It’s such a pleasure today to be helping launch the blog tour and to share my publication day review of Finding Family at Seabreeze Farm by Jo Bartlett, the second book in her Seabreeze Farm series: published today (2nd December) by Boldwood Books, it’s now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
Like the first in the series, Welcome to Seabreeze Farm (which I read and thoroughly enjoyed, and you’ll find my review here) this technically isn’t a brand new book – I only mention that in case you read it (without the added Boldwood sparkle and magic) when it was previously published as Finding Dad. But I suspect, like me, that there are many of you who are just starting to feel every bit as comfortable at Seabreeze Farm as you’ve already been with the midwives of Port Agnes – many of you will already know how much I love that series (pop the author’s name – or “midwife” – into my search bar and you’ll find all my many reviews) but I’ve been equally looking forward to seeing how this new series developed. But perhaps you haven’t read any of Jo’s lovely books before – go on, jump in now, you might just love her writing as much as I always do.
Let’s take a closer look…
Freya Halliwell is looking forward to marrying the man of her dreams and starting their new life together. After the death of both of her parents, Ollie, along with Freya’s aunt, are the only family she has, but all the family she needs.
Until Freya discovers a shocking secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her once happy family and especially the man she used to call dad. Devastated and feeling more alone than ever before, Freya needs time and space to come to terms with the news. But until then the wedding is off!
Seabreeze Farm is the perfect place for Freya to recover. But could this beautiful farm perched high on the cliffs, also hold the answer to Freya’s past and reunite her with the family she never even knew she’d been wishing for?
Just sometimes, Christmas reads are full (to overflowing) with tinsel, sparkling lights, mince pies and turkey, the snow gently falling – and yes, you know I love every one. But this one is a lot more about the spirit of Christmas – being wrapped in love, finding family (even if it’s not your own), feeling that you belong, and everyday acts of kindness – and I have to tell you that I thought it was just wonderful.
After a really lovely prologue that sets the scene, I took Freya to my heart from the very beginning – I really did ache for her – when, still grief stricken after the loss of her mother, she discovers that the man she always called “dad” wasn’t actually her father. Still reeling from that news, she wants to share the news with fiance Ollie – their marriage is all planned for just before Christmas, followed by a move to London – only to find him looking very cosy with her bridesmaid, who’s also her best friend. So she decides to run, to a place where no-one will expect to find her – to Seabreeze Farm, where the accommodation is already booked for the planned wedding, and facing a sad and lonely Christmas at Kelsea Bay, where she has so many memories of happy family holidays.
Dogs always know when you need a cuddle, don’t they? Ginger, the lovely little terrier, moves into the Old Stables with her, and accompanies her on her solitary walks. But she’s also embraced by the family now well-settled at Seabreeze Farm, who you’ll already know well if you’ve read the first book in the series (but you really don’t need to worry if you haven’t – you could quite happily read this one as a standalone). Ellie’s heavily pregnant, and her mother Karen is off her feet after an accident, so they’re glad of Freya’s help in looking after all the rescue animals and running the last two events of the year – and Karen’s particularly grateful for someone to keep an eye on her and to chat with. But if Ellie’s touched by how readily she’s embraced as part of the family, they have their reasons to be particularly grateful for her presence – a moment of real drama, really well handled.
And, with help (at a distance) from her beloved auntie Linda, she continues the search for her real father – with lots of false leads and more than a little misdirection. I’ll admit I rather thought I could see the direction in which that storyline was heading – but you really will have to read the book to find out if I was right.
There’s a real warmth to this book – it’s rather a trademark of Jo Bartlett’s lovely writing – and the emotional content is just perfect. All the characters are beautifully drawn, as is the location – and the storytelling is superb, taking you away from your own day-to-day and immersing you in the lives of others. And the book’s ending? I loved it – everything I wanted it to be. And if you’re looking for that Christmas feeling, you’ll certainly find it here – and you’ll be smiling and wiping away a tear at times, as I was. A really lovely read – and a definite recommendation from me.
About the author
Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast. Boldwood published the first title in The Cornish Midwife Series – part of a twelve-book deal – in April 2021.
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