Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm by Della Galton

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

Blurb

Don’t dream your life, live your dreams….

Phoebe Dashwood is a passionately committed vet who’s living the dream. She’s about to open her own small animal practice at her grandmother’s animal shelter, Puddleduck Farm in the New Forest.
Phoebe is helped by her two oldest friends. Her best friend Tori is a mix of hard-headed journalist and hopeless romantic, who thinks love will conquer all when she finds the right man!

Then there is Sam, Phoebe’s staunchest ally, whose integrity and selflessness mean he would do anything to make Phoebe happy, no matter what the cost to himself.

Very soon Phoebe discovers that fantasy and reality don’t quite match.
An unscrupulous bunny breeder, a poisoned stream, and a complicated attraction all conspire to throw her dreams in a spin.

Events come to a shocking climax at the New Forest Show where Phoebe’s world is turned upside down and she has to make some life changing decisions.

My Opinion

This is the second book in a series but I feel that it would work well as a standalone. Everything about this book appealed to me, from the cover to the animal filled plot. Della Galton is a newish author to me but I really enjoy her writing style, so I am glad that I found her books.

This is a lovely, heart-warming read with a great pace. I was hooked and really struggled when I had to put the book down as I just wanted to keep on reading. Whilst I was reading this all I could think was that it would work well as a TV series or a film.

Rating: 5/5

I remembered loving book 1 last summer, but I needed a few pages to fully get back into it when I started book 2 and then I loved every second of it.
Phoebe is back, living the dream.... or so it seems. She is still working as a vet, opening her own small animal practice right on the grounds of her grandma's farm. This means we get to see lots of Maggie again! She is just as feisty as before and has is quite the character. I loved her! Maggie doesn't tend to sugar coat matters, e.g. :
"Education with one of my baseball bats is what she needs..."
As well as the practice, there is a story about animal cruelty, mainly regarding lop-eared rabbits, we see how Rufus is getting on dealing with his problems, there's a big show/fair and there's the romance side of things. Will Phoebe dare to get involved with anyone again and if so, will it be Sam her childhood friend who has been not so secretly in love with her for years or will it be the grumpy, dark, mysterious Rufus Holt?

If you love animals and a good story with all the feels, you do not want to miss out on this one!

So lovely to return to Puddleduck Farm
Where life is busy and rarely calm.
Phoebe Dashwood is a vet opening her own practice now
She just needs to get everything ready somehow!

With a terrorist cat and escape artists, too,
There's plenty going on at her gran's animal rescue.
With family and friends, new customers, too,
There are plenty of surprises the whole story through.

A heartwarming story of fighting for what's right,
Looking after animals, whatever their plight.
Fun with owners who don't know a lot
And romances for several are all in the plot.

Coping with PTSD, moving on from grief,
Supporting family and friends, sharing relief,
Finding ways to stop those who're being unkind
And maybe someday romance to find.

Along the way there's laughter and support, too,
Helping each other finding a way through.
But get ready for a dramatic end
And choices to make about with whom time to spend.

In the New Forest this delightful story is set
And I hope there'll be others still to come yet.
I really hope that for Sam there'll be true love found
And I can't wait to catch up on the others who've been around.

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I highly recommend reading it and this is my honest review.

Phoebe has just established her veterinary practice and faces some early challenges: irresponsible bunny breeders, possible environmental sabotage and a complicated relationship with one of her clients. Events lead to some hard decisions. A delightful romance.

This is a great sequel in the Puddleduck Farm Series and was totally worth the wait.. It is such a sweet easy read and was great follow on and catch with Phoebe and the rest of the wonderful characters. I also love the fact that there is sizzling chemistry and a dash of sweet romance too. I got lost in the cute narrative and it end far too soon, I need more books in this series and sooner rather than later.

Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm is a charming, lighthearted story full of delightful characters and animals.

Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm is the second book in this series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Della does a great job at catching her readers up and ensuring that no one feels lost in this story. I enjoyed this book. I love a book that is bursting with quirky yet charming animals and that takes place in the English countryside. This book is great for those lazy afternoons when all you want to do is read. There are plenty of wonderful characters in this book that create this fun reading experience. Della creates characters you connect with instantly, and you find yourself rooting for them before you know it. I loved Maggie! She was a great secondary character. The scenes where she was Phoebe’s receptionist were hilarious and made me laugh.

One of the things that really stuck with me while reading this book was meeting Phoebe’s patients. We get to see pets, and their owners in various states, whether a new pet is getting a check-up or someone has to say their final goodbye to their furry best friend. I definitely was crying during this scene. As a pet owner, I just felt this connection with all these pet owners. I understood the joys pets could bring to our lives, but also the heartache. Including these side, stories added richness and depth to this book.

This story has a love triangle between Phoebe, Rufus, and Sam. I’m not a huge fan of love triangles; they just aren’t my jam. That meant the romance in this book wasn’t my favourite, but I think if you love this trope, you will enjoy the love story between Phoebe, Rufus, and Sam. Sam has been in love with Phoebe for a while, but she doesn’t return his feelings and only wants to be friends. So Sam is left trying to move on, but it’s a rocky road for him. Phoebe and Rufus both realize that there is this attraction between them, but they have emotional baggage that makes it difficult for them to make that first move.

Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm is a heartwarming, nice, and easy read and perfect for fans who love those charming English romances.

Thank you, Boldwood Books and Rachel Random Resources, for giving us this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm was a wonderful, heartwarming, feel good, light hearted read all about Phoebe who is just about to open her very own veterinary practice.

I absolutely loved the setting of Puddleduck Farm and through the authors writing I honestly felt as though i was there too!

This book took me through all the emotions while reading it and it was such an easy read I just couldn’t read it fast enough and wanted to keep reading to find out what happened in each chapter!

A lovely, emotional, heartwarming, romantic read and i thoroughly enjoyed it…….

Phoebe is back and opening her veterinary practice. She encounters several issues. One of the issues is a bad breeder who is selling unhealthy rabbits. She also has some wildlife that is found dead near the stream on the property. The biggest issue is the men in her life. She really wants Rufus but Max has his eyes set on her.
Opinion
This is the second book in the Puddleduck Farm series. I would recommend you read the first book, Coming Home to Puddleduck Farm, before jumping into this one.
This book reads at more of a leisurely pace than most books. The pressing issues are set to simmer instead of boil like most of my other reads. It gave for a nice change of pace. I thoroughly enjoyed this pace. I think my favorite part was seeing how her love life would work out. I expected to be left on a bit of a cliffhanger but right at the end, an accident happens and choices are made. Stick through the book, I hope you will enjoy that part as much as I did.
I hope there are more Puddleduck Farm books to come as I've quite enjoyed these two. I only have one question. Being American, I certainly celebrate independence day. However the characters are in England and they made mention of it. I would think that England would be a sore loser in that they lost American soil. Can anyone clarify for me?
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

It's an exciting time for Phoebe Dashwood. She's settled back in at home quite nicely, and her veterinarian practice is opening up at Puddleduck Farm. Working near her grandmother will help her key an eye on things while also doing what she loves. I loved coming home to Puddleduck Farm in Phoebe's second book.

Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm is a lighthearted book in a wonderful series by Della Galton. The author did a great job creating this world, setting it up, and developing the characters. I had fun reading about strong grandmas, supportive parents, and silly animals. There are also some sinister goings-on that pull Phoebe in several directions. Add in a potential love triangle and Phoebe really has her hands full.

I look forward to the next book.

This is the second book in a series but it can be read standalone, as I did. However, I am planning to read the first one.

I loved the setting of the book. The descriptions of the New Forest shone through for me, it sounds so idyllic. 

I really enjoyed the author's writing style as she has a with a wide range of characters with their own quirks. I especially liked Maggie, she gave me a few chuckles. The friendship between Phoebe, Tori and Sam was lovely.

This is a great easy to read book with  friendship, cute animals and romance (including a live triangle) although there are a couple of more serious issues in it too.

I was really looking forward to a return visit to Puddleduck Farm, and to catching up with Phoebe, Maggie, and the other characters. I was certainly not disappointed and am already looking forward to the next instalment. Since we last met her, Phoebe’s plans for opening her own vet practice in one of the farm's unused buildings have moved along well, and the book begins with a grand opening.
Phoebe still has two would-be suitors, the reliable Sam, a friend since school, and Rufus, the enigmatic lord of the neighbouring manor. It’s still anyone’s guess who she will choose, but I did carry a hope from the first book. No spoilers!
Della Galton creates wonderful characters and fully develops them to the point where you can vividly imagine them. From an unscrupulous bunny breeder to Maggie’s special friend, I had a clear picture in my mind. I really love Phoebe as a main character and think that her relationship with her best friend, Tori, is rather special. The dynamic between them speaks to their long connection and will withstand many of the bumps in life’s proverbial road.
With plenty of appearances from the mischievous Neddies, Diablo the cat, and the Puddleducks, there’s no shortage of lovely animals. Watch out for Miss Connor and her Boris fixation, you are sure to get a few giggles from her visits.
Everything about this book is simply marvellous and I can highly recommend an escape to Puddleduck Farm, it’s a gorgeous spot.

Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm

A BRAND NEW uplifting romantic read from Della Galton for 2023

by Della Galton

Publisher: Boldwood Books
Publication Date 16th February
Genre:General Fiction, Romance

This is a cute rural story. Which is very light hearted we follow Pheobe who a vet and return to the area after a break up. If you want a sweet romance based within a farming life this is for you.


I would say Rainbows over Puddleduck Farm is for this that enjoy reading contemporary romance novels.

Rainbows over Puddleduck Farm is a detailed fast paced story that has a lot of potential.

Galton has provided research into veterinary medicine and animal husbandry. Their are sensitive subjects like PTSD and panic attacks briefly mentioned, that creates awareness. The writing style is light hearted and easy to follow with a mixture of description and dialogue, however I found that some points were a little repetitive.

The character development of Rainbows over Puddleduck Farm gives the reader background information and flashbacks, allowing them to invested in the characters. Sadly I found the characters to be mediocre with little done to form to form realationships between themself and spend half the time pining for people who don't seem to be interested...

Phoebe has everything prepared for the launch day of The Puddleduck Vet with friends and family gather in attendance. Phoebe is ready to make a new life for herself and busy after a successful beginning.

Sam is a reliable person who works the local post office, owned by his mother and as a horse trainer. He has been friends with Phoebe since child hood and had wanted their friendship to progress to something more, but she just wants to remain friends...

Rufus is a charismatic recluse living with his father Lord Alfred Holt and son Archie at Beechbrook House next door to puddleduck farm. He suffers from PTSD after his wife was involved in an horse riding accident and later lost her life. It happened over 3 years ago, and he still has psychiatric help. Rufus seem to be a little fixated on the past, but has a loving relationship with Archie.

I would suggest reading Rainbows over Puddleduck Farm to people who enjoy reading contemporary romance novels, as it is a character driven story about animals, relationships and friendship...

There’s a lovely quality to the author’s writing that makes you feel very much at home and part of the community – and I was as excited as the story’s characters to be there for the opening of Phoebe’s vet surgery at Puddleduck Farm. A surprise visitor on the day is Rufus, the younger lord of the nearby manor – and, although she can’t see anything likely to develop between them, he certainly manages to get her a little hot under the collar. And they soon find themselves needing to work together – to identify the source of a pollutant, probably on his land, that’s killing the local wildlife.

Faithful Sam is, of course, still around – yearning for Phoebe from afar, despite his own promising new relationship. And there’s a whole cast of other characters familiar from the first book in the series (if you read it – and you certainly don’t have to, you could easily jump straight in) like Phoebe’s indefatigable grandmother Maggie, and reporter friend Tori. Maggie just can’t help herself being a touch unconventional in her dealings with the visitors to the surgery – you’d expect nothing else, and some of her interventions really made me laugh – and Tori certainly comes into her own when Phoebe finds far too many rabbits from a particularly unscrupulous breeder needing urgent life-saving attention. Oh, but while I’m mentioning things that made me laugh – you’re just going to love the running joke about Boris, and barn cat Saddam certainly has his moments too!

As well as all the animals and interactions with friends and family, I really enjoyed the romantic developments in this book too. Phoebe’s brush with the singles’ dining club reminded me of some similar excruciating experiences of my own – but at least she makes some useful professional contacts! But her love triangle with Sam (who she’s made quite clear will always be only a friend) and Rufus (so cool and distant he really can’t be interested – but then again…) was so well done – and no, I’m saying nothing more, you’ll really need to read the book. There’s some well-developed drama in this book too, centred on the long anticipated New Forest show – a real heart in mouth moment, as well as building nicely on the reasons we’re already aware of for Rufus’ apparent chilliness.

Della Galton is such an excellent story teller, perfectly balancing warmth and lightness with a few considerably heavier themes – and this book made me feel entirely invested in her very real characters, and keen to see where she takes things next. I very much enjoyed this one – and yes, highly recommended!

What a lovely and easy to follow read, filled with love and feel good vibes. Della has done a great job keeping the mood and vibe filled with love even when there are some darker moments. I love the character of Phoebe and the fact she has opened her own Vet Practice called Puddleduck Vets. We also meet some lovely pets and farm animals during the journey, we also discover that it's not always quite so simple to ascertain male and female species in the animal kingdom with a few laugh out loud moments. Maggie, Phoebe's grandma has some funny ways to remember the patients and their humans. We also see how PTSD can touch lives and how hard it is to win over trauma, getting help and support is important. I definitely recommend this warm read.

DELLA GALTON - RAINBOWS OVER PUDDLEDUCK FARM.

Welcome back to Puddleduck Farm, for our second visit to this idyllic setting in the New Forest.

Don’t panic if you haven't read its predecessor, Coming Home To Puddleduck Farm, Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm can indeed be read as a standalone story. But… I would suggest reading the two books in order, purely because they are so flippin good!

As we return to Puddleduck Farm, Phoebe is busy with her new veterinary surgery. This really is a lifelong dream come true for her. However, things don’t run smoothly for long.
Someone or something is polluting the local stream and there seems to be illegal rabbit breeding going on too.
Can Phoebe get to the bottom of what’s going on and work out who is responsible?

There is also a bit of a love triangle simmering under the surface. Sam and Rufus both have their charms, but aren’t both Phoebe’s Mr Right.

Puddleduck Farm is a joy.
There are oooodles of cute animals, that will make you want to rush off and buy your own small holding then fill it with every waif and stray from the animal kingdom you can find.

Phoebe has some beautiful friendships at Puddleduck Farm. Tori and Sam totally have her back.
Not forgetting her feisty and fearless grandmother Maggie, who is a real kick ass pensioner.

The depth of research that Della Galton has put into this story is a real credit to her and is reflected in the quality of her writing.

Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm is a delightful read. It’s a well thought out story that flows at a good pace.

I thoroughly enjoyed losing myself at Puddleduck Farm and look forward to more adventures there in the future.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood for a digital arc of this title.

A truly stunning book from Della; her books get better and better. It beautifully written with lovely descriptions.

This book is the Second part in the Puddleduck Farm series. Phoebe is opening her new Veterinary practice on Puddleduck farm.
We also catch up with the characters from the previous book, Maggie, Tori, Sam and Rufus.
There are some mysteries to be solved- a poisoned river and an unscrupulous rabbit breeder. Phoebe is very busy.
There are some strong themes in this book, but also romance, and gorgeous animals.
I hope that there is a part 3 as there could easily be further tales from Puddleduck farm in my opinion. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

As I work in the veterinary field I was keen to read this book and I was impressed with the quality of the writing, especially relating the the rabbit storyline.
I always enjoy watching book characters starting up new businesses and changing their lives so having one that featured my career was very fun to read!
The love triangle was interesting and the mystery of the poisoned stream added an extra element to the story.
Likeable characters and some emotional elements made this an engaging story.
I will definitely want to know what happens next!

It was great to be back at Puddle duck Farm again and catching up with Phoebe and Maggie. It was lovely to see the characters navigate the next steps of their lives, Tori starting a new relationship, Sam trying to get over his one sided feelings for Phoebe, Rufus coping with his PTSD and growing feelings for Phoebe and best of all Maggie and Eddie, what a crackin couple, I loved seeing them together.
Some important animal breeding issues raised and no doubt have also helped bring awareness to the cause to people, like myself who weren’t aware there was even an issue.
Lovely family and friendship dynamics and I hope we get to visit the farm again in the future.