A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft is the third and final installment in the Yorkshire Wolds series by the incredibly talented Jessica Redland. Coincidentally, this marks Jessica's 25th novel, which feels significant as I am also celebrating 25 years of marriage on 14 February!

In this book, we drove into the life of Barney's best friend, Joel, a single dad who shares custody with his daughter's mother. He feels disheartened due to her limited availability for visits.

Meanwhile, Poppy is struggling with the loss of her mother and her father's dementia diagnosis. Feeling overwhelmed, she is convinced by those that care that she needs to take some time for herself.

During her break, Hotel and Poppy cross paths, and chemistry ignites. Will they find a way to navigate their challenges together? You'll have to read it to discover their journey.

Jessica wraps up this series with a remarkable finale! Her writing style captivates readers from the very first page and keeps you engaged until the last. I eagerly anticipate her next novel in her new series!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Jessica Redland’s A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft is a wonderfully romantic read that is hopeful, heartwarming and hard to resist.

Being a single dad is tough – and nobody knows this better than Joel Grainger. Devoted to his little girl Imogen, there is simply nothing he wouldn’t do for his daughter – even if it means putting her first and himself last. With Imogen’s mother getting more and more difficult and his job on the line, Joel cannot help but worry about what the future holds. However, little does he realise that fate has a surprise in store for him that will compel him to step out of the shadows and embrace life with both hands.

Poppy Wells had been devastated when her dad had been diagnosed with dementia. Struggling and in desperate need of a break, when she gets an opportunity to stay in Whisperwood Farmhouse nestled in the Yorkshire Wolds, she jumps at the chance. Some rest and relaxation is exactly what the doctor ordered and although romance is the very last thing on her mind, sparks begin to fly when she meets single dad Joel.

With both Poppy and Joel at a crossroads, will they find the strength and courage to go after their hearts’ desires? Will they be strong enough to overcome the obstacles standing in their way and build a new life together? Or will this unexpected opportunity to be truly happy together end up slipping through their fingers?

Enchanting, emotional and uplifting, A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft is a magical read from million-selling author Jessica Redland that effortlessly draws readers into a world they will not want to leave. With characters who will linger in the reader’s mind and heart long after the last page is turned, touching romance, searing emotional intensity, delightful humour and a beautifully realised setting, A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft by Jessica Redland is an enjoyable and entrancing tale that is simply spellbinding.

The third in the bumblebee farm series. Lovely to see familiar faces . This time we meet single dad Joel who has been alone a long time and is soon able to give a piece of his heart.

Poppy is going through a hard time and a chance meeting leads her to Joel .


A heartfelt read following the lives of Poppy and Joel .

Trigger warnings : Dementia , death.

Another great book by Jessica Redland. Reading one of Redland's books is like returning home to friends and family. I love the characters as they are always relatable and the storylines are always realistic. While I'm sad to say goodbye to the friends in the Bumblebee Barn and Hedgehog Hallow series, I look forward to meeting new friends in upcoming books! Thanks #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks

What a great ending to a wonderful series! This book is full of emotions and you can feel every one of them. It's a beautifully written story that deals with real life problems and the author handled them with care. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.
I received a complimentary copy from Boldwood Books via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Such a lovely heart warming story and I loved having old characters back in the story too. I loved poppy and Joel and little imogen and was so pleased that there story worked out after all the trauma that all 3 of them went through.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A brilliant start to a new series from Jessica, with the addition of previous series’s characters.

A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft by Jessica Redland

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Single dad, Joel Grainger, is devoted to his little girl, Imogen, doing all he can to be a key part of her life. But with Imogen’s mum being ever more difficult and Joel’s job suddenly in doubt, he’s worried that everything is about to change. Joel has given everything to Imogen, and he doesn’t regret it, but maybe he’s lost himself along the way…

Since her dad’s heart-breaking dementia diagnosis, Poppy Wells has been struggling and desperately needs a break. An opportunity to stay in gorgeous Whisperwood Farmhouse nestled in the Yorkshire Wolds and a stone’s throw away from Bumblebee Barn couldn’t be more perfect. Finally able to breathe, Poppy begins to see a new life ahead, a place where she can heal her broken heart and be part of something special. But can she ever leave her beloved dad to get the happiness she craves?

When Poppy and Joel meet there’s an instant connection. But with both of them at a crossroads, a future together seems impossible. Can they find the strength to overcome their challenges to secure their forever home together?

My Opinion

Jessica Redland takes the reader on an emotional journey with this stunning book. I was in two minds whilst reading this, I wanted to read on to read more about Poppy and Joel but I also didn’t want the book to end. Whilst there are some difficult topics – all of which were handled delicately – this was such a sweet book to read. I was hooked from the very beginning and I really didn’t want to put the book down.

Rating 5/5

Did I like this book? It's a Jessica Redland book so obviously I absolutely loved it and that's without even opening the cover!

I loved returning to Bumblebee Barn, it's one of my favourite bookish places to visit, just like its predecessor Hedgehog Hollow.

Reconnecting with familiar faces is always a win and with them all being so lovely I never want to leave.

A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft is a beautifully written addition to the Bumblebee Barn series. It touches on some difficult subject matter which is handled in a delicate manner and it's guaranteed to evoke emotions. It wraps you up in a warm hug and touches the heart.

Romantic, hopeful and thoroughly enjoyable.

The third book in a wonderful series by Jessica Redland, this is a poignant, heartwarming story about following your heart, saying goodbye and embracing new beginnings. I adored Joel and Poppy’s story, both are wonderful characters which is a common trait of Jessica’s - creating characters we feel connected to and want the best for!
We’ve previously met Joel in previous stories but now he is front and centre, deservedly so, I’ve been looking forward to know more about him. He’s so used to being seen as second best, a great guy but not THE guy. His daughter is his world and his ex seems to do all she can to limit their time together.
Poppy, what a character – I felt so emotional for her, having had so much to deal with losing her Mum but then having to be strong as her Dads health declined. Life hasn’t gone the way she thought it would and at best, she’s struggling to move forward in any way. It soon becomes clear she needs a break, and ends up discovering the perfect place, the perfect person and the perfect time away to see what she needs to do next.
I love when characters have chemistry that sparks from the page, Joel and Poppy do instantly. Not only was romance inevitable but it seemed each person found their best friend; a person who was completely on their side and willing to do whatever it took to make the other happy. A fast moving relationship but a clearly strong connection.
As always, there are ups and downs, misunderstandings and other people throwing spanners in the works; both have so much going on in their lives do they have the time for each other.
Jessica handles sensitive topics so sensitively, yet again highlighting issues and topics amongst the romantic, cosy element we all love. I highly recommend this one (and every one by the author!)
Always sad when a series comes to an end, but a gorgeous book to end on. I always look forward to the next book from Jessica.

I probably mention every time I review a book by Jessica Redland how much I love her books and her writing, no apologies here about any authors I adore, I will keep shouting to the rooftops until everyone who loves romance gives them a try. I’m just trying to create my own little club where we go to little coffee shops, read and chat books whilst eating cake.

Anyway, back to the book, it’ll be no surprise for for you to read that I absolutely love this story, the characters are so relatable so three dimensional and they’re just the kind of people you want as friends, the community in this book it’s just somewhere I would want to live so much, I wish I could just open the book and move right in.

Joel and Poppy are such fantastic characters, I love how supportive Joel was and how wonderful he was with Imogen. My heart was aching for Poppy so much, another story that help me grabbing the tissues at points, especially for Poppy. This book deals with dementia, loss/grief as well as stalking, all are handled very sensitively and with such care.

I love the fact Jessica reminds us in this and her other stories but it’s never too late to find happiness to find love, you just have to be willing to let it in. It’s something I adore and is always good to be reminded. Sad to see this short series end, but always looking forward to new adventures.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Poppy's friends convince her to take a break
To go away for a few days, a holiday to take.
She stays in Whisperwood Farmhouse, amazed there to find
Such a great community, new friends who are kind.

She also meets a handsome man in several different places
But a both have difficulties they have to face.
A wedding, a reception, an ex and child, too,
All have different roles in what they're going to do.

Another brilliant read with great new characters galore
And the chance to catch up on some from books which I adore.
There's family drama and problems they need to resolve, too,
Before they can be a happy ever after for these two!

For my copy of this delightful book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review

Loved it!! I was happy to see a continuation of the Bumblebee Barn Series. Plus, there's so many familiar faces from Hedgehog Hollow, I think I need a glossary of all the characters from the previous books, so I could remember everyone. Barney's best friend, Joel, is the central character along with Poppy. Unfortunately, Joel has limited time to spend with his daughter. Tilly never wants to allow Imogen to spend time with her dad. She always finds reasons why Joel can't see his daughter and will pick a fight at the drop of a hat. Joel should have went to court with Tilly from the start. Tilly has a lack of respect for Joel and even tries to move without his consent. Poppy works nonstop as an accountant, taking care of bees and visiting her dad who is suffering from dementia. Wilf and Benji are the perfect neighbors. Poppy takes a much needed holiday at a cottage that just happens to be near Bumblebee Barn. Poppy is immediately welcomed by everyone and gets an invitation to Amber and Barney's gorgeous wedding. There must be something in the water with everyone getting married and having babies. I knew Joel and Poppy would be perfect together. There was definitely something wrong with Damon. He was DELUSIONAL and did not understand the meaning of no. He was scary and I had no idea how he would react to anything. Joel's brother, Chester, had so much growing up to do. He's living rent free with his brother, eats all his food, does naughty stuff in Imogen's bedroom and shows no respect for his brother. I was surprised that Poppy didn't use the name Robin. Loved Poppy and Joel's moggy cat Moby. Who doesn't love a kitty that identifies as a dog?

Definitely recommend the book. Love the characters, story and writing style. I enjoyed how the book alternated between Poppy and Joel. I want to be friends with everyone in the book. Can't wait to see what happens next for everyone. Hopefully there's more books in the series. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is adorable. I fell in love with Poppy and Joel from the beginning, and I wasn't sure how they'd end up together, but I just knew they would. They clicked immediately and it was just so cute. Joel's daughter, Imogen, was a gem. I loved that she clicked with Poppy from the start, and, that isn't always an easy thing to do, but Imogen just knew that she wanted her Dad to be happy and Poppy was going to be the one who made that happen.

Poppy's Dad was suffering with Alzheimer's and I felt that this subject was sensitively dealt with and researched thoroughly. Thankfully, no one I know has had to go through this terrible disease, but I know a lot more about it now than I did previously.

Jessica loves to bring her characters, from other books, into her current read and I adore this. It's like saying hello to old friends, finding out what they're up to now, and what's happened since we last met. All like one big happy family! I can't wait for Jessica's next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review A Forever Home at Honeybee Croft by Jessica Redland.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This book is part of the Bumblebee Barn Collection. I've enjoyed all the other books that I've read and reviewed by this author, so I was looking forward to this one as well.

At the beginning, both of the protagonists, Joel and Poppy, struck me as likeable characters, and as I got to know more about them, I found that something about both of them went to my heart. All Joel wanted was to spend more time with his daughter, Imogen, but his controlling ex was doing everything in her power to prevent that. Poppy cherished every moment with her dad, but Alzheimer's meant that he no longer recognised her. I connected with both characters, and found the story to be a little bit of a tearjerker in that respect.

As I carried on reading, I found that the tearjerker moments continued, but there were also many heartwarming moments that made me smile. I felt at home in the Yorkshire setting, and I enjoy how the author always takes the reader on an emotional journey with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

After caring for her mother before her untimely death, Poppy is now living alone in her parents’ house – her father’s dementia has resulted in him moving into a rather lovely nursing home, into a room overlooking the garden where he can watch his beloved birds. The house doesn’t feel like home, and she’s thinking of moving to somewhere nearer to him – it’d make the daily visits rather easier. And she’d be closer to her bee hives too – an accountant who works from home, she’s also a beekeeper, a skill she learned from her father. He may not recognise her any more – she can’t even call him “dad”, because it confuses him too much – but she really feels the need to spend time with him while she still can.

With other issues beginning to cause more problems in her life, friends encourage her to take a bit of a break – and that’s how she ends up at Whisperwood Farmhouse, just a short distance away from Bumblebee Farm. She finds friendships there – drawn into the preparations for Amber’s wedding – and finds real solace in the beautiful setting. And, rather unexpectedly, the beginnings of a new relationship – Joel’s been desperately unlucky in love, but the most important part of his life is being the best father he can be to his young daughter Imogen, despite the unsociable hours he needs to work and every obstacle set in his path by his ex-wife. With Poppy’s time at Whisperwood drawing to an end, it’s time to return to her former life on the other side of the country, leaving her new friends and Joel behind – but, despite all the many difficulties, love does has a tendency to find a way.

As always, the author’s emotional touch is just totally perfect. Having lost my own mum to dementia and similarly struggling with the visiting dilemma, I just wish someone had taken me aside with the same common sense advice – but I also identified really strongly with Poppy’s sense of guilt. The new friendships she finds through Bumblebee Farm are particularly heartwarming (although so are her existing ones), with the way she’s embraced and drawn into the new community – and her developing romance with Joel felt particularly real, and very special. Another relationship I enjoyed was her ongoing closeness to her ex-husband, now a supportive friend – good to see that can be possible. And I really did feel for Joel – his story told from his own viewpoint, and he’s such a lovely man – as he struggled to find a solution to his own problems.

As anyone who’s read the earlier books – not essential to your enjoyment – will know, there are strong links between Bumblebee Farm and Hedgehog Hollow: it was a particular treat to see some of those old friends once more and find some ongoing storylines brought to a perfect close. And with both Joel and Poppy facing fresh starts and a happier future, it’s the perfect note on which to leave this lovely short series – and it’s certainly been a real personal favourite. Very much recommended – this was a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

I absolutely loved this book and thought it was the perfect read to curl up with. The story is part of a series and I went into this not having read any of the previous ones, but I didn't think this mattered.
All of the characters in the book were just perfect and so supporting of each other, I loved getting to know them all. Joel was such a gentleman, who treated Poppy how she should be treated and he was an amazing dad to Imogen. My heart went out to him in his circumstances, but the ending for him was lovely. Poppy was such a brave and strong character and she really went through so much. I was so emotional for her throughout the story, but you could see her character development and the strength she gained throughout and I loved how the story developed for her, as she truly deserved it.
The story touched on quite a few important topics, such as grief, dementia, stalking and custody battles and all of these topics were written well and with consideration and you could tell that research and thought had gone into them for the story.
The settings of the book were so perfect that I could almost picture myself sitting on the bench in the field with the sun shining and the bees buzzing.
This was just the ideal comfort read and I can't wait to read more from Jessica soon.

Book Review: A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft by Jessica Redland

The final installment of Jessica Redland’s Bumblebee Barn series, A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft, offers a heartwarming and emotional conclusion to a beloved collection of stories. Redland once again delivers a narrative that is rich in emotion, family dynamics, and the kind of uplifting romance that fans of her work have come to adore.

At the heart of this story are two incredibly relatable characters—single dad Joel Grainger and Poppy Wells—each facing personal struggles that feel raw and real. Joel is a devoted father to his young daughter, Imogen, but the pressures of single parenthood and his professional uncertainties have begun to take a toll. Meanwhile, Poppy is grappling with the heartbreak of her father’s dementia diagnosis and is in desperate need of a break. When she is given the opportunity to stay at the picturesque Whisperwood Farmhouse near Bumblebee Barn, she begins to heal, but the weight of her responsibilities to her father lingers.

The connection between Joel and Poppy is instant and undeniable, but both are at crossroads in their lives. Their relationship is fraught with uncertainty, and the question of whether they can overcome their challenges to find a future together provides the perfect amount of tension. Their emotional journeys are beautifully explored, and Redland does an excellent job of balancing the delicate themes of family, love, and personal growth.

What makes this book stand out is the atmosphere Redland creates—Whisperwood Farmhouse, the Yorkshire Wolds, and Bumblebee Barn are all settings that feel like characters in their own right. The countryside’s beauty and serenity serve as the perfect backdrop to the couple’s journey of self-discovery and healing.

Redland’s writing continues to shine with its sensitivity to difficult topics, particularly the emotional toll of caring for a loved one with dementia. The way she weaves these themes into the narrative without overwhelming the reader is masterful. The story is emotionally rich but also filled with hope, as Redland reminds readers that it’s never too late to find happiness and love, no matter the struggles you face.

As the conclusion to the Bumblebee Barn series, A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft is a perfect ending, filled with moments of joy, healing, and the promise of new beginnings. Fans of Redland’s work will find this book to be a satisfying, heartwarming conclusion, and new readers will no doubt be drawn into the charm of her writing.

Rating: 5/5
A beautifully written, emotional, and uplifting story that perfectly encapsulates the themes of love, healing, and hope. A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft is a must-read for fans of Jessica Redland and anyone seeking a heartfelt escape.

A really good final instalment in the Bumblebee Barn spin off series (from the ever popular Hedgehog Hollow series). I really enjoyed the book, as I expected to. Jessica's first person style is engaging and warm. As ever she doesn't shy away from difficult topics and experiences in the life of the characters, which make the books all the more real.

Joel, as Barney's best friend, has featured in the other books in this series,so I was looking forward to reading his story.

He is such a great character, kind, caring and loyal but unlucky in love. He is struggling as his job is under threat and he doesn't have an easy time with his ex when it comes to parenting his daughter.

I adored Poppy. She is struggling after losing her mum and now with her Dad's dementia diagnosis and my heart went out to her. I felt the author tackled this in a delicate manner.

I thought both Joel and Poppy were right for one another but their individual circumstances made it difficult for them.

The addition of the characters from previous books was great, as there are some great personalities and I felt added to the storyline.

I felt it was a very heartwarming and emotional read but there are plenty fun and light hearted moments which balance it out.

I'm sorry this is the end of the series but what a way to finish it. Well done Jessica, you've done it again.