I’m delighted today to be joining the blog tour and sharing my review of Finding Love at Roseford Blooms by Fay Keenan: the third in her Roseford series, this lovely book was published by Boldwood Books on 16th March, and it’s now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. Thank you, as ever, to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading copy (provided via netgalley).
Back in October last year, I read and thoroughly enjoyed the second book in this series, Winter Kisses at Roseford Café – the perfect setting, the loveliest romance, wonderful characters, and all the tinsel and sparkling lights I could possibly have asked for in a Christmassy read (you’ll find my review here). I mentioned then that it was the first of Fay’s books I’d read – the Little Somerby series and the Willowbury series both sadly passed me by, as did New Beginnings at Roseford Hall, the first in the series with its many five star reviews (but I notice that both the previous books in this series are available free via Prime Reading if you’d like to start from the beginning…). I still haven’t managed to book a short break at the Treloar Arms, but I was very much looking forward to another visit to Roseford…
After a rough year, the last place Lizzie Warner wants to be is Roseford. It may be a picture-postcard country idyll, but for Lizzie it will always hold difficult memories from her past. But when the alternative to staying with her Aunt Bee, owner of Roseford Blooms, is moving back in with her controlling parents – well, the choice is easy.
Simon Treloar was born and raised to be the Lord of the Manor, but now he’s had to hand over his beloved Roseford Hall to a heritage charity, he begins to question his usefulness. Can he find a way to make his mark, or is it better to walk away from generations of history and strike out on his own?
When Lizzie and Simon meet, they recognise kindred spirits in each other. But with both questioning their futures, can one magical summer in Roseford help Lizzie and Simon move on from what is holding them back? Or is there too much history on both sides for them ever truly to be happy together?
With a broken heart, the loss of her marketing business, and injuries following an accident – it’s been a pretty awful year – Lizzie certainly doesn’t want to spend time recovering and considering her future options with her difficult parents. Instead, she finds the perfect retreat in Roseford with her Aunt Bee, the local florist – she always provided the love and care she couldn’t get at home. But Roseford itself holds some difficult memories for her – some places she’d rather not visit again, and a few individuals whose path she’d prefer not to cross.
Simon Treloar is the lord of the manor at Roseford Hall – the former family home that’s now in the hands of a heritage charity, where he now works as manager. He has good friends in Roseford, and family close by, but cuts a rather lonely figure – until he meets Lizzie, very much a kindred spirit, and their friendship and attraction to each other begins to grow. And they find they share a similar darkness in their pasts – with difficult memories that they might be able to help each other lay to rest before considering what might come next.
Both Lizzie and Simon are really lovely characters – really well drawn, very real people, their emotions explored from both their perspectives – and it was a delight to get to know them both better as their blossoming friendship turned into something rather deeper. And I very much liked the supporting cast – the wonderful Bee really does make up for the shortcomings of Lizzie’s immediate family, and it was so good to meet again the individuals who carried the stories in the earlier books and to see the developments in their lives (but if this is your first visit to Roseford, you’ll soon feel as much at home there as I do). The author writes quite beautifully, and is a natural storyteller – with real warmth and affection for her characters. And although the events in both their pasts certainly have a darker edge, there’s plenty of lightness too, the loveliest developing romance, and real hope for the future.
I do hope this won’t be our last visit to Roseford, I look forward to my visits – but whatever the future holds, I look forward to reading more from an author whose books are just getting better and better. Highly recommended by me – I very much enjoyed this one.
About the author
Fay Keenan is the author of the bestselling Little Willowbury series of novels. She has led writing workshops with Bristol University and has been a visiting speaker in schools. She is a full-time teacher and lives in Somerset.
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