OMG! A new Faith Bleasdale book! And it’s amazing. I love her books and I love this book.
The
Singer siblings are aghast at their fathers will which insists they live and work together for a year in order to inherit. This book explores grief, family dynamics and obligations, flux, change, power struggles and ultimately encompasses many of the flaws which makes us all human. And Faith does it so well! With warmth and humour and a light touch which I adore. We catch up with the Singer family when Gemma arrives, Gemma’s has been employed to turn the family home into a hotel and her interactions with the siblings are the basis of the book. Gemma takes on the family, the gardening club, the animal sanctuary, the bar for beautiful young things, the local village and all the characters in it during her time at Meadowbank! And Gemma has her own story too
Buy it. Read it. Share it!

I would recommend this book to those looking for a fun lighthearted read with a swish of suspense thrown in. So the writing style actually gave the book a more genuine feel. Overall the book was a different type of read for me but I did enjoy this book. I’d read more of this author again.

I received this ARC for a honest review.

I was very lukewarm about this book - the book has a unique cast of characters who are indeed very charmingly British. They seem to collect people as they go and join them into their family. The first 1/3 of the book - however - was very slow. I couldn't get into it at all. Perhaps if I had read the first book first this wouldn't have been an issue.

things I liked: quirky characters, cute animals, present pop-culture references
things I didn't like: that in order for Gemma to become interesting she had to start drinking, the lack of development in the relationships of the main characters (we're told Gemma and Pippa become best friends - but honestly I didn't really see it), the lack of good romance

Overall a sweet, slow read.

My review has been posted to my blog & Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

I have not read the first book in this series but it made no difference as the book works just as well on its own although I now want to read the first one and get more of a fix on the singer family. Great story , well written although I wanted more " freddie moments" the book had everything a good chic lit book should.

I was drawn to this book by the cover. I then read the description and felt that I would love the story. I received the book through Netgalley.com and then saw that this was the second book in the series. I wanted to begin with the first book, so I purchased it and read it before “Secrets At Meadowbrook Manor”. I enjoyed the first book in this series so much! I think I have found my newest favorite author. I think I received much more enjoyment reading the two books in the series in order, however, I do believe the second book could be read independently.

Gemma Matthews is a character introduced in this book. She is hired to help four siblings open a hotel in Meadowbrook Manor. The author, Faith Bleasdale, is excellent in her character development, location settings and describing emotions. I was so deeply involved in the story that I was laughing out loud and then crying. I feel like I know each of the people in this book and also the village. I was especially drawn to Gemma. I could identify with her on so many levels. My heart broke for her and it also took wings and flew. The relationship between Gemma and her Nan is a special bond and I felt it deeply. I love stories with all age groups, especially the elderly, so I enjoyed all the quirky village people from young to old.

I don’t want to write any spoilers to the plot. I think the story should be savored as it is unfolded. I enjoyed the journey of this book so much! I love Parker’s Hollow and wish I could visit. I am hoping for a third book in this series.

I want to thank NetGalley.com, Avon, and HarperCollins Publishers for the advanced reader’s copy of this book and introducing me to a new author. I definitely will be reading the author’s previous books. I hope my review will help others find this great author.

This is the second book in the Meadowbrook Manor series. As we left the first book, the Singer siblings were looking to convert Meadowbrook into a hotel.

We begin with the arrival of Gemma, a hotel consultant, who has been contracted by Pippa without the consent of her siblings. Gemma hasn’t had the best start in life; she was abandoned by her parents at a young age and was raised by her nan. Her nan is now suffering from dementia and Gemma needs the job to pay for her nan’s nursing home.

As Gemma gets to know the siblings and the hotel starts to take shape, a secret that Gemma has kept hidden comes to light and has the potential to ruin everything she has accomplished.

An entertaining read. It was lovely to see the characters grow from the first book. A story about family and friendship with a touch of romance to keep it interesting.

Gemma might be a little over her head when she lands the job converting Meadowbrook Manor into a hotel. AND, the Singer siblings might be royal pains because they've all got different ideas. I had not read the first book so it was my first meeting with this group-and I was quickly able to understand who is who etc. Gemma's secret is not a dark one but it does exist for a reason. She's a sympathetic character and you'll root for her in her nascent romance with Freddie. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good quick relaxing read.

Secrets at Meadowbrook Manor is an enjoyable read. I likes the story, characters and setting. I had not read the previous book and was concerned that I would be confused, not the case can be read as a stand-alone. The author is new to me and I enjoyed her writing. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC. This is my unbiased review.

I read the first book in this series and loved the story & characterisation so I couldn’t wait to download & read this follow up.
In all honesty, it didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed reading the first book & would highly recommend both books to anyone.

Gemma joins the siblings at Meadowbrook Manor to help them realise their hotel dream. Along the way she finds the family she’s been looking for but is Gemma all she seems?

Great follow up to the Year at Meadowbrook Manor but also can be read as a stand alone. This book has me laughing and crying. Revel in the family japes and get caught up in the web of intrigue dancing below the surface. Classic chick lit read. Great book.

I haven't read the first one in this series so I was a bit doubtful that I'd understand what was going on and who was who but as soon as I got into it, I was hooked and there was enough of a backing story for me to understand what was going on. Even though we didn't get the full blurb when this novel popped up on Netgalley, the title and the cover was enough for me to hit request.

It was such a gripping and enjoyable novel, I loved every page. It was heartwarming, romantic and in some parts - quite emotional! I didn't know what to expect but I was glad that I requested this novel.

This is my first book by this author and will not be the last as so brilliant from the first page I was hooked such an easy read with great characters and set in beautful countryside. It's all about trying to move forward after a difficult past but having a secret you don't want people to find out as it will change everything. Also has friendship and romance and heartbreak am deathly mystery Simply fantastic to read and really didn't want it to end and would love to see a follow on.
Gemma lives with her grandma but she sadly gets dementia and has to move into a home and to afford it gemma has to sell the bungalow they live in and her boyfriend isn't happy as he thought they could move in together so he leaves her. She sees a job at meadowbrook manor to start up a hotel with in the manor and decides to apply and she gets the job to which she didn't think she would. She starts her job and it comes with accommodation so she's happy and she wants to make everyone happy and show she can do it but she has to be careful as she's carrying a secret and she doesn't want anyone to find out what it is as will effect everything. She gets stuck into her job and makes great new friends and loves her job so much she does try and visit her grandmother when she can. She really doesn't want handsome Freddie to find out her secret and can they both fall for each other or not. Her secret is let out and it changes everything but whatvis the secret and then she looses her grandmother as well so her world falls apart but can she pull it back together or has she damaged her life for ever.
Great read and worth more than five stars for sure.

Such a delightful story, that was incredibly enjoyable and really transported me away from the heatwave and back into the lives of the Singer family.

This could be read as a standalone as plenty of back story is included, but having read the first book, I will say this is a lovely sequel, and I was delighted to be back among familiar characters.

We are introduced from the start to Gemma who has been hired to help the family convert Meadowbrook into a hotel - just one snag, all the siblings have greatly different visions for the place, and it takes a while for Gemma to get used to the infighting of the family, their fierce loyalty and general zaniness of all the local villagers too.

I loved every moment of this story, it is written in such a warm loving way and I was really fond of all the characters - although I did have to wonder if the romance I was predicting would ever happen - as I could see it a mile off even if the characters couldn't

This is s book that made me both laugh, smile and also in places feel rawer emotion, with Gemma's storyline with her nan. As I got to know Gemma the more I tended to kiek he but I did wonder just what she was hiding from time to time.

I am really hoping that this isn't the last we have seen of Meadowbrook and the Singers, I would love to be reunited with them again, especially with the developments in the epilogue!

It is great to see Faith Bleasdale back to her best, and whatever she writes next I am looking forward to reading it.

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

Gemma has given up everything, including her job, to take on the task of turning Meadowbrook Manor into a boutique hotel. Still struggling after a broken love affair, she soon learns that not all the family is happy to have her on board. She will have to pull out all the stops to keep her new job. I felt sorry for Gemma, the family was a little too cliquey and snooty for me