I really like this author. She writes meaty books with flawed characters and heavy, angst y issues but usually with a real emotional resonance which makes me feel good at the end of the story.

Zeb and Tallie are a wonderful pair who struggle to work out a happy ending but finally manage it in spite of Natalie’s unpleasantness and the awful story behind her mother’s behaviour.

I hated the mother and I couldn’t believe how Tallie forgave her so easily at the end of the book. It just didn’t work for me and ruined what otherwise was a very happy ending.

3.5 stars.
A troubled, lonesome heroine finds her HEA with a sweet, caring hero in “Once Upon a Thyme”, by Jane Lovering, a slow burn romance developing amidst an impressive herb garden and family secrets.
I liked how Zeb and Natalie connected and slowly found out they were good for each other. Zeb is going through some major changes and neverthless is eager to help Natalie in new projects for the herb farm.
I loved the slow revealing of his character and how he is truly a knight in shining armour. The clumsiness and lankiness are adorable. He’s also very kind and compassionate even with characters who really don’t deserve it.
Natalie has a hard life, working hard at the herb garden which takes much of her time and energy, while also caring for her selfish mother.
The heroine’s isolation growing up and the present loneliness are heartbreaking.
I found the character of the mother horrible and hiding her condition for so many years a bit unrealistic. The family secrets were a bit forced and Natalie’s compliance with all this was hard to digest.
The animals and the herb farm give an additional interest to the story.

I received a free copy of, Once Upon a Thyme, by Jane Lovering, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Natalie works on her family's herb farm, that is pretty much her life, til summer starts and she starts meeting people. This was a nice story, a bit heavy at times, but a good story.

Natalie takes over the family farm and doesn't venture far from what she knows, but unexpected visitors change everything.

The prose of this book is beautiful and I was drawn in from the first page. The characters weren't my favorite at first but they all had great development through the book. There were a lot of relatable parts in this book with a sweet story. It was a good book, just not one of my favorites.

This was a quick read that tackled a few difficult subjects but still gave the very escapism vibes. It made me really want to start a plant nursery

One thing author Jane Lovering is wonderful at writing is country settings. Scents, flowers, foliage — she has it down. I can feel the air on my face and the scented hedge brushing against me as I walk because her prose is so good.
Unfortunately, I didn't love this book. It could have been so much better with a good developmental edit. The outcomes were more than predictable. I would have enjoyed a more consistent, fluid feel to the story than the way Tallie and Zeb's story developed. Tallie wasn't likable, and there wasn't much change in her throughout the story. On top of that, her backstory and perspective on it were totally unbelievable.
All in all, a disappointing read but lifted in parts by the lovely descriptions.

A lighthearted read that’s one for sitting on a sunny afternoon. The location is ideal with the herbs growing in the garden and the big pig getting up to mischief. The main character Natalie has just taken over the family herb farm and her mother is still poking her nose in. When a band approach’s her asking to film a song there, she jumps at the chance to help with cash flow. It’s a funny, feel good book that funny in places. The story has a good plot and loved the twist at the end. A good all round 4.5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Lovely story. Initially Tassie annoyed me for being so submissive so it was great to see her grow, and to understand why she was like that in the first place, but it did make me wonder what Zeb saw in her from start.
I loved BigPig!

Natalie's taken over running the family herb farm with only Ollie to help but he won't interact with people. She has a lot of unanswered questions about her background that her mother won't answer. Then Zeb comes into her life sent by her mother as a marketing consultant

Natalie Fisher has never been able to choose for herself. When she was still very young, she was taking care of her mother who spent most of her time in bed. Later one, she took over running the family herb farm. Choices like going away to college weren't on the menu for her.

Her life changed when a young man (Zeb) showed up, sent by her mother to help her increase the business. Shortly afterwards, she was asked to allow a musical group to create their new album at her farm. It would be good publicity for the farm and they were also going to pay her. Her life had been an unending round of planting, weeding and harvesting and suddenly the world opened up a little for her.

She had always been told not to ask questions about her family situation - her mother bed-ridden most of the time, even her father's full name. Now she wanted the answers, no matter how painful. This book is one I won't soon forget and I highly recommend it.

I received an e-arc from the publisher Boldwood Books and volu ntarily read and reviewed it.

Jane's books always have such realistic characters - quiet, thoughtful people who don't quite fit in with the rest of the world but do their best to get by.

Natalie runs the family herb farm - but there are also a lot of secrets in her past, and she's convinced it's her fault but her mum and her gran have conditioned her not to ask (thereby hiding the truth - which isn't what Natalie thinks it is).

Enter Zeb - who also has a troubled past and hasn't quite figured out what he wants from life. And enter Simon and the band he manages, who turn Natalie's world upside down.

A gorgeous story of discovery and love. We watch Natalie blossom and really root for her to get the happy ending she deserves.

Oh, and I can't not mention Big Pig. WONDERFUL!

As always, a thoroughly good read and an uplifting ending.

Another masterpiece from the very talented Jane Lovering. I keep saying this but she’s done it again, she’s outdone herself and delivered the most enjoyable story. Masterful use of the language as always. Witty irony, deep knowledge of the human soul and its woes. Down-to-hearth and relatable characters. The occasional pig ( well done! ). Yes, I did guess part of the outcome but the story is not that predictable.
She’s one of the best novelists around, I’ll never say this enough.
With many thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood and the author for an early copy.

It was satisfying to see the character development of the main protagonist, Tally. I was happy to see that she found her happy ending and there was hope to change the painful family background as well. I liked the story and can recommend it to anyone who likes quiet romances.

A lovely read. Natalie runs a herb farm a family buisness she has taken over, she loves her job but her past is full of secrets and she can never get any answers from her mum who is almost an invalid but all is not what it seems with her and when she finally finds out abouts her past it comes from someone she least expects. A well written book and a lovely story with a beautiful ending which I loved.

I want to say thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

I don't think I've ever said this or thought about it until this book, but this has the best, most perfect and hilarious first page I've ever read. It was perfect, and it completely drew me in. The story is so much more than the description for it, it invokes a lot of feelings. I loved that the characters actually act and seem like their ages too ive missed that so much in a book about characters in their 30s. This is honestly the most real feeling romance book I've read in a while. There is a little bit of heaviness that occurs and one part that is obvious to happen but it completely works and it's something you're really hoping for. This is a story of more than just love, it's also of self-discovery and I loved it!

My only issue with the whole book is the randomly long chapters, that could have been broken up a little more. Other than that I loved this, and I loved big pig, she was the perfect addition. This is a fantastic real read and I loved it! I also loved the doctor who references too especially the mention of my favourite doctor!

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

I love that cover. Sooooo prettyyyyyy.

And this book brooo. Too good.

Tq for letting me read this one. I really truly enjoyed it.

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