Loved this book. The story had everything: warmth, laughter, tears and romance. Lovely writing style which makes it enjoyable to read.

The book was very slow to begin with and I almost gave up. But was glad I persevered. Because it really turned around and ended up really surprising me at how good it was. The rest of the book was very well written. Nice and easy to read . Lovely location that made you wish you were right there in the thick of it.

Nell has left a job at a prestigious primary school and has relocated to a tiny village school in Leyholme, Yorkshire. She's moved into farmhouse in an idyllic location which needs a lot more work than she initially anticipated. It's in such a state of disrepair that Colin the sheep seems to have become a permanent resident inside the barn with the leaky roof and open back door. She's got a new start in the primary school and can't wait to settle into the quirky village and potentially uncover some secrets too.

This story was fantastic and completely took me by surprise. It's so much more than I was initially expecting. It's a real feel-good romance with superb secrets and mysteries interspersed throughout. All of the characters are so realistic and brilliantly written that this was a delight to read.

I don't want to reveal any more than that, it's full of mystery and you need to go and read and reveal the secrets yourself.

Colin the sheep was my favourite character and he's so minor but hilarious I loved him! The cheeky dogs in the story were fantastic too.

It's such a different and refreshing read that I just can't recommend it enough. The best romance book I've read this year. I need to read more books by Lisa Swift!

Book review will be posted onto my blog booksandbookends.wordpress.com as part of the blog tour with RRR on 11th March.

I absolutely loved this book! It is perfect to curl up on the sofa with, like a warm cup of hot chocolate. It is full of heart and humour and at times made me laugh out loud. The characters are well rounded and it was a thoroughly engaging story. Highly recommend this book!

A fab read with some great characters. You know that Nell is hiding something, but what?
The story is told from various points of view but is easy to keep up with.

The School of Starting over was my first Lisa Swift book and I absolutely fell in love with it. It’s a feel-good book, which indulges you in all the wholesome warm and cosies you could want from a romance. The characters are a lively, eclectic bunch and there is plenty of humour from main and supporting cast members. I was invested in their stories and really rooted for them,especially since some of the issues they face are much deeper than expected.

I have to give a special mention to Xander who is the perfect, unassuming hero (ahhh, hearty-eyes).

The plot had me hooked; there was drama, secrets and a little bit of mystery throughout!

Once thing I loved was how deep the author dug for a popular reference that was probably less mainstream than most - I had a few ‘oh my god I remember that’ moments!

All in all there was nothing to dislike about this book (other than having to put it down at the end). If heartwarming, contemporary romance with laughs and feels is your thing; it’s a must-read!

Genre: Contemporary romance / Romantic comedy

Rating: 5/5

The School of Starting Over by Lisa Swift is a delightful and uplifting story that will tug at your heartstrings. Set in the charming Yorkshire village of Leyholme, it follows Nell Shackleton, who has moved to Leyholme for a fresh start after a bad breakup. She is the new reception teacher at the local primary school and has bought a dilapidated farmhouse because it's all she can afford at the moment. Nell loves her new job and is enjoying village life. When she meets Stevie, they become great friends. Stevie's four-year-old daughter is one of Nell's students. Her wife died four years ago, and she has no desire to date again. But fate has other plans when Deb, the dog walker, comes into her life. But will Stevie's sad past stop her from finding love again?
When Nell meets Xander, the acting headmaster, there's an immediate spark between them, but he's too shy and insecure to ask her out on a date. Xander lacks self- confidence and doesn't think he deserves to be the headmaster. He lives at home with his mom, who is having a hard time coping with her husband's suicide. With the support of Nell, the teachers, parents, and everyone in the community, we see Xander grow as a person throughout the story.
I absolutely loved this sweet and touching story. The characters are lovable, including Colin the sheep and the dogs. I loved the small tight-knit community feeling and the school setting. The author deals with some deep emotional issues in a mature and sympathetic manner. As much as I love these types of books, they can be slightly predictable, so I was pleasantly surprised by the twist. I knew that Nell was hiding something, but was completely taken off guard when her secret was finally revealed. I will definitely be reading more books by Lisa Swift and highly recommend this lovely read.

I received an ARC from Hera Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow what a read. 5 out of 5 for me. Not read any of Lisa Swifts previous books and was a little apprehensive, what caught my eye was the front cover.

From page one I loved it, hooked!

When Nell arrives at a new school, starting a new life in a run down old cottage, we wonder why she would up sticks and move to this small town? Nell finds friends and love, but can she keep life running smoothly? Such twists, I didn’t see coming which kept me hooked.

Highly recommend.

Praise for Lisa Swift.

Best book I have read this year.. Will highly recommend it. I loved the relationships in it. I loved the twist to why Nell moved. It covered some very relevant topics depression and being gay. I loved it

I thought this book was brilliant, Its full of believable characters, it's funny,it's heartwarming, it's moving and there are some 'unpleasant' topics within the story which are dealt with such sensitivity, the book maintains that lighter feel. There is certainly a twist I didn't see coming. I heartily recommend reading this book.

Ohhh! The cover of The School of Starting Over is perfect and suits this book perfectly!

I really liked how there are quite a few main characters in this story and Lisa Swift really takes her time with them so that you get to know them and lovely they are. Not perfect but enjoyable to read about, we follow Xander, the new head of the Leyholme Primary School. Convinced he isn't good enough for the job, we follow him as he starts off timid and unsure of himself to someone who begins to make a big difference to the school and the people around him.  If only the Ryan the School Governor would push off and leave him alone.

Nell is a new teacher at the school having moved (almost on a whim but not quite...) and bought a ramshackle farmhouse with a resident goat, Colin. Obviously. Although, we get a slight hint that all is not what is seems.

Stevie is the mum of Millie a 4 year old and Red, the mischievous dog and becomes friends with Nell. Following the loss of her wife, Stevie is determined to avoid any emotional entanglements but obviously fate has other plans when Deb, the dog walker comes into her life.

This is such a lovely book that I read it in a day. Not your standard women's book, it deals with some heavy issues that are explored brilliantly and keep you completely invested in the characters that have almost come to feel like friends.

Definitely recommended.

What a brilliant book!
Story didn’t pan out as I was expecting, which was a good thing- I love being surprised! I won’t comment about the story as I think it’s best read without any prior knowledge.
So many fabulous characters and a gorgeous community., it’s a really lovely feel good read.
Such realistic characters that you soon become emotionally invested in and situations that keep you entertained.
Loved the character of Xander, so honest and down to earth, you can’t help becoming fond of him!
Nell is a character that you instantly warm to and want to befriend, and the same with Stevie.
Such a pleasurable read, I will definitely be seeking out further books by this talented author.

Ahh a lovely book. Great one liners and banter between the characters, several laugh out loud moments.
Based in a school and a small village where everyone knows everybody. I really liked the main characters including the sheep and the dogs.
Another great rom com by Lisa Swift.

Well...such a warm, cosy tale based in Yorkshire. I’m drawn to books featuring schools and this book had it all. A strong female lead character searching for answers and a modern geeky acting head teacher who is vulnerable and easy to love. The book takes a while to get into but this builds the characters back stories superbly. Swift explores some deep emotional issues within this book in a mature, caring and captivating manner. As a reader you can’t help but become attached to characters such as Nell, Stevie and Xander...you go on the journey with them but I had no idea on the journey we would be taking.
My first book by this author and will meet most certainly not be my last.

What a lovely, lovely book. This is the story of three ordinary people putting their lives back together after tragedy and about the importance of connection and friendship. Xander, Stevie and Nell are all wonderful complex characters who grow and learn throughout the book and, with the help of each other, learn to put the past behind them and become better versions of themselves. I laughed, I cried and I highly recommend this wonderful read.

Fantastic read! This book was devoured in one sitting. Great characters and a real feel good factor book. First time reading this author but will be looking for future books to read. Highly recommend

Ooh, I love a story with a school in it, and this one was full of the everyday life of it. 

Ms Swift dropped some early hints that perhaps not all is as it seems in either Nell's life or Stevie's, and it was fascinating to read the plot lines unfolding, and interweaving. I did wonder if one of the characters was a bit on the stalkerish side when the major reveal took place, but my heart swiftly went out to the character concerned and Ms Swift expertly brought me back on-side again.

The story deals sympathetically with some quite emotional issues, the characters are rounded and well-developed, and grow throughout the book, and of course, there is a HEA. Actually, not one but two! 

However, for me, the dog stole the show!

Really enjoyed this one. Nell moves to the small village to teach at the country school. There she meets Xander, a shy and geeky man, a sheep that thinks he’s a dog, and a collection of characters that keep the interest. Ups and downs, so not always a light read, but still would highly recommend this book and author.

I was expecting a sweet romance. A little village school. Teachers. Sheep. A rickety farmhouse. What I got was so much more. This is a story with so much going on. There are secrets, suicide, sadness, bullying, people looking for love and people scared of giving in to it, and surprises too. The village provides a mixed cast of characters and the perfect setting, but it's Nell and Xander and Stevie who give us the emotion and the drama and ultimately the love. Thoroughly enjoyed and recommended.

Nell Shackleton's dream is to live in a cottage in the countryside and be at one with nature and the community. And in some ways the purchasing of Humblebee Farm is that - she is at one with the nature the house does not have much of a roof and she is part of the community as she is the new Reception School teacher. 

It seems that Nell has it all?

Xander Scott is the temporary Headteacher at the village school and he is battling his own demons alongside trying to deal with parents, new teachers and rather irritating school governors. Xander wanted more than village life but finds himself back there and suddenly he does not want to leave.

Is it something to do with Nell?

Stevie Blake her adorable daughter Millie and a mad dog called Red are the only things she needs in life, after having give up on love when she lost her wife. But something is eating away at Stevie and it seems that perhaps love could come knocking again if only she would deal with the past. 

This book starts strong and builds all the characters up, you are immediately invested in them, you care about them or are simply irritated by them as is the case of school governor Ryan who clearly has something of the school bully still left in him. 

Not only is this a book with a great community spirit, what better way to bring everyone together than a village school. But it has lots of romance, it has tragedy and contemporary issues. The actions of the past, present and potentially the future of some of the main characters makes it more than a fluffy piece of romantic fiction. The cover suggests one thing - you get much more in the pages of the book inbetween. 

A great read which leaves you satisfied and your heart warmed. What more could you want from a book?