I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

This was such a cute little story! It has some really good themes - recycling an re-using, the importance of family - and the most of the characters and settings were lovely.

I did find Henry's behaviour to be a bit problematic, however, I suppose I can understand the reasons for how he behaved.

The Christmas theme was also a little welcome element, as I love descriptions of snowy days, and snuggling in with some hot chocolate, or decorating the Christmas tree, and they really get me excited for the upcoming festive season.

Definitely a good read to get myself starting to feel the Christmas excitement.

In Make Do and Mend in Applewell we join Lottie, Henry and their children. Henry has just been made redundant and doesn't tell Lottie as he doesn't want to upset her and he urgently tries to find more work. Lottie - a dab hand at upcycling, starts questioning her husband's odd behaviour which is now putting quite a strain on their marriage. Will they get this resolved by Christmas?

I enjoyed this book - a sweet, predictable romance where the family go through difficult times and learn a lot about each other. Honestly, I initially picked this up as a Christmas read but Christmas wasn't much of a feature. I liked the character development and the overall plot.

This was a digital arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I've read numerous books by this author now and this applewell series is so lovely. The idea that everyone in the village is into recycling and not wasting things is great. We revisited a few characters from the previous book, but you would still be able to read this without having read that one.

Make do and Mend in Applewell - Lilac Mills

Such an easy read, and I finished it in a day. Lovely characters and setting. This is the second book in a series but is a stand alone story so can be enjoyed without reading the first. Lilac Mills never fails to deliver a nice happy ending style escape book for me, Thank you Netgalley and Canelo for the e-arc, I can only apologise in the delay of my opinion

I read this as a standalone and loved the characters in the story. Lottie is so proactive, with a genuine talent for upcycling and a fair few insecurities which she has to overcome. Henry is also likeable but gets himself into a situation when he doesn’t admit straight away to Lottie that he has work issues. I loved the theme of renewal, upcycling which ran through the story and was willing Lottie on to succeed- and Henry of course. The community of Applewell have a few lively characters who will make you smile. An uplifting read.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

A cute, cosy, Christmassy romance. The characters are super well written, something I always value in books. I also enjoyed the setting, and would love to go back to Applewell.

This was a gorgeous Christmas read, that I struggled to put down. Applewell sounded like an absolute dream, I wish all these fictional towns were real!

oh this book guys!!! This book is very good! Not boring at all! It entertained me from first to last page! I am an absolute fan of Lilac Mills books and I am so happy I have read this one too! This book is all about trust in a relationship, but also a lot about love. It broke my hearts to see the main protagonists being so much in pain while trying to figure out what was in the other one'shead or trying to protect the other one from being worried. This book shows that the best way to be with your partner is bein honest and to communicate a lot! I loved this book! I almost gave a 5 stars out of 5 but in the end i will give it a 4! But a big 4!

Loved this second instalment set in Applewood! No need to have read the first book as this is a stand alone read however I have read the first book and it was lovely to come across some familiar characters. This book is entertaining and so enjoyable! Made me feel right at home! A really lovely story of trust and believing in those you love - heart, toe and finger warming! Must read for those that love a cosy tale.

Thank you Netgalley

I really loved the themes of making do and mending, and upcycling that run through this book, and Lottie is fabulous at imagining and creating new uses for old things. What she can do with a ship and a door is rather impressive!

Although the second book in the Applewell series it can easily be read as a standalone, I love Applewell, it is such a lovely sounding village in Wales, and its residents all seem to care for the environment and not wasting things.

I also really loved Lottie's children, especially the youngest who seems to run her ragged, But what frustrated me was Lottie and Henry's marriage.

I wanted to shout at Henry to get him to tell the truth about what is going with him, while Lottie was suspecting things but not the right suspicions and I couldn't help but think I would have believed in them more as a couple if they actually talked to each other about what was concerning them, It was driving me demented!

But other than that I enjoyed this which was told in alternating perspectives between Lottie and Henry. Henry's troubles are real and will feel familiar to many, as will Lottie's suspicions.

I just really loved Lottie's creativity, and found that was my favourite thing about this book. It's a lovely story, nice and gentle, that drove me mad at the characters in places, but otherwise was warm and a pleasurable way to spend my time.

Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A lovely, heartwarming read that left me feeling very christmassy. I wanted to hug my loved ones, put my Christmas tree up, listen to Christmas music, drink hot cocoa and eat toasted marshmallows. Maybe a bit of upcycling too. I love upcycling.

I really enjoyed Make Do and Mend in Applewell by Lilac Mills and struggled to put it down. A great feel good read of love, trust and belief. I was hooked in from the beginning to the end.

ok, ok, I'll admit. It was the christmas scene on the front cover that I fell in love with. Hey, don't knock it. I love christmas. It's a good way to get people to pick the book up. Good advertisement in my opinion.

I also, understand this is the second in an on going series. But I wouldn't have guessed. You can definitely read this as a stand a lone novel.

Also, as an added bonus is that it's set at christmas. And honestly, I wouldn't mind moving to Applewell. Sounds an awesome place.

It's heart warming, well written and easy to follow. I don't usually read these types of books but this one I found to be an uplifting romance set in the season of goodwill.

Enjoy!

I could really relate to the characters in this book and their families ups and downs. Lottie is a stay at home mum who absolutely loves up cycling items that anyone else would throw away. Even though they have a lovely house, food on the table she at times wishes there was more? Her husband goes off to work everyday leaving early and returning late at times, returning when everything is calm in the house.
Henry however has been made redundant but since this is his second job in the last year he feels like a failure. Christmas is just around the corner and now money will be even tighter. But he cannot bring himself to tell his wife, thinking that he will get another job straight away.. Getting up each day and leaving for work as usual, but spending his day surfing the net, job hunting. Little does he realise that Lottie can tell something is wrong. On a day trip with her friend and little ones, she spots Henry with another women. This in turn opens up another can of worms, is Henry having an affair?
Can love keep them together, can Henry get a new job in time or will everything come tumbling down.

I really enjoyed reading Make Do and Mend in Applewell , second in this series but can be read as a standalone. This is such a heartwarming and thoroughly enjoyable and uplifting story. I want to live in Applewell it sounds like such a gorgeous place . It was a nice change to have the focus from Henry's point of view and not the usual female lead. This is such a sweet and charming read full of the joy of christmas.


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

I loved this book, it is engaging from the very first sentence. Well written and believable.

Little is a girl after my own heart, thrifty bit likeable.

A heartwarming and life affirming story featuring realistic and relatable characters and an unusual plot.
I liked this story and rooted for Lottie and Henry, hoping the best and enjoying the atmosphere and the lovely setting.
It's a well written book, the characters are fleshed and I'm loving this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I wasn’t sure I was in the mood for a lighthearted book, but the release date was fast approaching, so I got stuck in. As soon as I started reading, though, I was enchanted once again by Lilac Mills’ writing and with Applewell.
I love the little mentions of Lampeter and Aberystwyth as I can envisage these places in my mind having spent three years at Lampeter University and often having to schlep to Aberystwyth for some civility.
Lottie and Henry, a married couple, are having trouble communicating with one another. They are left to their own individual worlds, and this causes problems for one another. I think we have all been there when our partner has gone quiet on us, and we start to imagine all sorts of scenarios, and instead of communicating, it festers and grows into something completely far-fetched and out of proportion. This is what is happening in this latest instalment in Applewell between this couple.
Henry was a very annoying male and so oblivious to his faux pas’ and Lottie was a little neurotic, but both were likeable characters.
I really enjoyed this book, it made for a very lighthearted read, and it ended up being exactly what I needed! I can’t wait to find out what some of the other characters get up to in this little town in the middle of Wales.

This is a lovely read, so beautifully written.
I liked the characters so much, they felt like people I actually knew.