A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

I do love reading Julie Houston's books, they are so much love and emotions woven through the gorgeous story, so I am very excited whenever a new one comes around, I can't wait to get my grabby little hands on it and as ever this latest addition to her extensive catalogue does not disappoint!
A Village Secret is full of humour, love and something which I love about this small town. village stories a wonderful community full of eclectic and fascinating characters, each one brought a certain sparkle to the story and it was a joy to get to know them all. True I couldn't get on with some of the characters, such as Laurie, he is a flawed, selfish and complex man. Yet I instantly took to Jennifer she deserved more than what she got, but I enjoyed watching her navigate her new life in the village.
This is a gorgeous story, and a fabulous addition to the series, this has secrets, gossip, romance and drama, it's comforting and enjoyable and very satisfying, perfect weekend reading!

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book. I love this author. She always delivers a great read

What a cracker of a book this is! So much is crammed between its pages, that it left me quite dizzy. There are so many twists and turns that it will keep you engaged right until the very last.

With a grumpy-sunshine romance, which is a little left field considering Jennifer is married, and more secrets than you can shake a stick at, this book will provide hours of first-class romantic entertainment.

#A Village Secret by author # Julie Houston is one of summer's page turner s . She is also the bestselling author of A Village Affair. This is a uplifting book, and will make you laugh.
When Jennifer goes to Cambridge she meets the man of her dreams. Now it's 15 years later with also two children. Her marriage is suffering. And with a series of events coming to her attention it's time for choice's....
Thank you for the advance copy,
# Netgalley and # Head of Zeus 💜🐾🐾

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Warm, witty and wonderful, Julie Houston’s A Village Secret is an absolute delight from start to finish.

Jennifer had been a student at Cambridge University when she had met and tumbled headlong into love with gorgeous actor Laurie Lewis. The handsome thespian looked like he had sauntered out of one of her favourite love poems and when marriage ensued, a loved-up Jennifer thought that she was going to be spending the rest of her life in marital bliss with her own romantic hero. Unfortunately, reality proved to be far different as she discovered almost two decades later!

Having been married for fifteen years and proud parents to two children, the shine has certainly worn off from the initial romantic euphoria that had consumed Jennifer and Laurie. Their relationship has become strained and their marriage is teetering on the brink of divorce. Determined to save her relationship with Laurie and to keep her family together, Jennifer is prepared to do whatever it takes for her marriage – even if it means packing up and heading over to the Yorkshire village of Westenbury to Laurie’s childhood home.

Jennifer quickly realizes that life in Westenbury is worlds apart from what she’s used to and village life is certainly going to take some adjusting. Although there are plenty of new friends to be made, Jennifer isn’t sure she’s going to ever get used to her in-laws sticking their noses in where it certainly isn’t wanted – not to mention the surprise delivery of alpacas which she seems to now be the custodian of. However, Jennifer is surprised at how happy and content living in Westenbury has made her. But it looks like her new life could be put in jeopardy by a shocking secret that threatens to derail all of her plans.

Will Jennifer stick around in Westenbury for good? Or does her future lie elsewhere?

Julie Houston’s books never fail to cheer me up. They are so full of warmth and charm and they always leave me with a great big grin on my face and A Village Secret is certainly no different. Sparkling with wit, emotion and humour and with characters you cannot help but warm to, A Village Secret is a terrific bucolic romp I couldn’t stop reading.

Sure to have you laughing out loud and leave you feeling uplifted, A Village Secret is another winner by the fabulous Julie Houston.

This was the first book by Julie Houston that I have read and I loved it. I realise A Village Secret is one of a number of books set in the village of Westenbury, but it reads as a standalone, so I did not feel I was at all disadvantaged. I suspect some of the characters within the village would be familiar if you have read the other books. To be totally honest I’m going to backtrack and read the other books set in this glorious location.

When Jennifer meets Laurie, she feels that she has finally found someone who lives up to, and bears a likeness to, her ideal man, Lord Byron. When circumstances drastically change their position, Jennifer and Laurie move back to his family farm in Westenbury with their sensitive young son George. Their daughter chooses to stay behind with her grandmother, so that she can finish her GCSEs.

By this point in her marriage, Jennifer finally seems to have removed her rose tinted spectacles, and sees Laurie for what he is. I loved the character of Jennifer. There were moments earlier on in the story when I wanted to shake her, but as she realises what she really wants from life I definitely warmed to her. I think when she finally gains a group of female friends who all have her back, it definitely strengthens her resolve. I loved the location of the farm, and I definitely had a soft spot for the alpacas!

I found this to be one of my most entertaining reads so far this year, and I have definitely gained a new author to add to my favourite authors list!

This return to Westenbury features some interesting and distinctive characters, I must say, not all of them are sympathetic! You feel Jennifer's frustration at how her life has ended up and her feeling of being caught between her different family members. In this story, Jennifer has to learn to stand up for herself and to learn to put her needs first, at times.

You follow Jennifer and Laurie's story from the early days when they met at Cambridge, through fifteen years of marriage and disappointments. Although Laurie is not particularly likeable, nevertheless, there are some interesting dynamics in his family and family secrets which have wighed down on them. You also see the different generations in the family and how decisions made affect everyone. Romance is gentle and a slow burn.

In short: Moving on
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
This is the first book I have read by this author. The standard of writing is good with prosaic descriptions of the area and clear characterisation so that reactions and emotions are realistic for each character.
However, I thought that the story progressed very slowly through the timeline from university days to sixteen years into Laurie and Jennifer's marriage. Jennifer's obsession with Byron and all-encompassing love is understandable as a teenager but I thought her behaviour following Laurie's court case was unrealistic: splitting her family up and her attitude to Laurie's family members was appallingly snobbish when she needs friends on her side, she even seemed surprised when financial support from her own family finally ceased. I didn't think she was likeable and I felt no sympathy for her so I didn't enjoy the novel.

Beautifully written heartwarming book. The characters were great and relatable. I look forward to reading the next book.

Jennifer went to Cambridge and got her degree, wonderful grades and Laurie. Jennifer thinks of Laurie as her own personal Byron. He is handsome, charming and a future superstar in the theater, films and television. Just ask him.

She falls madly in love, they marry and have two children. Jennifer has a successful career in publishing. She has written some books which are non-fiction superstars. Her most successful book was "Byron, and the Women Who Loved Him". Little does she know.

After 15 years of marriage, there is a trial. A tabloid newspaper has printed stories of Laurie's many affairs. He sues for libel and loses. That result has many repercussions. It is a sample of Laurie's ego that he even brought the lawsuit. He has no clue.

Laurie loses his starring role on a television series, he loses his job as a model and the face of major brands. They have to sell their fabulous home. And even that does not pay all the legal fees and mortgages.

As a result, they have to move to Yorkshire and live on the farm owned by Laurie's family.

Jennifer has led a very privileged life. She does not want to move to a farm, and she certainly does not want to live through the ongoing humiliation. Why the mud alone is enough to give her a nervous breakdown.

But, people do not always get what they want in life. And after all, a puppy and some alpacas are bonuses, she never expected.

Jennifer must learn a great many lessons. The most important lesson is that she is a much stronger person than she believes.

Her family has shattered and slowly as each problem comes up, she finds a solution. Jennifer is admirable in many ways. But,I was quite disappointed about the long time she put up with Laurie's self involved actions.

Laurie is one of the least admirable leading characters I have ever encountered. During his entire life, his mother and various girlfriends and then Jennifer allowed him to behave as a selfish jerk.

I had ups and downs with this story. At times, i wanted to shake Jennifer and slap Laurie.

The characters are quite complete. There is no question of who these people are or how they came to these points in their lives. .

There did seem to be quite a few very quick and perfect solutions in the last part of the story. In Jennifer's life these solutions popped up one right after the other. But, it was so good to see things become just right for her, I simply ignored the improbable mini miracles.

Jennifer's dealings with family and friends provide her with constant reminders of who she was. And who she was turned out to be - a pretty good person.

This is a good read. Jennifer is a woman who deserves so much more than she accepts for a very long time. But, when she realizes her life can be different, she jumps in with both feet.

But, it is really too bad that I will never find out exactly how Magnolia's life was going.

I received this book from the publisher with the hope that I would write a fair and honest review. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my o

Favorite Quotes:

The last time I was on stage was when I was an angel in the Reception Nativity… I was already so pissed off at not being Mary, I broke my cardboard halo, took a swing at Joseph and got really told off by the old boot in charge. If you look at photos of me on stage, I’m scowling throughout and giving everyone black looks while I refuse to sing.

Net her? I turned to look at Laurie. Had Laurie actually said net her? As if Tod Mayhew had spent hours dipping his rod into a pond of potential marriage partners and had come up with a prize catch?

‘Call him Laurie,’ I suggested. ‘Everyone else does.’ Everyone except me, who now prefers wanker, pillock, bighead…

‘Protection?’ Janice laughed hollowly. ‘Laurie couldn’t protect the skin on a rice pudding.’


My Review:

I enjoy the clever wry humor and amusing yet perceptive observations in Julie Houston’s agile storytelling. She wrangles emotive insights into her narratives that set the perfect pitch and extra oomph to her tale. This story had a unique cast of characters with real-world problems and issues, as well as significant personal foibles and pitfalls. The storylines were engaging and held my interest, even when the characters were annoyingly weak or obtuse, as we all are at times.

A Village Secret is hands down my favourite book of Julie Houston’s to date.

Now, that’s not to say I didn’t have some initial fear over the decisions that Jennifer was making. I was all ‘You Need To Wash That Man Right Out of Your Hair’ (IYKYK), but I just needed to have a mild (or not so mild) rant at my kindle screen, take a deep breath, and regroup.

Jennifer’s story had me on an emotional rollercoaster; so many emotions packed into one book.

The irony is the one character that gave me the most laughs was Laurie. Yes *nods*, the same Laurie who I loathed with an absolute passion. Talk about ‘All the world’s a stage!’ He is completely oblivious to the wants and needs of anyone except himself and made me want to smack his teeth in. *shrugs* I’m not proud, but there you go.

Moving to Westenbury may have been the last thing Jennifer ever wanted given the circumstances, but in the end the move allows Jennifer to assess what she really wants from life and for her kids, Ada, and George. Especially when THE secret is revealed.

I loved being back in Westenbury where some of my favourite characters made an appearance and I got to know others better. *coughs* Tod Mayhew… *sighs*

We all need to thrive not just survive, and with the help of a creative spark, lush scenery, three alpacas, and those that love her, I think Jennifer can do just that.

Honestly, I could wax lyrical about this book for hours and unravel all the different layers to the story. Coz, it will surprise you all that happens. I treated The Mommy to a full debrief after I had finished as I was desperate to talk about it. Poor woman has a lot to put up with *snorts*.

Lastly, I bet I’m not the only one that needs Magnolia and The Lord to be published for real!

The book takes place in and around Yorkshire, with Jennifer as the main character she has led a privileged life and who has everything given to her on a plate, her partner is the polar opposite of her Laurie, is just a terrible person, slimy and womanizing doesn't come into it. I found it odd that Jennifer found herself thinking of Laurie as her own Lord Byron.
When he loses his job they have to sell their lovely home and move to Yorkshire and live on the farm his parent own.
Lovely descriptions of country life throughout the book, but I didn't really enjoy it. The book was a bit too slow in places and I felt like I was wading through treacle at times.
I did finish it but feel Julie has written much better books.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. xx

I can’t believe that it has taken until now for me to pick up one of Julie Houston’s novels. Booked in for the blog tour this week I devoured this story while basking in the Easter sunshine. It’s a fun uncomplicated read that had me laughing out loud in parts.

Jennifer is an English Literature student at Cambridge University. Enjoying her course she has her head – and heart – absorbed in her beloved Romantic Poets. There are suitors vying for her attention but she is holding out for her own Byron. When she meets the gorgeous drama student Laurie Lewis she knows that he is the One. Truly mad, bad and dangerous to know – to paraphrase Lady Caroline Lamb. His thick Yorkshire accent and rugged Heathcliff good looks soon have Jen entranced.

Fifteen years later the fairytale is starting to unravel and a series of public revelations turn their family life upside down. The only way to keep the family together is to move back to Laurie’s family farm in Westenbury, Yorkshire.

Life in the countryside is no picnic with interfering in-laws, much rain and mud and a surprise delivery of Alpacas but despite everything Jen finds herself feeling happier than she has for a long time. But just as everything is going well there is one more devastating secret that the village will unveil.

The characters are flawed, and as such very realistic, and soon feel like family friends. Julie takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the lives of her protagonists and while not everyone will be happy than Jen has chosen to try and keep her family together it is a situation that many can sympathise with.

Supplied by Net Galley and Head of Zeus in exchange for an honest review.

UK publication date: 14 Apr 2022. 400 pages.

My takeaway of this book is it was about perceptions and choosing what to believe based on those around you. It is a classic story of a man telling his wife exactly what she wants to hear despite all the contradictory evidence literally everywhere her, but trying to do the best for her family in the situation.

I would characterize this book as 20-60-20 for me - the first and last 20% flew by, but the middle was a bit tough to get through (and the length of time it took me to get through shows that). I think a part of it was the British-isms in it where I constantly had to ask my British partner what something meant as it was not a colloquialism that was not easily discernible - and I say that as a native English speaker. (I also appreciate I received this as an ARC from the UK version of NetGalley, so it comes with the territory I suppose).

Jennifer Lewis is an editor for a London publishing firm and has had a couple of her own books published, one of which started while she was in University at Cambridge. She grew up in a well-to-do and very loving family who always did their best to support her, even after her very own "Byron" (Laurie Lewis) may not be all he seems.

Laurie was raised on a Yorkshire "farm" which honestly sounded lovely to me. But he worked his whole life to stay away from there, until he had no other choice. His mother, Rita, stood by his father's side throughout his life, despite his terrible demeanor. Everyone seems to have input to give to Jennifer, including Rita and Janice, one of Laurie's 3 sisters, telling her how to live her life.

There were many times I wanted to shake Jennifer and tell her she was better than what she was being put through, to the point that I started to really dislike her as a character. Granted, I have never been in a situation remotely similar, but I'm sure others did not take kindly to reading the bit about how 'you do what you need to do to keep your children's parents together.'

A couple of quotes:
- "Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey."

- "A person wronged will too often give up the fight to prove their innocence in the certain knowledge they can't afford the risk of losing, and a settlement can be made out of court."

- "'Guilty little secret,' she'd laughed, unembarrassed. 'You can knock back gin, or eat triple chocolate chip cookies or...' she indicated an arm towards a pile of Mills and Boon on the window sill... 'abandon reality with pure escapism. Much cheaper and not as fattening.'"

What a truly stunning read this book is and Julie never fails to disappoint. Heart warming and beautifully written.

This is my second Julie Houston novel and I am quickly learning that she is fantastic at writing cozy, feel good romances! This was such an easy book to read, I almost finished it during a 2 hour plane journey! The characters are all really well written and Laurie was so easy to hate (but also to laugh at)! I did find the start of Laurie and Jennifer’s relationship a bit rushed and slightly unbelievable but I soon forgot about that as I was carried along by the story. I really enjoyed the farm setting and Jennifer’s new life in Yorkshire; this is where the book got really good. Overall an easy, enjoyable read.

Another enjoyable book from Julie. I enjoyed seeing the characters evolve in their own ways. Look forward to the next book!

EXCERPT: Prologue - November 2020
'Jen? I'm so desperately sorry you've had to sit through all this. All this utter rubbish that's come out, in there, this afternoon.' Laurie Lewis, my husband of sixteen years, ran down the steps and through the milling crowd towards me, pulling me towards him, desperate to protect me from the melee that was insistent on reaching out greedy, intrusive arms and hands in my direction.

'You know, don't you Jen?' Laurie was vehement, pulling my face up towards his own, those incredible navy eyes of his blazing into mine, despite the crowd moving in on us. 'I love you? Will always love you? That all this . . .' he gestured an arm to the seething throng determined to reach its goal, '. . . means nothing. It's you and me who mean everything . . .' He broke off, arms still around me as the media reached us.

'What do you think of the verdict, Jennifer?'

'Did you know about all of this, Jen? What do you think about it all?'

ABOUT 'A VILLAGE SECRET': When Jennifer goes up to Cambridge University with her head full of the Romantic Poets, she never dreams that she will find her very own Byron. But then she meets gorgeous actor Laurie Lewis, and finds herself living a real-life love poem.

Fifteen years and two children later, Jennifer and Laurie's relationship is starting to feel more like an epic tragedy. After a series of revelations turn her world upside down, Jennifer will do anything to keep her family together – even if it means moving hundreds of miles away to Laurie's childhood home in Westenbury, Yorkshire.

As she reluctantly enters into village life – complete with interfering in-laws, new friends and a surprise delivery of alpacas – Jennifer is amazed to find herself feeling happy for the first time in years. But the village holds one last, devastating secret and Jennifer must decide once and for all what she wants her future to hold.

MY THOUGHTS: There were parts of this book I loved (a lot of them) but also a couple of parts that made me cringe.

Shall we get the 'cringe' factors out of the way first? Firstly the example Jen is setting to her children. She enables Laurie's cheating ways although both George and Ada are mortified by their father's behaviour. She's in love with the idea of the man she fell in love with - George Byron. Apparently Laurie is a dead ringer for the poet. The second cringe factor is that Jen again falls instantly in love with another man, almost swooning over him like scenes from the bodice rippers she has taken to writing. But, to her credit, she does decide to live independently and focus on her children, keeping Tod as a non-residential love interest.

I didn't really become engrossed in the storyline until the family moved to Westenbury, Yorkshire, into Laurie's family home on the farm. That's a bit of a culture shock for the family who are used to a sumptuous London home.

With the exception of Laurie (pillock) Lewis, who is a detestable self-serving womaniser whose only regret is that he got caught, I enjoyed the characters. Jennifer I never really warmed to - a woman who didn't leave her husband until she had another firmly in her sights. I loved her mother Cynthia who muttered 'pillock' every time Laurie was in her sight or was mentioned. Janice, Laurie's sister, is an absolute scream. She's straight talking, honest and practical. Laurie's mother Rita is another gem, but one with a guilty secret, or two.

Overall I enjoyed A Village Secret which had me laughing in places. A good addition to Julie Houston's Village series.

⭐⭐⭐.7

#AVillageSecret #NetGalley

I: @juliehoustonauthor @ariafiction

T: @JulieHouston2 @Aria_Fiction

#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #romcom #sliceoflife

THE AUTHOR: Julie lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire where her novels are set, and her only claims to fame are that she teaches part-time at ‘Bridget Jones’ author Helen Fielding’s old junior school and her neighbour is ‘Chocolat’ author, Joanne Harris. After University, where she studied Education and English Literature, she taught for many years as a junior school teacher. As a newly qualified teacher, broke and paying off her first mortgage, she would spend every long summer holiday working on different Kibbutzim in Israel. After teaching for a few years she decided to go to New Zealand to work and taught in Auckland for a year before coming back to this country. She now teaches just two days a week, and still loves the buzz of teaching junior-aged children. She has been a magistrate for the past nineteen years, and, when not distracted by Ebay, Twitter and Ancestry, spends much of her time writing. Julie is married, has a twenty-four-year-old son and twenty-one-year-old daughter and a ridiculous Cockerpoo called Lincoln. She runs and swims because she’s been told it’s good for her, but would really prefer a glass of wine, a sun lounger and a jolly good book - preferably with Matthew Mcconaughay in attendance.

She hates skiing, gets sick on boats and wouldn’t go pot-holing or paddy diving if her life depended on it.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Head of Zeus, Aria, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Village Secret by Julie Houston for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage