Jessica Redland never disappoints. Another beautifully written instalment in the Escape to the Lakes series. Highly recommended for fans of Jill Mansell, Lucy Diamond and more.

The fourth book in the Escape to the Lakes series by Jessica Redland and I absolutely loved it. Very well written and with a really good storyline made Sunshine after the Rain an easy and extremely enjoyable read. Great cast of characters, some featured in the earlier books of the series so you feel as though you’re with old friends, and some new ones too. Excellent! Highly recommended.

I have read a lot of Jessica's books - 11 I believe - and I love all of them but there's something about this series that puts it above the rest, maybe it's the Lake District setting, which I love.

I love that our protagonist is an older woman - I'm not talking old, she's in her fifties I think - but normally with these kind of happily-ever-after books we focus on young women and couples. So it was refreshing to see a woman in her later years still want to explore new things and still want love.

You don't have to have read the previous books to understand this one, they're perfectly enjoyable as they are. But I have read the others and it's nice to see characters from them in the background. It shows that whilst each book focusses on one person or one couple, there is this huge sense of community. Just because we've finished one story doesn't mean we have to abandon those characters.

Whilst Jessica's books are the epitome of feel-good, she doesn't hide away from the difficult topics: death, grief, loss, divorce, platonic and familial relationship difficulties; it had me in tears at a few moments, some sad but also some out of happiness.

Jessica's books always cheer me up, even when I didn't realise I needed it. They're so uplifting and cosy and heartwarming. Some may say a bit cheesy because it doesn't happen in real life but that's what I love. Real life can be a bit shit if we're honest, and her books help me to escape for a few hours. I always know I'm going to love her books.

I have recommended every book of hers I've read to friends and family and I plan to continue. Her stories light up the room, you can't help but feel warmer for reading them. And once again, I want to move to the Lake District - particularly the fictional locations Jessica has created - and join this community because it just sounds like a perfect life.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Jessica had plans to make this a long series and I really hope she does because I absolutely love them.

Mel and Flynn's story is heartbreaking and and compelling. This novel is so touching but beautiful. Being from Cumbria, the descriptions of Keswick and Derwent really made me homesick , they were so well done, I really need to move back home as Mel did.
Yet another wonderfully compassionate and romantic book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

This is book 4 in the Return to the Lake series and all the couples from the previous books make appearances. The author gives good summaries about Autumn and Dane from book 1, Oliver and Rosie from book 2 plus Emma, Killian and the alpacas from book 3. There is also a summary of complicated family relationships, not all of which I have retained.

Mel, 52, is a conservation architect who used to live in Willowdale, Derwent Water in the Lake District with husband Flynn, a conservation builder, until her son Noah died of a drug overdose at the age of 18 seven years ago. Fuelled by grief she moved to Newcastle, divorced Flynn and barely contacted her extensive family anymore. Now she is back, trying to make amends with her parents and older sister Georgia at her mother's 80th birthday bash. When she is offered the project of refurbishing Willowdale Hall for owners Oliver and Rosie, she moves back permanently.

I loved how Mel repairs the fractured relationship with her parents and makes new friendships, The story is very much about reconnecting and healing, I just wish Flynn had come in earlier than the 76% mark and the story wasn't so overly fixated on Mel's grief. The setting is gorgeous and the characters, human and animal, engaging. It's a lovely, warmhearted escapist second chances summer read, especially if you love alpacas and the Lake District, and the cover is beautiful as always.

Oh my giddy aunt . Jessica Redland has done it again with an amazing book. You can read it as a stand alone but you do meet up with lots of your favourite characters. Mel and Flyn’s story is heart breaking, amazing and you feel for them both. Again Jessica covers difficult subjects well. Might need tissue and chocolates at times. I love the books being set in the Lake District. Read it. You won’t be able to put it down.

A touching story of grief and family. It took me a bit to get into, but once I did I really enjoyed the characters and journey. I would have liked more interaction between Flynn and Mel, but a nice read about second chances. Part of an ongoing series but perfectly fine on its own.

This author can do no wrong in my eyes. I've loved every book I've read by her and this was no exception.