We are starting a new series by Alison Sherlock, set in the English village of Cranfield. Heading Home to Lavender Cottage is published by Boldwood on January 9th.
With nowhere else to go, Harriet Colgan has returned to the
sleepy village of Cranfield to sell her beloved aunt and uncle’s cottage, the
only place she ever called home.
When she arrives at Lavender Cottage, Harriet discovers
plans to replace the beautiful lavender fields, her uncle’s pride and joy, with
an industrial warehouse.
With time on her hands, she realises she must fight to
protect her family’s legacy and the village of Cranfield as well.
Workaholic businessman Joe Randall was expecting an easy
purchase of the lavender fields. But suddenly his quiet life is disrupted by
protests from angry locals, organised by Harriet.
Can Harriet show Joe that there’s more to life than just
business? And can Joe change his mind and help Harriet save the lavender
fields?
Over a long, hot summer, and with the help of a stray dog,
perhaps Harriet and Joe can find their way home too.
My Thoughts
This was a delightful start to a new series. Harriet, the central character, turns out to be a thoroughly sympathetic person who is feeling rather lost at the beginning, following the closure of her business. You realise that she has always felt inferior to her successful parents and siblings. The relatives she stayed with in the past in Cranfield gave her the security and love she felt was lacking in other parts of her life. Her aunt and uncle's cottage seems a little bit sad when she returns to it but she still feels a real connection with the village and her home there.
As Harriet works out what she is going to do next, the Lavender fields nearby seem to have a healing effect not just on her but her friends and neighbours, who begin to see new paths they can go down in the future. Joe also seems to sense that Cranfield has much to offer him and he too is looking to change his life and find more satisfying ways of living. He has a strong sense of responsibility towards his father but knows that he has to make changes in his life. I enjoyed seeing the community coming together and the area rejuvenating. It is an uplifting read and a promising first novel in the series.
In short: an heart-warming story of a community coming together.
About the Author
Alison Sherlock is the author of the bestselling Willow Tree
Hall books. Alison enjoyed reading and writing stories from an early age and
gave up office life to follow her dream. Her series for Boldwood is set in a
fictional Cotswold village.
You can read my review of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts here and The Village of Lost and Found here and The Village Inn of Secret Dreams here and The Village of Happy Ever Afters here.
Thanks to Alison Sherwood, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
Check out the rest of the tour!
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