New Arrivals at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland @rararesources @JessicaRedland @BoldwoodBooks

What a perfect start to my 2021 reading list. A warm welcome back to The Cozy Pages for Jessica Redland; and thank you to Rachel for my spot on the New Arrivals at Hedgehog Hollow blog tour!

Brand new from the top 10 bestselling author of New Beginnings at Seaside Blooms and Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow.

With new arrivals comes new responsibilities…
The sun is shining, wild flowers are blooming and Hedgehog Hollow is officially open for business.

For Samantha, the proud owner of this beautiful rescue centre, life has never been busier. But with an influx of new hogs and hoglets to take care of, not to mention a full-time job and ongoing family issues, can she accept the possibility that she has taken on more than she can handle?

Fortunately, she has the love of her life, Josh, by her side for support and encouragement. But Josh has his own family troubles to deal with. And soon he must decide if he’s ready to do the one thing he swore he’d never do – forgive his father.

For both Samantha and Josh it’s a season of change and for figuring out whether the past can ever truly be forgotten.

Escape back to wonderful Hedgehog Hollow with top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for the perfect uplifting read full of love, hope and forgiveness.

Purchase Link

https://buff.ly/3qVlHD2

First things first… this was an absolute brilliant pick for my first book of 2021. Hopefully it sets the tone for my year of reading to come.

Readers should note this novel follows on from Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow (which was also one of my top reads from 2020). Some might say you don’t need to read that story to enjoy this one. That’s true, BUT, I pity the hard heart that does not fall in love with our heroine, Sam, in the first book. I think to really appreciate the beauty of New Arrivals, you should read Finding Love first!

This novel is very much about Samantha and her continued journey towards fulfilling her potential both professionally and personally. However, her boyfriend, Josh, is also a central protagonist in this one. In fact, it’s Josh who must undergo the more profound change this time around.

What I love about Jessica’s books is how they delve into the inner workings of her characters. We feel with and for them. Yes, we have a couple who are in love as the main characters but they are also learning how to navigate life together and are both cementing their commitment to supporting each other through all that life throws at them. To really appreciate just how far Sam has come and why Josh admires her so much, you probably have to read book 1.

This story is told from the dual perspectives of both Sam and Josh. The switching POVs works extremely well and is instrumental to the reader’s understanding of Josh and his circumstances.

I love how we see him relate to various people differently. He is warm and loving with Sam, protective of his mother and yet cold and beastly when it comes to his father and Beth. As the novel progresses we find out just why he’s so broken up and we witness how he pieces back together his really big and kind heart. This novel, like most by this author, really is a personal journey to a better life for the central characters.

While we meet some delightful new faces, like the exuberant, aptly named Fizz, we also see some familiar ones we might rather like to forget, like Sam’s mum and spoilt cousin, Chloe. Each of them moves the story forward in one way or another.

Then, perhaps the breakaway stars of the show are the hedgehogs. Jessica’s love for the little critters comes through in the pages of her novel. Seamlessly, we get hedgehog care tips and interesting facts about the cute animals. We can’t help but feel Sam’s sadness when she can’t save some of them, but we also share in her exuberance every time one is restored and released. The hedgehogs also play their role in bringing various characters together who might not have otherwise met. I love that mechanism for this novel.

I should warn readers that this story is part two of three (?) and our epilogue brings us closure of some issues but also opens up a whole new storyline. I’m looking forward to book 3 to find out if a certain character can be redeemed after all…

Overall, this is another winner from Jessica. The story (along with the hedgehogs) will capture your attention and your heart).

5/5 espresso shots

About the Author

Jessica Redland is the author of ten novels, including The Secret to Happiness, which are all set around the fictional location of Whitsborough Bay. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.

Social Media Links  

Instagram –https://www.instagram.com/JessicaRedlandWriter/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/JessicaRedland

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandWriter/

Own website – https://www.jessicaredland.com/

Blog – https://jessicaredlandwriter.wordpress.com/

Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-redland

Mailing list sign up – http://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNewsletter

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For more reviews and info on New Arrivals at Hedgehog Hollow, follow the blog tour.

Blog Tour organised by Rachel’s Random Resources.

https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com