Another beautiful book that you just want to crawl inside of!

4 out of 5

**OMG! I cannot believe that these reviews haven't been done! I am so sorry they are so late!!!**

When Flora's flower business goes down the pan she agrees to move with Ned, after a whirlwind romance, to live at his farm in the countryside. It is soon a great culture shock for Flora, an arty, vegetarian city girl, to find herself living with Ned's parents who are very traditional and believe a woman's place is in the kitchen....... throw the manipulative ex into the mix and will she be able to survive!

Another lovely story by this author, you found yourself really rooting for Flora who was a lovely character and brought new life into the old farmhouse, perfect lighthearted summer read

When Flora has a problem with her flower shop , he finds herself on Ned's parents farm. Ned's mum is reluctant to accept any help and it takes her a while to find her own space in the household. She tries to help out but meets resistance. Ned's mum runs a very traditional household and is not keen on having an outsider helping!

I love the way Emma Davies creates her settings and characters so that they become like friends that you want to chat to and find solutions to their problems.
Hope Corner sounds so wonderful.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
A very good read and one I can highly recommend to others.
I could not put this down.
Thoroughly enjoyable with an amazing cast of characters that you cannot help but engage with.

Flora is about to have a life changing event. She must close her flower shop and find a new place to live. When Ned proposes marriage and moves her out to his farm she thinks all her problems are solved. But Ned's parents still run the farm and have strict routines and ways to do things. As she adjusts her creative nature she finds small ways to help and bring about small changes in all their lives. A good story but a little slow in parts. Very sweet and clean and the cover is beautiful. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The story of Flora and Ned.

Flora has given up her life in the city and moved to the farm with Ned. She soon realises that Ned is keeping secrets from her, so will she stay at Hope Corner?

Great read, looking forward to the rest of the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this Arc.
A very sweet, feel good story. It had a lovely old fashioned feel with a modern twist!
Not the most gripping story but one you'll love all the same.

I really liked Flora, a lot. She was her own person and despite ending up on a farm and having to try and fit in with a totally different lifestyle, she did her absolute best.

This was a strong story with real situations and very real characters. Flora has an artists soul and this does not always go down well where she is living but luckily she runs into Grace, who is a kindred spirit.

Ned seems like a nice bloke, a bit ineffectual, but I really liked Flora's father-in-law. After Flora herself, he was my favourite character.

The author did a great job with the setting and the characterisations - I really felt like I was on the farm as well.

A really solid book and well worth the read.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

The book was a huge disappointment to me. I really didn’t enjoy it at all
I had expected this to be a romantic read but it wasn’t. It could have given so much more than it did

I have been a fan of Emma’s for a little while now. She writes books about realistic characters with problems that a lot of us can relate to. That’s how I feel anyway. I read the synopsis for ‘The House At Hope Corner’ and I just knew that I would be in for one hell of a read. So it proved to be. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The House At Hope Corner’ but more about that in a bit.
I couldn’t help but take to the character of Flora Dunbar from the very first time I met her. She is one of those people, who isn’t afraid to chase her dream. She is a creative type and expresses herself through her floristry and through her side line of pictures ad other works, which she sells on Etsy. Flora did have her own florist’s shop but sadly the business failed. Flora hasn’t let that get her down and she pulled up her big girl pants and carried on. Flora is quirky, unique and an all round lovely person. Flora meets the delightful and handsome sounding Ned, who has red hair which is always a bonus in my eyes but then I am biased. I also love the fact that Ned’s family has an elderly Labrador, but then I am biased there too since I have two loopy Labradors myself. Flora and Ned get together and he invites her to live with him and his family on a farm, which is a fair distance away. I was so hoping that Flora and Ned would make a go of things. Ned loves Flora’s creative streak. Flora gets a bit of a culture shock in the sense that she tries to fit in with Ned’s family, whilst still trying to keep up her creative arts. I was a bit concerned as to whether Flora was trying to spread herself too thin and that she was trying too hard to fit in and please people. Things start to go wrong for her and she faces a fight to save her relationship and to succeed in her new life. I really did feel as though Flora was a friend of mine and there were a few times when I wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to give her a hug or to lend her my shoulder to cry on.
Oh my giddy aunt ‘The House At Hope Corner’ was one of those reads that really did get to me and on occasion I felt the story pulling on my heartstrings. It didn’t take me long at all to get into this story and pretty much by the end of the fourth chapter, I was addicted to reading this book. I just had to keep reading to find out if Flora got the happy ever after she so deserved and if she managed to make a success of her new life. I had everything crossed. I binge read the book over the course of a couple of days. I soon got through the story but I can honestly say that I didn’t notice the speed with which the time was passing or the speed with which the pages were turning. Before I knew what was happening, I got to the end of the story which I was so disappointed about. I know that sounds bad but I really don’t mean it that way. I was enjoying the author’s writing style, the storylines and the characters so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
‘The House At Hope Corner’ is extremely well written. The author has a writing style that is easy to get used to and it is easy to get along with. The author draws you in to the story from the first word on the first page and she keeps your attention all the way through the book. She writes so realistically and descriptively that you really do feel as though you are part of the story yourself. That’s how I felt at any rate. The characters were so well described that they seemed to come to life and jump off the page as it were. They seemed just as real as you or I.
In short, Emma Davies has another sure fire bestseller on her hands with ‘The House At Hope Corner’ and it is nothing less than she deserves. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. I would definitely recommend this author and her fantastic books to other readers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Lovely easy to read feel good read. Gorgeous cover that drew me in. Nicely put story. Lovely sounding location. Lose yourself in this lovely book

I was so excited to read The House at Hope Corner, the cover is absolutely beautiful, but sadly I really struggled with the story, I found it difficult to bond with any of the characters and I felt the book lacked humour.

After a whirlwind romance, Flora heads to Ned’s family farm The House at Hope Corner to begin their new life together. But neither she nor Ned or his family are prepared for the upheavals this massive change will have on their lives.
I really felt like I identified with Flora. I had an ex who lived in the country and I was a vegetarian. I really didn’t fit in. Luckily Flora has the support of her fiance Ned.
Equally I can imagine the frustration of having someone come into your home when you have set routines and ways of doing things as we often have my mother in law to stay. Plus when we got to stay with her, I want to be helpful but not get in the way.
I loved this book especially as I could identify with the perspectives of many of the characters. It was easy to spot the insidious ways that Caroline, a ‘helpful friend’, was actually causing trouble for the family and I was desperate for her to be revealed as the unpleasant person she actually was.
Flora herself is keeping secrets and it is obvious that the whirlwind nature of their relationship means that she and Ned have a lot of work to do on building their relationship on trust rather than just love.
I enjoyed the interesting juxtaposition between the traditional and the modern, both in terms of work and domestic roles. Negotiating relationships and being honest about expectations are key themes in the book.
This is a fab feel good book, full of hope and love just like Emma’s previous book. More please!

The House at Hope Corner by Emma Davies was another successful literary escape (my favourite type of low-budget not-actually-a-vacation.)

Whirlwind romance, delightful scenery, just enough trouble to keep things interesting, and of course, a likeable female lead defining herself in the midst of it all – it equals a formula for a fantastic summer read. This book is the type you’ll want to load onto your reader for a relaxing afternoon under a tree or sitting on the beach – or in my case, snuggled up under the covers on a quiet dreary day.

I laughed, I cried, and I felt like I was right there, a part of the family with every tense scene, every new situation, every triumph. The House at Hope Corner is a warm-hearted, page-turning depiction of a sweetly eccentric woman, her charming farmer fiancee, and the merging of two very different outlooks on life – finding balance between artistic, creative freedom and rigid, routine farm life while overcoming challenges and the secrets that come to light as you get to know someone and their family. It’s a great work of contemporary women’s fiction that will charm the socks off you!

I received a complimentary of this title via NetGalley with thanks to the publisher. As always, all opinions are my own. Full review scheduled for publication on my blog - 05/15/19.
https://lifelovelaughterlinds.home.blog/?p=778

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓎. 𝒬𝓊𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓉.

Emma Davies writes books full of charm and wit. This book is no exception, probably the best book I have read from her so far! Flora and Ned have a whirlwind courtship. Flora sells her flower business and they head to Ned‘s hometown to live on the family farm with his parents. Living the farm life isn’t as simple as flora thought, especially when Ned‘s parents have definite opinions on how things are done. So can this free-spirited city girl find her place in the country? Will Flora and Ned get there happily ever after? Even if they have a few secrets left to tell?

Flora was such a fantastic character! She brought so much joy and color not only to the pages of this book but to this family farm. I loved the clash between this modern girl and this old-fashioned family. Ned’s Parents Hannah and Fraser, are very traditional in their thinking, the man works hard and the woman works hard to take care of him.🙄 Flora definitely held her tongue and try to learn Hannas ways. I love the way that flora related to both Hannah and Fraser, the girl had such a huge heart and so much respect for her potential future in-laws. Flora and Ned‘s connection was very sweet, although she out shown him a bit. I’d imagine that be the case if you were with a person that was as dynamic as Flora. Don’t think I would classify this as a romance, more like women’s fiction with a peppering of romance.

This was the perfect escapist read, I enjoyed every minute I spend with these characters on this lovely farm. Emma Davies descriptions of this farm were so vivid, I feel as though I’ve been there and it was gorgeous! Such a sweet story full of so much heart, hope, and flowers!💐

*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

Really charming book!! Romantic and heart warming. I couldn't stop reading. A great book for summer reading.

This is a really easy-going, enjoyable, humorous and heart warming story. The plot is easy to follow, believable and engaging. The characters are likeable, authentic and multi-dimensional. A really good all-round chick lit book.

Let me get this out the way first – I wasn’t feeling hopeful about the story at first. I found Flora to be a little bit of a doormat, and Ned got on my nerves. I mean, stand up for your fiance for goodness sake!

Then, all of a sudden, the storyline seemed to click and the characters seemed to have a bit of a personality change! So, despite my unhopeful opinion at the beginning, I ended up absolutely adoring ‘The House at Hope Corner’, especially Flora and Ned’s dad. He really wasn’t a character who I thought i would end up liking due to the way he came across in the first few chapters. However after reading the rest of the book, good ol’ Ferg actually became one of my favourites.

I loved the ‘be who you want to be, don’t change for anyone’ premise, it is such an important message for people to keep in mind. Easier said than done, of course, but it did give me that hope that, not actually being like anyone else, is such a good thing because you’re being true to yourself. I thought that Flora brought that message home brilliantly, and as someone with extremely low confidence and not one who fits in, that message resonated with me deep within. I guess I became quite emotional by it all.

Having fallen head over heels with ‘The House at Hope Corner’ and being hugged by characters like Grace, I feel bad that my opinion of the book wasn’t so great at the start. There was clearly a lot more to the storyline and the characters that met the eye – I understand that now.

I finished Emma Davies book with a ginormous smile on my face abd bucketfuls of hope in my heart. This really is a book which kept on giving.

A heartwarming, joyful, thought provoking read which made me want to spread my wings like the butterfly I am.

The House at Hope Corner by Emma Davies has such an attractive and beautiful cover that instantly draws you in and makes you want to pick up this book and read it as soon as possible. The line on the cover says it is the perfect feel good holiday romance novel but to be honest the romance very much takes a back seat here as when we meet Ned and Flora the romance has already occurred. They are moving on to the next stage and this story follows how the cope with what ensues following their declaration of love and commitment to each other. It didn't bother me in the slightest that we didn't get an in-depth account of how the pair came to meet and how their whirlwind relationship developed into an engagement. In fact it was refreshing not to have this because we have all read this storyline umpteen times over.

Instead the focus turns to how Flora settles into the new life that Ned brings her to. I say how Flora settles because it is she who is uprooting herself from Birmingham where she has sold her florists shop after running it for several years. She is completely taken out of her comfort zone and transported to the countryside and to Hope Corner Farm where she is taking the biggest leap of her life. Yes this may be a huge jump for Flora but deep down it feels so right and she firmly believes she has made the right choice despite the speed of said decision. Ned will take her away from everything she knows but she is following her heart and the love she has for Ned is deep rooted. But will this new life vision be everything Flora wants it to be?

Hope Corner Farm seems like an idyll and the descriptions of the farm and surrounding landscapes and countryside were glorious but will it live up to Flora's dreams? Flora is a person who lives her life according to her own intuition and is not someone to look back so once the decision to up sticks and move in with Ned on his farm was made she didn't waver and set to it. From the outset it was clear to see that Flora was a quirky character who didn't follow convention even in terms of the clothes she wore. She liked to stand out but deep down I could sense there were certain insecurities she was harbouring. I felt by coming to Hope Farm she was slightly adapting and hiding some of her qualities and opinions and that's simply because of Ned's parents.

I really could see the two sides of the story and I thought they were both explored very well. On one hand you have this couple - Hannah and Fraser – who have been married for years and have run their farm the same way for as long as they can remember. Son Ned slotted into the equation and the daily routine remains a constant that is never ever altered. So when someone completely new comes on the scene and takes up residence as Ned's future wife of course they were going to find it hard adapt and change the ways which have been set in stone for as long as one can remember. I don't blame Hannah for being the way she was, obsessed with housework and the daily meals or making marmalade etc, but as with Flora I thought there could have been a lot more compromise and a willingness to meet in the middle.

It was new territory for everyone involved and talking through things and not keeping things hidden and brushed under the carpet should have been the way to go. But I suppose sticking to what they had always done and not contemplating change was what Ned's parents knew best. On the other hand although I understand how nervous and awkward Flora must have felt I thought she could have just stepped back that little bit and taken the time to get to know the lie of the land. I know everything was thrown at her and she had to take on things that she had no clue about nor did she approve of but still like Hannah a little bit of give and take wouldn't have gone amiss.

Flora is a person who challenges perceptions. Someone who has until now been brave, adventurous, quirky and non conformist but maybe she would have to rein in some of these qualities in order to fit in at Hope Farm. Should she have to do this or should Ned and his parents maybe step out of their comfort zones. I suppose Ned was just as much to blame as in my mind he spent most of the story out tending the land and milking the cows rather than being there for Flora and helping her settle into this new life which was hopefully going to be forever. I thought he very much neglected the relationship and left Flora to fend for herself without ever backing her up when it came to situations with Hannah. It was clear they were all treading rocky waters and at times tiptoeing around each other and that sooner or later something would have to give. The question remained what would come about to cause this change or would things meander along as they had for the first half of the novel?

It's only as we reach the second half that I felt the story really picked up its pace. At times up until that point it had become slightly repetitive and something needed to happen to liven things up a bit. Fortunately two major things occurred which forced everyone involved to take their head from the clouds and confront things which had been kept hidden. Gender seemed to rule but when weaknesses and lies begin to make themselves apparent, will a more equal division of labour and an admittance of some home truths mean the lives of those at Hope Farm are about to change once and for all and maybe for the better.

I loved the addition of two other characters who were the polar opposites of each other. Grace worked in the local village shop and she herself lived with an unusual situation but I loved how she became a confidante of Flora's and understood who Flora was and how she didn't want to lose all of the qualities that made her the person she was. The complete opposite was Caroline, the greatest busybody to ever grace a book. There was not one characteristic which endeared me to her and I desperately wanted Flora to give her a good slap and really break down and tell her what she thought of all Caroline's interfering. She was a know-it-all with clear ulterior motives and my god she needed a big come uppance. Again this goes back to the fact that Ned to me seemed entrenched in the way he had been brought up and how things were expected to run at the farm. It was like he had no voice and when he should have been there for Flora or welcoming her attempts to want to help him he shut her down and remained absent. He had fallen in love with Flora and she had jumped out of her comfort zone for him yet it was like he wasn't willing to completely follow through with everything and there must have been reasons for this being the case.

I enjoyed the aspect of the story which dealt with Flora's passion for flowers, plants and nature and this should have been encouraged at all times. The area surrounding Hope Farm was ripe for exploration and to allow her to sketch, paint and make prints and continue her craft but I thought she was being curtailed and forced to conform. Nature and art save her sanity but can these things also save the entire story when big things are revealed? Everything really kicked off in the last 20% or so and at times I wondered would there be happy ending considering this was modelled as a feel good holiday romance. The way things ended I did think there is definitely room for another story and I would like one because this was a good story although the very first few books published by Emma I think will forever remain my absolute favourites. But I would certainly recommend The House at Hope Corner for a nice, relaxing read this summer which gets that little bit juicer the more you progress through the story.

Moving in with a new partner’s parents can rarely be easy – but when you’re a bit arty and creative and maybe a teeny bit ditsy, it’s considerably more difficult when you find they run a farm along particularly traditional lines and have very fixed ideas about appropriate roles for farmers and farmers’ wives. And they raise cattle, and enjoy a fatty fry-up in the mornings – and you’re a vegetarian. And there’s an ever-present meddling neighbour who seems to enjoy making you feel inadequate and unwelcome – and you’re sure there’s some big secret people aren’t sharing with you.

Flora and Ned have barely got started with their relationship, but it really does look doomed to fail, however much they might love each other. When something rather unexpected and dramatic happens, it’s the start of a considerable emotional journey for everyone – but one that’s ultimately joyful and uplifting and really warms the cockles of your heart.

The characters in this book are excellent – Ned himself struggling to help Flora settle and fit in, his mother rarely putting down the bleach bottle (unless she’s kneading a loaf or starting the next batch of marmalade), his taciturn and stoical father. And then there’s that neighbour – a total horror, but a great creation. And Grace at the village shop – a lovely character, with an interesting twist on that theme of “a woman’s place” – but you’ll have to see for yourself where she fits in. But it’s Flora herself who constantly draws your eye, while winning your heart with an inner strength you’d never have expected.

I’ll admit I might have been expecting a bit more of a love story – but this book is more about what happens afterwards, when real life kicks in, with a few big misunderstandings and rocky moments along the way, and that was just fine with me. There’s quite a lot of sadness, past and present, in this book alongside the sunny presence of Flora – and it’s all particularly well-handled as things reach resolution, entirely uplifting and satisfying, with an ending that really does bring a tear to the eye along with the widest of smiles.

The writing is excellent – an ease of readability, a vividly described setting, excellent character development, and a story with an uncertain outcome, along with the surest of touches with the emotional content. The tour poster mentions “feel-good”, and so it is – this book has all the warmth of the fluffiest blanket, and I enjoyed it very much. I understand we’ll be returning to Hope Corner for another visit in the summer… I’ll be looking forward to it immensely.

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