#Review: Tomorrow Starts Today by Jessica Redland @JessicaRedland @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #BoldwoodBloggers #publicationday #romance #secondchances #EscapetotheLakes #RespectRomFic #TomorrowStartsToday

Many thanks to everyone for the really lovely messages following my announcement that I’ll be sharing my last post on Being Anne at the end of January – there were far too many to reply to them all individually, and they made me more than a bit teary at times, but I do know I’m doing what’s right for me, and I’m rather looking forward to a more relaxed involvement in the book world in future.

But for now, it’s very much business as usual – and it’s a real pleasure today to be helping launch the blog tour and sharing my review of the latest book from Jessica Redland, Tomorrow Starts Today, the fifth book in her Escape to the Lakes series. Published by Boldwood Books today (8th January), it’s now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback and hardcover, and as an audiobook. Many thanks, as ever, 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).

This is one of my favourite series – I’m now every bit as much as at home with the Lakes setting as I was with the Yorkshire coast and wolds of Jessica’s earlier books. Having very much enjoyed the first in the series, The Start of Something Wonderful (you can read my review again here), the second book, A Breath of Fresh Air, was even better, emotional and involving, a beautifully told story, filled with the warmth the author always captures through her writing (you’ll find my review here).  The next book, The Best is Yet to Come (review here) had the most perfect emotional touch with every relationship: and then there was Sunshine After the Rain (review here – and yes, my new favourite!), a particularly emotional story so beautifully told. I was very much looking forward to her latest…

It’s never too late to find yourself… 💫

 

When she unexpectedly loses her husband, Yvonne Kellerman’s world turns quiet and grey. Five years on, her days are filled with the gentle chatter of her loyal parrot, Trevor, and the comfort of her crafting table—but she can’t shake the feeling that life is slipping her by and Yvonne feels lost and lonelier than ever.

 

When she joins the local crafting club at Willowdale Village Hall, Yvonne expects nothing more than a few afternoons of sewing. Instead, amongst the other local crafters, she discovers friendship, laughter and a renewed appreciation for her gorgeous Lake District home. It’s a reminder that she isn’t alone and, with each new stitch, her confidence returns, and so does her belief that it’s never too late for fresh starts and new beginnings.

 

When a familiar face from her past reappears, Yvonne finds herself standing at a crossroads: will she protect her heart, or embrace the chance to love—and truly live—again?

Five years after the loss of her husband, Yvonne is lonely – the only neighbour she really talks to is moving away, and she knows there should be more to her life than her solitary crafting and her exchanges with parrot Trevor. The crafting club at the village hall looks just perfect, although joining in takes a lot of courage – but once she’s made it through the door, she finds a wonderfully welcoming group of people who each have their own issues and concerns, and who are more than happy to embrace her and become the friends she so badly needs. But as her confidence grows, and she embarks on new adventures she’d never have considered possible, she slowly feels able to share deeply hidden secrets – and that leads to the possibility of a happy ending she never would have expected.

And all her friends have their own stories – challenges aplenty, that they’re all more able to deal with when they have the support and friendship of others. I’d love to share some of those other threads – but much of the joy of this lovely book is in discovering those secrets that lie just below the surface, and it would be unforgivable to spoil that for others. But there are certainly issues that will engage every reader at an emotional level, willing on every individual as life delivers its setbacks, cheering them on in their moments of joy.

Something I particularly loved about this book was the age group involved – there are some really well drawn younger characters (especially one – I thought she was so lovely!), but most of them are in the more mature bracket, and that made them particularly easy to identify and empathise with. There is a large cast of characters, central and otherwise to the unfolding story, both recurring ones from earlier books (in largely supporting roles) and the members of the crafting club, and the author helpfully sets them all out in a couple of guides that precede the first chapter – all I’d say is don’t be put off by that, because I never looked back at it once as I so enjoyed getting to know them for myself.

As you’d expect, there’s a lot in the book about crafting – which really isn’t my kind of thing at all but I loved finding out more. And most of the individuals discover the usefulness of journalling (something I’d very much like to try…), but not as an “add on” – Yvonne’s journalling rather drives her personal story, and I thought it was particularly cleverly (and realistically) handled.

As always, the author has the most perfect emotional touch, with a lot of focus on families and friendship – and there are gentle touches of romance too, lost and found, that only brought more enjoyment to the whole book. I really couldn’t recommend it more – and it’s entirely readable as a standalone, with a new cast taking centre stage, so no need to catch up on the earlier books in the series (although I’m sure you’ll find yourself wanting to read more…). Just gorgeous – I really loved it.

About the author

Jessica Redland is the million-copy bestselling author of novels, including the Hedgehog Hollow and Escape to the Lakes series. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough and the Lake District, she writes uplifting women’s fiction of love, friendship and community.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter sign-up | Bookbub