I definitely look forward to new books in this series and have enjoyed them all. I think it’s the genuine positivity that each instalment exudes that brings me back each time. Of course, there are some serious subjects covered, but they are handled sympathetically and with a gentle touch. If you’d like to read a couple of my previous reviews for this series, you can follow these links: Starting Over at Primrose Woods and Dreams Come True at Primrose Hall.
I’m grateful to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources for the blog tour invite and to Boldwood Books for providing my digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. You can read my thoughts below.
Synopsis
Primrose Hall is more than Jackson Moody and his fiancée Pia’s home – it’s the heart of the community.
The Sunday craft fairs in the renovated stables are a popular draw for the locals and tourists alike, enticed by the beautiful surroundings of Primrose Woods as well as the irresistible goodies on display. But for Sophie Wright they’re a chance to forge a new life and a new business. After leaving behind a turbulent relationship, Sophie is starting again – and romance is the last thing on her mind.
Drop dead gorgeous Tom Moody, Lord of the Manor Jackson’s newly-discovered older brother, is loving being a member of the Primrose Hall community. Content to muck in where he can be helpful, he’s just happy to be part of the family. But when tragedy strikes, Pia needs Tom more than he ever expected. And when Tom needs a shoulder to cry on, Sophie might be the perfect person to help – if only she hadn’t sworn off romance for good…
Join the gang at Primrose Hall for laughter, tears, friendship and romance, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Heidi Swain and Julie Houston.
Review
In the last instalment, we met a couple of new characters, Tom Moody, and Sophie Wright. This book sees the focus shift to their stories, and it made for a thoroughly heartwarming experience. As the synopsis explains, Tom is the newly discovered elder brother to Jackson Moody, who owns Primrose Hall. Sophie is a new maker exhibiting at the Stables craft sales each Sunday.
Tom’s relationship with Jackson has slowly improved and he’s taken on the responsibility for the organisation of the craft events in the stables. It was a pleasure to see their relationship blossom in the last book, so I was delighted to read that there was now an even greater level of trust between them both.
Sophie escaped to the area, fleeing her relationship with a controlling heavy drinker. Whilst his abuse of her was never physical, she is still damaged by the effects of a life lived on eggshells. It’s no wonder that she has sworn off relationships and is only looking for friendship.
This is a slow burn romance that sees the healing power of friendship and how love can form in even the most damaged hearts. It’s certainly not a spoiler to say that they provide each other with the support that they both need. Jackson and Pia’s relationship remains at the heart of the story, but life isn’t without challenges for them or their extended family.
Despite the challenges that are woven into this book, there is never a feeling of desperation, and I instinctively knew that whilst the ending may not be as straightforward as imagined, there was no danger of not finding the happy ending for those in and around Primrose Hall.
Jill Steeples has created a community that I would love to be part of. Each character brings something quite special to the mix. It’s even a pleasure to revisit those that we met in the earlier books and find out how they are doing. This special series can be enjoyed as standalone stories, but they each contribute to the bigger theme, and it would be a shame not to follow this across all the instalments. I cannot recommend the Primrose Woods and Hall series enough as they will easily reassure you of the joys of life.
Author Bio
Jill Steeples is the author of many successful women’s fiction titles – most recently the Dog and Duck series – all set in the close communities of picturesque English villages. She lives in Bedfordshire.
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