enchanted by The Hotel at Honeymoon Station'. I am a huge fan of Jill Mansell and Milly Johnson so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 29 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Dorset, UK 🇬🇧 . I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited Dorset on many occasions which will be including this year so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Emma. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Aww what a beautiful read this was!!! I'm off to Dorset myself in September but really enjoyed this early "mini break"!!! Its very well written with fantastic descriptions that really set the scene. The cover, title and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.

The storyline was lovely and set at a relaxed pace. I really enjoyed visiting Honeymoon and it really felt like I was there myself. It was filled with love, loss, sadness, friendship and a very light hearted and relaxing read. The setting was ideal and I'm just gutted it's not a real place. However, I loved it when I came across places that were real especially Cerne Abbas Giant "Carved into the hillside with his great big willy hanging out.’ That made me laugh out loud along with several other places. It ended perfectly and I really hope that this is just the first book in a series based around Honeymoon station!!!

I became really invested in the eclectic mix of characters which is true of any village!!! I enjoyed watching Emma's character develop from strength to strength and her relationships with Tia and Aidan grow. I also thought it was lovely how close she was to Patricia and Dominic. Dougie was just absolute low life scum and I was glad she had some sense when it came to him. I also thought Tia's relationship with Blake was sweet. It wasn't just the main characters who captured my heart though and I really enjoyed getting to know Nell, Darcie and even Sid!!! I really hope to meet them all again soon. Hint, hint Tilly lol!!!

Congratulations Tilly on an absolutely gorgeous read. I know where to come if I'm looking for a light hearted, heart warming beautiful escape!!!

Overall an absolutely adorable, light hearted and romantic escape to Dorset.

Some of my favourite quotes in this book include the following:

"‘The Cerne Abbas Giant. Know it?’‘Not really. Is it a real giant or just a field where a giant used to live? Because if it’s that, you could be showing me fields all day and I’d have no clue whether you were making any of it up.’ ‘It’s a real giant alright. Carved into the hillside with his great big willy hanging out.’ Emma laughed. ‘Seriously? This I’ve got to see!’"

Genres covered in this book include Romance Novel, Humorous Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Domestic Fiction and Holiday Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Jill Mansell, Milly Johnson and anyone looking for a lighthearted page turning escape.


354 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

How lucky we are to have another new book from Tilly Tennant just a few short months after she published The Little Orchard on the Lane. This new story, The Hotel at Honeymoon Station, has a gorgeous, bright inviting cover and the title seemed so inviting. We first meet Emma as she is getting ready for a party to celebrate her younger sister Elsie leaving for a year to work as an intern in Iceland. This new and exciting opportunity afforded to Elsie makes Emma realise the own shortcomings in her life. That her life has become static in its existence and she fails a failure with a distinct lack of ambition or achievement. She hates her job and her personal life is not much better as her boyfriend Dougie whom she is supposed to be marrying treats her like a doormat. He takes her for granted and is lazy, forever letting her down when she needs him the most. Basically she is being used and that boiling point where she can’t put up with it anymore is about to be reached.

Emma was a young woman who was searching for what we all want in life. That is to feel safe, secure, valued and loved. She shouldn’t have to feel like she is forcing Dougie to love her and the final straw is when he fails to show up for the leaving party. Finally I thought, even though we have just been introduced to Emma, you could tell she had been bumbling along in this lacklustre one-sided relationship for far too long and at last she was going to do something about it. The grass is always greener on the other side but it’s taken a while for her to realise this. It’s a brave decision to step outside what you believe to be your comfort zone but for her own sanity and long term happiness Dougie needed to be pushed to the kerb. OK she hates admitting to herself and her close family and friends that her relationship is a failure and she has been maintaining a front of responsibility and an independence of sorts but the time is ripe for things to change and I hoped they would change for the better.

So where does Emma go from here now that Dougie has been given the heave ho? A change of scenery and a new direction is life is certainly needed for her. If Elsie can do it, so can she and her Aunt Patricia who became like a surrogate mother to her following the death of her own mother couldn’t agree more. A chance meeting with an old friend from school, Tia, sparks a little something deep within Emma. Tia is coming out of a relationship herself and wants to do something totally different with her life. I will say this all just seemed a bit too convenient that Tia reappeared in Emma’s life and had the most perfect solution or what seemed like it to give Emma this new, fresh and exciting opportunity to kickstart this new phase in her life. But pushing this niggle I had aside the idea of opening up a boutique hotel in the little village of Honeymoon seemed such a good idea. It would give Emma a chance to do something totally different with her life and working with Tia who had gone through more or less the same experience as herself could perhaps turn out to be the best decision she had ever made or would it?

As always with this author's books the descriptions of the village of Honeymoon were just beautiful and it was easy to visualise in your mind. It’s quiet and unassuming and a certain character really doesn’t want that to change as Emma and Tia soon find out. I have to say though I loved the inclusion of Darcie and Tariq, who had featured in Christmas at the Little Village Bakery, and are now running their own café and the mentions of Millie too just brought back memories of two books I really enjoyed reading. The station that Tia proposes to turn into a hotel needs an awful lot of work and it seems like an insurmountable obstacle to climb but the girls both have hope and optimism on their side. The descriptions of the bygone days of the station and the current state it finds itself in now were so vivid and as a reader you realise what a special place it is and you just hope that things will turn out OK and that the path Tia and Emma tread will be an easy one. But that’s not to be the case as there are numerous problems and setbacks and the story does develop over a period of several months which I thought did slow the overall pace and development of the book down a bit. I also continually felt like I had read a book previously with more or less the exact same plot. I just couldn’t shake the feeling and I think it detracted from my enjoyment and my investment in the book as a whole.

Brothers Blake and Aidan Ronson are the builders who step in to tackle the work on the station when a previous company lets the girls down. It was obvious some sort of romance was going to develop. Tia’s is more quick and on fire than Emma’s but who could blame her given her recent hurt that led her to Honeymoon in the first place. I found once work started on the station and in turn went on for so long the middle part of the book dragged somewhat. It was like nothing much happened except daily visits to the site where Emma did some work and yes Aidan does show her around Honeymoon and its surroundings and tells her some stories but it just felt a little lacklustre for me.

Life for Emma in Honeymoon felt too big and complicated as the path to restoring the station becomes troubled not to mention the feelings she develops for Aidan are called in to question when she believes something that may or not be true. She just wanted to down tools and quit and return home. I thought this was just going to be too much of a cop out for her considering she wanted a change in her life. I know loneliness can really wear people down but I thought she was being too rash and giving up at the first hurdle. She needed to feel safe and wanted but was this new chapter in her life just bringing her unhappiness and heartache when really what she craves is security, satisfaction, happiness and the ultimate goal of making the station a success as a hotel which would really boost her life and the village of Honeymoon as a whole. To be honest she needed a good talking to and I wanted to shake her and say stick with it. It could turn out OK.

The Hotel at Honeymoon Station was a good read. It just didn’t fully engross me as the last few books by Tilly Tennant have done. It’s a quick read despite dragging in the middle. I felt it was over before it had properly found its proper, solid rhythm and it only picked up again towards the end. But for an afternoon relaxing in the garden when you want something not too taxing this would be the book for you.

[Belle · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 50% (Page 175)

I really, really wanted to love this book. I tried ridiculously hard to persevere, especially because this is my second DNF in a row and I was starting to think I was the problem. But no. I could not go any further.

This DNF actually upsets me because this book and this concept had SO much potential but it was just not executed in the way I’d hoped it would be.

The concept is gripping and truly I was so excited to start this book. And objectively I will say that people will love this novel, and I don’t want my review to deter others, but it is just not what I look for in a book, personally.

First off, I don’t resonate with Emma and I found it very hard to think fondly of her, she felt very impersonal and we only really saw a window into her thoughts, not really her deepest darkest emotions and fears, despite her losing her mother at a young age and being in a toxic relationship in the beginning of the novel. I truly believe this is down to Tennant’s writing style. Every thought, every emotion, every action just felt so superficial, like we were watching Emma through misted glass rather than being thrown into the novel.

The second aspect of Tennant’s writing that I could not get behind was telling versus showing. (Not verbatim) “the two women had many conversations over the following weeks, building trust and growing closer as friends”. Stop telling me and SHOW me this friendship between Emma and Tia blossom. SHOW me how Emma and Aidan had a nice, friendly chat where he talked about his childhood, and then the atmosphere changed and the conversation became more personal. Show me, don’t tell me. I genuinely think this is why I struggled to become invested with the characters in the novel, and ultimately a main contributor to not finishing the novel.

There are a few plot points I would change if I were writing the book. One being Tia and Emma. Listen, we understand this concept for the novel is not the most realistic - and I’m not complaining, I genuinely love the concept and I use fiction to transport me to another world so I am not complaining about the far fetched idea. However, I feel this drastic, throw-all-your-eggs-in-one-basket, spend-all-your-life-savings idea of buying a derelict train station would’ve been a tad more realistic if Emma had become business partners with a long-term best friend, rather than a random acquaintance from high school?
Imagine this: Emma’s best friend supports Emma through her break-up with Dougie, empathising because she has only recently officially divorced from her ex-husband. Emma’s friend then is telling Emma her plans of starting a new business, her father is a hotelier and in the divorce settlement she received a substantial sum to put towards her dream, and she is browsing listings online while chilling with Emma and comes across Honeymoon Station. And boom. It happens organically from there. I just feel like that would’ve been so much more natural and realistic that bumping into someone that you barely knew in high school - 10 years later - and then deciding to become business partners with them and throw all your money into a very risky project?

Also, Aidan and Emma. It PAINS me that it was immediate attraction and sparks, and Aidan is a little bit too perfect, which kind of pissed me off. Can you imagine if it was an enemies-to-lovers? A bossy builder who wants to dictate the entire renovation project and they are constantly clashing heads, but somewhere, over the course of several months, they grow feelings for one another. THAT WOULD’VE BEEN SO MUCH BETTER.

Anyway, sorry to ramble. I just was so invested in this novel and really was rooting for it to work, but for me it just fell very short.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

At one point, we all want to chuck it all in and start again: those dreamy moments when the ‘what ifs’ become reality and suddenly your life is changing completely. And Tilly Tennant has done it again by bringing us Emma, Tia, and a decrepit railway station in the Dorset countryside. But it takes us a bit to get there. Emma has a dead-end job, a despicable ex and low opinions of herself and her potential. Just when things are at their worst she runs into an old schoolmate, Tia: newly divorced and everything that Emma always wanted to be. Tia has a dream idea – starting a guest house / hotel in the little town of Honeymoon in Dorset – but she needs a partner with money.

Winning the auction was simply the first step: the building is far worse than they thought, not every resident in the village is interested in their rehab project and, much to Emma’s despair, Tia is an ‘all in” sort of person with a ‘get it done’ approach to everything, while she’d prefer to mull big decisions for big expenses over rather than just jumping in. When the agreed upon construction firm doesn’t arrive and Tia fires them, only to hire local brothers Aiden and Blake to do the work – even as Tia and Blake are sparking off one another with no holds barred. Yes, Emma has a spark with Aiden, but she’s sworn off men and decided that professional and friendly are the best things to be.

This was glorious! Far from being the cakewalk change your life with minimal dramas: the work is difficult, the villagers are, for the most part, welcoming and lovely – and even the town’s curmudgeon isn’t without his clever moments. It takes a bit for Emma to get frustrated enough to stand her own ground and speak her mind to Tia, and to her credit, Tia wasn’t acting maliciously. The two grew up very differently and with Tia used to the ‘finer things’ in life – and having an endless supply – patience is something she really had to learn. Just as Emma needed to take notice of her own strengths and qualities, and perhaps notice that Aiden has it as bad for her as she does for him. An escape read with depth, characters to love and a little village hotel in a Victorian-era railway station named Honeymoon.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma was in a relationship for years but it feels like she was not anymore because she was the only one who made efforts in their relationship and they were even engaged. When Emma finally realized her worth and that her opportunities were limited because of her fiance, she decided to dump him and accepted the business proposal of her friend, Tia. She moved away and started her new life.

*Spoiler Alert*

Honestly, I almost feel like I couldn't finish this story because it looks too long to read but last night I stayed up late to finish this one. The dedication I give to my books y'all. Anyways, this is a cute and realistic story which I like about it. Going into a new town and putting up a business without much knowledge about it is really challenging for the girls and the dedication they put up on making the hotel work is really admirable. I love how supportive the villagers and their family in the ending though especially Sid!

I'm not the martyr type so if my partner shows red flags and he didn't care about how shitty he treated me, I'll dump him right away no matter how long we've been together. And that is why I'm kind of mad with Emma for how long she tolerated her fiance but then she dumped him so yes girl! It's because everyone deserves a better person who treats them right and Doggie isn't one of them. So, I love the character development of these two girls.

But I feel like this story is too focus on Tia and Blake's relationship instead of Emma and Aiden that's why I can't see much of their chemistry. Yes, they have scenes together but not much of a romance, butterfly in the stomach scenes, and only tours and talks. Those things are nice but they're too serious and stiff together so they really lack chemistry. I get that Emma's stressed about the hotel and all that's why she doesn't look for any relationship but when they suddenly get together it feels odd. It can be read as they're only close friends not boyfriend-girlfriend.

That's why I'm sorry I rate this only 3.5 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐/⭐

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melanie’s reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars



Emma spelt capital M U G, has a fiancé who decides to go fishing rather than bother to turn up for her sister’s leaving party, a manager who spends the day eating and leaving her to do all the work and is generally treated like a doormat.

After losing her mum at a young age she took on the role of nurturer for her younger sister and always puts everyone else’s needs and wants before her own. So after a serendipitous meeting with a girl who used to copy from her at school and a renovation project piquing her interest she decides to finally do something about the shortcomings in her life. Including kicking her lying, lazy, good for nothing fiancé to the kerb.

This was my first book of this author and while it had a slower pace than I would normally like in an easy read, the characters more than made up for it and by the time I was two thirds through I didn’t want it to end.

I could totally see why Emma tolerated her poor treatment as sometimes it’s easier to put up with things rather than be brave and make changes. But I was behind her all the way to find the courage and gumption to follow her dreams like her sister had the benefit of doing and I must admit I let out a little cheer when she finally dumped Dougie.

Once Emma arrived at Honeymoon the pace picked up and lots of new characters are introduced, including builder brothers Blake and Adrian and villager Sid who is very disgruntled by changes happening in his beloved Honeymoon. It becomes a tale of friendship, community, second chances and following your dreams.

My only little quibble is that the romantic focus seemed to shift from Emma to Tia. I had invested a third of the book in bonding with Emma and I personally would have preferred the focus to stay on her. All in all though this is a sweet and charming read within a beautiful setting and full of warm likeable characters especially Sid who I nicknamed Sid the silly old sod.

[Ashley Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, author Tilly Tennant, and Bookouture publishing for giving me a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4 stars
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to make a fresh start by going into business with the former queen bee of your school, then this book is for you!
This book was my first book that I have read by this author and it will not be my last. This book was a light-hearted story about friendship, love, and self acceptance.
Emma is a woman, who seems to be the nurturer to almost all the people around her, but is given very little back by those same individuals. After Emma finds out her dead-beat fiancé has been lying about going to work. Emma decides to make some pretty big life changes. Then one day Emma bumps into the former queen bee from her school days, Tia, who is also looking to make a big life change. Tia has decided to open a hotel in an old train station in the small village of Honeymoon, Dorset. Willing to take a chance, both Tia and Emma decide to go into business together. When the women discover the hotel will need far more work than they initial planned, Aiden and his brother, local builders, will enter their lives and change them forever.
The beginning of this book was a little slow, but after the characters moved and started their lives in Dorset, the story picked up and had me hooked until the very end. I really enjoyed the friendship that developed between Tia and Emma. Both women were coming into the partnership after a romantic break-up. I liked the local stories Aiden would share with Emma as he introduced her to all the places around the village. I also enjoyed the renovations and all the crazy accidents that happened along the way. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book. I would recommend this book to those who are looking for an easy book to read on a lazy afternoon/weekend.

[Samadhee Ismail · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I always loved the front covers of Tilly Tennant's books and this cover is so cozy and bright and pretty! This is I think the fourth book I have read of Tilly Tennant's books.

Emma kicks her useless boyfriend Dougie out over a lie that she cannot simply forgive. And she has a dead end job she hates. So when her former school mate Tia proposes an idea of an investment to renovate an old station and convert to a hotel, in a remote village called Honeymoon off Dorset, Emma joins in the idea by quitting the job and moving to the quaint village of Honeymoon. Emma and Tia both meets different types of people living in the village--the cute couple Darcie and Tariq who owns the Honeymoon cafe, the brother Blake and Adrian Ronson who are contractors and who help Tia and Emma to renovate the station into a hotel and Sid, who does not want change in the village. Tia and Blake's relationship grows and Emma and Adrian becomes friends and seem to be getting into a romance. But then, Emma wonders if she made a big mistake of coming to the village or not.

Like all her books, her stories are quiet cozy to read. The plot was good and interesting, and I do like how the friendship slowly turned to romance between Adrian and Emma, I also like how the community invested both Tia and Emma to help up to set the hotel. Though initially, I found Emma a bit of a whiny character but nonetheless I grew her character. Though the story is more like a soap opera with happily ever after, it was a cozy, warm read with funny incidents that will make you laugh as you read through the book.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and worth three stars!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

[Caroline|Page~Turners · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Emma’s no good fiancé tells her a lie that she cannot forgive, she leaves him. She is in much need of a clean, fresh start and the quaint little village of Honeymoon in Dorset is exactly the place she needs to be. She leaves her job in London and everything else behind. She travels hundreds of miles away, to Dorset where Emma’s friend Tia wants her to help her turn an old rundown building into a hotel. Tia gives Emma most of the details, but Emma arrives in Dorset and sees the old dilapidated building, she realizes her life in Dorset falls short of her expectations. But when Emma meets Aiden the builder she feels like she is right where she is supposed to be. Aiden and Emma grow closer and while on their moonlit walks, Aiden tells Emma many of the secrets of the villagers. But some of the villagers wish that Emma had never arrived in Honeymoon, and when she had an accident at the worksite, she wonders if this was all a huge mistake in moving there, especially when she discovers the secret Aiden has been keeping from her. I really enjoyed the mix of different characters, and I was both enthralled and entertained by the relationships old and new. This story of love and loss, friendship and family, intertwined with new beginnings and fresh starts in life, was so refreshing to read. This light hearted story will have you flying through the pages, not wanting to stop reading until the very end.

Thank you Tilly Tennant for such a fabulous escape to Dorset. Your detailed description of Honeymoon Village made me feel as if it was walking through the town. This was a great read, it was exactly what I needed. I highly recommend this book.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hotel at Honeymoon Station
by Tilly Tennant
I adore Tilly Tennant and The Hotel at Honeymoon Station is another gorgeous read! Not that I am at all surprised as I knew I’d love it!
When we meet Emma, she is preparing to say a temporary goodbye to her baby sister as she embarks on the career opportunity of her dreams. Emma wishes she loved her job as much. She’s not overly happy in her relationship either. Is it time for a fresh start?
When an old school friend, Tia, offers her the opportunity of a partnership refurbishing an old railway station, in Dorset, into a hotel she is in two minds. It is a massive risk and an extremely expensive one. They decide to go for it though and I thoroughly enjoyed following their brave adventure. I LOVE Dorset! I so wish I lived closer so we could visit more often. I could totally understand the lure of moving to a lovely little village there. I’m not sure I’d be as brave as they are though.
The refurbishment isn’t without it’s ups and downs, and that goes for Emma’s and Tia’s friendship too. I loved the dynamic between the two of them, especially when handsome local builders are thrown into the mix. I was totally rooting for them both to have their happy ending. I could understand Emma’s apprehension, but I did want to give her a good shake at times! 😉
Tilly Tennant knows exactly how to draw you in to a story from the very first page and keep you transfixed throughout the whole book. There are so many amazing characters in this story. Even the unlikeable ones are likeable in their own way, especially one. I LOVED how this story ends. Feel good fiction at it’s very best. I highly recommend to all!

**Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley**

https://chataboutbooks.blog/2021/06/0...

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed a lot of Tilly Tennant's books. To me this is one of her best books. I loved the gorgeous cover too, it looks so inviting and I wanted to read it. I loved the idea of Honeymoon Station Hotel. I have an interest in abandoned buildings, especially Victorian Architecture as this station building probably was. I love the grandeur and imagining what the buildings originally were like as well as the people who visited them. I love to see them being bought back to life. I would have liked a little more detail though about the hotel and descriptions about the finished results. The village setting in Dorest is very idyllic, and I could imagine it perfectly. I loved Aiden's stories about the area. Unlike Emma though I have actually heard about and seen the Cerne Abbot Giant. She didn't seem to know much about the area she had moved to. Aiden was definitely my favourite character. In this book we are reunited with Darcie, Millie's cousin from The Christmas Little Village Bakery book. She has quite a big role in this book. You don't need to have read that book though to enjoy the Honeymoon Station book. It is set in a similar area though. I definitely think that there could be a sequel to this book, I hope that there will be. The ending did feel a little rushed. It would also be great to see how the Hotel and characters were getting along. This is a lovely feel-good book. Easy and quick to read. I really enjoyed reading this book. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do when you have a job you hate, but need to hold on to? And what about that boyfriend who gives you more grieve than you can handle and treats you like the servant? Would you stay and see your happiness slip through your fingers or would you put you first and make a u-turn?

Honeymoon Station… This must be the most romantic sounding destination people can travel to. It has a luxurious sound to it too in my opinion, but it’s nothing more than a cute, quiet little village. Maybe that’s just what the doctor ordered to put your mind at ease again.

You have a new challenge to look forward to and you really want it to succeed. Romance is the last thing on your mind. When Cupid decides to interfere, you can struggle and fight him, but eventually you understand that he really looks out for you this time and gives you a man worth his weight in gold.

The main character is Emma. She always has put other people’s wishes and needs first until she decides enough is enough. When she feels like when some people still treat her like she doesn’t matter, she’s hurt and that’s totally understandable, but sometimes I have the feeling she does not see the good around here either because she is too busy protecting herself. Once she let’s go a bit more, things start to change as well.

I really enjoyed this story. It’s slow paced in the beginning, but it picks up afterwards. 4 stars

Thank you, Tilly Tennant and Bookouture

[Steph Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tilly Tennant books always warm my heart.
A really gorgeous story which I devoured over a rainy weekend. It drew me in and I couldn’t put it down.
Emma had lost her Mum when she was little and had been caring for everyone ever since rather than thinking of number one. Her little sister was off to pastures new with a new dream job and Emma had always felt like the boring one with her mundane job and sponging boyfriend. A chance meeting with an old schoolfriend sparks a chain of events that takes her to Dorset.
The blurb tells you it’s to turn the old station into a hotel, but my gosh it was a huge project.
The girls rent a cottage in the delightful village of Honeymoon. It really is a beautiful setting and I imagined I was there with them. Some contractors let them down and a couple of local brothers step in to help out. The pace of life is slower than back home, and there is so much work to do. Aiden, one of the brothers, is on friendly terms with Emma and they go on some lovely strolls around the area where he tells her tall stories from the past. She’s never quite sure whether they’re true or not though!
It really is a lovely book, with great village characters and lovely friends.
I thoroughly recommend it.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma feels at a crossroads in her life when she realsies she hates her job and her fiance is no good. A chance meeting with an old school friend leads her to take a leap of faith and dump Dougie and her life to invest in a hotel renovation. A friendship soon emerges with her builder Aiden but will romance blossom too...?
The Hotel at Honeymoon Station is a sweet and heart warming book about seizing life's chances and persevering in the face of trouble.
Emma is a lovely lead character. Her little sister has always been the focus on the family after their mum died giving birth to her and now she is heading off for an adventure so Emma feels it is also her time to think about her own wants and needs. I felt so angry at how shockingly Dougie treats her and was willing her to dump him and find someone worthy of her love.
Emma and Tia move to Honeymoon to renovate the station into a hotel but this is fraught with problems. Their builders let them down and some of the locals protest against the likely tourist influx. Tia jumps headfirst into bed with new builder Blake but Emma slowly begins to heal her heart with the help of Aiden. I enjoyed the little nuances to their friendship especially the legends and tales about the local area which also serve to bring the setting to life.
The Hotel at Honeymoon Station is a warm and uplifting book that will make you smile.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tilly Tennant writes the sweetest books. She is great at creating an atmosphere that anyone would like to live in. In The Hotel at Honeymoon StationThe Hotel at Honeymoon Station, Emma runs into old high school acquaintance Tia, who is just coming off a divorce. Similarly, Emma is in a terrible relationship and is miserable at her job. She has almost spent a good portion of time comparing herself and sacrificing herself for her little sister. Tia is thinking about restoring this old station in Dorset and Emma decides to throw caution to the wind and joins her. Of course, the villagers aren't happy when newcomers come to town! The ladies meet two handymen brothers and they hit it off with their perspective matches. There is an accident on the job site and Emma is faced with some news and a decision to make!
This was a lovely read that was heartwarming and made me a little jealous because I love renovations and fresh starts!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for the ARC ebook!

[Emma Star Crossed Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to bookouture for my copy of this book via netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. I have been a fan of Tilly’s writing for many years and I always look forward to new book.

Emma is pretty fed up with life. Everyone around her is getting what they want but she is stuck in this job she hates, with a fiance who only thinks about himself. I did find Emma to be a bit frustrating. She let Dougie treat her like a doormat and constantly made excuses for him. He didn’t deserve her and she should have ditched him a long time ago. The same thing in her job. She let her boss walk all over her. It was hard to see her have no self worth. It was so lovely to see the Emma after she ditched Dougie and her job.

I loved Tilly’s descriptions of Honeymoon, it sounds like a lovely place to go on holiday to. I also loved the way Emma and Aiden’s relationship built. The book was about more than romance though. It was about Emma realising her own self worth and not being afraid to get what she wants.

This is a real feel good book that will leave you smiling and longing for a trip to the countryside.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of Tilly's books, I always look forward to reading her new ones as and when they come out. I loved the cover for this one, so quaint like and very appealing.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this heartfelt story, getting to know all of the characters being Emma, Tia, Aidan and Blake and seeing where each of their stories takes them. There is a hint of romance/flirting throughout the story but there's also plenty of other stuff/dramas going on as well. It really was a light hearted and entertaining read from start to finish.

The setting/location being the sleepy village of Honeymoon in Dorset Countryside sounded highly idyllic and beautiful, albeit being somewhat remote for me, I’d happily visit there but couldn’t live there. Everyone was just so friendly and welcoming, well apart from the character of Sid, I’ll say no more on him know as wouldn’t want to let any spoilers loose.

The whole storyplot, the characters and everything about this book was very well written, which is no surprise as author Tilly never fails to deliver. Having read a few of her books to date, I can very much vouch for that. Just love her books.

[Lyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like a breathing space where the protagonist escaped from her old life to enter something new. She's like entering a new chapter of her life and this time, she's doind it for herself and not for others.

Emma spent her whole life caring for her dad and younger sister. She did not have much time to put herself first. Her family is always the first priority. Even her so-called fiancé, took advantage from her. Dorset is a good choice for her. I even searched the place to get my mind started with imagining the place while reading it.

The Hotel at Honeymoon Station is something much more than a romance novel. It is about finding your true happiness and living your best life. It has a huge message about caring for yourself and it is not being selfish. Self-love is what is best. Love yourself first.

Overall, this book is really great. A quick read. And a lot of other amazing characters that made this book feel so much complete!