I have really been enjoying catching up on Christie Barlow's Love Heart Lane series and this one didn't disappoint. I was gripped by Jinny and Gabe's story and enjoyed the reveal of what had happened 10 years previously. I look forward to reading more in this series.

The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage was a really cute and cozy read. I read it during a rainy afternoon and it was just perfect. I really loved the writing and the characters. I highly recommend this one!

I loved this charming and delightful read. Great for the beach.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love this series, and this story is a good addition. It is always lovely to revist the village, and to catch up with old favourite characters! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love this series, totally invested in the characters and can’t wait for the next instalment. Picking up these books is like having a coffee with friends

I sometimes forget to write reviews, this is one of them but did i love this book- yes i did and neeeded to know what happens next. I wish i had the whole set to read from the start..... here goes
Book no10. can read solo or together but i would advise read all of love heart lane series NOW.
Jinny leaves her crazy busy lifestyle of her job and against her fathers wishes all the way to Scotland for a job interview she knows nothing about. Journalist to chutney maker- what can go wrong?
One of the local residents Gabe, helps her out as he is the beekeeper and shows her a thing or two along with how to find love again.
I always love returning to love heart lane, and this is another one of those.

I absolutely love the Love Heart Lane series; it is one of my favourites. Every time I get lost in the village of Heartcross and its latest story, and this time was no exception.

Jinny moves to Bumblebee cottage in Heartcross to become the new honey and chutney maker after she quits her job as a journalist. Swapping city life for country life she is ready to learn the ropes from beekeeper Gabe, but that’s not all she learns. Unable to leave her journalistic skills behind she does some digging on the secretive Gabe and uncovers a secret that links to her own life too.

As with all of the Love Heart Lane series, the newbie, in this case Jinny, is welcomed into the village with open arms from the start and is soon part of the community. She is a lovable character and is able to make friends and settle into this new way of life easily.

One of my favourite things about the series is that we get to catch up with previous characters of the series and it feels like returning home. However, this shouldn’t put you off as it can be read as a standalone, as can all the series, but I urge you to read them all.

Christie’s writing always makes these books so easy to read and get completely lost it, and you can’t help but smile.

I loved it and can’t wait to return to Heartcross again soon.

There was quite a bit that annoyed me about this book, hence the 2 star rating. I enjoy a light-hearted, easy read romcom novel, but I like my female protagonists to be strong, independent feminists.

However, Jinny is a young woman who has been funded by her father, doesn’t like the fact that she hasn’t been given respect or responsibility, but has stayed, despite apparently going against her morals at her father’s behest.

So far, so frustratingly anti-feminist.

She then ups sticks and travels to Scotland based on a job advert to take over a company that makes honey and chutney. This would be understandable if she had a secret passion or hobby for bee-keeping or chutney making. But she doesn’t. She has no idea and doesn’t like bees …. so it’s a good job there’s a lovely looking bloke (Gabe) to save her every time she mucks up *eye roll*

I was hoping for an undemanding and fun read, but found myself hating the two main characters.

I know I am in the minority, because so many people loved this book, however, it didn’t meet the expectations I had.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series, it’s no secret so now it’s at book number 10, I wonder what new character or storyline we can have but Christie Barlow never fails to deliver a book that is engaging and entertaining.
Jinny is intrigued by Heartcross so uproots her life to become a beekeeper (with no experience). She soon settles into village life, our favourite characters as on hand to welcome her, as they do with all newcomers. Jinny soon realises there is more going on than meets the eye and is determined to get to the bottom of things.
Romance is always at the core of these stories and I enjoy seeing how it blossoms for the characters, it’s never smooth sailing but I always have hope.
A great addition to the series!

I loved this story about trying to simplify life, getting close to Mother Earth, and being in the kitchen. Likable characters and chutney cooking abound. I felt like this book was an auntie welcoming me in with a smile and a hug.

After leaving her fathers journalist/media company after a disagreement over journalistic integrity, Jinny finds herself applying for a making chutney at Bumblebee cottage. A bit of a change in direction comes as a refreshing new start. Gabe is a welcome diversion. It was great getting to know a new character and another book in the Love Heart Lane series.
This is such a heartwarming series and a great escape into another world!

We're back at the Bakehouse / Bee's Knees Honey and Chutneys businesses with Jinny, a journalist on a tabloid owned by her father being pushed too far, pushing back at last and deciding to make her own way in life. A chat with best friend Jay (a friend of a friend of other characters in the series) and she's applying for a job as chutney and honey maker, even though she has never made chutney and is afraid of bees. Fortunately, she gets the job, and along with it, hunky Gabe, beekeeper and man of mystery. What makes him hate journalists so much? Can Jinny learn to do a full day's work without causing a flood or other horror? And who will win the Summer Fair produce competition. Some interesting plot points here, cleverly done, that all work out beautifully, of course, and another good one in the series.

The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage by Christie Barlow

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

When Jinny Birdwhistle is pushed over the edge one time too many times and quits her job as a tabloid journalist, an impromptu – and rather unconventional – job search leads her to a new house, car, and career making honey and chutney in the small Scottish village of Heartcross. And with handsome beekeeper Gabe Warner to help her learn the ropes, she’s ready to embrace ‘country girl life’ and leave the past behind her.

…uncovers an old secret

Yet there’s more to strong and silent Gabe than meets the eye and though Jinny planned to leave her journalistic instincts in London, she can’t help doing a little digging. Now, as she uncovers a mystery that links to her own history, Jinny realises that you can’t outrun the truth and the only way to move forward is to face the past. But now that she’s at home in Heartcross, she won’t have to do it alone…

My Opinion

I have read a few books in this series but each has worked well as a standalone - it is always nice to return to Heartcross and catch up with the residents. This was a lovely, easy read, just perfect for a weekend escape. Jinny quits her job as a journalist and needs to find a new job and somewhere to live, she is intrigued by the thought of moving to Heartcross and becoming a beekeeper. This was an enjoyable read with secrets to be discovered.

Rating 4/5

This was an enjoyable read although, for me personally, the start was a little slow (could have just been my frame of mind) and I felt like the end wrapped up very quickly. Always good to visit Heartcross and the people in it, but this was also a good stand alone read.

The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage takes us back to the beautiful setting of Heartcross for the 10th story of the “Love Heart Lane” series.

I cannot get enough of Heartcross and fall in love with the setting and the people that bit more every-time I go back! I really wish this was a real place as I love escaping into this literary world.

This story had me right from the beginning - I would love to eat cheese in a Job Interview and mysterious Gabe was the Beekeeper I never knew I needed.

My Top 5 things from this book:

•Heartcross
•Eating cheese in a Job Interview
•Happily Ever After
•Community Spirit
•Cosy Read

“Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what”

Another book in the Love Heart Lane series. Really enjoyable book and series. I love the village and the characters. Enjoyed learning a bit about bee keeping on my way through the book. A very good book and enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This is book 10 in the Loveheart Lane series but can easily be read as a standalone novel although I have to be honest, if I had started with this book I probably wouldn't have bothered with the rest of the series. This is my least favourite of the ones I've read and for ages I couldn't get into the book - had to leave it, read something else, and go back again.

The last third of the book was the best.

Where can I start, I was really Looking forward to another Visit to Love Heart Lane and the Village of Heartcross, to visit old friend and new.

The Story's main Character Jinny Had escaped her old job as a journalist in the big smoke and was looking for a new challenge, she was flicking though and saw an article in the paper advertising a job in the small town of Heartcross. She left London for an interview which could change her life, little did she know she would also have a lot of selects coming out along the way. She then meets a Game who she is working with and little did she know how connected there stores were.

I so look forward to reading The Love Heart Lane series and I always hate finshing then as they are always sooo good. I am really looking forward to another visit to Heartcross soon and visiting old friend and new.

Thank you net galley for a early copy for an honest review

Jinny has decided enough is enough when her dad who is her boss and the owner of a newspaper wants her to dig up dirt and unflattering photos of an actress so she tells him where he can stick his job and leaves
While she is sitting in the pub with her best friend she comes across an advert for someone to take over a chutney and honey producing business which comes with aptly named accomodation Bumblebee cottage. Even though she knows nothing about making chutney and is scared of flying insects she decided to go for it using her mum's maiden name so she can make a new start and unbelievably gets the job
Can she make a success of it or will her previous job come back to haunt her ?
Loved it

Another simply wonderful and addictive read from Christie Barlow, perfectly paced, adorable characters and community, it’s always a joy to be back in Heartcross. A beautiful, heartwarming and thought provoking at times tale, what a wonderful addition to the series

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