The House at Hope Corner

by Emma Davies

The view across the valley takes her breath away; everywhere she looks tiny patches of colour – ochre, chestnut, lime and purple. The farmhouse behind her glows pink in the morning sun. It’s like stepping into a postcard, except that this magical place is real. It’s her new home.

With her beloved shop in danger of shutting down, meeting Ned, a gorgeous farmer with an irresistible twinkle in his eye, couldn’t have come at a better moment for free-spirited florist, Flora Dunbar. But no one is more surprised than her when their whirlwind romance leads to the offer of a new life on Ned’s farm.

Arriving at Hope Corner, Flora sets about becoming the perfect farmer’s wife, but her creative, alternative thinking falls flat in a household built on tradition and strict routine. Even Ned is becoming more distant by the day…

Pulling up her signature striped socks and throwing herself into her chores, little by little Flora learns to love the order and patterns of life on the land. But the more she learns about her new home, the more she suspects it’s under threat, and worse, that Ned is hiding a heartbreaking secret from her.

But this time, Flora’s not going to run from her problems. Do Ned and his family trust her enough to let her stay and fight for love and the first house she’s ever truly called home? Does she trust herself?

An absolutely gorgeous and utterly uplifting romance to sweep you off your feet! Perfect reading for fans of Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Debbie Johnson.

What readers are saying about Emma Davies:
‘Simply brilliant… hooked from the first page and wanted to give it far more than the five stars… so heart-warming and romantic and uplifting and such a delight to read… has you in tears… An amazing read and so uplifting. I highly recommend I couldn't put it down at all.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘A heart-warming, feel-good tale that will have you staying up all night to finish… A wonderful read.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘If you need something to put a smile in your heart this summer, this is it!... A sumptuous read and a first-class series, this is one for your reading list. Without any doubt, it is completely worthy of a full five stars!’ Reviewer Lady Good ‘n’ Read-y, 5 stars

‘I really, really loved this book. It's so full of warmth, it just leaves you feeling all gooey in the middle… Emma's writing is so easy to read and her stories flow along at a wonderful pace... I just LOVE this series and can't wait for the next one!’ Rona Halsall, 5 stars

‘Tears in my eyes and goose pimples galore!’ B Is For Book Review

‘Such a lovely read! Heart-warming and uplifting… A delightful feel-good story that will leave you with a smile on your face.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘A charming story that I enjoyed reading every second of.

Genres: Contemporary, Chick Lit

295 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 10, 2019

About the author

Emma Davies once applied for her dream job in the following manner;

'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well she's now a forty something mother of three, and is working on the rest.

By day she's a finance manager and looks at numbers a lot of the time, but by night she gets to use actual words and practices putting them together into sentences. Her twitter bio says she loves her family, her job, reading, writing, singing loudly in the car, and Pringles, so that must be true then.

Wave to her on twitter @Emdavies68

Letting in Light is her debut novel, and she is currently working on her second.

Reviews

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓎. 𝒬𝓊𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓉.

Emma Davies writes books full of charm and wit. This book is no exception, probably the best book I have read from her so far! Flora and Ned have a whirlwind courtship. Flora sells her flower business and they head to Ned‘s hometown to live on the family farm with his parents. Living the farm life isn’t as simple as flora thought, especially when Ned‘s parents have definite opinions on how things are done. So can this free-spirited city girl find her place in the country? Will Flora and Ned get there happily ever after? Even if they have a few secrets left to tell?

Flora was such a fantastic character! She brought so much joy and color not only to the pages of this book but to this family farm. I loved the clash between this modern girl and this old-fashioned family. Ned’s Parents Hannah and Fraser, are very traditional in their thinking, the man works hard and the woman works hard to take care of him.🙄 Flora definitely held her tongue and try to learn Hannas ways. I love the way that flora related to both Hannah and Fraser, the girl had such a huge heart and so much respect for her potential future in-laws. Flora and Ned‘s connection was very sweet, although she out shown him a bit. I’d imagine that be the case if you were with a person that was as dynamic as Flora. Don’t think I would classify this as a romance, more like women’s fiction with a peppering of romance.

This was the perfect escapist read, I enjoyed every minute I spend with these characters on this lovely farm. Emma Davies descriptions of this farm were so vivid, I feel as though I’ve been there and it was gorgeous! Such a sweet story full of so much heart, hope, and flowers!💐

*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is tough enough falling in love within a short span of time and knowing all you need to know about your beloved. Imagine if you will, you are engaged to a farmer but you are a vegetarian. His livelihood is raising cows but you abhor the sight of meat sizzling on the Aga. Now add to this characterization, you are a free spirit and artist but you will be living with your in-laws and your kinswoman thrives on organization. You dream of exploring your creativity. The question is, can your relationship work?

Whereas I thought The House at Hope Corner would read like a romance, it leaned heavily on theme of ‘women’s fiction’. Flora was thirty-five years old and had owned a floral business for more than ten years when Ned Jamieson walked into her shop. Within a very short span of time, the business was sold and they were engaged. She was moving in with her soon-to-be in-laws because Ned still lived with his parents.

There were plenty of flaws and warts in this story. Tension mixed with varying levels of honesty, a very nosy neighbor with airs of snobbishness but pretending to be friendly and a business venture that was complicated. I liked Flora and I liked Ned but the romance itself took a back seat. The writing was accessible but I wasn’t expecting a woman’s emotional journey. I wanted more.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

*Thank you to Bookouture, Emma Davies and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.*

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have different kinds of feel good books. You have the really funny and lighthearted ones and you have the ones with a deeper meaning. This book belongs to the latter category and in my opinion the cover already reflects that. That is certainly not a bad thing. It prepares you more or less for what is to come, but they both have the lovely happy ending everybody is waiting for.

It’s good to have a certain system, a certain ritual even, but sometimes you have to try and take a look from the outside in and realize it’s time for a change. I admit that is not very easy to do and it might take a third party to show you the ropes.

Even when things are bad there is a way out. You just have to keep looking at the problem from every angle and even make a u-turn.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way is a lesson I learned here. Never give up!

This is a story about turning your life upside down and undoing some of the (wrong) decisions you took in the past. When you love something or someone enough, you will pull through.

Thank you, Emma Davies, Bookouture and Netgalley.

https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Flora arrives at Hope Corner, I was slightly dubious that she may not realise what she is letting herself in for. Not only is she moving in with a man she hasn’t long met, but his parents also.

There are certainly some teething problems as everyone settles in together. Ned and his parents are hard working, salt of the earth people. I really took to them and life at the farm. What I love about this authors novels is that they are escapism at it’s finest. The settings are idyllic and she really brings it to life. I don’t want to say to much but the scene at the end literally took my breath away with the vision that erupted in my head.

I loved Flora’s zest for life and she really is an inspirational character that I am sure more than a few of us will be envious of. I think I was living my hopes and dreams through Flora and willing for everything to go right for her.

The House At Hope Corner really is an uplifting read that will have you feel like you can tackle anything. It gives you hope and makes you realise what is important in life. Some parts were a tad emotional but otherwise this was such a great read that will uplift and inspire. Absolutely loved it!

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled with this, couldn’t find any empathy for most of the characters, story wasn’t very interesting and it couldn’t hold my attention. It sounded so good, but sadly not for me.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The House at Hope Corner by Emma Davies has such an attractive and beautiful cover that instantly draws you in and makes you want to pick up this book and read it as soon as possible. The line on the cover says it is the perfect feel good holiday romance novel but to be honest the romance very much takes a back seat here as when we meet Ned and Flora the romance has already occurred. They are moving on to the next stage and this story follows how the cope with what ensues following their declaration of love and commitment to each other. It didn't bother me in the slightest that we didn't get an in-depth account of how the pair came to meet and how their whirlwind relationship developed into an engagement. In fact it was refreshing not to have this because we have all read this storyline umpteen times over.

Instead the focus turns to how Flora settles into the new life that Ned brings her to. I say how Flora settles because it is she who is uprooting herself from Birmingham where she has sold her florists shop after running it for several years. She is completely taken out of her comfort zone and transported to the countryside and to Hope Corner Farm where she is taking the biggest leap of her life. Yes this may be a huge jump for Flora but deep down it feels so right and she firmly believes she has made the right choice despite the speed of said decision. Ned will take her away from everything she knows but she is following her heart and the love she has for Ned is deep rooted. But will this new life vision be everything Flora wants it to be?

Hope Corner Farm seems like an idyll and the descriptions of the farm and surrounding landscapes and countryside were glorious but will it live up to Flora's dreams? Flora is a person who lives her life according to her own intuition and is not someone to look back so once the decision to up sticks and move in with Ned on his farm was made she didn't waver and set to it. From the outset it was clear to see that Flora was a quirky character who didn't follow convention even in terms of the clothes she wore. She liked to stand out but deep down I could sense there were certain insecurities she was harbouring. I felt by coming to Hope Farm she was slightly adapting and hiding some of her qualities and opinions and that's simply because of Ned's parents.

I really could see the two sides of the story and I thought they were both explored very well. On one hand you have this couple - Hannah and Fraser – who have been married for years and have run their farm the same way for as long as they can remember. Son Ned slotted into the equation and the daily routine remains a constant that is never ever altered. So when someone completely new comes on the scene and takes up residence as Ned's future wife of course they were going to find it hard adapt and change the ways which have been set in stone for as long as one can remember. I don't blame Hannah for being the way she was, obsessed with housework and the daily meals or making marmalade etc, but as with Flora I thought there could have been a lot more compromise and a willingness to meet in the middle.

It was new territory for everyone involved and talking through things and not keeping things hidden and brushed under the carpet should have been the way to go. But I suppose sticking to what they had always done and not contemplating change was what Ned's parents knew best. On the other hand although I understand how nervous and awkward Flora must have felt I thought she could have just stepped back that little bit and taken the time to get to know the lie of the land. I know everything was thrown at her and she had to take on things that she had no clue about nor did she approve of but still like Hannah a little bit of give and take wouldn't have gone amiss.

Flora is a person who challenges perceptions. Someone who has until now been brave, adventurous, quirky and non conformist but maybe she would have to rein in some of these qualities in order to fit in at Hope Farm. Should she have to do this or should Ned and his parents maybe step out of their comfort zones. I suppose Ned was just as much to blame as in my mind he spent most of the story out tending the land and milking the cows rather than being there for Flora and helping her settle into this new life which was hopefully going to be forever. I thought he very much neglected the relationship and left Flora to fend for herself without ever backing her up when it came to situations with Hannah. It was clear they were all treading rocky waters and at times tiptoeing around each other and that sooner or later something would have to give. The question remained what would come about to cause this change or would things meander along as they had for the first half of the novel?

It's only as we reach the second half that I felt the story really picked up its pace. At times up until that point it had become slightly repetitive and something needed to happen to liven things up a bit. Fortunately two major things occurred which forced everyone involved to take their head from the clouds and confront things which had been kept hidden. Gender seemed to rule but when weaknesses and lies begin to make themselves apparent, will a more equal division of labour and an admittance of some home truths mean the lives of those at Hope Farm are about to change once and for all and maybe for the better.

I loved the addition of two other characters who were the polar opposites of each other. Grace worked in the local village shop and she herself lived with an unusual situation but I loved how she became a confidante of Flora's and understood who Flora was and how she didn't want to lose all of the qualities that made her the person she was. The complete opposite was Caroline, the greatest busybody to ever grace a book. There was not one characteristic which endeared me to her and I desperately wanted Flora to give her a good slap and really break down and tell her what she thought of all Caroline's interfering. She was a know-it-all with clear ulterior motives and my god she needed a big come uppance. Again this goes back to the fact that Ned to me seemed entrenched in the way he had been brought up and how things were expected to run at the farm. It was like he had no voice and when he should have been there for Flora or welcoming her attempts to want to help him he shut her down and remained absent. He had fallen in love with Flora and she had jumped out of her comfort zone for him yet it was like he wasn't willing to completely follow through with everything and there must have been reasons for this being the case.

I enjoyed the aspect of the story which dealt with Flora's passion for flowers, plants and nature and this should have been encouraged at all times. The area surrounding Hope Farm was ripe for exploration and to allow her to sketch, paint and make prints and continue her craft but I thought she was being curtailed and forced to conform. Nature and art save her sanity but can these things also save the entire story when big things are revealed? Everything really kicked off in the last 20% or so and at times I wondered would there be happy ending considering this was modelled as a feel good holiday romance. The way things ended I did think there is definitely room for another story and I would like one because this was a good story although the very first few books published by Emma I think will forever remain my absolute favourites. But I would certainly recommend The House at Hope Corner for a nice, relaxing read this summer which gets that little bit juicer the more you progress through the story.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance in a rural setting is always a pleasure to read, and the 'House at Hope Corner' is unashamedly poignant and romantic. It has a sentimental, old fashioned quality to it, that I love. A new beginning on a farm in beautiful Shropshire is just what Flora needs.

It turns out that it's not quite the rural idyll it appears, and Flora has to learn to fit in but fight to retain her individuality. Her whirlwind romance with Ned didn't prepare her for the battle ahead, but she is independent, optimistic and tenacious and determined her new life will succeed.

The setting is authentic and full of farming facts that give the story depth and interest. The romance between Ned and Flora is full of good intentions and conflicts. Secrets and lies threaten Flora's new start but you want her to succeed and find her happily ever after with Ned.

Great characters that you believe in, numerous seemingly insurmountable conflicts, a villainous antagonist in designer clothes, all in a rural setting to die for, what's not to love?

I received a copy of this book from bookouture via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

With all the trademark warmth and humour I've come to expect from Emma Davies, this is a novel which surpassed all my expectations!

Flora Dunbar runs her own flower shop; a successful business until recently and she is weighing up her options when she meets and falls in love with Ned, a farmer. When his proposal follows very quickly, her decision is made and she moves to the country with him. Ned lives with his hard-working parents; his mother is a lovely woman but rather set in her ways and Flora struggles to settle in. Then disaster strikes and, to make things worse, there are secrets being hidden from her. But Flora loves Ned and adores her new surroundings; she has no intention of abandoning her life for a second time.

This is a exceptionally well-woven tale of country life, family and acceptance. Sinking into an Emma Davies book is like lying on a super-fluffed up bed and just allowing yourself to drift. The story is stunning; beautifully crafted with extremely realistic characters in the most wonderfully described setting. Anyone with the faintest notion of having green fingers will be itching to get out into the garden and begin creating! I've loved this author's writing from the very first and I truly believe she has excelled with this novel - the warmth just pours out of it and it is a tremendously enjoyable read! I cannot recommend this one highly enough; if you love a good story then this is one you most definitely won't want to miss. A full five dancing, glowing stars!

[Joanne D'Arcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flora is a free-spirited florist who can see the world in the colour of flowers, plants and the landscape around her. Not only can she create wonderful blooms she can create beautiful drawings and prints.

She can see all of this at Hope Corner in the house she has moved into after a whirlwind romance with Ned, the farmer there. Trouble is the house and the farm is very much Ned's parents domain, Fraser and Hannah and it is not just Ned, Flora is learning about it is them as well.

Fraser and Hannah are traditional people, almost set in their ways and they are rather taken aback by Flora's approach to life - not living by a timetable, carved out from years of practice and one that is there for a reason.

Flora has trouble adjusting but they start to find a happy balance until tragedy strikes one day.

The whole equilibrium of Hope Corner, the house, the farm and all their relationships are thrown up in the air.

Emma Davies has captured something between the pages of this book. Whilst there is romance it is almost certainly not the predominant theme. The emotionally charged relationships between them all and the secrets that they are keeping from each other certainly made for sometimes difficult reading.

The characters all had their flaws, some more obvious than others and I was equally enamoured by Flora as I was exasperated by Hannah and wanting to slap Caroline. Ned was perhaps a bit weak, but living in the shadow of his father but more his mother, he needed to break the apron strings and look at the life that Flora was giving him.

Sometimes it needs an outsider to make you see what is wrong with the right way you have been living - that outsider is Flora and she brought a lot of hope to the house, to the farm and to the future.

This is a joyful heartwarming novel which kept my interest all the way through. So much so that I wanted to know more once I had finished and will now have to wait for the next novel.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Emma’s for a little while now. She writes books about realistic characters with problems that a lot of us can relate to. That’s how I feel anyway. I read the synopsis for ‘The House At Hope Corner’ and I just knew that I would be in for one hell of a read. So it proved to be. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The House At Hope Corner’ but more about that in a bit.
I couldn’t help but take to the character of Flora Dunbar from the very first time I met her. She is one of those people, who isn’t afraid to chase her dream. She is a creative type and expresses herself through her floristry and through her side line of pictures ad other works, which she sells on Etsy. Flora did have her own florist’s shop but sadly the business failed. Flora hasn’t let that get her down and she pulled up her big girl pants and carried on. Flora is quirky, unique and an all round lovely person. Flora meets the delightful and handsome sounding Ned, who has red hair which is always a bonus in my eyes but then I am biased. I also love the fact that Ned’s family has an elderly Labrador, but then I am biased there too since I have two loopy Labradors myself. Flora and Ned get together and he invites her to live with him and his family on a farm, which is a fair distance away. I was so hoping that Flora and Ned would make a go of things. Ned loves Flora’s creative streak. Flora gets a bit of a culture shock in the sense that she tries to fit in with Ned’s family, whilst still trying to keep up her creative arts. I was a bit concerned as to whether Flora was trying to spread herself too thin and that she was trying too hard to fit in and please people. Things start to go wrong for her and she faces a fight to save her relationship and to succeed in her new life. I really did feel as though Flora was a friend of mine and there were a few times when I wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to give her a hug or to lend her my shoulder to cry on.
Oh my giddy aunt ‘The House At Hope Corner’ was one of those reads that really did get to me and on occasion I felt the story pulling on my heartstrings. It didn’t take me long at all to get into this story and pretty much by the end of the fourth chapter, I was addicted to reading this book. I just had to keep reading to find out if Flora got the happy ever after she so deserved and if she managed to make a success of her new life. I had everything crossed. I binge read the book over the course of a couple of days. I soon got through the story but I can honestly say that I didn’t notice the speed with which the time was passing or the speed with which the pages were turning. Before I knew what was happening, I got to the end of the story which I was so disappointed about. I know that sounds bad but I really don’t mean it that way. I was enjoying the author’s writing style, the storylines and the characters so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
‘The House At Hope Corner’ is extremely well written. The author has a writing style that is easy to get used to and it is easy to get along with. The author draws you in to the story from the first word on the first page and she keeps your attention all the way through the book. She writes so realistically and descriptively that you really do feel as though you are part of the story yourself. That’s how I felt at any rate. The characters were so well described that they seemed to come to life and jump off the page as it were. They seemed just as real as you or I.
In short, Emma Davies has another sure fire bestseller on her hands with ‘The House At Hope Corner’ and it is nothing less than she deserves. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. I would definitely recommend this author and her fantastic books to other readers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Gaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me about eight chapters before my brain kicked in and informed me that the reason I was loving the book to that point was the author has penned one of my favorite series. And, they are surprisingly similar in feel: with huge changes coming to everyone. But, this book was uniquely lovely as we follow the story of Flora and Ned, her soon-to-be in laws Hannah and Fraser, and just how she’s going to fit into this remote, yet wholly gorgeous dairy farm and little community. Flora is a bit of an eccentric – her flower shop has been struggling for the past few years, and she’d finally decided to sell up and start something new, possibly with her artwork and printmaking when a man walked through the door. Utterly stunned, Ned and Flora found a connection between them, one that can’t be ignored, and soon he’s asked her to marry him and come to Hope Corner and start their life together.

A gorgeous series of fields now hosting a rather chill wind only seems to match the ‘reserve’ shown Flora by Ned’s parents, along with a long list of “how things are done” and the obvious fact that while she and Ned care for one another, they also don’t know much about each other. We all know that you never really ‘know’ a person until you are always together, and their whirlwind romance, while none really doubt their feelings are authentic, has shaken the foundations a bit. Then you add in Flora’s bright clothing, her artistic bent, and her ability to drift off with the faeries when her imagination is let loose in the wild and things are tough. Add in the neighbor Caroline who isn’t quite the “friendly person” she is making out to be, and the savior of all Flora’s insecure moments in Grace, and she’s finding a way to exist, even though she has a secret.

But, it’s apparent that Ned has secrets too, and that the farm isn’t pushing forward but more tottering along: money is tight, Hannah is allergic to change, and Flora is just trying to fit in. Yet it is a horrible thing when change is forced upon you, as Fraser’s heart attack and bypass do, and we see Flora doing all she can to keep things moving forward while Ned works all hours and Hannah is motoring through on autopilot. The uncovering of items hidden in a rarely-used room, the unmasking of Caroline as a selfish and self-serving person, and Flora’s determination and unique ideas to ‘save’ them from themselves brings the story around to new starts and hope for all, with plenty of heart, understanding, friendship and smiles to go round. Again, Davies has created a story that drags you into the setting, with characters you want to befriend, descriptions that create imagery, and, best of all, the uncovering of hope and happy times to come.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! I’ve loved this author’s previous books so I knew that I was going to enjoy this one, I just didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did! Flora Dunbar is a fabulous character! She’s kooky and quirky, but so loveable! From the author’s writing, I have such vivid images in my mind of what Flora looks like, completely uncoordinated with her stripy tights and brightly coloured dresses! Take away all that though and you’re left with the loveliest character that I think I’ve met in a long time! She obviously has something in her past, and we don’t get to find out about that until much later in the book, but she’s such a caring and loving person that you can’t help but fall in love with her from the very first page!

Having had to sell up her florists in Birmingham, Flora moves to Hope Corner to be with her ‘love at first sight’ farmer, Ned. Ned is a dairy farmer and lives with his parents on the farm. Flora, being the free-spirit that she is initially has a difficult time settling into life on the farm and if it wasn’t for the love of Ned I would imagine she would have hot-footed it back to Birmingham the next day! As I was reading about life on the farm, I was trying to recall whether I’ve ever read a book about a dairy farm, and I think it’s safe to say I haven’t! So whilst the plot of the story was a first for me it didn’t really matter as by the end of the first couple of chapters I was hooked!

Now, the difference with this book compared to others written by this author was that it wasn’t a traditional romance. The romance between Flora and Ned was there but what was forefront in the story was Flora’s personality, feelings and emotions. This, for me, was such a refreshing change! Don’t get me wrong, I love a good romance but sometimes the stories can all be the same – they fall in love, they have an argument, they fall out of love and then they fall back in love again! This book was different to that, it had all that but it was much more emotional, warming and endearing! The characters were all lovely, with the exception of Caroline of course, and my personal favourite was Fraser, who by the end I absolutely loved (and I just knew the beans on toast had nothing to do with it!)!

I really loved this book. Once I started it, I couldn’t stop until I’d finished and this took me just less than a day! It was full of emotion with plenty of smiles and a few tears thrown in for good measure. I could smell the flowers coming from between the pages, although was very thankful that the smell of the cowshed kept itself firmly in the book! The location was perfect and the writing created wonderful images of the beautiful countryside. Taking all that into account I think, for me, this was my favourite book written by this author!! Fab, fab, fab!! Would definitely recommend!

[Nicola Clough]

I've always loved Emma's books and was looking forward to this new book as looked and sounded very interesting and it didn't let me down at all the countryside sounded simply beautiful and you felt you were transferred there when reading it. It's romantic and learning different secrets and learning how to move forward and be happy. It's a second read and has you hooked from the first page and didn't want it to finish as loved it so much.
Flora has fallen in love with Ned when he came into her flower shop and she soon realised her flower shop is loosing money so she decides when Ned asks her to marry him that she will move her life and start afresh at Neds farm and when she arrives she can see the beauty of the countryside and a lovely farm. But once she's enters the farm house and sees his parents she's not sure how she is going to fit into this house hold as they have their routine and she doesn't fit into it. Also Caroline who lives next door keeps coming into the house and she's trying to be nice to Flora but then she embarrasses her and things don't add up. When she goes to the barn and sees Neds dad and she instantly worries about him and has to get past the mum to convince her to get an ambulance. When he's rushed to hospital and he's had a heart attack flora gets busy sorting the house ready for when he can come home and while she's moving things she finds some paperwork she is a bit worried about. She takes her mother in law to hospital every day to visit her husband and starts to fit in she thinks but then she hears Ned and his mum talking and she feels there keeping something from her so she confronts Ned. The father in law is home and Caroline is not being nice at all and Flora asks Ned what is going on and when the truth comes out will she decide it's been to much moving here and she's leaves or will someone persuade her to stay and she can then help them save the farm for the best.
A perfect read for the summer and so hope a follow on book will come out as want to know more of what happens.

[Kaisha (The Writing Garnet) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com

Let me get this out the way first – I wasn’t feeling hopeful about the story at first. I found Flora to be a little bit of a doormat, and Ned got on my nerves. I mean, stand up for your fiance for goodness sake!

Then, all of a sudden, the storyline seemed to click and the characters seemed to have a bit of a personality change! So, despite my unhopeful opinion at the beginning, I ended up absolutely adoring ‘The House at Hope Corner’, especially Flora and Ned’s dad. He really wasn’t a character who I thought i would end up liking due to the way he came across in the first few chapters. However after reading the rest of the book, good ol’ Ferg actually became one of my favourites.

I loved the ‘be who you want to be, don’t change for anyone’ premise, it is such an important message for people to keep in mind. Easier said than done, of course, but it did give me that hope that, not actually being like anyone else, is such a good thing because you’re being true to yourself. I thought that Flora brought that message home brilliantly, and as someone with extremely low confidence and not one who fits in, that message resonated with me deep within. I guess I became quite emotional by it all.

Having fallen head over heels with ‘The House at Hope Corner’ and being hugged by characters like Grace, I feel bad that my opinion of the book wasn’t so great at the start. There was clearly a lot more to the storyline and the characters that met the eye – I understand that now.

I finished Emma Davies book with a ginormous smile on my face abd bucketfuls of hope in my heart. This really is a book which kept on giving.

A heartwarming, joyful, thought provoking read which made me want to spread my wings like the butterfly I am.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a whirlwind romance, Flora heads to Ned’s family farm The House at Hope Corner to begin their new life together. But neither she nor Ned or his family are prepared for the upheavals this massive change will have on their lives.
I really felt like I identified with Flora. I had an ex who lived in the country and I was a vegetarian. I really didn’t fit in. Luckily Flora has the support of her fiance Ned.
Equally I can imagine the frustration of having someone come into your home when you have set routines and ways of doing things as we often have my mother in law to stay. Plus when we got to stay with her, I want to be helpful but not get in the way.
I loved this book especially as I could identify with the perspectives of many of the characters. It was easy to spot the insidious ways that Caroline, a ‘helpful friend’, was actually causing trouble for the family and I was desperate for her to be revealed as the unpleasant person she actually was.
Flora herself is keeping secrets and it is obvious that the whirlwind nature of their relationship means that she and Ned have a lot of work to do on building their relationship on trust rather than just love.
I enjoyed the interesting juxtaposition between the traditional and the modern, both in terms of work and domestic roles. Negotiating relationships and being honest about expectations are key themes in the book.
This is a fab feel good book, full of hope and love just like Emma’s previous book. More please!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving in with a new partner’s parents can rarely be easy – but when you’re a bit arty and creative and maybe a teeny bit ditsy, it’s considerably more difficult when you find they run a farm along particularly traditional lines and have very fixed ideas about appropriate roles for farmers and farmers’ wives. And they raise cattle, and enjoy a fatty fry-up in the mornings – and you’re a vegetarian. And there’s an ever-present meddling neighbour who seems to enjoy making you feel inadequate and unwelcome – and you’re sure there’s some big secret people aren’t sharing with you.

Flora and Ned have barely got started with their relationship, but it really does look doomed to fail, however much they might love each other. When something rather unexpected and dramatic happens, it’s the start of a considerable emotional journey for everyone – but one that’s ultimately joyful and uplifting and really warms the cockles of your heart.

The characters in this book are excellent – Ned himself struggling to help Flora settle and fit in, his mother rarely putting down the bleach bottle (unless she’s kneading a loaf or starting the next batch of marmalade), his taciturn and stoical father. And then there’s that neighbour – a total horror, but a great creation. And Grace at the village shop – a lovely character, with an interesting twist on that theme of “a woman’s place” – but you’ll have to see for yourself where she fits in. But it’s Flora herself who constantly draws your eye, while winning your heart with an inner strength you’d never have expected.

I’ll admit I might have been expecting a bit more of a love story – but this book is more about what happens afterwards, when real life kicks in, with a few big misunderstandings and rocky moments along the way, and that was just fine with me. There’s quite a lot of sadness, past and present, in this book alongside the sunny presence of Flora – and it’s all particularly well-handled as things reach resolution, entirely uplifting and satisfying, with an ending that really does bring a tear to the eye along with the widest of smiles.

The writing is excellent – an ease of readability, a vividly described setting, excellent character development, and a story with an uncertain outcome, along with the surest of touches with the emotional content. The tour poster mentions “feel-good”, and so it is – this book has all the warmth of the fluffiest blanket, and I enjoyed it very much. I understand we’ll be returning to Hope Corner for another visit in the summer… I’ll be looking forward to it immensely.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely wonderful book, so good I read it in 1 sitting resulting in a very late night/early morning!

Flora has run her own florist's in Birmingham for 10 years but the local economy changes, leaving Flora losing money. Ned decides to buy some flowers for his Mum and pops into Flora 's, they quickly fall in love and after a whirlwind romance, Ned asks Flora to marry him, with the florist losing money, Flora sells up and moves to the middle of the country in Shropshire, but has she been told the full story? , time will tell...

Neds' parents are traditional farmers stuck in their ways, whilst very welcoming they find it difficult to make changes, Ned's Mum, Hannah especially, she feels Flora's job is to support Ned and forget about her own dreams and aspirations. Then there's Caroline, a neighbour who seems very friendly, but has she got an ulterior motive?

Flora makes a friend in Grace, their neighbour who loves her artistic prints and drawings, she also knows much about the locality and the people who inhabit it.

After Ned's Dad has a health scare, it becomes apparent not all is as it seems, but can Flora help her family to be keep their farm and livelihood?

This is the 1st book I'vereadby this author, I'm very much looking forward to othrts- "

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow !!! 5 stars is not enough for this book! Absolutely nothing more than delightful and purely heartwarming! I did not put this book down! I fell in love with the main character Flora and her character not stopping to give up hope when she could have. This book has touched my heart on so many levels, that I feel my words are not enough! A first read for me from this author and I just found a rainbow in her writing. As I read this book with its unexpected twists and turns, I felt I had a warm blanket wrapped in happiness and excitement around me! I loved this surprises this book held and the name of it! How fitting that The House on Hope Corner filled my own Heart with hope as well. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading everything this author writes! Thank you Netgalley and the Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely novel! Flora, kind of impulsively, marries Ned and moves to his house at Hope Corner. Little did she realize what it would mean for her- to be a farmer's wife, to join a highly "traditional" family, to live with your in-laws, to have a horrid neighbor. Hannah and Fraser ran the farm for years and now that Ned's an adult, he's dog paddling to keep it all afloat. Flora, having just gone through a tough time with her own business, has some nifty ideas but people discount her because she is "different"- as hard as she tries, she's still just a bit different. Caroline, the rotten neighbor, well, enough said about her! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This one expands as you read along and you'll be rooting for Flora all the way.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Emma Davies, so I was pleased to have the opportunity to read her new book as an ARC from Netgalley.
Flora is struggling with her job as a florist, when she meets Ned, a farmer and they have a whirlwind romance. This seems like fate, when he takes her to live with his family at their farm. Flora is thrown in at the deep end when she realises that the family have traditions which they refuse to change. As she struggles to fit in, she gets suspicious that they are hiding something from her. She wonders if she has made a big mistake.
Emma Davies writes wonderful feel-good stories which also have a good sprinkling of romance.This is book is no exception, I enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to read the linked book which is due out in the summer.

[Monica Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Flora, a lot. She was her own person and despite ending up on a farm and having to try and fit in with a totally different lifestyle, she did her absolute best.

This was a strong story with real situations and very real characters. Flora has an artists soul and this does not always go down well where she is living but luckily she runs into Grace, who is a kindred spirit.

Ned seems like a nice bloke, a bit ineffectual, but I really liked Flora's father-in-law. After Flora herself, he was my favourite character.

The author did a great job with the setting and the characterisations - I really felt like I was on the farm as well.

A really solid book and well worth the read.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

[Hayley 〰 Hayley's Next Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House at Hope Corner follows Flora as she sells her flower shop to move to a farm after a whirlwind romance with farmer Ned. It's about her finding her feet in these new, foreign surroundings. In the beginning I was unsure where the book was heading and whether I was going to like the characters. But it didn't take me long to start liking Flora and hoping she eventually gets her happy ending. The storyline will keep you interested throughout and I liked that there weren't too many characters to keep up with. All in all, The House at Hope Corner is the perfect beach read to devour this summer.

*Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

[Sally Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Flora's flower business goes down the pan she agrees to move with Ned, after a whirlwind romance, to live at his farm in the countryside. It is soon a great culture shock for Flora, an arty, vegetarian city girl, to find herself living with Ned's parents who are very traditional and believe a woman's place is in the kitchen....... throw the manipulative ex into the mix and will she be able to survive!

Another lovely story by this author, you found yourself really rooting for Flora who was a lovely character and brought new life into the old farmhouse, perfect lighthearted summer read

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flora is about to have a life changing event. She must close her flower shop and find a new place to live. When Ned proposes marriage and moves her out to his farm she thinks all her problems are solved. But Ned's parents still run the farm and have strict routines and ways to do things. As she adjusts her creative nature she finds small ways to help and bring about small changes in all their lives. A good story but a little slow in parts. Very sweet and clean and the cover is beautiful. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful story of love, misunderstandings and family struggles through all that life throws .

I have read several of Emma Davies' books and this really does deserve 5 stars.
Her lovely descriptions of the beautiful English countryside, combined with a heartwarming story of love and trauma - to,as of trouble , times of deep love, make this just one of,the best stories I have read. I look forward for more of the loves of the people at Hope Corner.
Highly recommend this to everyone

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Managed to sneak enough time at work to finish this - good job it's my own business or the boss would be chasing me :)

I thoroughly recommend this, as it's just such a really good read.

It's a good, clean romance, and something in it just caught me up with it.

Well done, Emma Davies. First of yours I've read, and it won't be the last.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really easy-going, enjoyable, humorous and heart warming story. The plot is easy to follow, believable and engaging. The characters are likeable, authentic and multi-dimensional. A really good all-round chick lit book.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a bit less feelgood romance and a bit more how do you make a relationship work, how do you fit in in already existing families/structures without losing yourself, but it was still a nice book to listen to.

[Deanna Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy....

Omg! I absolutely loved that book and now, it’s my favourite! Such a beautiful cover...

Looking forward to read more book from this author soon...

[Joyce tuffs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect read for a quiet weekend.

I enjoyed this story as it was a gentle and easy story about a young woman and her new family making a new beginning together.