The Lake House – Christie Barlow

There’s a newcomer to the village of Heartcross and she’s never been more in need of a friend.

Ella is ready to start afresh – and that could mean there’s love on the horizon in the form of the gorgeous Roman, the local water taxi driver. Every day Roman is there to ferry Ella to the restaurant on the other side of the lake and every night he makes sure she gets home safe. But Roman has secrets of his own…

Can the Love Heart Lane community offer Ella a chance of a new life? Or will the ghosts of her past catch up with her?

Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Lake House by Christie Barlow. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, Christie and One More Chapter for allowing me to take part.

The Lake House is the fifth installment by Christie Barlow of the Love Heart Lane series.

This time round we followed the story of Ella. Ella moves to Heartcross after her life is turned on its head and her friend Callie (who we’ve met before) comes to her rescue. Ella moves in with Callie and gets a job at the Lake House restaurant that is owned by Flynn Carter, another returning character.

On her first day in Heartcross Ella meets Roman, the water taxi driver for the crossing to the Lake House. There is an instant connection between them but Roman is also dealing with his own difficulties.

Both Ella and Roman have had their lives turned upside down for different reasons. Can they open up and help each other come through these difficult times? What we do know is that Heartcross is the perfect place to get your life back on track.

As with all the books in the series there is a strong sense of community in the village and Ella feels this straight away. That community means we see the return on much loved characters that we have met across the previous books. We also meet Dolores, and wow what a wonderful character she is, I loved her. All the characters in this book, and the previous ones, are all relatable and lovable, which makes these books such a delight to read.

This is a great heartwarming, feel-good read that is perfect to escape in, especially given the current lockdown circumstances here in the UK.

And the good news is that there is more to come from the village of Heartcross with the next installment, Primrose Park, is coming soon.

Starcross Manor – Christie Barlow

Dying to know more about the brooding and mysterious Flynn Carter and the secrets behind his plans for Starcross Manor?

You won’t want to miss the next spellbinding chapter in the Love Heart Lane series – where friends are there for you no matter what.

When Julia Coleman meets Flynn Carter again in the cosy village of Heartcross it can only mean trouble. Flynn might be rich, brooding and sexy, but Julia knows first-hand he’s ruthless and she plans to watch his every move.

When Julia discovers Flynn’s plans for beautiful Starcross Manor her greatest fears come true. Because Flynn’s dreams of turning Starcross into a luxury hotel could ruin Julia’s dreams…and finish off the community of Heartcross for good.

Flynn makes it clear he doesn’t want trouble, and he’s not the man Julia thinks he is. As he sets about convincing the community he’s changed, he hopes he can convince Julia to give him another chance too…

Today is my stop on the Starcross Manor blog tour. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, Christie Barlow and One More Chapter for allowing me to take part and to get an early read of this book.

Starcross Manor is book four in the Love Heart Lane series by Christie Barlow. At the end of Clover Cottage we were briefly introduced to Flynn Carter, and here we discover Flynn’s story. We also learn more about B&B owner Julia Coleman who has appeared in the other books.

Julia and Flynn’s paths have crossed in the past, and when Julia learns of Flynn’s arrival in Heartcross, she knows this is a sign of bad things to come. This is confirmed when she discovers Flynn’s plans to turn Starcross Manor into a luxury hotel, threatening her business. Can Flynn convince her that he isn’t there to cause trouble for her, or for the community of Heartcross.

From the very beginning of the latest installment I was transported back into the village of Heartcross, and loved revisiting some of the characters that we have met before as well as learning more about Julia and Flynn. I love the sense of community that Christie brings to her books.

Although this is part of a series I think that you could read this as a standalone, but be warned you will to revisit Heartcross as many times as possible.

I hope we get to visit Heartcross again in the future, but I can’t wait to read whatever Christie brings out next.

Clover Cottage – Christie Barlow

Clover Cottage
Christie Barlow

A page-turning new cosy novel in the bestselling Love Heart Lane series – perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Phillipa Ashley and Milly Johnson!

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what.

When Vet Rory Scott inherits ramshackle Clover Cottage in the quaint village of Heartcross, Allie MacDonald just knows this is their happy ever after. A place to call home with the man she loves – it’s her dream come true!

Until Rory drops a bombshell. He loves Allie but he has dreams of his own to follow – to live and work in Africa. Clover Cottage will have to wait just a little longer…

Allie can’t imagine life without Rory, but she loves him too much to hold him back. And as he embarks on his adventure, Allie begins to rethink her own plans. She loves Rory and know she wants him in her life, but maybe she can follow her own dreams too?

And always there, nestled in the beautiful village of Heartcross, surrounded by the people she loves, will be the place that will always bring them back to each other. Their forever home, Clover Cottage.

Today is my stop on the Clover Cottage blog tour, thanks to Christie Barlow, One More Chapter and Rachel’s Random Resources, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

I read the first two installments of the Love Heart Lane series last year, Love Heart Lane and Foxglove Farm, and couldn’t wait to revisit the village of Heartcross.

In Clover Cottage the focus is on the characters of Rory and Allie, ones that have featured in the previous two books. Here we find out more about them, and follow their relationship. At the start of the book Rory is told that he has inherited Clover Cottage, and Allie feels as if all her dreams have come true.

However, this sentiment is not shared by Rory, who has more he wants to achieve before he settles down. Throughout the story we see how the characters deal with each other’s feelings towards to cottage and their lives together, with many twists and turns along the way.

What I love about this book, and the others in the series, is the sense of friendship and community that is portrayed. And in a time where this is something that is becoming more evident in our own lives it is a comfort.

The book sees other characters from the first two books return, not just Rory and Allie, which keeps the theme of community throughout this book, that the residents of Heartcross have got your back.

I hope this isn’t our last visit to Heartcross, and that Christie Barlow brings us more of this wonderful Scottish village.

For anyone that is looking for an escape from all that is going on in our world then this is the perfect answer for you.

Love Heart Lane – Christie Barlow

Love Heart Lane
Christie Barlow

Welcome to Love Heart Lane…

When Flick Simons returns to the small village of Heartcross she only expected to stay for a few days. The white-washed cottages of Love Heart Lane might be her home, but the place holds too many painful memories, and of one man in particular – Fergus Campbell.

When a winter storm sweeps in, the only bridge connecting the village to the main land is swept away! As the villagers pull together, Flick finds herself welcomed back by the friends she once left behind. And as the snow begins to melt, maybe there is a chance that Fergus’s heart will thaw too….

Christie Barlow was a new author discovery of mine when I picked this book up in my local library. I was drawn to it by the title and cover.

Flick returns home to the Scottish village of Heartcross after eight years away. Only returning for a few days she doesn’t expect to be stranded in the worst snow storm the village has seen. The only route in and out, the bridge, is washed away and Flick only has the option to stay, face her past, rekindle her former friendships and connect with the community.

Heartcross is full of wonderful characters that after so long away Flick rediscovers, including her friends Allie, Isla and Drew. Then there is the mysterious Fergus, the reason why Flick has stayed away so long.

Throughout the story Flick looks to make amends with those nearest to her for running away to eight years before, any we find out the heartbreaking reason why she ran away.

Love Heart Lane is a wonderfully warm (even in the middle of a snow storm) story of love, hope and second chances.

Love Heart Lane was one of those books that you want to get to the end of but you don’t want the story to be over. Thankfully there is going to be another visit to Heartcross, with Foxglove Farm which is released at the end of June this year.