I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Poppy's Recipe for Life by Heidi Swain Also by this author: Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair, Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market, Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square, Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at the Winter Wonderland
Series: Nightingale Square #2
Also in this series: Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square, The Summer Fair
Published by Simon & Schuster UK on 30th May 2019
Genres: Chicklit, Contemporary, Humour, Love & Romance
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source: from Netgalley
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Things haven’t always been straightforward in Poppy’s life but her dreams are finally within her reach.
She's moving into a cottage in beautiful Nightingale Square, close to the local community garden, where she can indulge her passion for making preserves and pickles. She may not have the best relationship with her family but she is surrounded by loving friends, and feels sure that even her grumpy new neighbour, Jacob, has more to him than his steely exterior belies.
But the unexpected arrival of Poppy's troubled younger brother soon threatens her new-found happiness and as the garden team works together to win community space of the year, Poppy must decide where her priorities lie and what she is prepared to fight for …
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for my copies of this book. I got a netgalley and a paperback copy of this book. I have read quite a few of Heidi’s books and I love her writing style. I also loved the previous book set in Nightingale Square so I was very excited to go back.
In this book, we follow new resident Poppy as she finds her feet in the square so it would be easy to read this and not read Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square but if you can I would recommend reading it as its a beautiful book.
Poppy moves into the square and is extremely excited to join in with the community garden. Poppy works in the greengrocers and is a big lover of local produce. She decides to take in her younger brother after their mother abandons him. I really liked Poppy She has a big heart and really cares about the people in her life.
Poppy’s brother Ryan added an interesting dynamic to the story. I wanted to give him a big hug and tell him he was worthy of so much more than he thought. He has been through some really difficult times that any adult would struggle with let alone a teenager.
Another new resident to the square is Jacob. Jacob is grumpy and reluctant to become involved with the other residents’ of the square and the community garden. Jacob has a lot of baggage and has lot his trust of people. Once Jacob begins to open up it is very easy to fall for him.
There is a lovely slow burn relationship in this book but it’s about so much more than just the build-up to their relationship. It’s also about all the characters growing not just the main ones.
Heidi’s easy writing and lovable characters make this such an enjoyable read. I could have spent many more hours in this community and I hope that Heidi writes another book set here. I would love to return.
About Heidi Swain
Although passionate about writing from an early age, Heidi Swain gained a degree in Literature, flirted briefly with a newspaper career, married and had two children before she finally plucked up the courage to join a creative writing class and take her literary ambitions seriously.
A lover of Galaxy bars, vintage paraphernalia and the odd bottle of fizz, she now writes contemporary fiction and enjoys the company of a whole host of feisty female characters.
Heidi can be found at the keyboard at all hours of the day and night and quite often scribbling longhand in her car during her lunch break. She lives in stunning south Norfolk with her wonderful son and daughter and a mischievous cat called Storm.
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