Matilda Next Door

Outback Brides Return to Wirralong #1

by Kelly Hunter

When a long-anticipated holiday takes an unexpected turn…

Aussie farm girl Matilda Moore kicks off her dream trip to London by flat-sitting for her childhood friend. But London is daunting, crowded and noisy, and that’s before Tilly finds a baby on the doorstep. There’s a note attached: “Henry, if you’re reading this, please know the worst has happened.”

Probability expert Henry Church has finally returned home to Wirralong, Australia, to see his grandparents when he gets a phone call from Tilly that breaks every statistical analysis. The probability of him being the father is marginal. Plus, he knows nothing about caring for a baby. Emotions and socializing are even bigger mysteries. He begs Tilly for help—can she cut her holiday short and bring the baby to Wirralong?

Tilly will do almost anything for her childhood best friend, but falling in love with him and his motherless baby is an emphatic no. Out of the question. Or is it?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Amazon, Australia, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance, Friends To Lovers

Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2020

About the author

Australian born Kelly Hunter is a three time Romance Writers of America Rita finalist, a USA Today Bestselling author and loves writing to the demands of the short category romance form.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am late reading this series and I have no idea why, because I loved the first set of books and I love Kelly Hunter’s stories but never mind I am catching up and I loved this story so much, I love Wirralong and the characters who live there and seeing Tilly Moore catch the heart of her long time crush Henry Church had me pretty much reading this one in one sitting, then add a gorgeous baby and this is a must read.

Matilda, Tilly Moore is doing something that she has always wanted to do and that is a trip to London, she has so much planned and she will be flat sitting for her childhood friend Henry, who she hasn’t seen for some time, her neighbour growing up, he is here to visit his grandparents while Tilly enjoys her trip, or does she? Things don’t turn out the way she planned when she arrives in London.

Henry is home in Wirralong to visit his aging grandparents he is thrilled to be able to help Tilly out with her trip, she does so much for his family. Henry works hard and has made a good life for himself he didn’t have much until he moved to Wirralong as a young boy but when a baby arrives on his doorstep in London his life is never going to be the same for him or Tilly.

Emotions don’t come easy to Henry and being told that he has a daughter comes as a big shock and Tilly is his savior with her wonderful help, Tilly is up front and says what she wants, she is the most caring and beautiful person and it is not long before Henry is finally opening up to her and finding the words that he needs to say to her. Oh this is such a gorgeous story, lots of smiles and sighs from me in this one, falling in love doesn’t always come easy but when it happens it happens beautifully in this story, I do highly recommend this one.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very soothing to read for me, but considering how much I love Ms. Hunter's books, it didn't really do anything to reach those highs.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matilda Moore has never been anywhere. Salt of the earth is Tilly, the sort of kind woman who batch cooks meals for her elderly neighbours and checks in on them while their only grandson is thousands of miles away in London.

Henry Church left small town Australia in his wake and lives in London, until his grandmother's ill-health requires him to return to Wirralong. In return for Tilly's kindness to his grandparents he offers her his swanky London apartment to stay in when she take a holiday of a lifetime to England to learn new skills at some exclusive cookery school. Tilly and Henry were friends all through school, heck Tilly still has a major crush on him, but her life is firmly in Wirralong and his is definitely not.

Then everything changes when a woman leaves a baby at Henry's door, claiming he is the father and the mother has died.

There wasn't enough (any) tension in this novel for me. Whatever happened Tilly would get upset and then shrug and decide she was being over-sensitive. Not matter whether she and Henry got their HEA she still came across as a complete drudge who just wanted to clean Henry's house and look after his child and cook him dinner. She thought Henry was superior to her and I couldn't see that Henry disagreed.

Also, if you set a book partly in England and have native English characters please, please, please make them use English words and not the US/Australian equivalent. We say crib/cot not bassinet, we say flat not apartment, we say nappies not diapers.

Overall, a pleasant, easy romance but lacked sparks for me.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher Tule in return for an honest review.

[Donnajo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read a advanced reader's copy of this book for a honest opinion.

Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter. A great start to a new series which is a spin off of a previous series. Outback Brides Return to Wirralong. A enjoyable storyline that hooked me in right from the beginning old friends to a possible romance. Love the settings and the characters.
Look forward to upcoming books in the series.

[Erin Book Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy books set in Australia. I found this book to be a refreshing romance. It was my first by this author.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter
Outback Brides Return to Wirralong, Book 1
Aussie farm girl Matilda Moore kicks off her dream trip to London by flat-sitting for her childhood friend. But London is daunting, crowded and noisy, and that’s before Tilly finds a baby on the doorstep. There’s a note attached: “Henry, if you’re reading this, please know the worst has happened.”
When a long-anticipated holiday takes an unexpected turn…
Probability expert Henry Church has finally returned home to Wirralong, Australia to see his grandparents when he gets a phone call from Tilly that breaks every statistical analysis. The probability of him being the father is marginal. Plus, he knows nothing about caring for a baby. Emotions and socializing are even bigger mysteries. He begs Tilly for help—can she cut her holiday short and bring the baby to Wirralong?
Tilly will do almost anything for her childhood best friend, but falling in love with him and his motherless baby is an emphatic no. Out of the question. Or is it?
This is Matilda Moore and Henry Church's story.
Matilda Moore of Moore Creek Station had two loving, smothering parents, no siblings, and a clothing wardrobe heavily stacked towards denim and plaid. Early dreams of becoming a ballerina had come to naught. For one, there had been no ballet teacher in her particular stretch of rural Australia.
Secondly, she’d never for one minute been graceful, willowy or ethereal. Sturdy was more the word that came to mind when people thought of Tilly.
Able to drench a mob of sheep and sing along to the radio while she did it— out of tune and unconcerned because who was going to hear her anyway?
Henry, who’d been raised by his elderly grandparents who were getting frailer every year, and yet somehow he’d still managed to escape Wirralong in order to build a life of his own. Henry, who was coming home from London for a month to visit his grandparents, while Tilly took her first overseas trip, and apartment-sat Henry’s London bachelor pad for him while he was away.
‘Have you heard from Henry? When’s he coming in?’ ‘February fifteenth. Two days before I leave. Which is …’ She’d best start using the calendar. ‘… eight days away. I told him I’d pick him up from the
airport in Melbourne but he said no.’ ‘You’re not his chauffeur.’ ‘Yeah, but I had to offer. I’m going to be living in his fancy Trafalgar Square apartment for a month for free.’
I highly recommend reading.
Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter
Kelly's Books with Tule:
What a Bride Wants
Great Wedding Giveaway
The Courage of Eli Jackson
The Jackson Brothers
The Heart of Caleb Jackson
The Jackson Brothers
What a Bachelor Needs
Bachelor Auction

The Great Wedding Giveaway
Pursued by the Rogue
The Fairy Tales of New York

The Downfall of Cutter Jackson
The Jackson Brothers
Must Love Cowboys
American Extreme Bull Riders Tour
Maggie’s Run
Outback Brides

Outback Brides of Wirralong: Emma
Outback Brides of Wirralong
Matilda Next Door
Outback Brides Return to Wirralong


Outback Brides Return to Wirralong
Book 1
Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter

Book 2
Maeve’s Baby by Fiona McArthur


Book 3
Serenity’s Song by Cathryn Hein


Book 4
A Nanny Called Alice by Barbara Hannay

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I found this story to be a quick read with lots of warm-fuzzies. Kelly Hunter is a new-to-me author and, to be honest, I almost passed on this one due to timing issues. But I am a sucker for friends to lovers, and then you throw in a baby-on-the-doorstep element, I just can’t resist.

Even before baby Rowan shows up, Tilly and Henry have a chemistry that cannot be denied. And that was mostly via video chat! For the small bit of time Henry and Tilly are in the same space in the very beginning of this book, I really wasn’t sure how the author would find a groove with them. I felt a small spark, but wasn’t convinced. Then I spent the rest of the book with butterflies for these two people that obviously were meant to be together. There conversations when they were thousands of miles apart just melted me.

As outgoing as Tilly is, she never really let people know the real her. If she was hurt by their words or actions, she didn’t speak up but instead pasted on her congenial smile. Henry always saw right through her act, even as a child. While they have barely seen one another over the last 10 or so years, Henry finds Tilly is still the people pleaser she always was.

Henry is a tough nut to crack. He is very stoic and literal. He finds order in his life to be calming. It may not make him happy, but it also doesn’t make him sad. While most people around Henry, including those that raised him, think his serious demeanor translates to him not knowing how to love, Tilly knows this isn’t true. She sees the young boy inside of Henry who was ignored by his mom and verbally berated by his grandmother, and knows his quiet ways are a defense. Henry broke my heart into a million pieces more than once. That man has been through it in his life and deserves all the happiness and joy Tilly can bring to him.

One of the things I loved about this story is Tilly’s understanding. She has quite a few bouts of insecurities when it comes to the relationship she begins to build with Henry. It’s really no fault of his, either. And Tilly gets that. She gets that Henry doesn’t know how to open up because he was never taught to speak his mind…his hopes, and fears, and dreams. So instead of going off half-cocked in anger, jealousy, or defeat, Tilly thinks things through first. Henry, in his own way, does the same. These two might not always talk to each other when they should, but they do eventually talk and work things out.

This series is one of those where each book is written by a different author. It has a great start with this story and I’m hoping the rest can live up to the standards that are now set.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this arc from Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I read the prior two Outback Brides series and I was excited to see a new series beginning. As with the other two, this is a multi-author series and the prior characters are mentioned and they made appearances in this book too. In Matilda Next Door, we meet Matilda, aka Tilley and Henry who also grew up in Wirralong. Matilda stayed and became a baker and helped out others in the community. Henry left for college In London and stayed, getting a job that allowed him to make a lot of money. Tilly and Henry were childhood best friends. Henry has decided to come home to visit his parents and Matilda heads to London to stay in Henry’s flat while he is away. She always wanted to travel and this is her chance to finally take a holiday.

Tilly has some challenging moments with her luggage being lost, trying to find her way to the museums, getting groceries to the flat, etc. Finally, a stranger arrives and leaves a baby with her that she told her was Henry’s. The mother died of cancer but left the paperwork for Henry to raise her. Tilly now has to also take on the care of an infant. Henry’s mother suffers a stroke and he can’t leave to go back to London so Matilda had to make the trek back home with the baby.

Henry has no experience with a baby so he has Tilly move in temporarily to help him with his daughter. He also has longtime issues with being socially awkward so he’s unsure how to proceed with Matilda and his daughter.Matilda realizes that she is in love with Henry and his daughter but is afraid she will get hurt. It was sweet learning that Henry always was interested in Tilley but felt he had to deny his feelings.

The story was so easy to read and enjoyable. All of Kelly’s books are always so well written. I loved the interactions between Henry and Matilda as well seeing the character growth for both of them. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently had the pleasure of reading Kelly Hunter’s Matilda Next Door, book #1 in the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong series. This story centers around the always close emotionally, but lately geographically distant friendship of Matilda Moore and Henry Church. Matilda, or Tilly, was and is the ranchers’ daughter that is friends with everyone… always caring for her friends and family. Henry, because of his mother’s death, was forced to live with his grandparents since elementary school. Henry is socially awkward, aloof with most people… never with Tilly. She is his one true friend in life. Henry has grown up to be a brilliant, but often misunderstood analyst in London, far, far away from Australia.

Henry is returning for a month-long visit with his grandparents. Tilly, in turn is flying to London to house sit his posh flat, and to finally have her dream vacation. Henry finds his grandparents more feeble than he had expected. Tilly suffers from her luggage being lost… also from the cold harshness of an unfamiliar metropolitan city. Both are struggling, and commiserating through daily video calls. This is when the craziness intensifies… Henry’s grandmother Beth, who is a pessimistic killjoy, suffers a medical emergency, and an unknown baby, supposedly Henry’s, is deposited upon Tilly. Nothing rachets up craziness and struggle like an unexpected baby!

This story was incredibly easy to read. In fact, I wish it had been 1000 pages longer! The story is great! The settings new, intriguing, and each supporting character adds rich embroidery to this lovely book. Will Tilly’s and Henry’s commiseration develop into more? Will Tilly’s jealousy of Amanda, the deceased mother of baby Rowan derail Tilly and Henry? Will her parents and his grandparents help or hurt their new relationship? Will Henry stay in Wirralong? Is there hope for Tilly, Henry, and baby Rowan?

Matilda Next Door is a lovely and fun book to enjoy!

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

‘Matilda Next Door‘ begins the ‘Outback Brides Return to Wirralong‘ series, and if you’ve read the earlier series, ‘Outback Brides‘, then you’ll know that you are in for a treat as we return to a small town that, at times, seems bursting with life and love. Although this is a spin-off series in one way, you really don’t feel that you should have read the earlier one first. I would recommend it though, for those were also delightful romances set in a country with its own unique beauty.

Tilly and Henry were childhood friends and while Tilly may have had a crush on Henry, that certainly didn’t get in the way of their close friendship. They really are quite opposite of each other in personality, yet they fill in those open spaces for each other quite nicely. Henry might be considered cold by some people, yet that’s his personality. Tilly saw parts of him that the rest of the world just couldn’t. And one vacation that didn’t end up quite as expected, one baby, and two people who are right for each other are about to have the adventure of a lifetime – and maybe fall in love along the way.

I had fun with Henry and Tilly as they each opened their eyes to what was right in front of them all along. A feel-good romance that has edges of emotions that will keep you rooting for this couple throughout. Love the quirky residents of this small-town, the closeness of neighbors (no matter the actual distance), and watching Henry learn to deal with those pesky emotions and socializing with a wee babe. If you’re in the mood for a good, solid romance with likable characters, an adorable baby, and the beauty of the Outback – then pick up ‘Matilda Next Door‘ and get started on a new series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Tule Publishing. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Felicity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Kelly Hunter’s books and Tilly and Henry’s story didn’t disappoint.

Tilly and Henry are childhood friends who grew up next door to one another on their respective family farms and have seen each other only rarely over the past few years. Reserved, super-smart and slightly-awkward Henry was raised by prickly, unemotional grandparents and escaped to England on a scholarship after school while Tilly stayed on the family property and now runs her own business baking cakes and pastries. She loves her parents and her home but has always wanted to travel and, at 26, is all set to flat-sit Henry’s swish London apartment and explore while he visits his grandparents in Australia. The story begins as Henry arrives home just before Tilly is due to leave for London and unfolds between London and rural Australia.

Kelly Hunter always creates wonderful characters – real and believable, likeable but not perfect – and I really fell in love with both Henry and Tilly. Henry is socially awkward, kind and doesn’t trust women, while Tilly is funny, sensitive and wears her heart on her sleeve. Henry’s backstory unfolds a little at a time to perfectly explain his inability to trust and his awkwardness around other people at the same time as events in the story challenge him to overcome these traits and to break free of the armour he developed when he was growing up to protect his emotions.

I loved the way the attraction between Tilly and Henry was handled, with Henry having been attracted to Tilly when they were teenagers and having had to keep his feelings for her under wraps. Now it’s Tilly who’s having trouble keeping her feelings for Henry to herself and the way their relationship unfolds is gently funny, sometimes sad and, in the end, very satisfying for the reader.

I received an e-ARC of ‘Matilda Next Door’ in exchange for an honest review.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you have to leave home to realize that what you are looking for is at home already....

Matilda aka Tilly has never left Wirralong like many young adults nor has she had any desire to leave there until she has the opportunity to go to London and flat sit a childhood friend's place while he comes back to Australia to be with his grandparents. Tilly has plans for while she is in London including taking a cooking class. She is well known in Willagong for her mad baking skills. She actually is the one who provides all of the baked goodies for the local wedding destination station.

Tilly swears she is ready to take on the big bad city of London despite not wanting to admit even to herself that the big bad city scares her.

Henry Church was raised by his grandparents in Wirralong but left to go to university and never came back. His relationship with his grandmother is strained. This trip back to Wirralong while Tilly is flat sitting for him is his first trip back to Australia in years. He is shocked to realize that they have aged while he has been gone and that they are needing help.

Tilly is shocked when she discovers a baby has been left in her care that is supposedly Henry's baby. Henry is equally as shocked when Tilly informs him that he is a father. Tilly agrees to take care of the baby and come back home early to bring the baby. And that is when things start to happen.

Can Henry realize he will be happier living back in Wirralong? Can Tilly finally admit that she has always loved Henry?

This is a nice fun read. It is always a treat to read a well written novel with fun engaging characters set in a wonderful location. I honestly would love to visit and maybe stay in Wirralong.

I did receive a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matilda Next Door is the first of the spin-off series Outback Brides Return to Wirralong. This is a Tule Publishing series with different authors for each of the book. Author Kelly Hunter who wrote books for the other series, now starts off the new series too. Aussie farm girl Matilda Moore is a homebody with the trip of a lifetime to London only providing it. With her insecurities which mostly came from childhood teasing she still knows herself. That is a great gift in itself besides being kind, loving, a good friend and daughter, exceling at what she loves which is baking and having the ability to adapt. She is a person you would want to be around. Henry may be a harder sell but I found that he had many of the core values that Tilly did in spite of his rough beginning but also some of the quirkiness that sometimes goes with brilliant minds.

These two were great childhood friends so it is no surprise that love grew out of it. I thought of a country song where the male singer states the he is hard to love. I think Henry felt that way so it would take an exceptional person like Tilly to insist that he is worth loving. The baby on the doorstep turn of events kept this story flowing with a couple of twists thrown in.

I liked these characters and their story. If chick lit is your thing this one is a great story. If you want a go-getter woman who takes on the world, maybe not. However, I happened to be glad to get know too-thine-own-self-be-true Tilly and hard to love Henry.

4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 Stars

[Jacquie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matilda has dreamt of leaving the outback to pursue her dreams, but doesn’t have the heart to leave her family in the lurch. She does, however, leap at the chance to flat sit in London while her childhood friend returns to Australia to care for his ailing grandparents. She doesn’t expect London to be so… huge, though. Intimidating, really, and is grateful for Henry’s video calls to check up on her. He’s changed since he left home. Taller, broader, more confident. Interesting.

And then the baby arrives.

Henry is shocked by how much his grandparents have aged since he left for university and a career in the big city. He’s grateful to Tilly for watching out for them and making sure they had plenty of home-cooked meals in the freezer. His grandmother is even more acerbic than he remembers (and the reason he left in the first place) but his grandfather’s patient tenderness for his sick wife is humbling and makes Henry glad he’s there to help. And he rather enjoys his calls to London, though Tilly looks disturbingly attractive wearing his shirts (her clothes are missing from the airline). Then a frantic call from Tilly throws the logical-minded Henry’s head for a loop.

A baby.

This is a cute girl-meets-boy-and-falls-in-love-many-years-later, romance. Henry is socially inept, and Matilda is the sweetheart of the community- always willing to help those in need. These two belong together 🙂

It took a long time for the main characters to come together (almost half the book) and I think it was a missed opportunity to create more friction between them. Overall- an enjoyable read.

[Jennifer Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Matilda Next Door is the first book in the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong series by Kelly Hunter. Matilda “Tilly” Moore is an Aussie farm girl who kicks off her dream trip to London. She is flat-sitting for Henry Church, her childhood friend. She has long anticipated the trip but her enthusiasm is dashed as London is daunting, crowded, noisy and she finds a baby girl on the doorstep. A note attached: “Henry, if you’re reading this, please know the worst has happened.”
Henry returns to Wirralong to visit his grandparents, a visit that has been strained, and when he gets a call from Tilly, his whole world becomes topsy turvy. Tilly brings the baby to Henry in Wirralong, she finds herself falling for her childhood friend and his infant daughter. But it’s out of the question. Isn’t it?
Matilda Next Door is a friends to lovers romance as childhood friends find themselves seeing each other in a new light. However, it wasn’t quite the romance I was expecting. First, Tilly was a hard woman to like. I was not a fan at all. She’s a 26 year old woman and yet doesn’t quite act like one. Henry was an interesting character as his relationship with his grandparents was estranged. Tilly and Henry together seemed a no-brainer except to Tilly and Henry. It was a bit odd that Tilly thought that she wasn’t good enough for Henry and Henry never truly contradicted her. Their romance was expected but still odd. Overall, it was a sweet story but I wasn’t thrilled. If you enjoy sweet romances in the Australian Outback, I recommend Matilda Next Door.

Matilda Next Door is available in paperback and eBook

[Shelagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five huge stars for this wonderful, warm and utterly endearing story. I think I say this every time I read one of Kelly Hunter’s stories, but honestly IMHO this is her best book yet. I adored Matilda Moore, aka Silly Tilly, a moniker she has not entirely embraced for most of her life. Tilly is generous, caring, and a brilliant dessert chef but still struggles with feelings of inadequacy over not having left Moore Creek Station and made something of herself. Mind you, she loves where she lives and could not imagine ever living anywhere else. She also loves Henry Church, grandson of her neighbours Joe and Bethany Church. “Once cracked, with his gooey soft centre on show, Henry Church could make her feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”
Henry left Wirralong as soon as he could with barely a backward glance. Brilliant, supremely organised, financially very secure, and with a life in London, Henry is thrown right off his game while visiting his grandparents in Australia when Tilly, who’s house-sitting his London flat, informs him that he has a baby daughter he knew nothing about.
This story is packed with tongue in cheek humour, which at times had me quietly chuckling and at others roaring with laughter but it’s also tender and utterly endearing. Absolutely one for my keeper shelf.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matilda and Henry’s story in Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter, book one in the Outback Brides Return series is a tale filled with emotions, insecurities, family, travel, a motherless baby, and love. Matilda Moore is excited to be taking her first trip outside of Australia; traveling to London and flat-sitting for her childhood friend, Henry Church. London is overwhelming for this Aussie farm girl; noisy, crowded, and lacking a blue sky. This is all before Tilly is left with a baby that supposedly Henry fathered. Henry has returned to Wirralong, Australia to spend some time with his grandparents, who raised him. When Tilly calls him to tell him about the baby probability expert Henry know that the chance of him being the father is marginal. Henry has enough struggles with emotions and socializing, he has no idea how he is going to care for a baby; begging Tilly to help him. Tilly will do almost anything for Henry, but falling in love with him and his motherless baby is out of the question. Or is it?

Ms Hunter wrote a wonderful and emotional story that is definitely not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with chemistry, fun banter, and charming characters giving friends Tilly and Henry a chance for love and a loving family. I highly recommend Matilda Next Door to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter
This story starts out with Tilly and she's going to London to take a special baking course. She loves to bake for the locals and friends. She will be staying at Henry's apartment while he is visiting in Australia-the next farm over. He has ailing grandparents and he hopes to get them the care they need to lighten their load. He also has made a lot of money with his company. While there years earlier he had a relationship with a woman. After a few days in London Tilly meets Henry's new baby girl. The mother had passed away and a friend had dropped all the babies things off at Harrys. She uses the internet to find out how to take care of the baby. Harry was heading to London but his grandmother has a medical emergency so Tilly brings the baby to him. So many twists and turns in this book.
So many of them didn't have a good upbringing so they are not sure how to tend to a baby and their needs. There are so many things he needs to do and he does want a family, but he's not sure if Tilly is the right one for them.
She's about to give up her dream of more baking classes to stay close to Harry and the baby....
Fear, struggles, loneliness, ...
Love the travel and excursions she was able to take while in London and learning how they take care of their farms in Australia.
What a way to become a father.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great start to this new series this story proved to be! Matilda Moore is the girl next door from when Henry Church moved to live with his grandparents when he was orphaned at eight years old. She is a few years younger than him but by the time he left Australia to go to University and work he really wanted their relationship to be more than friendship. However, Henry is a superb statistician and very intelligent man who doesn't feel worthy of her love. He's invited her over to London to stay with him but she's never had the money or the time. However she's going to travel to house sit for him for a month whilst he visits his grandparents - or that was the plan. An unexpected visitor to his flat brings surprising news and a new responsibility.....

This is a friends first romance with great characters and lots of love. The close knit community, the contrasting family dynamics, the problems of coping with Alzheimer's, a motherless baby and romance are all beautifully portrayed in this heartwarming story. It is a lovely, relaxing read and one I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I look forward to reading more by this author and other books in this series in future!

I was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

[B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short novel about two people who both have their own insecurities, but have been friends since they were children and are now, finally, coming to realize that a romance between the two of them may just be possible. Tilly, the title character was fresh and open and so very kind. She spends her time helping others. And when she has the opportunity to finally leave her small, rural Australian town to travel to London and stay in the flat of her friend, Henry Church’s, she’s so excited. But nothing is like she expects. She finds herself intimidated and uncomfortable in the big city. And then a baby lands on her doorstep, a baby who is Henry’s daughter.

The rest of the story is how both of them adapt to caring for the baby and coming to realize what really matters to them. And what puts this novel into the five-star range is the depiction of Tilly. She might not be as brainy as Henry, but she makes up for it in the size of her heart and her ability to just say right out what she’s thinking and feeling.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotionally charged friends to lovers story.


When Matilda "Tilly" takes a long over-due vacation and house sits for her childhood friend Henry in his London flat, she gets quite the surprise. A woman drops off a baby claiming it is Henry's and tells Tilly the mother has died. Tilly doesn't know anything about babies, but she makes the best of the situation until she can get back to Australia where Henry is visiting his family in Wirralong. As Tilly helps Henry with baby Rowan their friendship becomes more than just friends. Is it just spending so much time together or the excitement of having a baby close by and wanting to give her the best life possible? Or is it true love that has been there all along just waiting to surface?


This was a quick easy read and the story kept me flipping the pages with anticipation of what would happen next. I liked the family connection in the book and seeing how Tilly and Henry took their relationship from just friends to lovers. This is a great start to a new series.

[Wanda Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry and Tillie - childhood friends

I have always loved stories set in Australia and Ms Hunter has a marvelous way of bringing her characteers alive and relatable. The families make the story more ineresting adding color and meaning. Henry and Tillie grew up together. Neighbors going to school together each a little different than the other children. Henry left for London after school and seldom returned to visit. Tillie is happy where she is and doesn't want to leave . But she does want to go to culinary school so she accepts Henry when he asks her to house sit for him when he comes home to take care of the grandparents. While there she will go to a one week class with a chef. Tillie certainly knows how to roll with the punches and it is a good thing considering all the thinks that happen on her London adventure.

I enjoyed this so much I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is a new series it does follow on from the previous series set in Wirralong. While I enjoyed the story immensely I have a couple of nit picks why when stories are set in Australia and England is American terminology used and why does the female characters have to be such a doormat

Matilda (Tilly) Moore has never stepped out of Wirralong even though she dreams of travelling the world She runs a small bakery in the town and is the sort who cares for local people She has been caring for her childhood friends grandparents but now he has returned and has offered her a dream holiday staying at his London home. Tilly crushed on Henry Church when they where younger but he couldn't wait to get out of Wirralong. Can something build between them now that they have reconnected You will have to read to see

[Laura D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matilda has never left home. She is there for everyone but herself. When the opportunity comes up for her to apartment sit in London for her childhood friend she jumps at the chance. Henry has come home to visit his grandparents who raised him. He has been off in London building his career. After a crazy adventure getting to Henry's place she soaks in the luxury and sites. It ends up being short lived when a baby shows up on Henry's doorstep. The note implies that Henry is the baby daddy. When she call Henry she agrees to bring the baby to Australia and help him care for her.During this time Tilly falls in love with father and baby. Not that is was a leap, she has always had a thing for Henry. But seeing him being a father does thing to her ovaries. Does Henry really care about her or is he looking for a mother for his motherless daughter? Good read.

[Sherri Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start to this new series. I fell in love with the characters and the story line held my interest from beginning to end. Matilda and Henry are the two main characters and they were childhood friends. Their families lived next door to each other. I thought that these two were perfect for each other even though they were opposites in a lot of ways. When they are thrown together because of a baby will they be able to figure it all out. I suggest you pick up this book and find out what happens. It is a great read from start to finish. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Roseanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read a advanced reader's copy of this book for a honest opinion.

Kelly Hunter doesn’t write characters; she creates real people who wind their way into your heart. Silly Tilly and Mad Henry's story is a magical ride taking your from Wirralong Australia to Trafalgar Square, London. And back. Ups and downs told with heart felt emotion. Their hopes and beliefs grab your heart. This beautiful story shows that life really is about trust and love. Another beautifully crafted tale by the wonderful Kelly Hunter. This story is a magical ride of ups and downs; hope and belief: Trust and love. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend it.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 1 in the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong series. It's a great beginning. Matilda has known Henry since grade school and when she gets a chance to leave Australia for a vacation in London she's happy to stay in his apartment while he's visiting Australia. Matilda opens the door of Henry's apartment to find a baby . The woman delivering the baby say's the baby is Henry's and the mother is dead. The story is a little hard to believe but the characters are good and the romance is nice. I'm looking forward to the next several books. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter is about Matilda and Henry that have been friends forever. Tilly, aka, Matilda will do anything for her best friend, Henry, and this is where the story takes off.
Matilda goes on vacation to London but here vacation is cut short because of an unexpected turn and she finds herself back home in Wirralong with a baby in tow.
It´s cute, funny and oh so romantic. If you loved the Outback Brides you will fall in love with the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong series also.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romance unlike many other books I’ve read a strong, confident woman with a big heart loves the man she grew up with. He’s stoic and what people perceive as cold. But that is from outward appearances. Aren’t we like that too. Come to a conclusion about someone’s personality based on what we see without really trying to get to know the real person inside. You could certainly not know what the benefits would be if you just take the time. Tilley certainly learns this lesson and by her encouragement and love, Henry does too.
Certainly learned a lot of colloquial words common to Australians in this book. Sometimes it was hard to follow along but certainly worth the time to expand my knowledge.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Janet Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute short read. Matilda has known Henry since they were kids. She likes the small town in Australia she's from and he has a big apartment in London. Henry lets her stay in his apartment while he's out of town. She decides to come home early. Thing got complicated in London and need to be discussed and straightened out. One of the complications was a baby left in her care. How does this change things for the two of them. Read the book to find out. Highly recommended.