Saffron Lane

Peppercorn Street #3

by Anna Jacobs

Nell has come to feel very at home in her beautiful corner of Wiltshire with her partner Angus. What she could do with, however, is a challenge, and the prospect of bringing life back to an abandoned row of houses, Saffron Lane, is just what she’s looking for.
Stacy, lost and alone after a divorce she didn’t see coming, is trying her best to start over. And Elise, battling her nieces who would force her into residential care, longs for a home where she can get back to her painting. When their paths cross, the future starts to look brighter although not all goes according to plan.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published March 22, 2018

About the author

Anna Jacobs has 87 novels published as of April 2019. She writes historical sagas and modern novels alternately, and in the past has written historical romances and fantasy novels (the latter as Shannah Jay).

She's addicted to story-telling and writes three novels a year. You can find a list of books and series on her website at www.annajacobs.com

Anna reads 3 novels a week. Happy reading, everyone.

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nell feels very much at home in Wiltshire and happy with her partner Angus. But she needs something to occupy her time, a challenge of some sort. She finds it when she glimpses the prospect of bringing an abandoned row of houses in Saffron Lane to life. She plans to establish an artists’s colony and invitees applications. Stacy is an artist into metal sculpture. She is also trying to get away from Darren her abusive ex. She needs to find somewhere safe from him. Elise is a painter who has suffered elder abuse by her niece Mary who tried to trick her and force her a care home, when she refused to go. Elise found a way out with the help of some kind people. So all she wants now is to begin a new life and concentrate on her paintings which are starting to sell,
Adam and his teenage daughter Gemma are trying to rebuild the relationship between them which, due to lies and deceit, has left them estranged. They are on a trip from Australia to England to uncover a secret hidden from Adam nineteen years earlier.
As you can see a lot is going on in this novel. Trigger warning. Anyone who has been the victim of abuse from a partner or relative may find this book hard to read.
I absolutely felt everything with Elise. I could think of nothing worse than being forced into a care home.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this emotion charged read, especially given some things I am not a fan of, in the ghostly voices and help. The characters came alive and involved me, simple as that. They all felt very real. Thought it tied up a bit abruptly towards the end though,
This is the third book in the series about Peppercorn Street. It is not necessary to have read the others in the series. I hadn’t and it stands alone fine. A very good and thought provoking read that I think many will enjoy..

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The underlying theme in every book I’ve read in this series so far is one of violence against women. There is always one character, sometimes more than one, being stalked, assaulted, abused and/or raped. If it’s not this, it’s elder abuse in the form of children or officials trying to force seniors into doing something they don’t want to do. The reaction of the characters themselves, and those around them, to this violence/abuse strikes me as being very unrealistic. I must admit I’m finding it very wearing. I’ll finish the series because I’m interested in the plot but I’m not going to read any more by this author if it turns out this theme continues in all her books.

[Charlynnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another 4* review for my new favorite series.

Love, love, love the characters and it's heart-warming to see how their lives have developed since the first novel (Peppercorn Street); especially Janie and Winifred. Even more so, it amazes me to see how the community of Peppercorn Street is expanding with every novel in the series with new characters to fall in love with. In Saffron Lane, Angus and Nell take center stage as their plans to turn Saffron Lane into an artist village takes off, of course not without some sort of villain standing in their way (an evil developer who resorts to underhanded methods to seize Saffron Lane). It is not a very light novel to read, but interesting enough to make me want to read more and find out about everything that is happening. Anna Jacob's descriptions are lush yet vivid enough and drawn out adequately through her simple prose so much so that I can actually imagine all the characters coming to life as I read on.

Absolutely cannot wait for more from the author, and even though my local library doesn't carry the latest in the series (Bay Tree Cottage), I got myself a copy from Book Depository.

[Ruth Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now part 4to read

[Margaret Galbraith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy reading this and finally finding out what happened to all the characters in the previous books. What a wonderful ending to a great series and for me it turned out slightly unexpected but good in places. At least I thought it was but I've now got a 4th book in the series to read too. Well done Anna for keeping the true meaning of family and friends. You will not be disappointed if you enjoy a feel good story and also enjoy seeing the horrible characters get their comeuppance in the end 😊👍

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 3 of this series sees Nell now married to Angus developing an abandoned row of houses into a an artist colony, Saffron Lane, is just the challenge she needs.
Within this community are Stacy, coping with a shock divorce, and Elise, battling against forced residential care, trying to regain a sense of normalcy and begin a new chapter in their lives. On the other side of the world, Adam and his daughter Gemma are coming to terms with their own changes and discoveries that will see them travel from Australia to Wiltshire. Another good read from Anna Jacobs latest series.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - Anna Jacobs is a new author for me. I had won this book and saw that it was the 3rd in a series - but the fact that I hadn't read the previous two didn't make any difference. Thoroughly recommend an easy to read enjoyable book.

[Alison]

I love Anna’s books. Love the continuing story line that tells me what happens to the characters from book to book. BUT, I hate the introduction of mystical spirits, ghosts and things that just give me the creeps and nightmares. So after purchasing this book and getting to the introduction of ghosts, the book went straight into the trash. The story line does not need this angle as it’s fabulous without it. If your stories have stuff like this please include a warning in the Details so I’ll avoid wasting my money. Thank you. Alison

[MRS S PUSEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what a wonderful story

This story was lovely i was so happy for Adam and his daughter to have found Hope and Janey and Millie and Angus and Nell finely getting married.The idea of doing the house's up at the bottom of the was a good way of income to help do the big house roof and other renovation to bring it up to it's old self.I'm also glad that the villains were all caught,Stacey and Elise were lovely as well.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the third and final one of a series. I think it helps to have read the other two are though would still make sense if read alone as there are new characters in this one.

I do hope Anna writes more modern day stuff as it was the first of this series that got me reading again.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another lovely story told by Anna Jacobs in her amazing peppercorn Street series! Such wonderful characters, every time I pick up my book I felt I was visiting old friends, which is exactly what I want from any series, but this one is also such a comfortable one to read I am always left wanting to read more! Now I am moving straight onto the next!

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saffron lane

Wow another fantastic instalment of the peppercorn series i love the way the old characters and some new characters blend in together looking forward to the next instalment 5STARS .

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this on Audible.
I love to listen to a story while painting or in the early hours of the morning when I can't sleep.
I love Anna Jacobs books. This is the last one of the Peppercorn Lane series and I loved it. Can we have another please.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle, light read, with a little bit of a mystery thrown in.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of her better books! Part of the Peppercorn series with several of the same characters . Much better than 'Mistress of Greyladies'.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have absolutely LOVED this series... I just hope there will be more to come!!

[mrs g m wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story

Enjoy the book lots of twists and tend to like that ,all the stories differ so much.keep wrighting and I will keep reading

[Gary David Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing story.

Good story. A little confusing in directions about where the various houses were located in relation to each other. Enjoyable.

[Maureen Constable · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read.

It is sad when I get to the ed of any of Anna's books. But then I find another i like.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. It was the third in the series and it was great. It had a “lovely” feeling about it. Loved how all
The characters interacted and were entwined together. A great read.

[Deyara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and quick read but characters were a little too much - everyone has a tale of woe.

[Linda Hobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad read

[josephine Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

rereading the story.

I have read so many stories about the wars that it was such a pleasure to reread the Peppercorn series of books, they are lovely stories.

[Christine Sherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming community spirit continues in the series.

[Roslin Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book

[Cyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story