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Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage by Della Galton #DuckPondCottageBook2 #Review #PublicationDay

  I am loving returning to the Duck Pond Cottage series by Della Galton . Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage is published today by Boldwood Books on February 22nd.   Can love conquer all? Jade and Finn are idyllically happy in their little corner of rural Wiltshire. A rescue centre jampacked with animals keeps them super busy. With Finn’s art going from strength to strength, Jade can’t believe they’re living the dream until an arrogant property developer with questionable motives jeopardises their perfect lives and the future plans of the rescue centre. Jade and Finn both have trust issues and they’ve promised there’ll be no more secrets. But keeping promises is harder than either of them imagined, especially where Finn’s past is concerned. Living with Mr Spock the potty-mouthed parrot and Mickey the dog who barks at TV baddies there's never a dull moment at Duck Pond Rescue. But will the humans get their ‘happy-ever-after’ too? Can they lay the ghosts of the ...

Mistletoe and Magic for the Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett #Review #TheCornishMidwifeSeriesBook6

 

It;s time for another visit back to Cornwall for the next in Jo Bartlett's great series, with Mistletoe and Magic for the Cornish Midwife. It was published by Boldwood Books on 27th October 2022. 

 
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

But for single mum and busy midwife Nadia, it’s quickly turning into her worst Christmas ever.

Her marriage is over, and whilst her husband has moved on, Nadia finds herself back home, squashed into her mum’s spare room with her two small children. They might not be a perfect family anymore, but Nadia is determined to make this Christmas special for them.

Dr Hamish Spencer totally understands Nadia’s pain. As a fellow single parent, he’s struggling to cope with a rebellious teen daughter and a precocious six-year-old! Perhaps if he and Nadia join forces, they could make this Christmas slightly more memorable for everyone?

The last thing Nadia wants is a new man in her life, but she’d definitely like lovely Hamish as a friend. But Christmas has a way of melting the hardest of hearts and maybe a kiss under the mistletoe could change everything?


 My Thoughts

Set in the run up to Christmas, this feels like such a heartwarming read. As ever, the stories attached to the midwives of Port Agnes make for an inspiring read and mixed in amongst all the new life there are some difficult themes. Nevertheless, the overall tone is always hopeful and forward looking. Nadia is the centre of this story, along with her mother, Frankie. Both are looking for a fresh start after disappointing marriages and supportive of each other. Capable and caring, Nadia's two children are her number one priority but juggling everything in their lives is challenging.

    I love the humour to be found in the stories, principally from the reactions of the children. They have a wonderful take on life and take such delight in small things. The teenagers in the story are a bit more difficult and Nadia finds she has to tread carefully with Hamish's daughter. Both Nadia and Hamish's families have had to deal with loss of some sort which gives them a bond of sorts. Even in middle age, Frankie finds that her actions are being judged by some members of her family and she has to decide when and how to assert her wishes. All the friendships and community feeling sensed in the earlier books in this series are found in this story, as is the gorgeous coastal setting and village life. There are so many interesting little stories attached to the expectant mothers that this makes for a satisfying read.

In short: love, friendship and community with a festive flavour

About the Author

Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast. Her first title for Boldwood is The Cornish Midwife – part of a twelve-book deal.

You can read my reviews of earlier books in the series here: The Cornish Midwife  |  A Summer wedding for the Cornish Midwife   |  A Winter's Wish for the Corrnish Midwife  |  A Spring Surprise for the Cornish Midwife  

 You can follow Jo here: Facebook  |  Twitter   |  Instagram   |  Newsletter sign up  |  Bookbub profile 

Book link: Amazon UK

Thanks to Jo Barlett, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

 

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