A charming, instantly familiar "city vs. country" trope featuring designer-chic Maddie who thinks a new job in the English countryside will become her redemption from a recent London scandal.

But when redevelopment of homey Joy's Acre doesn't end up being her dream job, Maddie has to determine if her fabulous designs for starting over again were just an illusion.

Davies writes a slow-burning storyline where romance takes a back seat to big secrets, family drama, wardrobe changes, and more than you ever really wanted to know about roof thatching.

It's an earnest and sincere tale about two people not falling into bed with each other, but genuinely learning to respect and - later, much later - falling in love.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Little Cottage on the Hill by Emma Davies is the sweetest tale I have read. Loss, grief, love, healing and a dash of humor can be found in this great story. Here, I got to meet a young man who lost his wife at a young age. Seth has had difficultly in letting go and moving forward. His love for his wife is his shield. Yet a young woman who helps market his business comes in, Seth finds himself letting go. Maddie has also suffered. Her boss stole her ideas and made it look like Maddie stole the ideas from her. Maddie leaves London to do a job at Joy Acres. There she and Seth find healing in each other. This book is full of hope. It was deep, engaging, and funny too. Overall, I recommend this women fiction novel to all.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a great feel good read. I really liked Seth and I could picture Joys Acre as well. Recommend.

I absolutely adored this book and really hope that we might find a series of books set around the Little Cottage on the Hill. Maddie is escaping from her high flying job in London under a cloud. She has agreed to project manage a renovation of a farmhouse complex. She comes with modern ideas and meets resistance from Seth who wants everything done with a romantic vision.
We meet the wonderful cast of characters that soon feel like long lost friends. Maddie comes to realise that Seth has surrounded himself with people who share his vision. His gardener works tirelessly and we wonder what background they have together. The thatcher also seems to have a close connection and the history of thatching was fascinating.
As the views from the Hill weave their magic around Maddie she comes to see how the project needs to go. I loved the family history that unravels as we go along and adds to the whole story. I loved the whole feeling around the book. I felt like I was unpacking boxes in the farmhouse alongside them and could picture the seed catalogues and how they will set a theme for the cottages.
The romance in the book is sweet and I think we have scope for more romances in future books (please!). I could imagine books around each cottage as they become ready - with the first set around the person who books Gardeners Cottage. I wasn't really ready to let the characters go- always a sign of a book I totally fell in love with!.
Reviews to be added to my blog and Amazon on publication day,

Really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to reading more from the author.

The Little Cottage on the Hill by Emma Davies is the perfect example of a book that makes me find it hard to toss one to the side without finishing. This little romance read started off a bit rough in my opinion but wound up being a nice little story.

In the beginning of the book readers are dropped in on Maddie arriving at the farm and meeting Seth but there wasn’t a lot of lead in even giving readers the hint as to why Maddie is even there. Now for those like myself that read a synopsis deciding to read a book but having a bit of time pass before picking that title back up to actually read it you just might have forgotten what the story should be.

As Maddie and Seth first meet in the book I’d have to say that quite honestly neither were coming off as likable at all either. Perhaps that just may have been my frustration of wondering what was happening too but it was definitely a rocky start for the story for me as I mentioned.

However, being one that doesn’t like to give up one a book all too often I kept on reading and slowly the author began to unravel the mysteries that had plagued me at the beginning. As the story moves on it actually becomes quite engaging and a rather nice tale as Maggie and Seth end up working side by side to restore the property. By the end of this book I was actually kind of sad to be leaving these characters and the countryside. So in the end I’d give this title 3.5 stars as it was definitely worth the read once it got going.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley for an honest review.
I found it really difficult to get into this book, like SO difficult. It took me days and days of on & off reading before I even got to the 20% mark and I felt like, if this was a book I'd bought or rented anywhere else, I would have given up on it. But because I received this book specifically to review it, I felt that I should persevere.
Around the 30% mark, however, I started to get drawn in, a bit like Maddie started to. I found after that that I couldn't put it down.
I enjoyed the friendship that built between all the characters that were working together, I liked the back story behind the farm and behind the characters.
I'm so glad that I stayed with this book as it turned out to be much better than expected and I'm quite looking forward to reading more from this author! 3.5 stars.

This was a delightful book. Maddy comes from London and meets interesting characters in the country. She also finds out the peace and tranquillity that the country can bring.
A book I wound recommend to take to the beach.

The Little Cottage on the Hill is the eighth book by British author Emma Davies. Marketing expert Madeline Porter has left her home and some rather unfortunate events behind in London to travel to the English countryside to take on the task of marketing director at an emerging country estate. She has been told that there will be resort-like accommodations with major meeting centers and that she is to be working alongside its owner, Seth Thomas.

When Madeline arrives it is immediately apparent that she has been mislead. While the manor house and gardens are lovely, the out buildings and barn are dilapidated, the animals run amuck, and the grouchy owner is certainly not happy about her presence. He also has no use for her vision of the place while Madeline finds his ideas whimsical at best. Since she has been tasked with getting the place profitable, Madeline feels she has lost at the outset, but continues on. When she discovers a small painting in the manor house by a Victorian artist that beautifully depicts the gardens and begins to unravel the house's history, she begins to understand, even embrace, Seth's vision.

Now totally onboard with the eclectic group working towards Seth's goals, she is caught off guard when wealthy Agatha, the project's purse strings, confronts Madeline and all the suffering she had endured from her prior job came crashing upon her. When Agatha fires her on the spot, Seth and his crew bring her into their fold, and they begin to act on his vision, though with very limited funds now that Agatha has withdrawn.

As the stories and backgrounds of these people unfold and the very twisty plot evolves, what is unveiled is a delightful story filled with rich characters, lovely scenery, and multiple kinds of love stories. I really enjoyed this book and do recommend it!

Engaging and Easy relaxing read! A perfect read for a relaxing weekend , I enjoyed the author writing style it’s very vibrant and pulls the readers right in . She has a great writing style. This story a cute story a perfect antidote from stepping away from the stresses of every day life . My first time reading a Emma Davies book and I loved it . Perfect from stepping away from the stresses of life. Maddie moves from London to countryside to turn a run down farm Joys Acre & it’s cottages into a modern high end business, she wasn’t expecting to fall in love with the countryside & the people. It’s a beautiful heartwarming story and a must read.

Maddie has escaped from the disaster of her life in London, starting afresh using her PR skills to launch a new project in the country. However, when she arrives nothing is as she was promised at her interview. The smart high tech facilities don’t exist and she is challenged by the property’s owner, Seth, when she tries to plan the upmarket development to replace the dilapidated cottages. Slowly Maddie’s point of view is eroded by the beauty and the people around her and she realises that the healing properties of the land are working their magic on her.
I love Emma Davies writing, she transports the reader into the world she is describing. I have found the themes to be uplifting and this story doesn’t disappoint. I found myself floating into the scents, colours and emotions hoping that I didn’t finish the book too soon.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoy Emma’s writing. She knows how to reach an emotional depth that many authors lack. This was a cute read and would be perfect for a vacation, feel-good story.

A cute fluffy feel good romance with some depth. This book followed Maddie who is hired to help restore and manage an old property of cottages and farmland in order to help lure corporate retreats there. This is a great opportunity for Maddie to prove her worth and start fresh again after dealing with a painful history.
The property is what is called Joy's Acre and has a lovely past of it's own. Joy's Acre was built during Victorian times and served as an oasis for people who needed it. Upon arriving, Maddie finds herself in direct odds to the property owner, Seth, who sees change as harmful to the integrity and history of the property. Things only escalate from there and Maddie has to decide whether to run away or try to see things from a different perspective. Additionally, she starts to feel drawn to this picturesque land and the history it holds.
This book was a fun quick read and I flew through it. I enjoyed the descriptiveness of Joy's Acre as well as the history that the property claimed. I enjoyed seeing the development of the two main characters. They each had to grow a bit and comes to terms with their past and who they truly were. Maddie especially changed quite a bit for the better.
Overall great read and sweet romance.

Easy relaxing read! My first time reading a Emma Davies book and I loved it . Perfect from stepping away from the stresses of life and transporting myself to the little farm called Joys Acre. Which is exactly what the lead character Maddie found herself doing after taking the job to try and turn this little run down farm and its cottages into a modern high end business . She was definitely not expecting to fall in love with the countryside and the people in it. I always try and give the most honest rating and for me this book is a five , great writing , lovely story exactly what I needed today !!

Another great book from Emma, flew through this one just like her others! A great feel good light read.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher, Bookouture for this copy, given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Kim from Bookouture for organising the Blog Tour.

26 year old Madeline Porter leaves London following a scandal in her previous job. She has managed to get herself a job redeveloping a rundown farm and farm cottages into a luxury holiday retreat in the country. It’s a joint venture between the current owner Natalie and Seth who leases the land – Natalie is in London, but has her aunt Agatha overseeing the work and Seth lives at the farm. Seth’s view on what should be done with the cottages don’t really match with the high-end luxury work which Madeline has been briefed on. When Madeline arrives and finds the farm, Joy’s Acre, in a very ramshackle condition, she realises that she will need to put a lot of work into this project to get it up to scratch. She also finds she has her work cut out with Seth who has a different vision with how he wants the farm to end up. Looking into the farm’s history, Madeline finds an old painting, which had been done by the original owner’s wife, and who the farm was named after. But just when she thinks she has worked out what to do with the farm, a secret from her past comes back and threatens to stop the whole project completely.

My second Emma Davies book. For information this book is based in the UK, mainly in the Shropshire area. A delightful easy read introducing us to the classy Madeline Porter. I loved Madeline’s character when she first turned up at Joy’s Acre. She is obviously a city girl and has no clue how to behave, dress and even drive in the country. I did laugh at the visions of her tiny little ‘pride and joy’ sports car navigating the twisty country roads surrounded by high hedges. Obviously as the book moves on, she becomes more used to the area and it’s nice to see her attitudes to things change. I did feel sorry for Seth being coerced into doing the farm up in a way that he just didn’t believe in and you are just keeping everything crossed that the redevelopment is done in a way to retain the character of the original farm.

It’s a funny and heart-warming story, which makes you feel sad in parts and then lifts you up again with laughter in others. An interesting story which held my attention, and piqued my imagination with pretty country cottages, rolling meadows and little villages. Well recommended!

A light hearted and easy read about new starts and appreciating others’ history and heritage

Whilst a little predictable in places - city slicker arrives in the country - Emma Davies’ writing is warm and engaging and you just keep reading!!

I particularly loved the ginger cat 🐈 Rumpus - what a brilliant name!!

An enjoyable read with deeper layers than anticipated

3.5* (wish you could give half stars)

Another glorious story from Emma Davies, whose books are going up and up my need to read as soon as I get them list with each new book.

Admittedly I did wonder at the opening of the book whether I had perhaps read too many books in the genre as it did feel quite familiar to me, but once you get into the nuts and bolts of the characters, the plot and the writing, it was a really heartwarming story.

Like Maddie was, I wa drawn to this part of the Shropshire countryside and the story of the cottages and area. I loved all of Maddie's visions for the place, from the wildly inappropriate ones with her London brain still in gear, to things more inline with Seth's vision for the place once she finally understands what he is trying to achieve.

One of the more surprising things I learnt from this book was all about thatching, which is unfortunately a dying craft, but one explained in a lot of detail. It really was quite interesting to think about how many years of history the straw must be able to contain.

I also loved Clara and her fierce protectiveness of Seth, although I could fully understand it once you are privy to their rather extraordinary background. Generally I loved all the main characters of this book and their sense of family despite none of them being related.

The Little Cottage on the Hill is a charming story, that I enjoyed reading every second of, but I can't help but hope that this ins't the last we have seen of Maddie.

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

A workplace blunder sees Maddie finding herself a new role in Joys Acre Farm. Her job is to help turn it around from an old run down farm to a sleek, modern, money making resort - well that’s her plans at least!

Joys Acre is owned by the dark broody Seth and he and Maddie don’t initially see eye to eye. With the help of Clara, Tom and Tricia, Maddie and Seth manage to renovate the farm and get it open for business - there is even some romance a long the way!

I enjoyed this book as I was in a bit of a reading rut and I just needed something light and feel good to get myself out of it! 4 stars for Emma! If you haven’t read any of her books I highly recommend you start!

Thank you as always to Netgalley & Bookouture!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book. I trquested this book mainly because I liked the cover in the first instance and I was looking for a bit of light reading. On starting the book, I had an immediate dislike of the heroine who seemed to be ridiculously fussy and unpleasant. Part of the pleasure of reading the story was seeing how she softened and became likeable. The way the two lead characters challenged each other was interesting and the other characters rounded out the story as it developed into a tale of friendship and romance. This book achieved exactly what I wanted to read and I will look out for other books by the author.