I’m delighted today to be joining the blog tour for the latest book from Jessica Redland, The Start of Something Wonderful – the first book in her brand new Escape to the Lakes series. Published by Boldwood Books on 17th July, it’s now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. Many thanks, as always, to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
Just this once, I won’t run through all the books I’ve read from Jessica over the years, that made me fall in love with her writing and all those wonderful characters – but if you pop her name into my search bar, you’ll find all my many reviews. I know I’m not the only one who shed a tear at the end of the Hedgehog Hollow series – and, of course, we’ve just seen the end of her lovely Starfish Cafe series too. But I’m sure that many readers will have been looking forward as much as I have to her new series…
Autumn Laine has lost her creative sparkle. After losing her grandad and her job as an illustrator in quick succession, she is at a crossroads in life and needs a break. Spending time with her parents in Paris, even in the artistic community of Montmartre, doesn’t appear to be the answer.
So when her penpal, Rosie, invites her to stay in the Lake District, Autumn jumps at the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of Paris. After all, where better to re-discover her creativity than the place which inspired her heroine, Beatrix Potter?
Arriving at the picturesque lakeside village of Willowdale, Autumn is swept up by the beauty and magic of the stunning landscape. Welcomed into the community with open arms, she slowly starts to feel like herself again as her creative instincts re-ignite.
But when she meets Dane, who has escaped to the Lakes for his own reasons, will Autumn’s walls come down to let someone in again after so long? Or will the secrets of her past continue to hold her back?
A new beginning is a daunting prospect, but could it be the start of something wonderful too..?
Join million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland for a brand new series, full of love, friendship and community.
If I ever had a moment’s concern about coming to grips with a new cast of characters, it didn’t last for more than a couple of pages – the author is a quite wonderful story teller, and I very quickly took lead character Autumn to my heart.
We meet her at a particularly difficult time – facing redundancy from her job as an illustrator, having lost her passion for creating the animals she specialised in drawing, and sadly saying a final goodbye to her beloved grandfather. Staying with her parents in Paris is fraught with difficulty, especially the proximity of a particularly painful reminder of her past – and an invitation from long-term penfriend Rosie to stay with her and her mother Alice in the Lakes offers her both a refuge and an opportunity to consider her future. The pair have never met, but have been the closest of friends since schooldays, supporting each other at a distance – and the warmth of her welcome, and the sheer beauty of the surrounding countryside, makes Autumn feel immediately lighter. And then she meets Dane – also at a crossroads in his life – and they find mutual support with their creative endeavours, and a strong friendship with real potential to become something rather more.
The characterisation in this book is quite superb – every individual has real depth, with personal challenges to overcome, all handled with the sensitivity that’s always a particular feature of this author’s writing. Autumn’s path to happiness and fulfilment isn’t an easy one, and there are certainly a number of significant obstacles in her path – but she handles them with growing confidence, and I felt I was with her every step of the way, knowing that the path she eventually chose would be the right one. Rosie and mother Alice are really well-rounded characters too – I’ll be very much looking forward to them carrying their own storylines as the series progresses.
The Lakes setting – in the area around Derwent Water – is so beautifully described. I thought I might miss Yorkshire, always so much a part of the author’s other books, but I didn’t – you can really feel her love for her chosen setting, and for the majesty of its surroundings. And as Autumn is an illustrator, it’s inevitable that she’s particularly inspired by Beatrix Potter – I especially enjoyed the way her life and creations were woven into the story, as Autumn attempted to capture some of the same magic in her own work.
Jessica Redland really is an author who never puts a foot wrong – this whole story is tremendously engaging, overflowing with warmth, filled with the most perfect emotional touches, families and friendships old and new, but with plenty of drama and unexpected moments to keep the pages turning ever faster. I really adored this book – a totally perfect start to a new series, most definitely something wonderful, and I’m already looking forward to spending much more time in Willowdale.
About the author
Jessica Redland writes emotional but uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast where she lives with her husband, daughter and sprocker spaniel. Her Hedgehog Hollow series, set in a hedgehog rescue centre, takes readers into the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.
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What a fabulous way to start my week, reading this gorgeous review from you, Anne. I’m delighted you loved the start of my new series and that it didn’t take you long to settle into a new setting and get to grips with a new cast of characters. Thanks so much for all your kind words about the story and my writing – so very much appreciated x
Apologies for the delay acknowledging your comment Jessica, I’ve been a bit under the weather – but miles better today! I’m going to love this series – and the reviews are always such a pleasure. And, I have to tell you, I’m already looking for nice AirBnBs in the area for a break next year – it’s far too long since I spent real-life time in the Lakes! xx
Great review, and a discerning choice of heroine by Autumn – Beatrix Potter, indie publishing pioneer, who dared to dismiss Kensington as ‘ my unloved birthplace’ .
Never exactly invited,but always welcome, my visitors always want to head left
to the Lakes –