There’s something about Sheila Norton’s books that make you feel like your welcoming old friends and I love how her novels are serialised.

In The Peta of Primrose Cottage, we meet Emma Nightingale. She’s trying to escape the past of her ex-boyfriend so she’s moved to a tiny village in Dartmoor. She’s enjoying the peace and quiet but worries it won’t last if people find out about her past. Trying to keep a low profile, she ends up lying about why she’s there and suddenly becomes the local ‘pet sitter’.

This really is a lovely heartwarming first part of a serialised novel and I can’t wait to read part 2 and find out not only how the characters evolve but also more about Emma’s past.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK Ebury Publishing and the author for the chance to review.

An enjoyable easy-read. The reader is left with lots of questions ready to read the answers in part 2. Well written characters and good descriptions of the scenery around the town.

The Pets at Primrose Cottage is to be released next year, but at the moment you can read the first part of the book, just to whet your appetite. The story follows Emma, who has moved to a remote village in Devon to get away from her past and needs to start a new life. Trying hard to keep a low profile, she makes up a few little white lies to cover her tracks, but before long things begin to spiral out of control. Telling her new landlady's neighbour she is a pet-sitter lands her with an unexpected new career path and the village gossip seems to spread like wild-fire.

Charming and easy-going writing makes this the perfect book to cosy up with, although you'll have to wait until March for the whole thing.

It seems that the serialised novel is making a resurgence, the work that Dickens and later Stephen King did to make the art of waiting for the next bite size advance in the plot is being used now to introduce new works to an ever hungry audience.

This tale of disgraced media darling who returns from the glamour of New York to a less than enthusiastic family in Loughton. The invasion of privacy or her parents and twin sister galvanises a move to a small town on the edges of Dartmoor to escape scrutiny by the ravenous paparazzi.

Unfortunately in Crickleford, everyone has a nose in everyone else’s business, this coupled with a disturbing propensity to lie fluently to the kindly family who takes her in as a lodger and then an ever increasing circle of kindly locals makes for humorous reading.

The tangled web she weaves leaves the near broke Emma with a new burgeoning career in pet sitting. Fearful German Shepherds, a local crime spree and physical fitness not withstanding,Emma starts to imagine her New Start might just work, that is until the handsome local Hack Matt Sorrentino becomes intrigued by the newest crime fighter in town..

The first in a new series by this author - and it was a delight. The lies told by the main character did get a bit irritating - more like something a child would do but I understand she is not wanting to divulge her past - whatever that maybe. Great characters. Great animals. Looking forward to the next installment.

Review shall be up on my blog 29/11 - thecosiestcorner.blogspot.com

I've been so excited to read this part 1 of Sheila Norton's new novel as her books always look so inviting and pretty. I already have The Vets at Hope Green on my TBR pile and I can't wait to dive in once I've finished reading this. First of all, the covers are so beautiful and cosy-looking. Like this one for example, I love the font, the colours, the snow and of course the little dog running along the bottom! The following 3 covers look as inviting as this one too.

Any books that involve romance and animals is a win win in my book! Straight away with this novel I was drawn in and couldn't put it down because from the beginning there is mystery in regards to why Emma has had to leave her family home and find somewhere to lay low for a while. I loved the character of Lauren and little Holly, they were friendly, inviting and Holly has a lot of cute sass that made me smile. I absolutely loved reading about Emma's job with the dog and cat sitting (my family also looks after dogs so I can fully relate to Emma!) and I loved reading about the animals own little personalities - it was so cute!

Straight away I loved the descriptions of Crickleford and I knew that I was going to enjoy this novel and where it was set (when the rest of the series comes out). I love Sheila's style of writing, it's descriptive, enjoyable, humorous and lighthearted - all of which makes for an easy read. At first I was a bit hesitant about Emma's past, wondering what on earth could have happened for Emma to have to go into hiding, I was so intrigued that I couldn't put it down! And as it's only under 100 pages long, it didn't take long to finish it but that just left me so looking forward for the next one being released!

As I've mentioned before I'm not a huge fan of books that are split into parts, I get aggravated with the waiting and I get impatient! However, having said that, I did really enjoy this novella, and I am actually more excited than annoyed about having to wait. There's a bit of twist near the end of this novella, which to say I was shocked about would be an understatement! As always, it's left on a cliffhanger, meaning I can't wait to read the next one to see what happens!

Overall, a really quick paced and easy read with lots happening - I couldn't put it down! Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

I really adore Shelia Norton's books, there's just something so magical about them, so I was extremely excited to read part 1 of this new series. A place to hide absolutely lived up to my expectations, I read it all in one go it was so exciting and really enjoyable.

Emma is a brilliant character, there is a bit of a mystery to her, it is clear from the start she has a secret past and it makes it so interesting and we are drawn to her. Since she arrived in Crickleford she comes off with lie after lie about her past and as readers we are left wondering why does she keep making up these lies about her past?

As usual with Shelia's books she finishes part one of this book with a massive cliffhanger and I just cannot wait until part 2!!!

Love this new series!

Easy to read. About a "celebrity" who has had to flee back from USA but because of paparazzi leaves her family and moves to a small village. Great for whiling away a few hours

A great start to a series. Emma needs somewhere to lay low for a while and heads to Crickleford to do so. In trying to keep her secret she tells a few fibs along the way and ends up working as a pet sitter for the locals.

She finds herself in a bit of bother while pet sitting Pongo the Alsatian and her secret is threatened to be revealed by the handsome local reporter.

I can't wait to see what happens next. Sheila Norton is really good at leaving us with a cliffhanger! Which drives me crazy each time!

I do like Sheila Norton's books. But she is so naughty keeping me waiting for part two when I read part one in just one night!

Emma has moved from America to the little remote Dartmoor town of Crickleford in Devon. Her family don't want her around, she is a liability! So she is lodging in Primrose Cottage in Devon, and trying to work out how to earn an income to pay for her board and lodgings.

Something happened to Emma while she was living in America and she doesn't want anyone to know who she is. She is keeping a low profile and fending off questions from the locals. But in doing so finds herself telling whopping lies. Lies that she has to live with or denounce. She really can't afford to be noticed.

She finds herself settling in to Crickleford, imagines settling there permanently. She just needs an income!

More please! I want to know what happens next. Engaging to read and relaxing too. As I already said, I enjoy reading Sheila Norton.

I am always happy to pick up a Sheila Norton book –they exude cosiness and always have a sprinkling of furry friends too.
This story is about Emma who arrives at Primrose Cottage in the lovely Devon town of Crickleford seeking refuge from life events that she intends to keep very much a secret. With its picture like charm, wintery scenes and supporting cast of cats and dogs I settled into this quickly. What Emma is hiding from remains a mystery but her past sounds as if it is as different as it could possibly be from her new life in this little village. Unfortunately for Emma in a place like Crickleford secrets don’t stay hidden for long….
With a bit of mystery, a bit of drama this is a good little start to a new series and a cosy gentle Sunday night type of read.

Emma tries to make a new life for herself with a varying degrees of success in a friendly small town.
An enjoyable read where you wonder what Emma is going to do or say next.

The Pets At Primrose Cottage part one by Sheila Norton is a delightful taster of the book to come.
Set in the Devonshire countryside, the reader 'feels' at home in the fresh air. A warm welcome awaits in the village with its olde worlde charm and a wonderful mix of unique characters.
The story is told in the first person in the voice of Emma, a visitor. There is clearly a mystery to solve? Who is she? Why is she running? I am sure all will become clear in the fullness of time.
Naturally, the pets play leading roles. I am already in love with several dogs and a couple of cats.
A wonderful read. I cannot wait for the rest of the story.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Didn't like the fact its such a small book and split into parts. Id have prefered to read a normal length story. Nice easy to read. Good characters and a feel good book.

I loved Sheila's book, The Vets at Hope Green, an ARC which I reviewed for an honest review. I was really excited for The Pets at Primrose Cottage, and was even more so when I was sent the ARC of the first part of the book. This review is for part 1 of 4.

Emma ends up in a small Devon town called Crickleford after she leaves New York where she was living with her boyfriend. She pays rent for a room in a cottage where Lauren lives with her husband Jon and their 4 year old daughter Holly.

As always, Sheila Norton has created a cosy story located in a sleepy town and with plenty of family moments and animals.

Emma takes on the task of looking after Lauren and Jon's cats, cutely named Romeo and Juliet as well as a neighbour's dog named Pongo.

This part of the book contains a sneek peak of part #2 in the series, New Beginnings which I was happy about as I can never wait long for Sheila Norton's writing!

I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens with Matt Sorrentino, a journalist Emma meets.

The book is so visual and appealing, from the cosy cottages to the friendly characters to the ones that aren't so friendly.

Devon is a county I have a fondness for due to numerous family holidays spent there, and I could imagine myself being in the town's small and homely bars and shops as I listened to the book.

A very pleasant book.

Love this book .... looking forward to the next one as this left me waiting for more. The level of reality in the story was good so many of us want to have a second chance and third is one person's chance well told.

I was so looking forward to reading part one of Sheila Norton’s new book as I loved her previous story about The Vets at Hope Green. I wasn’t disappointed. Emma finds herself back in Crickleford Devon after leaving New York. She wants to remain anonymous, for reasons I am looking forward to reading about in later editions, but she tells a lie which leads to another and she is getting know around Crickleford. This is a great start to the series. A compelling read.

This is part one of a four part series and it certainly looks like a promising start.

Emma arrives in village of Cricklewood, Devon looking for a safe place to hide, she has returned to the UK from New York and wants to remain out of sight. Emma is reluctant to reveal her true identity and agrees to pet sit for the family she is lodging with, as a result she ends up pet sitting for several people to earn some money.

This is a good start to the series, I am intrigued as to why Emma is in hiding and I am looking forward to the next instalment.

I adored Sheila Norton's previous book, The Vets at Hope Green and was pleased to hear of a new story from her. I was instantly drawn by the title, I love stories set around a country cottage and with the inclusion of animals, which I feel add a warmth and humour to a storyline and they also bring out the soft side in a character's personality, I knew I was going to enjoy this story.

Emma has recently moved to the little Devon village. She's renting a room with a young family. The author hints about some celebrity gossip that Emma has fled from in the States. You are left wondering what has happened to make Emma leave the bright lights of New York. Emma is afraid of being recognised which has left me intrigued as to what she is trying to hide from. She has no job and her money will only last a short while but when she offers to help look after her landlady's two pet cats word spreads about Emma helping out with pet sitting and she is soon inundated with request to look after other pets.

Emma, with the help of the dogs she is caring for, soon starts to enjoy village life and whilst walking the dogs she falls in love with a little property near the river. It appears to be empty at the moment and Emma soon starts day dreaming of owning a property like this. Wishful thinking at the moment.

Whilst reading this novel I felt like I was exploring the village with Emma, it sounded so idyllic with names like Primrose Gardens, Primrose Cottage, Lavender Lane and Bilberry Cottage. Such a lovely start to a new cosy novel to cuddle up with on a winter's night.

Another great book from Sheila Norton. Emma has just arrived in a little town in Devon from New York. She hopes that she will be able to hide herself away from whatever happened in New York with her boyfriend Shane. She inadvertently ends up pet sitting for some cats and dogs but then the local newspaper reporter Sam wants to do a story that involved Emma and 2 burglars. Can't wait for the next book.