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Finding Hope at Hillside Farm

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From the bestselling British author comes a sweet small town tale of friendship, love, and second chances…Ella runs an equine therapy centre in the peaceful and isolated countryside. Hiding out in the hills with her horses and her aunt for company means she can forget the tragedy in her past. She's got a small, safe life, and that's how she likes it - until one day a little girl called Hope walks into her life.Jenny has come to the countryside with her husband and her grand-daughter, Hope. Grieving the loss of her daughter, her husband Lou's health is a worry, and she hopes that a peaceful break living far from the stresses of his job will give them much-needed time together.

Single dad Harry is struggling to come to terms with his loss. It's easier to throw himself into work and leave his daughter Hope in the capable hands of her grandparents. He's dubious when he hears she's spending time with an equine therapist...As Ella helps Hope and a reluctant Harry to come to terms with their loss, she realises that she too deserves happiness. But is it too late to find it?An emotional, heart-warming tale of love, loss, and hope by Rachael Lucas, internationally bestselling author of the Applemore series.Note for Finding Hope at Hillside Farm is a standalone, clean, small town women's fiction novel. Full of family and friendship with a cast of characters you'll love, just like every Rachael Lucas novel, it has a delightful Happy Ever After.

433 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 17, 2021

533 people are currently reading
473 people want to read

About the author

Rachael Lucas

26 books561 followers
Rachael Lucas has written 15 novels for adults and teenagers, including the Carnegie nominated THE STATE OF GRACE, the top ten bestseller SEALED WITH A KISS and many more. She is also the author (as Rosie Curtis) of sweet holiday romance We Met in December, an Amazon Editors' Pick. Her novels have been translated into many languages, including Korean, Hungarian, Italian, Turkish, French, German, Latvian, Estonian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and more.

Sign up for Rachael's newsletter at rachaellucas.com, and find her on Facebook at facebook.com/rachaellucaswriter for behind the scenes news and updates.

Rachael lives by the seaside in the north west of England with her family and two very enthusiastic spaniels. When she's not writing at the kitchen table with a coffee by her side, she's out walking the dogs on the beach or the nearby pinewoods. She's a huge Kindle fan - her ten year old self would have been over the moon to be able to carry a whole library around in her pocket - and a lover of sweet, romantic, small town stories, which is exactly what she likes to write. She's a big Hallmark movie fan, wanted to be Anne of Green Gables when she was growing up, and Jo March was her literary heroine. (She still is.)

Rachael's books are full of warmth and gentle humour, as well as beautiful small town settings which give her readers an escape from everyday. Rachael has been described as having "a gift for capturing complex emotion and both romantic and platonic intimacy" and writing which "exudes positivity and warmth" which has received starred reviews in Publisher's Weekly. The British Guardian called her "honest, romantic and hilarious". Her teenage boys think she's a bit disorganised, and that she forgets to cook dinner when she's writing. (Luckily they don't get to leave a review.)



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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
Profile Image for Anindita ლ.
227 reviews122 followers
October 6, 2022
This is one of the most endearing stories I've ever read. The book contains what I was looking for.

I won't go into detail since I don't like spoilers, but this is a lovely story about Ella, who uses horses for equestrian therapy but for people, and a young child named Hope who needs the horses. It's a heartwarming tale, faith, let go of the past, and forgiveness.

Each and every one of the characters is appealing and entirely relatable. A narrative with strong character development centered on realistically damaged individuals who desperately need mending.

Of course, there is the village community that is welcomed in such a spot, and that is woven throughout the primary plot. It seems as though you belong to them.

The reader turns pages after pages in anticipation of what will happen next as a result of the plot's steady pacing, steady unraveling of the character's complex inner concerns, and slow-burning pace.

The wording is lighthearted and humorous, but it contains deep meaning. It resembles visiting an elderly neighbor and having a conversation.

Overall, I couldn't put down this fantastic book. Despite the plot's predictability, I was greatly affected by the author's ability to seamlessly integrate each artwork into the narrative.

An ideal book to read when you need something to cheer you up or when you're feeling a little down.
Profile Image for Zoe.
2,371 reviews335 followers
March 14, 2019
Warm, poignant, and delightfully entertaining!

Finding Hope at Hillside Farm is a sweet, charming story about accepting the things you cannot change, letting go of the past, forgiving one’s self, and embracing the future.

The writing is well turned and fluid. The characters are flawed, lovable, and genuine. And the plot is a heartfelt, alluring tale of heartache, loss, grief, guilt, hope, friendship, family, forgiveness, courage, community, second-chance romance, and the healing power of animals.

Overall, Finding Hope at Hillside Farm is more than I ever expected. It’s an effortless, uplifting, beautiful tale by Lucas that reminds us that life is truly precious and should always be lived to the fullest.

Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Rachel Gilbey.
3,361 reviews570 followers
January 27, 2019
It has been ages since there has been a new Rachael Lucas book (well I haven't read the YA ones, I'm afraid), and its such a joy to be able to read another wonderful story from this author.

Previously before this book I had heard of animal therapy and apart from dogs, I hadn't really thought about any other animals with therapeutic qualities. But seeing how Ella works with the horses and the people that come to her for equine therapy, I'm sold on the thought that horses can do a lot more for a person, than just be ridden.

I loved Hillside Farm and what Ella is achieving with these horses. I loved seeing how she was moving out of her comfort zone to build the business while her aunt Bron is in Australia.

In the small Welsh village that Ella lives in, Jenny and Leo are renting a cottage with their 8 year old granddaughter Hope.

Hope is horse mad, has been through a tough time, and although Ella previously hadn't been working with children, she can't disappoint Hope and starts to work with her. However nothing is as simple as it seems and Hope's father Harry, is a rather interesting character.

I was also curious to discover just what had driven Ella to live in such a remote location, and the pasts of all the key players are fascinating.

This has a lovely feel to the story, its uplifting, its heartwarming, there are horses, character development and they are all really likeable and relatable to. Set in a picturesque location, this is a really great book that I could barely put down, I was whizzing through the pages and couldn't believe how fast I was getting through the book. Utterly absorbing and I wish I could meet all of Elle's horses.

Thank you to Pan MacMillan and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Profile Image for Anitajt.
491 reviews7 followers
February 2, 2019
You don’t have to be a lover of horses to enjoy this book. A truly lovely tale of past love, grief and hope.
Profile Image for thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books).
2,811 reviews117 followers
January 12, 2019
I love Rachael Lucas (gushes hugely) I am completely biased and would 100% read her shopping list if she published it ! Her work to me is pure joy and I devour them in one go, they should be prescribed on the NHS. This is a beautiful story about Ella who works with horses with equine therapy but for people and a little girl Hope who needs the horses, I won’t go into detail as don’t like spoilers, but it’s a story about love, hope, letting go of the past and forgiveness. This book is beautiful, all the characters are completely relatable and likeable. The writing is like coming home to an old friend. I just get sad when I finish them as it’ll be ages before another book !
Profile Image for Pat Langhelt.
1,107 reviews14 followers
May 11, 2019
Lovely story and hope is always there if you find it.
Profile Image for Linniegayl.
1,367 reviews32 followers
July 25, 2025
The book got off to a slow start for me, as we bounced back and forth between varying POV. There were also a lot of flashbacks to the events leading up to everyone’s past tragedies. I could’ve done with fewer flashbacks, and more in the present. And by almost the halfway point our hero and heroine hadn’t even met. If you’re looking for straight romance this won’t be the book for you. But if you like women’s fiction, this might work.

The alternating POV comes from three people: Ella, Jenny, and Harry. Ella is still recovering 10 years later from a horrific accident that changed her life. Ella now runs a horse therapy school in a remote village in Wales. Harry’s life was disrupted about five years ago when his wife died of cancer, and he was left with a young daughter. Jenny, Harry’s mother-in-law, is trying desperately to keep her family together, while still grieving for her daughter (Harry’s wife), and dealing with her husband’s massive heart attack. Jenny decides it would be a good idea to move her husband, herself, and Hope (Harry’s daughter) to Wales for six-months.

Slowly, we learn more about everyone life, as well as more about the tiny Welch village. These were good people struggling with some very major issues. There were some surprises I didn’t see coming. Ultimately I enjoyed the end, and would love to see more of the village, and to revisit some of these characters.


Profile Image for Kelly Hunter.
53 reviews
February 19, 2019
The perfect comfort romance book. Slow to start but the author was clever by planting the seed of what happens in the book in the blurb and so you give it time and before you know it you're hooked and staying up till midnight to finish the book. Lovely story, full of hardships and complicated emotions, situations and of course romance! Makes you want to go live in the Welsh countryside.
Profile Image for Jessica Gilmore.
Author 269 books88 followers
February 10, 2019
So, so charming. A gorgeous romantic read about pain, loss and second chances. Loved every word.
Profile Image for Sarah Barrett.
21 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2020
This book was very easy to read and enjoyable, and it was light without lacking substance. There were lots of amusing bits and cosy details, but the story also covers serious topics such as grief and mental health. I felt it balanced both elements well. Everything about equine therapy and the care of horses was really interesting (I definitely went through a horse phase as a kid!) and it felt well-researched.
Profile Image for Joanne D'Arcy.
749 reviews60 followers
January 13, 2019
Ella works with horses on her Aunt Bron's farm in the Welsh countryside. It is a haven for Ella who having always worked horses retreated to Bron's farm when tragedy struck. Now Ella spends her days healing others through the power of therapy with the horses.

When she spots a small child watching her through the trees, she at first thinks she has seen some sort of ghost, but in fact it is Hope, a young girl who has lost her mother, living with her grandparents and a fairly absent father who has moved to the area. She is fascinated by the horses and when she finally gets up close to them, they change not just Hope's life but also Ella's.

Ella might well be settled but she is still hiding from the past - and someone from that past. When he turns back up in Ella's life it seems that perhaps the past is still very much the present.

This is a wonderfully gentle novel, dealing with life changing issues in a kind way. Whilst the story gets going, it seems we are simply watching Ella's life and her work with this equine therapy.  Then there is Hope's story as she comes to the village to live with her grandparents, the formidable Jenny and laid back Lou. There is of course the village community which is embraced within such a place and that is threaded through the main storyline. Of course the clues are there and I did spot the link between the two stories.

I had to keep simply reading because I wanted to know how it was all going to weave together and whether the outcome was the right one for the characters that I had invested time in. Of course I am not going to tell you what the outcome is - or whether it was the right one. You will have to read the book yourself to find that out!

This book needs a sequel as I want to go back to Hillside Farm.
Profile Image for Shiva Patel.
447 reviews3 followers
May 8, 2020
Finding hope at Hillside farm is a lovely story by Rachael Lucas.
Ella has lived at Hillside Farm in Wales with her aunt Bron since her Dad died in an accident.
Ella lost her mum when she was young so she was lost when her Dad died suddenly.
After a few years, Ella started an equine therapy business to help others work through their fears.
Jenny and Lou and their granddaughter, Hope move close by to Ella to a holiday cottage. Jenny wanted a lifestyle change following Lou’s health scare. Hope lost her mum to cancer so lives with her grandparents and Dad, Harry.
Ella is curious by the horses and wants to see them.
Jenny agrees to let Hope start therapy with the horses after seeing how happy she is.
Will Hope start to find peace and will Harry be able to find time to spend with his daughter..
A charming story of hope and the wonder of horses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
360 reviews
April 2, 2019
I loved this book.
The majority of this story revolves around the struggling stables at Hillside Farm, in Wales, run by Ella & her aunt Bron. These are not your usual riding stables. These are run as equine assisted psychotherapy stables. Where working with the horses, help people with psychological problems.
Ella has problems of her own & a past she'd like to forget.
Also the storyline concerns a small girl called Hope, her father Harry & grandparents Jenny & Lou, who have temporarily moved to Wales for 6 months, to give Lou a chance to recuperate after heart surgery.
The family become friends with Ella & Hope loves to be with the horses.
There is a twist to the story.
Profile Image for Paula Nichols.
503 reviews3 followers
June 7, 2022
This did what it said on the tin, so to speak. The story of Ella, Harry, Hope and Jenny is well written and the stories weave together nicely. As an ex horse owner, I have fallen off too many times to remember, and also remember the pull of wanting to ride when not able to. Because of that, I can totally understand Ella's hesitancy getting back into the saddle (literally speaking!). The idea of equine therapy is a new one to me, but horses are magical creatures so can see how they can be used for healing too.

I didn't see the twist, but it was a fitting twist. And, of course, there is the obligatory happy ending all round!
Profile Image for Katey Lovell.
Author 27 books94 followers
June 2, 2019
A heart-warming read with an original plot, Finding Hope at Hillside Farm is a novel about how moving forward in life means finding peace with your past. I adore books with well-written children at their centre, and Hope was a great character. The equine therapy setting is something I've never come across before and as someone who's never been 'horsey' I wasn't sure if it would be for me, but the warm Welsh setting and the joy a love of animals can bring shone through and well and truly won me over! A lovely read.
Profile Image for Janette.
442 reviews
August 31, 2019
I really enjoyed this delightful, easy to read novel set in the welsh countryside. Well written this is a story of relationships, friendship, love, new beginnings, forgiveness, letting go of the past, romance, and the difference animals can make to your life.

Beautifully written with likeable engaging characters, I highly recommend this book. Poignant and heartwarming.

A perfect summer holiday read or for a wet afternoon on the sofa.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
2 reviews
June 22, 2019
Loved this book.

This is a wonderful story of hope for everyone, that just because something bad had happened in the past it doesn't mean that life won't get better as time goes by. Wales has that effect on people, a different pace of life in a new area brings joy to everyone.
Rachel has captured this perfectly.
Just the book to read when you're feeling a bit low and needing something to lift you're spirits.
Profile Image for Zoe.
352 reviews3 followers
August 12, 2021
This is my third Rachael Lucas book in recent months and I have to say that I really do love them. They are such a cosy comfort romance to sit down and enjoy. I related quite a lot to various aspects of this story, most particularly the power of horses when it comes to healing, something I truly do believe in. It did take a me a bit of time to get into the book and I also felt like it ended slightly abruptly so not perfect but a very enjoyable read!
116 reviews
January 18, 2023
Very good reading

I have really enjoyed all of Rachel Lucas as books! This one took longer to enthralle me because it started with brief chapters about a number of people with no apparent connection. As their stories begin to be braided together, it was very hard to put down, just as the other books had been. Even though it started more slowly, I recommend you stay with it because it is so worth it. Thank you, Rachel Lucas!
Profile Image for Julie C-F.
434 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2019
No tears from me here but the story is heartwarming. It is about second chances, in more ways than one.

It is about facing one's fears and making these help one make informed decisions and choices and be a better person.

Equine therapy is something new for me, and I think, on a smaller scale, dpg or cat therapy would work well with the chidlren with special needs that I work with.
Profile Image for Ann.
526 reviews
August 21, 2020
Another great read from Rachael Lucas. This time we are in Wales. Great to read a book that's different (no tea shops, beaches!!)
You are soon drawn in by the story and the characters and there are a few twists and turns.
If anything the ending seemed a but rushed but it didn't detract from my enjoyment.
7 reviews
January 29, 2024
I thoroughly enjoy reading Rachael Lucas' books. The stories have made me feel like family, especially the series which continue with the same town and characters.
However, I have not continued to read them because I just had my fill of repeated alcohol use in every book. It gives the impression that alcohol is the solution to dealing with or feeling better with every little crisis. Sorry!
Profile Image for Dee.
113 reviews11 followers
May 11, 2024
I love horses so I was so ready to read this book! It’s a heart warming story about Ella who lives on a farm with her aunt and dealing with grief. She uses equine therapy which I love to help others, especially Hope, a little girl that comes across her way. I wouldn’t say this book is mind blowing but I did enjoy it generally.
Profile Image for Sally Crosiar.
Author 7 books39 followers
July 14, 2025
I liked the horses and the girl. Was it predictable? Yes, once nicknames were clear. Was the second- chance love story perhaps too easy after so much trauma? It seemed so to me. Note to Ms. Lucas. Check your names again all the way through the book. On one page, you gave the name 'Grace' to the girl we'd come to know as 'Hope.'
512 reviews2 followers
October 26, 2025
Learning about horses

I'm not a horse person but in all this was A great read! This is a short tale of divorce marriage and long lost love with the end of a modern world with Bron being a surprise ending. I loved how they worked horses and were great about including all the reason they did what they did. Great read.
Brom.
Profile Image for Colin Bell.
1,067 reviews13 followers
February 11, 2019
Ella sets up an equine therapy practice at her aunt's farm in Wales to help overcome her own personal tragedy.
Harryvs daughter, Hope, is brought along to try to help her overcome her issues.
An enjoyable story from a new to me author.
Profile Image for Christine A.
46 reviews
January 6, 2022
Good story

I enjoyed the story but nearly didn't read it as there were some errors, especially one big one near the beginning but that is me!! I think I have some weird thing going on 😂. It is a nice good feel easy to read book!
1,239 reviews6 followers
March 21, 2024
Wonderful

This is a beautiful story of second chances. I absolutely loved this book. The characters are realistic and very friendly, I enjoy the village and the close knit group they shared. This story is uplifting and inspiring. You're going to love it. As always happy reading
Profile Image for Amelia Jane.
32 reviews
August 23, 2025
I really thoroughly enjoyed every single second of this book, l loved every single this about it the grief, the relationships and just how it ends, it’s an amazing book set in wales which I love being Welsh myself
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews

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