Book Review: Springtime at Cherry Tree Cottage by Cathy Woodman

Title: Springtime at Cherry Tree Cottage

Series: Talyton St George (#10)

Author: Cathy Woodman

Publisher: Penguin Random House UK, Cornerstone

Date: March 24th, 2016

Pages: 496

Format: eARC

Source: from Publisher for a review

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads): It’s not easy being a female in a male dominated world, but Flick is more than up for the challenge. But is Talyton St George ready for her?

After years of training, horse-mad Flick has finally achieved her dream of becoming one of the few female blacksmiths in the country.

Her first job is in Talyton St George. The little cottage on the green where she is staying is idyllic, but she soon finds that the locals are sceptical about her ability to do the job, and she has to work twice as hard to prove herself.

Stunt rider Robbie Salterton is a bit of a local celebrity. He’s gorgeous, a devoted single father and gives free riding lessons to disadvantaged children in his spare time. In addition, he’s one of the few men in the village who doesn’t doubt her skill. Can one man really be that perfect? Flick’s not so sure.

However, the more she gets to know him, the more she realises he’s everything he seems to be. But with his legions of glamorous women vying for his attention, what on earth would he see in a tomboy like her?

Review:

Reading this book was one of the best decisions that I have made this year (books whise).
My only regret is that I haven’t read it sooner, in spring, when it first came out.
I can imagine how beautiful it would be to enjoy this story somewhere outside, where you can smell flowers and hear little bees flying.
I loved this story, but I know I would enjoy it so much more if I read it under prior described conditions.

I fell in love with Talyton St George and it’s residents.
The beautiful nature, that Woodman described so well, took my breath away and made me want to transform myself there.
It also woke up my sentimentality, because I started to miss (I always miss it, but only suppress my longing every day of my life) the village I spent months, years visiting when I was little.

Springtime at Cherry Tree Cottage not only has beautiful nature, but also animals. Lots and lots of animals.
And horses. So many horses.
If you love horses, I guarantee you, you will love this book!

The writing style is so beautiful, so passionate. The writer grew up in a place similar to Talyton St George, and you can feel her love for that kind of surrounding.

The story follows Flick, a new woman in village, who came to Talyton St George to replace their local farrier while he’s in recovery, due to an operation.
Being farrier is usually a man’s work so when a woman comes to do a job, people question her ability and quality.
Therefore, she has to work hard to prove herself.

Robbie is a single father and a local celebrity.
When Flick starts working for him the chemistry is obvious, but he has a rule he sticks to. He doesn’t want to march around with a girl, until he is sure there is something serious between them. He doesn’t want his daughter to get attached to a woman who can easily go away from their lives. He doesn’t want for his daugter to end up with a broken heart.

I like how Maisie wasn’t just a kid in this story. Her role wasn’t just to be Robbie’s daughter, but she also had her own personality full of carisma and I, as a reader, couldn’t help but adore her, and I really enjoyed reading about her.
The only book that I can remember, in which a kid is not there just for sake of being there, but has so much personality, is My Life Next Door , where Goerge, one of the siblings, even though he’s a side character, won readers’ hearts with his personality.

There was an instant attraction between our main characters, but the love took time to develop.
I enjoyed reading scenes where the strong connection between Flick and Robbie was almost touchable, and that sweet temptation made me almost impatiant because I was ready for their happily ever after.

Springtime at Cherry Tree Cottage is a part of Talyton St George series, but it can be easily read as standalone.
It was my first time reading a book from this series and, even though I really, really enjoyed it, I believe that people who read previous books will appreciate it so much more because of the side characters who all showed up with their own stories in previous books. I can imagine that readers who connected with them before would be happy to revisit them in this novel.

After finishing this lovely story, I now want to read every single book in this series that came out prior this one.
It makes me so happy to know that there are another 9 books set in this beautiful little village.