When B & B owner Julia finds out that newcomer Flynn is going to turn Starcross Manor into a five star hotel she is worried about the impact on her business and on the community as a whole. Especially as her last encounter with Flynn wasn’t the best, he jilted one of her good friends before their wedding. But has Julia jumped to conclusions? Is the gorgeous Flynn really as bad as she thinks?

A lovely addition to the Love Heart Lane series.

When Julia recognises Flynn Carter in her village, she’s gobsmacked. What is the man who left her friend heartbroken doing in her little village? She finds out he’s here to develop Starcross Manor, but he’s not planning to turn it into a retirement home but a five star hotel……. Feeling that all their local businesses are at risk, Julia rallies the community but ends up causing problems she hadn’t anticipated.

But as Julia experiences a disaster of her own, Flynn comes to her aid. But does he have ulterior motives? Are her first impressions of him right, or has she got him all wrong? And what will the hotel mean for the community of Heartcross?

This is such a fantastic, heartwarming and feel good story. I’ve not read any of the previous books in the series so all the characters were new to me, and I fell in love with them all. They are such a fantastic community, rallying round to help each other in times of need and pulling together when they feel threatened. They all get on so well, and it’s so lovely to see.

Starcross Manor focusses on Julia, the owner of the B&B in the village and Flynn, a gorgeous and rich property developer……and an ex of one of her friends. Julia is a super strong and lovely woman, and just wants what’s best for her business, clients and community. But she definitely doesn’t approach things in the right way and doesn’t realise how much trouble she’ll cause. Flynn is charming but with a bit of a chequered past. At first I was unsure of him, but completely fell in love with him the more I got to know him and willed him and Julia together!

The other characters in this; the other members of the village, are all fantastic and I really want to read the rest in the series now! They’re all supportive, lovely and caring and I really want to take myself on a break to Heartcross! It sounds like there are so many wonderful places to visit; the tearooms, the farm, alpaca walking and more!

I adored the storyline. It was heartwarming, uplifting and humorous and I enjoyed every second of it. Barlow’s writing style is wonderful, easy and enjoyable to read and I’m so excited to read more from her! If you’re looking for your next book to curl up with and get lost in a happy, feel good story with amazing characters, then you should check this out. Highly recommended by me!

I am an unashamed big fan and supporter of this series – Love Heart Lane went straight to my heart and I haven’t looked back since. Starcross Manor is #4 of the series but honestly if you haven’t read the others it’s not a problem as it could be a standalone. I would recommend having a read of the other books in the series though because they are great reads.
Returning to Heartcross, our main character this time is Julia, B&B owner extraordinaire. She hears of the rich, mysterious stranger in the village and soon realises it is somebody she has met before, and someone she is not at all happy about seeing again.
Julia takes it upon herself to unite her friends and fellow business owners in order to protect their livelihoods and their village, but has she picked fight for the wrong reasons.
What I love about these books in the overriding sense of community spirit, the friendships, connections, and willingness of people to show kindness towards others. They are a lovely group of characters, all with their own story to tell and I enjoy coming across previous ‘main’ characters and seeing how their lives are going.
I love Julia as a main character, she’s fiery and determined and will work hard for what she wants. She holds relationships and friendships close to her heart and will do everything she can for those she cares about, even if it that may leave her blind to the bigger picture. She can admit she is wrong though and shows in this story that she can work hard to put things right, no matter the cost.
So many misunderstandings, false accusations, and drama in this book – I was enthralled. I was expecting Flynn to be an absolute slimeball but, he surprises you and in fact it’s clear to see he isn’t all he leads everyone to think.
Christie Barlow is one of my go-to authors, her writing style is easy to identify, you are pulled into the story because of the characters and how well they are written. You really take them to heart and care what is happening to them. Starcross Manor had me hooked from the start, I tried to savour it but it was easily a book to cosy up and devour.

Christie has really brought this village and its inhabitants to life, I wish it was real and we could all go and visit. I’d love to see Julia and stay in her B&B; going around meeting all our local favourites.
A story full of heart, truth and understanding. Of course, it wouldn’t be the same without romance, a sprinkling of love to keep every romantic heart (like mine) happy. A gorgeous read that I highly recommend.

I read this book as part of the blog tour organised by Rachel @ Rachel's Random Reads. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. 3 stars

Although Starcross Manor is book four in the Love Heart Lane series, it can very much be read as a standalone. This was a fun and easy read about mistaken first impressions, community and good friendships that left me feeling hopeful and warm. I liked that the protagonists in this book were older (Julia, our MC, turns 40 in the book) because I feel like there aren't many books that normalise finding love and even success above the age of 30, and that everything "good" happens when you're still in your 20s. Real life is not like that, so I feel like this made the book even more realistic!

While this is categorised as a romance, in my opinion the strongest part (and focus) of the story was more on the community and the friendships between the Heartcross residents. Reading stories where the people in small communities fully support each other in their businesses and also in their life outside of work, is so heartwarming, and makes me wish that I was part of "the gang" too! Reading about the close friendships between the women in this book also made me wish I had read the earlier novels in this series because they all seemed like fun characters! No spoilers but one thing I learned from this book was that you should never underestimate the power of a tight knight community and that you should never get on their bad side :)

The story is told through Julia's POV and what I wish we got was Flynn's POV too. I would've loved to get inside his head because I ended up really liking what was shared of his character and I was sad that we didn't get to know him better. He was a very genuine and charming character who intrigued me. I have to admit that Julia wasn't my favourite character. There were times she came across as too immature, and she often acted impulsively and made decisions that seemed questionable and out of character. But like I said, I really liked the friendships between the women and I particularly loved Eleni. She was such a great employee/friend! As for the romance, although there is chemistry between Julia and Flynn, I didn't really feel it because we're told and not shown it. While there are sweet moments throughout the story, they never get much alone time to build on their connection until the very end; and while I would normally be wanting more, (as this is meant to be a romance) I actually didn't mind it because the other relationships in the story were great!

TL;DR: This was a sweet story about mistaken first impressions, second chances, and the strength of tight knit communities and good friendships. I loved reading about older MCs and I would happily come back to the little village of Heartcross to learn more about the village and other characters.

I’ve read two of the three previous titles in this series, after grabbing a lovely story from this author and finding myself enchanted. This story introduces us to Julia, owner of a local B&B in Heartcross, and is excited to have gotten planning permission to expand her little enterprise. Perfectly situated, and now known more than ever after a flood destroyed the bridge into town and the town was featured on the news. She and her employee Eleni are busy and moving along well, when Julia comes to dig out more information about Flynn, the new owner of Starcross Manor.

Past history between Julia and Flynn leave her believing that he’s more like the careless millionaires that Scotland has dealt with in the past with golf clubs, and when it’s made perfectly clear that the manor is to be a 5 star resort hotel, Julia is instantly worried about her own business and that of those in the little village. For his part, Flynn never hid that he was building a hotel, and truly believes that it will help both the village and his own place with all of the amenities. But finding a magazine story about Flynn’s history gives Julia more fuel for her resentment, and she brings the town together to ‘warn’ them about him.

E Flynn was, at first, everything Julia believed him to be – and determined to succeed at all costs. But the biggest misunderstanding was all for show and Julia only saw the last part of the show, leaving her with many questions, a bad impression and lots of worries. But an unexpected heatwave and a flood in her B&B, when Flynn stepped up and provided help, support and a way to take care of her clients even as the B&B was being repaired, bring us all full circle to the point where they actually talk, the attraction that was simmering comes to light, and Julia’s ideas for Starcross Manor also bring in the town and village- where they all get a chance to move forward and onward to the next great installment. Grab these for a getaway to a place where friendship, support and love are all-consuming and leave you with a smile.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” http://iam-indeed.com/p/41448/” <a> I am, Indeed </a>

4.5 Stars

Christie Barlow is back with another addictive, feel-good and compulsively readable instalment of her fantastic Love Heart Lane series: Starcross Manor.

Flynn Carter is the kind of man who should only exist between the pages of romantic novels. The gorgeous Alpha male is rich, brooding and as sexy as sin, but nobody knows more than Julia Coleman how ruthless Flynn Carter can be. Having already crossed swords with him once before, Julia had hoped to never clap eyes on him ever again, but unfortunately fate had other ideas in store for them as the two end up crossing paths yet again in the charming bucolic village of Heartcross. This time, Julia plans to be on her guard and watch Flynn like a hawk. But is Flynn really the ruthless and heartless man she thought he was? Or is there far more to him than meets the eye?

Certainly when Julia hears of Flynn’s plans for Starcross Manor, it doesn’t seem as if Flynn has changed much since the last time they clapped eyes on one another. All of Julia’s nightmares are about to come to fruition when she discovers that he has plans to turn Starcross Manor into a luxury hotel which would ruin the fabric of the village and finish off the local community for good. Julia is certainly not about to let Flynn ride roughshod over the village and she plans to fight him with everything she’s got and to prove to him that Heartcross is not his little kingdom where he can do whatever strikes his fancy. But could Julia be letting her own prejudices interfere with her judgement? Especially as Flynn wants to make it clear that his plans will benefit the entire community?

Flynn does not want any trouble. He doesn’t want to incur anyone’s anger or wrath, but the more he seems to clash with Julia, the more he is determined to prove to her that he is not the man she thought he was. Flynn wants to prove to the entire village – especially Julia – that he has changed and that he deserves to be given a second chance. The more time he spends with Julia, the more he realises that he wants her to see him not as a ruthless scoundrel, but a man who is worthy of her love.

Will Cupid’s arrow strike in Heartcross yet again? Or are Flynn and Julia best kept apart and as far away from one another as possible?

Christie Barlow will steal readers’ hearts yet again with Starcross Manor. Witty, warm-hearted and enchanting, Starcross Manor is a fantastic romantic tale about second chances, new beginnings and leaving the past behind imbued with all the humour and heart which readers have come to expect from Christie Barlow and her Love Heart Lane series.

Julia is a lovely heroine – passionate, courageous and somebody readers would love to have as a best friend and Flynn is a swoon-worthy hero it is impossible not to fall for.

An engaging and enjoyable page-turner that will bring a smile to everyone’s face, Starcross Manor is another winner by the talented Christie Barlow.

What a wonderful story of how to right a wrong and in the process find love, friendship and happiness. Wish I could find a Flynn myself

Julia loves the small community of Heartcross and as proprietor of the village Bed & Breakfast she plays an integral part when it comes to the areas thriving tourism trade. Her small business is all she ever dreamt it would be and it’s only thanks to the inheritance she received from selling her late Grandfather’s house that she got to see her ‘happily ever after’ realised. Despite selling her Grandfather’s house under market value, Julia thanks her lucky stars for the opportunity the money offered her and she’s never been happier than she is.

Flynn is a stranger to Heartcross, but not to Julia. The pair have history and as far as Julia was concerned if she never saw Flynn Carter again it would be too soon. Having swindled her out of money from the sale of her Grandfather’s house and standing up her friend at the alter it’s not surprising Julia doesn’t trust him as far as she could throw him, but what is he doing here in her idyllic home?

It soon becomes clear that property developer Flynn has plans that could not only ruin Julia’s business, but the livelihoods of her friends in the village, but what can she do to make them see Flynn isn’t all he appears to be?

Starcross Manor is the fourth book in the Love Heart Lane Series, however as with the other books in the title it can be read adequately as a standalone. Having read all of the other books in this series I can highly recommend each and every one and I do feel that the crossover of characters been them really enhanced my enjoyment. In fact at the end of Clover Cottage you actually see Flynn arriving in the village and this book more than the others felt like a direct continuation of the story.

Returning to Heartcross in this book was like coming home and I immediately felt myself enveloped in a cosy warm book hug. I adore Barlow’s writing style; it’s so easy to read and draws you into the heart of the story from the very first page. She has written a cast of wonderfully realistic characters that I’m highly invested in and like the previous books Starcross Manor left me wanting more and already counting down to the release of the next instalment.

This book has a bit of everything; drama, disaster, mystery and romance and I loved every single page – I finished it in less than a day as I couldn’t put it down! It’s a character driven story set against the picturesque back drop of the Scottish hills, what’s not to love?

Although it’s a bold thing to say I think this is my favourite of Christie’s books to date, they seem to just get better and better with each new release! Highly recommended and a definite 5 stars from me.

Centered around the village of Heartcross, the two main characters Julia and Flynn do not get on. Julia is suspicious of Flynn's plans for Starcross Manor. She does not want a luxury hotel in their lovely village. Will Flynn convince Julia that he has changed? A lovely escape from the strange world we are living in.

A great read, the story of Julia who runs the B&B in Heartcross. All is going well until Flynn shows up with plans that could change everything. Will Julia give him a chance to prove he is not who she thinks he is?

Starcross Manor is a delightful book. It is part of a series that takes place in a small Scottish town called Heartcross. The town alone in this book is a pleasure to read about and I loved getting to know all of the characters! The community is very tight-knit and cares for one another.

Starcross Manor works well as a stand alone (this was my first time reading Christie Barlow). Though Barlow’s writing is so great I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series! The town alone in this book is a delight and I loved getting to know all of the characters!

Julia Coleman is about to turn forty and has a thriving Bed and Breakfast. She is making plans to expand when a man from her past breezes into town. Julia is my favorite character in the book by far. I loved reading about the business she has built, her friends and her co-worker Eleni.

Flynn Carter is a big time business developer in the hospitality industry. He has big plans for new business in town and has been charmed by Julia Coleman ... though he doesn’t remember her right away.

Julia knew Flynn to be a shark in business (like when he bought her grandfather’s house) and a cad when he broke off his wedding to her friend the day of.

When we meet Flynn he seems warm, handsome and sparks fly between him and Julia. Has he changed?

Barlow is able to balance the conflict and levity in this book in a strong way. There is so much fun going on in this book... town events, ghost hunting and parties. I enjoyed the slow build of romance in this book. Light on the steamy bits but very lovely to read about.

My wish was granted on Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Wow what can I say this was such a brilliant read the fourth book in Christie delightful love heart lane series and certainly didn't disappoint. Perfect for fans of this series or great to read as a standalone if you haven't yet discovered the others. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this. This was a beautiful heartwarming summer read and had me hooked from the first page was great to be back with the wonderful love heart lane characters and to delve further into the lives of the inhabitants of heartcross and I couldn't put it down from start to finish the perfect escapism and summer read.

It was such a delight to return to Love Heart Lane for another instalment in the series and to meet up ahain with some familiar characters. This is such a warm, heart-warming read that you can just disappear into its pages for a little while- a real escape at the moment. Julia has huge plans for her B and B but you always have the feeling that you know where her destiny lies. That is part of the charm.
Friends, family and looking out for each other are major parts of the story and what contributes to putting a smile on your face. No spoilers about Flynn Carter but he is a great ventral character to share the story with Julia and her friends. You absolutely feel as though youknow all these characters and can picture the village as if you have visited. A gorgeous story and a gorgeous series- number 5 please!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

Lovely lovely story first book btypy Christie Barlow for me.So excited to catch up on the series and all her books.This is a sweet romantic novel with great atmosphere lovely characters.Will be recommending,#netgalley#starcrossmanor

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC of "Starcross Manor" by Christie Barlow in exchange for my honest review.

"Starcross Manor" is the fourth book in the Love Heart Lane series. This series follows the various romantic comedy stories of the Heartcross community. "Starcross Manor" follows Julia Coleman, the local bed and breakfast owner. Her quaint B&B business is booming when bigwig property developer Flynn Carter moves into town and plans to create a five star hotel in a neglected property. To make matters worse, Flynn and Julia have met before. At his wedding. Where he abandoned his bride- Julia's best friend. Flynn seems trustworthy now, but how far will he go to prove that to Julia?

Being honest, I have not read the rest of this book series. Whenever I started the book, I didn't know it was in a series. That being said, without reading the other books, this book stands fairly well on its own. Most of the background needed for this story is provided and the information about the other villagers seems natural. I imagine there would be some benefit to reading these books in order, but if you don't you won't be confused or lost.

This book was a cute Rom-Com throughout. There is a little bit of drama, but for the most part this book is a light read. It feels like it would be best as a vacation read or maybe in a cozy chair with a cup of tea. This book had a relaxed feel, which made it a quick read. I wish something would have felt a little more life or death, but my thriller loving bias is probably the reason (ha).

Overall, this book was well written. Despite the lack of drama, I gave this book 4 stars. Definitely check it out if you're looking for a Hallmark type read!

I love this series. Starcross Manor is always a fun place to visit, peopled with memorable characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love reading books by Christie Barlow as they are always full of wonderful characters with a great sense of community spirit and I loved diving into her latest release.

Starcross Manor was a wonderfully described destination that jumped off the pages and came alive as I read. It was lovely to visit the lovely characters from Love Heart Lane again. I like how these books can be read as stand alone but also link together with the characters from previous stories making an appearance.

A wonderful feel good read that will make you laugh and feel full of love at the way this wonderful community pulls together. I am loving reading these books and am already really excited to read the next release and get to visit these lovely characters again.

Starcross Manor is part of a series by Christie Barlow - ‘Love Heart Lane Series’. That being said, it can still be read as a standalone as I have not read any of the previous instalments and did not suffer for it. I was looking for something light and easy and a trip to a small Scottish village sounded just the thing. It proved just that - light and enjoyable.

Book four of the series concerns Julia Coleman, the local B & B owner and one of the best aspects about this character was her age and attitude. She turned 40 in the book and it was refreshing to read how comfortable she was about that. There are some wonderfully fun and supportive friendships and experiences that are heartening to read about. I particularly enjoyed her getting ready for a ‘date’ and the haircut and trying on clothes ‘wobbly bits’ inclusive. One surely has to appreciate the honesty in the writing and that will appeal to many.

‘Julia relished her independence after one disastrous relationship after another, and often she was the envy of her friends, who indicated they’d love to be in her situation, with no ties. Julia loved her own company, she could do what she wanted when she wanted, but sometimes she missed that special someone to share the exciting things in life with.’

Heartcross sounds an idyllic place to visit, from the Scottish countryside to life in a small village. There are great moments of community spirit and it is wonderful to read how they all look out for each other. The plot is simple but that’s okay as this is a book all about the characters and their interactions. My one issue was with the leading man, Flynn. He was just too good to be true and I found his generous qualities too extreme and repeatedly unbelievable.

This was just the book I was looking for, light and refreshing, with just the right amount of miscommunications and family and friends rallying to the cause to get me invested. A sweet book to spend a few hours escapism with - something we are all in need of.

‘Sometimes you have to forgive and forget, and move on.’




This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

I adored this so much, a fabulous new addition to the series. It’s such a lovely read, the romance is slow burn, but mostly it’s about community , new beginnings and letting go of the past. The characters are lovely and the story addictive, fabulous read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Love love love!! Christie is just amazing. Another great book from the love heart lane series can’t wait for the next.