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Coming Up Roses
Escape with this delightful small town tale full of friendship, love and self-discovery...Starting again is never easy, especially when you're nursing a broken heart. Escaping to a cute little English village, gardener Daisy finds two close girlfriends who take her mind off her own problems. Jo's hiding a secret, and Elaine's social-media-perfect lifestyle isn't everything it looks online.Cheered on by lonely octogenarian Thomas, she sets about renovating her parents' cottage garden - and the attentions of handsome construction boss George aren't unwelcome. Oh, and there's handsome veterinarian, Ned, who seems to pop up whenever she turns around.Daisy's life seems to be coming up roses - until she discovers that the garden she's worked so hard on is under threat and she starts to wonder about George's real motives.Packed with charm and a cast of characters you'll fall in love with - Coming Up Roses is a standalone novel from the bestselling author of the much-loved Auchenmor and Applemore series.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2021
320 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Lucas
26 books562 followersRachael 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.)
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 119 reviews
May 27, 2015
4.5 - Time - and a spot of gardening - heal most things. Stars!
There is one thing for me that I know is guaranteed when I pick up a book by Rachael Lucas, and that is I will immediately feel at home. Her books are warm, welcoming and have a familiarity about them that pulls you in and makes you feel like you are a part of the story.
Daisy, her escapades and adventures, not to mention the people she meets while staying at her parent’s house in the village of Steeple St. John are just a lovely, heart-warming, entertaining and charming read. I loved old Thomas, and the time they spent together putting her parent’s garden back to rights, and the friendships she made with Elaine and Jo along the way.
Her gradual incorporation into village life through the coercion into various clubs and committees as well as being forcibly volunteered into helping at village events along the way just kept the smile on my face and the giggles bubbling away.
My only niggle, I wish the guy she eventually ends up with, had more of a ‘romantic’ role in the overall fabric of the story rather than literally just popping into the foray as love interest right at the end. But as you can tell from my rating it is a really small niggle!
I look forward to seeing where the author is going to take me next; we have travelled to Scotland together, and now spent time in a sleepy English village… Ireland and Wales are still up for exploration, although to be honest, I think the Rachael could tell me a story that takes place in a Tesco car park and I would fall in love with it just as hard.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, it was an absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
There is one thing for me that I know is guaranteed when I pick up a book by Rachael Lucas, and that is I will immediately feel at home. Her books are warm, welcoming and have a familiarity about them that pulls you in and makes you feel like you are a part of the story.
Daisy, her escapades and adventures, not to mention the people she meets while staying at her parent’s house in the village of Steeple St. John are just a lovely, heart-warming, entertaining and charming read. I loved old Thomas, and the time they spent together putting her parent’s garden back to rights, and the friendships she made with Elaine and Jo along the way.
Her gradual incorporation into village life through the coercion into various clubs and committees as well as being forcibly volunteered into helping at village events along the way just kept the smile on my face and the giggles bubbling away.
My only niggle, I wish the guy she eventually ends up with, had more of a ‘romantic’ role in the overall fabric of the story rather than literally just popping into the foray as love interest right at the end. But as you can tell from my rating it is a really small niggle!
I look forward to seeing where the author is going to take me next; we have travelled to Scotland together, and now spent time in a sleepy English village… Ireland and Wales are still up for exploration, although to be honest, I think the Rachael could tell me a story that takes place in a Tesco car park and I would fall in love with it just as hard.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, it was an absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
May 3, 2015
When her parents decide to go on a gap year in their retirement years they ask her to look after the house and get the garden in shape. After a traumatic break up- she relishes the chance to hide away in the little village. But eventually she realises that she needs friends around her. An unlikely friend comes in the form of the old gardener who looked after many of the village gardens.
She also makes 2 friends, Jo and Elaine. Elaine is the headmasters wife and Jo is a counsellor at the school. They are all looking for friends - so their friendship blossoms.
As she gets to grips with the garden she settles well into village life, even agreeing to go to local meetings and judging at the annual village show.
Are her friends as happy as they seem, is her new 'beau' everything he seems to be?
This was such a lovely read- you felt a part of the village and got to know all the locals.
She also makes 2 friends, Jo and Elaine. Elaine is the headmasters wife and Jo is a counsellor at the school. They are all looking for friends - so their friendship blossoms.
As she gets to grips with the garden she settles well into village life, even agreeing to go to local meetings and judging at the annual village show.
Are her friends as happy as they seem, is her new 'beau' everything he seems to be?
This was such a lovely read- you felt a part of the village and got to know all the locals.
December 27, 2015
Lovely rural romance in the tradition of Trisha Ashley and Katie Fforde. Daisy moves in to her parents' house to escape her cheating ex and rebuild her life while she revives their overgrown garden. But will she be forced to leave the village just as she's beginning to put down roots?
March 12, 2020
Lovely story and easy reading xx
October 3, 2017
If you take a look above, you can see a sky full of raised eyebrows.
If you look down, there are a lot of accidentally exposed toned male body parts.
'Coming up Roses' started pretty nice. This whole concept of garden-sitting and making new friends in a new town etc. was very refreshing. The love-part wasn't too obvious at all, which is always a good thing.
I'm not sure why, but unfortunately I kind of lost interest in the story towards the last third or something and I barely picked it up and read anything in days.
I finally did make my way through the rest and I have to say that the ending was really lovely.
If you look down, there are a lot of accidentally exposed toned male body parts.
'Coming up Roses' started pretty nice. This whole concept of garden-sitting and making new friends in a new town etc. was very refreshing. The love-part wasn't too obvious at all, which is always a good thing.
I'm not sure why, but unfortunately I kind of lost interest in the story towards the last third or something and I barely picked it up and read anything in days.
I finally did make my way through the rest and I have to say that the ending was really lovely.
March 19, 2015
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
When Daisy's parents decide to take some time out to travel the world, she is more than happy to house sit their home, Orchard Villa, in the quiet village of Steeple St John. Hit hard by a recent break up, Daisy is looking forward to tackling her parents' out of control garden and spending some quality time with a tub of ice cream and a box set of her favourite TV show.
But Daisy's idealistic image of the town doesn't quite match up to reality. The villagers are busy preparing for Open Gardens and the neglected garden of Orchard Villa doesn't fit the picturesque vision her neighbours have of the area, so they make sure to let Daisy know at every available opportunity that she better spruce things up before the event kicks off.
Add to that a blossoming romance when Daisy wasn't looking for another relationship quite so soon, and pestering developers wanting to buy up the house she had so quickly fallen in love with, and Daisy's hope for some peace in a remote village turns out to be anything but that.
With BBC's The Big Allotment Challenge having just aired its second series and Cathy Bramley's Ivy Lane hitting the shelves in paperback, gardening has shrugged off its somewhat stuffy image, and rightfully so; when we're still knee-deep in frosty weather the thought of catching the first rays of sunshine while pottering about with beautiful bouquets of colourful flowers and delicious home-grown vegetables paints a picturesque image.
Author Rachael Lucas manages to make that idealistic picture even more appealing as main character Daisy in Coming Up Roses transforms her parents' garden from an overgrown thorn in the eye of the village to a gorgeous sanctuary. The luscious descriptions of her hard work, helped by an elderly neighbour who landscaped the garden all those years ago, bring the flora alive on the pages and will have even the most hesitant gardener wanting to dig their fingers deep into the ground.
And while this is foremost the story of Daisy, I also quickly fell in love with her two new friends, Jo and Elaine. The trio couldn't be more different yet they quickly bond over a common feeling of loneliness and I could really resonate with their instant strong friendship. Elaine's story was particularly gripping; from the troubles in her marriage to the dedication to her lifestyle blog – she manages to turn what could be just a page filled with pretty pictures and captions into a popular and successful website, which is the dream of many bloggers.
From the funny opening pages, where Daisy and Elaine meet in an unexpected way that had me in a giggle fit before the story had even truly started, I was charmed by this cosy novel. The sweet tale of starting over – filled with the joy of making new friends and bumping into some gorgeous men to boot – makes a delightful read, perfect to curl up with on a lazy afternoon.
When Daisy's parents decide to take some time out to travel the world, she is more than happy to house sit their home, Orchard Villa, in the quiet village of Steeple St John. Hit hard by a recent break up, Daisy is looking forward to tackling her parents' out of control garden and spending some quality time with a tub of ice cream and a box set of her favourite TV show.
But Daisy's idealistic image of the town doesn't quite match up to reality. The villagers are busy preparing for Open Gardens and the neglected garden of Orchard Villa doesn't fit the picturesque vision her neighbours have of the area, so they make sure to let Daisy know at every available opportunity that she better spruce things up before the event kicks off.
Add to that a blossoming romance when Daisy wasn't looking for another relationship quite so soon, and pestering developers wanting to buy up the house she had so quickly fallen in love with, and Daisy's hope for some peace in a remote village turns out to be anything but that.
With BBC's The Big Allotment Challenge having just aired its second series and Cathy Bramley's Ivy Lane hitting the shelves in paperback, gardening has shrugged off its somewhat stuffy image, and rightfully so; when we're still knee-deep in frosty weather the thought of catching the first rays of sunshine while pottering about with beautiful bouquets of colourful flowers and delicious home-grown vegetables paints a picturesque image.
Author Rachael Lucas manages to make that idealistic picture even more appealing as main character Daisy in Coming Up Roses transforms her parents' garden from an overgrown thorn in the eye of the village to a gorgeous sanctuary. The luscious descriptions of her hard work, helped by an elderly neighbour who landscaped the garden all those years ago, bring the flora alive on the pages and will have even the most hesitant gardener wanting to dig their fingers deep into the ground.
And while this is foremost the story of Daisy, I also quickly fell in love with her two new friends, Jo and Elaine. The trio couldn't be more different yet they quickly bond over a common feeling of loneliness and I could really resonate with their instant strong friendship. Elaine's story was particularly gripping; from the troubles in her marriage to the dedication to her lifestyle blog – she manages to turn what could be just a page filled with pretty pictures and captions into a popular and successful website, which is the dream of many bloggers.
From the funny opening pages, where Daisy and Elaine meet in an unexpected way that had me in a giggle fit before the story had even truly started, I was charmed by this cosy novel. The sweet tale of starting over – filled with the joy of making new friends and bumping into some gorgeous men to boot – makes a delightful read, perfect to curl up with on a lazy afternoon.
December 27, 2016
Daisy loves being outside and she doesn't regret her decision to retrain as a gardener at all. Unfortunately after a bad relationship she has nowhere to go, so when her parents leave their home to travel the world they allow her to stay in their villa. In exchange she'll take care of the garden. Steeple St John is a beautiful countryside village and Daisy loves being there. She doesn't know anyone yet when she arrives, but that soon changes when she meets Elaine and Jo. They soon become very good friends. Daisy also meets a friendly fellow gardener. Thomas is a pensioner who's worked on many gardens in the village. Daisy can learn a lot from him and Thomas shows her around. Soon the village starts to feel like home. Only village life isn't as quiet as Daisy thought it would be. Handsome men and issues with her parents are making her life pretty difficult...
Coming Up Roses is a wonderful, cozy book. I immediately loved Daisy. She's sweet and generous, a thoroughly good person. Sometimes she's also a little bit naïve, which leads to funny incidents. I love Rachael Lucas's subtle sense of humor. Because of Daisy's kindness the story is warm and comforting. Daisy likes to be outside and she spends a lot of her time with her hands in the earth. She doesn't think her appearance is elegant enough, but it comes with the job. Her friend Elaine is the exact opposite. Only being perfect doesn't automatically mean being happy. Elaine has everything, but she also carries a big secret. I couldn't wait to find out more about her. Then there's Jo who has a great daughter and a good job. She's down to earth and easy to talk to. She has her own problems though. There are some issues of her past that need to be resolved. Together the three friends can deal with a lot and that was amazing to witness.
Coming Up Roses has character. It's sweet and fun, but it also has a serious side. The story is well balanced. Steeple St John is a dream village to live in. It's a lovely romantic place and there are two gorgeous men who are in Daisy's thoughts. The question is if Daisy will find her mister right after all and I really liked the ending. For me the story worked so well because of what Daisy believes in. The people she loves and her passion for gardening are very important. She actively chases the things she wants in life. It's important to make your own dreams come true, which is a fantastic message. Coming Up Roses is a joy to read, it's a heartwarming story with a lot of character.
Coming Up Roses is a wonderful, cozy book. I immediately loved Daisy. She's sweet and generous, a thoroughly good person. Sometimes she's also a little bit naïve, which leads to funny incidents. I love Rachael Lucas's subtle sense of humor. Because of Daisy's kindness the story is warm and comforting. Daisy likes to be outside and she spends a lot of her time with her hands in the earth. She doesn't think her appearance is elegant enough, but it comes with the job. Her friend Elaine is the exact opposite. Only being perfect doesn't automatically mean being happy. Elaine has everything, but she also carries a big secret. I couldn't wait to find out more about her. Then there's Jo who has a great daughter and a good job. She's down to earth and easy to talk to. She has her own problems though. There are some issues of her past that need to be resolved. Together the three friends can deal with a lot and that was amazing to witness.
Coming Up Roses has character. It's sweet and fun, but it also has a serious side. The story is well balanced. Steeple St John is a dream village to live in. It's a lovely romantic place and there are two gorgeous men who are in Daisy's thoughts. The question is if Daisy will find her mister right after all and I really liked the ending. For me the story worked so well because of what Daisy believes in. The people she loves and her passion for gardening are very important. She actively chases the things she wants in life. It's important to make your own dreams come true, which is a fantastic message. Coming Up Roses is a joy to read, it's a heartwarming story with a lot of character.
May 5, 2015
Daisy's parents announce that they are travelling around Asia, when she turns up un-announced on their doorstep, following a bad break up. They allow Daisy to house sit while they are gone, and to look after the neglected garden that used to be beautiful. As Daisy is nursing a broken heart, she really doesn't want to make friends, or get into village life in Steeple St John, but yet it all creeps up on her.
Daisy meets Elaine, after soaking her with a hose, while she was passing by. Elaine is a blogger that exhibits everything to do with a perfect life, with home made food, and everything looking spic and span. Elaine offers Daisy an invite to a get together at her house which Daisy goes along to reluctantly.
During the get-together she meets Jo. Jo is a single mother to Martha who is 14, and is the school counsellor, where Elaine's husband Leo works. Before long Elaine, Daisy and Jo become firm friends.
Daisy also becomes friends with Thomas, an old man, who used to do the gardens not only at Orchard Villa, but also all over the village. I loved the friendship between Thomas and Daisy, as well as seeing all of Daisy's hard work in the garden.
There is of course a potential love interest in George, the dashing Irishman, who has a few surprises up his sleeve.
Coming Up Roses was an enjoyable story of village life, friendship and healing your heart. There are plenty of entertaining moments, and the differing personalities of the three girls makes for a rounded friendship group.
Elaine and Jo are both hiding secrets, which are interesting to discover, and see how they are resolved.
The interactions between Daisy and her parents (on the phone) and not completely typical parent/daughter. Her parents even from abroad manage to throw Daisy a bombshell, that could completely destroy all the progress she has been making with her heart and garden.
I really hope this won't be the last book set in Steeple St John, as its a lovely village and I think there are at least a few more characters books could be set around!
Daisy meets Elaine, after soaking her with a hose, while she was passing by. Elaine is a blogger that exhibits everything to do with a perfect life, with home made food, and everything looking spic and span. Elaine offers Daisy an invite to a get together at her house which Daisy goes along to reluctantly.
During the get-together she meets Jo. Jo is a single mother to Martha who is 14, and is the school counsellor, where Elaine's husband Leo works. Before long Elaine, Daisy and Jo become firm friends.
Daisy also becomes friends with Thomas, an old man, who used to do the gardens not only at Orchard Villa, but also all over the village. I loved the friendship between Thomas and Daisy, as well as seeing all of Daisy's hard work in the garden.
There is of course a potential love interest in George, the dashing Irishman, who has a few surprises up his sleeve.
Coming Up Roses was an enjoyable story of village life, friendship and healing your heart. There are plenty of entertaining moments, and the differing personalities of the three girls makes for a rounded friendship group.
Elaine and Jo are both hiding secrets, which are interesting to discover, and see how they are resolved.
The interactions between Daisy and her parents (on the phone) and not completely typical parent/daughter. Her parents even from abroad manage to throw Daisy a bombshell, that could completely destroy all the progress she has been making with her heart and garden.
I really hope this won't be the last book set in Steeple St John, as its a lovely village and I think there are at least a few more characters books could be set around!
May 22, 2015
*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
When Daisy’s parents go away traveling she goes house-sitting their house and also looks after the garden. It’s just what she needs after some rocky months, including a breakup. A quiet town, some gardening and TV times.
She bumps into Elaine and a bit later into Jo and the three of them become great friends. I really admired their friendship and loved how they were there for each other. Elaine and Jo got their story told as well and both of them very really emotional. Elaine dealing with her husband and enjoying blogging and Jo with her teenage daughter and the father of Martha suddenly in the picture again.
She also makes friends with other people in the town and suddenly is really busy. Thomas, an old man, becomes a close friend to her as well. I loved how he looked out for her and just wanted the best for Daisy. When her parents want to sell the house, everything gets more complicated and interesting.
Of course, there is also a potential love interest. He’s called George and is Irish, it takes a while until they start going out and it’s always a bit on the hesitant side from Daisy. I had a weird feeling about him from the start. I preferred Ned, the local vet, and I always felt that something came from his side. Well, I’m sorry, back to George, he had some surprises in for sure. Daisy’s ex Jamie turns up at one point as well. Well, who will she pick in the end?!
Steeple St John is a cute village with a lot of charm and special people. Coming Up Roses is a story of friendship, letting go, moving on, family, passion and village life. The storyline is sweet and gripping, although I felt that the pace was a bit slow at times. It’s a wonderful curl-up, feel-good book full of surprises and written beautifully. I actually hope there will be more stories set in this village and I can’t wait to read mor Rachael Lucas books for sure.
When Daisy’s parents go away traveling she goes house-sitting their house and also looks after the garden. It’s just what she needs after some rocky months, including a breakup. A quiet town, some gardening and TV times.
She bumps into Elaine and a bit later into Jo and the three of them become great friends. I really admired their friendship and loved how they were there for each other. Elaine and Jo got their story told as well and both of them very really emotional. Elaine dealing with her husband and enjoying blogging and Jo with her teenage daughter and the father of Martha suddenly in the picture again.
She also makes friends with other people in the town and suddenly is really busy. Thomas, an old man, becomes a close friend to her as well. I loved how he looked out for her and just wanted the best for Daisy. When her parents want to sell the house, everything gets more complicated and interesting.
Of course, there is also a potential love interest. He’s called George and is Irish, it takes a while until they start going out and it’s always a bit on the hesitant side from Daisy. I had a weird feeling about him from the start. I preferred Ned, the local vet, and I always felt that something came from his side. Well, I’m sorry, back to George, he had some surprises in for sure. Daisy’s ex Jamie turns up at one point as well. Well, who will she pick in the end?!
Steeple St John is a cute village with a lot of charm and special people. Coming Up Roses is a story of friendship, letting go, moving on, family, passion and village life. The storyline is sweet and gripping, although I felt that the pace was a bit slow at times. It’s a wonderful curl-up, feel-good book full of surprises and written beautifully. I actually hope there will be more stories set in this village and I can’t wait to read mor Rachael Lucas books for sure.
February 24, 2016
As I was already a fan of Rachael Lucas having read Sealed with a Kiss and Sealed with a Christmas Kiss I was excited to read this and I am thrilled to say I was not disappointed. As always the characters and locations were brilliantly described. The descriptions of the gardens in the book also had a lot of detail in them which was essential to the story and an added bonus for me as I love gardening. I could completely understand Daisy's need for a break and a change of scene to get her thoughts together and decide what she was going to do next after something happened which completely changed the path she thought she was heading down. I loved all of the characters and it was really nice to see a wide age range, from teenagers to people in their 80s, all had their own well-developed personalities and it wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination to believe that the village and the people in it are real and not fiction.
I loved this story (in case that wasn't already obvious!). I have a soft spot for tales of people deciding to do something different, take a chance on a fresh start, because what they thought their lives would be has turned out to be wrong for whatever reason. These stories tend to have women as their main characters and they are always (in the one's I've read) strong women who have been knocked down by something and are slowly getting back up again, usually ending up in position better than the one they left. I've done this myself so I know it's far from easy and while this story is not heavy it does convey some of the difficulties in starting over somewhere new which adds to the realism.
I would highly recommend both this and the authors previous works and am thrilled and excited that there is the added delight of her next book, Wildflower Bay, to look forward to in May. I can't wait!!
I loved this story (in case that wasn't already obvious!). I have a soft spot for tales of people deciding to do something different, take a chance on a fresh start, because what they thought their lives would be has turned out to be wrong for whatever reason. These stories tend to have women as their main characters and they are always (in the one's I've read) strong women who have been knocked down by something and are slowly getting back up again, usually ending up in position better than the one they left. I've done this myself so I know it's far from easy and while this story is not heavy it does convey some of the difficulties in starting over somewhere new which adds to the realism.
I would highly recommend both this and the authors previous works and am thrilled and excited that there is the added delight of her next book, Wildflower Bay, to look forward to in May. I can't wait!!
January 24, 2015
I've been lucky enough to read a proof copy of this. All I can say is you are in for a treat. It's a proper romantic page turner with a fabulous cast of characters and an endearing lead. The plot twists about enough not to be obvious and the village truly comes to life in your hands. I loved it.
June 6, 2021
Lovely read for this time of year, with the story set in a sleepy village in the height of summer. A relaxing read you can almost read without thinking.
July 9, 2023
The perfect summer read
May 13, 2017
'Coming up Roses' is about Daisy, who is, after some serious heartbreak, house-sitting her parents' house because they are off travelling the world. Daisy's a passionate gardener and falls deeply in love with the attached garden - unlike her parents.
Soon she finds herself a bunch of new friends and finally sees the good things in life again, including a certain handsome young man.
But just as Daisy thinks everything's okay again her beloved garden seems to be snatched away from her...
Ooooh I loved it. The little village where the story is set was just lovely. The people there, too. I also really liked Daisy's new friends and that they also had difficult things to deal with which were then slowly unraveled. Then there was a thing which was said in the blurb and you thought: 'Oh, I totally know how this will end!' Throughout the book you may then have discovered that you were a bit wrong. That was really nice for a change! ♥
Otherwise there's nothing negative to say. It was just very nice and lovely! I would also really love to read more about the people in the village, or Daisy for that matter. ♥
Soon she finds herself a bunch of new friends and finally sees the good things in life again, including a certain handsome young man.
But just as Daisy thinks everything's okay again her beloved garden seems to be snatched away from her...
Ooooh I loved it. The little village where the story is set was just lovely. The people there, too. I also really liked Daisy's new friends and that they also had difficult things to deal with which were then slowly unraveled. Then there was a thing which was said in the blurb and you thought: 'Oh, I totally know how this will end!' Throughout the book you may then have discovered that you were a bit wrong. That was really nice for a change! ♥
Otherwise there's nothing negative to say. It was just very nice and lovely! I would also really love to read more about the people in the village, or Daisy for that matter. ♥
June 2, 2015
Daisy, our main character, is house sitting her parent’s house, Orchard Villa, whilst they are away on an extended holiday (and also looking after Polly the elderly retriever). She has recently suffered turmoil in her own life and has nowhere else to go; she is glad of the chance for some solitude to re-assess her life and has no intention of making friends or becoming involved in village life.
Having completed a horticultural course, she is keen to make a career from gardening and is looking forward to the chance to get her parent’s vast overgrown garden into shape. Unexpected help is provided by an elderly widower, Thomas, who was responsible for many of the gardens in the village, and still has the notebooks from many years before when he looked after the garden at Orchard Villa for the previous owners. Thomas was a wonderful character, he was not above a bit of harmless mischief making and matchmaking but his wise words were a comfort to Daisy at some particularly trying moments.
Thomas is not the only friend that Daisy makes. After an incident with a hosepipe, she becomes firm friends with Elaine, the wife of a local headmaster. Elaine appears to have the perfect life, she lives in a beautiful house, is married to a handsome and successful man; she doesn’t have to work but spends her time creating visions of the perfect lifestyle for her on-line blog. However appearances can be deceptive and along with another new friend Jo, a single mother of a bolshy teenager, Daisy discovers that everyone has their problems. One of the aspects that worked so well were the supportive friendships that were formed.
The village of Steeple St John plays a huge part in this story and really is a character in its own right. Daisy is reluctantly press ganged into taking part in village events by the formidable Flora, chair of the Parish Council and events such as the Garden Open Days and the Village Fete just add to that old fashioned feel and I was reminded of the gentleness of St Mary Mead, created by Agatha Christie. Although there are no murders or mysteries here, the cosy and safe feel of the village gave the impression of a bygone age where everyone knows everyone else’s business. However don’t be misled, this is very much a contemporary tale, with very modern problems – with just one such issue being developers buying up beautiful old houses and gardens to create large housing developments against the villager’s wishes.
There is of course romance along the way but moreover this is a story of friendship. The characters were so vividly drawn and realistic that you couldn’t help but be drawn into their lives. Daisy was such a likeable person and I was rooting for her all the way. For me, one of the stars of the story was not a human character but a canine one - Polly the retriever. I could readily relate to Polly’s long suffering expressions and doleful eyes seeking either food or walks.
This was the first book I had read by Rachael Lucas but it won’t be the last. With a cast of eclectic but charming characters together with vivid descriptions of gorgeous gardens I just loved this gentle, humorous and beautifully written story and will definitely be putting Rachael’s books on my reading list in future.
Having completed a horticultural course, she is keen to make a career from gardening and is looking forward to the chance to get her parent’s vast overgrown garden into shape. Unexpected help is provided by an elderly widower, Thomas, who was responsible for many of the gardens in the village, and still has the notebooks from many years before when he looked after the garden at Orchard Villa for the previous owners. Thomas was a wonderful character, he was not above a bit of harmless mischief making and matchmaking but his wise words were a comfort to Daisy at some particularly trying moments.
Thomas is not the only friend that Daisy makes. After an incident with a hosepipe, she becomes firm friends with Elaine, the wife of a local headmaster. Elaine appears to have the perfect life, she lives in a beautiful house, is married to a handsome and successful man; she doesn’t have to work but spends her time creating visions of the perfect lifestyle for her on-line blog. However appearances can be deceptive and along with another new friend Jo, a single mother of a bolshy teenager, Daisy discovers that everyone has their problems. One of the aspects that worked so well were the supportive friendships that were formed.
The village of Steeple St John plays a huge part in this story and really is a character in its own right. Daisy is reluctantly press ganged into taking part in village events by the formidable Flora, chair of the Parish Council and events such as the Garden Open Days and the Village Fete just add to that old fashioned feel and I was reminded of the gentleness of St Mary Mead, created by Agatha Christie. Although there are no murders or mysteries here, the cosy and safe feel of the village gave the impression of a bygone age where everyone knows everyone else’s business. However don’t be misled, this is very much a contemporary tale, with very modern problems – with just one such issue being developers buying up beautiful old houses and gardens to create large housing developments against the villager’s wishes.
There is of course romance along the way but moreover this is a story of friendship. The characters were so vividly drawn and realistic that you couldn’t help but be drawn into their lives. Daisy was such a likeable person and I was rooting for her all the way. For me, one of the stars of the story was not a human character but a canine one - Polly the retriever. I could readily relate to Polly’s long suffering expressions and doleful eyes seeking either food or walks.
This was the first book I had read by Rachael Lucas but it won’t be the last. With a cast of eclectic but charming characters together with vivid descriptions of gorgeous gardens I just loved this gentle, humorous and beautifully written story and will definitely be putting Rachael’s books on my reading list in future.
July 31, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publishers and this is my honest review.
Daisy has moved to her parents house, ostensibly house sitting whilst they go travelling on their 'gap year'. Having retrained in horticulture she sets about tackling the overgrown garden. Nursing a broken heart, all she wants to do is tend the flowerbeds and dead head the roses. She isn't there to make friends, especially not with perfectly manicured Elaine who intimidates Daisy no end. However she gets to know Elaine, and her other new friend Jo, establishing roots in the village. The emergence of gorgeous Irishman George and worn at the edges vet Ned also potentially scupper the 'no men' policy she has set in place. Who will be the one to push that rule aside?
This book had been sitting on my TBR for a while so I thought it was high time to read it. A trip overseas beckoned so I popped this into my suitcase and I am glad I did.
The saying 'curling up with a good book' can become a bit of a cliche but that's exactly what you can do with this book, curl up with in and get lost in the pages. It has a lovely warm feel to it. It is the book equivalent of a cuddle. I was easily transported to the village of Steeple St John. I could picture the cottages, allotments, village fetes and nights at Elaine's house, The Old Vicarage. Yes I could see from the outset where the story was headed but I didn't care. I just enjoyed the journey.
I loved the characters in the book, each one could easily be visualised. Daisy is understandbly reluctant to create new relationships, romantic or otherwise, given she believes her stay in the village will be temporary. It is heart-warming to see her develop a friendship with George, Elaine and Jo and slowly fall in love with the village. Elaine is obviously not as unruffled as she appears and Jo's down to earth, counsellor persona lends a balance to the group of friends.
This is the first book by Rachael Lucas I have read and won't be the last. I love her writing style and will be on the look out for more books from her in the future.
If you are looking for a sweet romantic comedy with a lovely setting and fantastic characters then this is the book for you.
Daisy has moved to her parents house, ostensibly house sitting whilst they go travelling on their 'gap year'. Having retrained in horticulture she sets about tackling the overgrown garden. Nursing a broken heart, all she wants to do is tend the flowerbeds and dead head the roses. She isn't there to make friends, especially not with perfectly manicured Elaine who intimidates Daisy no end. However she gets to know Elaine, and her other new friend Jo, establishing roots in the village. The emergence of gorgeous Irishman George and worn at the edges vet Ned also potentially scupper the 'no men' policy she has set in place. Who will be the one to push that rule aside?
This book had been sitting on my TBR for a while so I thought it was high time to read it. A trip overseas beckoned so I popped this into my suitcase and I am glad I did.
The saying 'curling up with a good book' can become a bit of a cliche but that's exactly what you can do with this book, curl up with in and get lost in the pages. It has a lovely warm feel to it. It is the book equivalent of a cuddle. I was easily transported to the village of Steeple St John. I could picture the cottages, allotments, village fetes and nights at Elaine's house, The Old Vicarage. Yes I could see from the outset where the story was headed but I didn't care. I just enjoyed the journey.
I loved the characters in the book, each one could easily be visualised. Daisy is understandbly reluctant to create new relationships, romantic or otherwise, given she believes her stay in the village will be temporary. It is heart-warming to see her develop a friendship with George, Elaine and Jo and slowly fall in love with the village. Elaine is obviously not as unruffled as she appears and Jo's down to earth, counsellor persona lends a balance to the group of friends.
This is the first book by Rachael Lucas I have read and won't be the last. I love her writing style and will be on the look out for more books from her in the future.
If you are looking for a sweet romantic comedy with a lovely setting and fantastic characters then this is the book for you.
June 26, 2015
Firstly thank you to Pan for approving me for a review copy of this title on Netgalley. I was first introduced to Rachael when I took part in the blog tour for her first novel Sealed With A Kiss last year.
Coming Up Roses is all about main character and narrator Daisy who has moved back home to house sit for her parents. Daisy is starting over fresh in the village of Steeple St John just like the new spring blossom!
I was really looking forward to this. I love the cover and how the title ties in with the story. Rachael’s writing really captured my imagination in Sealed With A Kiss and I couldn’t wait to feel the same again. In both Sealed With A Kiss and Coming Up Roses there is a distinct “rural”-y feel too the setting which I love because it reminds me of the village we used to live in with the village fetes and everyone knowing everyone!
Daisy is easy to relate to both in her romantic and family life. At first Daisy is quite closed off and is trying her best to get lost in her gardening but the call of village life is stronger and manages to pull her away from planting and into the thick of village business. There are a lot of stereotypical village shenanigans to follow and a whole cast of characters who work their way into Daisy’s life – mostly for the better.
There is one character who I always felt a little on edge about and that was hunky George. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it throughout the story but I just knew there was something niggling in the back of my mind. I was rooting for Daisy the whole way so I was really annoyed on her behalf when the story took a turn later on in the book and it looked like Daisy was up for more upheaval yet again.
This book is so easy to get lost in because it is utter escapism into the countryside straight from your reading chair! Rachael really knew the ins and outs of the garden too with just the right amount of fact and fiction. I read this over a few sittings taking my time to enjoy a trip down memory lane!
Coming Up Roses is all about main character and narrator Daisy who has moved back home to house sit for her parents. Daisy is starting over fresh in the village of Steeple St John just like the new spring blossom!
I was really looking forward to this. I love the cover and how the title ties in with the story. Rachael’s writing really captured my imagination in Sealed With A Kiss and I couldn’t wait to feel the same again. In both Sealed With A Kiss and Coming Up Roses there is a distinct “rural”-y feel too the setting which I love because it reminds me of the village we used to live in with the village fetes and everyone knowing everyone!
Daisy is easy to relate to both in her romantic and family life. At first Daisy is quite closed off and is trying her best to get lost in her gardening but the call of village life is stronger and manages to pull her away from planting and into the thick of village business. There are a lot of stereotypical village shenanigans to follow and a whole cast of characters who work their way into Daisy’s life – mostly for the better.
There is one character who I always felt a little on edge about and that was hunky George. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it throughout the story but I just knew there was something niggling in the back of my mind. I was rooting for Daisy the whole way so I was really annoyed on her behalf when the story took a turn later on in the book and it looked like Daisy was up for more upheaval yet again.
This book is so easy to get lost in because it is utter escapism into the countryside straight from your reading chair! Rachael really knew the ins and outs of the garden too with just the right amount of fact and fiction. I read this over a few sittings taking my time to enjoy a trip down memory lane!
May 7, 2015
Daisy's parents decide to travel around Asia after her mother suffers a heart scare. Daisy has just gone through a painful breakup so is happy to house sit at Orchard Villa in the beautiful village of Steeple St John. Having studied Horticulture at College she gets to work sorting out the garden at Orchard Villa which helps her recover from her heartache as will as making new friends with locals Elaine, the perfect Stepford Wife type housewife, Jo and Ned the local vet.
Rachel Lucas has managed to shrug off the stuffy image of garden and make it contemporary. The author has created such a beautiful place in the fictitious Steeple St John that I'd quite like to move there myself! Daisy is a very likeable character and I enjoyed reading about the blossoming friendship between her, Elaine and Jo. They are very different characters but all suffering with their own heartache.
This is just a perfect read to snuggle up with on a wet afternoon, on the beach or whenever you need the ultimate comfort read. This book was funny, engaging and cosy which is exactly what I'm looking for in this genre. I'm looking forward to reading more from Rachel Lucas and thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Rachel Lucas has managed to shrug off the stuffy image of garden and make it contemporary. The author has created such a beautiful place in the fictitious Steeple St John that I'd quite like to move there myself! Daisy is a very likeable character and I enjoyed reading about the blossoming friendship between her, Elaine and Jo. They are very different characters but all suffering with their own heartache.
This is just a perfect read to snuggle up with on a wet afternoon, on the beach or whenever you need the ultimate comfort read. This book was funny, engaging and cosy which is exactly what I'm looking for in this genre. I'm looking forward to reading more from Rachel Lucas and thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 22, 2015
Daisy is house sitting for her parents who are travelling. Her task is to bring the large and neglected garden into some sort of order for them. She has just finished a horticultural course at college and this seems like a good start to her career. She is determined to lick her wounds - after a traumatic event and work out what she wants to do with her life from here on.
Gradually the village of Steeple St John wraps its tentacles round her and she finds herself caught up in village life whether she likes it or not. She soon makes some food friends - Jo, Elaine and Thomas as well as the always untidy Ned and gorgeous George.
I enjoyed this feel good novel with its background of village life and activities. The characters are well drawn and the village events brought vividly to life. Life changing events do happen but mainly life is good - even for Daisy who starts off being thoroughly miserable. If you want a relaxing read then I can recommend this. There are plenty of amusing incidents and amusing dialogue. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
Gradually the village of Steeple St John wraps its tentacles round her and she finds herself caught up in village life whether she likes it or not. She soon makes some food friends - Jo, Elaine and Thomas as well as the always untidy Ned and gorgeous George.
I enjoyed this feel good novel with its background of village life and activities. The characters are well drawn and the village events brought vividly to life. Life changing events do happen but mainly life is good - even for Daisy who starts off being thoroughly miserable. If you want a relaxing read then I can recommend this. There are plenty of amusing incidents and amusing dialogue. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
May 21, 2015
If I could give this more than 5 stars then I would, I absolutely loved this book! It warmed my heart, made me laugh and had me egging Daisy on all the way. The story follows Daisy who, following a recent break up moves into her parents village home and works away her broken heart with her passion, gardening. She makes some lovely friends along the way and they all help each other in turn as the year turns into an eventful one for all of them. Coming up roses is one of those books that completely sucks you in, I lost myself in it totally and was gutted when it ended. A sequel to coming up roses would be fab, I would love to know where the characters went next. I loved all the characters in this book, Rachael Lucas has done a tremendous job of beinging them all to life. I especially liked Daisy's friendship with Thomas, they shared such a lot together and were a comfort to each other which made me really smile. I couldn't get enough of this book and read it in one sitting as it is completely un-put-downable! It's the perfect summer read blooming with gorgeous gardens, wonderful friendships and budding romances. An absaloute gem!
April 22, 2015
Very pleased to have received a copy from NetGalley.
I knew from the cover and the blurb about this book that it was going to appeal to me, and it didnt disappoint! In fact it was even better than i thought! Read it in two sittings as i just couldnt put it down! One of those books that you read with a big smile on your face and i often found myself empathising with the main character as we seem to have similar outlooks in life! Loved the setting and characters in the small village where Daisy soon settles in while she renovates the garden at her parents house. You can tell the author is a gardener as she captures the essence of what makes a garden magical for anyone who has green fingers and this main storyline really worked well with the other storylines introduced as the book develops.
Highly recommend this to all who love gardens, village life and chick-lit in general and i can't wait to read more from this author!!
I knew from the cover and the blurb about this book that it was going to appeal to me, and it didnt disappoint! In fact it was even better than i thought! Read it in two sittings as i just couldnt put it down! One of those books that you read with a big smile on your face and i often found myself empathising with the main character as we seem to have similar outlooks in life! Loved the setting and characters in the small village where Daisy soon settles in while she renovates the garden at her parents house. You can tell the author is a gardener as she captures the essence of what makes a garden magical for anyone who has green fingers and this main storyline really worked well with the other storylines introduced as the book develops.
Highly recommend this to all who love gardens, village life and chick-lit in general and i can't wait to read more from this author!!
March 18, 2015
I was very lucky to receive a proof of this book and I wasn't disappointed. It tells the story of gardener Daisy, who flees to her parents house in a picturesque village after splitting up with her boyfriend. Her parents decide to go off travelling so ask Daisy to look after their house, particularly their huge garden. Despite not wanting to get drawn into village life, Daisy meets a variety of interesting, colourful characters and before she knows it she's part of the community. There are also a few handsome men who she becomes friends with but is she still over her ex-boyfriend?
I really loved this book. It was warm, funny and unputdownable. I loved the main character, Daisy, as well as all the secondary characters, particularly Thomas, Ned, Elaine and Jo. Highly recommended.
I really loved this book. It was warm, funny and unputdownable. I loved the main character, Daisy, as well as all the secondary characters, particularly Thomas, Ned, Elaine and Jo. Highly recommended.
April 27, 2015
Following a break up, Daisy comes to the village of Steeple St John to look after her parents house while they are away. Intent on keeping clear of village life and throwing her energy into renovating their overgrown garden, she still finds herself being drawn into various village activities and making new friends and a romance along the way.
Although formulaic chick lit in respect of the storyline, it was nonetheless enjoyable for a quick, non-taxing read and the characters were written well. I especially liked Tom, the elderly resident who befriends Daisy. A nice read to while away an afternoon.
*Thank you to the publishers for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Although formulaic chick lit in respect of the storyline, it was nonetheless enjoyable for a quick, non-taxing read and the characters were written well. I especially liked Tom, the elderly resident who befriends Daisy. A nice read to while away an afternoon.
*Thank you to the publishers for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
February 6, 2017
this is such a beautiful story. loved it
May 3, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The village was lovely, the characters were just that - characters! I especially enjoyed the plotting involved in a small village - and I'm not just talking garden plots! There was a nice twist towards the end, which I hadn't seen coming. The storyline was very different from the usual and I loved all the meetings! There's a lot of humour in the book too :) All in all. a lovely read - a perfect holiday book!
October 3, 2015
I know I shouldn't have, but I judged this book by its cover and bought it purely because it looked nice. Don't get me wrong, it WAS a nice story, but I couldn't help but think/feel there was something missing....
I liked the characters but felt the story didn't really end in a good place, as I got towards the end of the book I was thinking 'how is this going to be wrapped up in these last few pages?' because I felt it needed more.
I liked the characters but felt the story didn't really end in a good place, as I got towards the end of the book I was thinking 'how is this going to be wrapped up in these last few pages?' because I felt it needed more.
May 17, 2015
A refreshing tale set in a gorgeous English village. Daisy fresh from a broken heart is house sitting for her parents as they decide to go travelling. Whilst restoring their run down garden she meets the characters of Steeple St John and strikes up friendship with some of the most unlikely residents there.
May 12, 2015
A lovely light, feelgood story - perfect for fans of Carole Mathews and Katie Fforde. It was especially nice that it featured gardening instead of baking, too many food related novels around - they make me want to eat cake!
May 28, 2015
Absolutely adored this book! Lovely Daisy & her friends, great supporting cast of chsracters, romance, gardening, problems - and a happy ending! What more could a reader ask for. Oh yes, well written and witty as well.
February 24, 2015
I loved this. It was a warm, wonderful, feel-good world to escape to for a few bleak winter evenings! Highly recommended. Thank you Pan Macmillan for the proof copy.
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