Member Reviews

Thank you to the author, the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a nice read but nothing I haven't read before.

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I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cozy, heartwarming book. The pace was slow, but I enjoyed it so much!

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It's hard to find anything to criticise in this, I was looking for a cosy read that I could easily power off from the outside world and get lost in and that's exactly what I found with Escape to Pumpkin Cottage.

Pippa doesn't have a great start and then makes the move to the countryside and buys pumpkin cottage and starts her reno project. When everything seems to be going okay a rivalry sparks between Pippa and the other B&B owner in the small idyllic town. Both characters seem to have really interesting back stories that run alongside the move and their own feud that runs throughout, and at times I wasn't even sure who I was rooting for more.

This is a lovely little romance read and I won't dive into the romance side too much to avoid spoiling someone's afternoon read. Grab a blanket and your snacks and cosy in with this book, because you won't regret it.

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Many thanks to Netgalley for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

In this book Pippa Mason moves to the countryside and buys Pumpkin Cottage. It doesn’t take long for Pippa to make friends with the locals. Pippa starts to restore the cottage and get it up and running. People leave her great reviews. The only problem is Leah the owner of the other B&B in town who is far older. Pippa and Leah start a rivalry after Leah tells her that there is no room for two b&b’s in town. Pippa starts to fall for Jake who happens to be Leah’s son. Leah begins to sabotage Pippa and people begin to call her out on it. Once Leah threatens Pippa she finds out that Jake heard the entire thing and wants nothing to do with her that she realizes that she should be nicer to Pippa especially when she discovers that Pippa is the daughter of one of her best friends from high school. Leah asks Pippa and Jake to take over the b&b and Leah and Peter her husband take over pumpkin cottage to make things easier for everyone. This book is so cozy and perfect for this time of year

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Escape to pumpkin cottage
by Anna Burns and Jacqui Burns

Published by Allison & Busby on 19th September 2024

A Feel-good heartwarming Read about romance, rivalry, renovation & community.

Pippa Mason's Mum has recently passed away & she's split up with her boyfriend of 5 years.

Seeking a fresh start, she purchases dilapidated run down B&B, 'Pumpkin Cottage' in the picturesque Wye Valley. She loads her car with the few sad boxes of possessions that she owns and heads to the village Riverdean, where her late Mum had grown up.

Pippa bought the cottage without even viewing it in person, but when she first sees it, she thinks it's higgledy piggeldy perfection!

It's the most dramatic life change she's ever made but if she's learnt anything in the last year, it's that life is too short to spend a second of it wasting time, sitting back, waiting for the future you want to come and find you.

As she embarks on a journey to transform the cottage into a thriving bed and breakfast, she finds herself drawn into the local community and caught in a web of unexpected challenges & an unexpected romance with adventure mad Jake.

The authors of this book (Mother & Daughter) alternate writing chapters from 'Pippa's' view & a lady called 'Jenny' Foster, who runs Riverside Lodge an already established B&B of 15 years.

Jenny's husband Phil has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and she has doubts about how long she will be able to keep running the business. Jenny didn't need the threat of another B&B on her doorstep and the newcomer worming her way into the hearts of the community and her son!

Anna and Jacqui have created a charming setting for this story. The idyllic Wye Valley provides a captivating backdrop, filled with charming villages, lush countryside, and a sense of tranquility. I for one wanted to be sitting by the roaring fire in 'The Trout' and having a glass of wine with Pippa!

The characters are relatable and Pippa's determination and resilience are inspiring.
Her interactions with the quirky locals add depth and humour to the story.
The blossoming romance between Pippa and the local outdoorsy Jake is both sweet and believable, and the story offers a well-paced narrative with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged.

Jennys character is a complex one. Her life is filled with stress and responsibilities, and she can often come across as gruff or irritable.
Despite her tough exterior, Jenny has a kind heart. She is deeply committed to her business and her husband, and she is always trying to do what is best for them. However, her stress and fatigue can sometimes lead to conflicts with others, particularly Pippa.

Jenny's character arc throughout the novel involves her learning to balance her personal and professional life, as well as finding ways to cope with her husband's condition. As she grows and develops, she begins to see the importance of community and friendship, and she learns to appreciate the simple things in life.

Escape to Pumpkin Cottage is a delightful read that will leave you feeling cosy and content. It's a perfect choice for fans of cosy mysteries, romance, and heartwarming tales of small-town life.

If you're looking for a book to curl up with in your hygge nook on a chilly day, this is definitely one to consider and I think we should all take on Pippa's tradition next year & mark the 1st of September with a pumpkin spiced latte!

This review will also be on my bookstagram account @hyggenookandbook

#EscapeToPumpkinCottage #AnnaBurns
#JacquiBurns
#CosyRead
#Romance
#SmallTownLife
#Renovation
#WyeValley
#B&B
#Dementia

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Pippa Mason bout Pumpkin cottage in wye valley, in the village of Riverdale. she intends to open a bed and breakfast. Jenny foster also owns a Bed and breakfast and doesn't want another one in the area. Pippa and Jenny get into an argument, but will they end up friends.

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I loved Poles Apart, this writing duo’s previous book, so when I had the chance to read this latest book I couldn’t resist!

The story is told by both Pippa and Jenny, so we get both sides of this interesting dual between the B&B owners. I liked both Pippa and Jenny, but they did annoy me at times! I mean who buys an old bed and breakfast on impulse? Certainly not me or anyone I know.
I felt for both characters as they did have serious issues they were both dealing with, as well running businesses that they put everything into.
Jenny’s husband has early onset dementia which is getting worse, so the last thing she needs is a rival in the hospitality industry. Pippa is grieving for her mother and a failed relationship, and really hopes that Riverdean will be the new start she needs. What neither of them is expecting is nastiness and rivalry in a small community.
Riverdean sounded lovely, and Pumpkin Cottage was somewhere I could imagine booking into, especially in autumn when the story this is set. I loved getting to know the residents, and enjoyed seeing it through both Pippa’s and Jenny’s eyes. The pub sounded great, the perfect place to wind down or have fun.

The romance and chemistry between Pippa and Jake was so good, but also very natural, which made the story more realistic, especially when it wasn’t all plain sailing.

I definitely recommend this if you enjoy a small town romance, and I’m looking forward to the authors’ next book.

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A cute and heartwarming story that made me smile and having fun. Well plotted, heartwarming.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for this wonderful eARC.
Now let’s begin; OMG! I loved this book so much. It was the best read I had in a long time, cozy, warm and sweet. I really enjoyed it (the fact that I read it with a cold weather and a pumpkin spice latte may be a bonus). I love the MC determination, the little small village and the dynamics.
10/10.

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Pippa moves from the city to a small town for a new beginning to start up her own B&B. With ups and downs along the way, the reader goes on her adventures with her.
An enjoyable read with a variety of characters.

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I loved this book, there was such a mix of heart warming moments and poignancy throughout, very beautiful read.

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While this is a sweet and cosy romance about a young woman escaping the city to start a new life in the country, it isn’t afraid to tackle some painful themes. I found this quite a poignant read at times, with Jenny’s difficult situation as she tries to run a business whilst caring for her husband who has dementia. The authors made it easy to feel empathy for her, even though I often disliked the things she did.
Jake is a suitably hunky hero, but I did feel a little impatient with him at times.
There were plenty of charming side characters and this is a lovely escapist autumnal read about rivalry, community and being brave enough to start again.

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I got an ARC of this and it was a pretty roughly edited version.

It was a cute story, it got good at about 65-70% in and the last 30% or so I didn’t want to put it down.

Mostly a rivalry story with a little romance. I enjoyed it even if it was a little slow to start.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy

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a cute cozy book, perfect for autumn season that's coming up... but nothing new i've never read before.
just ok

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Pippa has had a difficult year. Her mother died and her boyfriend cheated on her, She decides to upend her life and move to the little village that her mother grew up in. Pippa knows nought about the village. Her mother kept her past locked up but Pippa would love to find people who knew her mother, hoping it would ease the loss of her mother. She buys a cottage and renovates it to a bed and breakfast. Most of the town is very welcoming, but one person is downright rude. Jenni Foster is the owner of the other bed and breakfast in town. She is dealing with her husband who has Alzheimer's, a bed and breakfast that needs renovating and fearing the loss of customers to Pippa. A sweet novel with likable characters, it is filled with warmth. Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby Publishers for the complimentary digital ARC. This review is my own opinion.

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Funny and heartwarming! I loved this small town setting! A really good cosy read perfect for an autumn afternoon! Thoroughly enjoyable!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC

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Pippa buys a rundown cottage in Riverdean where she plans to turn it into a b&b. There's more needs done to the cottage than she thought but is steadily opening up rooms and having guests to stay. She meets Jake who she she is attracted to. There's also another b&b run by Jenny who doesn't take kindly to Pippa opening hers

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