The desire to find a parent, the discovery to find so much more

Synopsis

After an amazing year looking after Hollyhock Farm, on the beautiful island of Jersey, pregnant Lettie needs to step back from farming. The problem is, with her family overseas, there’s no one to take over.

But then help comes from two places at once. Handsome fire-fighter Joe needs to escape his small home since his mother and her new husband came to stay; he offers to help run the farm in exchange for board in one of the spare rooms. Then, adventurous newcomer Skye takes the other room, excited to try her hand at farming in such an amazing place.

But managing the farm together may be more than either of them bargained for, especially as each of them drives the other crazy, in more ways than one. Will the tension get too much for Joe and Skye, or could love bloom with the Jersey flowers this spring?

My review

Skye has never known who her father is. Allt hat she knows is that her late mother got pregnant with her after spending a season on the island of Jersey. So when she has the chance to spend some time on Hollyhock Farm, looking after the animals while owner Lettie is reaching her due date, it’s just too perfect to let this moment slip. But Skye didn’t expect to share the farm, and having someone else staying in the other spare room. And especially she didn’t expect that person to be firefighter Joe, who has his own reasons of needing some time away. Because even if he loves his mother, her reappearing on his doorstep with her latest husband and taking over Joe’s home, it’s just too much for him. While initially Skye and Joe are struggling to find a way to collaborate, soon they find their pace. And when Joe is able to help Skye discovering the identity of her father, a much deeper bond quickly grows. However, with them being on Hollyhock Farm only temporarily, where will it leave them when Lettie, Brodie and a newborn baby will return to their home?

Ooooh, the joy to return to Hollyhock Farm! Even if I am not ‘farm’ girl myself, Hollyhock for sure is something special. And once again I enjoyed every bit being here!

This time, it’s up to Skye and Joe to discover not only the beauty of Hollyhock but in a way, also its magic.

Joe isn’t a complete stranger to the loyal readers of the series. And in this book, we also get the confirmation that he truly is a good guy, wanting to help, perhaps even at his own stake. This is highlighted in the fact that he leaves his own home when his mother and her husband appear at his doorstep, wanting to stay there. This may not seem that strange at all, but I don’t know if I would be able to take it so calmy hearing how Joe’s mother just takes over. Not only does she wants the master bedroom, she also needs Joe’s money to renovate a place that isn’t even her (a.k.a. Joe’s home).

Him moving temporarily to Hollyhock Farm is also another proof of Joe’s kind character. His friends Lettie and Brodie are in need of a helping hand, and of course he would help them out. And yes, in a tiny selfish way, it also helps him too. This gives him the perfect opportunity to ‘get away’ from his mother, without actually hurting her feelings, and as he has to take some time off from his work, it all works out just perfectly.

Although… he for sure wasn’t expecting to be looking after the farm with Skye. And while it was shocking for the both of them discovering this, for us as a reader, it was hilarious to read, especially as their first encounter for sure was a heated one (literally!).

My heart went out to Skye. She is a delightful young woman, a free spirit, as she truly enjoys discovering the world. But she is also carrying baggage, as the loss of her mother is still hurting her. But not only that, the fact that most of the time Skye grew up with her Gran, wasn’t easy. Not that her Gran treated her badly, but I could understand that Skye felt like she wasn’t enough for her mother. And not knowing who her father is… so much turmoil for a young woman…

Yet that doesn’t kill her spirit, she takes everything in her stride. She is such a happy persona, is not afraid of heading of to a new adventure, and she doesn’t mind to make a whole 180, working on a farm. She is eager to learn new things, but she is also not afraid to admit when she is wrong. But she is also a determined woman, as she is on a mission and doesn’t give up easily.

Skye and Joe are different in many ways, but they are also so alike in so many ways. They come from different worlds, but their characters, the most important traits, are so alike.

Of course when staying at the same house/farm, it brings people closer together, as they are almost 24/7 together. And seeing Skye and Joe getting closer, understanding each other, having the desire to help each other, was truly just so sweet and heartwarming!

Perhaps I was expecting a little more intrigue with the mystery of Skye’s father. But in a way, it also shows how a close community and how caring everyone on the island is. So maybe, it was fitting that the mystery was a community effort.

Of course we also see Lettie and Brodie in this book again, and I was happy to read how they were doing too.

I absolutely adored reading this book, a brand new chapter in a wonderful series. Georgina Troys managed perfectly writing a compelling, but also funny, romantic story about two characters finding not only an ally with each other, but also finding themselves even more.