Rowan and Tom fall in love with the dilapidated Magnolia House, it needs a lot of work, but Rowan has money left to her by her grandmother to invest in it. They are lucky and win the auction and so renovations begin.

They move in, blissfully happy, but then tragedy strikes…..twice ! Oh my this was heartbreaking reading…

Rowan decides to convert Magnolia House into 3 apartments and rent two out for an income and we meet the wonderful Ace….such a character, and James. We also meet Nora and her lovely daughter Primrose.

There is also Tom’s sister, Libby and her husband David….they have their own problems with Libby’s secret credit card debt and infertility….all handled very sympathetically by Angela Barton.

There is such drama in this small group of friends and family, there’s bereavement, miscarriage, debt, infertility, infidelity and betrayal but also a lot of love in this incredibly moving tale….will Rowan recover? Will she move to France? Will she ever trust anyone again?

The characters are so likeable (well most of them) and feel so real and this is a credit to Angela Barton’s creative and emotion packed writing. I loved every minute and if you love an emotional, but ultimately uplifting read….this is a must.

Thank you to The author, publisher and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook and this is my honest, unbiased review

When Rowan and Tom bought Magnolia House at auction, a beautiful townhouse they thought they were set up for life..... but fate had other things in store for them and Rowan its left grieving and trying to find a way forward on her own. Deciding to turn the house into three flats she gains Ace and Nora and her daughter as lodgers.

A lovely story full of heartbreak but also joy. I loved her tentative feelings for James which were also tempered with guilt..... was it wrong to move on from Tom?

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

Rowan and Tom are a couple in love, with a dream to own a run-down Georgian townhome in London, just minutes from Tom’s sister and her husband. With the aid of Rowan’s inheritance from her grandmother, they get the house at auction, and are able to refit and renovate for a new start – with a photography studio in the basement for Tom and plenty of light and bright space for Rowan to create her jewelry. And things are lovely, with only a few hiccups from a client of Tom’s and Rowan’s big secret – she’s pregnant and can’t wait to share the news.

But a sudden appearance of a heart condition takes Tom away, leaving Rowan, his sister Libby and her husband / best friend David grieving and bereft. Wanting nothing more than to hide away until the pain subsides, but needing to do SOMETHING, Rowan organizes for contractors to split the house into three flats – giving her some income and people around her. And while she’s struggling to figure that all out, she heads to France to her parents’ home, just to regroup and have a break from the noise and construction debris. An ill-advised open car door results in her meeting her first tenant, Mason (or Ace) is flamboyant, friendly and utterly adorable, and with his own living situation in London going pear-shaped he’s moving in with plenty of laughter and good-will.

We follow Rowan through a year of her grief, interspersed with concerns about Libby and David’s marriage, a miscarriage, new feelings for someone else, and a series of strangely threatening notes, all leading to a climax that leave Rowan feeling both hollowed out and fed up with it all. Grief is a funny thing, and the moments of Rowan’s dealing with it by ignoring, pushing herself, railing and sobbing all felt normal and solidly portrayed, while the characters of Ace, James, Libby, David and Nora, as well as her little spaniel Jet gave little reprieves from both the grief and the struggles to move on. What emerges is a solidly presented and clever story that allows us to understand and appreciate Rowan, empathize with Libby and wonder about the changes as they are approaching almost before a year has passed since Tom’s death. Solid friendships, true caring and plenty of drama that results from poor choices and secrets are all clear and palpable, and the story brings brightness and happiness to most everyone we meet.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aiG/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

I thoroughly enjoyed this story which has a touch of everything from romance, to sadness and an interesting hint of suspense. Rowan and Tom’s plans include renovating a house in London but when their dreams are torn apart she struggles with a multitude of emotions while trying to decide a new direction for her life. The many sensitive issues this story touches on are handled deftly and we’re brought on the journey with Rowan, laughing and crying along with her. The secondary cast of characters only add to the depth of this book bringing intrigue along with a lot of laughter and bolster the uplifting resolution to a charming story.

Aww! Just perfect! Simply a wonderful, very enjoyable read. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Suspense, hope and love

This is Rowan's story, which takes the reader on a wonderful journey that includes sorrow, happiness and hope.

Rowan's husband appears to have some secrets, but then so does Rowan, who is waiting for the right moment to tell hers. A move to a new house in Clapham, London seems just perfect. They are close to the Common, close to Rowan's sister in law and everything is very exciting. Then in a moment it all changes, and Rowan need to have a big re-think about her future.

Meanwhile Libby (Rowan's sister in law) enjoys shopping rather too much, and finds life is getting somewhat out of control.

4*s from me for this comforting, lovely read, about friendship, love and new beginnings. The writing style made me feel completely involved, and there were some wonderful details about English life. I enjoyed the suspense about Rowan's husband's secrets, and loved the characters. Although including some difficult themes, this is a book of joy and positivity.

An entrancing tale. I was enraptured from the first chapter. Plenty of intrigue throughout with a twist with a twist! Highs and lows this book has them all. It was so easy to lose myself in this book. I was sorry to say goodbye to the characters at the end. This is a book to binge on. Highly recommended read.

Thank you NetGalley.

There are times when I’ve read a story that has engaged my emotions made me feel for the characters – and there have been times when the events that happen to characters simply leave me an emotional wreck… that is what MAGNOLIA HOUSE did for me.

You will not close that final page of this book without feeling something – grief, hope, despair, anger, renewed faith, and the ability to breathe freely once more. You will wonder how the human heart can go through as much as Rowen does and still survive. You will, at the very least, get misty-eyed or downright sobbing may occur. In the end, you’ll discover that there is hope, life after you’ve been beaten down to the point where survival is the only option.

MAGNOLIA HOUSE delivers a strong story full of secrets, lies, tragedy, hope, friendship, recovery and a chance to find happiness again when you once thought that was an impossible dream.

I absolutely loved this story, I sincerely hope that we’ll get another story that follows these characters further along in life because I’m now emotionally engaged in their welfare. This is one of those stories where a reader needs to discover the nuances for themselves, to find those little nuggets of wisdom or solve a puzzle. My saying much more would take that gift away from you… and this story is a gift from the heart, and I hope you’ll enjoy every moment spent in this world, I know I did.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

What a great book! Angela Barton takes you through highs and lows of life. This book really grabbed my attention and held it! Hard to review without giving away spoilers! Since I don't like spoilers I will simply say "This is a book we all should read as it shows us the courage to find our own second chances."


I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review!

A Thoroughly Enjoyable Read

I loved Magnolia House. This is the first book by Angela Barton I have read and I will now be investigating other titles by this author. Interesting characters with lots of intrigue and secrets, which is just how I like my novels.. Great read - thank you!

I loved this story. Brilliant characters and lovely story. This is a gem of a book. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A lovely book about a woman remaking her life after tragedy. Rowan had so much to look forward to- and then not. What she had left was house, Magnolia House, but that's a little overwhelming. She opts to take in housemates, a positive in so many ways. Ace is just awesome and just the person she needs to perk up her life. James, however, is tempting but....There's a gentle dance toward romance here. Barton does not shy away from the serious issues Rowan faced or her conflict at finding a possibility of happiness. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A rewarding read.

What a read! It’s hard to write a review sometimes without revealing spoilers and this book is one of those. But I really enjoyed this and there were several twists that I didn’t see coming at all. Thoroughly enjoyed this and would really recommend it.

Magnolia House by Angela Barton
Source: NetGalley and Choc Lit Publishing
My Rating: 5/5 stars

Magnolia House is everything Rowan Forrester and her husband could have ever wished for in a home! With rooms perfect for living and for working, Magnolia House was meant to be the start of a wonderful future, the newest chapter in an already happy marriage. Unfortunately, the universe doesn’t always dance to the same tune as our wishes and within weeks of moving in, Rowan finds herself very much alone and unsure of her future.

Not willing to turn her life upside down yet again, Rowan decides to renovate Magnolia House making it suitable for both herself and renters. Bringing strangers into her home is a scary prospect, but for once, the universe seems to be on Rowan’s side. While visiting her parents in France, she inadvertently runs into (literally!) Ace, a wonderfully happy, energetic, and enthusiastic man who happens to be looking for a new place to call home back in jolly old England. One suite down, one to go . . .

Nora and her adorable daughter, Primrose have been down on their luck for a time, but things are starting to look up and the first bit of hope they have had comes in the form of a suite in Magnolia House. Nora is a model and wonderful mother and the new company brings a bit of joy back to Rowan’s life and certainly to Magnolia House.

As everyone settles into their new lives, new homes, and new arrangements, Rowan does her best to navigate it all and move past the heartache of her loss. She becomes fast friends with Ace, finds some small success with her jewelry making small business, adores looking after Primrose and chatting with Nora, and disturbingly attracted to Ace’s roommate. Yes, things are definitely changing in Rowan’s life; sadly, not all the changes are good.

Though Rowan’s jewelry is selling well, she needs to do more, make more, market more if she is going to have a successful and proper business. Her attraction to James is exciting yet also feels like a betrayal of her late husband, her best friend (and sister-in-law) is clearly struggling with something beyond the loss of her brother, and there are the nasty messages that keep appearing, messages that hint at a dark past Rowan knows nothing about. As if the grieving process weren’t enough, Rowan also must deal with all these issues as well as the day-to-day bits that life always seems to throw at her. Little does Rowan know, all the problems and all the issues are going to come to light and be dealt with in one crushing moment and Magnolia House will never be the same again.

The Bottom Line: I have had a truly excellent start to my book reading year and Magnolia House is just one more example of the excellence! The synopsis really doesn’t do this book justice with regards to how much actually occurs, how many lives and moments intersect, and how the past comes crashing, in a most spectacular way into the present. This isn’t just a story about love, friendship, and loyalty, but also one of learning to trust again, healing, and accepting the past for what it was and moving beyond it into a bright and hopeful future. Magnolia House is also very much about the strength of one woman who discovers rock bottom does indeed have a basement and there is nowhere to go from the basement, but up. I found this strange mixing of people and events to be most enjoyable with all the emotions and feels and plot twists to be entirely engrossing. Once Magnolia House really got moving, I found it hard to put down and very much plowed my way through to the much deserved HEA.

Rowan Forrester and her husband, Tom, buy a large Georgian townhouse in London after they put in the winning bid in an auction. While the house needs a lot of work, to Rowan and Tom it's perfect - the location is awesome for Tom because it's near his sister, and it's great for Rowan because it's near her best friend, Libby.  Rowan is pregnant and her jewelry business is just about to launch. Everything seems just so perfect. 

Then, suddenly, everything goes wrong. Rowan's life is turned upside down and life as she knows it completely changes. She's forced to open the doors of the Magnolia house and take on roommates. She never thinks about how this would affect the rest of her life.  In all honesty, Rowan's situation made me feel bad for her and I thought she kind of got the shaft.  

Rowan's first roommate was "Ace" (Mason), the flamboyant gay owner of a second hand clothing shop and he's such a great character! Rowan seems to be pulling her life back together and things seem to be getting better. 

The author definitely addresses some real issues in Magnolia House such as betrayal, depression and even infertility. On the flipside, the story is also about love and friendship. The characters are well developed and believable, and the story was great! I'll definitely be on the lookout for Ms. Barton's next novel!

I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy as a member of the Star Blogging Team from Chic Lit Team through Ruby Fiction in exchange for my post.  I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so! Thank you!

Absolutely loved this book flew through it. Loved the characters & such a heart warming story would reccomend this to anyone.