The Start of Something Wonderful by Jessica Redland #Review #EscapetotheLakesBook1

 

The start of a new series by Jessica Redland is always highly anticipated and I am delighted to be on the tour to celebrate Book One in her latest  series, Escape to the Lakes. The Start of Something Wonderful was published on July 17th by Boldwood Books.

Autumn Laine has lost her creative sparkle. After losing her grandad and her job as an illustrator in quick succession, she is at a crossroads in life and needs a break. Spending time with her parents in Paris, even in the artistic community of Montmartre, doesn't appear to be the answer.

So when her penpal, Rosie, invites her to stay in the Lake District, Autumn jumps at the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of Paris. After all, where better to re-discover her creativity than the place which inspired her heroine, Beatrix Potter?

Arriving at the picturesque lakeside village of Willowdale, Autumn is swept up by the beauty and magic of the stunning landscape. Welcomed into the community with open arms, she slowly starts to feel like herself again as her creative instincts re-ignite.

But when she meets Dane, who has escaped to the Lakes for his own reasons, will Autumn's walls come down to let someone in again after so long? Or will the secrets of her past continue to hold her back?

A new beginning is a daunting prospect, but could it be the start of something wonderful too..?

Join million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland for a brand new series, full of love, friendship and community.

 My Thought

With her bilingual history, Autumn proves to be an interesting central character for the first in this new series. Largely brought up by her grandparents in England, her parents live in Paris and in some ways, she is torn as to where she actually belongs. At the beginning of the story, her life is at a low point, with her grandparent being so frail and her job at risk. Worse than that, she has lost her mojo as an illustrator and struggling to come up with her usual inspiration.  Autumn seems to have had a lonely childhood but her longstanding penfriend of over twenty years has been a constant.

    In an attempt to kickstart her art, Autumn spends time in the Lakes with her penfriend, Rosie and has a natural affinity for Beatrix Potter. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Lake District and Beatrix Potter's home there, as well as the references to her famous stories. The natural world of the environment is a key part of the story, woven into Autumn's illustrations and daily life.  As the first in the series, it showed a lot of potential with some interesting characters. As she makes new friendships, Autumn also slowly unburdens herself of some secrets from her past. She also has the chance of romance, if she is brave enough to take the risk.

In short: a new start and a reckoning from the past

    

About the Author

Jessica Redland writes emotional but uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast where she lives with her husband, daughter and sprocker spaniel. Her Hedgehog Hollow series, set in a hedgehog rescue centre, takes readers into the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.

 You can follow Jessica here: Twitter   |  Facebook   |   Website 
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  Purchase link  

Thanks to Jessica Redland, 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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