Said it once before, but it bares repeating…. I adore Jessica Redlands books (you’ll have to forgive my nostalgia trip there, I’m in a quirky place, which is a good thing) I have Jessica and a number of other authors to thanks for said happiness. Going through a rough patch at the moment and it’s books like A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge that not only keep me sane, but also remind me of the good in life and people.

I was looking forward to A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge so much and I am glad to say I was not disappointed in any way at all, it had everything I wanted and have come to love from one of Jessica’s books, great characters, wonderful community, perfect setting and lots of heart, not forgetting the most lovely story!

We met Zara in Healing Hearts at Bumblebee Farm and I am delighted she got her own story, I really connected with her, especially her not feeling good enough , her self doubt it just spoke to me and the fact that her outward appearance to others is bubbly, hides it and loved watching her unfold and blossom.

Snowy, what can I say about snowy except he melted my heart (pun unintended but still true) his grief and nature, trying to accept a chance at new love, along with the way Zara’s family treat her, this book whilst uplifting, hopeful and full of joy does deal with difficult issues such as death and mental health too.

A beautiful story where characters unfurl into the butterflies they truly are ,( or rather I should say owls given the book but owls aren’t hiding their beauty) where we watch them grow and learn to spread their wings, trusting their hearts, and obviously a great story featuring Owls, you won’t not go wrong with this book.

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

A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge was my first book by Jessica Redland. The writing was good and so was the story, even if it was a little slow at some points and sometimes cheesy dialogue. Overall it was a decent read but not very memorable. I adore the cover though!

I received an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

Another winner from Jessica Redland (and a welcome return to form following the cat cafe book).

We revisit Zara and boss Amber at Bumblebee Barn but this time, our focus is on Zara.

We meet new characters, Snowy, son Harrison and grandad Eddie, who live in a beautiful owl sanctuary set in stunning farmland. Snowy has a story to tell though and we learn about it as Zara meets him and slowly gets to know him.

Full of Redland’s usual wonderful friendships, fractured and difficult family relationships, this is another very enjoyable story.

Set aside a couple of hours and get lost in East Yorkshire with Zara and Snowy.

This talented writer is fast becoming one of those authors who I know will never let me down and reading A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge has been the perfect escape over the past few days. Not only are we treated to a lovely story about the value of friendship and of taking a second chance at love but we are also given a special insight into the magical world of owls.

When Zara takes an injured owl to the rescue centre at Owl’s Lodge she comes into contact with, Snowy, the man who runs the rescue centre. That Snowy has been hurt in the past is obvious but the delightful way in which the story unfolds shows that there is more to this enigmatic man than first suspected. I raced through the story in a couple of sitting mainly because I had developed not only an emotional connection to the beauty of Owl’s Lodge but also to the characters who call the place home.

Those have read the Bumblebee Farm and Hedgehog Hollow series of books will be pleased to see that some of the familiar characters appear briefly in the story but largely A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge is about the special relationship between Zara and Snowy, two gorgeous characters, who find their way into your heart and who don’t let go until the last page of this lovely story is finished.

A New Dawn at Owl's Lodge is another lovely book by Jessica Redland. It's not my normal genre but I always enjoy this authors books and this was no exception. It was full of interesting characters and I really enjoyed reading about them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

3.5 stars
Cute, feel good “hallmark type” book.
I enjoyed the main characters Zara and Snowy and Snowy’s grandfather. I learned a lot about owls which was neat, but thought there was too much information. The beginning was slow/I felt the story could’ve been much shorter, but I enjoyed the story overall.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another great book from Jessica. Beautifully written book with some lovely, friendly characters. Good to have a book with a different setting. This one ticks all the boxes for me and didn't disappoint.

I loved this book so much! I just love Snowy, Harrison and we can’t forget grandad, just such adorable characters and the fact that Snowy looks after and takes care of the owls and helps them recover and his hair just happens to be white he couldn’t have a better nickname.

Snowy has been through a lot and with Zara’s help they both help each other out and Snowy in turn helps Zara out. It’s just a wonderful story and it reminds us that we should be kind to one another and not judge each other as no one really knows what another person is going through and vice versa.

I would highly recommend reading this book especially if you have read about Bumblebee Farm this is the stunning second book in the series and I just loved it! Such a heartwarming and beautiful book.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for
giving me the opportunity to read this book early!

A New Dawn at Owl's Lodge 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

Could one chance meeting change your life forever?

Zara is at a crossroads in life. While she adores her job as a producer's assistant working on hit TV shows, travelling around the country means she doesn't truly feel that she has a home. With a fractured relationship with her family and unrequited love weighing heavily on her heart, she is torn about what her next step in life should be...

Snowy is hiding from the world. He's devoted his life to home schooling his young son and caring for sick owls at his home, Owl's Lodge, deep in the Yorkshire Wolds countryside. While he's passionate about both, it's a lonely existence and he's starting to question his decisions. But how do you step back into a world you've pushed away for years...?

When Zara brings an injured owl to Owl's Lodge, its frosty, reclusive owner is far from welcoming. Despite hostilities, there's a connection that neither could ever have prepared themselves for. As they discover a shared passion, a new friendship blossoms, but both Zara and Snowy are used to shutting people out.

My Opinion

This was a stunning book. I enjoyed reading Jessica's previous books set at Hedgehog Hollow so I was pleased when I found that the rescue was part of this book. This works really was as a standalone and has the added benefit of featuring owls. Zara was definitely a relatable character. From the first page, I knew that I was in for a delightful read and I wasn't disappointed.

Rating 4/5

Loved this book. I loved the Hedgehog Hollow series and it was lovely to have some characters return. I loved the story of snowy his son Harrison and zara and how she was trying to sort her life out after arguing with her family. It was a lovely story that developed slowly. Loved the characters.

I love the wildlife focus of the books set in Yorkshire Wolds. The second in the Bumblebee Barn Collection focuses on Owl Rescue, which is fascinating and the perfect backdrop for the emotional family drama that unfolds. Zara, whom we met in the first book in the series, is a production assistant on high-profile TV shows; she has supportive friends in the community at Bumblebee Barn and Hedgehog Hollow, but relationships with her family relationships are strained almost to breaking point. Snowy's focus is his young son and running his owl rescue. When he meets Zara serendipitously, it changes their lives, but it takes emotional courage to find the happiness they deserve. I like the characters; they are realistically flawed and relatable. The friendships and family dynamics in the Bumble Bee and Owl Lodge communities make this story a heartwarming and uplifting read. I also like the wildlife setting, which adds depth to the story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

“Sometimes the darkest moments can pave the way for the brightest ones.”

Despite her very long back-list, New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge was my first Jessica Redland’s novel. I absolutely adored Zara and Snowy’s story. This book is the second in a series, but I read it as a standalone and it went perfectly fine.
Between the lines, we can feel how deeply the author cares for wildlife. It warmed my heart, and I loved all the info-dumping about owls we have through the pages (I truly mean that in the best of ways, and the tabs at the end were the icing on the cake <3).
Zara and Snowy were two incredible characters. I loved their path, and how they deal with everything with tact, healthy communication and respect. There wasn’t superfluous drama, which doesn’t mean there weren't emotions. I felt my throat squeeze and tears roll over my cheeks more than once. The author has truly a way with feelings, to describe the characters’ as much as to provoke some for the reader. Snowy’s journey with alcoholism, Zara’s relationships with her family, everything was dealt with delicacy. I could have do without flashbacks, as I felt the emotions were higher when the character directly told their story. But it’s a detail point. I’ll just end with mentioning all the wonderful characters, to begin with Harrison who was the cutest little boy ever.
That book was very lighthearted –despite some heavy themes– and it was just what I needed. I can’t wait to dive into more books from this author.

Thank you NetGalley, Jessica Redland and BoldwoodBooks for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Rate 4.5/5

Reading the author's books is just like being on a special holiday. I always enjoy them and look forward to a new one with anticipation.
This one has the inclusion of some of her Hedgehog Hollow and Bumblebee Barn characters returning so that is exciting right there.
Warm and delightful, I had a hard time putting this one down.
There are some serious subjects discussed but the author does it in a realistic way and I liked this. No one is belittled and the characters rally around to help each other out.
I very much love the inclusion of animals in the author's books. I am a big animal person and to have the author encourage others with her books about animals is such a positive thing. One of her series was about a hedgehog rescue and this is about an owl rescue. Owls are so beautiful and majestic, and I thank the wildlife rescues out there for devoting their time and energy to these animals. There were so many informative facts about owls living in the UK in the back of the book so make sure to check this out. The romance is a slow burn and not rushed which is always nice to see. I found the book to be filled with fun and informative facts about owls and gymnastics. As you read you will be taken on a beautiful and emotional journey which you will want the very best for the characters. I connected with the characters right away which made for an enjoyable read. Now I just need to catch up on a few more books by the author.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the perfect book to read with a cup of tea and a treat on a sunny spring afternoon. Jessica’s storytelling abilities are wonderful, and she knows how to pull her readers in and capture their attention with a beautiful and emotional story. If you are a fan of Jessica’s previous books, you will be delighted to hear that characters from some of her past books make an appearance, and we get to return to Hedgehog Hollow and Bumblebee Farm. This book is a wonderful balance between light fluff and big emotional moments. Jessica tackles some pretty tough issues around grief, addiction, mental health, and family struggles. I enjoyed this theme of unexpected connections and that life can be unpredictable in the most glorious way. I loved how she handled each of these topics with care and thought. I adore owls, so I gobbled up all the information about owls and loved the whole owl subplot woven throughout the story.
All the characters were wonderful. They are warm and delightful. I instantly connected with all of them and just wanted good things for them. Zara and Snow are wonderful main characters. There is a strong opposites attract tropey feel to their relationship. These two characters don’t get off to the best of starts. Their opposing personalities create some tension between these two. But as they spend more time together looking after the owls, that tension turns into something more tender. This is a sweet love story. I adored the growing relationship between Zara and Snow.

A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge is an adorable story from Jessica Redland.
As always, she’s written a tale full of heart, compassion and emotion.
I’ve loved being back in the world of Hedgehog Hollow and BumbleBee Farm, and seeing Zara fall in love with the community and beautiful setting has been lovely. Remembering old faces and meeting new as we get to know Zara’s story have just made this story for me, and the fascinating information about the owls was a perfect added bonus.
I really enjoyed the dual pov between Zara and Snowy - sharing their histories was an emotional ride for the two of them and had me tearing up on many occasions.

What I love about Jessica Redland's books are that they are romance at heart, but they're not afraid to shy away from difficult situations for her characters. That's true for A New Dawn at Owl's Lodge, where we meet Zara and Snowy.

Zara has lived her life in the shadow of her footballer brother Roman, and is tired of always being the troublemaker in her mum's eyes. Can Zara make the leap and cast out of her own?

Equally, Snowy is living in the shadows with his son and father, seemingly hiding away from his past and trying to raise his son in the best way he can. Whilst we don't get the full picture all at once, we're drip fed nuggets of Snowy's past, from his gymnastics career to the death of his wife. Is it time for Snowy and Harrison to take some bigger steps outside, and will Zara be the one to make it happen?

Jessica Redland - A New Dawn At Owl’s Lodge.

When you take a journey into one of Jessica Redland’s books, you know you’re in a safe pair of hands.

You know there will be characters who have been through some awful times and experiences.

You can be positive that it will be a joy to follow these characters as they find the hope, support and strength to move their lives forward.

You can be sure that you will fall a little bit in love with these sweet and kind hearted characters too.

It’s a certainty, that the setting of the book will be picturesque and idyllic.

You can bet your last Rolo, that the book will be full of factual information.
Information that is interesting, relevant and blends seamlessly into the whole story.

You are guaranteed to catch up with characters from previous books, and learn about how their lives are progressing.
If you’re new to Jessica Redland’s writing, don’t worry, everything is very well explained.

It’s a sure thing, that any JR book is going to take you on a beautiful, emotional and heartwarming journey.

Finally, you can be as certain as sand in the desert, that you will be left with happiness in your heart and an impatient desire to read what comes next from Jessica Redland.

Does #ANewDawnAtOwlsLodge tick all these boxes?
Yes! Yes it jolly well does. Quite simply a gorgeous read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A New Dawn at Owl's Lodge.
Another fun read from Jessica Redland.
I love the way she weaves facts and information into a romantic book. This time we learn lots about owls and Olympic gymnast training!
Buy this for the beach!

Zara loves her job working with her best friend Amber on a series of TV shows set in the countryside.
Unfortunately, all the travelling means she has struggled to put down roots. After an argument with her family, Zara begins to re-assess her life and she knows she has some big decisions to make.
Snowy is a retired athlete, who lives with his young son and his grandfather at Owl’s Lodge. Snowy spends his time home schooling his son and looking after injured Owl’s until they can be released back to the wild.
When Zara and Snowy meet, what is initially awkward quickly turns into something neither is expecting. Both of them have a lot of baggage but if they want to find happiness they will need to find a way to put the past behind them and embrace life.
This is such a joyful, moving story. The characters are likeable, the setting is stunning, and the story is wonderful. Perfect to relax with on a summer’s day.

Another great book from Jessica, you can't go wrong when you pick up any novel written by her.. Wow, what a read, 5 stars and I recommend it to all. You won't want to put it down.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for this ARC