I love Christie Barlow's books. They are light-hearted without being fluffy, featuring strong women who don't take any nonsense from anyone, and who inspire those whose lives they enter, and of course, there is always at least one gorgeous man ready to win our heroine's heart (and our own!).
Alice Parker is no exception. Having stayed in New York to please her mother, she is drawn back to her childhood home of Honeysuckle Farm when she hears her beloved Grandie is ill. Estranged from him as a young child for reasons unknown, Alice is desperate to reconnect with her grandfather.

She is welcomed back into the village, which has a real sense of community - until it comes to Sam Reid. His family has been ostracised for years; but no one will tell Alice why. She ignores the animosity towards Sam, as she finds herself more and more attracted to him.

Unearthing old memories and secrets, Alice realises she is exposing old wounds, but sometimes these wounds have to be debrided in order to heal properly. Although Alice arrived full of embarrassment at her failure to succeed in New York, she finds she does have a lot to offer here at her true home. 

Honeysuckle Farm is full of warmth and emotion, and the author brings her characters to life in such a wonderful way, I felt as if I knew them all personally. I'd quite like to live there myself!

Alice Parker spent the first ten years of her life at Honeysuckle Farm until an argument between her mother and grandfather broke out and Alice was forced to leave with her mother without explanation.

Thirteen years later in New York, Alice receives an email from a childhood friend who informs her that back in England,  her Grandie is ill in hospital. Alice is sick of struggling to make ends meet and grabs the chance to return home to Honeysuckle Farm to be with her beloved grandfather.

Alice arrives to a warm welcome and an offer from her Grandie that is hard to refuse.  However, the locals of Brook Bridge seem to know far more about her family's past than she does, and what exactly drove her mother so far away from this idyllic place?

The characters are warm and charming and Christie Barlow entices you into the story, then keeps you waiting with bated breath, until she is ready to reveal the astonishing secrets.

Thank you to  Rachel's Random Resources, Christie Barlow and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of A Home at Honeysuckle Farm in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Rachel for letting me be part of this tour and thank you to Harper Impulse for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I loved Christie's last two books and when I saw the cover for this one I knew I had to read it. 

This story follows Alice Parker as she returns to her childhood home a Honeysuckle Farm. It's been thirteen years since she left Brook Bridge Village and the farm. Alice has desperately been trying to follow her dream in New York but she's been feeling the pull to return to England and when she gets word that her Grandie isn't very well it's the push she needed. Alice is such an easy character to identify with. She's hard working, she's loyal and she's open minded. 

The reason Alice left Honeysuckle Farm is a mystery to her and she's determined to get to the bottom of it and sort this family feud once and for all before it's too late. When the secret was unravelled I have to say I was not expecting it. It was quite a shock. 

Christie had me hooked right from the beginning of this book. This story was about second chances and forgiveness with a dash of romance. That came in the form of the hunky Sam Reid. Well, well Mr Reid. Did I need a new Book BF? No but with Sam Reid I just couldn't help myself. Those hazel eyes, the muscles, the sexy look. Oh and did I mention he can dance? Yep. Yep. I know. You have just fallen hook line and sinker for Sam.

This story will bring you to tears both happy and sad. This book was very emotive for me. More so than others. I don't know how Christie did it but she really pulled on my heartstrings with this story. 

If you are looking for a story about family, love and second chances then grab this book today!

Review: I would like to thank Harper Impulse and NetGalley for letting me read and review this book before publication. 

A Home on Honeysuckle Farm is a beautiful story following Alice. Her story begins when her mother moves her to New York with no warning, all due to an unexplained augment with her Grandie. Then thirteen years on we find out how life for Alice turned out. No spoilers, don't worry. Back in Brook Bridge she confronts the past head on and reunites with family, friends and perhaps a handsome man may be on hand to support her. Such an amazing plot romance and a family secret. 

Christie writes a beautiful story. Honeysuckle Farm sounds very picturesque and I adore the added love for dance that holds the village together. I just loved the relationship between Grandie and Alice reminds me very much of my own relationship with my late Grandad and our love of being outside in the garden together. 

A beautiful, heart warming romance with a hint of mystery. A joy to read.

One of the things I liked most about this book was the setting in a rural area and around the village and farm.
As a fan of strictly come daning I like the dancing element of the book as well.

I couldn't help trying to guess what the twist at the end was going to be, but hadn't expected that!

A Home at Honeysuckle Farm is one of those books I wish I could have curled up with and read from cover to cover without any interruptions. I truly envy people who can read a book in a day. It's something I am yet to achieve. Unfortunately, as for most of us, this isn't a very realistic option. As much as I'd love to read all day, there is always something else to do, but I can honestly say that this story still had me hooked from the start. Whenever I picked up my kindle I was instantly immersed in Alice Parker's world again and when I wasn't reading I was wondering what might happen next. I couldn't wait to carry on reading.
Alice is a lovely character and one I warmed to straight away. I really felt for her being torn between her loyalty to her mother and missing her old life back in England. I can't even imagine being whisked off to live in New York at 10 years old and not seeing the rest of my family again. It would have felt like moving to another planet to me at that age. It would now! I'm a bit of a home bird.
Alice remembers an argument between her Mum and her Grandie, but has no idea what it was all about. What could be so bad that they had to cut ties all together? I have to say the truth was quite a shock!
As is often the case in real life, illness and the fear of running out of time to make amends, makes Alice re-assess her life. Does she really want to go back to New York when she has a chance of a brighter future back home? She needs to find out the truth though before being able to move on completely. Can she convince her Mum to come home?
Honeysuckle Farm sounds idyllic and not far from where I live. I wonder if I can visit ;-) I'm not surprised Alice feels right at home again when she returns. Meeting Sam only makes the prospect of staying all the more appealing and who can blame her, he sounds so lovely. The chemistry between them is obvious from the start. He's worried his family history will get in the way of their relationship though, as some people seem unable to let go of the past, but Alice is determined to turn things around for her family and her community.
This is such a heart warming story. One which might make you think about your own family relationships and friendships. We never know how long we have people for and although some things are hard to forget, we have to do our best to forgive.
I can't imagine anyone not loving this story. Why not treat yourself.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for my ARC via Netgalley. I will be more than happy to recommend.

I enjoyed this delightful book. The characters were easily likeable, the setting sounded very pleasant.
The family history of pride, hurt and lies is something that lots of us have and deal with so always a winning combination when it's put right.
A bit of glitz, glamour and romance, what's not to like?
Thanks to NetGalley, Christie Barlow and Harper Impulse for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher, Harper Impulse for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for organising the Blog Tour and squeezing me into what I imagine to be a very popular tour!!

10 year old Alice Parker hears her mum and granddad arguing one night. The next day, her and her mum, Rose are leaving their lives at Honeysuckle Farm to move to New York. 13 years later Alice has had no contact with her granddad and Rose has always refused to discuss what happened that night. Alice, against her mother’s wishes, decides to return to Honeysuckle Farm to see her granddad before it is too late. Back in the UK and Alice is still no closer to finding out what happened all those years ago. Whilst back at Honeysuckle Farm though, she strikes up a friendship with handsome neighbour, Sam Reid, although this isn’t a popular choice amongst the local villagers. Will Alice chose to stay and make Honeysuckle Farm her home?

I was ever so excited to hear that Christie Barlow had a new book being released. I met Christie last year at an author event in one of the libraries I work in and she was such a lovely lady with some very funny stories! Her last book, The Cosy Canal Boat Dream, was also absolutely fabulous so there was no doubt that this book was going to be bumped up my ‘To Be Read’ list.

The cover and the blurb was so enticing and you just couldn’t help but conjure up pictures of what Honeysuckle Farm looked like. The story started so well with the argument between Alice’s mum and granddad, introducing the secret which wouldn’t be revealed until near the very end of the book. The secret was so well kept throughout the whole story, despite Alice’s best tries to discover what it could have been. I also had several different theories as to what it was all about, with all of them being proved wrong. The twist with this was very clever and tugged at the heartstrings.

Alice is a loveable character. Having a hard time in New York and failing to reach the dizzy heights of Broadway, you can’t help but hope that returning to the pretty village of Brook Bridge would bring Alice better luck and happier times. Cue all those things when Alice meets handsome neighbour Sam Reid! He sounds absolutely delightful, with the only question being ‘why can’t I have a neighbour like that?’!! All of the characters are so likeable and fit into the story so nicely. I thought it would be a bit of a nightmare living in a village where everyone knows everything, but in this book it actually seemed like a really nice community with all of the villagers being there for Alice and her granddad.

I won’t go into the storyline any more than I already have as I wouldn’t want to spoil the twist at the end. It is safe to say though that I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. It was such a lovely, easy to read book, in fact it was an absolute pleasure to read! For me, Christie’s books just seem to be getting better and better.

Absolutely perfect! Five Stars!

A Home at Honeysuckle Farm was such a delightful read, I instantly feel in love with the characters especially Alice Parker and Sam Reid, I really felt for Alice and all the family problems she was facing, not to mention the big family secret, I couldn't put my kindle down for wanting to find out what it was and omg I was speechless!!!!

I loved this book!! I've read a novel by Christie Barlow before but I just feel like this book was amazing and it's made me desperately want to read more of her novels! It's uplifting, easy to read and throughly enjoyable - I loved every page!

Firstly, the cover just draws you in completely, I adore the colourful flowers and leaves surrounding the edges, the pretty hours tucked behind the trees, and the lovely green fields. It just looks so inviting! Secondly, the blurb made me want to read it even more. I found it to be just so intriguing and I couldn't wait to read more.

The story itself is completely gripping. I was just so eager to find out what had happened between Alice's mum and her Grandad! The story follows main character Alice, who has had to move to New York with her mum after mum Rose had a huge falling out with Alice's Grandad (or Grandie, as he is known in the novel). We aren't told anything in regards to what had happened, or why this happened, so it definitely makes you want to continue reading and not put it down!

When Alice gets a message from best friend Grace in regards to her Grandie's health 13 years later, she jets back to England as soon as she can, and it's clear from then that Alice doesn't ever want to go back to New York but has several things holding her back. Over the course of the story, Alice tries her best to uncover the truth about the falling out, and is shocked at what she discovers. As well as this, Alice grows ever closer to the village 'bad-boy' Sam Reid, and I was definitely hoping that they would get together!

The other characters were just as nice as Sam (I really liked his character and found him to be really caring and lovely!) and I found myself really liking Grace and her mum. They were easy to relate to as well as easy to like. The village sounded wonderful and the community spirit is clear to see. I loved the idea of Village Day and I really found myself enjoying reading about the Dance School and the dance elements that is weaved in throughout the story.

This is a brilliant novel about family and romance and I loved every minute. I would definitely recommend picking up a novel from Christie Barlow, as I'm sure you'd enjoy it! I'm 100% going to check out her other novels now.

Yet another fantastic book from Christie. A very beautiful charming read

Alice was taken to New York by her mother when she was eight. Her mother had a falling out with her Father (Alice’s grandfather) and they left the next morning. Grandie ran a dance school and dance has been in Alice’s blood for as long as she can remember. Despite graduating from a school of dance and drama with flying colours,her life in New York has been rather unsuccessful. When Grandie takes ill, Alice decides to fly home to see him, perhaps for one last time. On arriving she realises that she feels more at home than in the thirteen intervening years. This is a heartwarming story and you can see where it perhaps will go but that doesn’t spoil it in the least. A wonderfully uplifting read of relationships, family and heartache. Of what should be done and what ought to be done. Those sensitive situations we have all found ourselves in. A truly enjoyable read with a smile.
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I felt this was a little slow to start but once Alice lands in the UK it all starts to happen. She uncovers secrets from the past, faces choices and grows from an unfulfilled and slightly vulnerable young woman into a strong and determined young woman. Very well written with finely drawn characters and the odd flash of humour this book will keep you hooked.

This book was a pleasure to read and so delightful. I saw many comments on publishers fb pages so I asked for this never reading a book by this author before. Oh I loved it from the begining.
We have Grampie who is Alice's Grandad who owns the honeysuckle farm and the dance studios. At aged 13 Alice over heard a fight between her mother and grandad which changed their lives forever and they left to NYC never to see Grampie again.
Life in NYC isn't what she expected, there's no life it's grounding day and she doesn't know if she'll survive the week. Checking her emails her English best friend tells her that her Grampie is in hospital so she heads out not knowing what response she'll get. He was so happy and he gave her the keys to all his buildings on a condition.... she is feeling ript in half, she can't do what he wants without her mother what will she Do? Decisions decisions. She meets A man she likes but the villagers hate his family because of the killer secret.... but as we later find out his family have been graded in this and the truth will come out. I kind of had a feeling who was the cause and I was right.
The ending is lovely and happy and if you love theatre dancing and all things creative you won't be able to put this down like I couldnt.
Her style is so readable and fun filled, brilliantly wrote. I see her as a new author for me to follow... don't just read the reviews. Get the book people. Enjoy.
I would give this 10/10 if I could. Amazing

This was a thoroughly uplifting, engaging read. I've read a few of Christie Barlow's books and I definitely think this is her best so far.

Firstly, look at the beautiful Spring cover, I love the colours and design of this, it is instantly eye-catching and I hope it stays for the paperback edition as I can see it being a shelf starlet.

As with most of her books, the setting for this is in the UK, in the rural heart of the Midlands, centred around a beautiful rural village called Brook Bridge (how invoking of a rural idyll is that name?). However, some parts of the book are set in New York, the place Alice settles with her mother as a child. I found this element really interesting and well-researched, there was certainly a contrast between the harsh city lifestyle in NYC and the quiet, close-knit community in England. Alice is a product of these two contrasting settings, having spent the last 13 years in the USA and having a distinctive American accent, yet the childhood memories, ties, and baffling mystery she has with her motherland have never been far from her mind.

This book weaves between the secret that tore Alice's family apart when she was ten, a bitter feud one day between her beloved grandfather Grandie, and her mother Rose. As neither side will speak of what happened, it is left to Alice to try to heal the scars of her past and uncover the truth, not just about the argument, but about everything in her past. A true journey of self discovery, heartbreaking loss, uplifting resilience and also romance.

The blistering attraction between Alice and local bad boy Sam Reid brings a further complication but reveals a tender and vulnerable side to Alice (and Sam!); despite many odds being stacked against them she stands for what she feels is right and risks so much to find happiness for herself and for those around her. This part of the plot was full of as much chemistry as you could hope for; I really liked Sam and how he carved a life out for himself.

You are always guaranteed a happily ever after, so there's no great shock there, but the lead up to the conclusion is peppered with revelations and drama and full of love, warmth and spirit.

A perfect cosy read for some Spring hygge!

Wow this is yet again proof of what I think I may have said before, Christie Barlow is getting better and better with every single book. This was superb, I was hooked instantly, desperate to know what the big secret was that meant that Alice and her mum moved suddenly to New York,13 years ago, and why Alice hadn't seen her beloved Grandie in that time.

And when you do get to the reveal, lets just say I didn't see that coming, although it makes complete and utter sense. Before that though there are many other secrets to unravel, an emotional homecoming for Alice, and an offer that could lead to her changing her life for the better.

Oh and lets not forget a simply gorgeous guy, if the rest of the small community can get past something that happened before Alice was even born.

Although this is all about Honeysuckle Farm as a sense of home, this is not a book set on a farm as such, more around Alice's love of dance and theatre, and with a chance to right some wrongs, and reboot her own life, I loved seeing what the author had in store for Alice next.

At various times when I was reading this I felt as though I was on the verge of tears, and by the end I had shivers and goosebumps with the mosts wonderful finale. I loved every second of this book, and just wish I could take a time machine to transport me back to the start of the book again, so that I can discover its greatness again for the first time!

Thank you to Harper Impulse and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Alice aged ten was moved from Honeysuckle Farm, her home to New York thanks to an argument and rift between her mum and her grandfather or Grandie and now she's heading back after learning her Grandie is ill and she longs for her real home still, despite leaving thirteen years before.



Her New York dream failed and she leaves her best friend Molly there but back home is reunited with her oldest friend Grace who informed her of her Grandie not being well. Connie is another old friend whom picks her up and takes her back to the unchanged village where the residents may be older but still the same. She also meets Sam Reid, a fellow performer Grace knows and whom lives next door too her.



When her ill Grandie hands her keys to their now long shut down and disused dance school and Honeysuckle Farm, Alice faces a choice whether to travel back to her dreary in debt life in New York or stay where she feels at home and welcomed.



She also uncovers many secrets not only about her real father but also her grandma and the link between Sam and the villager's attitude towards him which obviously rightly surprises her despite her feelings for him. Alice is a determined woman and changes attitudes while reopening the dance school she so loved as a child whilst she organizes Village Day celebrations to bring their community together even more. As well as finally getting her mum and Grandie to spill what the rift was about and why it started.



Alice is a weak and fragile character for a start, totally unfulfilled in her life but as she returns home we see how she flourishes into a strong and determined woman. Sam and her friends are all supportive and aiding friends to her and are great representations of how bonds can be created and unbroken. The rift was an amazing plot twist which was totally unpredictable for once and I loved it, an amazing homely book!



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

What an absolute pleasure and delight of a read, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Christie Barlow has definitely provided an outstanding brilliant and heartfelt read. I did not want it to end.

I thought the characters were perfectly written,   they felt so very real. I truly felt for Alice, in all that she had to deal with and the family situations she had to contend with. I may have fallen in love with Sam, he sounds like an absolute dream and he can sweep me round the dance floor any time.

As I progressed through the book, one of the things that kept going through my head is 'what on earth is the big secret, what could it possibly be'. I had plenty of guesses, trying to figure it out, none of which were right. When the secret was finally revealed, after having been waiting with baited breath, I was completely shocked and speechless, literally did not see that coming. 

I adore the element of dancing throughout, it made me just want to get up and dance myself. It was lovely seeing it bring a village community together and to life.

I loved loved this book and would definitely recommend it.

Christie Barlow does it every time and always improves from her last book this one is simply brilliant so well written and great characters and story plot has you hooked from the first word. It's full of fun, laughter and family problems and romance and happy ever afters. A simply joy to read this book so so much highly recommend it to anyone.
The story is based around three main things which is a family secret a second chance and forever home. Alice loved living with her grandie as she called him and her mum in a lovel village and when she was 10 she moves away with her mother after hearing her having an argument with him and telling her mum to leave. She is so upset but moves to New York and builds a life there but 13 years later she hears from a friend that her grandie is ill so she decides to go back and see him. As soon as she lands in England she knows that honeysuckle farm will be her forever home as her life in New York is in tatters and she doesn't feel it's home. Once she's home her grandie is so pleased to see her and offers her an offer she really can't turn down but she wants her mum to be with her but does she change her mums mind and can she learn the family secret or can know one tell her what it is. She also meets Sam and feels she can be falling for him but he's not popular in the village at all so can she change people's minds or not and can she be happy.
This is an amazing book and so highly recommend you read it. Worth far more than five stars for sure.

Christie Barlow transports us into the wonderful and idyllic world of Brook Bridge. A small knit community of which you can easily visualise the country box houses and the quaint shops. It sounded heavenly and along with Honeysuckle Farm itself, I was ready to pack up and move there myself.

Alice is a wonderful protagonist. She is young, sensible, hard working but sadly struggling to follow her dreams. Going back to her childhood home gives her a much welcome break from the disappointment of New York. Reuniting with her childhood best friend and a new love interest to boot, why would you ever want to leave?

Grandie is a wonderful character. Even though weak from being ill, there is no mistaking the strong and loving aura that surrounds him. I was as desperate as Alice in finding out what had made her mum and Grandie fall out all those years before. I could never imagine not talking to a loved one for so long and couldn’t envision what could be that bad to stop them from talking and have a mother take her young daughter miles away from home. When we find out, WOAH! I did not see that coming! I think my jaw may have dropped and stayed there for quite a while until I remembered to fix it back into place.

A Home At Honeysuckle Farm is a comforting and breath taking read. When reading it you feel like you are in a warm and cosy bubble that you never want to leave. It radiates goodness of which you can’t help but fall in love with it all. A truly wonderful and fabulous story by one of my favourite go to authors who never lets me down.