This is a story about coming home and finding yourself. Madison and Connor both have issues they need to work through. Will they be able to help each other? Will they each let their past define their future? Sometimes it’s hard to shake your past and realize that that is where it belongs, in the past. In this story Madison finds a great friend in a stranger, Stanley, who comes to the scene with just the talents he needs to help in a tricky situation. Poor Jesse, he doesn’t have a clue, but once he sees the light, it’ll be a different story. I would love to hang out with the folks on Sunflower Island. I would definitely stay at The Hideway and I would absolutely go to Laura’s ice cream shop! I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

The story of Madison, back on the island after spending years abroad because she ahs always felt she is in the way. Everyone expects her to leave again but she wants to stay and help, especially after finding out her Aunt and Uncle's business is struggling.

Will she finally get Connor to be her friend, or more?

I loved the settign of the book and hope this is a series and we get to find out what Finn's story is next!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.

I would like to thank Bookouture for asking me to review this book and to be apart of the blog tour.
The cover for this book is just lovely. It is so inviting. I adore Donna Ashcroft's books and this was is amazing.
Madison has been travelling the the world and trying to escape some feelings she has that are linked to her past. She arrives home wanting a change but not sure how or where she fits in in her local community. Her aunt and uncle have put their guesthouse up for sale, Madison who does not no this does realise it needs help and decides this is what she can do to help her aunt and uncle, although it is not easy. Madison had feelings for Connor from when she was younger and their past is not a great one with some misunderstood opinions of each other.
As the story unfolds a lovely romance plays out in a beautiful setting. I just loved the Sunflowers, our wedding flower, so that element really spoke to my heart and made the location just that little bit more magical.
Highly recommended.

A light read, okay plot and characters and was an enjoyable story until the end. I felt the characters took too long to warm up to and Connor never really changed I felt , always remained judgemental even tight to the end and didn’t learn , not truly. I found the ending unsatisfying and didn’t resolve how madison had felt all her life and it was just swept under the rug. I was enjoying it mostly up until the end and now I’m annoyed and frustrated

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I recieved an early preview copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Maddie has travelled the world, feeling like she doesn't have anywhere to call home.
She decides to return to the Guesthouse which is run by her Aunt and Uncle, as she has finally decided to try and settle down. She finds that her Aunt and Uncle are on holiday, and business is quiet. She decides to revamp the place, to try and improve business. She discovers that not everyone is happy to see her, and the expect her to leave again, especially Connor the builder.
I did not really like the characters. Lizzie and her friend Amy were immature, and Connor was unlikeable. I thought that the book was fairly predictable in places. I thought that the book was alright in places, it's middle of the road for me, not very bad, but not fantastic. This is only my opinion though.

Such a great story of how someone can turn another person around and how a small town is there for each other. Madison arrives at The Sunshine Hideaway. Which is owned by her Aunt and Uncle. They have gone on a cruise and she was there to surprise them. She has decided that after 5 years of traveling that she wants to be here and make this her home. She wants to add Yoga and walks on trails to activities at the Hideaway. We do know from the beginning that her Aunt and Uncle plan on selling and her Aunt had a heart attack. But Dee and Connor are not to tell her. Connor grew up with a father who had never shown love and everything was work, work and work. Now Connor is in the same mindframe but Madison is trying to show him he needs time for fun.Madison has had a crush on him since she was 15 but he always made her feel like a nuisance. You can see that he has feelings but he doesn't want to. She keeps working her way into his life and showing him there is more to just working.

I was so so excited to read this as it is right up my street and my goodness I was not disappointed, There is a whole bunch of characters in this and it didn't take me long to familiarise myself with them all and know who was who and I loved them all. The little guesthouse sounded absolutely beautiful and I really would love to visit it sometime. This was a story I couldn't predict, I just didn't know how it would end. A beautiful hint of romance too. Delightful!

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
FABULOUS read a great plot good characters with a feel good factor well worth a read.

Madison is a wanderer, she has been travelling around the world for 5 years but decides to go home. She has family, an aunt and uncle who run a guest house and Madision goes back to see them.

Whilst there she sees a man she has had a thing for since she was 15 and they have to work together to refurbish the guest house whilst trying to fight their attraction to each other.

This was a good read, really enjoyed it.

Madison grew up around the world thanks to the fact that her dad was a diplomat but she always considered Sunflower Island home. She's come back for a bit and discovers that the guesthouse really needs a refresh. Filled with ideas, she works with her old and unrequieted love Connor (and this goes both ways!) and her friend Amy, she works to not only restore it but also to set it up for success. Well, there's something she didn't know about the guesthouse and that might be a problem for the future. It's a nice story even though Madison is awfully young for all of this and seems immature at times (which isn't fair since she's only 23). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A pleasant read.

Madison has had a nomadic life but the one place she calls home is Sunflower Island, and she is now returning there to her aunt and uncles guesthouse. They are away on holiday and she is shocked at how rundown it had become, with the help of her friends Amy and Connor, who had already been tasked with decorating it, she determines to restore it to its former glory and make it into a wellness centre...... but will her young crush on Connor be rekindled?

A lovely book in a gorgeous setting, I always find books by this author very easy to read and I raced through this one, perfect summer read for the beach

What a cute cover - really eye catching and inviting to read.

I didn't fully engage with the book, it's a pleasant read and a sweet concept but I just didn't get into it as much as I hoped I would.

Sunflower Island sounds lovely, a real quaint holiday destination. I appreciated the backstory we were given, felt like we were told an awful lot in those first couple of chapters.

Main character Madison is just OK; I found her a little annoying and selfish in many ways if I'm honest. Her concern is finding what is right for her and not anyone else around her, friends or family wise. I think they romance was fairly predictable - sweet but nothing substantial. I didn't care much for Connor - thought he was overly grumpy and belligerent at times. I really didn't see that much chemistry between the two characters.

I knew what would happen, there was no big surprise or twist to throw a reader off. I think it is fine for a quick summer read by the pool.

I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it. It has a great story line, excellent main characters and it is a real page turner. I read this book in one sitting and the hours just flew by!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was the perfect read for me as was laid up in bed with the flu and this made me smile and think of summer.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Madison Skylar truly has a chance to come home. That home is Sunflower Island at the Sunshine Hideaway. This could be the second chance she needs. More than that, she just might have a second chance with Connor Robertson. Madison has always been free and open, but returning home just might give her a chance at happiness with Connor. Meanwhile, with his help, and that of another old friend, Amy Walters, they work hard at restoring the Hideaway retreat.

Madison's aunt and uncle own the retreat but are away on vacation. She does what she can to restore it to its former glory, and beyond. The only hardship Madison has while working with Connor, who works hard as a builder, is fighting the attraction she has to him. Connor is looking for something too, and perhaps he has found it in Madison, if only she can let her wanderlust go.

After reading a few psychological thrillers lately, it was a real boon to read such a pleasant story. Not only did I just love Madison, Connor was a terrific character, a man who truly deserved to be loved. Madison is just so good for Connor and I loved watching their relationship grow. I also enjoyed characters such as Amy, Dee and Jesse.

I really enjoyed this book by Donna Ashcroft. It was a delightful read. On a very personal note: I read at least a book a day, most days two. This book, however, took much longer due to some serious issues. Admittedly, at first I bemoaned the length of time it took to read it, but every time I reopened it, it really was like coming home. It is nice to read a book that brings real comfort. I look forward to reading much more from this author.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loved this book. Great plot, characters and setting. I highly recommend this book. This author always serves up a good red.

I fell in love with the cover then I fell in love in love with book.
It's heartwarming, engaging and entertaining.
I love the well devised plot, the fleshed out characters and the setting.
I will surely read other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine

The cover of this book drew me in from the get-go, what a view from that window! I adore the pastel colours too, it's just so inviting.

What a perfect read this was, I read it over a few damp and miserable days weather-wise but it certainly brightened my mood. We are introduced into Madison and Connor's lives - Madison is back on Sunflower Island following months of upping sticks and travelling. She had a crush on Connor in her late teens but initially on her return just wants to build up a friendship with him and get the workaholic to try and rest/relax from time to time.

Connor is working as a builder/decorator for Madison's aunt and uncle at The Sunshine Hideaway which is a guesthouse that is struggling to survive against fancier competitors on the island. Unknown to Madison when she returns, her aunt and uncle have put the guesthouse on the market but unaware of this she tries to turn the fortunes around. I was so eager to see a happy ending all around as it sounded idyllic and perfect with Madison's family and friends in charge!

I had a fictional crush on Connor from the first page! To say he was a dark, brooding kind of hero would be an understatement, his monosyllabic ways would have grated on me if I didn't know that there was a kind heart underneath the exterior and boy did Madison manage to crack that! They had such a delicious relationship - so much more than just lovers.

5 magnificent stars - Donna Ashcroft just became a 'must buy' author for me. Check out her earlier novels if you haven't already!

My many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book it was easy to read and a book I found unable to put down. The characters were good and I was able to connect with them.

The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings had a cute concept but I just couldn't get into it.

The first few chapters did try quite hard to orient the reader to the location and established relationships. Despite putting perhaps too much backstory and description in, it was good orientation.

The dialogue and prose were unengaging and, despite attempts at character development, the main characters really lacked depth and likeability. Connor's POV chapters were boring but a little less excruciating than Madison's.

I had a lot of issues with Madison.

At one point she, I kid you not, counts to five on her fingers. She also seems to be competent at many things - having jobs across a range of sectors and assuming she can single-handedly fix a failing business - despite having little long-term experience or training in any. Madison's past as the daughter of diplomats was barely discussed until she casually mentions her parents died in a "freak gas explosion at the British Embassy in Italy" as if that's a common occurrence that needs no explanation. The mention came out of nowhere and wasn't addressed at all. She's later described as being "raised on a diet of hotels, parties and travel across continents” as if it's an excuse for wanderlust and not wanting to be stuck on an island that she eventually returns to anyway.

I didn't care for the romance - from early on the arc was pretty clear and the characters didn't have much chemistry - plus the grand gesture at the end was so cheesy that I actively started disliking the romance.

Overall, it wasn't the worst book I've read, but my anger at Madison's character did make me slightly more engaged than I would have been otherwise. Wouldn't reread, wouldn't really recommend.