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Appleby Farm #2
A Family Affair
It’s impossible not to feel cheerful at Appleby Farm, so Freya is putting her doubts about her love life to the back of her mind for now.
But when she discovers the truth about its financial troubles, Freya has to face up to reality: they might lose the farm. There’s only one person she can ask for help, and it’s the last thing she wants to do… Can a trip to Paris change the farm’s fortunes?
As Appleby Farm’s fate hangs in the balance, Freya is surprised as her own dreams for the future take shape. But who will be at her side as her dreams become reality?
Appleby Farm is an irresistibly charming novel told in four parts – following the adventures of Freya Moorcroft in love, friendship and a spot of farming. A Family Affair is part two.
It features some friendly faces who appeared in Cathy's bestselling series, Ivy Lane, but it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story.
Each part of Appleby Farm contains 10 chapters.
Praise for Cathy Bramley and Ivy Lane:
‘Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns’ Trisha Ashley
‘A perfect blend of the two greatest pleasures in life – love and gardening!’ Fern Britton
'A witty, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy' Miranda Dickinson
- GenresChick LitShort Stories
99 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2015
21 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Bramley
66 books1,135 followersCathy Bramley is the author of the best-selling romantic comedies Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm, Wickham Hall, Conditional Love and The Plumberry School of Comfort Food. She lives in a Nottinghamshire village with her family and a dog.
Her recent career as a full-time writer of light-hearted, romantic fiction has come as somewhat of a lovely surprise after spending eighteen years running her own marketing agency. However, she has been always an avid reader, never without a book on the go and now thinks she may have found her dream job!
Cathy loves to hear from her readers. You can get in touch via her website www.CathyBramley.co.uk Facebook page Facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor or on Twitter twitter.com/CathyBramley
Her recent career as a full-time writer of light-hearted, romantic fiction has come as somewhat of a lovely surprise after spending eighteen years running her own marketing agency. However, she has been always an avid reader, never without a book on the go and now thinks she may have found her dream job!
Cathy loves to hear from her readers. You can get in touch via her website www.CathyBramley.co.uk Facebook page Facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor or on Twitter twitter.com/CathyBramley
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 8, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyable and heartfelt second instalment to this series, there was a few emotional moments but also a few giggles too.
There's lots going on, Freya has a new venture which could be where her future lies, plus a trip to Paris and we meet new character Harry who is an old friend of Freya. Can't wait to see how his character comes into play in the next instalment.
I'm off to read the third instalment now, as can't wait to see what happens next.
There's lots going on, Freya has a new venture which could be where her future lies, plus a trip to Paris and we meet new character Harry who is an old friend of Freya. Can't wait to see how his character comes into play in the next instalment.
I'm off to read the third instalment now, as can't wait to see what happens next.
April 6, 2015
A lovely quick read following the residents of Appelby farm and trying to get it back on track and profitable. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
March 8, 2015
Originally posted on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/
Well, there's no other way for me to begin my review of Appleby Farm: Part 2 other than by sighing happily and announcing that it's bloody good to be back!
In reality, it's only be a short space of time since I said farewell to Freya, but in bookworm world, it feels as if it has been an absolute age. So, as soon as I possibly could, I bought this treasure, picked up my Kindle, and slipped into the story without a single ounce of hesitation. The first thing that I noticed was that just before Freya's story picked back up from where Cathy left it in Appleby Farm: Part 2, there was a gorgeous chunk right at the very beginning titled 'Previously in Appleby Farm', allowing the reader to refresh their memory of what happened last time. I adored this! I'd read books since finished Appleby Farm: Part 1, so reading this snippet brought everything back to me, and I felt ready to start the next part with my memory up to date.
So, in the next delightful part of Appleby Farm, Cathy really focuses on bringing Freya's past to surface, and allowing the readers to get know all about Freya's parents and how she came to spend so much of her childhood on the farm with her Aunt and Uncle. Not only this, but things really are beginning to get tough for the farm. With a final notice warning, and a mounting pile of bills, Freya is needing to come up with a solution, and fast. Uncle Arthur is now thankfully out of the hospital, but needs to seriously take things slow, meaning that Freya is now trying to take care of the farm, alongside her relationship with Charlie, and also, figure out a way to bring in some sort of extra income to try and keep everything afloat!
For me, returning to Appleby Farm made me feel exactly the same way as I do when I return home to see my family. There is something so effortlessly comforting and snuggly about this world that Cathy provides her characters and readers with, and I think it has everything to do with her gorgeous, homely descriptions. One of my particular favourites this time around was this description of the sky. I mean, yes, it's a sky, but just take a read of this and you'll quickly realise that it's not just any old sky, it's a Cathy Bramley sky!
"The early May sky was the palest blue with cotton-wool clouds bobbing along merrily..."
Gah! Appleby Farm is such an idyllic setting. From the thick dark beams that run along the ceiling of the house, to the crackling fire, and from the chickens and horses to the hay bales and barns. Everything, and I mean everything, seems to have been touched with Cathy Bramley's magic wand, and with just one little tap, ordinary things are no longer ordinary. They're pastel colours, they're cosy beds, they're mugs of warm tea. If I could live at Appleby Farm, I really, honestly, truly would.
As I mentioned above, Cathy really knuckles down when it comes to Freya's past in Appleby Farm: Part 2. During a sweeping visit to Paris when Freya is in desperate need of help, bits and pieces are revealed to the reader, and slowly, we're able to put a history to Freya. Why she adores Appleby Farm so much, why she spent so much as a child there, and why, of course, she feels that Auntie Sue was more of a mother than her own ever was. We're introduced to Freya's parents, we get a glimpse of how different Freya is to her Mum and Dad, and we're also given a real insight into the fiercely independent side of Freya's being. For me, personally, seeing this side of Freya allowed me to build up an even bigger image of her character within my mind. I was able to understand why she is the way that she is, and how she managed to become the person that she is today.
I think my ultimate favourite part of Appleby Farm: Part 2 was watching Freya's creativity and imagination come to life. Her ideas about Appleby are now beginning to blossom, and I have to say I LOVED what she comes up with! The farm could definitely do with a source of extra income, and as you well know readers, Freya is not one to sit around and do nothing. So, she gets her thinking cap and begins to plan, and plan she does! Again, this determination to help her family and to ensure that Appleby Farm isn't snatched away only adds heaps to her character! Seeing Freya desperate to figure out a way to help had me respecting her endlessly. She becomes focused and doesn't allow anything or anyone to step in her way. I think Cathy has done such a terrific job of opening her character up even more to the reader. I mean, just after reading Part 1, I felt like I knew Freya completely, but as the parts are continuing, I'm just loving her more and more, as well as her family who I utterly adore and want nothing but the best for! They all work hard, they all love Appleby Farm, and I just know that whatever Freya has up her sleeve, she's going to knock everybody's socks off once she truly gets going.
Of course, it's not all about Appleby Farm! Cathy has brought all aspects of Freya's life into the mix, and that's not excluding her love life! Charlie is still very much on Freya's mind. After their argument in part one, Freya is very much in two minds about how things are going to work between them when she decides to stay on Appleby Farm and save the day. What makes matters even more tricky is that Freya's childhood friend, Harry, is back on the scene, and he's looking mighty fine! But, they're only friends, aren't they?
Readers, I really think that keeping up with the Appleby Farm series is the perfect way to welcome spring and summer this year. It is such a LOVELY place to be, endlessly comforting even despite the problems that are gradually cropping up. But, I have complete faith in Freya and I just know that she's going to knock out something fantastic that's going to blow everybody away, and I cannot wait to see how it all plays out! Cathy Bramley, thank you so much! I become more and more of a fan of yours with everything that I read. You are fantastic! FIVE SCRUMMY CUPCAKES FROM ME!
Well, there's no other way for me to begin my review of Appleby Farm: Part 2 other than by sighing happily and announcing that it's bloody good to be back!
In reality, it's only be a short space of time since I said farewell to Freya, but in bookworm world, it feels as if it has been an absolute age. So, as soon as I possibly could, I bought this treasure, picked up my Kindle, and slipped into the story without a single ounce of hesitation. The first thing that I noticed was that just before Freya's story picked back up from where Cathy left it in Appleby Farm: Part 2, there was a gorgeous chunk right at the very beginning titled 'Previously in Appleby Farm', allowing the reader to refresh their memory of what happened last time. I adored this! I'd read books since finished Appleby Farm: Part 1, so reading this snippet brought everything back to me, and I felt ready to start the next part with my memory up to date.
So, in the next delightful part of Appleby Farm, Cathy really focuses on bringing Freya's past to surface, and allowing the readers to get know all about Freya's parents and how she came to spend so much of her childhood on the farm with her Aunt and Uncle. Not only this, but things really are beginning to get tough for the farm. With a final notice warning, and a mounting pile of bills, Freya is needing to come up with a solution, and fast. Uncle Arthur is now thankfully out of the hospital, but needs to seriously take things slow, meaning that Freya is now trying to take care of the farm, alongside her relationship with Charlie, and also, figure out a way to bring in some sort of extra income to try and keep everything afloat!
For me, returning to Appleby Farm made me feel exactly the same way as I do when I return home to see my family. There is something so effortlessly comforting and snuggly about this world that Cathy provides her characters and readers with, and I think it has everything to do with her gorgeous, homely descriptions. One of my particular favourites this time around was this description of the sky. I mean, yes, it's a sky, but just take a read of this and you'll quickly realise that it's not just any old sky, it's a Cathy Bramley sky!
"The early May sky was the palest blue with cotton-wool clouds bobbing along merrily..."
Gah! Appleby Farm is such an idyllic setting. From the thick dark beams that run along the ceiling of the house, to the crackling fire, and from the chickens and horses to the hay bales and barns. Everything, and I mean everything, seems to have been touched with Cathy Bramley's magic wand, and with just one little tap, ordinary things are no longer ordinary. They're pastel colours, they're cosy beds, they're mugs of warm tea. If I could live at Appleby Farm, I really, honestly, truly would.
As I mentioned above, Cathy really knuckles down when it comes to Freya's past in Appleby Farm: Part 2. During a sweeping visit to Paris when Freya is in desperate need of help, bits and pieces are revealed to the reader, and slowly, we're able to put a history to Freya. Why she adores Appleby Farm so much, why she spent so much as a child there, and why, of course, she feels that Auntie Sue was more of a mother than her own ever was. We're introduced to Freya's parents, we get a glimpse of how different Freya is to her Mum and Dad, and we're also given a real insight into the fiercely independent side of Freya's being. For me, personally, seeing this side of Freya allowed me to build up an even bigger image of her character within my mind. I was able to understand why she is the way that she is, and how she managed to become the person that she is today.
I think my ultimate favourite part of Appleby Farm: Part 2 was watching Freya's creativity and imagination come to life. Her ideas about Appleby are now beginning to blossom, and I have to say I LOVED what she comes up with! The farm could definitely do with a source of extra income, and as you well know readers, Freya is not one to sit around and do nothing. So, she gets her thinking cap and begins to plan, and plan she does! Again, this determination to help her family and to ensure that Appleby Farm isn't snatched away only adds heaps to her character! Seeing Freya desperate to figure out a way to help had me respecting her endlessly. She becomes focused and doesn't allow anything or anyone to step in her way. I think Cathy has done such a terrific job of opening her character up even more to the reader. I mean, just after reading Part 1, I felt like I knew Freya completely, but as the parts are continuing, I'm just loving her more and more, as well as her family who I utterly adore and want nothing but the best for! They all work hard, they all love Appleby Farm, and I just know that whatever Freya has up her sleeve, she's going to knock everybody's socks off once she truly gets going.
Of course, it's not all about Appleby Farm! Cathy has brought all aspects of Freya's life into the mix, and that's not excluding her love life! Charlie is still very much on Freya's mind. After their argument in part one, Freya is very much in two minds about how things are going to work between them when she decides to stay on Appleby Farm and save the day. What makes matters even more tricky is that Freya's childhood friend, Harry, is back on the scene, and he's looking mighty fine! But, they're only friends, aren't they?
Readers, I really think that keeping up with the Appleby Farm series is the perfect way to welcome spring and summer this year. It is such a LOVELY place to be, endlessly comforting even despite the problems that are gradually cropping up. But, I have complete faith in Freya and I just know that she's going to knock out something fantastic that's going to blow everybody away, and I cannot wait to see how it all plays out! Cathy Bramley, thank you so much! I become more and more of a fan of yours with everything that I read. You are fantastic! FIVE SCRUMMY CUPCAKES FROM ME!
July 20, 2024
Lekkere feelgood luisteren op weg naar huis. Niets meer, niets minder
March 6, 2015
The second part of the series was a great joy as well, if not a greater one, because of the warmth and magic in Cathy's writing you just feel a part of the book, as if you have never felt Appleby Farm, and just easily and seamlessly slip back into the story!
What can I say that I haven't said about Cathy's writing yet? "A Family Affair" is just the best example of her wonderful style and incredible story - telling. I just wanted to squeeze Freya hard, to hug her and keep her safe, protect her from all the problems that she's facing, and there are many of them in store for her. I abso - freaking - lutly adore this girl and I can easily imagine her as my friend, and as much as I'd love her to live a trouble - free life on the farm, I totally adore the way she's coping with all the problems and her fresh ideas how to save the living of her beloved Aunt and Uncle. I really fell for her, and as I accompanied her through this short story, I couldn't help but feel all kind of emotions: I cringed with pain and wanted to hold her hand when she visited her parents, and I waited for an explanation why, what happened, why are they like this? I cheered her up when she had some really brilliant ideas hot to help the farm, and I loved to hear her banter with all those lovely people that already became her friends. There is such an incredible sense of amity, friendship between them, and it all feels so natural, not at all forced or pushy, and it really makes me want to move to a farm and go to the pub every Sunday evening.
I don't know how Cathy does it, but she can create not only one of the most believable, warm characters in the world, but also one of the most enjoyable plots, and with her writing even the descriptions of the everyday farm work are engaging and witty. It won't be a surprise for me if, thanks to her stories, farming will become a new trend and there will be a big interest in Tea Rooms! She packs those 10 chapters of every installement with a lot of action, fun, humour, emotion and you just can't put your kindle down and it leaves you yearning for more (and the cliff - hangers of course too! Cliff - hangers!!!). "Appleby Farm: A Family Affair" is Cathy at her best and I don't know how I lived without her books - they are my secret weapon against bad weather, bad mood and worries, as they always cheer me up, and thank you, Cathy, for this!
What can I say that I haven't said about Cathy's writing yet? "A Family Affair" is just the best example of her wonderful style and incredible story - telling. I just wanted to squeeze Freya hard, to hug her and keep her safe, protect her from all the problems that she's facing, and there are many of them in store for her. I abso - freaking - lutly adore this girl and I can easily imagine her as my friend, and as much as I'd love her to live a trouble - free life on the farm, I totally adore the way she's coping with all the problems and her fresh ideas how to save the living of her beloved Aunt and Uncle. I really fell for her, and as I accompanied her through this short story, I couldn't help but feel all kind of emotions: I cringed with pain and wanted to hold her hand when she visited her parents, and I waited for an explanation why, what happened, why are they like this? I cheered her up when she had some really brilliant ideas hot to help the farm, and I loved to hear her banter with all those lovely people that already became her friends. There is such an incredible sense of amity, friendship between them, and it all feels so natural, not at all forced or pushy, and it really makes me want to move to a farm and go to the pub every Sunday evening.
I don't know how Cathy does it, but she can create not only one of the most believable, warm characters in the world, but also one of the most enjoyable plots, and with her writing even the descriptions of the everyday farm work are engaging and witty. It won't be a surprise for me if, thanks to her stories, farming will become a new trend and there will be a big interest in Tea Rooms! She packs those 10 chapters of every installement with a lot of action, fun, humour, emotion and you just can't put your kindle down and it leaves you yearning for more (and the cliff - hangers of course too! Cliff - hangers!!!). "Appleby Farm: A Family Affair" is Cathy at her best and I don't know how I lived without her books - they are my secret weapon against bad weather, bad mood and worries, as they always cheer me up, and thank you, Cathy, for this!
June 24, 2015
This is the second book in this series it is really just a nice story, nothing too heavy, bit of love, drama etc. I like the descriptions of the countryside etc.
I will continue to read the series. Great light read after a couple of very heavy reads.
I will continue to read the series. Great light read after a couple of very heavy reads.
September 6, 2020
Good up lifting story
Enjoyed Freya’s starting to open the lovely tea shop. and hope Charlie decides to stay as well . Hope they both settle there as well
Enjoyed Freya’s starting to open the lovely tea shop. and hope Charlie decides to stay as well . Hope they both settle there as well
November 2, 2023
3 ⭐️ stars.
March 20, 2025
Jaaaaa op naar deel 3
March 8, 2015
This series by Cathy is just to good for words. It's like *pringles* once you start, you just can't stop! Again, I LOVED IT. There is so much depth and knowledge to the writing, one minute I was sipping coffee in Paris, the next I could smell fresh fields and cows. Waiting for book 3, with my heart in my mouth!
May 27, 2015
This was a heartwarming second part in Cathy's short story based around Appleby farm and well worth reading in this part Freya is needing to get some money together as she found her uncle was in a lot of debt so she goes to her parents who she's never had a good relationship with and she isn't sure they will loan the money she has great ideas to develop the farm but will she be given the chance.
March 8, 2015
It was lovely to be back at the farm and catching up with Freya.
With the future of Appleby Farm at risk Freya sees her chance to start a new challenge and make sure the Farm can survive, a visit to Paris has surprising consequences which gives her the courage to face the future head on.
How will Charlie feel about her plans and will meeting childhood friend Harry change things?
With the future of Appleby Farm at risk Freya sees her chance to start a new challenge and make sure the Farm can survive, a visit to Paris has surprising consequences which gives her the courage to face the future head on.
How will Charlie feel about her plans and will meeting childhood friend Harry change things?
July 5, 2016
I left it too long between reading parts 2 and 3 :( Enjoyed catching up with Freya and the rest of the characters on Appleby Farm - looking forward to how the tea shop idea develops. Straight onto part 3...................
March 10, 2015
loved it can't wait for next one
June 18, 2015
Once again loving this story and looking forward to how the story developers. It is an easy going read.
August 23, 2015
Loved it! Continued the story of Freya helping out on her aunt and uncles farm. Looking forward to part 3
June 22, 2016
Excellent read
Just picked this book back up enjoy it all over again. Can't wait for part 3 definitely a must read
Just picked this book back up enjoy it all over again. Can't wait for part 3 definitely a must read
February 2, 2022
Fantastic book! I love this series so much! This is my second time reading it! Onto the 3rd
June 14, 2018
I am really enjoying these books. I am officially addicted to Cathy Bramley's writing and am looking forward to continuing on with this and many other series.
I have this installment 3 stars because I just can't handle all the bad luck that has stuck Appleby Farm and I low key dislike Charlie.
I have this installment 3 stars because I just can't handle all the bad luck that has stuck Appleby Farm and I low key dislike Charlie.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews