Family is at the heart of this book. Love, conflict, deceit, and lies all show their faces in this lovely book by Kristin Harper. This was an easy read for a lazy weekend. It is sure to leave your with the warm fuzzies just like it did me.

I feel this story would have been better had it been written with a duel timeliness. Written as it was it did drag a little and some characters were pointless to the story.

Clashes between cousins are at the heart of this book - Aunt Ivy owns a rickety but marvelous house on prime development land. Her great niece has come to visit for the summer, but guess who's money-grubbing cousin has shown up. He thinks he is in line to inherit the house and quickly wants to move his aunt into a home where she would be cared for. The denouement of the whole story is a prime example of hoist of one his own petards. A fine book, which keeps the reader in suspense while not being classed as a suspenseful story.

As Zoey returns to her Aunts house to help care for her, carrying lots of troubles with her, will she be able to sort out her life as well as look after those around her?

Firstly I was drawn to the beautiful cover of this book!
This is a lovely story, full of family history and family troubles!
The characters are well developed throughout the book and the author keeps you guessing about whether all the characters are who they seem to be, do they have another motive?
I love how the romance aspect builds throughout the book and how you feel like you know the characters and the area that they live.
For me, I felt that it started off as a bit of a slow burner, quite a bit of family history and how everyone is related to who, but after no time at all I had been drawn in and didn’t want to put it down.
A felt the ending was a little rushed, after lots of description and time spend on things throughout the book, everything was concluded within a couple of pages and probably not how you would expect, having got to know all the characters and their behaviours!
I would definitely recommend this book and would read others from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and most importantly the author, for the chance to read this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Zoey's great Aunt Sylvia has died - her great Aunt Ivy is distraught without her sister-in-law. They lived together for fifty years - even during their marriages.
Zoey had been laid off after her library branch closed. Struggling to find her place in the world, Zoey sublets her apartment and moves in with Aunt Ivy.
Zoey's niece, Gabi, is struggling as well. Her dad struggling with alcohol, Gabi lashes out. Her stepmom sends her to the cottage for some rest and space.
Zoey's cousin, Mark, seems to be too interested in Aunt Ivy's cottage - pressing for updates and renovations.
I enjoyed this family drama - it was a smooth, easy read. I would recommend the recounting of the family stories spoken by Aunt Ivy and Zoey be done as flashbacks. The story was told to the reader, rather than the reader experiencing the stories.

Aunt Ivy's Cottage was a lovely and heartwarming read. The island was described in wonderful detail and the characters were beautifully written .

I found the story to be a little slow paced but far boring. It allowed me to really imagine the setting and connect to the characters . It was a lovely warm book that would make for a perfect beach read.

With a charming romance, a gorgeous setting and a family history worth remembering, it is a book that definitely left me smiling .

Many thanks to Chick Lit Central, Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by the nature in which I received this book

A full review will be posted on my blog on december 10th 2020

Aunt Ivy's Cottage is a book that first enchanted me with the beauty of its cover. Once I opened the pages, I became equally captivated by the beautifully written story rich with family, love, and nostalgia.

My favorite part of the story is the mystery thread that runs through the novel regarding the truth behind the rumors of events that happened roughly 60 years prior. They significantly impact events in the current day. I love a good mystery, so the need to know the answers compelled me forward and would not let me put the book down. There is even a bit of suspense, which is a wonderful surprise. After I finished the book, I could not help but ponder the what-ifs. What if this secret had come out when all of it began? How would the story be different? Would anything have been the same?

I also enjoyed the characters. They are truly reminiscent of the different personality traits found in most US families and possibly worldwide. Mark is a rather unsympathetic character due to his selfish greed that is as destructive as disheartening. Zoey is the family's caretaker, putting everyone else's needs before her own and trusting to a fault. As the story opens, she has landed herself in a bad situation as a result of her trusting nature, but she's so together that I never doubted for a second she would land on her feet. Ivy is the matriarch of the family who loves to tell the old stories, play cribbage, and acts the grandmother's part, even though she never had children of her own. And Gabi, who is the teen niece of Zoey's staying with her aunt and great grand aunt while her father is in rehab, is wise beyond her years and manages to keep a stiff upper lip even when it seems like she is falling apart.

The theme of grief is also a considerable part of the story, and Jessica's story within that theme moved me to tears with its beauty and its poignancy. It brings a whole new dimension to the story and the characters as they grapple with their memories and what little bits of grief remain. Ivy also deals with insurmountable grief over losing her sister-in-law and housemate for over half a century. It impacts her aging mind and body in profound ways. I found the look at aging and grief to be realistically unsettling.

My only wish for the story is that the ending had turned out differently. It shows such an abrupt change in personalities that it didn't ring as valid as the rest of the story. I don't want to get into too much detail for the risk of spoilers, but it felt perhaps too rushed and tied up with a bow in a story that up to that point was anything but a neat little package.

Aunt Ivy's Cottage will make you want to hug your loved ones and enjoy the old family stories with a renewed enthusiasm for all that is beautiful in love and life.

I loved this book. It was such a sweet inviting mystery/ love story. I actually requested the book as I thought it was a different author. I’m so glad I was able to get this book from Net Galley. Zoey and her aunt’ lives were so interesting and kept me reading the book in 2 evenings. I will look for the second book of Kristen Harper when it is published. I don’t want to say too much about the story. I want the reader to enjoy this delightful tale. It took my mind off the troubles of the world and made me relax and enjoy reading again. I’d recommend this book to all.

Aunt Ivy's cottage is a family story with hints of secrets and intrigue that go hand in hand with a small town community.

I enjoyed the backdrop of a seaside village as much as the characters which kept me glued to the story.

Zoey's life is a mess. She retreats to Hope Haven to care for her elderly aunts and regroup. Only her jerky cousin Marcus seems intent on gaining control of her aunts' cottage plus she's now responsible for her niece. It's a pleasurable read although the story did lag in places. Mark was a complete jerk for most of the book. Nick was my favorite character, I found myself impatient with Zoey at times. I liked the setting and I also liked the cover. It's a good beach read.

What a great book to read at any time of the year. Zoey is living with her great aunt as she is recovering from losing her sister and Zoey is trying to decide what she wants to do next as she lost her job and isn't sure what she really wants to do. She is also dealing with her cousin who will eventually inherit the home that her and her great aunt live in and he is ready to inherit it and make it into something else.

Zoey was such an amazing character to follow. She felt so real, honest and true and I barely put the book down because I wanted to know where this was going to go and fast! I loved that Zoey was dealing with all of life's struggles - love, professional life, fear of the future - the book had more than her pining for the right man to come along and fix things. I also appreciated her relationship with her great aunt, I have a special relationship with mine and it is something I hold very close and am often very thankful for.

A little bit of romance, a great deal of heart made for a wonderful book. I have read both of Kristin Harper's books that she has written so far and I am holding out for many more to come!

I admit I clicked on this title initially because of the cover (oh la la) and the name of the author – I didn’t read past Kristen H!!! However, win on my part because this was very, very enjoyable. The book has changed a little since the synopsis was written, but the general idea is there. The characters grow and change, the dialogue and situations are realistic (I was sniffing a bit at the examples of early stage dementia, having only recently experienced this with a relative) and overall, I’d give this four stars. I will be looking for more from this author.

I can think of so many readers who are going to enjoy this book! Zoey is down on her luck, having lost her job as a librarian and been taken advantage of by a financial advisor to the point where she is just about to lose her townhouse. She takes a timeout to return to her aunt's beach cottage, and eventually finds herself dealing with death in the family and loads of family secrets. Her cousin Mark is supposedly inheriting the cottage, and Zoey is not happy with his plans for it. So, some investigating goes on, and a little romance gets thrown in, and once you add in the picturesque beach setting, it becomes the perfect feel-good story. Uplifting, emotional, romantic.

A compelling story about family and secrets, grief and growth. Overall a nice read with good characters but I had some issues about the idea of family being so strongly blood only. Otherwise a good story.

Loved this story about family, love, secrets, and second chances.
Zoey is down on her luck, out of work, out of money and with little options she goes to spend time with her aunt at her family home. Her two aunts have lived together in the house for as long as Zoey can rememberer, and now that Aunt Sylvia has passed, she wants to be there to help.
As with most families, there is always drama, especially when someone dies and property is involved. But what happens when there are secrets uncovered that could potentially alter the provisions made in the will? This is a great story of a family, fractured by events in the past, who find a way to come together and be a family.
My only disappointment in the story was how quickly everything was resolved. The whole book built up to that moment and it was wrapped up one, two , three. I would have loved a bigger finish.
I received an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This cover is what drew me in and I am so glad that it did! I enjoyed this story so much and can not wait for something else by this author! I was so emotionally drawn to this book that I can't even tell you. The characters were fabulous and the story is one that will grip you until the very last page.

Aunt Ivy's Cottage is a fantastic read full of secrets and family ties. Throw in a little romance and sit back to enjoy this delightful novel by Kristin Harper. Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book & had a hard time putting it down once I started reading it! I can't wait to read more books by this author.

Zoey has moved back in with her elderly Aunt Ivy after losing her job. Ivy has also lost her sister, Sylvia, so Zoey hopes to help Ivy cope with her day to day housekeeping and also to keep each other company. When she arrives to Ivy's cottage on Dune Island, she also finds her cousin, Mark is there. Mark stands to inherit the house when Ivy passes away so Zoey wonders why he is there and what motive he has for coming at this time. Zoey & Mark don't see eye-to-eye on what is best for Aunt Ivy. Mark's friend, Nick, is helping to care for the cottage and makes the necessary repairs. He and Mark also don't necessarily agree on what is best as far as repairs to the cottage. Again this leads to Zoey wondering what Mark has in mind and why is so adamant on doing some of the repairs when they don't seem necessary. Meanwhile Zoey & Nick make some discoveries which can change everything. Some of the secrets which come to light are life changing for some of the inhabitants of the cottage.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest and unbiased opinion. Again I can't wait to read more books by Kristen Harper. She makes the characters "real"!

#firstline - The daffodils that were meant to brighten the room were already going limp in their vase and Zoey Jansen felt as if she were wilting, too.

I loved this book. It was like a Hallmark movie in book form. It had all the staples of a great feel good read...a great setting, family dynamics and issues, romance, angst and a fulfilling, heartwarming and satisfying ending. This story made me miss my aunt and grandma. It made me grateful for the memories I have and things we were able to go together when they were alive. I loved this book and it made my heart super happy! It was just what I needed and I cannot wait to read the other book by this talented storyteller!!!

I adore the cover of this book and if I am honest that is what drew me in. On reading the synopsis I thought it looked an interesting read. I like a book about people going back to their roots after something happens in their lives and discovering themselves again, add that in with family secrets, inheritance wars and a dash of drama, and I was raring to go.

All Zoey's best memories happened on Dune Island, and the home of her Aunts, which as the book actually describes is a rambling old house rather than a cottage. After a bad break up, the loss of her job and the death of one of her dear Aunts she decides to go back and care for her remaining Aunt Ivy who's heath is declining. Her Cousin, Mark is also there but doesn't have Ivy's best interests at heart he is waiting to put Ivy into an assisted living facility so he can take over ownership over the house and seems set to do this by any means necissary.

The family have had lots of tragedies over the years, including the death of Zoeys parents, her sister and they continue throughout the book as Zoeys Niece comes to stay with her as her Dad has to go into rehab for a drink problem. A lot is going on in the book in a day to day sense as well as the ongoing mystery of who is really in line to own the house is the worse should happen to Ivy.

I enjoyed the book, but I didn't love it. I think the character development just didn't work for me and Mark was poised as the bad guy thought the book and just had a sudden change of heart at the end?! just didn't gel for me personally. For all the build up in the book it just seemed to fizzle out at the end.

Also I would like to add that the synopsis and how the big reveal happens are different, maybe this is something the published needs to look at before the book goes to print in December.

I would like to thank Kristin Harper, Bookouture Publishers, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.