It’s a real pleasure today to be joining the blog tour for Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm by Della Galton, the second in her latest series, and sharing my review: published yesterday (16th February) by Boldwood Books, it’s now available for kindle (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback and as an audiobook. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
I mustn’t go on again about Della’s wonderful Bluebell Cliff Hotel series – but I loved every single book, and if you pop her name into my search bar, you’ll find reviews of every one. Her last book, Coming Home to Puddleduck Farm, was very much the first in a new series (you’ll find my review here) – a new cast of characters (both two and four-legged) to get to know, the less familiar New Forest location – but I thought she did it quite beautifully, full of warmth and feel-good, and I was keen to return for more…
Don’t dream your life, live your dreams…
Phoebe Dashwood is a passionately committed vet who’s living the dream. She’s about to open her own small animal practice at her grandmother’s animal shelter, Puddleduck Farm in the New Forest.
Phoebe is helped by her two oldest friends. Her best friend Tori is a mix of hard-headed journalist and hopeless romantic, who thinks love will conquer all when she finds the right man!
Then there is Sam, Phoebe’s staunchest ally, whose integrity and selflessness mean he would do anything to make Phoebe happy, no matter what the cost to himself.
Very soon Phoebe discovers that fantasy and reality don’t quite match.
An unscrupulous bunny breeder, a poisoned stream, and a complicated attraction all conspire to throw her dreams in a spin.
Events come to a shocking climax at the New Forest Show where Phoebe’s world is turned upside down and she has to make some life changing decisions.
There’s a lovely quality to the author’s writing that makes you feel very much at home and part of the community – and I was as excited as the story’s characters to be there for the opening of Phoebe’s vet surgery at Puddleduck Farm. A surprise visitor on the day is Rufus, the younger lord of the nearby manor – and, although she can’t see anything likely to develop between them, he certainly manages to get her a little hot under the collar. And they soon find themselves needing to work together – to identify the source of a pollutant, probably on his land, that’s killing the local wildlife.
Faithful Sam is, of course, still around – yearning for Phoebe from afar, despite his own promising new relationship. And there’s a whole cast of other characters familiar from the first book in the series (if you read it – and you certainly don’t have to, you could easily jump straight in) like Phoebe’s indefatigable grandmother Maggie, and reporter friend Tori. Maggie just can’t help herself being a touch unconventional in her dealings with the visitors to the surgery – you’d expect nothing else, and some of her interventions really made me laugh – and Tori certainly comes into her own when Phoebe finds far too many rabbits from a particularly unscrupulous breeder needing urgent life-saving attention. Oh, but while I’m mentioning things that made me laugh – you’re just going to love the running joke about Boris, and barn cat Saddam certainly has his moments too!
As well as all the animals and interactions with friends and family, I really enjoyed the romantic developments in this book too. Phoebe’s brush with the singles’ dining club reminded me of some similar excruciating experiences of my own – but at least she makes some useful professional contacts! But her love triangle with Sam (who she’s made quite clear will always be only a friend) and Rufus (so cool and distant he really can’t be interested – but then again…) was so well done – and no, I’m saying nothing more, you’ll really need to read the book. There’s some well-developed drama in this book too, centred on the long anticipated New Forest show – a real heart in mouth moment, as well as building nicely on the reasons we’re already aware of for Rufus’ apparent chilliness.
Della Galton is such an excellent story teller, perfectly balancing warmth and lightness with a few considerably heavier themes – and this book made me feel entirely invested in her very real characters, and keen to see where she takes things next. I very much enjoyed this one – and yes, highly recommended!
About the author
Della Galton is the bestselling author of several romantic comedies set around the Dorset beaches and the beautiful New Forest. Her stories feature strong female friendship, quirky characters and very often the animals she loves.
When she is not writing she enjoys walking her dogs around the beautiful Dorset countryside.
To find out more, you’ll find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bookbub, and you can sign up for her newsletter here.
I enjoyed this very much as well. I love James Herriot’s and this books was just up my street xxx
Thank you so much Anne xxxxx