I found this an easy, charming, "holiday" read. Not too sugary and not much stress. Would probably read the rest in the series

Oh no you didn’t!!

It was starting to get to the good part and puff with a flip of the page I end up with the end credits! DAMN YOU¬! What happens between Sam and Adam, Sam and the broody vet, Sam just in general???? I have so many questions and no answers!

OK just a tad dramatic I know but like I said it had just gotten to the good part!

Sam is a likable character, the city lights and all its glory have dimmed from her eyes and she’s left wondering what she wants. She dreams of a cottage in the country, surrounded by animals and children, working in the local vets. Unfortunately her boyfriend Adam doesn’t have such plains for the future or ever. The city lights are burning bright and he has no plans to ever leave London. He also drops a bombshell that he doesn’t want children.

Honestly Adam is a bit of a douche *ok he’s a lot of one* whenever Sam raises her concerns about being a reception at the vets and wanting to do more now that she has some qualifications he makes he feel small and silly for even dreaming to be better then she currently is.

She decides a mini separation is called for – so she can really think about what she wants and if her future has Adam in it. A visit to Hope Green and her Nan is just what the doctor ordered, especially now that she learnt that she’s pregnant. Throw a brooding, sex vet into the mix. One that Sam can’t seem to get off her mind and her visit to Hope Green becomes even more interesting¬!

This was a very cute intro into the Hope Green series.

Sam decided she needed a break from the hustle and bustle of living and working in London so decides to go and spend Easter with her Nana in a quaint village in Dorset.


Part One delves into some of the details of Sam's life back in London with her long term boyfriend, Adam, and begins to give you a glimpse into what she will experience whilst staying in Hope Green; enough to make you want to read Part Two.

I read this serialised book all in one go in the end and I really enjoyed this light hearted read. Is great for fans of Cathy Woodman and Cathy Bramley. I am looking forward to further instalments set in Hope Green in the future in order to see the developments of some of the characters in this series.

Thank you to Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing for accepting my request via Netgalley. This is the first book I have read by Shelia but it won't be the last. This is the first in a four part series of short stories following Sam as she leaves London and moves to Hope Green.

Sam lives in London with 3 other girls in a flat. She works as a vet's receptionist and is dating Alex. She doesn't much like anything about her life. Her flat is tiny, she's always wanted to be a vet, not the receptionist and she's not sure she's in love with Alex.

Instead of spending her week off with Alex and his family she decides to go and visit her Nana in Hope Green. Hope Green is everything London isn't. When Sam takes Nana's dog Rufus to the vets she meets local vet Joe. Sam finds Joe to be abrupt and rude with her but he's amazing with the animals.

This is a good cosy story that is perfect for those autumn evenings. It's a short read but you will be quickly hooked on the series just like I was.

Disclaimer: e-ARC provided by Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Quotes may not appear in the final edition.

"Hope Green was my Hope for that future, and I was determined not to look back."

As a veterinarian myself, of course this book cover got my attention. I was in a serious need for a cute quick read, and that's what I've got.
Sam used to work as a receptionist in a London veterinary practice and, after some issues with her boyfriend Adam, she decides to move to the rural Hope Green, "the exact opposite of London".
And then she meets the local vet, Joe Bradley. And so it starts, the tale of man-is-rude-to-woman-but-she-still-finds-him-irresistable! :)

I probably won't go on with the rest of the series, but it kept me entartained for a couple of hours.

Sam's life hasn't been going to plan, with her career at a standstill and her life in London not cracked up to what she thought it would be, Sam is unsure of what to do with her life now. Wanting to get away for the big city of London, Sam decides to go and visit her Nana Peggy.
Being the country gives Sam time to think about what she wants, although the more time she spends in Hope Green the more she feels at home. Her small run in with the gorgeous village vet, makes Sam think about her love life and is her boyfriend the person she can picture a future with.
Life at Hope Green is one of complete peace but Sam isn't sure she could pick up her whole life and make a big move, but then again sometimes life works in mysterious ways making the choice for you instead.
I loved Nana Peggy, she is such a sweet and likeable character. The way she is with her animals and her with Sam, she is willing to do anything for them and enjoys having someone there to keep her company. I also loved Sam, her character is one which many people will be able to relate to. Having a career which she doesn't like, living in a city which always seems to be moving at a fast pace that she can keep up with. Not to mention a boyfriend who is the complete opposite to the person she fell in love with.
The first installment of the book is a great book, it has everything I want in a story. Charming men, a small village which will make you wish you lived there and animals which are so cute, you will want them for yourself.
Three Words
Hopeful, Captivating and Cute.

Nice quick read - I am looking forward to reading the other 2 parts

This is a nice short story which leaves you wanting more.
A good start to a series.

A gentle introduction to life in Hope Green. Lovely cast of characters and I am looking forward to getting to know them all.

This book reminded me of serials I used to enjoy is weekly magazines many years ago/ Despite technology etc it still feels more like that era .

Sam is a city worker yearning for the country and seizes the opportunity to visit her granny as often as she can, Circumstances conspire for her to move in with the old lady. She too is like something from a long ago type of old lady, yet she doesn't know the first hing about caring for pets it would seem, however Sam is on hand to educate her. But isn't so savvy she can tell when someone falls in love with her etc.
There are lots of sensible messages like get your pet micro-chipped and beware of lethal pollen from lilies if a cat is likely to be in contact with it.
It's quite a pleasant story with a very annoying central character.

This was a very quick read. Homely story which has the potential to be the start of an interesting series. Good characters and an interesting story line.

In this first visit to Hope Green we are introduced to Sam a bored Londoner who dreams of life as a vet, living in a rose covered cottage with a family of her own. In fact she is in a job and with a man she has grown bored with and instead of spending Easter with his family decides to go and visit her grandmother instead at Hope Green.

Really enjoyed reading this book. Liked the main character, thought she was believable. Ideal holiday read. Looking forward to part two!

Did not take too long to get through this book and it finished (a bit abruptly) but leaving you wanting to read the next instalment. I could see this as an audio book as the text and descriptions allowed you to see the locations and events which would translate well to that medium. Overall a good first outing for a subject that could develop into a good series

this is the first book in a series and I am so happy that I decided to read this short book (around 100 pages long) - it was a wonderful book to read in between two longer books. A nice break. I loved everything about it, the characters, the lovely settings, the issues that the main characters are facing, the love for animals (and for dogs) that have the main character, and the relationships that are starting to build up between the main character and the people from the village where the main character took a little holiday to be with her grandmother and away from her troubles. Lovely lovely book, I can't wait to read the second part! I have it in my TBR pile and won't wait very long to read it!!!! I recommend this book 100 %!

Enjoyable easy holiday read, will look forward to reading following books

Sam's life as a receptionist in the city vets is okay but she wants more, she secretly would love to be a vet. But it has always been out of her reach. Sam seems to always be broke and lives in a poky flat and rarely gets any fresh air. Arguing with her boyfriends seems to be the norm and he isn't that interested n the future either.

When she gets the opportunity to go and visit her Nana, she jumps at the chance to take stock of her life.

Staying with her Nan, she grows fond of the old dog Rufus who has given her Nan meaning and purpose since her husband died. It seems that Sam has arrived at the right time, to help with Rufus.

It is through this that she meets Joe, the local vet. He seems to have a great affinity with animals but his skills with dealing with humans is rather lacking. Sam and Joe clash.

But the Sam receives some news, which might mean she needs to return to London.

I automatically loved the sound of this from the synopsis. Sam is a receptionist at a vets and her life is far from the way she wants it to be: her boyfriend Adam and she have different ideals in life- she wonders what a more rural life outside the hustle and bustle of the Capital may be like, whereas Adam is more career-minded and a pure urbanite. She takes a break from it all at her nan's. This is a very engaging, well-paced story of self discovery and the characters are mostly likeable. The story is very atmospheric and this is the first novella in a series. I am so glad I discovered Sheila Norton's books! Thank you to Netgalley for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review. This left me wondering what else will happen.

A lovely book, lighthearted yet real life story. It shows the life in a small village compared to living in London & the pace of life there. The end leaves you waiting for the next book to see what happens to all the characters.