To Catch a Fallen Leaf

Rossingley #2

by Fearne Hill

Take one shy French gardener, mix in a naughty aristocrat, add a splash of water, a dash of sunshine, and wait for love to grow.

If only it were that easy.

Reuben Costaud counts his blessings daily. His run-in with crime is firmly behind him. He has a wonderful job gardening on the Rossingley estate, a tiny cottage all to himself, an orphaned cat named Obélix, and a friendly bunch of workmates. The last thing he needs is a tall, blond aristocrat strolling across the manicured lawns towards him.

Falling in love is not part of his plan.

Viscount Aloysius Frederick Lloyd Duchamps-Avery, Freddie to his friends, is in big trouble with everyone, from his father and his modelling agency, to his controlling older boyfriend. Seeking solace and refuge, he escapes to Rossingley and his adored cousin Lucien, the sixteenth earl. To take his mind off his woes, Lucien finds him a job with the estate gardening team.

Mutual attraction blossoms amongst the gardening tools, and Freddie charms his way through Reuben’s defences. But as spring turns to summer and Freddie’s London life collides with their Rossingley idyll, Reuben’s trust in him is ruptured. Will their love flourish or is it destined for the compost bin?

To Catch a Fallen Leaf is a full-length MM contemporary romance, the second in the Rossingley trilogy.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, LGBT, British Literature, Contemporary Romance

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 13, 2021

About the author

Fearne Hill resides far from the madding crowds in the county of Dorset, deep in the British countryside. She likes it that way.
Her novel, Oyster, is a 2025 Lambda Literary Award winner. Two Tribes is a 2023 Lambda Literary Award finalist..
Her popular Rossingley series was nominated in nine separate categories of the 2021 Goodreads M/M Romance awards and received an Honourable Mention in the 2021 Rainbow Awards.

Be sure to follow her on Bookbub for the latest sales and releases! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fearn...

Join her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11724...

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearnehill_...

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/FearneHill

She also writes very brief and not especially insightful book reviews here on GR...

Finally, she also writes straight contemporary romance under the pseudonym Coco Chambers.

Reviews

[NicoleR.M.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never wanted this book to end! Loved it so, so much!!
I’ll try to write a proper review soon, but right now I just need to hug my e-reader and sigh happily.

I'd flounced out of Vincent's place after out miserable row wearing only the tightest pair of chocolate-colored skinny jeans, which are threatening to guillotine my balls, and a rather divine, yellow silk Paul Smith shirt. I was not anticipating having to shout at the housekeeper through a Belgravia letterbox before eventually being told by her beefy husband to 'bugger off' and then flag down a taxi.

How I loved this story! I've come to love Fearne Hill's writing very much. Ever since I read To Hold a Hidden Pearl, I knew I would love the sequel. There is something about the setting, the English manor of Rossingley with it's history, it's owner being the 16th Earl of the Duchamps-Avery's, Lucien, and his 'scary boyfriend' Jay, the Britishness of it all, that keeps me all excited. I love the humor and Fearne Hill's way with words, which is almost poetic in a way that's captivating and exactly how I love the story's I read.

In this story we meet Aloysius Frederick Lloyd Duchamps-Avery, "Freddie", who is Lucien's cousin. He's a well known model, handsome and notorious, and often hits the glamour pages of the newspapers, not in a pleasant way, though. His father is rather disappointed, and his older boyfriend isn't pleased either. When Freddie goes to retreat on his cousins' Rossingley estate, - pretending to beat a drugs- and alcohol addiction, like both his father and boyfriend think he needs - he hasn't got a clue what his future should look like. All he knows is he keeps disappointing his father while he still hopes for his approval, and he doesn't love the man he's spent his life with for the last few years.
But then he meets Reuben. Lovely, French gardener Reuben. And even though he's been in prison for the last ten years of his life, Reuben has goals. He knows what he wants to do with his life. And when Freddie seems to be interested in being more than just friends and colleagues, he gives into his own attraction, knowing it won't last. There's quite a social status gap between the two of them, and Reuben can't seem to look past that, somehow assuming he won't ever be enough for the rich, handsome cousin of the 16th Earl.

"I've come to the realization, Freddie, that when you are done with hiding out here at Rossingley, when you are ready to go back to that exciting, glamorous London life that you lead, you will forget about your messed-up little French gardener and the fun times we had. And I'll be left behind, wondering what exactly was the whirlwind that blew through my life."

Their romance was one of the sweetest ever! I fell in love with first Freddie, and then later with the two of them together. They were perfect, they fitted, despite their differences in upbringing. But somehow the differences in their characters suited perfectly, adding exactly what the other was lacking.
And then there were also the secondary characters. I loved those gardeners, this tight bunch of ex-prisoners that looked after one another - Gandalf, Steve, Lee and Joe. Their banter was fabulous and despite their supposed roughness, they had hearts of gold.

"Where's loverly tonight, then?" Lee says with a grin.
"I have no idea who you are talking about," I primly reply.
"Has he had a crack at you yet?" Joe tips his head back, downing about a third of a pint in one go.
"If you are referring to the earl's cousin, Viscount Aloysius, then firstly, I'm guessing he's up at the big house with the earl, and secondly, no he hasn't."
"Come off it, Frenchie. His lordship can't take his bleeding eyes off you. And no one in their right mind would spend hours doing maths unless they had something else in mind."
Lee raises his eyebrows knowingly. "I reckon young Aloysius fancies getting to grips with your quadratics."
"Yeah," says Joe, laughing. "I reckon he's planning on checking out the surface area of Reubs' prism all right."
I'm blushing furiously, although I can't help laughing too.
(...)"You two are so childish. And since when did my love life become so interesting, Joe? Is it because you don't have one of your own?"
"Don't change the subject, Frenchie! But if Aloysius tries any hanky-panky stuff, and you don't want him to, you come and tell us.(...)"

There wasn't anything in this story that I didn't love. Or it had to be Vincent, the ex-boyfriend. He was horrible. He was the cause of the one misunderstanding, which didn't last long, but which also suited the story and wasn't as cliched and annoying as it often is. It was solved very sweetly!
I'm one who loves good dialogues, and they certainly can be found here. These characters talk in a way that suits them.
And I loved seeing how Lucien and Jay's (from the first book) domestic life was developing. I loved their book, but I think I loved Freddie's and Reuben's book even more. This can be read as a stand alone, but your enjoyment will be so much better when you read the first book first.
Both books are highly recommended!!

I kindly received an ARC through GayRomanceReviews and this is my honest review

[Nelly S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

“The more layers I peel away from this man, the more there is to discover. If he thinks the damage to his body will scare me away, he’s wrong if anything, it’s driving me closer.”

This is a sweet if improbable romance between a shy, French ex-con gardener, Reuben, and a viscount who is also a model, Freddie. Set in an English country estate, there’s lots of gardening, banter, cute moments spent tutoring, and great secondary characters. But there’s also a hurt/comfort dynamic due to Reuben’s prison past and Freddie’s emotional pain, which is hidden behind a party animal facade.

— sweet, low angst
— ex-con/viscount
— class differences
— opposites attract
— friends-to-lovers
— forced proximity
— moderate steam

[Ninni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and snarky. Low angst. Lovely to meet Lucian and Jay again. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex characters,
Garden metaphors, hot sex.
Joyful Brits in love.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

High praise for this stunning story, I was floored!
The whole story is so preciously delicate created, my heart couldn’t handle it at times.

Frederick, fully title and name are Viscount Aloysius Frederick Lloyd Duchamps-Avery, also known as Freddie, is an educated guy, an international top model, and living an exclusive life of fashion, parties, bubbles, and more.
He’s in a dull relationship with an older guy who’s awfully controlling and unspontaneous, like planned sex three times a week. He’s way too old fashion for Freddie’s free spirit. Both his father and boyfriend are manipulating him into a place he doesn’t belong and are always deeply disappointed in him.
At some point, Freddie escapes when he reaches the point enough is enough!

He’s warmly welcomed at the Rossingley estate by cousin Lucien. It’s his only refuge and quite different from his sparkling life in the big cities.
Thanks to Lucien Avery, the sixteenth Earl of Rossingley, (omg you MUST read about him in the glorious story To Hold a Hidden Pearl) Freddie even finds a job with the gardening team of the estate.

Reuben is a Frenchman working as a gardener on the land of the Rossingley estate. He has done ten years in prison. He’s quite content with his little cottage and his cat Obélix. He’s shy and introverted and loves his quiet evenings alone, reading or writing. His cottage is the only real home he ever had, it’s old and super small, but it’s his home.
Gardening with Freddie is something special, the man is stunningly beautiful.

Freddie is alone, most of the time dismissed by his haughty father who thinks of him as .... inconvenient, troublesome, and embarrassing.
Besides his work as a model, he hasn’t had a clue what to do with his life.
But now gardening with Reuben, gosh, he’s swooning by Reuben’s French accent, can’t get enough of it.

Throughout the story we get peeks into the men’s lives, and every time a layer is peeled off, the picture gets clearer how things really are. There are heartbreaking moments, my heart cracked.
They have so much story and so much to tell.
It’s an extremely catching narrative, feelings all over.

This author rises higher and higher on the ladder of my special and favorite authors!
The writing is exquisite, it’s all written in an absolutely breathtaking and mesmerizing way. The characters are extraordinary with so many different lovable characteristics it’s top work in the category of character development.
I adored Freddie, in all the ways possible. When he’s drunk he’s so silly,
Overall, no overall, I can’t put it in one sentence!
An extremely elegantly written romance, with breathtaking, heartwarming characters and a beautiful extraordinary, solid plot. The very last part gave me thick goosebumps and blurry eyes.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

PS: If possible, do read To Hold a Hidden Pearl
PPS it’s not necessary but you’ll miss an extraordinary story and miss the opportunity to meet darling Lucien and his protective Jay, and thát would be a shame!

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a charming read drom atart to finish!
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What I Loved...
1. Freddie, the snarky, lively male model taking refuge in Rossingley after a public scandal never thought he would find the love of his life in the gardens of Rossingley. #FeirceAndFabulous

2. Reuben, the french, shy, timid gardener with a riot of curls who never thought a Viscount could take an interest in him. #CuteAsAButton

3. The Romance between these men was very sweet, well paced and lovely. They bonded, became friends and let their feelings move naturally. #OnTrack

4. Steam-o-meter: Medium steam but very sweet and sensual. #TouchMe

5. Angst-o-meter: lowish angst. Some TWs about rape (not between the MCs and NOT on-page). #FeelGood

6. Snarky dialogue. #BritishHumor

7. Cameos: Jay and Lucian from THAHP. #FamilyAffair

8. HEA: Heartwarming 💕❤

I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've given this a C+ at AAR so 3.5 stars

Fearne Hill is a new-to-me author, and having heard good things about the first book in her  Rossingley  series, (To Hold a Hidden Pearl), I decided to try the second, To Catch a Fallen Leaf.  It’s a cute romance about second chances and the family you make, but sadly, I can’t say that it was a complete success.  I liked the setting, the found-family element and the gardening theme (I’m not a great gardener myself but I love visiting them at stately homes!); but while the protagonists are engaging, the romance lacks chemistry, and the Big Mis near the end just made me groan.

The series is set on the estate in the south of England owned by Lucien Duchamps-Avery,  who became the sixteenth Earl of Rossingley on the tragic deaths of his older brother and his young family.  Lucien’s closest relatives are his now his uncle, an MP, and his cousin Aloysius Frederick Lloyd Duchamps-Avery aka Freddie (who is incorrectly referred to as a viscount for some reason.)  Freddie is a highly sought-after model, who, at the beginning of the book, has rather allowed a typically high-octane, fast-moving lifestyle to get the better of him, and a massive scandal is about to break over his recent arrest in New York for possession of an illegal substance and public vagrancy after a drunken, coke-fuelled binge left him slumped over on the pavement outside Macy’s.   Even worse, Freddie’s father is the Home Secretary, known to take a particularly hard stance on drugs and crime, and Freddie’s slip could jepoardise his career.

After returning to England, Freddie takes himself off to Rossingley and Lucien – the only person in Freddie’s life who’s given a damn since the death of Freddie’s mother when he was twelve – who tells him to stay there rather than checking into some ghastly high-end rehab clinic.  Freddie is grateful and relieved, and looks forward to a quiet time of rest and recuperation, but that isn’t quite what Lucien has in mind. He suggests that Freddie will soon grow bored with nothing to do and basically – but oh, so nicely – tells him he’s to join the estate groundskeepers and that the fresh air and exercise will do him good.

Reuben Costaud has been a gardener at Rossingley for just under a year, and he loves everything about being there – his job, his little cottage, his cat and the guys he works with, including one nicknamed Gandalf who is coaching him for his English GCSE exam.  Reuben is French and came to England after being released from a ten-year stint in prison (we don’t find out what he was in for until late on); he’s determined to make something of himself and plans to enrol in Agricultural College later in the year, hoping that maybe one day, he’ll be able to take over the care of the grounds at Rossingley.

Reuben is adorable. He’s smitten with Freddie straight away, but thinks Freddie is way out of his league and Freddie is utterly charmed by Reuben and offers to help him with the other subjects he’s studying.  He wants a reason to spend time with Reuben, it’s true, but he also genuinely wants to help – and anyway, he has no idea if they’re even batting for the same team.

Of course that question is answered before too long as Reuben decides to make the most of whatever time he can have with Freddie, and Freddie slowly starts to sort himself out and to work out what he wants and what are the most important things in life.

There’s a strong secondary cast, notably Lucien (who is such a scene-stealer!) and his partner Jay, and the other gardeners, who are all well-defined,  with a great sense of camaraderie between them based on typical British Bloke-y Banter. Freddie’s father is an insensitive upper-class twat and I was pleased when Freddie stood up to him at last.

But I had a few problems with the novel that brought the grade down to just middling.  Firstly, although we see Freddie and Reuben spending time together and getting to know each other, and feeling attraction towards one another, there’s little real chemistry between them, so the romance feels flat and underdeveloped.  I liked them as friends; the way Freddie is so supportive of Reuben and sincere in his admiration for Reuben’s desire to do better is just lovely, but they didn’t work for me as lovers.  And the darker themes the author tries to inject into the novel are awkwardly juxtaposed with the overall tone of light and fluffy; Reuben was sexually assaulted in prison and clearly has lingering issues as a result, but they’re mostly glossed over, and I found it hard to believe that someone as innocent as he was – and is – could have spent ten years behind bars and not have come out with some hard edges or developed a protective shell.  And then there’s Freddie’s problem with booze and drugs, which he dispenses with quite easily because, he tells us, he was never really an addict, so giving them up is no biggie. There’s not much by way of character development either; although Freddie does grow up a bit, he and Reuben are essentially the same people at the end as they are at the beginning.

As for the Big Mis near the end … *heavy sigh*.  It’s painfully contrived and relies on Reuben immediately jumping to conclusions with no evidence – although it does prompt a fantastic scene between Reuben and his workmates in which they make it clear just how protective of him they’ve become.  Also – I couldn’t work out how the shit-stirrer got to Rossingley to shoot his mouth off before Freddie got back.

So To Catch a Fallen Leaf is a bit of a mixed bag.  I liked the premise and I liked the characters and the humour, but the story doesn’t flow well and the lack of chemistry between the leads sank the romance.  There are things to enjoy here, but they aren’t enough on their own to earn this one a recommendation.

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always a shame when the second book by a new-to-me author doesn't land with the same success as the first. I'd liked To Hold a Hidden Pearl - off-beat, saved from being uber-coy by a strong dynamic between the two well-matched MCs. But in To Catch a Fallen Leaf, the same setting and style come a croppper.

Some things still work - Hill has a good line in incidental description (the gardening scenes are enjoyable) and most of the secondary characters earn their place. Lucien & Jay (the MCs from THaHP) flit through the pages and are, IMHO, the strongest thing about TCaFL.

What goes wrong is, I think, structural. The plot itself is very slight; it's driven by Freddie's father and his ex, both mainlining Old Skool OTT melodrama. But even a slight plot can work if the central relationship is solid. Here, though, the power imbalance between Freddie (successful model & wealthy aristocrat**) and Reuben (ex-con, sexual assault survivor) is too great. It isn't a relationship of equals: Freddie is "heroic saviour" and Reuben "grateful ex-victim", with insta-lust standing in for real understanding or respect. I counted 37 "sweethearts" and 48 "darlings" - "coy" has tipped into maudlin mushiness.

Ironically, the otherwise awkward Big Mis towards the end becomes borderline credible since it's already clear the MCs don't really know or are sure of each other.

I really did like Book 1 (To Hold a Hidden Pearl), so if there's a third book, I'll read it. (Though on the basis of TCaFL, it'll be to look for more glimpses of Lucien & Jay.)


**And Freddie is NOT a bleeding viscount. His father is the heir presumptive to the earldom of Rossingley (BTW I'd love to know what would happen to the title & estates if the current earl really intends having children via a Swedish surrogate), so until he does inherit, he'll remain the Hon. Charles Duchamps-Avery, & his son will be plain Mr Aloysius Frederick Lloyd Duchamps-Avery.
(Yes, I'm tut-tutting. Sue me.)

[Meg (queer_book_recs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a public embarrassment, 25 year old British party-boy viscount and successful model Freddie lays low at the estate of his cousin, the Earl of Rossingly, where he falls for the adorable French gardener on the estate staff.

I totally adored this sequel to To Hold a Hidden Pearl. Freddie and Rueben are just adorable together. There was so much hurt/comfort happening all over the place! I loved that Lucien and Jay from the previous book were so important to the story and made plenty of appearances. I loved watching Freddie slow down and figure out what he wants out of life, what matters, and what doesn’t. Reuben was a sweet cinnamon roll, but also so strong and driven to change his life for the better. I could really see how love-starved Rueben would thrive with a partner as supportive and nurturing as Freddie. I loved their relationship dynamic and their vulnerability.

This is the second book in the series and you definitely need to read To Hold a Hidden Pearl first, which was also a 5 star read for me.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B+ for narration and a B for content at AudioGals. Yes, I liked it more in audio!

To Catch a Fallen Leaf is book two in Fearne Hill’s Rossingley series, and while it probably isn’t essential to have listened to the first book (To Hold a Hidden Pearl) I’d certainly recommend it – the narration by Richard Stranks is excellent and its main protagonist, Lucien Avery, sixteenth Earl of Rossingley, is a fascinating and unique character who is the beating heart of the series.

In this story, we meet Lucien’s cousin Freddie – properly Aloysius Frederick Lloyd Duchamps-Avery – a top-flight male model, who was arrested for possession of an illegal substance and public vagrancy after a drunken, coke-fuelled binge left him slumped over on the pavement outside Macy’s in New York. The brewing scandal has his father  – who, as Home Secretary, is known to take a particularly hard stance on drugs and crime – coming down on him like a ton of bricks, far more concerned with preserving his career than with his son’s well-being, so Freddie takes up Lucien’s invitation to lie low at Rossingley for a while until things blow over.

Freddie and Lucien are close. Freddie feels Lucien is the only person who’s given a damn about him since his mother died when Freddie was twelve, and Lucien places great store by family, especially since the tragic deaths of his parents and his older brother some years earlier. Freddie looks forward to a pleasantly relaxing (bordering on lazy) stay, but that isn’t quite what Lucien has in mind. He thinks Freddie will soon become bored out of his mind with nothing to do and, in typical Lucien fashion, ‘suggests’ (i.e, tells him) he should work with the estate groundskeepers because the fresh air and exercise will do him good.

Frenchman Reuben Costaud has been a gardener at Rossingley for just over a year, and he’s very happy there. He loves his job, his little cottage, his cat, and the guys he works with, a motley bunch who tease each other mercilessly. The oldest of them, an enigmatic gent nicknamed ‘Gandalf’ (for his long grey hair and beard) is coaching Reuben for his English GCSE exam and regularly grills him about grammar and poetry during their tea breaks. Reuben came to England after his release from a decade in prison – we don’t find out why he was inside until later in the story – and he’s planning to enrol in Agricultural College with a view to, hopefully one day, taking over as Head Gardener at the estate.

Reuben is adorable. He’s sweet and kind and takes the good-natured ribbing of his workmates in his stride, and, for the first time in his life, feels he’s somewhere he properly belongs. He’s instantly smitten with the gorgeous Freddie, but thinks the other man is way out of his league – while Freddie is completely charmed by Reuben’s guileless unaffectedness – so different to most of the men he meets – and offers to help him with the other subjects he’s studying. It’s true that Freddie is looking for a reason to spend more time with Reuben, but he genuinely wants to help – and besides, it’s not often he gets to use his history degree; he’s spent most of his adult life being viewed as little more than a pretty face so it’s good to get to use his mind for a change.

They make a cute couple and I really enjoyed their getting-to-know-you phase as they spend time together and become friends. I liked their friendship a lot; Freddie is so supportive of Reuben and his sincere admiration for Reuben’s desire to do better is just lovely. The attraction they’re feeling for one another is nicely articulated, but the leap from friends to lovers seems to just ‘happen’ with little in between. This is a relatively angst-free story, and although there are some darker notes to it, they don’t quite fit the overall tone. Reuben clearly has lingering issues from his time in prison but they’re mostly glossed over, and I admit that I found it difficult to believe he could have spent ten years behind bars and not have come out with some harder edges.

And then there’s the third-act Big Mis, which feels contrived and relies on Reuben jumping to conclusions with no real evidence – although this does lead to a fantastic scene between him and his workmates that shows just how protective of him they are. The timeline feels off, too – I couldn’t work out how the person responsible for stirring things up got to Rossingley to shoot his mouth off before Freddie got there.

Thing is, despite those reservations, I enjoyed the story. Freddie and Reuben are perhaps not the most complex of characters and their romance could have used a little more development, but Fearne Hill has a real gift for writing genuinely funny and insightful dialogue and for writing wonderful male friendships, and she generally creates interesting characters with real depth to them who are likeable and easy to root for. This was actually the first book of hers I ever read in print, and while I don’t count it as a personal favourite, she’s since become one of my handful of must-read authors.

Richard Stranks returns to narrate this second Rossingleybook, and I enjoyed his performance very much. His pacing is good, his enunciation is clear and his voice, which I’d describe as in the tenor range (so higher pitched than most male romance narrators I listen to) is pleasant to listen to. He reads Reuben’s narrative using his ‘regular’ English accent and adopts a (very good) French accent for Reuben’s (English) dialogue, and the French words and phrases that are dropped in here and there are correctly pronounced, too. His portrayal of Lucien and Jay sound as I remember them from the previous book – Lucien is such a scene stealer! – and his interpretation of Freddie is nicely done. He doesn’t have a very wide range, pitch wise, for his character voices, but he differentiates clearly by means of tone and accent, although there are a couple of times Lucien and Freddie sound too alike. My one big criticism overall is with his pronunciation of Aloysius, which varies throughout. It’s not pronounced as it’s spelled – the normal pronunciation is “a-loo-ish-us” or “a-low-ish-us”,  but for some reason, Mr. Stranks switches between the two. He gets it right about half the time, so he obviously knows how to pronounce it – which kind of makes it worse when he gets it wrong. I can’t believe it wasn’t picked up and fixed in post-production.

That apart, however, it’s a strong performance that went quite a way towards enhancing my enjoyment of the story, and I hope Richard Stranks stays on if the other books are to make their way into audio. To Catch a Fallen Leaf isn’t the strongest entry in the Rossingley series, but the likeable characters, the humour, the strength of the relationships (friendship and familial) and the enjoyable narration earn it a recommendation.

This review originally appeared at AudioGals .

[Courtney Bassett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book. Hurt/comfort abounds, but it's never TOO angsty. More of a... kind of quiet healing on both parts. It has sweet, swoony romantic moments, and some really funny ones as well. We get to see lots of the characters from the first book, too, still happily in love and getting married. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!

Minor spoiler: I had a friend concerned that this book would deal with drug addiction, but there's no on-page use (or at all, once the book starts), and he really wasn't an addict, so that's basically a non-issue.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okayish; three stars says "I like it" and I did. But while the plot was nice enough, the story had holes and the characters didn't develop, instead, they turned from one moment to the next or simply stayed flat.
I didn't like Freddie interacting with Reuben much. Whenever the reader got his perspective it was clear that he didn't really care about the other man's current emotions but rather about how to best get into his pants. And when he finally managed there was not much more to do for the both of them for several pages.
I didn't like the book's attempt at addressing Reuben's past (and trauma); it was mentioned often enough but not discussed. I am sure a past like his does something to you, you can't just re-lable the things you experienced and everything is fine. Sure, the author's focus was on a nice little romance, but then a topic such as this maybe shouldn't be part of it.
Also the character of Vincent was a bit over the top; it was merely a caricature of a person. Yes, he presented a nice contrast to Reuben, but he could have had some more depth - and dignity! Especially that. And then suddenly he was all adult and apologies? No, sorry!

What I liked was the gardening theme and thus the setting. I am a taker for old British estates and gardens and Viscounts and gardeners. And I really loved the one real conversation in the story which was between the gardening crew and Reuben in his cozy cottage; it felt so right and real and was really well-written and funny, that I wished for more of those conversations and less fumbling under poor old willow trees.

*I was given an ARC and this is my honest review.*

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 wonderful stars, putain!

Absolutely, beautifully, magically perfect book. I can't fault it. For me it's even better than To Hold a Hidden Pearl! And I really loved Lucien and Jay's story! But Reuben and Freddie?


Fearne's writing was the balm my soul needed after having had a bit of a bad book funk lately. Her storytelling is outstanding and her style just what I needed. Each voice is so unique. I loved Freddie's, so similar to Lucien's but so different too. And who else read Reuben's chapters and lines of dialogue with a fake French accent? Only me? Impossible.

I've marked this with the "second chance" tag. But this is not your typical second chance romance trope. No. The characters didn't know each other before they met, but both of them are getting a second chance at a new more exciting life together. Freddie finally puts himself first, fights the monotony of his previous life that although kept him entertained, didn't make him happy. And Reuben gets the chance to start a new life away from his dark past.

I have loved so many things about this book.
Obvious ones like seeing Lucien and Jay's domestic life together, their love and passion not having dwindled after years together.

I have absolutely loved the gardening crew. Gandalf and Steve, Lee and Joe. So supportive, but cheeky too, with their teasing and just down to earth banter.

I have loved seeing Freddie's father getting a bit of redemption (he was such a massive twat throughout the book that only a little bit of humanity would have redeemed him), and even Vincent saw the error of his ways (creepy Excalibur!).

I have loved the letters from Reuben to Guillaume (and so freaking excited to see that he's getting his own book too!).

This is now one of my favourite books of 2021. It's outstanding. And if you liked Book 1 in the series, you'll love this one.

[Sybil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review updated after second read:

I've decided that if a book makes me smile as much as this one does - and if I find myself rereading it within a month - then it deserves 5 stars despite the odd niggle. Niggles are unimportant when something hits all your happiness buttons. Freddie and Reuben are the most adorable couple I've read in a long time, the secondary characters are brilliant, and getting to spend time once again with Lucien and Jay has been a joy.

And I'm still cackling like a witch at all things Shard!

Original 4* review:

Look, there's some unbelievable parts but the funny, romantic picnic? The running Shard joke that had me giggling like a schoolgirl? The sweetness of the romance? Everything Reuben? Lovely.

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

The problem with writing an absolute banger of a series opener is that book 2 very easily pales by comparison. Such is the case here. I enjoyed this quite a bit, actually, which I realize sounds like the backhanded compliment it kind of is. But it doesn't even come close to the love I have for To Hold A Hidden Pearl, which was one of my top reads last year.

Freddie and Reuben are lovely characters to spend time with, but they don't hold a candle to exquisite Lucien and sweet, doggedly determined Jay. The relationship in this installment unfolds rather slowly and lacks the spark and intensity of Lucien and Jay, whose chemistry was electric and connection utterly compelling from the start. Freddie and Reuben have attraction, mutual liking, and respect, but they don't quite have the depth, either individually or together. Freddie's life changes seem a bit too easy and facile; Reuben's trauma, too quickly overcome. A standout of the first book was Lucien and Jay's shared careers as anaesthetists, which is also Fearne Hill's IRL job; her keen intelligence and passion for the work shone through in Lucien and Jay's story, giving it an authentic and affectionate feel. This is simply not matched by Freddie's modelling and Reuben's gardening, even though the gardening in particular is lovingly described. Third-act miscommunication crisis aside, everything felt just a little too pat. And the voices never quite gelled for me the way Lucien and Jay's did.

My intention was not to make this review a point-by-point comparison with book 1, which, oops. Obviously I failed. But . . . well, like I said. The first one was just so damned good that I've become spoiled. Such that what is, objectively speaking, a perfectly lovely opposites-attract romance fell a bit flat, by comparison.

Although I did love the running joke that Freddie is super-hot for Jay's bod. I always appreciate it when MCs are like, yes dear, I love you, but I still have eyes!!! I AM NOT MADE OF STONE!!! (Rest assured that Jay, Lucien, and Reuben take Freddie's ogling and drooling in the lighthearted spirit in which it is intended.)

I waffled a lot over whether to round this up or down. Ultimately I decided that if Lucien and Jay are going to be the, er, sticks to beat Freddie and Reuben with, they should also be the carrots to, um, butter Kathleen up with. And since we get a lovely wedding and a wonderful epilogue, not to mention loads of L and J throughout, I couldn't help but round up. I can be nice sometimes!!

So anyway, go read book 1.

[Miss Blattsalat · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 wonderful-I-am-in-love stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!

This story “To Catch a Fallen Leaf” about Freddy&Reuben has it all what I needed right now!

Such adorable, loveable characters, such a sweet, heartwarming lovestory with a wonderful HEA!
And of course we meet again with the amazing characters of book one of the series “To Hold a Hidden Pearl”.
GOSH, how much I love Lucien&Jay ❤

If you want to read a story that will melt your heart and will make you fall in love, this is it!

Highly recommended!

[Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just so lovely. Tea and gardens and large estates and all round Britishness. All my favourite things. I love both characters so much. Reuben is just so adorable. All around contentness and happiness while reading this book. Author's writing is similar to Lily Morton.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Freddie and Reuben so much. Reuben’s back story was 💔💔

[SaBine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
4 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
4 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Again, such a sweet story.
While I could certainly do without these silly misunderstandings that seem to have to be a part of every story of this author I love the writing style and the characters.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to start by saying that I didn't think I could love Lucien and Jay more than I did after finishing To Hold a Hidden Pearl, but this book made me next level adore them, especially Jay. It was so fun seeing Jay through Freddie's and Reuben's eyes. He shined as a protector and a care taker. I thought Jay was a lucky man in the first book, but in this book I thought Lucien was the lucky one.

I loved that this book took place primarily at Rossingley estate. There was a magical simplicity to it, from the large house that signified so much pain in the first book to the grounds the gardening crew worked on and the small cottages they lived in. It was like a microcosm, a place where the outside world had no place at the table unless expressly asked to come (which was highly unlikely).

Reuben was such an endearing man. He had been through so many horrible things that even the smallest glimpses of kindness brought him happiness. I love characters that willingly embrace, and even crave, a simple life. Sometimes it feels as though everyone is chasing after more, more, more, so it's refreshing when someone longs for nothing more than a peaceful existence doing something they love.

Freddie didn't know what he wanted and had been spiraling as a result. He was surrounded by all the wrong people and making some really poor decisions. After a brief, but alarming, run-in with the law in the US, he traveled back to Rossingley to lay low and put himself back together with the help of his dear cousin, Lucien. There he joined the gardening crew, where he met Reuben, and the rest, as they say, was history.

There was truly so much to love about this book. Freddie's gentle acceptance of Reuben's fears and triggers made me adore him. Reuben's past was not pretty and I felt that Freddie's reactions to what he had experienced were appropriate. The rest of the gardening crew were so much fun and I was glad that, even though they joked around with Reuben and Freddie, they were never overtly homophobic. And, putain, that first kiss was just delicious. Zappies for days. And the last chapter and epilogue were absolutely everything.

I seriously cannot wait for books 3 and 3.5. The snippets at the end of this book actually blew my mind a little bit, so I will be keeping any and all new releases in this series firmly on my radar.

[Ana Nimity · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading To Hold A Hidden Pearl, I immediately bought the next two books in the series. I had planned to wait a bit to savor the rest of the series, but when I got the opportunity for an advance copy of the upcoming release, To Melt a Frozen Heart, I immediately switched gears and binged the next two books.
While you could read this book without reading the first one, it's probably best enjoyed in order. Considering how good the first one is, I wouldn't fret about that, just go read it, then come back to the lovely story of Rueben the gardener and Lucien's cousin Freddie.
It's a beautifully written slow burn, opposites attract, hurt-comfort, age-gap romance with characters from totally different sides of the proverbial tracks. While there's plenty of dry wit, there are also poignant scenes with even a few tears.
I've never watched Downton Abbey, but I expect that this ensemble cast has the same depth.
If you've got an Amazon gift card or a buy this much, get this much credit deal and you're looking for something to buy, I highly recommend this book, and this series. If you don't have an Amazon gift card or a deal, I still recommend buying them. I devoured them in two days and don't regret a penny I spent, nor a minute of the sleep I lost.

[Trish Skywalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to GRR for this wonderful audio ARC!

I loved this book when I read it, and hearing Rueben and Freddie brought to like by Richard Stranks made it even better.
Viscount Aloysius Frederick Lloyd Duchamps-Avery has made some mistakes. After a huge mistake in the US ends up with him arrested and banned from the country, Freddie’s politician father insists that he get himself straight. Enter Freddie’s dear cousin, Dr. Lucien Avery, 16th Earl of Rossingly. Going to the country estate seems like the perfect remedy to Freddie, so he packs his bags and ditches London. He does not expect to be put to work, but he is now the newest member of the gardening crew. He’s immediately stunned by Rueben, a sweet, shy Frenchman with a stunning smile and a love of flowers.
As Rueben and Freddie grow closer, we discover they’ve both had very different but very tough pasts, and their beautiful friendship blooms into something more. When Rueben believes that Fredfie has broken his trust, Freddie must fight to get back the most stunning man he’s ever met.
-Friends to lovers
-Rich f**k boy gone good
-A sweet Frenchman with a dark past
-ROSSINGLY!

[DJO · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful follow-up to book one. Freddie and Reuben made a fantastic pair. I loved watching them grow individually and as a couple. Hill has such a gift for creating little moments with huge emotion between her characters. There’s so much depth and authenticity and it goes so far beyond the surface-level stuff that many romance writers deliver. I connect with it completely.

My one niggle, plot-wise, was the third-act break-up, which seemed a bit weak and slightly contrived. Why didn’t Freddie just tell Reuben he was going to that event with Vincent and why didn’t Reuben give Freddie the benefit of the doubt when Vincent showed up at Rossingley and pulled his stunt? It didn’t seem in keeping with either MCs' character. Still, it made for a crap ton of delicious angst, which I’m always here for, so I can’t really complain. Not to mention the way all the gardeners gathered around and stuck up for Reuben in a most hilarious and adorable way.

I loved spending time with Jay and Lucien again. Jay seems to have matured and settled into himself so wonderfully. I'm glad we got some much-missed info from book one re his coming out, although details were still a little thin on the ground for my tastes. Frowny face. But being at their wedding was epic and kicked any lingering frustrations to the curb.

The narration was once again very well done, aside from one issue. The narrator, when speaking Reuben’s external dialogue, used a French accent but switched back to an English accent when reading his internal, first-person POV dialogue. I’ve come across that a time or two before with other narrated books and it makes zero sense to me. Maybe in third-person it could work, but with first-person POV it seems the accent should remain the same regardless of whether the character is speaking aloud or in his head.

Beautiful story, wonderful characters, bang-up writing. I’m a happy camper.

[Sheena · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 perfect stars for Freddie and Reuben, because they're both precious and deserve it.

This is the second in the Rossingley series, you could read it as a standalone if you really want, but it's much better if you read the first, To Hold A Hidden Pearl first not only because it will give you much needed background on Rossingley and the characters we meet there, but because Lucien is the most wonderful character and his and Jay's story deserves to be read by everyone.

This however is Reuben and Freddie's story. Both are introduced in the first book briefly, Freddie (Aloysius Frederick Duchamps-Avery, if you please!) is Lucien's cousin and closest relative. While I won't recap, (that's what the blurb is for ;) ) Freddie has got himself into a spot of bother and has gone to stay with his beloved cousin for a while to sort himself out. Lucien decides to put him to work where he meets the most precious Reuben, who has had a tough life up to now.

I was gone on this book from the moment Jay meets Freddie in Lucien's kitchen. I was so happy Lucien and Jay came back in this book and featured prominently because I love them. It's Freddie and Reuben's story though and it's a good one. Both lost in different ways, both need something that they give each other and their coming together is so wonderfully done and so slow and beautiful. I don't often get emotional at books, it has to be something special to crack my stone heart but this book did it. Happy tears, I hasten to add because the author made me feel everything.

I cannot rate this highly enough, while the first is still one of my favourite books of the year, this is also up there too and I can't wait for more. MORE LUCIEN, YOU HEAR ME????

Ahem.

I received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful, tender, and delicate romance in which I found myself rooting for the protagonists to get their HEA. Reuben is a young, ex-con gardener on the Rossingley Estate who is seeking to better his life by getting his educational credentials to enter college and eventually become a head horticulturalist. He's shy, unassuming, and he loves time spent in his little cottage with his cat. Freddie, cousin of Lucien (Bk 1), is a successful international model, aristocratic, but also lonely, pining for his distant father's approval, and unsure about his future. When he gets in some trouble, he retreats to the estate to recoup and think. Lucien asks Freddie to spend some time working with the gardening team, thinking the fresh air air and physical labor will help.

Freddie is immediately drawn to Reuben, but he's unsure if Reuben feels the same way or if he's even gay. He volunteers to spend time helping Reuben with his studies and they find themselves well-matched in friendship, as well. Reuben is attracted to Freddie, but he feels that Freddie is way out of his league. Can these two men work through their issues to find their forever love? This book is a perfect match for Bk 1 and equally as enjoyable. It is love despite a disparity of backgrounds, it heals, and it provides direction for their futures together forever.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Story is truly as lovely and charming as the cover that drew me to it! Freddie our disaster of a personal life successful model and Rueben our blushing French gardener! The adorable slow burn of their friendship that is from the beginning laced with a strong attraction for each other is all consuming! I could not stop reading, just anticipating the love story that would evolve between these two! Loved the references to Freddie's cat walk, and all of Rueben's shy blushing! This book is so vividly descriptive I felt like I was transported to the British Countryside right along with these guys and their family and friends! Told in both of their POV's you get all the feels and emotions! I received an ARC of this book and I recommend to everyone who loves a warm fuzzy feeling romance that feels so organic and real!

[Kazza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The MCs, Freddie and Reuben, were so delightful.

While yellow flowers aren't my first love I do love gardening, everything about it, so this was easy to be a part of.

It was beyond brilliant to be able to be with Lucien and Jay again. Love them to bits, especially Lucien. I could read about them dropping into any book by any author... as strange as that may sound.

I'm totally hooked on this world. The characters. The setting. Moving on to book #3.

[C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely and sweet romance with some snark and sass added. Overall, it was a nice and easy listen with characters and a relationship that are relatable, even when they involve some of the antics of a high flying model.

I had a hard time getting into the story though and I think it might have been the pacing of the audiobook. It seemed a little slow so the book seemed a little drawn out. I did enjoy the accents that the narrator Richard Stranks is able to do and his voice is nice to listen to.

Overall a pleasant book to listen to and pass the time with.

[Punktella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous second story in the series. Funny, well written and totally adorable characters. Well….the nice ones obvs……and finally…who knew? Turns out GCSE maths knowledge can be useful! A great read. Plus s’il vous plait!

[Sararomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by the author for an honest review.
I fell I waited forever for Rossingley 2 but I've just looked and it was only four months! I absolutely adored Freddie and Reuben. Freddie is a cinnamon roll of a viscount and Reuben desperate to be loved. They meet over the gardening tools and the cast of gardeners on the estate are wonderful secondary characters. Funny, sweet; if you like Lily Morton or Barbara Elsborg then this is perfect. And it had plenty of Lucien and Jay too.....
Could I also mention that the pic of Reuben on the cover is adorable?