Lovely warm story of second time around chances at love. Rory and Leo are great characters who have both come back to Roseford at the same time after years away and so have a chance of rekindling their early relationship. Good storyline and characters full of fun and warmth makes this a lovely light read

Another enjoyable read from Keenan, but this was a tad too predictable to be a five-star read. I have enjoyed the ‘Roseford’ series and I think these are books you can read independently – definitely this one – but it was great to see previous characters make an appearance once more.

This time, we see Rory – real name, Aurora – end up on a summer bread in Roseford thanks to her holiday booking being rearranged. What she doesn’t expect to see is that the person running Roseford Villas is her past flame, Leo, someone who she hasn’t seen for twenty years. Although Rory is on holiday to try and get her first novel written, she cannot deny that there are still sparks between her and Leo. Does he feel them too?

The narrative neatly switches between both characters, so readers get a clear insight into how the other one is feeling. I liked how Keenan developed Leo’s character because of his time in Australia and his backstory, particularly surrounding his wife and the car accident. I think it made him a deeper character compared to Rory, who felt a bit one-dimensional in comparison. On the other hand, I could really relate to Rory’s attitude as a classroom teacher and thought it reflected a bit of the writer’s own background at the same time.

Yet, this plot was too obvious to really sink myself into. The research that Rory is carrying out for her novel was too evident and Rory too slow at discovering the answers. The romance between Leo and Rory initially felt too slow in coming and, when it did, I grew frustrated at the miscommunication that always seems to take place in this genre of novels. Honestly, a good bit of talking between the two would have easily solved it!

To make this book a bit different, I think Keenan could have broken the style of the other stories by delving deeper into the historical romance that Rory is looking exploring. Not necessarily a dual timeline, but a chance for readers to find out more about the inspiration behind Rory’s novel. I felt that Rory’s actual book was glossed over when it is a central part to the meeting of the main characters. I wanted to see more of this plot feature, perhaps omitting when Rory and Leo inevitably drift apart instead.

Overall, a sweet, summery read that takes readers back to the lovely location of Roseford. I wonder whether there is any room left for a further book in the series but it was good to see familiar faces amongst past flames.

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

Many people remember their first love and Fay Keenan does a great job of capturing the intensity and passion of that experience. This was a fun second chance love story made more interesting by also sharing the process of an author developing a story for a novel. Thanks #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks

Aurora Henderson, known as Rory, and Leo McKendrick find themselves reunited after twenty years apart. What started as a teenage romance was interrupted by life's twists and turns, but now, as adults in need of change, they both end up in the picturesque village of Roseford. Rory, burnt out from her teaching career, seeks solace and inspiration for her novel, while Leo seizes the opportunity to manage his family's B&B, Roseford Villas. As they reconnect and reminisce over the summer months, old feelings resurface, and they realise that love's young dream might just get a second chance. With its charming setting, vibrant characters, and themes of romance and friendship, Fay Keenan's novel is a delightful escape.

Rory, an English teacher from York, is eager to spend the summer in Roseford to finally work on her dream of writing a novel. However, her plans are disrupted when her reserved chocolate-box cottage gets switched to a lodge at Roseford Villas. Although the new accommodation has its inconveniences, like not being able to plug in her laptop at the table, it's still within walking distance of Roseford Hall, where the archives can aid her research for her book. Plus, her former friend, who lives nearby, is available to discuss her ideas, and the village pub is ideal for observing local life. The real surprise comes when Rory discovers that Leo, her first love from 20 years ago, is temporarily managing the B&B at the Villas while the regular owners are away.

Their unexpected reunion ignites a heartwarming second-chance romance, with both Rory and Leo carrying baggage and secrets from their long time apart. As their slow-burn relationship starts to rekindle, they find themselves facing practical complications—Rory's commitment to her teaching job, and Leo's plans to start a new position in London—which raise doubts about whether their relationship can last beyond the summer.

The book captures the emotional journey of reconnecting with the past and the challenges of overcoming obstacles on the path to a happy ending. It balances the romantic elements with Rory's journey as a writer and the historical discoveries that come with it. Although this could be the final book in the series, it leaves readers with a sense of closure and a feeling that the residents of Roseford are well on their way to their own happy-ever-afters. With strong characters, a captivating setting, and thoughtful storytelling, it's a charming and engaging read.

Fay Keenan's stories and Roseford Villas are always places I love to visit as the places and catch up with the characters.
This one made me smile, root the characters hoping the second chance was going to work.
Sweet and heartwarming.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Rory and Leo take centre stage in this book in the series set in Somerset. Reunited after many years, there is a lot of history between them Meeting up after teen age years shows them how they have matured but also they can reconnect as the friends that they were. You sense that both are a crossroads in their lives but the community of Roseford is appealing and in many ways, they soon begin to look on it as home.

Rory is reinventing herself for the Summer and hoping to start her new career as a romantic novelist. Researching her novel brings her back to old friendships and connects her to the village. I enjoyed the unfolding mystery as she tried to unravel the real story behind the letters she is working on. Leo has had a huge change in his life and returned to the UK. In many ways, their story is one of second chances and taking a step into the dark. With familiar characters and the gorgeous village community, this is as enjoyable as others in the series.

In short: Starting over

Six weeks away, not for a holiday,
But to research and start a novel, if Rory has her way.
Having her accommodation cancelled isn’t great news
But maybe the alternative will be good news?

When the door is answered by her first love though
Rory isn’t sure whether to stay or go!
Twenty years since his parents took him away
She’d never expected to see him today!

An author researching a live from the past
Uncovering secrets to be shared at last.
Connecting with friends old and new
Maybe now teen dreams may also come true?

A heartwarming read set in a delightful community
Where fresh starts and romance are given an opportunity.
A lovely read with great characters, too,
That I now highly recommend to you!

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I have been a fan of Fay and her work for a while now. By no means have I read everything that she has written but that is something that I hope to rectify in the not too distant future. I must admit that I am particularly enjoying the 'Roseford' series. I read and loved the first four books in the series. When I heard that Fay was due to release another book in the 'Roseford' series, I knew that I had to grab a copy at the earliest opportunity. Well ladies and gents the wait is over because the fifth book in the 'Roseford' series is called 'Coming Home To Roseford Villas' and it was released on 12th April 2024. It's another superb story from a superb author. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Coming Home To Roseford Villas' but more about that in a bit.

As with all of Fay's books, it didn't take me long to get into 'Coming Home To Roseford Villas'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first few pages, I knew that this was one book that I would become addicted to and that I would find it rather difficult to put to one side for any length of time. I was spot on too. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I warmed to the characters from the start and in fact some of them ended up feeling more like friends rather than characters in a book. I had to keep reading to see if the story was going to pan out in the way in which I thought that it would and how the story would impact on the characters that I grew to care about. I was so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I didn't realise just how quickly the time was passing and how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Coming Home To Roseford Villas'. I found 'Coming Home To Roseford Villas' to be a delight to read from start to finish with lots of life, love, fun and uplifting moments.

'Coming Home To Roseford Villas' is extremely well written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Fay Keenan. Fay has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading Fay's books often feel more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. Fay's love for her characters shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. As I mentioned above, I grew to care about the characters and felt as though they had become friends of mine. 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.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Coming Home To Roseford Villas' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Fay's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Coming Home to Roseford Villas by Fay Keenan

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

Blurb

Aurora Henderson and Leo McKendrick were love’s young dream when they first dated as teenagers.

But like many a first love, parents, life, and distance got in the way, and the couple lost touch. Now, twenty years later, Aurora – Rory to her friends – needs a break. Burnt out from her teaching career and longing to write a novel, Rory heads to the idyllic village of Roseford for a summer of writing and relaxation.

Leo needs a change too. Ex-pat life in Australia has come to a sticky end so the opportunity to run his family’s B&B, Roseford Villas, for the summer is too good to turn down.

Neither Rory nor Leo believe in fate, but when Leo opens the door to his latest guest, he might just have to reconsider. And when a sultry summer fills with nostalgia and memories and six weeks flies by too fast, love’s young dream might just get a second chance…

My Opinion

Roseford - It is nice to be back. This is the fifth book in the Roseford series but each can be read as a standalone. Rory is looking forward to spending her summer holidays writing, unfortunately very early on it is clear that her plans might change. This was such a beautiful, second chance romance. This book will have you emotional in places. For a change I actually think I have read every book in this series (in order) - that is how much I enjoy Fay Kennan's writing.

Rating 4/5

I enjoyed reading Coming Home to Roseford Villas by Fay Keenan. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review. Happy Reading!

Review
Being back in Roseford is like being with long lost friends. I've loved my time back in Roseford and can't wait to visit again.

I loved Rory and Leo's story and it was so heartwarming. A wonderful ending to a beautiful read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Being back in the gorgeous village of Roseford has been like coming home. I’ve loved the others in this series and Rory and Leo’s story is a wonderful romance to fall in love with.
Their story of love’s young dream was a nice introduction and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship develop as both took time in Roseford to take stock and reevaluate life choices.
I loved seeing how Rory’s research took her to meeting up with Stella and learning more about Simon’s family - meeting up with some of the characters from the other stories in the series is a wonderful connection.
Fay Keenan always writes such warm-hearted stories and her characters are so relatable.

Working as an English teacher in York and sharing a flat, Rory just hasn’t had the space to focus on her dream of writing a novel. But this summer is her time – a chocolate box cottage in Roseford booked for the summer holidays, and a determination to make the most of it. Until the last minute news of a change of accommodation – but perhaps the lodge in the gardens at Roseford Villas will be fine too. And it is, other than not being able to plug in her laptop when sitting at the table – Roseford Hall and the archives that’ll help with her story are in walking distance, a former friend lives nearby who’ll be the perfect sounding board for her ideas, and the village pub is just ideal for people-watching. But there is a surprise in store – the owners of the B&B at the Villas are away on holiday, and it’s being looked after by their nephew Leo, who just happens to have been her first love.

It becomes a beautiful story of second chance romance – they both have plenty of baggage and a few secrets, and twenty years apart is a long time to make up for, but their gentle and slow-burn relationship begins to develop. But she has her job to return to, and Leo’s off to London to start a new one – it’s a shame, but it can only really be for the summer, can’t it?

But there are other layers to the story. Rory is serious about her writing – a dual-time story that will draw on their former romance for its present day thread, and an intriguing historical one she’s been inspired by, filled with unexpected discoveries that she finds herself well placed to research. And, of course, there’s Roseford itself – familiar characters make cameo appearances, and the warmth of the community helps make it a place that neither of them will want to leave.

A really lovely read, with all the right emotional touches when the past catches up with them both, and more than a few obstacles before the hoped-for happy ending – and I really enjoyed the extra dimensions added both by Rory’s writing experience and the developments in the historical story, slowly uncovered.

I think this might be the last in the series – I’ll miss my visits to Roseford, but have confidence that everyone there will be living their own happy ever afters, and I’ll be really looking forward to seeing where the author takes us next. With its warmth, perfect setting, great characters and wonderful storytelling, this is a series I’d very much recommend.

Rory and Leo's first romance ended when Leo emigrated to Australia. Twenty years later, Rory is heading to Roseford for the summer, hoping to write her first novel, and when fate brings her face-to-face with Leo, who is running his family's B&B in Roseford, the opportunity to explore their feelings for each other beckons. I enjoyed this second-chance romance, which is full of believable emotional conflict. Rory and Leo are characters you invest in, and it's good to see the Roseford community supporting them in their endeavours. I like the characters, the Somerset setting and the emotional rollercoaster romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

What a way to spend the summer away from teaching, set in a lovely west country village and meeting up with the ex-love of your life. Do you get a second chance or have you lost it all. Characters and settings are fantastic and worth 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for this ARC

Coming Home to Roseford Villas is my initial venture into Fay Keenan's novels, and what a delightful start it was.

Rory decides to stay in a 6-week holiday rental in the charming village of Roseford, Somerset. To her surprise, she discovers that her teenage sweetheart, Leo, is the host. Two decades have passed since they went their separate ways. Can they reignite their romance?

Fay's writing style captivated me from the start and kept me enthralled throughout. Her characters were delicious and created a genuine sense of community. Although this is the fifth book in The Roseford series, it stands alone well. However, I plan to explore the others at my earliest convenience!

Don't miss out on getting your hands on a copy soon.

I’ve loved each of the books in this series, but Coming Home to Roseford Villas may just be my favourite so far. Rory and Leo were impossible not to fall for, but their baggage may prove to be simply too much. No spoilers is my policy, but the synopsis does hint at their second chance.

I really gelled with Rory and wanted her to find happiness in both her personal and professional lives. Whilst I doubt that I will ever progress from reading to writing, I loved learning about her determination to be become a published author. Of course, that desire opened the door to revisiting characters from previous books as well as Rory’s attraction to a second-hand pullover.

Meanwhile, Leo has led a charmed life, for the most part, but that all ended abruptly when his life took a sharp detour that led to him returning to the UK and then Roseford. Running his Aunt and Uncle’s B&B is a world away from his finance background, but he craved the happiness that the B&B allowed him.

Together, they made a fantastic couple for whom I really hoped for a happy ending. However, nothing comes easily, and I was forced to wait patiently and see what would develop. Don’t worry, though, this story is in safe hands, and it’s not a spoiler to say that the final conclusion is most satisfying.

Filled with well-developed characters, this story is warm, relatable and an absolute balm for a jaded heart. I cannot recommend it enough. Can be perfectly enjoyed as a standalone story, but the series is so wonderful, I’m sure you’ll find yourself going back and reading the rest. It’s terrific.

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

I loved being back in Roseford and meeting up with characters from previous books.

The story is about Rory who teaches English and has come to stay in Roseford during the summer break. She wants to write a romance book.

When she arrives at Roseford Villas, the place where is due to stay, she finds herself facing Leo, who she’s not seen for a long time. He was the first person she fell in love with.

The story kept me turning the pages to find out how Leo and Rory would get on and whether they would reunite.


I recommend this book.

Sweet story

This book is a small-town, second chance romance. Rory (Aurora) is a writer who is working as a teacher. Leo was her boyfriend during her teenage years. Fate has brought them back together while Leo is running his Aunt/Uncle's B&B, the same B&B where Rory (unintentionally) escapes to for the summer to focus on writing.

This was an easy book to read, characters are likeable. I wasn't particularly invested in their relationship, though, because I felt they were a bit immature for their ages and didn't handle situations very well. All in all, the book was well-written and I would read another by this author.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.