Bella Osborne has a talent for writing light, entertaining books that her fans (old and new) will want to read. This book is likely to be enjoyed by those who read books by authors like Katie Fforde.

Have you ever dreamed of leaving a city behind and moving to the country? Are you imagining a beautiful cottage in a picturesque setting? Well, it will be challenging if done as Beth did. She bought a property in an auction and, of course, it was not as described. Will Beth and her six-year-old son be able to live in Willow Cottage? What will the neighbors be like? Will there be room for romance and growth?

Readers follow Beth over the course of a year. As the seasons pass, Beth’s life changes. Will she decide to stay in her new home?

Note to readers: This title was initially published in four parts. Check to make sure that the title is new to you before buying it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

Sit down with a cuppa and Escape to the Cotswolds with Beth and Leo. A beautifully written book following Beth and her son as they up sticks and move to Willow Cottage. There’s drama, romance and some eccentric locals. A perfect read for the autumn evenings.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.

This book was so lovely!. WIllow Cottage was a very lovely read. A real page turner. I was so happy to start a new part every time. I was a little sad when the book came to an end. I would have loved to read more about Beth, Jack and Leo! Now I can't wait to read a brand new story from Bella Osborne!!!

My only regret with this book was that I didn't read it last year as it came out. Somehow it had slipped through the gaps of my TBR but having finally read it I am delighted that I have.

It is a gripping book that starts a bit slow, building information, character building and scene setting but by what I believe would have been parts 3 and 4 when it was released in parts, the book is so action packed, drama filled and utterly unputdownable.

I found I was racing through the pages just to see how various things would turn out. And there were assorted surprises throughout, plus the book touches on deeper issues. I loved Beth and her son Leo and seeing her attempt to renovate a cottage in a small village where she knows no-one and appears to have someone living in the willow tree on the property and just everything to do with the little village she moved to.

Then there was the storyline involving her best friend Carly who dreams of boyfriend Fergus proposing, and some of her initial thoughts as to how and when are hilarious. I loved Carly and Beth's friendship and just about everything to do with this book.

A superb story from an incredibly talented author, that I really need to not wait so long to read her next release.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I have really enjoyed 'Escape to Willow Cottage'. It it is great read for enjoying on a sun lounger this summer. I live near the Cotswolds and so it was great to read a book set in an area where I could picture the scene. The story is a really enjoyable to read and although on the surface it may appear to be a nice gentle read, there is a darker story underneath which I am sure some readers will identify with. There is a great cast of characters. Beth is a strong women who has faced a knock to her confidence and arrives at Willow Cottage having bought it unseen and as she renovates the cottage, her life also begins to regrow. Carly is also a great character, along with her partner, Fergus who is deaf. I can imagine him as a really cheeky chap who brings life to any occasion.

Review: If you are a fan of Katie Fforde then this is a book for you. This has been published as four parts covering each season in the book but now all parts are together in this book. The story follows Beth who is looking for a new start. The setting is pretty and they way it is written about makes you want to move there yourself.  A lovely strong plot.

Apologies for the delay in reviewing as I actually read this book late last year but for various reasons never got around to writing the review until now.

Escape to Willow Cottage was originally published in 4 parts but as I'm not a fan of reading serials I waited until the complete version was published before reading. And I'm so glad I did as I was able to move seamlessly throughout the seasons without my reading experience being interrupted waiting for the next part to be published.

From the moment when we first meet Beth at an auction, looking for a property to renovate as a new beginning for her and her son Leo, it is clear that there is something troubling her but we don't know what. As a complete rookie she finds herself accidentally bidding on and becoming the owner of Willow Cottage, a delightfully sounding cottage in the Cotswolds a world away from her life in London. But on arrival in Dumbleford, and seeing her new property, Beth realises that she might have made one rash decision too many and that running away might not be the answer...

It was clear from the outset that Beth was definitely like a fish out of water when it came to the cottage, I could imagine myself probably doing the exact same thing in the auction room although I wouldn't be in a position to go ahead with the sale! And as for renovating the cottage, well let's just say that she lands on her feet when she bumps into local Jack, he might have been gruff on the exterior but he had a heart of gold and was the guardian angel that she needed for herself and Leo even if he did on occasions give her cause for concern.

Beth was very much in need of a few good friends and luckily for her, she had a couple of really good girlfriends by her side - Carly, her best friend in London who has been by her side through everything she has faced, and her new friend in the village Petra, a fellow single mum who has more in common with Beth than they both realise. Carly's side storyline with her boyfriend Fergus created some hysterical, cringeworthy moments that had me chortling to myself but also one of the most romantic scenes that might have melted my cold heart a little.

But throughout this gorgeous read there was a serious undertone bubbling to the surface which when the sinister plotline was revealed made the whole impulsiveness of Beth's actions make sense to me. It was a situation that was extremely scary for Beth, and I'm sure one that many readers may have found themselves in, which was tackled with such sensitivity by Bella Osborne. I found myself rooting for Beth to find the strength to stand up for herself and I might have given a little internal cheer when someone got their just desserts.

Escape to Willow Cottage was a charming read from start to finish even if it did put me through the wringer at times with my emotions. All the characters, main and secondary, played their part but I have to admit I might have had quite a soft spot for Jack's dog Doris who did steal the show on occasions. I'd previously read Bella's first two books It Started at Sunset Cottage and A Family Holiday which I did enjoy but would say that Escape to Willow Cottage is my favourite to date so am looking forward to reading her current serial Ottercombe Bay at some point. Emma has reviewed the first two parts Where There's a Will... and Gin and Trouble, and will be reviewing Raising the Bar in April and Shaken and Stirred at a later date, but once again I'm holding off again until all the parts of the series are available before I start reading later this Summer.

This is such a lovely story! Read in 2 days and thoroughly enjoyed!

This book exceeded my expectations l loved it!! I found myself reading at every opportunity as I personally would love to escape to Willow Cottage.

As it is written in four parts one for each season this added to the story The main character Beth is so lovely and I found myself rooting for her and her small son Leo .

As the book concludes Beth realised that love can be found where she least expects it and broken hearts can be mended in time.

This is my first read from Bella Osbourne and won’t be my last I throughly enjoyed it.

I really loved this book and found myself warming to it right away, after just a few pages. The main character was someone I could respect and felt like I was close to, her son is wonderful and all of the other characters add flavour and life to the story. This is the kind of book that you can get lost in and forget everything else--just what I was hoping for when I began reading it. I loved the pace of this book and the lovely atmosphere. This is the kind of place I'd want to move to.

The relationship between the main character and her love interest faced its share of difficulties but they were realistic issues that kept me feeling close to the heart of the story. In the end I was excited to see things work out for all of the characters and left this book without a dry eye.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great romance book that will keep you feeling all the feels. Loved it.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publishers, Avon Books, for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review.

This book was originally released in four separate parts for the Willow Cottage series. It has now been released as an entire book. I have previously reviewed this book in the four separate parts.

The book’s cover is beautifully drawn and immediately grabs your attention. The story is set over the four different seasons and centre on Beth and her young son Leo. They are running away from Beth’s partner Nick, who has been abusing her. Buying Willow Cottage in auction without seeing it first, Beth discovers that the cottage needs a lot more work than planned. She also finds the majority of the residents in the small Cotswold village to be rather eccentric. She gets on the wrong foot with Jack, the village’s only young eligible male, but later finds out he has hidden talents which may prove useful. Can Beth find her “happy ever after” here or will her and Leo be forced to keep running from the fear of her ex finding her.

This was a great book! I did originally read it as the four separate books, but it is just as good to read it as one big book! It’s a nice easy read, it’s not complicated and there aren’t lots of characters to try and remember. The characters are all so loveable and I was hooked into the story from the first word. There are no sex scenes or bad language, which you do seem to find in similar books to these.

The storyline flowed well, and dealt with a variety of issues, such as domestic violence, single parenting and deafness. It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and was sad at times but equally funny at others. I loved the way Beth’s friend Carly always managed to get a word wrong whilst using sign language, proving for some very funny moments!

This was such a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and literally cannot wait until the next book by this author!

I loved this book from start to finish, I just wish it was longer as I didn't want it to end. A great feel good book, perfect read for Christmas holidays.

Beth and her young son run away so she can keep her son safe from her abusive ex boyfriend. She doesn't want him to know where she is so she buys Willow Cottage, at an auction, without seeing it, just a picture. When they get there she is in for a rude awakening. It looks nothing like the picture. As she makes a life for them she makes friends in the new town and everyone helps her get the cottage remodeled and liveable. The one person who is always there for her is Jack and you start seeing sparks between them.
I really enjoyed the characters in this town and how close they are and how everyone helps each other out. You really don't need to read the rest of the series as it does feel like a standalone but I want to get to know the characters more.

Absolutely loved this book, really pleasant reading.

A wonderfully sweet story of a woman who will do anything to protect her son, Leo. She finds herself in the quaint little village and buys herself a charming cottage under a willow tree.

She realizes that this purchase is far more than she bargained for and lucky for her Jack happens to be handy. As the seasons unfold she and Jack realize they need to mend not only the cottage but perhaps their hearts can use some mending too.

The village has a wonderful cast of characters and the book is charming and wonderfully written.

Absolutely loved it. Loved Beth and jack, loved Carly and fergus, loved the village of dumbleford and all its events, (great descriptions, I could picture it in my mind and felt like I was really there ) loved all the villagers and loved the renovation of willow cottage. Absolutely charming, funny and romantic story- just heartbroken when it came to an end. Can’t recommend high enough.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really love this author and have not been disappointed with any of her books and this one was the same. Loved it

Not entirely sure what I was getting into when starting this book, Bella Osborne has a wonderfully fluid writing style that allows readers to visualize and instantly connect to the events of the story. Unfortunately for me, the characters of Beth and Jack took a bit longer to warm up as their introduction was full of quick judgments and little communication. Sadly, the communication between Beth and Jack was constantly lacking with speedy assumptions and some harsh judgments that didn’t really get an explanation until far further in. But, the miscommunication, the rush to judge and the overall tentative decision making from Kate was completely explained as the story continued.

Beth is a single mum with a 6 year old son, his father was killed overseas while in the military. After making a life, she met a man that she believed was so invested in her and in love with her that she allowed him every bit of control. The warning niggles became big red flags one day when she found him terrorizing her child and when she stepped in to stop him, he hit her. She’s packed up her son and a handful of belongings and jumped into a cottage she bought on a whim at an auction. Disheveled and in great disrepair do not go far enough to describe Willow Cottage, and the tiny Cotswolds town is full of characters: some friendly, others less so – and all considerably different from anything Beth had ever experienced.

Through settling into the village to learning how to DIY, Beth’s balance is constantly being upset with her reactions to Jack, her own worries about her ex finding them, and her best friends relationship woes. And Carly is a bubbling pot of sky high highs and expectations followed by utter devastation and disappointment, much like a child without a favored toy at Christmas. Funnily enough, Beth is able to give her some sound advice and try to mitigate her expectations as they soar to outrageous levels, but their friendship is solid, caring and truly touchstone for them both. Adding intrigue, Carly’s partner Fergus is deaf, his hearing lost after a bout of mumps as an adult, and the frustrations (and joys) of dealing with someone who can’t hear you when you yell, and has simply to turn away to stop an argument often made me giggle – as you can see the action in Osborne’s description.

The story covers a span of about nine months: from late summer through the following June, with plenty of action and a wonderful surprise hidden within the depths. Familiar to many are the stories of women being subject to domestic violence, but here Osborne adds in Jack’s struggles with an alcoholic ex with a penchant for chucking china (and other things) as well as using her fists. Touching on the lingering aftereffects that result in second-guessing decisions, guilt, fear of other people’s perceptions and the fear (from Beth) of the abuser returning, the difference in how people react to such trauma was presented in several ways and helped to explain (and mitigate) earlier harsh judgments of behaviors that were less than admirable early on. There’s plenty packed into this story and with secondary characters that bring the village to life, an outsized mastiff named Dora and other characters – this was an engaging and clever read, perfect for a weekend.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=”http://wp.me/p3OmRo-9i1/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Loved Escape to Willow Cottage~ It had the feel of Under The Tuscan Sun with the delightful addition of Leo the main characters Beth's young son.. I enjoyed this story curled up with a cup of tea and it was absolutely perfect reading time.