I read and loved all of the books set in Cranbridge. Heading Home to Lavender Cottage begins a new series set in a neighbouring village Cranfield. That being said, although there were familiar characters, including everyone’s favourite accident waiting to happen, Dodgy Del, this works perfectly as a standalone story.

I loved Harriet, who had a confidence that belied the fact that her parents and siblings had treated her as the non-achiever in the family. Where she had unconditional support was from her aunt and uncle who lived in Lavender Cottage, bequeathing it to her alone when her uncle died, and leaving her with many wonderful memories of staying with them and wandering in her uncle’s lavender fields.

Joe was conflicted in the role he had taken on out of duty, but found himself swayed by Harriet and her determination. The fact that she was a stunning red-head also distracted him! The additional cast of characters all bring individual qualities, and I really liked the neighbours in the railway cottages. I also love a story that has a cute dog in it, and the stray dog that adopts Harriet is a perfect addition to the story.

It’s clearly a village that needs regenerating following the demise of the railway line that had previously attracted commuters to the pretty village, and it’s amazing the way in which the community rally round to help Harriet, but in turn she helps the villagers too. This was a heart-warming story of community, family and love, with doggy snuggles too! I love the way the world has been expanded from Cranbridge to Cranfield, and look forward to returning there again.

Loved this story,, a real old village community coming together for the love of lavender and what it means to all of them. Great book, didn't want to put it down and had a fear of it ending. Can't wait to read more of this wonderful village and its people. Well earned 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

I adored this so much, I couldn’t put it down once I started. I love how Alison just threw me straight into the heart of the book and I’m in the middle of a country lane listening to Dancing Queen with Harriet and Joe. I think I was as bemused with Harriet as Joe was for the first couple of chapters, but once you get to know Harriet and her past, you'll fall in love with her character yourself.

The supporting cast of family (family we choose) and friends make the story as much as Harriet and Joe do, I am really looking forward to reading more of Libby and Flora in the future, they are such great friends and as fully formed characters as Harriet and Joe were. Alison writes all her supporting cast of characters in the community of Canfield with such love and care, it’s so obvious she does because how else could you fall in love with Maggie and Grams when we only see them a little compared to Harriet and Joe, let me not start on Paddington, the true hero of the tale !

No spoilers from me, because if you want to know why Paddington is the best, why I love everyone so much (except Harriet’s mum) then you have to read for yourself. Buy, borrow from your local library they need your support! (don’t steal) this wonderful book, you won’t regret it and spend time escaping reality in a calm and happy place that is Heading Home to Lavender Cottage

Thanks to netgalley, Alison Sherlock, Boldwood Books, and Rachel’s Random Resources for a free e-book in return for an honest and voluntary review, all opinions are my own and freely given.


*****blog tour review ********

Returning home to a special place
Her business failed, she needs some space.
She's staying in Lavender Cottage that's where
Her Aunt and Uncle lived and for her did care.

Now they've both gone and the cottage is Harriet's now
Can she find a way to keep it? She doubts it somehow.
Her debts have mounted, she's nothing certain planned
But intends spending time there, looking after the land.

What she hadn't anticipated was a business man's news
That her uncle's lavender fields will soon be old views.
Instead he's planning on building an industrial warehouse there,
The lavender fields will be gone, with no one to care.

Determined to thwart the building plans somehow
With her friends she'll start a protest group now!
Can she bring the small community together
To save the Lavender fields forever?

With attraction growing between her and business man Joe
How will things work out, which way will he go?
He seems to want to help her to thwart his company's plan
Can she trust this confusing man?

Bringing the community fighting together,
Throughout the summer of hot, dry, weather.
Can the fields be saved - and the community, too?
And about the stray dog - what should Harriet do?

A heartwarming, gorgeous and delightful read,
About finding your way, as well as who and what you need.
A story of giving yourself an additional chance
And in the process finding your purpose in life and romance!

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review

I was reluctant to leave the village of Cranbridge and the previous series so imagine my delight when I discovered the new series is set in neighbouring Cranfield. With some wonderful new characters and my favourite from the previous making an appearance, in typical dodgy fashion, my fears were soon dispelled.

Harriet is grieving the loss of her aunt and uncle, the only family who let her be completely herself. Inheriting their home Lavender Cottage, she needs to sell it to pay off her business debts, but how do you let go of the only place that made you happy? Especially when a new arrival is set to destroy everything you hold dear.

Joe is not the person they think he is though and as truths are revealed from both sides I couldn’t help but hope that a little meddling might just bring some music and dancing into their lives and possibly that happy ever after I have come to expect from Alison’s books.

With her trademark writing style of shining light in the dark this book shows you how being honest and asking for help when you need it can open up a whole world of possibilities. How community and friends can all pull together and that sometimes people are hiding behind a happy smile. I can’t wait for the next book.

Heading Home to Lavender Cottage is like You’ve Got Mail in a tiny British town. The main character is processing loss in her life, but the book feels very light and cozy. This is a really great low stakes comfort read without being sappy or fluffy. The main character Harriet is charismatic, but lacks self confidence and her road to finding that is super relatable. I also really like the timing of this book, it’s freezing cold in Canada right now and being transported through Spring into Summer was quite nice. I’d love to have a week in the cozy British town of Canfield, but I’ll settle for reading about it in this book!

A rather gentle romance set in a lovely village and featuring a wonderful cast of characters. After the failure of her upscale London salon, Harriet heads back to Cranfield where she has always felt at her happiest. Now she is responsible for selling her aunt and uncle's cottage. Wishing she would be able to stay here, Harriet must come up with a plan for a business, unless Joe Randall has his way and a large warehouse is built on her uncle's lavender fields. This new series is off to a great start, and I look forward to further development of Cranfield and its inhabitants.

Heading Home to Lavender Cottage is such a gorgeous story. I got lost with Harriet in the beautiful lavender fields and was willing her and the wonderful community of Cranfield to succeed in saving the fields.
All the characters are written with such care and love and add such vibrancy to the story, with the cottage, the station and the lavender itself forming such an integral part of the story. I loved seeing how Harriet was able to find the confidence to rebuild her life, with the support of her friends and the loving community of Cranfield.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I have read all books set in Cranbridge and this one (which I hope is the start of a new series) is set in a neighbouring village. There are some characters from Cranbridge who appear in this story but you don't have to have read the other books to enjoy this one!

Loved it.

Harriet is an instantly likeable character. Her parents are less than supportive and a little bit ashamed of her lack of business acumen. She has fond memories of spending summers staying with her aunt and uncle in Cranfield, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Lavender Fields. With her London beauty salon business in tatters, Harriet’s only hope is to sell the Cranfield cottage that she inherited when they died.
On arriving in Cranfield, she encounters handsome stranger, Joe Randall. What Harriet doesn’t realise at that initial meeting, is that their lives are about to become incredibly messy as he is behind plans to replace the lavender fields with an industrial warehouse.
Once again, Alison Sherlock has imagined a wonderful community, full of adorable characters with kindness in their hearts. It was particularly enjoyable to catch up with a few familiar names especially Dodgy Del who is still causing absolute havoc.
I loved how Harriet was able to stir up the support of a community that had been almost forgotten as residents moved on to new pastures. With only a few remaining home and business owners to call on, Harriet soon discovered that she had their full support as she fought against the corporate takeover.
This gorgeous story created a warm glow as I followed the blossoming friendship between Harriet and Joe. I had no idea how the happy ending, which I felt was necessary, would be reached, especially after Dodgy Del’s assistance!
If you want to enter into 2023 with a warm and fuzzy feeling of happiness, then Heading Home to Lavender Cottage is definitely a necessary ingredient.

Harriet has moved to Lavender Cottage and meets Joe. He is the enemy and wants to destroy the legacy her Uncle left her - can she stop his plans and change his mind?

A lovely heartwarming summer story. The village sounds lovely and I could imagine seeing and smelling how beautiful the fields full of Lavender would be.
A perfect start to a new series, looking forward to the next book

It's always a joy to start a new Alison Sherlock book, and the first one in a new series is always extra special.

I'll start by saying that for fans of this author already, there are familiar faces from both of the author's previous series, and i couldn't help but be cheered that Dodgy Del is back just as dodgy as ever!

And Cranfield is just down the road from Cranbridge, but isn't anyway near as popular, and seems at first glance to be lacking in people and community.

It take a thread to the town's lavender fields to start getting to people and what happens from those first protests onwards is just really heartwarming.

And getting to know Harriet and Joe is just lovely, seeing how they change and develop as people over the course of the story. They are really great people but both dealing with the loss of people close to them oh and they have a rather mixed start to their acquaintance.

This was such a relaxing, pleasurable book to read, that I found the pages were turning fast without even realising it. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book, especially all the lavender.

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

Heading Home to Lavender Cottage by Alison Sherlock

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

Blurb

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 work? 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 Opinion

This is a lovely, light-hearted read. I started reading this expecting to only read a few chapters and before I realised I had read over 30%. I have now read a few books by Alison Sherlock and I have to say that I really enjoy the writing style, it is just so easy to get lost in a book for a few hours.

Harriet has sold her business and returns to the only place she has ever called home. Can she save the lavender fields? The speed at which I read this book shows how much I enjoyed it and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. With lovely pacing and great characters this is a book that you will adore.

What are you waiting for?

Rating: 5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader’s copy of this title for review. All opinions are my own and are honestly given.

When her life in London implodes, Harriet Colgan returns to Cranfield, where her late aunt and uncle raised her in order to prepare their cottage for sale. However, when she learns that businessman Joe Randall seeks to purchase the lavender fields that her uncle tended and turn them into an industrial warehouse, she rallies local support to stop the development efforts. As their skirmishes over the Cranfield lavender fields bring them into close contact, Harriet and Joe realize that they have more in common than they originally thought and that love can blossom in the most unexpected places.

What a lovely story! As a big fan of Sherlock’s Riverside Lane series set in Cranbridge, I was so excited to hear that she was setting a new series in nearby Cranfield. Heading Home to Lavender Cottage has the perfect balance of engaging writing, sympathetic characters, heartwarming community spirit, and lovely romance. For fans of Sherlock’s other books or gentle, feel-good romances, I think they will find a lot to love in this story. 5 stars.

This was a nice heartwarming joyful book to be reading into the New Year, and that was exactly what I was wanting. The setting was wonderful and I felt like I was right there with all the wonderful people.


Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this ARC to review. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise. ~

This is a sweet heartwarming story. I loved the small-town setting, the beautiful lavender fields and the characters. This is the perfect book to curl up with and forget your troubles for a little while. I look forward to the next book in this series. I received a complimentary copy from Boldwood Books via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Heading Home to Lavender Cottage is a perfect sweet comfort romance story.

I absolutely adored Alison's Riverside Lane series, so I was excited to hear that she was starting a new series that would take place right beside Cranbridge Village. Heading Home to Lavender Cottage is such a heartwarming and charming story. It was the perfect book to curl up with after a very busy holiday season. There is just something so peaceful and heartfelt about Alison's writing. It leaves me feeling very happy. This book takes place in Cranfield, a small village beside Cranbridge. This village has been in a downward spiral since the local train station shut down. We are first introduced to Harriet, who has just closed her beauty parlour and has returned to Cranfield to sell her aunt and uncle's cottage. Upon her return, she finds out that her uncle's lavender fields are about to be destroyed to make way for an industrial building. Harriet realizes she can't let her uncle's legacy be destroyed and decides to fight to protect the Lavender fields.

There is so much to love about this book. The setting is gorgeous and lush. I love lavender plants, so spending an entire book watching characters explore and take care of lavender fields was right up my alley. The village of Cranfield is that cute picture-perfect English village that is easy to fall in love with. Underneath that idealistic image is a village struggling to find a new way to breathe new life into itself. Watching the community come together to help Harriet save the Lavender fields was really enjoyable. The sense of community is heartwarming, and the characters are charming and quirky (especially Dody Del).

Watching Harriet create a new and variable business by turning the fields into a tourist attraction was fascinating. There are plenty of bumps in the road, but nothing couldn't be overcome with hard work and help from friends and family. Harriet, herself is a relatable and charming character. I instantly liked her and hoped she could find a way to keep her aunt and uncle's cottage and save the fields. She also has lots of growth in this book. At the story's beginning, she has little to no self-esteem, never shares her problems with friends, and is incredibly hard on herself. She struggled to overcome the barriers she put up, and there were times when I wanted to give her a big shake in hopes of knocking some sense into her. But she does grow, and the confident person she becomes at the end of the story made me incredibly happy.

The romance in the book is sweet. Harriet and Joe have that somewhat enemy-to-lovers love story. Joe works for a company trying to turn the field into an industrial building. I could see that these two had that instant connection. And even though Joe was on the "enemies" side, he isn't the bad guy. He is sweet and kind right from the book's start, which surprised me. I thought his character would be this greedy, cold corporate character who would go through this dramatic change after spending time in this quaint village. But that wasn't the case for this story; Joe does have growth, but that growth connects more to his relationship with his father and learning to live again after losing his mother and sister. I like how Alison deviated from that traditional big-city corporate guy stereotype that often graces the pages of romance stories. Harriet and Joe have wonderful chemistry, and some cute moments between them just made my heart pitter-patter.

I would be amiss if I didn't mention the adorable and loveable Paddington, who is a golden retriever. He stole the spotlight from Harriet and Joe at times and had me wish I could just reach in and give him a big old hug.

Heading Home to Lavender Cottage is a book that will fill your heart with happiness and joy.

Thank you Boldwood Books and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC in for an honest review.

A lovely beginning to a new series. I could not put this book down.Enjoyed getting to know Harriet the Lavender fields setting. Looking forward tothe next book in the series so I can visit the characters again. #netgalley#boldwoodbooks.

4 Stars
One Liner: Lighthearted and heartwarming

Harriet returns to Cranfield, a sleepy little village, to sell her aunt and uncle’s cottage. The Lavender Cottage in Cranfield is the only place she calls home. Already devastated by her beloved aunt and uncle’s deaths, Harriet is stunned to find that the lavender fields planted by her uncle will be razed to build an industrial warehouse. She decides to protest and bring the community together with the help of her friends Libby and Flora.
Joe Randall has negotiated countless deals for his family business and never thought about what it meant for the people whose lives changed forever. Cranfield brings him strange peace, and Harriet’s determination to save the village makes him question his work.
With both of them having to face their personal issues, can Harriet and Joe find what they want in Cranfield? Can the lavender fields be saved?
The story comes in the third-person POV of Harriet and Joe.

My Thoughts:
I wanted a light yet touching read to end the year on a happy-ish note. I’m glad I picked this one (last-minute choice). The writing is easy to read and flows well.
The pacing is steady. I could finish 300+ pages in a couple of days without speed reading. The setting is peaceful (that’s what lavender does!), and the characters are sweet (but not without flaws or issues).
Though the book deals with topics like death, grief, failure, insecurities, inferiority complex, etc., it’s not preachy or heavy.
The romance is a slow burn and sweet, a natural progression as the story moves forward. I also like that Harriet and Joe manage to sort out their issues without dragging them out for too long. This comes as a welcome move, especially when both of them are used to suppressing their emotions and putting on a confident/ positive façade.
The community spirit, which is crucial in small-town books, hits the mark with ease. The secondary characters are distinct enough and have definite personalities. I’m hoping they’ll get even better in the coming books.
I do wish Harriet’s parents had a little more space and that I could read more about Harriet’s life with her aunt and uncle.

To summarize, Heading Home to Lavender Cottage is a feel-good book with some lovely characters. It is a light and heartwarming read, perfect for a cozy afternoon. This is the first book in the series and a standalone. Looking forward to the next books with Libby and Flora’s stories.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#HeadingHometoLavenderCottage #NetGalley
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P.S.: The cover is beautiful, but Harriet is a redhead. I’d have liked it more if that teeny bit was synced between the cover and the book.