Lovely book. Very different to those i have read of late. Nice relaxed book that didnt take up to much thinking. It just flowed very easy and there really wasn't anything not to like. Think the cover could have been a bit more attractive.

Oh my goodness, I really loved this book. I just can't rave enough about it. It started out in a pretty typical fashion. At 39 Melinda Foster loses her job she's had since she was 25 due to the company's downsizing. Her and her coworkers who were let go also are lost and befuddled. During this time period her uncle has a health issue and her aunt is his main caretaker. Her uncle owns a hardware store, one of those charming old fashioned ones out in the country. At her aunt's urging she packs her bags and heads to the country to help run the store. Her parents want her to move back in with them for the few months that she is there. Who wants to live with their parents at 39 years old though? I mean really. Exploring around town she happens upon a dirt road with a for rent sign way out in the boonies. Driving down the road she sees the house and decides to give it a chance by calling the number about the house. It's really more than she bargained for though when she finds out what she's in for. The rent is incredibly low but the catch is city girl is about to turn into a country girl. To name a few her responsibilities include weeding and harvesting the garden,taking care of the sheep and chickens,collecting the chicken eggs from the grumpy chickens and definitely making sure she doesn't get pecked. Painting the inside of the house and repairs on the barn go along with it. I kept looking for a romance to start because the books I read are usually romance but there was none here. Don't let that fool you though the book was so enjoyable even without a romance added. While she is working at the hardware store a tornado blows up . Melinda must leave the store after hiding in the basement at the store for safety. She must go home and check on the safety of the animals and see how much damage has been done to the house. How much damage was caused to the area and to the house? Are the animals safe? One thing that made me have my heart in my throat was the sweet dog,Hobo is missing. Now Hobo is one of the main characters. I just loved the boy. I suggest you read this down home country charm book. I think you'll enjoy it as much as me.
Pub Date 29 May 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Fremont Creek Press for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

If you are tired and in need of a very light, relaxing read - this could be the book for you.

It is a pleasant story with the trope of leaving-the-big-city-behind-and-start-again-in-the-countryside-while-bonding-with-nature-and-a-small-town-community.

The main character, Melinda gets the heave-ho from her high profile job in Minneapolis & does not know what to do, when she finds herself back in rural Iowa due to a family emergency. She agrees to help out her aunt and work for her in their small-town shop. She also chances upon a charming old farm which is for rent together with a 1 dog and a couple of sheep and hens.

The narrative is slow-rolling and nothing much is happening: vegetables/fruits grow and ripen, flowers bloom, Melinda works hard & gets accepted into the friendly, close-knit community.

Some dramatic tension is introduced in shape of a tornado at the very end, but everything gets sorted out eventually.

The other thing the book is curiously void of is romance. I kept expecting a love interest to turn up for Melinda, but they never did & I gave up looking for him (her) after a while.