What a really lovely book. Quirky and different. Great story, delightful characters. High feelgood factor without seeming remotely cliched. Just fabulous!

A lovely feelgood heartwarming story, Gwen and Jarvis made great main characters with a load of others that are relatable and memorable, the village is somewhere that you would want to live and the storyline is interesting. Very enjoyable easy to read book

I am a huge fan of Tracy Rees but this book felt quite different from the others I’ve read. Gwen and Jarvis volunteer to help the local vicar raise funds for a new church roof by contacting people who have written in the visitor’s book. It’s a story of friendship and even though it doesn’t hold many surprises, it is an enjoyable comforting read. It it was a TV drama, it would be on at 8pm on Sunday evenings.

While I'm late to my review, I was grateful for the opportunity to read this one. It's a slow paced, charming, simple read that will remind you of a number of things: hope is never lost, cherish what you love, pursue happiness, your never too old to change, and that community cares.

A warm and sweet love story about loss and fighting for what you love. Also to never give up hope. Thank you for the ARC.

I’m such a huge fan of Tracy Rees and think her historicals are brilliant. Couldn’t wait to get my hands on this. I’ll be looking out for her next modern novel as well as her historicals now.

St. Domneva may be a small church in Hopley Village, but it is stooped in history and memories. However, the church just might have to close its doors. Will a fundraiser by means of a visitor's book from a long time ago be the answer the little church needs to recover?

Vicar Dave has the idea, but will the idea be effective, and who indeed can do the hard work of contacting countless people in order to ask for donations? Two people step up, albeit reluctantly - Gwen and Jarvis. They are each connected to the church for very different reasons. They both know that the roof needs replacing on the church and that the funds required will be very difficult to come by.

Gwen and Jarvis each have a story - both lost but now with a common goal. They devise a plan of action with the visitor's book and begin the long process of contacting people who have signed the visitor's books. In Gwen's case she has lost her parents and her aunt has taken her in. However, their relationship is challenged and thus Gwen is quite unhappy. With Jarvis, his education in art took a wrong turn and he has found solace in the bottle. Will Gwen and Jarvis be able to put aside their problems long enough to present a united force?

What an endearing story! I love how, despite their difficulties, both Gwen and Jarvis were able to draw upon their strengths in order to work together to save the church. Jarvis has a more of a bit of an uphill battle. Not only must he put the drink behind, he is trapped in the dream of finding a woman he met previously at the church. Their selflessness shines through on the journey for the church, all while interesting characters and stories cross their paths.

I hadn't read anything by Tracy Rees before now but I am glad to say that I was more than enamored with this story. I actually could not put the book down as I was very drawn to the drama in their lives, all while enjoying the pair forging a strong friendship even though at first they seemed like polar opposites.

Not only did I love the story and the characters - and that includes Vicar Dave - but I really loved the village. The ending was a pure delight. How exciting to know that this is the first book in a new series! I cannot wait to see what future stories will be developed as well as other characters that are to come.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This is book 13 of my 20 Books of Summer 2021.

I love Tracy Rees and she hits the spot again with this wonderful feelgood story of hope, friendship and finding purpose in a world that seems to often be against you.

Gwen finds herself back in Hopley, the village where she grew up, and she's feeling lost. But she finds solace at the little local church and becomes rather obsessed with the visitor book, connecting with the little messages that each visitor over the years has left. She's living with her Aunt Mary and it's proving a very stressful time.

Jarvis is also living in Hopley, and living with his parents, seemingly having no real plan for life, other than enjoying a drink or 3! To appease his parents, he finds himself volunteering to help out after a plea from the local vicar to raise much needed funds for the church. So that's how Jarvis meets Gwen.

They soon become addicted to tracking down people who have put messages in the visitor book, in the hope that they might donate some money to the fund! And the feelings of self worth and joy it gives them to find someone and get a donation is truly heartwarming! And the more time they spend focussed on this and not all the negative things in their lives, it starts to make them both blossom as people and start to thinking about their own dreams and passions.

The characters in this book are just the loveliest! And it was wonderful to see how just a simple task could bring about such change in their fortunes. I loved hearing from the past visitors of how this little church had meant so much to them and stayed in their minds, and how their different stories helped open new doors of opportunities for Gwen and Jarvis.

A wonderfully uplifting read!!

This was a sweet read where the two main characters met up with a common agenda to raise funds for the church. The writing was kind to me when I needed it the most, filling me with hope and laughter in the prose, and I could finish this within a couple of hours or so when the outside world was ravaged by the pandemic.

A church in need of funds for a new roof, an Archdeacon who wonders if it’s time to let go of the church with low figures and a lacklustre congregation … pitted against Vicar Dave and his inspiration who needs to stay in Hopley for Wendy and two younger members of the community who have lost their way and need something with meaning in their lives, is our fabulous introduction to Tracy Rees’ new series, Hopley Village.

When we first meet Gwen, her days are grey and she feels like she’s living an invisible existence. Shy and withdrawn, as she works on the church project with Jarvis, we see her gain confidence and blossom. I loved her character development. She is a positive influence on Jarvis.

Jarvis, the stereotypical layabout, lives with his family and doesn’t pay rent. He has an ulterior motive for wanting to get involved in the project. Unexpectedly, he finds a kindred spirit in Gwen. Nothing is ever black and white though is it … I loved seeing his dreams resurfacing after a brutal dent to his confidence.

Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church is a heart-warming story. It’s clear from Gwen and Jarvis reaching out to others that Hopley has a special place in a lot of hearts. I loved all the characters we get to meet, no matter how briefly. And I’m looking forward to getting to know the residents of Hopley, both present and I’m guessing those returning 🙂

Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church by Tracy Rees is a lovely feel good read that captivated me from the very first page right up until the final heartwarming page had been turned. Sometimes all you need is a story that will lift you up and take you away from the reality of the real world and this book does just that. An utterly charming read with characters you can’t help but care about, I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent within the pages of Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church.

After a tragedy has left her jobless and heartbroken, 26 year old Gwen Stanley retreats to Hopley, a crumbling little village deep in the heart of the English countryside. Feeling lost and alone for the first time in her life, she stumbles across a tiny, neglected church at the edge of the village. There she finds a book full of local secrets and is soon drawn into the mystery of who left them there and why. But when she meets local artist Jarvis who appears to be just as enamoured by the book as she is, she finds herself drawn closer and closer to him.

Can Gwen finally put the heartache of the past behind her? And is it possible that the little village church holds the key to mending her broken heart?

Tracy Rees has written a gorgeous story that embraces what it is to be part of a community. With warm and true to life characters, Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church draws you in and keeps you turning the pages long into the night. I loved the three main characters, Gwen, Jarvis and Vicar Dave as they pulled together to try to save the little church and bring it back into the heart of the community once again. With its interwoven stories, interesting characters and beautiful setting I have a feeling this won’t be the last we’ll be seeing of Hopley Village and I’m already eagerly awaiting the next instalment of this delightful series of books.

Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church is the perfect feel good read to lift your spirits this spring and is a pure delight from beginning to end.

Reading this book was pure, pure joy!! I loved everything about this cute, heartwarming book and I had a big smile on my face by the end of it 💖! I adored both the main characters, Gwen Stanley and Jarvis Millwood, two broken, lost souls who bloom and end up finding a purpose to their lives (both professional and personal) while volunteering to help raise funds needed to mend the broken roof of their church. I loved their banter and the fact that Gwen, who is very shy and socially awkward as a person, feels comfortable with Jarvis straight away and how their interaction helps her slowly open up. The setting and all the supporting characters add their own charm to the story. This was a positive book all the way through and it left me with a nice, warm, tinkling, fudgy feeling.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Tracy Rees for the e-Arc of the book.

Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Starting out in a sleepy village, we meet Gwen: living with her aunt after her parents' sudden deaths, she’s mired in grief and grey. Her aunt isn’t particularly nice: sharp tongued and negative, everything that Gwen does is met with a “that will come to no good end’ sort of response. But Gwen, stuck in Hopley and feeling hopeless isn’t without her own means of escape: church every Sunday at the lovely old village church, working two days a week at the local surveyor’s office, and dreaming of the entries in the church’s guestbook.

Jarvis lives at home with his parents, works part-time at a local shop and spends the rest of his days (and nights) drinking with friends or playing video games. An art school dropout, his confidence was shattered, and he’s done everything to live up to the ‘failure’ label, even knowing that it hurts his mother and leaves him feeling guilty. Since the only nod he makes to his mother’s wishes is to attend church every Sunday, he’s there to hear yet another plea for the ‘roof fund’ from Vicar Dave.

Vicar Dave has hit the proverbial wall: needing thousands of pounds to repair the roof and having a sparse and essentially elderly congregation with few exceptions has left him with few options – and an Archdeacon who is threatening to move he and his family to another post. He’s decided to ask for volunteers to comb through the visitor’s book to see if new leads for donations can be unearthed. Surprisingly, both Gwen and Jarvis express interest, although the Vicar couldn’t find two more unlikely options. He’s not too hopeful that they will do the work, can do it, or will even show up.

This is the point at which the story takes off. Gwen has a writer’s heart and loves the notes and comments left: imagining their stories, able to discern information from bits of poetry used, even a bit of imagination. Gwen reckons that being out of her Aunt Mary’s earshot and away from the gloomy council house could be nothing short of wonderful – and give her a break from her aunt’s constant nagging and negativity. For his part, Jarvis’ reasons are simple: he was painting by the church one day, met a woman, and fell head over heels. But she left via another exit – and the two never set eyes upon one another again. And, it wouldn’t kill him to give up a few hours of nothingness – particularly when his mother is so pleased.

These two lost souls have to work together – and Jarvis sees that Gwen, although painfully shy is sharp, smart, funny and sweet – just has no confidence and is essentially lonely. He’s realizing that she sees the best of him (after a rocky start) and believes in his talents – allowing him to think differently about his art school experiences and his own work – and when the two start to find their own footing – they also start to blossom. From finding donations for the church roof fund from the most unlikely places – starting with random visitors ten years prior, to small road trips organized to meet visitors or search out others – they find a friendship that strengthens them both. And while neither sees the connection at first – there is a tie there that enriches both their lives and gives each a sense of not being so alone in the world, no matter what. There are surprises here – laughs and tears, and plenty of healing and hope. Rees brings characters that speak to all of us: low confidence, shy, listening to those negative voices inside and out – and allows us to see how one person believing in you – even about something simple, can make all the difference in the world to your growth and outlook – and from there, all things can happen.

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-aUO /”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Wow what a lovely read you get from this book. Plenty of emotions, great character and lovely settings. I didn't want this to end. This is a book to relax with and is great for a summers read. 5 stars from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

It's an entertaining and engrossing story, heartwarming and poignant.
Gwen is an interesting character and her character arc was excellent as she found a purpose and a way to change.
The author is a good storyteller and I liked the characters and the setting.
The plot flows and kept me hooked.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

As a huge fan of Tracy Rees’ epic historicals I had very high expectations for her first contemporary novel, Hidden Secrets at The Little Village Church and I was not disappointed. Heartwarming, emotional and feel-good, Hidden Secrets at The Little Village Church is a wonderful book to curl up with on a warm spring afternoon.

When tragedy strikes, twenty-six year old Gwen Stanley loses everything. Heartbroken, alone and unemployed, Gwen has nowhere to go and nobody to turn to, so she decides to retreat to the little village of Hopley deep in the heart of the English countryside where she hopes to rest, regroup and figure out what she is going to be doing next with her life. Feeling completely and utterly lost, the future looks bleak and uncertain for Gwen yet little does she realise that in Hopley, she might just end up finding everything she has always wanted…

One day, while looking around Hopley, she stumbles upon a tiny stone church on the edge of the village that seems to have been forgotten by everyone. As Gwen walks through the creaking wooden door, she finds a book full of local secrets and finds herself drawn into a mystery that is just begging to be solved. Who left this book in the church and why? Can Gwen find out the reason behind the book’s existence and get to the bottom of the baffling puzzle she has been presented with?

When she finds herself joined by local artist Jarvis, Gwen immediately finds herself intrigued by him – but also rather taken aback. Why is Jarvis so fascinated with this book? Are his motives honourable? Can she trust Jarvis? Or will she end up regretting her decision to let him join her in her quest? Can the two of them solve this mystery? Or will the two of them end up with far more than they bargained for as they try to discover the hidden secrets at the little village church?

An enchanting and heartfelt page-turner that I couldn’t stop reading, Tracy Rees has written a romantic tale full of warmth, charm and emotion. Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church is an immensely enjoyable romance about life’s unexpected surprises, second chances and finding love when you least expect it that tugs at the heartstrings and will make readers laugh out loud.

Gwen and Jarvis leap off the pages and readers simply cannot resist warming to them and cheering them on and Hopley is a delightful village I hope to visit again soon.

Whether she is writing historical novels or charming contemporary romances, Tracy Rees’ name on a book cover is a surefire guarantee of first class storytelling and with Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church, she adds another feather to her very accomplished hat.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the first book I read by this author, and it definitely will not be my last. I loved Holley village; I would love to be strolling the quaint little streets and stopping in at this beautiful little church. The author did a wonderful job of portraying the area and getting the feel for the book that made you want to visit.

The main characters in the book, Gwen and Jarvis, are both people in need of something but what they don’t even realize is that what they need most is a friend, and a purpose. Gwen struggles through every day, since the loss of both of her parents, she knows she has to get on with life but she just can’t bring herself to do so. She attends church every Sunday and sits in the back, she just loves the feel of the church and doesn’t take part in any of the church activities. Reverend Fifield needs to raise money to fix the roof and he’s been trying for years to raise the money, he comes up with a new idea and when when he reveals his idea at the end of the Sunday church service something in Gwen sparks and she knows that she has to stay and help, that this project was meant for her. Jarvis is dragged along to church by his mom and dad every week, he mostly sleeps in church working off a hangover; but there’s something in that service that sparks his interest and he also shows up to help. Gwen and Jarvis are the only two they have come to help and what they will do in the short period of time they have is amazing. They will bring life back to not only the church but the whole village. They will become one another’s best friends and help give one another the purpose and push they both need to get on with life.

I love the way this book was written, I loved the people in it and I can’t wait to read the second book in the series and see how Hopley village is getting along.

The Hopley village church is in desperate need of a new roof. Reverend Fairfield begs for volunteers to help search the visitor book for donors. He is disappointed when cripplingly shy Gwen and art school drop out Jarvis are the only volunteers. Yet they surprise him with their dedication and the friendship that develops between them...
Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church is a stand alone novel about friendship and fresh starts. There is a tinge of sadness but the overcoming of wasted opportunities swells the book with hope and warmth.
Gwen has had a pretty hard few years. Her parents died and she is living with her joyless aunt Mary. Meanwhile Jarvis is the black sheep of his family, dejected after dropping out of art school, working in a job he hates. They surprise themselves when they offer to help the vicar but soon become captivated by the stories of hope that radiate from the visitors' book.
The book is written from three third person perspectives: Gwen, Jarvis and Vicar Dave. This allows us to see their viewpoint but separates us from the emotion a little. It also allows us to see how they view the other characters, often with a clarity and kindness that they do not allow themselves.
Gwen and Jarvis are delightful lead characters, flawed but weighed down by circumstances and the opinions of others. Over the course of the book, they flourish into the people they truly are, and there is an important message for readers about staying true to yourself.
There is a lovely warmth to the plot and the writing that makes this book feel extra special. The developing friendship between Gwen and Jarvis, as well as their self discoveries and increasing confidence is lovely to read. There are also the mini stories of the visitors who signed the book, and many of them are emotional.
Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church is an uplifting and heart warming book, and I look forward to finding other books from this author.

Wasn't sure when I started this that I would enjoy it but before I knew it I was sucked right in and couldn't put it down.

This was a simple story, an easy light read. However for my personal tastes, it was a little too simple.

I wasn't really able to engage with Gwen's character. I felt her character was too simple, and she had no depth. Sure, there were changes to that as the story wove on, but all in all I just felt no connection to her.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.