There are moments in our lives where we just think 'screw this, I'm worth more' and finally unearth the courage to move on from the hurt; aiming to start a new life. There are also moments in our lives where we have to gloss over certain aspects of our pasts in fear of rejection and embarrassment; stopping us from turning towards the sun. Just ask Lizzie; she has a chance to make things better for herself at Rowan Hill, start fresh and be loved for the REAL Lizzie.
However, glossing over our pasts isn't always as permanent as we would like; the cracks begin to show and you're left with a decision which could change everything: gloss over it again on a whim, or strip it bare and do it properly.

I want to live at Rowan Hill, end of haha. Emma Davies didn't just describe the location as a few trees with the odd flower and that it has a bunch of people making bits and bobs and eating cake. No, Emma Davies wrote about the tree as though it was significant and right outside my window. She described the locations noises in such a vivid way, I tilted my head to the side to see if I could hear those same noises. Every blade of grass, every flower petal and every pattern on the tablecloths were given meaning; an identity if you will. Does that make sense? Basically, she did a bit of an M&S advert through her book! Such wonderful, enchanting words which sent shivers down my spine.

As for the characters; there were a few that rubbed me up the wrong way throughout the storyline (not saying who as I don't want to give anything away). I loved the diversity of them all as each character had its own individual personality and brought something to the table which another character didn't.

In 'Turn Towards the Sun', circumstances aren't always picnics in fields; things started to take a turn as trust, friendships and loyalty were all put to the test. How well do you truly know someone? Are things always best left unsaid?

The storyline had me laughing, smiling and even imagining Emma's words being brought to life. That said, the storyline had me slightly teary, shocked and a bit heartbroken. I had become so invested in the characters lives and Rowan Hill that my emotions ended up being a fly on the wall character (in my mind I was IN the story). Incredible writing from the author without a shadow of a doubt.
Turn Towards the Sun is a tale of loyalty, fresh starts, truth and listening to your heart. A tale which will have you giggling one moment and a bit down the next. A tale which let you escape to the beautiful place that is; Rowan Hill.

An outstanding, poignant and heart warming novel from best-selling author, Emma Davies. Such an absolute joy to read.

Thank you Netgalley.

Turn towards the sun by Emma Davies is a women's fiction and general fiction (adult) read.
Lizzie wants nothing more than to start over and put the past behind her. So when she is offered the chance to live and work at Rowan Hill, a beautiful country estate and bustling community of artists. It feels like a dream come true.
Fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story and the characters. This was a lovely feel good read. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.

I really enjoyed this book. I was well written and a great easy read. Sorry for the quick review but I am currently in hospital.

Since I have discovered the wonderful writing of Emma Davies she has become one of my go to authors as I know I will always be guaranteed a brilliant, engaging read full of characters attempting to find happiness on both a personal and professional level whilst helping others out along the way. Turn Towards the Sun is the second full length novel from Emma and once again takes us back to the beautiful setting of Rowan Hill which was featured in Letting in Light. Rowan Hill is fast becoming a community of people all working individually with their little business yet coming together as one to make Rowan Hill the special place it is which the reader can sense so well throughout the book.

I was delighted to see we had another full length story from Emma as we eagerly await the next installments in her Tales from Appleyard series, Gooseberry Fool and Blackberry Way, as when the stories are this good you really don't like to be left waiting. This new book can be read as a stand alone as its main focus is on a different character from those we have met previously at Rowan Hill. Although the characters we grew to love and followed so closely make a welcome return and it was almost like we had just taken a little break from them for a few months yet it just like catching up with old friends after a brief absence. It felt like the reader was welcomed with open arms to read and enjoy the continuation of the story. I would suggest if you do love this story as much as I did then go back and read Letting in Light if only to enhance your reading experience and to bring greater understanding as to how certain characters reached the place they are now at and to understand their mindset and reasons for certain actions or opinions. Saying that you wouldn't miss out if you didn't but I know I would have regretted it if I hadn't read the first book.

From the start it felt like all the setting up and introduction of the main characters had been established in the first book and the author felt more ready and willing to introduce new characters and develop a major new storyline yet the old characters still featured and mixed well with the new and there were some aspects to their plots which had continual development throughout this book. Lizzie is the new female character we turn our attention to this time, she arrives fresh off the bus to Rowan Hill for an interview to work with Ellie and the team and help out where ever needed. Lizzie seems quite a closed book and I think she was like this for the majority of the story. It was evident she was hiding something and she believed if it came out into the open people would make rash judgements of her regardless of the good work she may have had already done. She wanted people to take her for what she was and how she acted now and not uncover her past which would taint the present.

Ellie likes Lizzie instantly and takes a chance and offers her the job with some on site accommodation as she will need all the help she can get over the next few months especially as her fiancée Will will be away working on a stained glass commission. So Ellie is left to run the tea rooms and keep a general eye on the Rowan Hill community all while organising her summer wedding. At times I think Lizzie came across as being that bit too closed off and slightly dim, she was so socially awkward and inappropriate at times. I don't mean that in the worst way but there were so many opportunities for her to speak the truth or offer her viewpoint and she never did and quite often she took things up so wrong where as someone else would have understood what was going on. Overall she lacked total faith and confidence in her abilities and really didn't give herself enough credit for what she was truly capable of. I could almost compare her to a butterfly. She came to Rowan Hill encased within a cocoon of hurt and lack of belief and over the time she spent with Ellie and co she went through a transformation with numerous ups and downs, the only question the reader kept asking was would she emerge out the other side a beautiful butterfly or would things get her down to much that she reverts back to past coping mechanisms?

Emma Davies really builds up a sense of the community feeling that Will was trying to establish at Rowan Hill and though he is absent for quite a lot of this book the remaining characters more than make up for this. This time I found some of the characters quite frustrating and Ellie was one of them. On one hand she seemed to get on with her job in the tea rooms and do her best for Lizzie and the others but on the other she appeared to be in some sort of melancholy over Will's absence and doubts regarding the wedding more like wedding nerves crept in. I wanted to shake her so many times and just say get over it. You're with the man of your dreams, you have a fantastic set up at Rowan Hill and yet you are questioning things. Why couldn't she see exactly what was in front of her eyes and I suppose I mean that in more ways than one as events start to take a slightly sinister turn. I did begin to slightly wonder when the plot as outlined in the blurb would come into play as it had mentioned a series of accidents and misunderstandings threaten the happiness of everyone at Rowan Hill but Emma Davies skilfully weaved this into the overall story. I loved the mystery element as incidents occurred that you knew were not the fault of Lizzie even though being the newbie and being so secretive suspicion instantly fell on her yet I didn't know who the culprit actually was. Well for quite some time I didn't but then it clicked with me but the reasons behind all the incidents I wouldn't have ever thought of and it was quite ingenious and meant for me that aspect of the storyline was extremely well done and had pulled the wool over my eyes.

I felt Turn Towards the Sun had even more depth than the first book which I had loved. There was such a great mix of feelings inspired by all the characters and events and the rising mystery and tension within the small setting was crafted to perfection. My earlier misgivings regarding Ellie completely disappeared as I felt she began to get her act together and the fog she seemed to have surrounded herself began to dissolve and the character I had loved in Letting in Light made a welcome return. I loved Turn Towards the Sun just as much as Letting in Light in fact even more so. I devoured it in a few hours and literally couldn't put the Kindle down so caught up was I in the story and the brilliant characters and setting Emma Davies has created.

Emma Davies for me is fast becoming one of those authors whose books you would by no questions asked as to whether you like the cover (which is gorgeous by the way) or whether the blurb appeals? I'd just rush out and buy her books as soon as publication day arrives. I really want another visit to Rowan Hill and I do hope that the author feels this could be possible. In the meantime I'm eagerly awaiting the publication of Gooseberry Fool with not long to wait until the 16th of February.

This book was a little slow to begin with and I figured out "who done it" pretty early, even before I knew what problems would be caused. It was a cute book, but a little predictable.

Another engrossing book by Emma Davies!

Of course, I loved returning to Rowan Hill, and loved all the familiar faces and getting a glimpse at what we only imagined could be in Letting in Light. Ms Davies has a talent for making you feel apart of the character's world. Her descriptions are spot on, and I see them so clearly, just like if I was really there. I'm so glad she revisited this locale and characters, they are really special! I have to admit though, I wasn't as enchanted by this as her first one. I think it was due mostly to me having difficulty bonding early on with Lizzie. She grew on me, though, and by the end I truly cared.

I would recommend this particularly to those who read and enjoyed Letting in Light, but also those who enjoy British chick-lit with a little more backbone and those who like stories of those who can rise above their circumstances to make something of themselves.

**Many thanks to Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy for honest review purposes**

I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of "Turn Towards the Sun" by Emma Davis.
The genre of this book is women's fiction. I find that that the author Emma Davis writes about friendship, betrayal, trust, community, self confidence ,hope and love. In this novel, which takes place at "Rowan Hill", an estate with artistic stores, and tea and scones, Lizzy, one of the main characters is hoping to make a fresh start in life. Lizzy comes from a life of poverty. Her father is a pimp, and her mother overdosed on drugs. Lizzy is insecure and is determined to prove her worth. The problem is that there are mistakes and situations that Lizzy is blamed for. In this novel , other characters are flawed, and someone is not who they seem to be. There is romance, friendship and a touch of mystery. I would recommend this book for anyone that likes women's fiction.

Wonderful return to Rowan Hill with a completely different story that is full of drama, friendship and even an OMG moment which had me completely shocked.

Let me start by saying that Turn Towards the Sun is a standalone novel, and definitely works as one, but its also the sequel to Letting In Light, and although the characters and story progresses from the first, there are a couple of brand new characters introduced, one of which Lizzie, who this book is focused on.

Lizzie comes from a very different background to everyone else at Rowan Hill, which you can tell just from how her chapters are written. She lacks self confidence, and if anything goes wrong she tends to think she must be to blame, as she believes she isn't as clever as the others,and that due to her background that everyone will blame her regardless.

Ellie and Will see something in her and are more than happy for her to work at Rowan Hill and learn a bit about everyone's businesses as a general gopher. What pleased me greatly was the amount of times where we really just how much more there is to Lizzie than there first seems.

It is of course wonderful to see the return of Ellie and Will, Finn and Ben, plus some of the people working in their studios at Rowan Hill. If you haven't read Letting In Light yet, I really don't want to spoil any of the specifics of where their story is heading in this book, but its a great continuation of their story, with some unexpected twists too.

There is are a couple of chapters with high drama which kept me so gripped to the book that I had absolutely know idea where I was, until my subconscious picked up I was at my stop!

One of the more major storylines in the book, I did sort of predict, and was happy with waiting for the people in the book to catch up to what I was thinking, up until the moment where I stopped and actually went OMG! at which point potential motivation became apparent and everything fell into place properly.

Full of writing that transports you beyond the pages and into life at Rowan Hill, Emma Davies' storytelling gets better with each book and she is becoming an author for me that I want to read more from. Turn Towards The Sun had everything I want from a novel, and I loved spending a day with it.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This is a follow on book from Letting in Light and yet it differs - sort of the same but different (read it, you'll see what I mean!). Whilst it could easily be read first I would always recommend reading the other one first .. Rowan Hill is such a magical place that you'd be silly not to want to spend as much time there as you can.

Rowan Hill was a neglected place which needed special people with the vision to see it's potential to save it from sliding into ruin. It now runs as a sort of co-op, with artisan shops, fabulous walks and picnic places and an ever welcoming tea room. Those who work there pull together with the aim of nurturing such a special place and opening their talents to a wider audience. This novel sees a bit of expansion with the arrival of Lizzie, a 'girl Friday' character and Fliss, a talented jeweller who compliments the existing small businesses. However, when things start to go wrong an air of suspicion abounds and as it continues accusations are made and the happy atmosphere takes on a bit of a cloudy vibe.

I've been immersed in this novel for the past few days, struggling to put it down when real life calls. Wanting to read faster because I'm enjoying it so much but wanting to slow down - because I'm enjoying it so much!

Emma Davies' writing makes you feel as if the story is being spun around you and you are cocooned in the centre. Wonderfully warm, not without it's ups and downs but essentially a fabulous feel-good read which leaves you with only one burning question . . . can she write faster please??

I have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone who would like a little bit of magic in their life .. you'll feel better for it, you know you will ... five big sparkly gold stars from me!

I loved Letting in Light, and this book is the perfect follow up. I loved the introduction of Lizzie, she developed well, we got to know her more and more through the book, and she fit in perfectly alongside Ellie, Will, Finn, and the rest of the wonderful characters.

While the story was slow going to begin with, it hit around the 40% mark and it just moved onwards and upwards to a wonderful finish. I will be honest, I did guess the "whodunnit" but I kept second guessing, I didn't care that I was right, and I certainly didn't see the reasoning behind it.

Another excellent read from Emma Davies, will e looking out for a potential third visit to Rowan Hill.

Looking for a fresh start, Lizzy is thrilled when she’s offered the chance to live and work at Rowan Hill an old estate filled with young artists. Things seem wonderful at first but then a series of accidents occur and Sophie is left holding the bag. Desperate to prove her innocence and get a second chance Sophie sets out to uncover the truth about Rowan Hill

It was great to return to rowan hill really loving Emma's books look forward to more