This is real "feel good" book, with a story, and characters are real, and believable. Cumbrian farmer's wife wants more out of life than being a housewife, but husband is not pleased at the status quo possibly changing.
When she decides to cook pies for her sister in law's farm shop, and then wins a local prize, and is entered into a London final of regional winners. Her husband dents her self-esteem, by suggesting she cannot possibly win, because he wants her at the farm to help with the sheep, and other things.
However, all's well that ends well!
I love the writing in this book, it brings the world of farming. baking, and the ups and downs of family life alive.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this. I look forwards to more Cathy Bramley books in the future.

I felt instantly at home reading this delightful new book by Cathy Bramley, it is a warm comforting sort of a book while at the same time inspirational that you can do more with your life, even in a small way that may make your loved ones immensely proud of you.

Which is exactly what Hetty is trying to do, as her daughter Poppy looks up to her aunty Naomi but not her mum, so Hetty is determined to change that. And it all comes down to pies, as that is what Hetty is good at, and the intention to try to start up a new farm to fork business.

However not all of the family are in agreement and it does cause tensions with husband Dan, who relies on Hetty far too much for farmwork.

There are some unexpected directions that this book goes in, which add to the readability and grippiness of the story. I loved the setting of Sunnybank Farm, and I was even happier to see spot one of Cathy Bramley's previous characters and her family making short cameos throughout the book which is a lovely gift for her fans, and if you haven't read the other book in question then it doesn't matter, as you may not even notice.

If you like pies then you will definitely love this book, if you love strong women trying to change their life then this is the book for you, if you want a well written, thoroughly enjoyable story that features plenty of food, family and friendship then look no further - Hetty's Farmhouse Bakery has all of that and more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Transworld for this coy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Yet again a lovely story from this author. Definitely recommended to those who like this style of book.

Having read all Cathy Bramleys titles so far and loving them, I can honestly say that Hettys farmhouse bakery is another winner. Pure escapism to sunny bank farm with a landscape so beautifully described, you can picture it all on your mind.
This story revolves around Hetty Greengrass - happily married for 12 years to Dan and living on sunnybank farm with daughter Poppy. Single Best friend Anna also lives in the village, (the school nurse) with 14 year old son Bart and up until recently life has been swimming along perfectly. But after being rocked by the death of her beloved dog, Hetty feels she wants more from life, some project she can call her own. Independence from being just a farmers wife. Encouraged by sister in law Naomi who owns a farm shop, Hetty who is passionate about making various pies decides to set up her own business baking.
After winning a regional pie competition Hetty is aiming for the London finals but suffers set backs along the way - mainly being husband Dan who doesn’t want her baking but being the unpaid help to his sheep farm dream .
Hettys dream turns up a few surprises and brings back people into her life she had lost touch with - Joe who had once been Dans best friend along with Hetty and Anna who after college disappeared from their life’s with no explanation, is the regional manager of the competition and has to face a past of heartache and secrets he had tried to avoid. For Hetty the biggest secret is about to unravel her whole life and threaten her baking businesses dreams.
I loved this book and would definitely recommend. I became in broiled in Hettys family and life. Her dream to get her pie business of the ground and even though I could of flattened husband Dan sometimes for his pure selfishness I couldn’t put it down. I had pretty much guessed what Anna and Joes secret was but couldn’t stop myself from page turning to see if I was right. This is a great book would make a good holiday read or something to escape to on a rainy day. Cathy bramleys books get better with each one published, am looking forward to her next one

This s the first of Cathy Bradley’s books that I have read and will certainly look for more. The story was lighthearted with likeable characters. It would be a perfect holiday read as it has A great feel-good factor. Thoroughly recommended.

I have a love and best author section for Cathy Bramley books so I know her style but only since last year...
This book takes a while to get gritty so I would say the first 30% is the background information of all the characters involved and yet it's mostly based around Hettys farmhouse... She is a woman in her 30s with her Husband Dan the farmer, and stunning daughter Poppy. Her best friend is Blondie Anna and she has a son Bart. The major Staley is about the relationship at Hettys farmhouse....
Betty had a chance to stay in Cornwall when she was younger but Dan needed her on the farm and they've been together since. They both feel like they skipped happier times going to university and following their dreams but they stayed and worked the farm instead. Hettys sister in law puts Hettys pies into a baking competition set in Cumbria and wins which then sets her off to London..
Dan isn't keen or supporting in any of this because all he sees is who will watch the farm but Betty needs something for herself and decides to go to London... whilst there she finds Gil, the teenage years of Cornwall were right in front of her... competition is looming and Betty is sent home in an emergency situation as there's been a terrible farming accident involving Dan and Bart.
Hetty leaves the competition for home to find Dan and Bart in hospital but Bart is fighting for his life. Dan is much better than Bart and Hetty divides her attention between the two. Anna is beside herself and she spills the beans on who is Barts father. It's one of those stories you can't guess at all because there's no hints of anything... Well wrote.
Hetty needs some space for the revelations and lies from Anna and has no-one to talk to to because Anna is the one she talks to but she's the one who has caused this... what will happen???
The characters are amazing, I loved Hetty and I loved Poppy too. Such a loving duet. I've only recently began to read Cathy Bramley books but I'm sweetly surprised and the taste of these pies are running through your veins as you read what she does... no soggy bottoms in Hettys farmhouse bakery.
I have read 4 books in 4 months by her and I'm halfway through her new Devon series. I was so happy when I got accepted by netgalley for this book and I am so happy to write a review. It's a fabulous read and you will NOT be disappointed in any way at all.
Thank you to Netgalley and Cathy publishers.

Hetty has reached a point in her life when she thinks she might want more.

She still wants what she has, Dan her hardworking farmer husband, Poppy her bright and energetic daughter, her best friend Anna there to listen to all of her woes as well as all the people she bakes pies for. But Hetty feels that she has not made an impact on the world - just on her little inner circle and doubt has set in as to whether she has actually achieved anything as Hetty Greengrass and not as a mother, wife or friend.

Hetty has done nothing other than work at the sheep farm, apart from a short sojourn of working in a Cornish pasty shop when her life suddenly changed for a while, meant she learnt the art of pastry but brought back to Cumbria to the man she loves, she simply continued that by baking the best pies - or so everyone says,

When she gets the chance to enter one of these pies into a local competition it throws Hetty into the spotlight and all of a sudden those around her are left in the background. Poppy is thrilled for her mother, but Dan does not understand why Hetty cannot be fulfilled with what she has.

Throwing caution to the wind, Hetty goes forth with her pies and faces from the past suddenly appear and questions that need answering. However tragedy strikes at home and everything pie related is but on hold as the tragedy starts a chain of events which changes lives.

I could see it coming and this is no reflection on Cathy Bramley's writing or plotting. The book is well written and you could see that the author has reflected on all the characters and the effect the tragedy would have on them. This was not simply about one person's issues and the rest of the characters faded into the background you got the full effect and you almost had to decide what you would perhaps do in that situation?

This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions as I almost wanted to scream at Dan for his chauvinistic pig headedness and but then felt for him so much later on in the book. Poppy has so much determination it was great to see a young girl portrayed as such and not one which was simply a whiny hormonal mess - although that might be to come. I could mention more but  then that would spoil the book for you - go read it.

A book that you can curl up with and lose yourself into a throughly good read - like a pie baked to perfection!

A very enjoyable read ,will Hetty reach her dream and open her own pie making company? .I expected this to be the usual predictable read, but was pleasantly surprised by the twist in the story. Well written, making the most of the authors knowledge of Cumbrian farming.

Tucking into a Cathy Bramley book is like a warm hug so it was a delight for me to read this.
I absolutely adored each and every character in this story each one was so unique and had their own storyline though it was based on Hetty's story.
I laughed and cried throughout and at times my heart just broke, it is real emotional!
Also it made my tummy rumble with all the food that was made and described it just sounded so delicious.
Just amazing!!!!
I never wanted this book to end it was so so good!

A perfect read for a rainy Valentines, I devoured this in one sitting. A lovely read about family, friendship and long buried secrets. Hetty is the epitome of a farmers wife but is wondering if there should be more. A dab hand at pie making her sister in law tricks her into making some for a local competition. Maybe this is the change she’s looking for to inspire her teenage daughter that she’s someone to look up to. This also made me want warm apple pie and custard after reading.

Loved this book. Has a feel good factor and easy to curl up with.

Hetty and Dan were at school together. At the end of school they separated although not for long. Dan's father died suddenly and he went to find Hetty and at the age of eighteen they both started to run the farm together. Their daughter Poppy is now 14 and very interested in continuing running the farm. Hetty feels life is passing her by and when her sister in law, Naomi, asks her to make pies for her Farm Shop she jumps at the chance. This leads her to winning competitions and suddenly the chance to do something for herself is there.
However, fate has several more twist and turns for Hetty which will challenge her and her marriage.

This is the first Cathy Bramley book I have read and I will now search out others. Hetty's Farmhouse Bakery is full of interesting characters (despite what they think) and has a storyline you instantly become immersed in. A good easy read.

This was the first book I have read by Cathy Bramley and I devoured it in one sitting as it was so good. I loved all of the characters and the warmth that shone through. The book focuses on the Greengrass family who own and run a farm and their family and friends also play a key part. Hetty wants more from life than just being a farmer’s wife and realises her talent for baking could be the start of a great business but her Husband Dan isn’t so sure.
If you like a story that focuses on friendships, love and has a baking theme for good measure then this is the book for you. An easy enjoyable read that I would highly recommend.

I always love reading a new Cathy Bramley book and this one didn't disappoint.

Her stories are always like receiving a nice warm hug and I found myself completely absorbed in the storyline.

Hetty Greengrass is married to her teenage sweetheart Dan who inherited the family farm when his father passed away unexpectedly when Dan was 18. They have a daughter Poppy who when asked about a role model at school picks her aunt Naomi who has her own successful farm shop.

This plunges Hetty into self doubt and a feeling that she hasn't really achieved anything that she set out to do when she was younger. With a push from her sister in - law Naomi she ventures out of her comfort zone and enters a competition run by Cumbria’s Finest.

I really liked and warmed to Hetty and completely understood why she wanted to do something for herself even if her husband Dan wasn't so keen. Cathy Bramley writes so well in helping you get into the characters heads and understanding them and you can't help but be charmed by her beautiful way of writing people who you feel you would like to be friends with!

There are some twists along the way that really helped the book from becoming too predictable and I loved hearing about the running of the farm. It's not something I could cope with!

With lots of lovely recipes along the way (don't read this book if you are hungry!) this book was an absolute delight to read from beginning to end.

Highly recommended from me.

This book is so much better than I was expecting from the title. It is a complex family drama with interesting characters. Love conquers all, but not in a yucky, schmaltzy way. Recommended.

I enjoyed the most of this book, but i didnt like the underlying themes within it.

Hetty runs a sheep farm with her husband dan and their daughter poppy. Hetty likes to bake pies and wants to make it into a business, but Dan says she cannot do it as he needs her to help him. I have to admit i was rather irritated at this point, but she does decide to pursue it and then makes a decision to give it all up because her marriage was more important, and then we find out that her husband betrayed her and fathered a baby with her best friend and its all sunshine and roses. She had forgiven him in just a few days and they were off at a hotel together. Not likely, he would of been divorced so fast. I am surprised in this day and age that authors would contnue to write opressing storylines like this and make the woman 2nd fiddle to a man. Very disappointing.

This is the first Cathy Bramley book I have read but it certainly won’t be the last.

Hetty and Dan, together with their daughter Poppy run Sunnybank Farm, a family sheep farm in Cumbria. They both had different dreams when they left school, Hetty wanted to go to university and Dan wanted to be a vet. When Poppy tells her teacher her inspiration is her aunt instead of her mother, Hetty feels disappointed and starts to reassess her life.

Hetty enjoys baking pies and when Dan’s sister encourages her to enter her pies in a regional food competition, Hetty decides that maybe her hobby can become a business which will make Poppy proud of her.

An enjoyable lighthearted story with likeable characters comprising family life, love, friendships and secrets which is well worth a read.

Another enjoyable easy read from Cathy. I loved Hetty and the setting of the book

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This is a wonderful story to really brighten up the dullest of days with a real feel good factor.
If anything the story is a little to sweet for my taste.

I loved this book by Cathy, as I have enjoyed all of her previous books. I really enjoy that background and research that goes into describing the farming life that the characters life's. I also like it when a previous character pops up from an earlier book, carrying on their story as a background character. I really enjoyed Hetty's journey, re-evaluating her life after many years as 'just a Farmers Wife', now that her daughter is a little older and needing her less, although still loving her Mum. I was really pleased that Hetty was able to do something that was her own, in order to re-establish her own identity a little.