To return to a haunted past, to find a future that is… 

Synopsis

Lottie Fanshawe has become an expert over the years at banishing dark memories of the past – but now, the time has come to sell Sycamore House, her old family home, which she walked away from a decade ago. With beloved brother Dylan now a missing person – a victim of their past – there’s only Lottie left to organise the sale. Being back in Sunnybrook is the last thing she needs, and her plan is to get in and out as speedily as possible. But finding a welcome at the Little Duck Pond Cafe helps Lottie in more ways than she could have imagined. And then there are her growing feelings for dark-eyed Liam Westerbrook to grapple with . . .

My review

Sycamore House in Sunnybrook is a house with a dark past, and the inhabitants have heard different kind of stories about what happened.
But for Lottie Fanshawe, it’s a place with many haunted memories. For her, the time has come to sell the place, and the sooner the better. Unfortunately, the house needs some TLC for increasing the interest. And since her brother Dylan went missing, it’s all up to Lottie now…
She cannot wait to leave Sycamore House for good, but despite her dislike of the place, she finds herself welcomed in Sunnybrook, with the help of the people in the Little Duck Pond Café. And then there is Liam Westerbrook…
But is there a chance for Lottie to find happiness in a place that brought her also the greatest heartbreak? 

Here we are again, after reading another part of the Little Duck Pond Cafe…
And in fact, I could just copy – paste my previous review, change some things as this is another story with other characters. But the fact that I absolutely love each part of the series for sure still stands! 

Reading about Lottie’s past for sure broke my heart. Seeing how she had to fight tragedy after tragedy wasn’t the lightest story to read, and I absolutely understood her reasons for getting rid of Sycamore House!
My heart went out to Lottie, as it’s clear she is a lovely person, but her past hangs over her as a dark cloud. And her not knowing where her brother is, her brother who has been her rock despite his own demons… I just cannot even try to imagine not knowing where my own brother would be. 

But Lottie is not the kind of person you will only pity. Because she has also this fierceness in her, she takes matter in her own hands, and she understands people on a level that isn’t for anyone…
So obviously seeing her being welcomed by the wonderful people of the Little Duck Pond Café warmed my heart.
Not that I had one doubt in my mind how my old friends would act towards the latest stranger in Sunnybrook!  

Yes, in this book there is a love interest for Lottie, in the wonderful form of Liam. And while Liam is everything we could imagine for Lottie, the romantic relationship wasn’t the focus.
Of course I had my fingered crossed and I was rooting for them, never losing hope even when Rosie Green would dare to add a twist. 

The focus of this book was picking up the pieces again after great tragedies. Lottie has been through a lot in her young life, has lost a lot people she loved. But slowly Lottie sees that beside the many sad memories, there are also a lot of happy ones.
When your past keeps haunting you, it’s difficult to see the little rays of sunshine, but they are still there. We just need to find them again. 

The deeper I got into the story, the more emotional I got. Lottie is having a lot of closures in this book. Some may go easy while others don’t. But we also see the effect Lottie has on the people in Sunnybrook. Sunnybrook for sure is a place that gives and takes in all the best ways. Lottie is exactly what Sunnybrook needs. But Sunnybrook is for sure what Lottie needs too…  

Rosie Green managed once again to write a magnificent story, isn’t there a limit on her talent? How can this woman keep on adding new chapters to a series without ever getting repetitive? Each story stands perfectly on its own, and as a reader you feel your heart expanding when you return to Sunnybrook. Seeing our old friends again for sure is a delight and making new ones is so easy!
I just cannot wait to return to this lovely place with its amazing characters! Bring it on!!! 😊