This was a lovely feel-good read, set in beautiful surroundings! We meet Lily Watson, an interior designer who's asked to help renovate Maple Tree Lodge. The job couldn't have come at a better time for her as she's just been let go from her previous job. Maple Tree Lodge has been in the Jackson family for years, and Ben Jackson is now running the show! Lily has some great ideas for the hotel, but her and Ben's ideas differ hugely! However, since Ben's father's sudden death, he has discovered the hotel is on the verge of financial ruin. Can Ben, Lily and the rest of the Jackson family turn their fortunes round and make the hotel a success?...

I really enjoyed this book! Lily is a likeable character who definitely needs a boost after losing her previous job. It's obvious she's worked really hard to get where she is, even though it's been to the detriment of her relationships with her close friends and any possible romantic ones! Ben Jackson is also a really likeable character but the burden of running Maple Tree Lodge is clearly a struggle. Both of the main characters have a good working relationship between them, and whilst it's nice to see their friendship grow it was also fun to watch the hotel be transformed bit by bit!

The book flowed at a good pace, with the storyline of both the friendship between Lily and Ben and the renovation of the hotel holding my attention throughout!! The supporting characters were also likeable and I enjoyed it when their friends and family all pitched in to help! The storyline is light-hearted with some emotional moments dotted throughout, especially with Ben's grief in losing his father. This is the perfect book when you're looking for something that can be easily read and something that's full of family, friendships, love and laughter! The author, as in her other books, has perfectly captured the relationships between all the characters and gives us a location where you will definitely want to be staying!! I'm looking forward to future books in this series! Would recommend.

What an absolutely heartwarming book! It took me a few chapters to really get into the story, but I was hooked after that! This was my first Alison Sherlock book and I'll read more for sure! This was a sweet, closed door romance and I loved it! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!

A very sweet and cosy romance. I will likely re-read this during the Fall season!
Lovely characters and a beautiful setting.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

I just loved this book, so much so that I read it in one sitting as I just couldn’t put it down. I loved this story and I loved all the quirky characters. I also would love to be able to live at Maple Tree Lodge as it sounds like an amazing place to be and what I imagine it to be. I look forward to the next book in this series.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a heartwarming read with an amazing story and quirky characters.

I would love to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Lily is headed to Maple Tree Lodge. She’s helping her friend’s brother with the interior design work of the lodge.
This was a nice feel good book. The characters are all so sweet and the lodge sounds beautiful. It has some sweet romance. You won’t be able to put it down!

A light and cosy romance novel with the feel good factor. Lily has concentrated all her time into developing her career as an interior designer but her hopes coming crashing down. She visits her friend Hannah and her despairing family at Maple tree Lodge . Can she be the catalyst to turn round the fortunes of the Lodge and find a purpose for herself?

I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a really feel-good story set in a beautiful background. It also has great characters. I love reading about such a supportive circle of friends and family. I can recommend it to anyone who loves sweet romances.

I loved this book from beginning to end. The love and support from the local people in the Cotswolds was heartwarming. It was lovely to see the plans taking shape and how people with different ideas might come together. A lovely read and looking forward to further books in this series.

Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge
by Alison Sherlock

Alison Sherlock’s brand-new Cotswolds series, featuring *Maple Tree Lodge*, marks my first encounter with her work, and I’m thoroughly captivated. The vibrant characters and the warm, inviting atmosphere of the Maple Tree Lodge family have left me eager for the next instalment in the series. I can’t wait to discover whose story will unfold next. The pacing of the narrative keeps you engaged, striking a perfect balance that allows for meaningful relationship development without feeling hurried. Watching the inn and its inhabitants come together is genuinely rewarding.

Lily Watson is an interior designer who has always been laser-focused on her career, finds herself at a crossroads after being unexpectedly fired from a job she thought would lead to a partnership. This career setback opens the door for her to assist her best friend, Hannah, at her family's picturesque hotel in the Cotswolds. Growing up, Lily never really had a place to call home due to her father's demanding role as a diplomat, which had her moving from one country to another. As a result, the notion of a stable, welcoming home resonates deeply with her.

Ben Jackson, on the other hand, is facing his own challenges. His family has owned Maple Tree Lodge for generations, but following the sudden death of his father, Ben is now tasked with the daunting responsibility of saving the Lodge from financial ruin. Faced with the possibility of selling the family property, he feels the weight of tradition on his shoulders and is determined to find a way to keep the legacy alive.

Lily’s vision for a cozy, country retreat brimming with charm and warmth stands in sharp contrast to Ben’s minimalist aesthetic, intended to modernise the Lodge. As they both navigate their differing visions and personal histories, the tension between them unfolds beautifully, promising an enriching journey ahead.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, Alison Sherlock, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy.

When your dreams get shattered after you think your career is all planned out, there is no time to waste in restarting your dreams and destiny the way they were meant to be.
What happens when you go to visit a friend and the trip starts off with an accident before you have even begun? They say every cloud has
a silver lining and in this particular instance I believe the magic of Maple Tree
Lodge is real.
Ben’s family have owned Maple Tree Lodge since the start and after the sudden death of Ben’s father it is down to him to try and rescue the Lodge before they have no other option to sell up and watch the area get transformed not for the better. Then Lily (Ben’s sisters best friend) comes to stay after being made redundant by her useless boss she sets up with Ben to completely change the interior design of the place ( as set up by his influence and the vision he has for the lodge) Knowing from her experience that the vision is all wrong she plans one room to her vision so Ben can see how much her vision is more suited to the environment.
Then a surprise phone call from Lily’s ex-boss to arrange a visit to discuss the project leads for some confusion and some stark confessions between Lily &
Ben’s family as all truths are revealed.
Can the project continue or not?

I absolutely loved this book with its cozy uplifting feel good vibes. Set in the beautiful Cotswolds and the best thing is this is the first book in a brand new series. I cannot wait to read the next instalment.
Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

ARC Review: *Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge* by Alison Sherlock
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars – cozy, heartfelt, and full of charm)

Welcome to the Cotswolds, where leaves are falling, hearts are healing, and home is found in the unlikeliest of places.

Alison Sherlock begins a brand-new series with a golden-hued, soul-soothing romance set in the heart of autumn at the charming (but crumbling) Maple Tree Lodge Hotel. When brooding architect **Ben Jackson** inherits a struggling family hotel and *even more* emotional baggage, the last person he expects to butt heads—and maybe hearts—with is his sister’s best friend and sunshine-in-human-form **Lily Watson**.

Ben wants sleek, modern, and practical. Lily dreams in soft edges, warm wood, and fairy lights. He’s determined to hold the hotel together. She’s determined to bring it back to life.

Their clashing visions and shared mission to restore Maple Tree Lodge give way to something far deeper—shared late-night conversations, soft moments, and the stirring realization that *maybe the missing piece in their lives isn’t a design choice, but each other*.

This one has all the ingredients of a perfect feel-good read:
🍁 Grumpy x Sunshine
🍁 Opposites Attract
🍁 Found Family
🍁 Small Town Drama
🍁 Cozy Autumn Vibes
🍁 Slow-Burn Romance
🍁 Home Renovation Shenanigans (with romantic tension in every paint-splattered moment)

Sherlock does what she does best—crafting stories with warmth, wit, and characters who quietly burrow into your heart. Lily is a heroine you want to be best friends with. Ben is the guarded man whose soft side peeks out in stolen glances and unexpected tenderness. And Maple Tree Lodge? It’s the kind of place you wish you could book a room in—immediately.

This book is a hug in story form, full of cinnamon-scented hope and the quiet magic of finding where you truly belong.

*Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the enchanting ARC—I’ll happily be checking back in for future books in this series!* 🧡

I really liked the first book in this new series, Maple Tree Lodge sounds fantastic and the characters are feel good ready. When Ben has to take over the lodge after his father dies, he wants to change it into a new hotel as it’s not making money. Lily his sisters friends who’s also an interior designer comes along and changes the place. They are ready to welcome new guests now. It’s a great cozy read that leaves a fuzzy feeling, can’t wait to read on to see what happens. An easy 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Lovely feel good book. Loved all the characters and the beautiful setting that the story was set in. Would definitely recommend this book.

I enjoyed Coming Home To Maple Tree Lodge, it was an easy to get into, cosy read. Beautiful setting, I would love to visit!

A cozy read reminiscent of a Hallmark movie.
The main characters were fun to get to know. Each one is facing their own personal challenges as they try to go forward in life.
The setting sounds so beautiful… I want to be there!
If you enjoy reading enemies to lovers troupe, you will enjoy reading this book.
This is the first book I have read by author Alison Sherlock. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Thanks to all for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I just finished Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge, and I have to say—it was a cozy, feel-good read that hit all the right notes for me. The Cotswolds setting was charming, and the warm, autumn atmosphere made it easy to get swept up in the story. I felt like I was right there among the golden leaves and rustic charm of the old lodge.

Lily was such a relatable character—creative, determined, and just trying to prove herself in a world that doesn’t always take her seriously. Watching her navigate the renovation project while dealing with her complicated feelings toward Ben was both frustrating and sweet (in the best way). The tension between them—creative and otherwise—was fun to read, and I loved seeing how their ideas clashed, then slowly started to blend.

Ben took a little while to warm up to, but once his walls came down, he really grew on me. His grief and pressure to save the hotel added depth to what could have been just a typical enemies-to-lovers story.

The only reason I didn’t give it a full five stars is that some of the conflicts—especially the family drama—wrapped up a little too neatly for me. But honestly, sometimes a bit of predictability is part of the charm in books like this.

If you’re looking for a cozy romance with heart, humor, and a beautiful setting, Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge is well worth the visit.

The story follows Lily, a career-focused interior designer whose life takes a turn when she loses her job and finds herself helping her best friend Hannah at her family’s lakeside hotel. There, she meets Hannah’s brother, Ben—an architect with a more reserved, minimalist style. Sparks fly and tensions rise as Lily’s bold design ideas clash with Ben’s vision, but it’s clear their friction masks deeper feelings.

The emotional core of the book is balanced well with lighthearted moments, particularly surrounding the hotel’s revival and community events like the lovely lantern festival, which adds a magical touch to the story. The setting, with its serene lake and surrounding woods, is beautifully atmospheric, making it easy to imagine curling up by a fire with one of Frankie’s cocktails in hand.

Lily’s journey—learning to let go of family pressure and redefining success on her own terms—is relatable and satisfying. Ben’s dynamic with his family, especially after the loss of their father, adds depth and warmth. The inclusion of Lily and Hannah’s other friends, as well as Ben’s, hints at future stories in the series, something fans will definitely look forward to. This is a heartwarming, small-town romance filled with charm, scenic beauty, and a cast of likable characters.

Lily has no roots. She has lived a life with her parents travelling from country to country, wherever her dad's job has taken them. She is now an interior designer living in London and has just lost her job.
A stroke of luck is brought to her by her friend Hannah as her brother Ben is looking for someone to redesign the rooms in his failing hotel, Maple Tree Lodge.
I am so happy that this book is the start of a new series because then I can visit the characters again and discover how they are all progressing.
I really enjoyed this story and didn't want it to end so I hope it's not too long until the next one. The hotel and the grounds and the lake all sound amazing. My only question is,how do I book a room?

'Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge' is a new story set in the world of Cranley/Cranbridge, with characters and locations from other books mentioned, but this can be read as a standalone. Main character Lily had a nomadic childhood following her parents around the world - this has left her driven but also slow to trust. She has worked hard at her interior design career before being unfairly made redundant from a top London designer. Friend Hannah throws her lifeline - designing the interiors for her family's hotel. Lily hopes this job will be the first step in launching her own design company, but when she arrives at Maple Tree Lodge things are not quite as she expected. The family are in mourning and can't agree on their next steps to save the business ... A great read for fans of Sarah Bennet and Bella Osborne. Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC, this has not affected my review.