This was a lovely and cosy read, perfect for the cooling temperatures. I loved the characters and found myself trying to spot which minor personalities will feature in the future novels.

Sherlock is great at creating such idyllic settings: I loved Cranbridge and Cranfield, with its lavender fields, sounds just as pretty. Familiar faces from the previous book and the other series do make an appearance which is a bit of a treat if you have already read these stories.

In this story, busy business woman, Katy, arrives in Cranfield after drunkenly applying for a job advert that insisted on good organisation skills. Yet, the sight that greets her was nothing she was expecting: piles upon piles of train memorabilia and barely any space to move. Not only that, the railway station is falling into disrepair – as Katy discovers to dismay. Thinking that she can quickly get the job done and move back into the hospitality business with a new city job, Katy doesn’t anticipate falling in love – both with the place and the station’s son, Ryan.

I liked immersing myself in the community spirit of Cranfield – exactly what I have come to expect from Sherlock’s novels. I thought this story was just as good as her others and I loved seeing Katy’s transformation over the book. From her finally making decent friends with the women of Cranfield (whom I am pretty sure are ear-marked for later stories), to transforming the disused station to a successful coffee shop, restaurant and pizza place – aptly named ‘Platform 1’ – this book was overflowing with feel-good vibes. I could vividly picture the tidying that Katy helps with, as well as what Platform 1 finally looks like as it eventually grows to become a community centre.

Not only that, but the love interest, Ryan, is not just a perfect character. He has his own foibles and I really appreciated seeing that more vulnerable side to him. Ryan has been impacted by his work and family life: Katy becomes the tonic that helps him heal. I was desperate to see the two characters come together and Sherlock keeps readers waiting long enough as the station transforms. Therefore, it was highly satisfying when the romance kicked in!

If you are after a gentle read that shows characters changing for the better, a warm community and a sprinkle of romance, then this book is for you. Starting with the cooling temperatures of autumn and taking readers through to the start of spring, this was a lovely October read. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series and return back to Cranfield.

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

a light hearted love story around a disused railway station telling the love story of katey and ryan who are brought to together with their different ideas to bring this railway station alive and up for survival and giving all involved a happy ending

A lovely, heart warming story, fully recommended, it's well put together, love, heartache, warmth and friendship.

Katy Smith, deeply invested in her career, faces devastation upon losing her job at a 5-star hotel. In urgent need of employment, she responds to an online ad for a position in Cranfield, only to discover she'll be working at a rundown train station instead of the boutique hotel she anticipated. Her fortunes change when she encounters chef Ryan Connolly.

Ryan, whose dreams of conquering Italy soured, returns to Cranfield burdened by domestic drama and the financial struggles of the railway station. Fortunately, Katy joins his efforts, and he envisions her using her skills to bring about a positive transformation. As they spend more time together, Ryan realizes Katy's impact extends beyond the station to his heart.

The book explores themes of family, relationships, home, love, friendship, and self-confidence. Katy and Ryan are intricately developed characters grappling with their individual challenges. Overall, it is a good read for me

Fantastic read. Warm, cosy and romantic, which are the perfect ingredients for this genre of book. It was great to meet old characters and get to know new ones. Part of a series but this book could be read as a standalone. It’s been lovely to watch this community develop over the two books and I hope there is more to come. Sounds an idyllic place to live!

Thank you Netgalley

It’s wonderful to be back in Cranfield for New Beginnings on Railway Line, the latest engrossing installment in Alison Sherlock’s charming rural romance series.

Katy Smith’s career means everything to her – so she’s devastated when she loses her job at the 5-star hotel she had dedicated her professional life to. In desperate need of a new position, Katy answers an advert online for a job in the small town of Cranfield and rather than the boutique hotel she was expecting finds herself shocked when it turns out that she will be working in a rundown train station. But a job’s a job and Katy cannot afford to be choosy. However, things start looking up when she crosses paths with chef Ryan Connolly…

Ryan had big dreams of conquering Italy, but his dreams had quickly turned sour and now he’s back home in Cranfield where his plate is overloaded with domestic drama and the financial ruin of the railway station. Luckily for him, Katy is on board and he hopes that she can use her skills to turn things around. However, the more time they spend together, the more he realises that Katy could end up working her magic not just on the railway station, but also on his heart.

Alison Sherlock’s books are an absolute joy to read and New Beginnings on Railway Lane is a gorgeous romantic escape ideal for curling up with with a great big mug of cocoa. Uplifting, enjoyable and delightful, this enchanting tale of second chances, starting over, coming home and falling in love will melt every reader’s heart.

New Beginnings on Railways Lane is another must-read for Alison Sherlock and I cannot wait for my next visit to Cranfield.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find the audio version through my local library.
The novel itself is very lighthearted and an easy read. I do think it could have been cut way down by a few hours via audio. I just think it was too long. The characters were mostly cute. The only person I didn't like was the main female character. She was very annoying and the author repeated all the time with that character how much she didn't need anyone to help take care of her and refused help for anyone because they just let you down. Which I understand why she would be upset with how her father's actions did to the entire family. But just because of what happened she decided then and many many years later how she couldn't be close to anyone and depend on them? I don't know it was just all very annoying. The most annoying part was when the main character was sick with the flu and how obnoxious she was towards her love interest. I think he is honestly better off without her.
But the other people in the little town are great. I loved all the characters and I love how they are all very close to each other and how they help each other out. If you can ignore the annoying main female character then you will enjoy everyone else.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the chance to read this book.

You know that warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you receive a really great hug? Well, I got that feeling reading this book!
The main characters in the story are Katy and Ryan. They have both had experiences in their lives that have led them to withdraw from close relationships and focus instead on their careers. But circumstances find them drawn together to save Ryan's ancestral home, and they need all of Katy's business genius to manage it.

The characters are endearing, the scenery sounds divine, and the romance is sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I am hoping there will be another few books in the series to see Libby and Flora get their happily ever after, too!

Brilliant book. Great story, fab writing, lots of depth and the characters were lovely. Did not want it to end. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion

Big thanks to NetGalley for this book! I absolutely adored "New Beginnings on Railway Lane" by Alison Sherlock. This was such a super cute book that will make you want to move out to the countryside, park yourself in a train station, and have some coffee.
Our main character is Katy Smith, who we learn has just been let go from her job and is having trouble finding another job in the hospitality industry. After a break up with her boyfriend, she goes on a drinking binge and answers an ad to help organize a train station in Cranfield. It sounds like an easy job at first and she moves in for a week to get the place in ship shape only to find that the owner, Bob, doesn't want to part with anything, Ethan is off on another adventure, and Ryan is nursing his own wounds from being fired from his job.
But Katy has grit and determination and vows to make it work so she can get back to London....but small town life and a sizzling romance with Ryan keep her hear in Cranfield. Will Katy decide to stay when offered her dream job? Read and find out!

“ New Beginnings on Railway Lane” by Alison Sherlock. This is book 2 of the series where we meet back up with earlier characters so I would recommend reading the first one if you can.

What can I say other than I really enjoyed it and read in one day. This is a heartwarming story of family, friends and new beginnings. I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Boldwood Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Alison Sherlock’s books are always lighthearted and a great escape! New Beginnings on Railway Lane was good, but not as engaging as the first book in the series for me. I found the main character Katie to be a little cold and I just couldn’t really relate to her.

The story of Katy and Ryan who meet when she accepts a job working for his family. It is the opposite to what she wants, both in terms of location and furthering her career. As she helps everyone around her will she help herself? A great read, I liked how it is told from both points of view.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Katy has been a workaholic since her youth, driven by her family's financial crisis. However, due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, the hotel industry has failed to recover, resulting in Katy being laid off. Despite her exceptional skills, there are no job openings available. Uncharacteristically, Katy decides to indulge in a bottle of wine, knowing she doesn't have to wake up early the next day.

Upon awakening with a hangover, she discovers a message revealing that she applied for a job in a place she's never heard of: Cranfield, a quaint English village. Katy considers herself a city girl and prefers London over the countryside, with its insects and all.

To her surprise, Katy has been hired as an organizer and is provided with accommodation and meals. Arriving in Cranfield, she is confronted with her task—an old train station filled with a mixture of treasures and junk. Ryan, whose brother hired Katy and then abruptly left town, doesn't seem pleased by her presence. Ryan's father, on the other hand, appears content until Katy tries to dispose of something. Although Katy enjoys a challenge, this, coupled with the fact that she shares living quarters with the family, seems overwhelming. However, she agrees to stay for a week.

As Katy gets to know more members of the family and the villagers, she begins to enjoy her surroundings. Ryan's explanations of his family's history captivate her, and she becomes determined to give her best effort. It doesn't hurt that Ryan himself is incredibly attractive...

As the story progresses, readers will fall in love with Katy and her compassionate nature, just like the rest of Cranfield! The cast of character will make you smile and root for them.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the series and in my opinion you really need to read the first one to really get to know the characters and the story, however this could just about be read as a stand-alone book.

This is an engaging book which is the second in a series. I do believe that reading the first book in the series would enhance the reading experience, although it is passable as a stand-alone book

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 2 of the series where we meet back up with earlier characters so I would recommend reading the first one if you can, but you can still read this one if you can’t
Katy (a new character) has just been made redundant and isn’t sure what to do next. After a night of drowning her sorrows she drunkenly applies for a strange sounding job helping to sort out an old railway station. To her surprise she gets the job so heads off to Railway Lane where she meets Ryan whose brother put the advert up for a joke not thinking anyone would apply
Will Katy still have the job or will she have to leave ?

The second book in this series and it gives us a real mixed bag of happenings. |Saying that, it is well worth a read. It can be read as a standalone but it is better read as the series. Lovely story and character, worth 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Another good book from this author, second look at Railway Lane. A sweet easy read which shows family, friends and community coming together. Perfect for a summer afternoon.

In Katy and Ryan, you have two people who have put up barriers against relationships and buried their heads in their work. This has left them feeling a little lonely and isolated. When both their parents turned their backs on them, both Katy and Ryan internalised the desire to keep themselves safe from heartbreak. When Katy arrives at Railway Lane, she finds a family who are living in the past and she sets out to help them. In doing so, she finds out quite a lot about what she wants for her future.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting up again with all the characters in Cranfield and seeing how their lives are panning out. Katy is full of great ideas and her positive attitude is catching. I am sure that she will have some more ideas for her new friends in future books. Family and friends are key to the story as characters find out what is most rewarding in life.

In short:starting over, family and friend