Review: Clover Cottage by Christie Barlow

Clover Cottage by Christie Barlow

Series: Love Heart Lane #3

Release Date: 20th March 2020
Publisher:  One More Chapter

Genres: Romantic Fiction / Humour

A page-turning new cosy novel in the bestselling Love Heart Lane series – perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Phillipa Ashley and Milly Johnson!

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what.

When Vet Rory Scott inherits ramshackle Clover Cottage in the quaint village of Heartcross, Allie MacDonald just knows this is their happy ever after. A place to call home with the man she loves – it’s her dream come true!

Until Rory drops a bombshell. He loves Allie but he has dreams of his own to follow – to live and work in Africa. Clover Cottage will have to wait just a little longer…

Allie can’t imagine life without Rory, but she loves him too much to hold him back. And as he embarks on his adventure, Allie begins to rethink her own plans. She loves Rory and knows she wants him in her life, but maybe she can follow her own dreams too?

And always there, nestled in the beautiful village of Heartcross, surrounded by the people she loves, will be the place that will always bring them back to each other. Their forever home, Clover Cottage.

Clover Cottage is the third book in this series but can totally be read as a standalone. Rory and Allie's future is almost written for them. In a relationship for some time, it looks like a life together seems inevitable. Marriage, kids, the dream cottage that has been left to Rory. Though, its in a bit of decrepit state but it could be made into the perfect marital home. But, Rory has wanderlust. He dreams of adventure and those dreams will ultimately impact on Allie. When an opportunity to work in Africa presents itself, both Rory and Allie must make some difficult decisions. 

Written from the perspectives of both characters,we gain some insight into how each is feeling and what is driving their decisions.  However, I did find myself falling more into camp Allie than completely understanding Rory. Then I kept changing my mind and had some idea of the characters inner turmoil. Very cleverly written! The message I got from the book was do we play things safe and do what is expected and lose ourselves completely to the control of others? Or do we follow our dreams, risks and all? Sometimes we need to step outside our comfort zones. This is such an amazing character driven novel that I fell in love with every single one of them.

I'm so proud of how far Christie Barlow has come in her writing. I first become aware of this wonderful writer when I organised a tour for her first book, A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother way back in 2014. Her writing has gone from strength to strength and Clover Cottage was what was needed, particularly during this very stressful time in everyone's lives. It was a welcome distraction and Love Heart Lane felt like a safe place to be. It's a book all about community and love which lets face it, we all need a bit of that. It's about coming home, whether that be a physical place or somewhere within ourselves.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christie Barlow is the international bestselling author of A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother, The Misadventures of a Playground Mother, Kitty's Countryside Dream, Lizzie's Christmas Escape, Evie's Year of Taking Chances, The Cosy Canal Boat Dream, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Foxglove Farm. Her writing career came as somewhat a surprise when she decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. The book she wrote to prove a point is now a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada & Australia.

Christie is an ambassador for @ZuriProject raising money/awareness and engaging with impoverished people in Uganda through organisations to improve their well-being.

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www.christiebarlow.com 

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@ChristieJBarlow 

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Christie Barlow author