This is a happy, uplifting book about a baking competition set in England
Like Mrs Quinn's Rise to Fame, all the characters are likeable and you finish the book feeling good about the world.
I am recommending to all of my patrons in need of a smile in their day

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot...

I've read and enjoyed several books by Judy Leigh, so was looking forward to reading this one - I was not disappointed!

A light, cosy read, with some great characters and interesting settings. I loved how different the three main characters were - it was hard to imagine how they could be siblings to begin with. My favourite was Robert - the descriptions of his home and garden were vivid and I could imagine being in the village. The names of his animals made me smile. There are some genuinely laugh out loud sections in this book, and also some more poignant times.

The actual "bake off" is not the main point of the story, but it's good fun.

I particularly enjoy the fact that Judy Leigh's books are based around "older" characters, proving that there is still plenty to look forward to in later life.

Recommended if you are looking for a light easy read - this would be perfect for a holiday or journey.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Will definitely have you craving scones and whether you put the jam or butter on first, you will be salivating at some of Robert's scone descriptions.

I loved how different Robert, Bunty and Harriet are as siblings, and yet as they spend some extended time together in Devon, they soon realise just how great each other are.

I loved the three different stories, Robert of first proper love ever, Bunty with her mistake and true love, and Harriet finally finding her feet and possibly a new man, after being free of her old controlling husband.

It's another lovely story featuring the more mature in life characters that Judy Leigh specialises in. The actual bake off aspect is rather small, but it is part of a much bigger and far more heartwarming overarching story.

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

So funny yet heartfelt I loved this book! It takes some real talent to take a basic premise that has been done multiple times and then somehow still make it unique and make it stand out head an shoulders above the rest! I'll definitely be looking out for the authors backcatalouge and future releases!!

Love, love, love Judy Leigh and the vintage village bake off was such a lovely story about love, new beginnings and togetherness. Some really yummy cakes too.

Such a very cute book! Did not want to put the book down once I began reading it. It was quite the quick read for me.

A brilliant book, full of humour and down to earth, relatable characters. The storyline is engaging and this is a lovely easy read which will make you smile .
Robert, Hattie, and Bunty’s story and of course the village. Pure escapism at its best
Highly Recommended
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Judy Leigh for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Bachelor Robert leaving with just his cat in a village in Devon, has made a hit with the ladies of the gardening club. Not just for his suave good looks but for his Victoria Sponge and his scones. Of course the age old debate starts with the scones, is it the Devon or Cornwall way.

Thinking that this is the most excitement he is going to face, his two sisters descend on the sleepy little village too. Hattie finds herself unexpectedly single when her husband leaves her for a younger woman. Then there is Bunty who initially arrives at Hattie’s house with a plumber, a man she is having an affair with for less time that it takes for a cake to cook! Is it going to be a recipe for disasters or will these mature siblings find the perfect recipe at a crossroads in all of their lives?

Great to see mature characters being dominant and the youngsters taking more of a back seat. Full of humour, mad pets and delicious sounding food, the perfect read.

Amazing book!
I was thoroughly engaged throughout this book and I didn't want to put it down! The author captured my attention from the get go! Five stars from me :)

This is the most heartwarming British Bake Off cozy English village fiction that I've read this year. I could not stop reading this and eating treats while doing it. This book is a 5 star read!! You have to read this!
I just reviewed The Vintage Village Bake Off by Judy Leigh. #TheVintageVillageBakeOff #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Another of my favourite authors who writes about mature characters is Judy Leigh. Robert Parkin is a septuagenarian, living happily with his cat Isaac Mewton in the Devon village of Millbrook. When the women in the village start fawning over him, he is surprised. Right around the same time, his sister, Hattie is dealing with her marriage ending as her boor of a husband has run off with another woman. The third sibling, Bunty shows up at Hattie's house to have an affair with a man she just met. Hattie leaves Bunty and her lover at her house, and heads to Robert's. Now Robert is quite the baker and it appears that is what is attracting most of the new members of The Gardening Club. When the media gets wind of Robert's skills, he becomes part of a contest to see which county does the best cream tea – Devon or Cornwall?

The Vintage Village Bake Off is a story of life and never being too old to enjoy it or make the most of it. It is also a story about family, specifically siblings. The Bunty storyline frustrated me as I am not a huge fan of affair stories, but I did like to see her growth and realization that she needs to decide what she wants out of life. I really liked Hattie. She was a people pleaser and her bully of a husband was nasty to her. She had completely lost herself in her marriage doing what he wanted, so it was nice to see her come into her own and make decisions in her best interest for a change. And then there's Robert. He was just a nice guy. He enjoyed his gardening and his baking and was a bit unnerved with the attention from the ladies in the village. He did not want to compete in the baking contest, but I love how it all worked out. The animals in this book are also important characters, especially the goats. This was a fun story, demonstrating that we all need to live life to the fullest and enjoy ourselves. It also reminds people to talk to one another, especially in the face of tragedy and that it is never to late to change your life. The Vintage Village Bake Off doesn't have recipes for food, but it could be a recipe for life. I recommend this one if you enjoy humor and mature characters in a story.

Another Judy Leigh novel aways holds out the promise of lashings of humour and some down to earth characters. This one is no exception. Here we see the lives of three siblings and how their lives in late middle age have lived up to their expectations. You are always sure that they have great affection for each other and that each can see in their sibling, just what changes will help them to be happy. Hattie is aware that her life has been dominated by her ex husband but needs encouragement to make any changes. Her sister, Bunty, is incorrigible and arrives unexpectedly with a new boyfriend in tow. It does not take long to get the measure of him. In Dorset, Robert has carved a solitary but contented life, quite unaware of the effect he has on the locals.

There is much humour in the villagers but also some good common sense on the best way forward. Love and change may appear unexpectedly but you certainly sense that by the end of the story, there will be some new beginnings.

In short: love, affection, friendship

I did my best but I couldn't get involved with the characters in this book. It was very slow to get going and in the end I gave up.

I received a review copy through NetGalley and thanks are due to them and the publisher.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley

Excapism at it's best. So much fun. I lovd it. Would recommend.

Love the English countryside especially when it’s written to novels! Lovely to ready how the older generation have fun and have the community spirit too.

This was such a refreshing book! I felt like I was in the English countryside with a bunch of fun quirky people. It was so great to read about older (in their 70's) people who get a new take on life and are able to grow and find happiness. I think this resonates with any age though because it requires introspection and courage to change your life and find joy.
That being said, it is really a funny, entertaining read.
Enjoy!

This was a lovely book I enjoyed so much loved the characters the writing style. The setting of the story I enjoyed and the world that it was in. A brilliant read you love.

Book 1 of Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon October 2023.

I’ve enjoyed all Judy Leigh’s books that I’ve reviewed and was happy when I found she had a new novel. The first thing I noticed about The Vintage Village Bake Off was the powerful prologue and first chapter. They were amazing!

The second thing I noticed was the sense of community. So many friendly people. Lots of yummy food, lots of debate about the best scones and lots of mentions of scones and other sweet treats as well as other traditional British food.

It’s a relaxing book. However, I felt there were so many characters that I didn’t get into their backstory well, which was a shame.

I’m not sure where the idea of “vintage” fits in either, especially in relationship to the village. The characters that stood out to me most were Hattie and her sister, Bunty. I felt they were the best developed of all the characters. Bunty was quirky, I liked her. I also felt she was vulnerable and Jacko was just annoying and immature. I grew up in Oxfordshire, and I sincerely disliked his comments about it being “a dull, flat county, and he’d hate to live there.” .

I didn’t agree with Dennis about the fact that Oxford is too many people, old buildings and spires”. Each to their own on what they think of it, but I personally love it.

I loved how Hattie stood up to him and defended Bunty. I felt she was someone to root for. I loved the natural and realistic way they saw each other again after years.I liked Glenys and felt she was a good friend.

Both she and Bunty have a difficult time where love is concerned. I felt as scared as Hattie that Jackie may come back, yet proud she tried to be stronger about what had happened with him.
Geoffrey was beyond horrible to Hattie. I was glad they divorced.

Kay had great life lessons for Bunty, and I liked Kay’s house.I liked how Bunty gave Hattie’s home a makeover.

I loved Tilda’s singing while Hattie played the organ and the importance of the church and organ music in bringing people together.

Thanks to Judy Leigh, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Okay, okay, as much as the synopsis makes this seem like the story is predominantly about Robert, it's not! Yes, he's a key player, but his siblings share the spotlight equally as much, if not more so...and that's just the way we like it.

This is a character driven story...that is to say there's a story/plot line, but without this fascinating sibling trio, it'd be just another story. Robert is the brother that was always there, but more so in the background. He is a lovely man with a kind heart, knowledge to share, and great baking as well as gardening skills. What he lacked was more in the presence department. He didn't speak up, stand out, or rock the boat...for better or worse, or in this case, for the worst of his sister Hattie. No, she was pressed into a doomed marriage because no one had the gall to stand up for her, let alone would she stand up for herself. Which brings us to Hattie...whom I was rooting for from the very start. I love how we meet her, though the emotional turmoil she's in isn't pleasant, because we can see that while her sparkle may have been dimmed by the louse she was married to for so long, she was still there shining like a diamond underneath. All she needed for a little care, and her moment to shine...which THANK GOODNESS she gets in spades. In the mean time, her soft heart allows more shenanigans from her younger sister, Bunty, but it's not a kindness that goes completely to waste. Realizations are made, progress is reached for, and when the cards eventually fall, everything is as it should be. As for Bunty, she came off as the spoiled younger sibling that she was, not taking anything too seriously unless it was all about her, and yet she still had some redeeming qualities even if they were harder to find.

So you see, they were all STRONG characters, and they certainly left their mark on me, which can be a hard task considering I read so much! It's hard enough at times to remember the character names, let alone specific traits, after a book ends, but I have a feeling this trio will stick with me for a while. If you're looking for your next read this holiday season, or perhaps a gift for the Women's Fiction fan in your life, this is definitely a book I wouldn't pass over, and an author I'd make room for in your reading world!

The three Rankin siblings are all at a bit of a crossroads in their lives. Hattie has recently been divorced from her husband of nearly 50 years. He was a very objectionable man who right from the beginning has demeaned Hattie and reduced her self confidence to nothing. Now that she is free from him, she is beginning to realise how badly he had been treating her and is relieved that he ran off with Linda from the bowling club.

When her sister Bunty turns up completely out of the blue with a new lover in toe, Hattie's life is turned upside down. Bunty has always been a bit of a whirlwind, but Hattie is surprised to find out that she has left her husband. It soon becomes very clear that three is a crowd and something has to give so Hattie decides to go and visit their brother in Devon.

Robert is a retired head teacher who enjoys growing his own produce and then cooking up a storm. Recently, he has come to the attention of a number of women in town who find the idea of a man who can cook VERY appealing, although he is a bit oblivious to the fact that he has suddenly become so attractive to the opposite sex. It's definitely not something he is used to.

Soon Hattie is beginning to fit in the community, and her confidence is growing. Bunty is re-evaluating some of her choices and Robert's baking skills come to the attention of a local journalist. Before he knows it he is involved in a bake off against a skilled baker from Cornwall. After all, this is a chance to answer the age old question of whether you put jam and then cream on a scone (as they do in Devon) or the other way around (Cornwall). For me, it is a no brainer. It is always jam first! Every time!!

I have read a number of Judy Leigh books now, and this is my favourite! I loved the way we saw the characters growing (especially Robert and Hattie), and the sense of community coming together that we saw throughout the book. If I was going to use one word to describe the book it would be fun. And you can tell that the author has had a bit of fun with this book too. For example, all the animals that Robert has all have cute names. Two of the goats are called The Great Goatsby and Vincent Van Goat, and the cat is Isaac Mewton!

Which brings me to a recipe to share. Given that there is a scone bake off, it might have been more obvious to share a scone recipe. There were some truly delicious non-traditional scone flavours in the book which might come in handy for International Scone week later in the year. For example there is a ginger scone that Robert makes. Instead I am going to bring you something different.

Tomorrow night we are having Christmas family dinner with the kids (most of them anyway). Our menu is prawns for starters, then pork roast with caramelised apple (based on this recipe) and a roast chicken (based on this recipe) with various side dishes, and then for dessert I am going to attempt to make the following recipe.

In the book Robert makes a pavlova to take to the gardening club meeting so I am not going completely rogue. He is happy to hand whisk his eggs. I, however, am more than happy to let my mixer do all the hard work

Raspberry Swirl Pavlova Wreath (Donna Hay)

Pavlova

225ml egg whites (about 6 eggs)
1½ cups (330g) easter sugar (Superfine)
1½ tspn white vinegar
2 tspn cornflour (cornstarch)
1½ cups (375ml) single (pouring) cream
250g raspberries
2 tbspn shelled pistachios, finely chopped
1 tbspn freeze-dried raspberries, finely crushed (optional)

Raspberry swirl

½ cup (65g) frozen raspberries
2 tbspn caster (superfine) sugar
1 tspn vanilla extract


To make the raspberry swirl, place the raspberries, sugar and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3–4 minutes or until slightly reduced. Strain into a heatproof bowl, discarding the seeds, and refrigerate until cool.

Preheat oven to 150°C (300°F). Draw a 22cm circle on a sheet of non-stick baking paper and place it on a baking tray. Place the egg white in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking for 30 seconds before adding more. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and whisk for a further 6 minutes or until stiff and glossy. Place the vinegar and cornflour in a small bowl and mix to combine. Add to the meringue and whisk for 2 minutes or until glossy and combined.

Place 12 heaped spoonfuls of the meringue mixture on the tray around the inside of the circle to create a ring. Drizzle the raspberry mixture over the meringue and use a teaspoon to create a swirled effect. Reduce the oven temperature to 120°C (250°F) and bake for 1 hour or until crisp to the touch. Turn the oven off and allow the pavlova to cool completely in the oven with the door closed.

Place the cream in a clean bowl of the electric mixer and whisk until soft peaks form.

Place the pavlova wreath on a cake stand or plate. Top with the cream and sprinkle with the raspberries, chopped pistachios and freeze-dried raspberries to serve. Serves 6–8


We will be skipping the pistachios due to the nut allergy in the house, or maybe I should put some on the side. We'll see. I am crossing everything that my version looks somewhat like Donna Hay's version.

Here's a video showing what it should look like.