I am loving this fabulous series set in the beautiful Lake District. This is book 3 and another cracking read. Our main character. Emma is likeable and relatable but she hasn't had much luck with her 2 previous relationships and isn't in a good place when the story begins. However, with a cast of kind, warm and supportive people in her corner, her healing process begins and with an unlikely but delightful herd of alpacas, she finds joy and a new purpose in life. I knew very little about alpacas before reading this book but am now a firm fan of these gentle, sweet and delightful creatures and would love to be able to enjoy the experience of walking them as described in the book. Jessica Redland writes beautifully with a kindness and heartwarming passion for her subjects. Her previous books have had us readers falling in love with hedgehogs, bees and now alpacas. I don't know how she does it but long may her magic continue. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Best is Yet to Come by Jessica Redland

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

Blurb

Emma is having a fresh start.

After a successful teaching career, an exciting new chapter awaits Emma – helping her fiancé Grayson run one of Beatrix Potter's farms. While imagining days spent supporting Grayson with his dream, working the land and helping with the animals, Emma harvests a dream of her own – to set up an alpaca-walking business around the farm.

But working together isn’t as easy as Emma expected. Soon her dreams are in tatters and, broken-hearted, she must start over yet again.

When Oliver, Rosie and the team at Willowdale Hall welcome Emma with open arms, she can't believe her luck. But starting a new business in a new place is a daunting prospect, especially when it comes with unexpected obstacles. With a reserved, prickly groundskeeper as a partner, rapidly changing family dynamics to contend with, and time running out to get her new career off the ground, Emma may have bitten off more than she can chew.

But even though things are not going to plan just yet, the best is yet to come for Emma, if she can just take a leap of faith and follow her heart...

My Opinion

Jessica Redland is an author that I really enjoy reading. I think I may have missed a book in The Lake District series but I was still able to keep up. Emma is one of those characters that I instantly felt like I knew and I couldn't wait for her to get her alpacas.

This was such a delightful read and I cannot believe it took me so long to discover Jessica's books. The Best is Yet to Come is such a heart-warming book and is going to be lovely to read over the changing seasons.

Rating 4/5

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I found the fmc rather annoying and the writing poor at times with lots of info dumping. I also don’t think the chronic pain rep was very well done.

Jessica Redland - The Best Is Yet To Come.

I’m delighted to head back to the Lake District with Jessica Redland, as she brings us book three in her Escape To The Lakes series.
All three books can easily be read as stand alone stories. However, I’d suggest reading all three in order so as to get the most out of each gorgeous book.

#TheBestIsYetToCome is primarily Emma’s story. As she leaves her teaching job for a fresh start in the country, it doesn’t all go quite to plan and I really felt for Emma as she realised that her relationship wasn’t what she thought it was.
Emma bravely moves forward and maybe, as the title suggests, the best is yet to come her way.

We also catch up with characters from the two previous books. Some loose ends are tied up and we see life continue with all its ups and downs for some of our favourite Willowdale residents.

Jessica Redland is renowned for dealing with some tough subjects in her books. The Best Is Yet To Come is no exception. As well as Emma’s relationship issues, the book also covers the subject of endometriosis. As always, JR writes with knowledge and compassion and covers these topics with sensitivity.

The stars of this book are probably not the humans, but quite possibly it’s the alpacas.
These woolly beauties are a delight and I have now added, ‘walking alpacas’ to my bucket list.

#TheBestIsYetToCome is a joy. I loved being back in this big hearted community. I’ve fallen in love with alpacas and quite simply can’t wait to read what comes next.

#TheBestIsYetToCome is a charming read. It’s full of love, friendship, fresh starts and of course, alpacas. Did I mention them?

An utterly fabulous five star read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After leaving her successful teaching career, Emma is looking forward to starting a new life with her fiancé Grayson on an idyllic Cumbrian farm, however, this move isn’t anything like Emma expected and when things go badly wrong she has to restart her life once again. Willowdale Hall in the Lake District is home to a delightful collection of characters who soon rally round in order to give Emma the new start she so richly deserves.

This is a delightful story which has all the trademarks of this author’s lovely warm style of writing. She makes all the characters so realistic that they immediately work their way into your heart and you can’t help but want everything to work out for them. As this is the third book in the Escape to the Lakes series there is a sense of returning ‘home’ to all the lovely people who we have grown to love with the added joy of meeting new characters who each have their own story to share. I have especially enjoyed reading Emma’s story, it has been so refreshing to have a forty-something character making a new start, her determination and enthusiasm shines throughout but there are also other lovely characters who make their own distinctive impression. I must mention The Magnificent Seven who were a real delight and such an integral part of the story.

Covering some difficult topics in a very readable way is what this talented writer does best and The Best is Yet to Come looks at complicated relationships but does so with a lovely light touch and a reminder to embrace what life has to offer and to make the most of every opportunity. Whilst it works as a standalone story I do think that it makes sense to start this delightful series from the beginning as that way you get to know and love all the characters who make this series so special.

The story begins with a recap of Rosie and Oliver's lives and Rosie's search for Oliver's father. Then, we meet Emma, who is about to start her new life. While she is positive and supportive, Grayson, her partner, is not, and his attitude and behaviour deteriorate, making Emma question her new life and relationship. When he shows his true self, Emma is devastated. Unexpected family news gives Emma another new start with a hopefully better outcome. Emma's story is heartbreaking in parts, and you want her to have the chance of something better. The alpaca walk project and meeting her new family and Killian make lasting happiness a possibility. I like the balance of dark and light, negativity and positivity; it makes the story real. I love the characterisation; it makes you invest in Emma and her family, and the Alpacas are charming and give the story a delightful uniqueness.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The third book in Jessica Redland's Lakes series follows on immediately from the cliffhanger at the end of book two, when Rosie realised who boyfriend Oliver's long lost father was. I would definitely advise reading the previous books in the series before this one to get the full story.

Alongside old favourite characters, this time round we meet Emma, who gives up her teaching life to run a farm with fiance Grayson. Along the way, she decides to create an alpaca walking business - this was especially well researched by the author!

At the start, I couldn't figure out how Emma tied in with the characters from Willowdale Hall, but Jessica tied the threads together beautifully. A lovely read, a great addition to the series, bring on book 4!

It’s great to back in the Lakes and visiting Willowdale Hall again. After the cliffhanger from the previous book, with Rosie realising who Oliver’s dad was, I was eager to know more. I love how it unfolded and the threads all tied up. Meeting Emma was amazing and I loved her personality, so positive and bright even when life tries to knock her down. My heart went out to her when Grayson cast her aside, but I loved how she reached out to her dad. When one door closes another opens and what she discovers about her dad and their growing relationship was so much more than anything Grayson could have given her.

The information and descriptions of the Alpacas was phenomenal and there was clearly a lot of research and love for the animals behind the scenes. It really showed in the writing.

Emma at Willowdale really blossomed and Killian and his girls really opened her eyes to life and love. I don’t want to give any spoilers but Killian was just the tonic Emma needed.

The continuing storyline of Oliver and his dad was really good, the diaries from his mother shed light on to what was happening and her true feeling for Christian. So touching. Oliver and Rosie’s vision for the Hall and grounds is amazing and I can’t wait to see what they do next.

I enjoyed this story of self acceptance and finding self worth, not to mention love. Heart ache starts the story but it ends warm and fuzzy… not just alpaca fuzzy either. Great little escape just like Redlands other books.

Emma is excited about the next chapter in her life with Grayson. She has been supportive of him in every way. When he doesn’t show her the same courtesy and things change it's time for Emma to take charge of herself, her life and pursue her own dreams. Her road includes some heartbreak, recovery and resilience, a new business, friends, a lot of questioning herself, strength and a wonderful happy ending. I’ve enjoyed many titles from this author, but did not read the first of this series. This was great to read as a stand-alone, but I will be buying the first two in the series asap. Truly lovely story.

The Best is Yet to Come picks up the Lake District series and we meet Rosie and Oliver again at Willowdale Hall. We also meet Emma, who is embarking on a massive life change by giving up her home and teaching career to take up farming with partner Grayson.

What should be an idyllic lifestyle starts off well as Emma falls in love with the idea of running an alpaca walking business. However Grayson is not supportive in the slightest, and things go from bad to worse as Grayson's mood declines with every day.

Emma must find a solution to rehousing herself, and her flock of seven alpacas. When help arrives is the most unexpected form, Emma can start again (again), but will she find her new happy this time around?

The Third book in the lakes series and more new characters though Rosie and Oliver and Willowdale Hall are strongly featured in this book. and there are mentions of past characters.
Emma is the main character in this book along with Killian . I loved how the alpaca business started and progressed, The magnificent seven !
A beautifully written book which flows beautifully, and draws the reader in . The storyline keeps the reader engaged!
An absolute must read, Highly Recommended
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Jessica Redland for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

The worst thing about finishing a book by Jessica Redland is the wait for the next one. Her writing is like a hug. There's so much care, thought planning and research that goes into her books. I loved getting to know Emma. She was the sweetest most loving character. I got so angry at how Greyson treated her but Killian more than made up for that. I can't not mention the Magnificent Seven. What I wouldn't give to be for that to be my life. I'm hoping that Aoife gets her own stroy. I'm intrigued about what happened with her. Looking forward to our next adventure together, Miss Redland.

Another gorgeous read from Jessica! It was such a delight to meet Emma and Killian - they were a match made in heaven and helped each other heal from painful pasts. It was comforting to return to familiar faces and see how they were getting on. Jessica's worlds always feel like one giant hug!

This is the third book in Jessica Redland’s new series set in the Lake District and introduces us to another new set of characters. Rosie and Oliver from book 2 do still have quite a presence in this as does Willowdale Hall so I would probably recommend reading that one before this, however it can be read as a standalone to.

Emma is a really lovely character and I warmed to her instantly, Grayson on the other hand - oh that man frustrated me so much!!! Things started getting a lot more cheerful once Emma found her way to Willowdale and it felt like everything was on the up. There were some troubles along the way but life is always a journey!

I loved meeting the Magnificent Seven, Jessica describes them in such a way that you really can picture them in your mind and I’d absolutely love to be able to go on a walk out with Emma and the gang. Alpaca’s are such lovely kind animals and they feel like the perfect companion for the next chapter in Emma’s life.

Killian is another important character and a massive help to Emma when she’s setting up her Alpaca home, he feels like such a warm, genuine and kind guy who always puts others first. I can’t wait to see what comes next for him and his girls…

Another great book from Jessica Redland and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Thank you netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion in return. The Best is Yet to Come by Jessica Redland is part of a series but this one can most definitely be read as a standalone. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, its set in a the idyllic Lake District and follows the ups and downs of Emma, a woman in her forties leaving her career in teaching to move with her partner to help him fulfil his dream farming job. Part of her story is wanting to set up an alpaca walking business, I particularly loved the descriptions of the alpacas she meets and I most definitely want to walk with one myself. There is so much to this book, is well written, it keeps you wanting to readjust one more page. An absolute must read.

"The Best is Yet to Come," is book 3 in the Lakes District series but can easily be read as a standalone. This contemporary romance, set against a stunning countryside backdrop, centers on Emma's journey of resilience and new beginnings. It explores themes of embracing change, chasing dreams, and finding love in unexpected places.

Emma's journey is deeply supported by her family and best friend, which plays a crucial role in her overcoming obstacles. The book also sparked my curiosity about alpacas through Emma’s involvement in the alpaca business, with plenty of intriguing details about alpacas sprinkled throughout. The depiction of Willowdale Hall and its surroundings was so vivid that it felt like I was truly there.

Killian’s role in Emma’s life made me eagerly anticipate their future together and cheer for their happy ending with their little family.

This is my first time to read Jessica Redland's book and it was like receiving a comforting hug while sipping on hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, all wrapped up in a cozy blanket. 

TW: Infertility, Endometriosis, Domestic Violence

Favorite Quotes:
ᥫ᭡  "We might not have been meant for each other but that lapse in judgment on both our parts gave us you and, no matter how much it hurt to accept that I was always going to be second best, I'd do it all again to have you and I know your dad would too."

ᥫ᭡  "I still believe in love and I still believe that the right one for me is out there somewhere."

ᥫ᭡  "That's why, when we were talking before about what I do for lost kids, I told you I don't change anyone's life - I just present them with other options. I give them the tools - including self-belief - to realize that their life can be different, but they have to make those changes themselves and they're only going to do that if they really want to. Accepting that I can't fix everyone was one of my biggest life lessons."

ᥫ᭡ "..You hit a massive bump in the road and said I'm still going that way, but I'm taking a different route."

ᥫ᭡  "Sometimes people come into our lives at what might seem the wrong moment but is actually the right one."

ᥫ᭡ "Life doesn't work to a timetable. It's messy, unexpected and chaotic but we only get one go.  You might think you have all the time in the world to move on, but does Killian?  What if he meets someone else while you're getting over a man you never even loved in the first place?"

ᥫ᭡ "Always grasp at life, Emma, because you never know how long you've got.  Hold on to people you love, grab opportunities, really live every day."

ᥫ᭡  "Keep dreaming, keep believing, live and love boldly.."

ᥫ᭡  "It takes a lot of courage, people around you who care, and a giant leap of faith where you focus on flying instead of falling.  The past can be a scary place but the future doesn't need to be.."

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the electronic advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book three in the Lake District series
And another great book
Can be read alone
A well written storyline like all of Jessica’s books
Thanks NetGalley

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

I absolutely loved reading this book.

We meet Emma, who was living the life she dreamt of, but then everything changed for her. After the turn of events, she has to start again.

She really wants to get her new venture started, which is walking rescued alpacas. She needs a lot of help in order to do this.

When she meets with Oliver and Rosie at Willowdale Hall, they give her somewhere to begin the business. But some people at Willowdale Hall don’t like it.

One of those is Killian who thinks she’s the reason he can’t do something with the space she’s given which is far better than walking alpacas.

But Emma will need his help and her new friends to make her dream a reality.

I loved the setting and characters.

I highly recommend this book.

This gorgeous book is beautifully balanced, showing two distinct halves of Emma’s story. At first, we follow Emma’s exciting future as she looks ahead to her move into the countryside surrounding Coniston.  Her relationship with Fiancé Grayson seemed a little one-sided, but I assumed that the strain of moving into a new farm was the problem.  I never imagined that she was being used as undervalued labour.  I guess I’m not sufficiently cynical to spot such an awful move.

With such a large part of the story focusing on Emma, I had a chance to forge a virtual friendship with her character and felt instinctively protective of her. Her treatment at the hands of her fiancé and her husband before that was unforgivable. I found myself holding onto the title and believing that the best was yet to come for Emma. Emma certainly deserved a bright future that would lead her to be cherished rather than used. I needn’t have worried; Jessica had already imagined a fantastic future for her and introduced her to a perfect match.

The more time that we spent with the perfectly named Magnificent Seven in the Paca Shack or on Paca Plaza, the more I imagined being able to walk along with them all. This was made even more desirable as it became clear that Killian would become a regular feature among them all. Jessica performed a minor miracle when she imagined Killian into the pages of this book; he’s simply perfect.

There are some corners neatened in this instalment as we discover Oliver’s father and continue to see Rosie supporting her mother’s battle with her mental health issues. The steady building of the lives involved at Willowdale Hall and even more reasons to perceive this as a most worthy addition to some of the previous series.  This is very special indeed.  

Jessica introduces a little of her own story with each of her books. From an aggressive midwife to a battle with endometriosis, there is a gentle lifting of a veil that allows us a glimpse of her personal experiences and some of the unpleasantness that she has encountered along the way. All are handled with Jessica’s hallmark gentle touch, and there’s a warmth between the pages and a generous helping of reality.