The home of your dreams, but with long – kept secrets…

Synopsis

What happens when a romantic Victorian pile that was meant to be your ‘forever home’ turns out to be a disaster in disguise? One Little Duck Pond Café pair are about to find out. Could the fall-out wreck their relationship? One thing’s for sure – it will take nothing short of a miracle to turn this turkey into the house of their dreams . . .

My review

Ellie cannot believe that her life is turning out to be this great. Not only is she together with the most amazing man, Zak, she also cannot wait to expand her little family of three (or four if you add the furry family member). And with their offer accepted on Ellie’s dreamhouse, she cannot wait to make the move with Zak and Maisie. However, the house is in dire need of TLC, and the many renovations cause extra stress, something that Ellie in her situation for sure can miss. And that is not all, because with those same renovations, Ellie discovers secrets that have been kept hidden literally in the walls. Secrets that Ellie wants to uncover and bring happiness to those involved…

This series is the kind that just make you eager to read whatever new chapter comes out. Because it is such a wonderful place, with so many lovely characters, so much warmth and so much love.

Of course having read the previous chapters, I already knew that this book would be about Ellie and Zak, and their new home they are renovating. It was great to see how strong they still are as a couple, and how they are already a great family with Maisie. And it warmed my heart to see how their little, cute family would expand very soon.

It was of course lovely to see how Ellie is thriving. And as she is the loveliest kind of person, I just wanted all the best for her, as quickly as possible. She still is the warmest, gentle person we got to know through the whole series. She is the kind of person that helps out anyone in need, not expecting anything in return. She also has a great gut feeling, and she knows who is genuine.

That made it lovely to read how she easily befriends Rhona, how they instantly connect. And it was lovely to have this new entry in the series. It may seem so random at all, but I could see Rhona fitting in so easily in Sunnybrook, like she truly belongs there.

Of course there are several intrigues too in this book, of which a few managed to actual surprise me. There are obviously the secrets that Ellie finds hidden in her new home, but it’s also about some presences, or proof of presences in the house that haunt Ellie. And there is Zak’s odd behaviour…

I have to be honest, because otherwise this revies is useless. I did not like Zak for the greatest part in this book. I understood that he needs to find his inspiration again, but leaving Ellie, who is highly pregnant, on her own? And then even adding lies to it all? I started to doubt Zak, and it was a feeling I did not like at all…

While the main focus seems to be on Ellie and her dreamhouse, for me it felt more like Rhona’s reckoning. That seems very melodramatic to say, but in this book she has the chance to not only start again, but to leave her past behind her, face her demons and to get closure from everything she has been through.

I loved reading this book, about Ellie and Rhona, and how they find each other, help each other. This book is just like its predecessors filled with so much love, warmth, acceptance and openness. Reading it made me feel all warm and fuzzy, even when there were a few more difficult moments. But just like in real life, it’s those difficult moments that make you appreciate the better and lovelier moments so much more.

I cannot say it otherwise, but Rosie Green for sure delivered once again!