I am a big fan of Katie Fforde, her books never disappoint and they always leave you feeling pleasantly uplifted and her latest book A Country Escape is no exception.
When Fran is contacted out of the blue by a distant relative Amy with news that she maybe inline to inherit the family farm in the Cotswolds she makes a big and brave decision to leave everything she knows and up stick to move to the farm to take on the challenge of looking after the farm for a year. What Fran didn’t realise was quite what a challenge she was taking in as the farm is run down and is not making a profit.
Desperate to prove to Amy that she could not just cope but turn the farm around Fran gets stuck in to making some changes to the farm with the help of her best friend Issi and the herdsman Tig. Having been warned off the help of Antony from next door because of his interest in the farm Fran is cautious to accept any help from him.
Just when Fran feels that things for the farm had turned a corner a surprise is around the corner that will put everything in jeopardy due to someone elses intentions for the farm.

I haven’t found myself so immersed by a book in so long. From the moment I picked this book up I couldn’t put it down and so I ended up absorbing it in one sitting and now I am said to leave the characters behind.
Fran was such a determined, hardworking and creative character who was so honest and caring, I warmed to her instantly. I really enjoyed her tackling each task head on desperate to come up with a way to save the farm and to show Amy that she was worthy of inheriting the farm and to prove that she had the best intentions of keeping the farm and its heritage in tack. The friendship between Issi and Fran was such a strong one their support for one and other was so believable and they bounced off each other perfectly.
I was wary of Antony and I found my opinion of him gradually changing through out the storyline but was still on my guard waiting for something to come crashing around the corner and for his true colours to be shown.
I really enjoy books that centre around building or saving small businesses so I knew this book was going to appeal to me but I love how much detail Katie Fforde went into in regards to the hurdles that need to be faced and the ideas that you bounce around to try and find that special something that just makes something work. It shows that nothing comes easy it is through pure determination and hard work that something becomes successful. To soften the business side of the book we also enjoy blossoming romances, friendships and gorgeous little puppies too! I think I should give the hardworking cows a mention too or I will not be in Tig’s good books!
This was another wonderful read by Katie Fforde and it is definitely up there with my favourite of hers so fans will not be disappointed by thus book and anyone who is yet to discover Katie Fforde’s books this would be a great one to start with.

When Fran receives a letter stating that she could inherit a farm from a distant relative if she can run it successfully for a year she takes the plunge and uproots her life from London to a life in the countryside. Discovering that she is afraid of cows, yet is running a dairy farm is the first of many challenges she has to face. Will she learn to love life on the farm and make a success of it or will she run back to her London life?

A lovely, sweet book with elements of drama and will she/won't she moments. A pleasant read.

I decided to read this after too many psychological thrillers and it was just what I needed. A strange tale of inheritance showing different sides to personalities, and how the thought of money affects people. Fran is our delightful heroine, as full of doubt as she is of the desire to do the right thing. She is set to inherit a rundown farmhouse from a distant relative, the irascible Amy. Can she make the business viable within a year as specified by Amy? Or will her fear of cows get in the way of running a diary farm. And what of the hero next door? Is he genuine? Or as Amy has always thought, determined to get his hands on, and ruin, her farm? There's romance, and some will they/won't they when Roy, a slightly closer relative appears. Will Amy realise he's sweet talking her and wants to build houses on her land? Easy to read (I read in a day) and enjoyable. A bit glib in parts, for example Issi's relationship with Tig, which we don't really see starting, but once again, a great read from Katie Fforde.

I loved this book. I am a Katie Fforde fan and always enjoy her books. Its nice after reading maybe a more intense story to have this brilliant and light- hearted book. It tells the story of Fran and how her Great aunt Amy gets in touch. Amy explains that she needs to look after the farm and if she makes it profitable, she can possibly inherit it. So Fran an aspiring chef, moves out of London and to the countryside. Fran spends her time trying to learn farming and visiting Amy in the care home. Lots of fun and romance ensues. There is a very handsome next door neighbour Anthony. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it :)

This was my first Katie Fforde book but it won't be my last. It has everything: a well told tale, inter-generational differences of opinion, a couple of feisty women, a couple of caring gents, and a couple of slightly unreal nasty people to enjoy.
The detail was great, giving a real feel of a run down farm in need of love and attention, and a woman out of her depth but determined to make a go of it, and the harder she tries the more she gets out of it, despite the worries and difficulties.
A feelgood book that really has left me feeling good.

A thoroughly enjoyable story. A battle against adversity with good winning out.

Gotta love a Katie Fforde story and this is a cracker! A real feel good story, Fran receives a letter from a distant relative offering her the chance of inheriting a hill farm- if she can run it for 6 months and make it work. Fran and her friend Issy set off to Hill Top Farm to take up the challenge. Amy, Fran’s distant relative, has run the farm for most of her life but has now booked herself into a care home and left Fran holding the reins. Will it work or won’t it? The only stipulation Amy makes is that Fran must not have anything to do with her handsome neighbour Antony. Antony however, is keen to help and very hard to resist! Then Ray, another distant relative turns up, and he’s keen to sell the farm. Can Fran save Hill Top Farm from the developers? I loved this book, the characters are well written and the story kept me reading into the night! I loved the fact that the story portrays a real issue facing dairy farmers- the need to diversify and make milk pay. Thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable read!

I thought this was great, i started reading it and before i knew it 4 hours had gone and my eyes were burning as i was unable to put it down.

Amy is an elderly woman, owner of a dairy farm in the cotswolds, her husband died and she had been running the farm by herself but falls ill and sends out 2 letters to the only blood relations she can find. One to Francesca who is a chef working in London and one to Roy, a farmer living in Australia.

Roy doesnt respond so Amy invites Francesca to come and see the farm with the caveat that if she runs it for a year and is successful she will inherit the farm. Amy moves into a care home and Fran and her friend Izzy come to run the farm. Amy decides to create revenue she will start making cheese but needs financial investment from the one person Amy hates above all others. However a few months in Roy turns up and causes chaos. Will Francesca get the farm or will Roy win in the end?

I loved this because its set in Gloucestershire where i live, i live in the very rural countryside and so was very familiar with the story settings. The only thing i didnt find believable was how friendly people are in the country, in my experience its the total opposite, ive never met such a bunch of snotty people in my life. That said the story was good fun and i really enjoyed it.

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I loved it. I don't normally choose books in this genre, but plumped for it as soon as I saw that it related to cheese making (which I've always wanted to try!)

It's an enjoyable and light read, the perfect pick-me-up in this grey wintry weather. I liked the characters (apart from Roy and Megan!), the plot held together nicely, and I very much enjoyed the descriptions of the landscape and cheese making.

I'll definitely read more by this author when I need cheering up.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.

It's always a huge treat picking up a new Katie Fforde book. She has such a lovely, easy writing style that you soon lose yourself deep in the story with wonderful characters and beautiful settings. Fran has received a letter from a distant relative saying that should she be able to make a success of a dairy farm she will inherit the farmhouse and the herd. There is another relative from Australia who is being made the same offer and we are not sure that either will be able to turn the farm around in time.
Fran is a chef by trade and she decides that due to problems on the farm she needs to make cheesemaking a big money spinner. Money is tight but with her friends help Fran has a few ideas to raise their profile in the community. I loved the evening at the farmhouse and the romance in the air.
I take my daughter to a daycare farm once a week and the cows are our favourite there, so I could visualise the lovely herd at the farm and the love for the animals.
The farm sounded so lovely- in need of some tender loving care but with such potential for it to be wonderful.
The distant relative is an awkward old lady but she's a lovely character and we wonder whether she will choose Fran or the Australian chap. They want different things for the farms future and we are really routing for Fran as she falls in love with the farm.

Although I wasn't immediately drawn to this book because of the cover, I decided to try it anyway as I have previously enjoyed Katie Fforde novels. It was enjoyable, if a little too predictable in places, but a pleasant read.

Fran leaves her London life behind to go and take care of a distant relative’s Cotswold farm. I really enjoyed this book and was interested to see whether Fran would realise her dreams and be given the farm permanently. A comforting and well crafted read, thanks NetGalley!

I haven't read a Katie Fforde book, or if perhaps in the past at least not recently. I have, however, read far too many cosy women's fiction titles than is good for me, but the pleasure never wanes! The writing does feel a little lazy in some places (I do expect this genre to be fairly predictable, but in the case of two of the secondary characters relationships I felt more like the reader was just being told the romance was happening rather than reading the usual not-so-subtle hints as it developed. Nonetheless this did not detract from my enjoyment of the plot and well-rounded characters; Overall a good read, and almost made me quit my London job and move to a country farm!

The brand new novel by Katie Fforde ‘A Country Escape’, is a fantastic, enjoyable romantic novel. The perfect escapism from day to day life.

Fran has just moved from London to an idilic but run down farm in Gloucestershire. Fran has always wanted to be a farmer and her dream is about to come true.

The farm is currently own by an old aunt who tells Fran that it will be hers if she can turn the place around in a year. A year. Easy - or so Fran thinks. but Fran doesn’t know anything about farms or farming.

Luckily she has her very supportive and best friend on hand Issi, and even her quite delectable neighbour seems keen to help.

I adored this light hearted and fun read. It’s blissfully romantic and makes you want to pack up your busy life and head to the country to try something totally out of your depth.

A perfect read from a wonderful writer, as always. This will not disappoint. Top marks from me.

A thoroughly pleasant read. I enjoyed this as the setting was a little bit different which made a pleasant change. The storyline kept me interested enough to read in 2 sittings even though it was somewhat predictable in areas. However that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. I’m a Katie Fforde fan and appreciate the opportunity to read in advance. Thank you Netgalley

An enjoyable read with a feel good factor. The characters were rounded and believable although the plot was maybe a bit predictable, but who doesn't like a good old fashioned happy ending? Fun to read on a dark winter night.

A Country Escape is a women’s fiction novel set on a farm in the Cotswolds. A distant relative has offered Fran a chance to own her own farm; she just has to prove she can be a successful farmer for a year.

Aunt Amy is now in a care home, but she’ll only leave her beloved farm to someone who can match her own love for the pedigree Dairy Shorthorns and the ancient landscape. With the help of Tig, the herdsman, her friend Issi and a handsome neighbour, can Fran drag the farm from debt with her cheesemaking plans? Or will she be beaten by a second relative: a farmer from Australia who is a closer relative to Amy, with a good farming background?

This book has a stunning setting and Fran’s cheesemaking was an enjoyable addition to the country escape theme. I also liked the idea of Fran’s supper club which put her chef’s background skills to good use. I’m lucky to know a little about Dairy Shorthorn cows, so this gave the book another thumbs up from me. Plus there is an episode which will appeal to any dog-lover, I won’t say more as I want to avoid spoilers.

Overall a great feel-good read which fans of Katie Fforde can rely on for a pleasing piece of escapism.

It was fairly enjoyable and moved at a fair speed. The plot kept me involved enough at I stayed up to finish it. But really? The plot has more holes than a Swiss cheese! There will be spoilers if I explain fully but I just couldn't suspend disbelief enough to get past the glaring inconsistences.

This is a wonderful book - one of the best ones by the author. I love the setting: rural Englad with a close-knit community. There is a romantic storyline of course. Or rather two - both very enjoyable with very loveable people. I loved the characters in the book. IThere are wonderful women in the story, young and old, and most of the men are good match to them.
The storyline has the additional bonus of excitement created by the scoundrel in the story: Roy the Australian cousin. Right until the end we can't be 100% sure that the story will have a happy ending. But ib the end we can heave a sigh of relief of course. I do recommend this book to everyone with all my heart. You are going to have some really enjoyable time with it.