"New Beginnings at Roseford Hall" by Fay Keenan is a delightful start to a new series, showcasing the author's storytelling prowess. Stella Simpson, the protagonist, finds herself disillusioned with life in London, and the opportunity to escape to the picturesque Somerset countryside for a year becomes a chance she can't resist. The majestic Roseford Hall, meticulously restored and ready for its grand opening, serves as the perfect setting for this heartwarming tale.

Fay Keenan crafts a narrative that not only explores the beauty of the Somerset countryside but also delves into the lives of compelling characters. Stella's journey as the writer in residence at Roseford Hall allows readers to witness the charm of the countryside, from the antics of resident peacocks to the hidden secrets of the Hall. The vivid descriptions paint a vivid picture, immersing readers in the serene atmosphere of the setting.

On the other side of Roseford, Chris Charlton, a single father grappling with his own challenges, adds depth to the storyline. The tragedy that rocked Chris's life two years prior intertwines with his plans for restoring Halstead House, creating a poignant backdrop for his character development.

The gradual unfolding of the connection between Stella and Chris adds a layer of romance to the narrative. As Roseford Hall prepares for a new era and Halstead House faces an uncertain future, the characters find themselves drawn to each other. The exploration of leaving behind past traumas and embracing new beginnings is a central theme that resonates throughout the story.

The supporting cast, including the Lord of the Manor, adds flavor to the tale, and the interactions between characters feel genuine and relatable. Keenan skillfully weaves together themes of love, loss, and the prospect of starting anew. The pacing is well-maintained, allowing readers to savor both the quiet moments of self-discovery and the more dramatic turns in the plot.

"New Beginnings at Roseford Hall" is a charming and heartening read that captivates with its picturesque setting, well-drawn characters, and a storyline that balances romance and emotional depth. Fay Keenan has created a promising start to a new series, earning this book a solid four-star rating for its engaging narrative and the promise of more delightful tales to come.

I loved this story it was really good. Easy to follow and Stella is a lovely character with a need for change after losing herself in city life. A recommended read.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find this title as an audiobook on my library app. The narrator did a great job. I love the cover. A very simple cozy romance novel. I really enjoyed it as it didn't have major issues with the characters. The main male had some sad issues but I love how it came together at the end. Highly recommend if you are looking for a light hearted romance read.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

Having reviewed a lot of Fay Keenan's books, I was really looking forward to this but I found the beginning incredibly slow with too many mentions of the village pub, and also too many characters introduced at once. I did, however like the characters of Lucy, Megan, who I thought was cute and realistic. Serena was a fun friend.

Fay Keenan does a good job of creating a village atmosphere but I found that at least six chapters into the book and there were too many mentions of food and getting the event ready.

I did persevere with this book and it got better.

Thanks to Fay Keenen, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources
in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

3.5 stars

I have been a fan of Fay’s work for a while now. I love the way in which she writes such uplifting and feel good story. I haven’t read every book that she has written to date but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘New Beginnings At Roseford Hall’ and it certainly sounded like another cracking read from Fay. So without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for what proved to be a fun afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘New Beginnings At Roseford Hall’ but more about that in a bit.
I absolutely loved the character of Stella Simpson. I warmed to her from the start and it didn’t take long until I considered her to be a friend of mine. I felt all protective of her and towards her. When we first meet Stella, she seems to be a bit stuck in a rut in that she does the same thing day in and day out with no variation. She doesn’t seem to have much of a social life but she says that she is happy with things the way they are. I don’t think that Stella is being honest with herself and she knows that changes need to be made but she seems to be unwilling to step outside of her comfort zone for fear of being hurt or because she fears that she will fail. I could identify with Stella in that respect because that’s exactly where I am at. I know that changes need to be made to move forward and step outside of my comfort zone but it seems a wee bit scary. Anyway that’s enough about me and back to Stella. Stella is a lovely young woman, who really does deserve a ‘happy ever after’ ending. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more then you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
It didn’t take me long to get into ‘New Beginnings At Roseford Hall’. As soon as I started reading, I knew that I was reading something special and that I would thoroughly enjoy every single minute of the story. I think that part of the reason why I ultimately became addicted to this book was the fact that I was drawing parallels between Stella and my own life. I had to keep reading to discover how things turned out which would give me hope. I hope that makes sense. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I became so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the various characters that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘New Beginnings At Roseford Hall’ and I had to say goodbye. I found ‘New Beginnings At Roseford Hall’ to a delight to read from start to finish and I absolutely loved it.
‘New Beginnings At Roseford Hall’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Fay Keenan. Fay has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of her books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. Fay clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid way in which she describes them. She describes them so well that the characters just seemed as real as you and I. I love the way in which Fay makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. This was one of those books that made me chuckle and left me feeling as though I had had a hug from a mug of hot chocolate- all fuzzy and warm inside.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘New Beginnings At Roseford Hall’ and I would recommend it to other series. It has been said that this book was the first book in a new series and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

This is a very promising start to a new series. The rural setting has a community feel and in Roseford Hall, you have a ready -made hub for community events. You see the village through the eyes of a newcomer, Stella, which is a good way to introduce it. Stella is making a new start as the Writer in Residence and settles into the demands of that role quite quickly.

Chris Charlton has a tragic event to get over and is struggling to renovate Halsted House and to come to terms with how he is going to bring up his own son. Much of the story centres around the barriers he has put up against his friends and family and his desire to punish himself for past events. Stella understands loss from her own family and has to reevaluate her first impression of him. Making your own family and starting over are major themes in the story. I can see the potential for future books and am looking forward to wnat happens next.

In short: New beginnings and starting over.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

New Beginnings at Roseford Hall by Fay Keenan is a story of second-chances and finding the courage to brave life. This is the start of a new series and the first story is that of Chris and Stella. Stella is a wanna-be writer, currently in a dead-end job for an online news agency. She has started to lose interest in her current job and is contemplating trying to find something else that can excite her. But she is also settled comfortably in her current life living with her mom and doesn't want to get out of her comfort zone. However, owing to her mom's machinations, she decides to take up a job for the British Heritage Fund, which is renovating the lovely Roseford Hall in a small Somerset countryside.

She is provided accommodation at a cottage belonging to Chris, who is the owner of the crumbling Halstead Hall. Having originally bought it, to fulfill his wife's dream of crating an artist's retreat, he finds himself getting dragged down along with it, after his wife passes away unexpectedly. These two people, who are afraid of getting burnt, find themselves thrown together due to circumstances and how they conquer their fears forms the crux of the story.

I actually loved the story to a great extent and enjoyed reading it a lot. But I loved the prose and narration of the author more. The structure of the story is very precise and it flows seamlessly from one point to another. At no place did the actions of the characters seem abrupt nor contrived. The author is a great story teller and I must applaud her skills.

The conflict of the story seemed believable enough and the way it resolved was also organic. I particularly liked the various phases of Chris and Stella's relationship; the progress of it was beautiful to read. I absolutely loved the first 80% of the book. However, I was not a big fan of the way the ending was arrived at; it did not provide the same emotional connect as the first half of the story. Still, I enjoyed the book immensely and can't recommend it more for people who love to read sweet, small-town romances.

I love this author. I have read a few books by her and they do not disappoint and this was no different. Was a perfect easy read something to enjoy I an afternoon. I read it very quickly. Can not wait for the next book.

Fay Keenan is a great author. This is a delightful and charming read which is filled with charm, wonderful characters and eloquence.

This book has it all, romance and drama. It is a gorgeous setting and Keenan has transported me to Roseford Hall with her writing.

This is an enchanting read and it has been a joy to visit Roseford hall. I’ve loved Stella and the journey through this one with her.

There is nothing negative I can say about this one. It’s been an absolute delight to read and I can’t wait for more.

A lovely easy read for a late winter evening. I loved the characters, the issues that are talked about Within the story. There was sincerity in the words and it was a great ending when happily ever afters were had!

Stella Simpson has lived in London with her mother and worked from home writing articles on celebrities, reality stars, and such. When she gets a chance to take a job in Somerset for a year as the Writer in Residence for the Roseford Hall Restoration Project, she accepts.

Arriving with her dog, Fitz, she will be staying in a cottage by the front gate of Halstead House which is owned and occupied by Chris Charlton. He is a widower with an 11-year-old son, Gabe, who attends boarding school during the week and stays with his father on the weekends. Chris and his wife had originally bought Halstead House to fix up but now Chris is left to do what needs to be done. When Stella first meets Chris, he is crabby and rude to her. But she later learns about his wife and understands.

Stella soon settles in and finds she loves the town and enjoys her new job. Getting to know Chris’s mother-in-law who lives on the property is a real treat for her. The woman is so kind and caring and worries about Chris and Gabe.

Chris is struggling desperately with his wife’s death and trying to fix up Halstead House to make it the artist’s retreat that was his late wife’s dream. As Stella and Chris get to know one another better, she understands his pain and does what she can to help the family. But an accident brings things to a head for Chris. Will he give up on his project or allow himself to receive help and friendship from others to complete it?

This is a heartbreakingly sweet romance that blossoms from grief. I liked the characters and especially the beautiful descriptions of the Somerset area. I hope readers enjoy the story as much as I did.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Fay Keenan’s New Beginnings at Roseford Hall is a sparkling and enchanting tale full of warmth, heart and humour.

When writer Stella Simpson is offered the chance to leave London behind for the Somerset countryside, she jumps at the chance. With life in the capital having lost some of its sparkle, a year of rural bliss is just what the doctor ordered. As writer in residence at Roseford Hall, the beautiful stately home that has been lovingly restored, Stella is privy to the house’s secrets and even finds herself making friends with the Lord of the Manor himself. Stella is having the time of her life at Roseford Hall and things continue looking up when she meets single dad Chris Charlton…

The last two years have been an absolute hell for Chris. Still reeling from a tragedy that had shattered his world, Chris is now slowly rebuilding his life and trying to move on from past events, but it’s been anything but easy. With his own refurbishment woes, Chris wants to restore the crumbling Victorian wreck Halstead House, but it’s proving to be a challenge of epic proportions. Finding himself drawn to Stella, the two of them strike up a bond that could at long last help Chris to lay old ghosts to rest, however, just when the single father thinks he can forge forward, life throws yet another curveball.

Will Chris and Stella manage to find the happiness that has long been denied to them? Or will they just have to resign themselves to further disappointment?

Fay Keenan’s New Beginnings at Roseford Hall is a heartfelt, emotional and uplifting tale about starting over, finding the courage to keeping moving on and life’s unexpected surprises that will strike a chord with readers everywhere and keep them riveted to the page. Fay Keenan has got a wonderful writing style that immediately draws readers in and keeps them entertained and enthralled until the very end.

With characters it is impossible not to care about, gorgeous scenery and heart-warming romance, Fay Keenan’s New Beginnings at Roseford Hall is an enjoyable tale readers won’t be able to resist.

Stella’s journey, Roseford Hall and the village were lovely to experience. I enjoyed watching Stella develop and explore her new surroundings. The gatehouse she lived in sounded so cosy and exactly the right place to begin a new life from.

I enjoyed this story, meeting new characters and exploring Roseford Hall. It was also good to see and watch the relationships develop between Stella and the new people in her life and see how these changes affected the relationship with her mother.

This is a lovely story that shows that change, although scary, can be a good thing, and that sometimes you have to let go of the desire to do everything yourself. An ideal read if you want a bit of escapism and to spend time with undeniably the star of the book, Fitz the dog.

In this story we meet Stella as she takes a new job in the countryside at Roseford Hall. Here she meets a family whose lives have changed drastically following a tragedy. What follows is a story of change, romance and friendships.

I do love a new beginnings story and this book had the perfect combination of both heartwarming and entertaining moments. The characters were engaging and I became completely wrapped up in their story. Chris is trapped by the past and he can’t escape from his feelings of grief and guilt. All of this brought an emotional touch to the story. I also thought the author did a great job of unravelling his personality. Let’s just say Chris and Stella’s first interaction was awkward and abrupt. However slowly but surely a tentative friendship developed. Along with sparks that hinted at more especially as they spent time together.

The setting was a lovely addition too and offered a wonderful charming backdrop to everything. I also have to give a special mention to Fitz the dog, I loved him! I thought all of the themes combined to create a balance of warmth and comfort. Especially as the more emotional moments brought an extra depth to the characters and story. All that’s left to say is that New Beginnings at Roseford Hall was romantic, made me smile throughout and had me rooting for the characters!

This one was a nice easy read that was oh so cosy, perfect for these chilly evenings. I found myself immersed in Stella and Chris’ story but in my humble opinion Fitz stole the show but that’s just because I’m obsessed with pups😅

He characters had depth with realistic portrayals of real life issues that leave you feeling as vulnerable, then as satisfied as the characters do when it all works out and we get our HEA💙

New Beginnings at Roseford Hall by Fay Keenan

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The start of a brand new series from bestselling author Fay Keenan.

Life in London has lost its sparkle for Stella Simpson.

So when she gets the opportunity to escape to the country for a year, it seems too good a chance to miss. In the beautiful Somerset countryside, the majestic Roseford Hall has been painstakingly restored and is now ready for its grand opening. And as the writer in residence, Stella gets to see it all – from the rowdy resident peacocks, the hidden secrets of the Hall, to befriending the Lord of the Manor himself.

This is the start of a new series and having reading the opening book in the series I am excited to see where it will lead. This is a simple and sweet story. This would make a lovely summer read as Stella escapes London for a Somerset village. Roseford's locals are all welcoming, so as a reader you will feel like you are returning home.

As the title suggests, this book focuses on new beginnings, grief and a multitude of relationships. Fay has created a fantastic tale that is emotional with complex characters but is still very easy to read.

Rating: 4/5

Although anxious about leaving London, journalist, Stella Simspon is excited to take up an appointment as writer in residence at the newly renovated Roseford Hall. Meanwhile her new landlord, Chris Charlton is facing a few difficulties of his own as he seeks to bring Halstead House, his crumbling Victorian residence, into some semblance of order. Initially, Stella and Chris don’t see the best in each other but as the story progresses we start to see their relationship evolve.

The author has a lovely way of making the characters so believable that they seem like people you could easily meet and enjoy spending time with. The story flows beautifully, with a lovely light touch and a fine eye for bringing both place, and people, to life. I was just as comfortable spending time at Roseford Hall, as I was in the gatehouse where Stella lives, or alongside Chris as he struggles with the size of the renovation project at Halstead House. I found this to be a really lovely story as not only do we see Stella increase in confidence but we also get to spend time in the beautiful Somerset countryside. I especially enjoyed reading of the beautiful Roseford Hall and the way in which Stella, in her role as writer in residence, brings the ambiance of the house alive.

Over the past couple of days, reading New Beginnings at Roseford Hall has been the ideal place to escape to when the world has seemed a very grey place.

This is the start of a new mini series from Keenan and I am really excited to have read the opening book! I enjoyed this simple, sweet story immensely and liked the main character, Stella, as she navigates a new job direction and a new home.

Like the cheerful front cover suggests, this book would make a great summer read. Leaving London behind her, Stella accepts a one-year post in a Somerset village, writing for Roseford Hall to bring in new tourists as it is refurbished. In my head, I pictured London as very dark and dreary; Roseford being the sunny, happy location that offers fresh starts for Stella. Although this is not the case (such as a heavy storm that floods Stella’s quaint gatehouse residence), I think the emphasis on Stella’s night-working hours in London to accommodate an American company and the lack of connections she has reinforced to me that her way of life was not healthy; with her mum making the application to Roseford Hall on her behalf, it was a change that Stella desperately needed.

Meeting the locals at Roseford, Stella soon feels at home in the community. I would have loved for Keenan to have expanded on the village of Roseford; instead readers are placed at either the Hall or Halsted House – where Stella moves to after the flooding. I wonder if this lack of detail is the foundation for future novels in this mini series. If this is the case, I look forward to learning more about the different characters.

The two males in this novel, Simon and Chris, are very opposing characters. Flashy, confident Simon turns out to be a great boss for Stella and makes her feel right at home in her new job. On the other hand, moody Chris earns himself a rather crude nickname at the start of the book and it takes a few meetings before Stella realises there is more to Chris than just poor manners! Occasionally the narrative switches to focus on Chris and I liked how Keenan demonstrates his vulnerabilities, particularly regarding his late wife. Indeed, the relationship that Chris has with his son is really sweet, even if it is dominated by guilt, and I was confident that Stella’s arrival would be the catalyst for change in Chris’s behaviours, however far they became involved.

The meandering narrative was really easy to follow and I liked the uncomplicated lifestyle that is presented. It is all rather idyllic and I loved seeing Stella become more at ease in her new setting. Whilst there is the predicted romance in the story, I still found I could not foresee exactly how the plot would develop, enjoying seeing Chris’s vulnerabilities adding a further dimension to the novel. I look forward to my next visit to Roseford.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another lovely story by this author. Stella and Chris are great characters and so you are rooting for them to get together and sort out their problems along with the lovely setting in Somerset and beautiful old house you are definitely left with a real feelgood feeling