Favorite Quotes:

… living with a fourteen-year-old gave a whole new insight into exactly how phoney people could be, although teenagers weren’t truly ‘people’ yet, more ‘humans in training ’.

… there’s not much of a dating pool round here. More of a puddle!

You’re the first woman to make me feel that I haven’t wasted my life making quilts and learning to crochet rather than strutting bare-chested down the street with power tools strapped to my body.

The other two men were just standing staring at Gabriel as though he’d suddenly ripped his clothes off to display Jean-Claude van Damme under his coat… Karen’s mouth fell open and the cocktail cherry dropped out.

I never knew bullies kept on being bullies when they were grown up… I thought you grew out of being a shithead like you grow out of wanting a fringe and sucking your thumb.

They looked a bit shocked and I realised that this was Poppy’s first exposure to a properly poorly person. My mother, despite her aches, pains and general incessant complaints, was fit and well and her grand -mère had the air of one who had had herself embalmed at the age of seventy to save time later.

My Review:

While continuing with my adoration of Jane Lovering (and I am totally enamored now), I giggle-snorted and smirked my way through this highly amusing tale, and will be honest and say I also barked a few times at the keen visuals and humorous imagery this talented wordsmith painted with her clever arrangements of words. Her crafty wordplay and impressive vocabulary skills rival Webster’s, although I believe he had a lot of help in amassing his.

The storylines were fresh and engaging and populated with an interesting mix of uniquely peculiar yet oddly intriguing characters, as well as a profoundly obnoxious teen named Poppy who was greatly annoying and had me wanting to glue her lips together. Poppy could be the poster child for birth control and the prime example of why many Brits send their offspring to boarding school. But of course, I was a total delight at age fourteen.

How refreshing that Katie's country cottage should be as far from an idyllic, cosy dwelling as you could get. It is rundown, full of woodlice and spiders, dusty and generally in need of some TLC. Katie can see beyond this but first, she needs to gather some cash together. In the meantime, she appreciates how it seems hidden away, completely off the beaten track. Katie is taking a time out from her past life. You come to understand why she feels like this as the story unfolds.

There are some great secondary characters. Katie's daughter and friends add some humour. Some seem to be able to see beyond the surface and realise how vulnerable Katie actually is. Luc is not your run of the mill male lead character. He has a sensitive and vulnerable side and you can believe in him. Through Luc and Katie, you see the effects of childhood traumatic events on the adults and come to understand why Katie is so protective of her daughter. With quirky characters and some poignant moments, this is a great read and well worth it.

In short: A heartwarming read
Thanks to Boldwood Books for a copy of the book

This is one of those books where nothing much happens but there's a hint of underlying drama. In this case why Katie's dad died. The biggest story let down EVER! This ruined the book for me, other than this it was a sweet romance story but with not much substance.

This is the first novel I’ve read by Jane Lovering and I really enjoyed it. The story charmed me with it’s gorgeous idyllic setting and I fell in love with the characters, even the sub-characters.

Katie and her teenage daughter, Poppy, have escaped their lifestyle in London and following the divorce of her ex-husband she has purchased a dilapidated cottage in the Dorset countryside not too far from the coastline. Harvest Cottage sounds idyllic but it’s far from perfect with it’s damp walls and resident woodlice but Katie sees potential in the building and I do too see character and charm within the walls.

Harvest Cottage is isolated from the village but Katie soon finds she has a neighbour; a whimsical gypsy caravan and piebald horse have turned up in the lane adjoining her property. As there is no owner for either the horse or caravanin sight Katie feels they have been left abandoned. A kindly gentleman in the name of Gabriel, full of quirks and as handsome as they come, soon visits Katie to inform her of the horse and van’s owner.

The arrival of the new neighbour and of Gabriel start a catalyst of new beginnings for Katie and Poppy. Life will never be the same for the girls and Katie starts to appreciate her past and acknowledge the secrets she has held with such emotional pressure. She learns to accept the simpler things and the new people that enter her life enrich her beyond anything she’s received from the big city.

A delightful story that is about new beginnings, new friendships and new opportunities. About learning from the past and accepting life with it’s all bumps in the road. I fell in love with Harvest Cottage, with Katie and Poppy but most of all I fell in love with Gabriel. Such a beautiful person inside and out; humble, intelligent, creative and community minded. Katie and Gabriel are two vulnerable people learning from their past, will fate play it’s hand in bringing these two insecure individuals together? Can Katie and Poppy learn to appreciate life at a different pace to the city of London?

Delightful, charming and I didn’t want the story to end.

We are back in Christmas Steepleton, this time following the story of Katie – who has fled London after being cheated on – and her teenage daughter, Poppy, who obviously blames her mother for ruining her life by taking them to a village on the Dorset coast.

The cottage that they’ve bought has been empty and neglected for years, so will need a lot of money spending on it; money that Katie is running short of. Then neighbour Gabriel suggests renting it out as a film/television location.

This is a lovely story that I had difficulty putting down, and another book by Jane Lovering that I’ve really enjoyed, and recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Oh, how I love cottage stories. If it's located in England it gains even more points. There’s just something incredibly alluring about an English cottage. I imagine the cozy warmth. The comfort. The homey-ness. The charm. Sooo… I was quite surprised that the Harvest Cottage didn’t fit very neatly into that image in my brain. This cottage was cold, drafty, run-down, and rumored to be haunted. The proposal to use her cottage for a filming location was an offer Katie really couldn’t afford to turn down.

This is such a fun and absorbing story. I sank in effortlessly and easily connected with Katie. I sympathized with her bumpy past, her taking a step back from her well-to-do ex-life, her spirited daughter, and her efforts at her new cottage. I enjoyed her feisty, energetic personality, felt her isolation, and rooted for her to find new happiness.

These characters are nicely developed. I LOVE that Gabriel is an unconventional hero. His disability makes him much more interesting, and his personality is amenable, making it easy to bond with him. I sympathized with him, rooted for him, and he touched my heart. Granny Mary is also interesting and gives the story a bit of fun. Poppy, though she’s annoying, sassy, and exasperating, holds her own sort of charm and gives an added layer to Katie’s story. And then there’s Patrick—the equine charmer. ;)

This is a delightful tale in a coastal England setting. A heart-warming second-chance story I didn’t want to end.
I received a complimentary ecopy of this book.

This is the third book that I have read which is written by Jane Lovering. It is standalone book which is set in Christmas Steepleton, a fictional coastal village in Dorset. It is the location of two of her previous books. One or two of the previous characters pop up from time to time, which is lovely.
Although this is set in a fictional village, the surrounding towns are real places, and I am familiar with them. It made the book more realistic and enjoyable for me.
As is the case with her previous books, the characters are not perfect and perceive themselves to have faults and flaws. It is nice to have the male protagonist, Gabe, as someone who is not a typical alpha male. It makes the book more relatable.
I would say that this is my favourite book in the Christmas Steepleton series so far. I loved the characters and the storyline. It was a lovely heartwarming, easygoing and gentle read. I am looking forward to reading more books by Jane Lovering. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

A perfect book for a lazy afternoon. It's a heartwarming and well written story that kept me hooked.
Great characters, lovely setting, a solid plot. I liked how the author deals with topics like betrayal, trust and moving on.
It's an engrossing and enjoyable read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Absolutely charming and gorgeous read! I have loved all the Jane Lovering books I read so far and The Country Escape is no different.
Likeable characters, charming setting and warm friendships with a dash of humor, this book is a perfect read for any occasion.
The Country Escape is the story of having second chances at life and in love, facing our fears and choosing to trust someone after a betrayal. I absolutely loved every bit of this story. A highly recommended read from me.

This is an absolutely gorgeous read and a new author for me which always makes me a little worried. This has engaged me from very early on and I have found that the author's writing style has been enjoyable and an easy read.

This book has a beautiful setting and one I wish I could escape to, although the author has painted a clear picture in my head. This is filled with great characters and is the perfect romantic gem that I have needed on a grey afternoon.
This has been a beautiful read and one which I have devoured. I absolutely cannot wait to read more by this author. I have definitely been converted as a fan.

As I’ve mentioned before, Jane Lovering is one of my favourite authors. Her books are romantic but not filled with hearts and flowers. Her characters are, more often than not, flawed and hiding a part of the themselves from scrutiny. The Country Escape does not disappoint.
I viewed this book as the third in the Seasons by the Sea series. There is reference to several of the characters that we met in the first two books, but this is definitely enjoyable as a standalone story.
Katie is nursing the scars of a broken marriage; she’s been cheated on and has fled to a remote cottage on the Dorset coastline. Her daughter, Poppy, is a typical fourteen-year-old who is petulant and blames her mother for ruining her life. Gabriel is a gentle soul who is clearly smitten with Katie, but his scars run deep and trusting someone is a tough call.
This series has proved to be wonderful. I’ve enjoyed the way Jane creates characters who are often removed from usual expectations. This is not a book about perfect people, yet I loved each one of them. Special mention must be given to Granny Mary and Patrick.
The Country Escape is a story about facing fears, taking hold of self-doubt and laughing in its face. Sometimes, it’s in the darkest of times that we realise how restrictive those fears can be. It’s at that moment that we find the strength cast them aside and take hold of our lives.
Please read this book, you won’t regret it!

Perfect summer read! The Country Escape is set in a lovely rural setting and features some very sympathetic characters, and a horse! Even the teenage daughter is almost lovable..

Such an enchanting book to read.
I found myself engrossed in all these characters.
Heartwarming. Funny in places. A breath of fresh air.
Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down, its a book your will keep saying just one more chapter.
Right till the end with a happy one.
This book will definitely fill you and put a smile on your face.
Loved it.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I actually was surprised how much I liked this book, great storyline and likeable characters. Would recommend.

A lovely warm hearted book from Jane Lovering. Full of eccentric characters and a wonderful storyline, this was an easy and enjoyable read.

Katie and her 14 year old daughter Poppy move to the tiny village of Christmas Steepleton in Devon from London after Katie's divorce from the wealthy, charming, but cheating frenchman Luc. Having bought the tiny tumbledown cottage outright from her share of the proceeds of the sale of their flat in London, Katie realises she has no job and the likelihood of an elite girls' school needing a French teacher is kind of remote.

Then a series of events bring a cantankerous old woman who goes by the name of Granny Mary, a fat pony, and a handsome but short-sighted local called Gabriel into her sphere.

I'm a great fan of Jane Lovering's novels, she writes interesting characters, often with unusual quirks or issues, set in charming places but with a healthy dose of reality. This one is no different, Gabriel is a breath of fresh air after all the alpha male heroes of so many romances, and Katie's anxieties are based on an event in her childhood.

If you are looking for a charming romance then look no further.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Is it appropriate to describe a novel as adorable? And why not, if it is a light and highly entertaining read especially during these stressful and unsettled times. I have not read Jane Lovering before and don't know how I've missed her previous books.

To those readers who worry if there is "language" in this book, or sex, the answer to both is yes in that there is one "F" Bomb, one or two "S" words, and a couple of very tame love scenes, so go ahead and splurge without fear.

Katie and her 14 year old daughter move to a decrepit cottage in Dorset that looks, according to Katie, like the architect was one of the Grimm brothers. Katie is divorced from a wealthy French vintner/playboy. Try and suspend disbelief as to why the alimony doesn't go further than the tiny wreck of a house, given the wealth of her ex.

Enter Gabriel, an almost blind craftsperson , a very shaggy pony named Patrick, the painted caravan he's attached to and a his and its owner, Granny Mary. Everyone has secrets, but they're not very dark, and Poppy, the 14 year old finds love in the country as well. The story moves on apace with much bad weather and multiples of woodlice (whatever they are). Aside from more than a few grammatical errors , the book is well written and filled with chuckles. If you like horses, like I do, and are a sucker for stories of English village life, rush out and buy a copy of The Country Escape.


thanks so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the chance to read and review (and enjoy) this ARC.

Katie and her daughter Poppy move to the Dorset countryside after Katie's divorce from her husband Luc. The cottage is not the idyllic home that you normally dream of, with rattling windows and water running down the walls. The chance comes along of the cottage being used as a location for a film with the help of a new friend Gabriel, giving some much needed funds. Throw in an eccentric "Granny Mary" and her pony Patrick and the story unfolds.
It makes a nice change having the male lead not being a torn vest wearing, chainsaw welding alpha male. With the location giving probably a more realistic view of living in the countryside Gabriel, along with the other characters in the book, made for a thoroughly entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed and can definitely recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Some Idyllic Escapism.....
Some idyllic escapism with an escape to the country. The little village of Christmas Steepleton, where even the name is comforting, in the coastal area of Dorset. With likeable protagonists, a colourful cast of supporting characters, an enjoyable storyline and not forgetting a beautiful backdrop this is an easy, relaxing read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy copy.

Leaving London Katie and her 14-year-old daughter Poppy move to Dorset, a cottage in desperate need of TLC.

Katie knows that doing up the cottage is going to take loads of money which she is running low on, so when she is offered by a film company money in return for the use of the cottage, she jumps at the chance.

Gabriel, who first puts the idea to her, and who is there to help her when the filming company arrives, also has issues which he is dealing with at present as well as in the past.

Will Katie and Gabriel overcome these issues and become more than friends or will Katie decide she’s had enough and leave Dorset????