I thought 'A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage' was an average read. The setting appealed to me, but the characters were off-putting, preventing me from engaging with the story as I had anticipated.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

I enjoyed this - the cutesy title and cover notwithstanding. This is the story of Jade, who uses the money made from inheriting and then selling, her mother's estate, to buy a cottage with land, where she set up her animal rescue centre. She's got some unresolved bad feeling towards her mum and that does spill over into her life, as she's quite private and resistant to help.

Then she meets Finn McTaggart and her head is turned. We suspect very early on where the story will take us when we learn her best friend, Sarah's son was fathered after a drunken one night stand, but this isn't featured extensively. Finn takes a modest salary, board and lodgings with Jade in exchange for being the rescue handyman and we see their relationship blossom.

There is another potential love interest in vet Aiden but we know he's keener than Jade is.

This book is part of a series but does stand alone, just introducing some characters that will be familiar if you have read Della's other novels.

I thought it was well-written and although the path of the plot was easy to spot, that didn't make the story any less enjoyable.

I did wonder where Sarah disappeared to though, as despite being Jade's best friend, she was absent for large parts of the book. Partially explained by the events of the story but a bit of a waste of a good character.

All in all, a lovely, easy-to-read story. Grab a cuppa and settle into a cosy chair and enjoy!

A story of love, second chances and the wonderful start of a BRAND NEW series from Della Galton featuring Duck Pond Lane Animal Rescue. It's not just animals who need to be rescued... Following the unexpected death of her mother, and the breakdown of her relationship, animal loving idealist Jade Foster, uses her inheritance to buy a smallholding in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside hoping to realise her dream of providing a sanctuary for unloved animals in need of a new home.

Jade employs the enigmatic Finn McTaggart to help out at Duck Pond Lane Rescue and forms a friendship with both Finn and her local Vet, Aiden Southerland. But Finn is running from his own demons and Aiden longs for a more romantic relationship with broken-hearted Jade.

Romance is not on the cards for Jade, but as both men fall for her natural beauty, the rivalry between them hots up. But can any of them heal enough to find lasting love?

What none of them realise is that a devastating secret from the past has the power to destroy the present and that love, however wonderful, isn’t always enough.

Such a charming story. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others.

In the start of a new modern romance series focusing on the Duck Pond Lane Animal Rescue, readers join animal lover and idealist Jade Foster just after a pair of tragedies strike her life. Using her inheritance to buy land in Wiltshire to start the Duck Pond Lane Animal Rescue, Jade and her new employee Finn McTaggart, running from his own demons, strike up a strong friendship, while local vet Aiden sees Finn as a rival for his developing affection for Jade. As Jade works on the animal rescue and throws herself into the work, Finn and Aiden’s rivalry starts to impact their working relationship until a new secret might just destroy all of the relationships growing over the course of this novel. Aiden, Finn, Jade, and the other characters are the true stars of this novel with their fantastic dynamics and complex personalities, and readers will definitely find them to be complicated and sympathetic figures. As for the charming setting and the host of animals at the Duck Pond Lane Animal Rescue, the lovely backdrop is a fantastic and heartwarming complement to the great characters and narrative that Galton has brought to life in her latest modern romance novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. I normally stay away from any book that even remotely deals with the death of a parent, but this book hooked me in and was worth the read.

This is a charming second-chance romance between Jade, an animal rescuer, and Finn, the maintenance man Jade hired. I like that Jade and Finn’s relationship develops over time and is not rushed like other stories. The side twist involving Sarah, Jade’s BFF, was a pleasant surprise as well. There are so many layers to this story that adds to its charm. It’s a great book to snuggle up on the couch with!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Returning to this world is always a welcome escape for me. I adore the characters in which we get to know throughout, paired with a beautiful storyline, it is simply delightful.

these books always make me smile, they are the perfect escape and a real cosy fun read.
the characters became friends and you can’t wait to read what happens next.
already on the lookout for the next instalment

I really enjoyed Della Galton’s Puddleduck Farm series so was pleased to find a new ‘duck’ series to start.
I thoroughly enjoyed following smallholder, Jade, as she begins to rebuild her life following the loss of her mother and a breakdown in her relationship. Piece by piece the foundations to Jade’s new life become as solid as the buildings Finn is repairing.
A heartwarming story which I enjoyed as much as I knew I would from previous books by the same author - I hope there are more to come in the series!
This book is filled with fully-formed, believable characters & a storyline that held my interest from beginning to end. The experiences of some of the very characterful-sounding animals adds to the emotions in the book.
A lovely, feel-good book.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you’re looking for a new series with a good heartwarming story, characters and animals.

What a delightful start to a new series from Della Galton. I loved her Puddleduck Farm series, so I just knew this would become a favourite too. For those of you who read a lot of my reviews, you’ll know that I adore a warm and cosy countryside or seaside setting. Ideally with animals, the more the merrier and a cute couple or two. A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage had all of this and more and honestly, just look at that cover. Who couldn’t instantly fall in love with it?

All the characters in Della’s new book are adorable. I even fell in love with Fang. I was just hoping he would eventually find his forever home! Ben is a cutie pie. He inspired me that maybe I should try to draw something - after all - don’t they say everyone can draw?!

If you’re a fan of a typical English country village, with a pub, no street lights and miles and miles of surrounding countryside, then check out Della’s new book. I loved it and I think you’ll love it too. I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage.

**A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage** by Della Galton is a heartwarming and uplifting tale that captures the charm of rural life and the joy of new beginnings. Set in the picturesque surroundings of Duck Pond Cottage, the story follows characters as they navigate life’s challenges, find love, and embrace the changes that come with a new arrival. Galton’s writing is filled with warmth, humor, and a deep sense of community, making the novel a comforting and engaging read. With its themes of family, friendship, and finding a place to call home, **A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage** is a delightful escape into a cozy and idyllic setting, perfect for readers who enjoy feel-good stories with a lot of heart.

The summary of this book is what caught my eye. Who doesn’t love the idea of an FMC falling in love in the English countryside while working at an animal sanctuary? Unfortunately, I’m starting to think romance books should comment to a trope warning because while the accidental pregnancy trope isn’t my favorite, that mixed with a love triangle solidified this book’s placement for me. It’s why I am rating it a 2 star because it’s just not for me.

However, if those tropes aren’t a dealbreaker for you then this a good book to have on your shelf and you should ignore my rating. The author does a good job creating this fictional world and I found it to be an easy read. And if you love animals and stories with lots of characters (like I do) then this is absolutely the book for you.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. Although I love the genre and enjoyed the rural setting with plenty of animal characters, I found the characters in this book unlikeable and two-dimensional, meaning I didn't really connect with this book. The tales of the animals were enjoyable however.

I enjoyed the author's previous series featuring Puddleduck Farm, so I was looking forward to reading this one. I understand it's the first in a new series.

I did feel the book was a little slow at the start but did pick up pace. I felt there was a good range of characters and I was rooting for Jade and Finn, but with the big secret and the baggage they both had, I wasn't sure this was possible.

Ben was a great little character and I loved his interactions with Jade and Finn. I didn't really take to Jade's friend Sarah. I felt Aiden added to the story but took a bit of time to warm to him.

As with the author's other books, I loved reading about the animals and it was lovely to see Maggie from Puddleduck Farm have a cameo.

If you like books featuring animals, I'm sure you will enjoy this one.

“Silken and unscented, so perfect on the outside, but with something vital missing. Like Jade’s childhood.”

At first sight, this book had everything I could dream for: the story occurs inside an animal rescue in England’s countryside, one of the characters is a vet. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize (and it is completely on me) it also had two tropes I don’t like: love triangle and surprise pregnancy. Though they are used in a SUPER ORIGINAL (then not triggering for me) way, it made the book a bit difficult to read. Add the multiple POV (that I don’t like much when I read a romance), and it made it a complicated road for me.
That doesn’t mean the book isn’t good, just that it wasn’t for me.
I loved Finn and Sarah, the main characters, they had interesting things to say, and I liked how they have trouble communicating as they have secrets that they aren’t their own to share, I adored the setting and how the writing made it super charming, as much as the interactions with the animals made me swoon, but I unfortunately couldn’t empathize with them. I truly wish I could, because I loved Sarah especially, and found many common points with her. That being said, if these tropes aren’t a problem for you, and if you like multiple POV (and not just 2), then you’ll probably like this very cute book.

Thank you Della Galton, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. I normally stay away from any book that even remotely deals with the death of a parent, but this book hooked me in and was worth the read.

This story has lots of twists and turns with the characters. Even though it's very well written and has a lot going on it still seemed to go very slow.

A heartwarming read. It took me a little while to get in to and it also took me a while to warm to Jade as I found her quite cold to begin with but it was a great, interesting read.

Will like to read more by this author in the future

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.