This is the perfect book to cosy up with, beautiful location and characters that you fall in love with, really enjoyed it.

Give me a book set in Scotland and I’m going to be happy. Reading about teas and full Scottish breakfasts got me hungry and itching to go back to the highlands, grab a dram, and curl up in the nearest tartan.

Beyond the country, this was a fun, easy, and light romance. With the setting of a small village B&B in Scotland, it’s hard to imagine this type of book being any more idyllic, and yet, the addition of a gorgeous millionaire makes this tale swoonworthy. I loved the story, however, be prepared for very little drama.

Probably my favorite moments from Starcross Manor came when Christie Barlow got honest about women’s bodies. For example, I felt Julia’s struggle deep in my soul as she wiggled on the floor to get into skinny jeans for a date and ended up having to pitch them because they did not fit. She didn’t stand up and become magically thinner and gorgeous in the pants she hadn’t worn in years. Julia embraced the body she had at 40 and felt beautiful with a little help from her friends.

The only reason this book didn’t get 5 stars could possibly be the fact that this book is the 4th of a series and I haven’t read the first 3. Subsequently, I felt like the characters needed more backstory, which means I wouldn’t recommend this as a standalone. You can absolutely follow the plot well enough, it just felt like something indefinable was missing.

Starcross Manor is light hearted and easy to read, making for an adorable book for low heat romance lovers.

Starcross Manor is the next chapter in the Love Heart Lane series focuses on property development in Heartcross. Julia runs a local bed and breakfast and is looking to expand. The appearance of Flynn, a successful property developer, is worrying. His proposal to create a luxury hotel complex at the manor is troubling for the villagers and particularly for Julia.

This is an engaging story with realistic characters and strong female protagonists. The cast of characters is rich and vividly written, adding to the story's authenticity. It's easy to escape into this rural world and care what happens to the characters.

I received a copy of this book from One More Chapter via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

How thoroughly lovely it was to be back in Heartcross – I really do love this series, and I was really looking forward to spending time in the company of friends again. This time, it’s Julia at the B&B who’s the focus for the story – she’s made appearances in earlier books, but it was so good to get to know her rather better. She’s a little older, which is always something I really appreciate, because it can make a character easier for me to identify with: I particularly liked her relationship with her friend and sidekick Eleni, and really loved her infectious enthusiasm for developing her business further.

But there’s a shadow on the horizon, in the shape of Flynn Carter – he’s bought nearby Starcross Manor, and rather than turning it into the retirement development the villagers were rather expecting, it’s going to be a luxury hotel and wedding venue. That’s something that will threaten the livelihoods of quite a few of the villagers, but especially Julia’s plans for expanding the B&B – and she has history with Flynn, and a few very good reasons to neither like nor trust him.

The story is essentially a fairly classic enemies-to-friends one, with a good bit of tension and conflict, and more than a touch of things not being quite what they seem. There’s some particularly well written drama too, and an opportunity for all the villagers to pull together as they always do when the chips are down.

The characters are really excellent – I loved Julia from her first appearance, but Flynn’s character is developed so very well too. Did I mention that he’s rather hot? And he has hidden depths and a side to him that you really won’t be expecting – but you’ll need to discover that for yourself. But it’s not just Julia and Flynn who are great characters and very real people – every single supporting character, even the very minor ones like the guests at the B&B, is drawn in three dimensions with their quirks and foibles.

The writing is really excellent – so comfortable to read, infused with warmth, easy to escape into, well written dialogue and interplay between the characters, and the whole book a perfect balance of drama with lightness and humour. There’s a very strong sense of place too – the descriptions of the story’s setting are excellent, and I’m really getting to know Heartcross itself rather well now. But I really enjoyed the added dimension of Starcross Manor – its grounds, the luxurious interior, and the way the little touches of interior decoration drove the story forward at times and contributed to the character development.

This was a really lovely read, and highly recommended – and I’m already looking forward to the fifth book in the series, The Lake House, due out on 10th December (available for preorder).

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I like this author and all that she has written. This has a good story, good characters and I fell in love with Starcross Manor. Would recommend to other readers.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

Once again, Christie Barlow takes us to the beautiful village of Heartcross and this time it is Julia, the owner of the B&B who finds her happily ever after. Surely, this is not only her story, but also of an entire village where the community stands together no matter what.
Gorgeous, wealthy Flynn Carter is not a past that Julia wanted to face again. But here he is in Heartcross, encroaching on her safe haven with plans of converting the Starcross manor to a world-class hotel facility. Flynn's plans threaten the welfare of the entire community with their small businesses and Julia is determined to stop him. But is Flynn Carter really the guy she thinks to be? Her past experiences advise her to be wary of him, but her heart is not planning to listen.
From beginning to end, this cute little story was the perfect getaway from the real world. As always, Christie Barlow never fails to amaze us.

Julia Coleman owns and runs the bed and breakfast in Heartcross, a small village in the Scottish Highlands. Several years previously she had consoled a good friend when she was dumped on her wedding day and now she was astounded to see the erstwhile groom, millionaire property developer Flynn Carter, in the local pub. Julia had another reason to dislike the man since he had bought her beloved grandfather’s house for much less than it was worth, and then demolished it. But what was he doing in Heartcross?

Julia’s business was doing really well, due to the fact Heartcross had been in the news several times recently, and had become a popular tourist destination. Julia was planning on extending the B&B to create more guest rooms in order to cope with increasing visitor numbers. In fact, all the local businesses were benefitting from the tourist trade.

When it becomes clear Flynn’s recent purchase of Starcross Manor was not to convert it into a retirement home as the villagers believed, but turn it into a luxury five star hotel, Julia was devastated. Anxious about the future of her own business and the impact the hotel will have on the villagers’ businesses in general, she calls a meeting. Flynn is about to find out what a tight knit community feeling under threat can do.

I always enjoy revisiting idyllic Heartcross and its lovely community, and I liked the fact the two main protagonists are on the mature side. It makes a nice change. They are both interesting characters Flynn didn’t have that sense of his own importance, considering his impressive business successes, regardless of Julia’s initial impressions. And Julia was also an astute business woman in her own right and willing to fight for herself and the village.

Starcross Manor is character driven, showing how the community and individuals resolve the problems that arise, and as always the emphasis is on working together, friendship and community. I love the setting and the inhabitants of the village. Several threads run concurrently and are all woven together well, with humorous moments as well as romantic ones. A light, easy and enjoyable read.

Starcross Manor is book four in the Love Heart Lane series by Christie Barlow. At the end of Clover Cottage we were briefly introduced to Flynn Carter, and here we discover Flynn’s story. We also learn more about B&B owner Julia Coleman who has appeared in the other books.

Julia and Flynn’s paths have crossed in the past, and when Julia learns of Flynn’s arrival in Heartcross, she knows this is a sign of bad things to come. This is confirmed when she discovers Flynn’s plans to turn Starcross Manor into a luxury hotel, threatening her business. Can Flynn convince her that he isn’t there to cause trouble for her, or for the community of Heartcross.

From the very beginning of the latest installment I was transported back into the village of Heartcross, and loved revisiting some of the characters that we have met before as well as learning more about Julia and Flynn. I love the sense of community that Christie brings to her books.

Although this is part of a series I think that you could read this as a standalone, but be warned you will to revisit Heartcross as many times as possible.

I hope we get to visit Heartcross again in the future, but I can’t wait to read whatever Christie brings out next.

Christie Barlow’s writing has once again captured my heart with Starcross Manor. Starcross Manor is book four in the Love Heart Lane series. Although each novel can be read as a standalone story I would highly recommend reading the books in the series in order to appreciate the history of the characters, the setting and the ambiance of the community of Heartcross. The books in the series are:

Love Heart Lane
Foxglove Farm
Clover Cottage
Starcross Manor
The Lake House (due later this year)
The Love Heart Lane series is set in the most idyllic of locations in a small village in the Scottish Highlands. A village that holds the community within it’s heart and it’s success is borne by each and every one of the small independent businesses pulling together helping each other. Although the village sounds idyllic the lives of the villagers are full of realistic problems and situations that are relatable. The characters are written with such warmth that you instantly fall in love with, even the likeable rogues. Each story in the series is centred around a different character and business but Starcross Manor has two businesses as it’s focus; the main one is Julia’s B & B that has been established five years now and is doing very well with the tourists flocking to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, the other business is Starcross Manor which has recently been bought and in the process of renovating by a newcomer, hot shot entreprenuer Flynn Carter.

When Julia bumps into the new owner of Starcross Manor she is shocked to discover that someone from her past has turned up in the village and looks like he is here to stay. There’s a lot of bad feeling between Julia and Flynn but it appears that Flynn can’t recall all the hurt that he once caused. The villagers soon become unsettled with this high flying businessman in their midst and they fear for their livelihood. However, when an emergency ensues within the village fears are put on hold and the strength of the community pull together with a surprising benefactor to the cause.

Starcross Manor is another gorgeous instalment in the bestselling series Love Heart Lane. It’s a series that you just want to keep going and going and as each story emerges you once again escape into the lives of the villagers of Heartcross and leave a tiny bit of your heart in the Scottish Highlands. A story that sparkles with fun, friendship, hopefulness and blossoming romance.

Lovely and lavish. Sweet and sassy. Charming and cozy. Christie Barlow once again captivated me with her delightful storytelling. Loved returning to the darling village of Heartcross. This is the fourth book in the series, but each book without a doubt can be read as a standalone. In this book we get to know Julia the owner of the B&B better. Owning a B&B is a dream come true for Julia, her business is flourishing and she is about to add on an extension. Things could not be going better until Flynn Carter breezes into town. Not only did Flynn take advantage of Julia when she was selling her grandfathers land, but he also jilted one of her friends at the altar. When Julia finds out Flynn is opening a five-star luxury hotel in her village she is determined that he must be stopped. The thing is Flynn seems to be a genuine guy really wanting to fit into this village. Could Julia be wrong? Could things be not quite as they appear? And to make things even more confusing Julia is definitely attracted to the handsome Flynn.

This was so fun! Julia was such a great character. I loved how thoughtful she was and how willing she was to admit when she made a mistake. I also loved all the strong female friendships in the story and the sense of community. Flynn seemed like such a great guy and it was hard to reconcile him with the guy that Julia previously knew. Starcross Manor and the surrounding property were so vividly and beautifully described I felt like I was there. I seriously would not mind actually being there it sounded so glorious every little detail. Loved how lush an opulent it all was and yet still down to earth and authentic. The romance was a sweet very slow burn and I’m hoping we see more of this couple in the next book.

This book in emojis 🏨 🦌 🦷 🔦 👻 🐶 💦 🚁

*** Big thank you to One More Chapter for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

And yet another author to add to my favorites list. Christie Barlow has a wonderful way of making the reader feel like they are immersed in the beautiful town of Heartcross enjoying the amazing weather, the gorgeous scenery, and fantastic hospitality.

Julia is a proud and successful bed and breakfast owner who is understandably concerned about the handsome millionaire Flynn Carter’s new venture of transforming Starcross Manor into a five-star motel. After all, she was privy a few years ago to his questionable business methods of taking what he wants. Not to mention, his callousness at dumping her best friend the day of her wedding. However, he’s been nothing but kind and generous to her since she met him again in Heartcross. Could she be wrong about him?

Julia and Flynn are both very likable characters. Julia is part of a great community and has many friends in town. After all, they give her an amazing 40th birthday party and help her when she desperately needs it. However, it is Flynn who is my favorite character in this book. His assistance with her birthday celebration is romantic and very telling, and he proves himself to be the man to go to in a crisis and goes above and beyond for Julia and the town. Flynn is a keeper.

The author’s descriptive narrative and relatable characters make this a delightful and compelling story about love, trust, and community. If you enjoy beautiful settings, intriguing characters, and budding romances, give this book a try. I would definitely love to visit Heartcross and enjoy the food, the people, and the atmosphere.

Thank you to Ms. Barlow for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

This was another great book in the Love Heart Lane Series.

This time the story focuses on B&B owner Julia and the new owner of Starcross Manor Flynn. Julia and Flynn know each other from a few years ago and now Julia can't believe that Flynn is in her village and she doesn't trust him at all, however she starts to see that perhaps she was too quick to judge the more she gets to know Flynn. Once again I quickly sucked in the book and there was lots happening to keep you reading. The characters are all great and it was good to catch up with everyone from the previous books (although this could be read as a standalone book). Like the previous books it was a quick read for me and it has a good pace to keep you hooked.

Overall this is a lovely heartfelt, sweet fun read. I hope we get to see more from the characters in a new book soon.


Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

What a treat to be back in Heartcross for the fourth installment of the Love Heart Lane series.

Here, we meet Julia Coleman who runs a small B&B in the Scottish village. With business booming, she is excited to get the go-ahead to extend the premises and see all her hard work pay off.

When she hears that Flynn Carter has come back to Heartcross, she can’t help but wonder what the handsome businessman has planned. Last time she saw Flynn was when he jilted her friend virtually at the church gates, but has he changed and what exactly are his intentions for Starcross Manor?

I enjoyed the chemistry between Julia and Flynn even though she distrusted him from previous experience and he seemed to be hell-bent on ruining all the village businesses with his intentions to open a luxury hotel. I wanted to see how Flynn could win Julia round and if a leopard can actually change his spots!

Christie Barlow always guarantees a fast-paced plot with plenty of surprises along the way. The much loved, familiar characters from Heartcross are all there and the spectacular Scottish landscape draws you into this charming and enjoyable series.

I love heading to Scotland and to the village of Heart Cross. This is my fourth trip to this gorgeous place and I know it’s not going to be my last. I adore the characters Barlow has created in this series and Starcross Manor is no different.

Julia gets a proper blast from the past when Flynn Carter appeared back in her life during the on-goings of Clover Cottage and I knew this would open a whole new chain of interesting events … why else introduce someone to cause friction and oh boy there is friction … and sparks!!! Julia is convinced this leopard hasn’t changed his spots after causing her heartache over the sale of her grandfather’s property and then the heartbreak when he left her friend at the altar…. is this rather dashing man the ruthless business man she knew??

I’ve come to know and love the residents of Heart Cross and I was delighted to get to know B&B owner Julia better after having met her in the previous novels. She’s a genuinely nice person who wants the best for her friends but she doesn’t suffer fools gladly. But her heart and her head are in conflict when she becomes reacquainted with the delicious Flynn. Should she follow her knowledge or should she take a chance?

I was entranced as the story played out before me. I love the community spirit she’s created in Heart Cross. Everyone pulling together when the chips are down and the atmosphere when there is something to celebrate. I would love to relocate to this fictional village if I could. The thought of being welcomed into such a close knit caring village, away from the stresses and strains of the rat race would be bliss #agirlcandream. This is an ideal addition to the series and I can’t wait for the next instalment, The Lake House when it’s out later this year.

I have been a fan of Christie's work for quite a while now. I just love the way in which she writes feel good romance stories with an added dash of humour to them. 'Starcross Manor' is the fourth book in the bestselling 'Love Heart Lane' series and it was released on 14th August 2020. It's another cracking read from Christie and I thoroughly enjoyed every single second of the story but more about that in a bit.

I love the characters in 'Starcross Manor' and it didn't take me long to feel as though they had fast become friends of mine. I must admit that I didn't take to the character of Flynn initially but before long I understood that he wasn't the villain that everybody else was making him out to be. He doesn't get off to the best of starts but he soon sets about trying to redeem himself.

Oh my word, 'Starcross Manor' was another delightful read from Christie Barlow. I absolutely could not put this book down even if I had wanted to. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I think that part of the attraction was the fact that I had taken to the characters so well that I simply had to know how the story panned out and what implications that might have on the different characters. I made the mistake of starting to read this book shortly before I went to bed. Well that was a mistake because I ended up very tired the following morning having read into the wee small hours of the morning. When I work up, I couldn't wait to start reading again.

'Starcross Manor' is superbly written but then I find that to be true of Christie's books in general. She has a way of grabbing your attention and then drawing you into the story from the start. She makes 'Love Heart Lane' sound so idyllic that I was all set to pack my bags and go to move into the place. I felt as though I was part of the story and that was all thanks to Christie's very vivid and realistic storytelling. I felt as though I went through a wide range of emotions, whilst reading this book. One minute I would be smiling and then the next minute I would find myself wanting to jump inside the pages of the book to give Julia a hug.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading every single bit of 'Starcross Manor' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. Reading one of Christie's books is just like a 'hug from a mug of hot chocolate' in that it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I will definitely be reading more of Christie's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Another wonderful story from Christie Barlow. This is the fourth in the Love Heart Lane series and it's lovely to reconnect with familiar faces around the village. The introduction of Flynn to the setting is a welcome one although his reputation proceeds him. What's he after and what are his plans? This is a brilliant read with characters you'd like to be friends with, and I can't wait for the next instalment.

This is one of the cutest romance novels I have read in a while, and I loved everything about it.

The author did a wonderful job in writing the tale. Yes, the story is a tad predictable and you know how it is going to turn out. Yet, the author describes the characters and the settings so nicely that I didn’t want the story to end. The story takes place in the idyllic landscape where people trust one another. All the characters are charming and adorable. I loved them all. Julia and Flynn share a wonderful chemistry and we so cute together. I also love how Julia gives him a chance even though she has her doubts. Flynn is also the perfect male lead. Moreover, I loved Julia’s friendship with Eleni. Both of them share a beautiful friendship that is inspiring.

My only recommendation would have been for Julia to confront Anais after learning the truth. I found it odd that she decided to let go of the incident after the revelations. Moreover, Flynn feels too good to be true where he doesn’t have any flaws. But, I think it worked out well in the story. Other than that, the story was just perfect. After reading this book, I want to read the previous books in the series. I fell in love with the author’s style of writing.

Overall, this was a wonderful story that can be read as a standalone. I feel like going to a place like Starcross Manor now. I highly recommend it if you are in a the mood for a feel good romance.

Oh my, this was an absolutely glorious read, I can't believe I haven't had the pleasure of reading Christie's books before now. Although I have joined this series quite late, it can be read as a standalone, however that being said, and after seeing how wonderful Christie's writing and stories are, I will most certainly be returning to HeartCross to learn more about all of the other incredible characters I got to meet throughout this one.

The whole story between Julia and Flynn was absolutely gorgeous, I couldn't get enough of them. I especially loved that the conflict between the two was only highlighted in the first half of the book, as it was out of the way quick and the rest of the pages brought nothing but happiness!

I had intended for ever to get to this, a beautiful sounding series (I mean, come on, Love heart Lane!) by the much lauded Christie Barlow, who I’d read some years ago (the At the School Gates series) and who is someone I aspire to in terms of the books I write myself, and finally got around to putting my hand up for this, the 4th book of the series.

So we meet Julia Colman on her friend’s wedding day where the most dramatic of wedding drama (okay, Kill bill would be the most dramatic you could get, but you know what I mean!) ensues and I was absolutely agog!! Fast forward 5 years and Julia is getting ready for the dream, to open her own b and b type establishment. A face from the past seems to sour things and we are launched into some rivalry.

I beyond enjoyed this book, the drama and the romance taking grip and not letting go. I loved the village and settings, the drama and romance which were absolutely up my street! All in all a book I very much savored. I’d have preferred to have read books 1 to 3 of course, so I’d advise everyone not to make the same mistake I did and instead to sit down and enjoy them all together. Thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the book in return for an honest review and for allowing me to be part of this blog tour!

Rating:4.5/5