A heartwarming story about family, forgiveness and the importance of kindness. This is definitely one of those special books that I will keep on my shelves to go back to and reread. It says a lot that I am still thinking about this book a few days after finishing it - I will definitely be recommending this one!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

A unputdownable page turner read” Once again Helen Rolfe has worked her magic.

I absolutely loved reading this book, I loved Joy, and the other charactersI were relatable and ones you could be friends with.

Libby informs her aunt that she’s coming to visit her, and joy is looking forward to seeing her but is also worried of how her Dad will react hearing she’s staying with her……

Libby informs Joy that she’s left her job in New York and wants time to decide what she wants to do next.

The adorable puppies and the group that’s come to the farmhouse due to one reason or another, and with Joy’s help have made their lives better are now her family.

There’s Lauren’s who bakes all sorts of cakes, which were mouth-watering, Freddie and his fruit and veg business, his knowledge of how and when to grow/pick the veg was lovely to see. Drew has his kayak business, lastly there’s Cameron, who recently came to the farmhouse and is finding his feet.

Each character had difficult pasts but now they all love and care for Joy.

Guessing the secret that Joy was hiding was fun, but I’d guessed what it could be as Drew talked of his past.

What a wonderfully heartwarming story. I became fully emerged in this book, it was beautifully written and I felt I was sat around the kitchen table with a cup of tea along with Joy.
The heart of this story is beautiful and I loved how it twisted and turned. A heartbreaking back story for Joy and Drew but how they came together and created such a bond was lovely.

The whole book was wonderful and gave me warm fuzzy feelings of family, both blood and the one you make yourself. I was please Joy finally got to tell her story and move on.

I enjoyed reading this book, although I did find the storyline a bit of a stretch at times. However, it is fiction after all so it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book.
Fully-formed and imaginatively written characters & backstories the story of their intertwined lives kept my interest from start to finish.

I flew through this. I couldn’t stop reading. Great characters and a lovely story. I had genuine sadness when it finished.

Joy has been helping troubled youngsters for years, having them come to stay at her farmhouse but never making them feel like they are a nuisance and some of them still visit even though they are grown up.
Joy has been successfully keeping a secret that she doesn't want anyone to know for many years until her niece Libby comes to visit from America and wants to know why Joy's family disowned her years before
A great story about forgiveness and second chances

It took me a long while to get into this book, I knew I was enjoying it, but due to life getting in the way, I was struggling to read for more than a few mins at time. I feel if I had managed to spare the time to read a good amount of the early bit of the book in one go, I would have connected with it a lot quicker - but that's on me.

As by the time I got to the last quarter I had to read it one sitting, I couldn't be parted from the story, as I desperately needed to know just what is was that Joy has been hiding, and I would never have predicted how the finale section of this book would resolve.

I loved the dual view points of Joy and Libby, aunt and niece, as it really allowed me the chance to get to know the characters. Libby and her adjustment to life in the UK Countryside after quitting her New York city job. And Joy with what really is a farmhouse of second chances.

There are adorable puppies, and a rag tag group of people that Joy has helped over the years that have become her family. I loved getting to know Lauren and her cakes, Freddie and his fruit and veg business, Drew and his kayaks and Cameron who is the newest addition to the farmhouse, who is just starting to settle in.

I thoroughly enjoyed these well rounded characters who all have awkward pasts in common, and who all clearly care for Joy.

I had a lot of fun trying to guess what the big secret in Joy's past was, and generally enjoying the whole heartwarming vibe of the book. A very enjoyable story.

Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Thank you to Orion and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Farmhouse of Second Chances in return for an honest review.
This is a lovely story and I did enjoy reading it, but I couldn't ignore the historical inaccuracies, which did bug me. The main character Joy celebrates her 70th Birthday in the book and when she was 27 she met Tay. However, even if the book was set in 2020 or 2021, 43 years ago would have been 1977 -78 and there were definitely not mobile phones around in the 70s (Joy pulled over on her way to see Tay in order to take the call when her phone rang) and the car descriptions from that era are also far more modern.
I know this is picky, but I expect the books I read, even works of fiction, to be accurate and if they aren't, they spoil my enjoyment. I can understand that the author might have been so engrossed as to miss this detail, but I would have expected it to be picked up during the editing / proof reading process.
Ignoring the inaccuracies, a heartwarming tale of friendships, mistakes and forgiveness.

Once again Helen has brought as a joyful read, of heartache finding ourselves, and with the help of the kind and caring Joy. A truly wonderful read I can highly recommend ❤

This book will definitely have you reading well into the wee hours. I devoured it in a day!

The story follows Joy who is nearly seventy and the wonderful halfway house she has created, her niece Libby who has just returned from a high flying job in New York in search of some space to think and Drew someone Joy has helped get back on his feet.

I love the variety of personalities and perspective in the book. Full of emotions this book will have you smiling , laughing and crying. The story is complex and comes together so beautifully at the end. This book shows the many trials and difficulties we face in life are what brings us together. The book embodies a real sense of love acceptance and community.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. Not everything is perfect but this book proves it doesn’t need to be.

This is a lovely story.
Joy looks after everyone else but her life rests on what she thinks is a terrible secret that can never be told.
But fate and the stars combine and lies and their impact are revealed.

Really enjoyed this book, could not put it down. Will definitely read more by this author. .

Another Helen Rolfe book that Ioved and made me cry! Such uplifting fiction and a wonderful read, would happily read again.

A beautiful book by Helen once again, One that was very hard to put down. Great characters that are easily relatable.

This is one of those books that is tricky to put down once you start to read it. A lovely, well written story, with some lovely characters. I really enjoyed this book & can definitely recommend reading it.

A delightfully uplifting story of second chances, beautifully written with characters you want to invest time in. Could not put it down. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

A delightful read centred around the lives and relationships of Joy, Libby, Drew, Freddie, Cameron and Lauren within the farmhouse that Joy had fled to when she needed refuge, since then, the farm has been a place of safety and escape for those who need it most - picking people up, dusting them down and putting them back together again. I quickly became emotionally invested in all of the characters and their stories, wondering about hidden secrets and blackmail. You will love it.
A warm and cozy book that is the perfect read for evenings in front of the fire.

A story of forgiveness and redemption. Many people have passed through The Old Dairy, some have stayed a while and healed, others have quickly moved on. The ones who give the place and themselves a chance are forever grateful to Joy, who fully lives up to her name. Many years ago, Joy came to The Old Dairy in need and now approaching 70, she looks back on her life helping others, but still hiding from her own secrets.
A gentle story presented with kindness. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were just lovely and I loved what it had to say about second chances and making your own family