Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

Hattie is alone now that her overbearing husband of 49 years has left her. When she goes to stay with her brother in Devon, she begins to get her life back.

What I liked about this book: It's very funny in places, The beginning, when her sister Bunty comes to stay and invites a would-be lover to Hattie's house is excellent. The lover, a ghastly man called Jacko is brilliantly outlined. There are also lots of well observed interactions down in Devon with all the local ladies intent on getting to know Hattie's brother Robert better.

What I wasn't so sure about: It becomes a little repetitive at times. Hattie reflects on her life with the awful Geoffrey a bit too much. The story sags a little in the middle after such a great start. The scenes with Bunty and the horrendous Jacko are spot on and I would have liked to have seen more such scenes.

Overall though an escapist read, just what's needed in these awful times. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked seeing Hattie’s blossoming through the course of the story. It’s the first I’ve read from this author and I will definitely be looking for more.

Y'all! This book is just too cute and sometimes funny! But it has its serious moments too. It's the serious moments called life and this author has hit it head on. Most of us can and do relate to all that's happening in this book and I totally agree with Kay
‘We have to love ourselves, Bunty, accept ourselves for the good person we are. Only then can we allow others into our lives.’
What great advice! Loving ourselves isn't easy I have trouble with that myself. People tend to put us down in the most unconventional way. I don't understand why they want to do that. It's cruel and unhealthy.
Another good quote from Kay to Bunty
"We have to start from a position of non-judgement, of patience, of not striving for things we can’t have, things that don’t matter. We live in the moment, we breathe in acceptance and as we exhale, we release tension and negativity – we let it go.’
Easier said than done!
There were times I wanted to cry for Hattie. Times I feel like her too. Times it ain't been easy either.
I loved Hattie and Bunty from the get go! Two wonderful ladies that I've enjoyed in getting to know and watching them grow like they were supposed to!
This book will keep you glued until the end of these sisters' story. I guarantee that you'll still be thinking about them long after this book is finished.
I loved every minute and yes this book is filled with many emotions so you may want some tissues nearby.
5 stars for some excellent writing.
I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book is all about Hattie and her life after divorcing her controlling vile husband Geoffrey. The characters are just brilliant with a few nasty ones thrown in which I loved to hate. Hattie was great and it was lovely to see her growing in confidence as the story went on.

The setting was lovely and my only complaint was how much I wanted to eat the lovely recipes Robert made.

A beautiful heartwarming story with a perfect ending. I have never read any of Judy Leigh’s books before but will definitely be ordering a few of them.

Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Judy Leigh for an advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

The Vintage Village Bake off by Judy Leigh

Love , love love books by this author. She has a great way of writing about the older generation which shows just because they might have more grey in their head than not ( me ! ) we are not quite ready to sit quietly in the corner with a blanket over our knees !
Loved the premise of the book and the characters within it. Cleverly constructed . Fab .

Hattie was married to Geoffrey for forty nine years. Now he’s gone she has finally realised that it’s her time. Geoffrey wasn't a nice man to the point that family and friends wouldn't visit because of him and Hattie now wonders how she put up with him for so long. She is slowly changing her mindset and looking forward to doing all the things she wasn't able to previously because of his harsh criticisms. One day her sister Bunty arrives, suitcase in hand- she’s left her husband and wants to stay for a while to sort herself out. When it turns out that Bunty isn’t quite telling the whole story, Hattie ups and leaves to go to her brother Robert’s. Robert has been single all his life and loves his animals, gardening and baking which appears to attract the ladies of the village he lives in. Maybe baking could lead to romance finally, but he wants someone to love him for him and not just his scones. When there is a possible scone competition he is unsure whether he wants the limelight or to stay in the shadows as he always has.

This is another one of Judy’s terrific reads that is more than thoroughly enjoyable. It's more than a story- it's perhaps a message to all of us about “ Carpe Diem” and taking hold of life with both hands whilst we can. The characters are wonderful and leap from the page like old friends. There are plenty of smiles and of course lots of baking and cakes. There are a few wise words amongst the story about such things as “ breathing in hope and breathing out insecurities and fears”. An uplifting read that left me with a smile and more. I’m off to investigate raspberry and white chocolate scones! Loved it.

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Loved this story that seems to focus on the idea that it's never to late to live your life. To make every moment count. While it'll surely speak loudest to readers like me with a few years under our belts, there is much for younger readers to absorb, too. I mean, a pastor's daughter who's a member of a punk band with the name Armpit? Hattie, who I'd pick as the character who spoke loudest to me, undergoes several transformations during the book, not the least of which is performing with said band on keyboards. Nope, not telling you how she got to that point but you'll enjoy the ride. It's a leisurely ride, true, one whose slow pace took a moment to adjust to, particularly as the blurb had me expecting Robert, Hattie's brother, to be the focus of the book. Hattie and sister Bunty are barely a blip in the blurb while, in actuality, Robert is initially not much more than a blip in the first few chapters. After the siblings are united, however, the story really begins and the message of living in the moment and taking chances picks up steam.

I won't try to detail the plot. It's nuanced and has multiple narrators, so you get more than on viewpoint of what is going on. Aside from Geoffrey, a nasty piece of work and a bully to boot, you'll probably wind up liking all the characters involved, even the pushy ones. Heck, even Jacko, a selfish sort, might ultimately stir a few moments of sympathy from you...but not many. Hattie has spent her life trying to please others, losing herself along the way, so watching her blossom is a delight. Bunty was the outgoing, cute sister, doing what she wanted, ironically rather losing herself, too, after a tragedy in her marriage. Robert strikes me as the typical nice guy. An older man, he's rather unsettled to find himself the target of so many single ladies in the community. Than, to top it off, he's caught up in a bit of a baking war to be televised. How that works out will both amuse and please you, particularly as he shudders at the idea of everything always having to be a competition. His opponent...well, you'll see. You'll also meet his critters along the way, their names giving insight into his quirky personality. Bet you can figure out what I mean when I say his goats are named after....oh, nope, not telling. Reading or hearing the names for the first time is too much fun to ruin it for you. Let's just say, I love his sense of humor. Gotta love those feisty goats.

Bottom line, lots of growth, even for these largely 70-something characters that are surrounded by some fun, quirky characters in a lovely setting. Marriages broken, shaken, and ultimately brought to a satisfying conclusion. Romance? Oh, yeah, definitely. I didn't note who said it, but they discover that the biggest risk may be not taking that risk at all. Humor and pathos sound like an odd mix, but they're also there. You know, like in real life. That is perhaps what I love most about Leigh's writing. She captures the real face of life and relationships via engaging characters and allows us to watch them both flounder about and grow as we read. Seriously, I cannot recommend this one too highly. It's a winner and shouldn't be missed. Thanks #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for allowing me to enter the intriguing, complicated world of these three siblings. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it, even the ones that left me in search of a tasty treat.