Series: The Railway Lane #3 (Standalone)
Publication Date: 03rd Jan 2024
Genre: Small Town Romance
3.8 Stars
One Liner: A good read
Flora Barton is at her wit's end and desperate to save her family farm. Her granny is old, and they need a successful business idea to stay afloat.
Nico Rossi has always wanted to escape the famous family surname. However, when he has to fulfill his late grandparents' wish by visiting Grams in Cranfield, he cannot help but want to step up and support Flora to find a way to retain Strawberry Hill Farm.
As the duo put their plans into action, Flora and Nico have a lot more to consider. With some help and nudges from friends and friendly neighbors, they might find success and love in the same place if they are willing to do what it takes.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Flora and Nico.
My Thoughts:
After reading the previous two books in the series, I was looking forward to Flora’s story. She and her Grams are struggling to keep the farm going, and they need a miracle to save it.
The books in the series deal with combining small-town charm with business ventures to generate more money for their livelihood and the town. Here, Flora and Nico work hard to convert a part of the farmland into a Glamping (glamorous camping) site.
Grams (Helen) is a darling and a delight to read. She is eighty but full of life and ready to take the risk if necessary. She is loving, encouraging, sassy, and thoughtful. Tyson is a sweet little boy. I like how he blooms and grows by the end.
The setting is, of course, beautiful. How can you not want to visit the pristine hills, gentle slopes, natural lakes, and farms with lavender and strawberries? The community vibe is strong as recurring characters step in and help whenever necessary. Paddington the dog doesn’t get much space, but he does make an appearance.
Flora takes an instant dislike to Nico. There’s a bit of chemistry between the two as they get to know each other and work together to save Flora’s home. Nico is a sweet guy, the one who reformed himself well before he met a girl, and someone who loves family as much as Flora does.
The beginning is a bit slow as we get their backstories in the first two chapters (thankfully, these are shorter than the previous books). Once we get into the main plot, the story moves at a steady pace. Though some things happen easily, there are enough hurdles and doubts to keep it (borderline) believable. It’s still a sweet book, so problems are solved without too much stress.
I didn’t much like what Flora did in the last quarter of the book. Not revealing spoilers, but suffice to say, it’s not good to use another person.
The ending is, of course, HEA. Everything is sorted and tied up well. I hope the next book will finally deal with Libby. Can’t wait to read that one!
To summarize, Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm is an entertaining read and a good addition to the series. The book is standalone, though there may be minor spoilers for the previous books.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC.
#NetGalley #SunriseOverStrawberryHillFarm
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