Back for the final instalment of The Bumblebee Barn Collection.
Joel has a very difficult relationship with Tilly his ex and the mother of his daughter Imogen. She is his life and when his job is under threat when has no idea what to do.
Poppy lives in her old family home alone since her mum passed and her dad had to go into a home with Dementia. Life is taking its toll and she decides it’s time to have a break.
While on holiday she bumps into Joel and there is an instant attraction. When fate steps in and they meet at a wedding life is suddenly brighter for both of them.
Facing life apart leads to many difficult decisions.
Bringing together all the past family and friends for one last time this book is the perfect end to a fantastic series.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a ARC of this book.

A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft is Book 3 in the Bumblebee Barn series. I have read and loved both the earlier ones and I always look forward to the next book, especially as Jessica Redland is my favourite author. It’s always great to catch up with some of the characters from the previous books too and the much-loved Hedgehog Hollow Wildlife Rescue Centre.
Joel and Poppy are the main characters in this book. Joel Grainger is 33 and a single dad to Imogen, who is 8. However, he wants to spend more time with her, but his ex Tilly isn’t always helpful.
His best friend is Barney who runs Bumblebee Barn. (You’ll know him from the previous books.) Joel has a younger brother (Chez) Chester, who is 19 and has depression. He has an on/off relationship with Lorna. It’s just Joel and Chez now, after their parents moved to Portugal a couple of years earlier.
Joel is fed up of his single status and choosing the wrong women, especially as all his friends seem to be getting married.
Poppy Wells is 32 and single. She works from home as a freelance accountant, which means she often feels lonely, though she does look after next door’s dog often. She is also a beekeeper for Saltersbeck Farm – a job her dad had previously done – which means weekly visits to the hives. She now lives alone in Dove Cottage, after her Mum died five years before and her almost ninety-year-old dad (a retired journalist, like my dad!) is now in a care home with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
Jessica’s books always have wonderfully unique but completely authentic characters. No character is ever wasted, even the minor ones are beautifully drawn. In this book, I adored Poppy’s next door neighbour Wilf (82) and his gorgeous Yorkshire terrier called Benji.
The pace of her books is also perfect too. Although they are big novels, they are easy to read because you get into them quickly and want to find out what happens to the characters. The sizes of the chapters are very good too.
I also always enjoy the settings and here, the farm is probably my favourite location with its idyllic views and all the animals. As you absorb the sights, sounds and smells of the countryside, it feels like you are having a break there, breathing in the fresh air and looking out over the hills and fields.
I love that I always learn something from Jessica’s books too. This time, I found out some fascinating information about bees and hives. She also covers such important topics and this novel is no different with themes about depression, Alzheimer’s and loneliness. While there are sad bits in the story, the tone of the book remains positive and uplifting and her books are ones you always come away from feeling better about the world.

A Forever Home at Honeybee Croft by Jessica Redland is set in the Yorkshire Wolds and is linked to the hedgehog hollow and Bumblebee Barn series.

I have really enjoyed the Yorkshire Wolds books, and sadly, this is the final one. This time, we focus on Joel, Barney from Bumblebee Barn's best friend, and a new character, Poppy, who enters Joel's life as a visitor to the area. Written in alternating chapters from the POV of Joel and Poppy, we delve deeper into Joel's life with his daughter Imogen and the difficult relationship he has with his ex, Imogen's mum Tilly. Poppy has a lot going on in her life with her Dad's illness and other personal issues, but her spur of the moment trip to Yorkshire gives her a new sense of home and hope for the future. I really enjoyed the way Joel's and Poppy's stories unfolded and intertwined. There was a lot to keep the pages turning on both sides, with illness, bereavement, stalking, custody battles, and blossoming friendships. There is always something warm and wholesome about a Jessica Redland novel, with a huge comfort feeling, even when difficult topics are covered. I love the way that we get to revisit characters from the other books and get to know previous side characters in more detail. Another success from Jessica Redland, and whilst it's sad that the Yorkshire series has ended, I am looking forward to her revisiting the Lakes and Whitsborough Bay.

This is a heartwarming conclusion to the Bumblebee Barn series, focusing on the love story of Poppy and Joel. Joel, a kind and persistent romantic, is finally at the center of the narrative as he sets his sights on Poppy, a woman grappling with the emotional challenges of her father’s dementia. Their relationship begins with a charming meet-cute and evolves into a deep connection, as they support each other through personal struggles.

Poppy’s story offers a heartfelt and relatable depiction of dealing with dementia in the family. Redland addresses this difficult topic with sensitivity, portraying the guilt, heartbreak, and exhaustion of caregiving while offering comfort and hope. The beekeeping aspect adds a unique layer, symbolizing Poppy’s bond with her father and her journey to healing.

The book ties up loose ends from the series beautifully, incorporating weddings and nods to characters from Redland’s beloved Hedgehog Hollow series. With a perfect balance of romance, emotional depth, and charm, this final installment is a touching celebration of resilience, love, and the importance of finding home—in every sense of the word.

It's always a pleasure to read this author's books; the characters are relatably human, there are often lovely companion animals, and the characters' dilemmas are relevant and take the reader on an emotional journey. This last book in The Bumble Bee Barn Collection encompasses all these qualities. It is primarily Poppy and Joel's story, but other characters from previous books are also featured, which is welcoming to regular readers. The quality of the characters and writing make this an immersive reading experience. Even when the subjects are challenging and the outcomes frustrating or sad, the reader is invested and trusts that a positive result will ensue. It's an emotional and engaging read that is ultimately satisfying and uplifting.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'A Forever Home At Honey Bee Croft' by Jessica Redland.

This is the third book in Jessica's 'The Bumblebee Barn Collection ' but can be read as a standalone.

OMG!!! I absolutely LOVED this gorgeous page turner!! Yet another brilliant page turner by Jessica Redland. I have read several books by this fantastic author and as always this book does not disappoint!!! Before I go any further I do need to let readers know that there are several difficult topics mentioned throughout the storyline that an be upsetting for some readers and/or unsuitable for others. Some of these topics include dementia, loss and mental health. I always feel it is important to mention any topics that readers may struggle with at the beginning of my review. Jessica manages to weave these difficult topics into a beautiful story while taking the utmost care to be as sensitive as possible in regards to these subjects. I won't go into the details of they storyline as the synopsis does a perfectly beautiful job of telling you all about it so if you want to know more you will have to grab your copy of this stunning page turner to find out for yourselves!!! I can promise that you will not regret it!! With a storyline ram packed with stunning surroundings, memorable characters, heartache ,romance, second chances, family and so much more than you could ask for what are you waiting for? I mean, let's be fair here, how can you when it is a Jessica Redland book?? Any books that revolve around animals is a HUGE bonus for me!!! I am a MASSIVE animal lover and all my pets have been rescues to then volunteering in rescues, working in rescues and now running my own little cat rescue (Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice which you can look up on Facebook if you are interested) so this book was a huge must read for me immediately!!! I really did absolutely love this unique, stunning page turner from the first page to the very last and cannot wait to get my hands on more books by this amazing author! Jessica's excellent writing skills and evocative descriptions drops the reader straight into the middle of Joel and Poppy's lifes in the stunning Yorkshire Wolds. I was absolutely hooked throughout and could not put this down. I told myself time and time again I would just finish the chapter and then go to bed but something happened each and every time meaning I just had to read just one more, and then another until before I knew it I had completely devoured the book in one sitting. I genuinely felt like I had gone on holiday to Bumble Bee Farm and The Yorkshire Wolds and was devastated to come to the end of my holiday, returning back to reality and having to 'unpack my suitcase'!! It really is just amazing and I absolutely love it and I really cannot compliment this book enough!!! It is one of those books that are very easy to read and perfect for any reading situations whether you are laying on a beach or curled up in front of a fire. It really does not matter where or when you read these as Jessica will transport you into the story at the turn of a page. It is an absolutely ideal read for anyone who is looking for a gorgeous and relaxing read that will have you hooked from beginning to end. I absolutely LOVED the realism of this storyline which made it so easy to picture everything that was going on which had been helped by Jessica's fantastic evocative writing skills. I cannot wait to get hooked into more of Jessica's books. This is definitely one of those books that will turn a frown upside down and make life seem a lot brighter. It is the perfect ending to the stunning series and although I am sad to say goodbye I know it won't be long before Jessica comes up with another series just as beautiful and addictive. It is packed with fun, laughter, animals, romance, friendships, a huge breathe of fresh air and everything you could ask for in a fantastic feel good book.

Well done Jessica on yet another absolutely stunning book that I fell in love with!!!

Although this is the third book in Jessica's ''The Bumblebee Barn Collection ' I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without any of the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader. The characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I was completely invested in them all. It also makes them more realistic, believable and made me feel even more for them than I normally would. They all worked perfectly together to make this a stunning storyline. Each of the characters and animals are memorable and unique in their own ways and they are a group that I wont be forgetting any time soon!

Pick up this book and get lost in this absolutely gorgeous page turner! Congratulations Jessica on yet another absolutely stunning read that I just could not put down!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! This is the exact reason you are on my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an unputdownable, gorgeous, STUNNING page turning book filled with second chances, family, animals, romance, fun, laughter, friendship and so much more!! A perfectly relaxing and stunning unique read!!!!

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The final book in the Bumblebee Barn series, but could also be read as a standalone book.
I have really enjoyed this series but this final book was another level , fantastic reading!
Relatable characters - Poppy and Joel’s stories this time., plus a final catch up with all the past characters.
A wonderful storyline which kept the reader entertained and had them rooting for Poppy and Joel from the start. Sensitive subjects were sympathetically handled.
I absolutely loved it and I didn’t want it to end. I would definitely reread this series in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Jessica for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

This is the latest book by Jessica Redland in the Bumblebee Barn Collection. It is centered around Joel and Poppy, two people who don't know each other and even live miles apart, Poppy lives in Gloucestershire and Joel in West Yorkshire.
When single dad Joel loses his job he is devastated, he thought HR were going to offer him a new position allowing him to spend more time with his daughter, but no the firm is being bought out, leaving him with a big decision to make about what to do next.
Meanwhile Poppy is feeling emotionally drained with looking after her beehives, visiting her dad in the care home, missing her mum dearly and just keeping on top of everyday tasks like gardening.
Joel's daughter, Imogen, is to be bridesmaid at his best friends Barney's marriage to Amber in March. Barney runs Bumblebee Barn, a farm with sheep, goats, horses, hens as well as growing crops. Amber is a television producer, her job features countryside calender, and wildlife rescue centres. Joel has also just found out that his ex is pregnant with twins due in July. He's not totally worried about that, but more upset that he can't spend more time with Imogen.
Meanwhile Poppy is finding it emotionally draining with her dad, he doesn't recognise her anymore and when the manager of his care home suggests a holiday to give her sometime to herself she eventually decides that maybe she will take a short break.
What happens next you must read to find out, it's got romance and heartbreaking moments as you find out the future for Poppy and Joel, as well as their families and friends.

As always a book by Jessica Redland is always easy to get into, with likeable characters that you can't help but care for and an interesting storyline right from the first few pages. I really enjoyed reading it and you will definitely need tissues at the end, with both touching moments and sadness.
A well deserved five-star read from me.

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A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft is the third and final book in the Bumblebee Barn series. I really loved the Hedgehog Hollow series and to have a meet up with some of the characters in that series as well was such a treat. Closing out both of the series has such a finality to them, but I am greatly looking forward to whatever the author will have for us next.
I loved all of the books in this series, but I think this one had a little something extra to it. The book really resonated with me. A romantic meet cute with substance I'd call it. A charming romance but both members of the romance had issues they had to take care of. What I really loved seeing was how they both were there for each other in their time of need. The book really dealt with some serious issues, and I love how respectfully the author addressed them. One of the issues is a family member having dementia. Dementia presents itself differently for each person. We dealt with it in our family, it is really a thief. The beekeeping aspect was such a fun one to see especially as it gave our character a way to feel such a close bond with her father. Heartwarming, charming and charismatic characters make this a read more than once book

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
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A meet-cute romance mingled with heavy subject matters! Poppy’s character was such a surprise with her many talents and interests! Poppy and Joel made the perfect match as they supported each other through all the heavy trials they were facing. I thought the quote, “Every day do something that scares you” by Eleanor Roosevelt was a great theme for helping Poppy get through the stresses of her life. I was glad the story ended with a HEA!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my copy of A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft by Jessica Redland in exchange for an honest review. It publishes January 22, 2025.
Yet another stunner from Jessica Redland. We get to return to this delightful universe that she has so lovingly created with this new installment.
We get a close up on Joel, and a close up on Poppy.
Something I really appreciated about both of their points of view, is that they both were relatable, and we’re going through really tough things. I found my heart going out to both of them, and cheering them on in every step!
I highly recommend this one!

Such a delightful story! I always enjoy Jessica Redland's books, and this one was no exception. It had all the charm and heart I've come to expect, with a wonderful storyline that kept me hooked.

Broken hearted Poppy has an opportunity to stay in Whisperwood Farmhouse, only to consider a new beginning and a great place to heal, even to find happiness. Joel, a single dad, maybe the answer.
Heartwarming story about life struggles and unexpected breakthroughs.
I really enjoyed the story, its quite emotional.

This is a wonderful, emotional story from Jessica Redland and I’ve loved seeing Poppy’s story entwining with those familiar faces from Bumble Bee Farm and Hedgehog Hollow.
It was obvious that there was that sense of belonging Poppy needed now that her family had changed following her mums death and dad’s diagnosis - her whole life changed. Jessica Redland has written the dementia storyline so sensitively and although so sad, it was lovely seeing Poppy accept she needed to take care of herself.
I loved the way the whole of the Bumblebee farm community reached out to Poppy and helped her to heal and take time for herself. Meeting Joel an added bonus.

What a treat it was to return to Yorkshire and catch up with the lovely characters we have met in so many of Jessica’s books. From Hedgehog Hollow to the Bumblebee Barn, we have been introduced to a whole host of characters who now feel like friends.
This time, the central characters are Poppy and, at long last, Joel. Since meeting Joel on our first visit to Bumblebee Barn, I have been hoping to see him as a central character. Clearly, the old adage of ‘everything coming to those who wait’ has a modicum of truth. Joel has had a number of false starts in his search for romance and yet continues to throw his hat into the proverbial ring, seeking his personal happy ever after. Of course, we already know that he’s one of the good guys, but as he sets his sights on Poppy, it’s impossible not to hope for a happy ever after for him. Of course, Jessica holds the reins, so don’t assume anything will be easily won.
Poppy’s story really resonated with me, as I have first-hand experience of parents struggling with different forms of dementia. The gentle way that Jessica guides us through Poppy’s turmoil surrounding the guilt that comes with visiting and the utter pointless feeling of those visits, I felt seen and heard at the same time. I also felt less guilty after reading the advice about over-visiting.
From Joel and Poppy’s initial meeting to their eventual discussions surrounding their futures, Jessica handled their individual stories with her usual caring control and enough hope that I simply couldn’t stop reading.
When Jessica Redland moved on from her Hedgehog Hollow series, she introduced us to an extended network that kept us in touch with the hedgehogs but moved us away from them being the central characters. A good move, I felt, as it was clearly time for the readers to move on. So, with new characters and a brand-new location, this new series was born. Albeit a short series as it was only ever planned for three books, and this is the final instalment.
I loved the effortless way that, via a series of weddings, lots of loose ends were tied in very neat bows without feeling too sweet or over the top. If you want to know who made it to the altar, then you’re going to have to read this book for yourself.

A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft is another joyous read from Jessica Redland. We meet Joel and Poppy, two strangers who are each dealing with a lot in their lives. A meeting at Whisperwood Farm brings them together, but can they make their future work? As always with Jessica Redland, there's a whole army of supporting characters, some loveable and some not so much. She's not afraid to write about difficult situations and circumstances either, which gives the story a lot of depth.

Joel and Poppy are both struggling with the weight of their responsibilities, but when their paths cross, sparks fly. A cozy farmhouse, a heartwarming connection, and a journey of self-discovery make this romance both touching and hopeful. A perfect blend of love, family, and finding happiness when life feels uncertain.

I loved this story it was a great read and very difficult to put down. The story of Joel and his daughter was very touching and made for a difficult read at times. Poppy's trip to Whisperwood Farmhouse was just the break she needed to get some time for herself after giving so much support to her family members. Although heartbreaking at times it was also heartwarming and helps you to understand that despite what life throws at you there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Reading a book by Jessica Redland is like catching up with old friends. I'm always a bit bereft when I've finished one. A forever Home at Honey Bee Croft was as expected, a well written story with hugely likeable characters (and some not so likeable ones) but also tinged with sadness. Jessica dealt with the issue of dementia very well. It was a bit if a heartbreaking read at times. I thoroughly enjoyed by time with Poppy and Joel and I'll look forward to the next adventure. Also, I've said it before and I'm saying it again, can we have Milo's story please?

🌾🐝Great, sweet romance in the Yorkshire countryside🌄

4.5🌟 stars
I loved the romance of how factory shift supervisor Joel and accountant/beekeeper Poppy found each other by pure chance and reconnected the same way. And the return of many of the characters from the earlier books in this series and the Hedgehog Hollow series. It's well-written and the community author Jessica Redland has built to support the two leads heartwarming. And boy do they need support as they are both going through really emotional and hard times.

My only niggle had to do with the number of serious issues these two leads had to face before achieving their HEA. At one point, I just found Joel's situation so hopeless and depressing. Maybe a few less challenges for this beleaguered pair: that would have been preferable to me.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on 1/14/25 with Waterstones, Goodreads and Barnes & Noble. To be shared with kobo, Google Play and Bookbub after publication.