This is my first venture into Love Heart Lane and Foxglove Farm was a perfect introduction. Although it’s the second book in the series it can easily be read as a stand-alone and at no point through the book did I feel like I had missed out with not having read Love Heart Lane first. I will be catching up though as I enjoyed this book so much, I have to see what I’ve missed.
Isla and Drew Allaway live at Foxglove Farm, they’ve been together years and with two gorgeous children they seem to have a perfect marriage but cracks start to appear and Isla feels like she is loosing the man she thought she knew. Why is Drew keeping secrets and in such a mood all the time? With many obstacles thrown their way can the couple sort things out?
Foxglove Farm is filled with some fabulous characters that you just can’t help growing to love. From the young to the old, each character really stands out and comes to life and I couldn’t help being totally immersed in this story.
I loved the sense of community in the story, like any small place, everyone knows everyone and everybody seems to know your business but what stood out in the story was how everyone looked out for each other and in times of need they were there to lend a helping hand.
I totally devoured this book and although the main story is about Isla and Drew it was nice to have the little side stories giving us an insight into the other characters lives. One character that I particularly loved was Martha, oh lord she did make me giggle at times. So full of life but an absolute rock for Isla and Drew.
Foxglove Farm is a wonderful story, it has suspense and humour and it left me feeling all cosy and warm. It’s one of those stories that gets under your skin, when you’re not reading you’re thinking about the characters and when you’ve finished they stay with you.
It’s all about the books will definitely be recommending Foxglove Farm, it’s a real feel good story that touches on some sensitive issues but is filled with love, friendships, family and community. Fantastic.

Thanks everyone for letting me review this book. How I loved the alpaca. The book was beautifully written and had a great story line. Another good read.

Beautiful book, I absolutely loved this title, so much that I had to buy the other book in the series! Such a lovely story!

Absolutely loved this book
Covering some very good subjects as well as such a heartwarming story
Drew and Isla own Foxglove Farm, but what Isla doesn't realise is that there are problems and she noticed Fin is becoming distant and suggests she isn't pulling her weight and should get a job.
This story totally pulled me in. I felt like I was living the story and the description of the beautiful views made me want to be there.
Can't wait to read more from this author.

The problems in Drew and Isla's marriage hit you right from the start, so much so that I could see no happy ending for them but... as the money problems pile up, a terrible storm brings disaster and Isla makes more than one fateful decision, things slowly start to put themselves right with the help of good friends, a great-gran ( in both senses of the word), some tatty old vans and the couple's deep underlying love for each other. If this is what working on a farm is like I am so glad I don't! A slow start but this turned into a real feel-good story, and it's nice to revisit familiar characters from the first book in the series. Looking forward to what comes next.

This was a comfort food kind of book and I loved reading it. I spent most of my time trying to suss out the characters and who I should be rooting for. A super cute book set in what I imagine to be a quintessential town.

Oh I loved it! Part of a series set in the Highlands, this book takes us to Foxglove Farm where Isla, Drew and baby Angus live. And what a blessed life they lead.....but all is not what is first appears to be....cue the unexpected arrival of Isla’s madcap grandmother, the uncovering or some secrets, alpacas, a tearoom and some glamping and you have a thoroughly enjoyable story!

This book enddd up being much sadder than I wanted it to be. That’s okay but it took me by surprise. I hope you enjoy it!

Returning to the gorgeous pocket of the world that is Heartcross is always an absolute pleasure. The characters feel like old friends and welcomed me in with open arms. This story was packed full of warmth and charm and I loved every moment being back on Love Heart Lane.


Isla was a dream character who stepped into the spotlight and earned her credit as leading lady in this book. I was pulled into her world from the opening pages and loved every minute of the journey we took. Her relationship with Drew was thrown into chaos from the word go but their was an underlining strength the couple shared that had me reading with strong hope that they would make it safely out the other side of this momentary turbulence. As always the remaining characters were around to add quirk and charm to this gorgeous read


Foxglove Farm is a huge serving of love and friendship with a pack of alpacas served on the side for good measure. Well done Christie yet another fabulous book that I know everyone will adore.

Book two in the 'Love Heart Lane' series and a return visit to the little Scottish community with it's dramas, highs and lows and engaging characters. An enjoyable, character driven read that you can lose yourself in for a short while. Can be read as a standalone although perhaps recommend starting with the first book ('Love Heart Lane') for the sake of continuity and enjoyment.

A brilliant read.
I couldn't put it down when I started this on holiday.
The farm life with alpacas sound like bliss well it isn't all sailing for Isla who has a worry with her husband and she has an amazing gift for his bday but even that turns into a massive problem.
I loved the setting, Scottish highlands is so serene and those alpacas and baby mop. Cuteness overload.
I love all of Christie Barlow books and this is no different.

Lovely feel good story. It was well written and flowed well. Easy to read and hard to put down. Perfect on these summer nights

Thanks netgalley for letting me had a copy of this book.
And what a book!! Couldn’t put it down, finished it in less than 24 hours.
Read this brilliant book to find out how Isla and Drew’s lives change when isla buys a herd of alpacas. From thinking their marriage is falling apart, a barn fire, a broken leg and alpaca rustlers the story ends on a high note.
Can’t wait for the next instalment.

I have a couple of things to point out which basically sum up why I didn't like this book :

- Sentences are repetitive. It gave off a feeling that the author had not much to write.
- The plot wasn't strong enough, things didn't match and the protagonist was, in plain words - annoying as hell.
- The protagonist's husband had depression and was hiding it. One day he reveals it all to her and after that he is more than okay, totally dedicating his life to make romantic gestures for his wife. It was as if depression could be slept off. Anyone who reads my reviews knows that's I can't stand incorrect mental health representation.
- The main character was annoying. I know I've mentioned this before.
- The author's narration is not even and doesn't match up to subsequent narration most times.

Foxglove Farm is book two in the Love Heart Lane series, but reads well as a standalone. I must admit I have book one but haven’t read it. So I am not familiar with these characters or the town, I came into this book with fresh eyes.

Awwh. What another cute, lovely and beautiful town to wander into. The community all pulls together and are a friendly lot. Isla is a lovely woman trying her best, with a lovely family and farm to run with her husband and two children.

I must say its all a bit doom and gloom in this story mostly, but it shows peoples willingness, helpfullness and passion to work together, so there is a plus side. As I haven’t read the first book I will guess that the first book was more upbeat?

All relationships have their up and downs that’s a given but for most of this story it’s all down… Except it goes back up towards the end. Uplifting towards the end, faith restored. This story holds a hidden message, that no matter how hard times get and relationships things can get better and will get better.

A well deserved four stars from me. I cannot wait to go back and read book one now (Love Heart Lane). Highly recommend. I throughally enjoyed reading this one. A beautiful cover too. Love a good cover. A perfect, happy ending.

My second visit to the village of Heartcross in the Scottish Highands was just as memorable and brilliant as my first. Christie Barlow really is on to a winner with this series and long may we have many books to come which are set in this special village where community, friendship, family and support mean absolutely everything. Foxglove Farm was one of my most anticipated reads for this summer every since I finished the brilliant Love Heart Lane back in January. I had such high expectations for this new story and thankfully every one of them has been fulfilled. This time the story centres on Isla and Drew Allaway who run Foxglove Farm and within the first few pages we delve straight into the main focus of the story. There is no messing around introducing the setting or characters as this has all been covered in book one and for those that are new to the series background information is slipped in over the course of the story so they needn't feel like they are missing out.

I loved how Drew and Isla, who both did feature in lesser roles in book one, are now stepping into the spotlight and it is time to share their story, their difficulties, their ups and downs and their hardships. The characters I had come to love previously do feature again but to a slightly lesser extent. That's not to say the feel good feelings that oozed from Love Heart Lane are not apparent here, of course they are and in spades. The vibe and atmosphere that Christie Barlow has created in these books is just fantastic and that's what makes you sit down and read the stories in less than a day because once you start you literally can't stop and then believe me you are gutted to have reached the end and have to leave Heartcross behind once again.

Isla and Drew have always had a solid and happy relationship. They love running the farm which has been in Drew's family for generations and the setting is absolutely stunning with the Scottish Highlands surrounding them and the wonderful village of Heartcross at their doorstep. But within the first few pages it's evident that all is not as it seems and discord and upset are to be the main features of Drew and Isla's relationship in this story. There are rocky roads ahead for them but it's whether they can weather the storms that are coming their way and make it through some troublesome situations that will test their marriage to the max is the question?

Drew has gone from being this kind, considerate, hard-working and loving family man to someone Isla is starting to think she barely even knows. He has become irrational, moody, argumentative and he believes he is the one who keeps the farm running with some help from Fergus whilst Isla flits about with the children and spends time drinking tea with her friends in Bonnie's teashop. Isla is so hurt at these institutions which are simply not true as she too is juggling an awful lot, to keep the house up and running and to take care of Finn and baby Angus. I thought the opening scene was powerful and very well written as it really did set the tone for themes of the book and it conveyed Drew's stance although the reasons behind this wouldn't become clear until much later.

I found myself taking an instant dislike to Drew and I wouldn’t have felt this way if I was judging him on the few times he appears in book one. But I think I felt like this because I didn't want to see Isla hurt because at the end of the day she was like anyone else in life just trying to do her best with what the cards have dealt her and to make her family life a positive and happy one. But with Drew being so argumentative, cold and stand offish and with him distancing himself and erecting barriers around him Isla begins to feel like she is threading on eggshells around him. That she needs to be careful with every word she utters for fear of setting him off. Animosity, tension and anger are all emotions bubbling away at the surface when it comes to Drew and they could erupt at any moment given one false move or if something went disastrously wrong.

Isla feels desperately lonely as she doesn't have any hands on extra support and that maybe she is losing perspective of who she is. But that shouldn't be the case as she is surrounded by wonderful friends and family. Felicity and Allie would be there for Isla if she could only open as to how she is feeling but then she thinks people won't believe her if she tells them what has been going on with Drew given he is always so nice to everyone else and has such a good reputation within the village.

To some it may seem as if Isla is complaining unnecessarily. That everyone experiences challenging times in a marriage and after all you do make a commitment to each other to love one another for better for worse, in sickness and in health. But here I felt Isla's worries were genuine. That she loved Drew, her family and the farm so much and that in no way was she reading into things that weren't there. She knows him so well that she just couldn't brush under the carpet what she was seeing and that action needed to be taken in order to save her marriage and not let her family unit go down the drain because no one had bothered to communicate to each other. But circumstances take a very dramatic turn.

I love how Christie uses the weather as a catalyst in her books for bringing about a total u-turn in the way a book may be progressing. Things get turned on their head and there is a sense of urgency to pull together to make things work. That's another reason why I love these books, they are not all light-hearted and dare I use the terms featuring fluffy and easy romances. No there is so much more depth to the story and the exploration of relationships with community spirit a huge part also. The reader is really allowed to get inside the heads of the characters and they do have serious issues and the boy meets girl, will they won't they get together storyline is not present here. Thank god I said to myself more than once. It's the purchase of a herd of alpacas by Isla with the best of intentions that sets the cat among the pigeons and really gets Drew riled up and subsequently a brilliant storyline unfolds.

I really enjoyed how the overall storyline developed as I felt the emotional side of things was balanced with some moments of humour as things could have descended into doom and gloom with no glimmer of hope. The catalyst of the weather that inspired change, grit and determination was brilliantly woven into the story and once again it showed how the village of Heartcross may be small but at its centre there is a big heart where the residents all pull together in times of need to hep those whom they would not wish to see misfortune befall upon. Maybe things happen for a reason and difficult times may be sent to try us but it is how we deal with these situations that demonstrate what true character we have inside us that maybe we didn't realise we had.

Isla once discovering some shocking secrets really stepped up to the plate and her love for both Drew and her family was evident. She deserved nothing but admiration and with the help of her grandmother Martha, whose arrival back to the village was unexpected and maybe initially not welcome, they devised a plan to get things back on track. Martha wasn't a major character but she was there to give Isla the backup she needed when she doubted herself. Isla could have crumbled and just locked herself away but when push came to shove she showed that she was a fighter and that both the farm and her family meant everything to her. But would she be able to dig deeper and discover what was making Drew carry on in the manner in which he was? Will the arrival of a new person Nate to the village be her saving grace in her hour of need? Can she soldier on when it seems as if everything is crumbling around her?

Foxglove Farm, I am very much pleased to say, was another triumph for Christie Barlow. She has written about a very serious subject and sadly all too common problem with sensitivity and tact but she never shied away from writing exactly how people feel when this happens to them. Showing how the family unit are also affected was very important and I thought there was such a well rounded balanced point of view presented throughout the entire story. Heartcross is such a warm and inviting place that you never want to leave, packed full of varied and interesting characters but at its centre are the bonds of community and of pulling together. This book deserves to be consumed in one go if at all possible as it is just to engrossing and absorbing with memorable characters you root for all the way. Imagine my delight to click to the last page to discover there will be more to come in this series before the year is out. Clover Cottage has my interest piqued as to who the story could focus on but in the meantime if you haven't done so already read and enjoy as much as I did both Love Heart Lane and Foxglove Farm. You'll be glad you did.

I just love getting totally sucked into a book!! Foxglove Farm was one of these books - I was hooked from page one!

Set in a small ideallic village where everyone knows everyone, the story follows Isla and her husband Drew. Isla thought they had the perfect marriage but Drew is becoming more and more withdrawn. When an accident at their farm results in Drew being housebound for a few weeks, Isla uses the opportunity to find out just what is going on. I won’t give too much away but this book deals with some important issues, which the author addresses in an excellent way.

This was the second book in a series but can be read as a stand alone too (I haven’t read book 1 yet though after this one I most likely will!).

This is my first book from Christie Barlow. Lovely book set in the countryside and a small rural town.
A lovely homely story of how a small town can bad together when an accident happens.
Romance, love, family, mystery, all rolled into one.

Great story and I would be happy to read a sequel to the story if the author were to publish one.
Characters are lovely and very relatable.

I am soooo happy to be back in wonderful Heartcross with the gorgeous people of Love Heart Lane including some new characters too. Although this time the story is focused on Foxglove Farm specifically Isla and Drew. Now if you have read Love Heart Lane you will be familiar with the farm and the wonderful couple that live there but don’t worry if you haven’t, this can easily be read as a stand-alone! Christie's writing is superb, whether you are an old friend to the series or a newbie Christie has this way of keeping you up to date on all the when’s, who’s and what’s!

The story focuses on their marriage and the struggles they are both experiencing, struggles they are dealing with alone. Isla a new mum is finding it difficult, with Drew on the farm all hours and Isla looking after two children and running the farm house she finds herself feeling lonely and when Drew is home he is cold, distant and snappy leaving Isla from being able to open up to him and on top of all that she has an unexpected visitor at her door to stay (union jack mini car and Tinder app in tow!)

Disaster hits the farm and Drew’s secrets are exposed leaving Isla to pick up the pieces. But this is Heartcross and the community of Love Heart Lane do not leave one of their own in need, everyone rallies together to support where they can. It really is a place I would love to live!

Foxglove Farm is not your usual glitter, hearts and flowers sort of story, it hits on big topics, the well-known saying ‘its ok not to be ok’ is absolutely key throughout this book and the way Christie manages this plot is perfect, I really love the style of Christie's writing, whether joyful or sad, Christie writes with pure emotion that really helps you to feel involved and part of village life.

I loved all the characters (well almost all!) Isla really came into her own throughout this story, stepping up for her family she was a joy to read. I was sad when I came to the end of my time at Foxglove Farm but phew Christie saves the day with another book to add to this wonderful series ‘Clover Cottage’ Yay! I cannot wait!

Overall this book is a heart warming read full of love, friendships and family. It will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling and make you want to pack up and head to Heartcross! A must read!

Huge thank you to Christie Barlow and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #Foxglovefarm #netgalley

Isla and Drew Allaway live in the Scottish Highlands and can only be described by everyone as the perfect couple. They live on Drew's family farm with their two children (Finn and Angus). However when looking deeper inside the farmhouse's walls you notice that not everything is as it seems! Their relationship is one which has suddenly changed. Arguments begin to happen and cracks begin to show. Isla finds herself spending most mornings with her best friend Felicity at the teashop that Felicity runs with her mum Rona. Drew finds himself spending most days on the farms and evenings in the spare beroom.. Until one morning an unexpected visitor shows up. Someone who will steer a rocky relationship back into the sun.

The bright and airy cover showing the beautiful farm house in the Scottish Highlands drew me to this book.

Some research into this author has told me that this is her second book in the series. However you would not know this when reading and this book makes a great stand alone book, Something I think this author has got down to a fine art.

Once opening the book it is a page turner. Isla and her friends are loving characters who you totally feel yourself taking into your heart. They show you their emotions and allow you to become invested into their lives. Furthermore making you part of Isla and Drew's marriage as well as their village.

This book is a great summer read romance and you never feel that you are missing anything from the story line allowing you to follow it through until the end with confidence that you will get a good ending. Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as financial issues and mental health I do not feel this takes away from the romantic summer feel of the book.

Barlow includes some difficult topics within this book including men's mental health. It is great that this can be included in a 21st century romance read to normalise this and get everyone speaking about these taboo topics. However it is done in a way which makes it seem that recovery is very simple. You find Drew has started medication, without Isla, knowing. As soon as Isla finds out within a few pages Drew is telling her all about his feelings and they are then working together. In reality it may take a long time for people to open up about their mental health and then their are relapses, triggers and some secrets remain. If this book showed the real life struggles that those recovering from mental health have then this book would definitely be up there with the best and most enjoyable. Unfortunately due to the unrealistic nature that is shown by Drew's recovery leaves you with many raw and unanswered feelings as a reader living with mental health.