Can your childhood home feel ever like home again, with everything that changed?

Synopsis

Escape to the coastal village of Brambleton with this heartwarming love story filled with intrigue and rural charm

‘Heartwarming, emotional and full of community spirit. I couldn’t put it down’ Amanda Prowse

Clare’s life has just been turned upside down. Yesterday she was a successful London lawyer, about to travel the world on a well-deserved sabbatical. Now she’s back in her childhood home in rural north Devon, after the sudden death of her mother.

Brambleton is a picture-perfect seaside village, where everyone knows your name and where secrets don’t stay behind closed doors for long. Clare left it behind for a reason along with an old flame she wants to leave firmly in the past. Yet, as she gradually learns to collect eggs from unruly chickens, make apple cider on frosty mornings, and look after her mother’s tearaway dog, she begins to fall under the spell of small-town rural life.

When a greedy landlord threatens the future of the village, Clare can’t resist taking a stand to fight for the underdog once again. She’s determined to leave as soon as she’s won, but she hasn’t counted on Brambleton weaving its way into her heart. And she definitely didn’t plan on falling in love…

Will she embrace the village community that has taken her in, or is the pull of her old life too strong to resist? As she makes her choice, Clare will discover that sometimes the most unexpected places are where we truly belong.

My review

Clare’s been building on her career as a lawyer in London. Yet as she felt the need to have a break, she has prepared everything for her sabbatical year, discovering the world. But no matter what she has planned, after suddenly losing her mother, she heads off to her childhood home in rural Devon. Her life now and her life then couldn’t be more different, and also quickly the whole village of Brambleton knows of her return, just proving that many things never change. But there are also many changes, as many villagers are risking of losing their homes at the hand of their greedy landlord. As Clare quickly finds her stride back and adapts back to the rural way of life, she is ready to fight together with the underdogs. And she won’t let anything lose her focus, not even by an old flame…

It’s not a secret that I always enjoy reading books where the main character returns back home, after leaving the place for many years.

Yet it saddened me a bit to read how Clare wasn’t in touch with her mother, when a disagreement took place years ago. Of course parents and children clash, even when the children are already adults. But to let a disagreement last for so long… To make it even more sadder, was how Clare decided to make amends, when the news arrives that her mother is gone.

And that made me think that regret always comes too late, and that sometimes it’s just too late to make things right again… And that something that Clare learns the hard way, and has to live with the regret that she didn’t talk things out with her mother…

Of course, I was a bit curious, in perhaps a evil kind of way, as I wanted to see how Clare as a lawyer would cope in a place like Brambleton. The busy city life is for sure far away from rural Brambleton! And I was satisfied reading how Clare initially struggles with, well just everything. 😊

On the other hand, I was also happy for her, that after those initial struggles, she finds her feet back, and when needed, she can count on her old friends once again. That bit was also lovely to see, how those friends were welcoming her back home with open arms, with no bad feelings.

Quickly it truly feels like Clare has never been away, as she truly is part of the community. It was also a bit funny to read how everyone wants Clare’s advice on legal matters, even if that isn’t Clare’s expertise. And no matter how much Clare tries initially to stay out of it, she cannot just not do anything.

Especially when she learns about the injustice taking place, at the hand of Tricky Ricky… It even angered me, how his greed and his selfishness just could keep going, as he also is rather influential and has several decision – making positions.

I have to say though, while I admired Clare’s involvement to make things right for the community, she also makes some errors that I didn’t expect from a lawyer. Errors is perhaps not the correct word, but I would think in some occasions that as a lawyer, she would have thought better…

And perhaps that same error, or more prejudice Clare shows with her old flame… Because while it makes sense that Clare initially keeps her distance from Sam, he doesn’t show any sign that he is one of the ‘baddies’, despite his connection with Tricky Ricky…

Sam is the perfect example of being perhaps privileged, yet still having his heart at the right place. He is the kind of person that is patient, kind, helpful and also keeps giving chances. Even when Clare blows hot and cold, he doesn’t just yield, he is persistent on being the gentleman he is. And not only that, he even doesn’t want everyone to know what he is doing… what a man!

It was great to read how Clare changes from this busy lawyer – life to the rural Devon – life. We see her adapt to a life that she used to know, but we also see how Clare uses her knowledge to make things better for the whole community. We also see how Clare thinks about the choices she made in her life, and how some she regrets and how some made her the person she is now.

But most of all, I enjoyed reading how Clare realizes that how perhaps years ago she had the need to get away from her home, but how now her home is her safe place. A place that is not all that luxurious as she may be used to, but brings her more peace and calmness than whatever plans she may have had to feel free and destressed.

Sometimes, going back home is the perfect remedy and medicine to heal all the wounds we have in our hearts. And that is exactly what this author captured perfectly!