This is a sweet story, a lighthearted read.

Part of series, you can read this as a stand-alone, however I get the feeling I would have enjoyed this more if I’d read the other 3 books in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

The latest book in the series set around Willow Tree Hall.

Lily is back after losing her job in London. She does not expect to see Jack - he left her years ago, breaking her heart, and she hasn't seen him since. Will they have a second chance now they?

An enjoyable read.

When the story started, it was hard for me to connect with both Lily and Jack, having only met Lily briefly before and Jack not at all. And believe me, both of these characters had many walls for readers to break through, most tied to childhood anger and guilt – that made getting to know them difficult. But we’ll start with Lily, and realizing that her obsession with lists was simply a way to control the things around her in an effort to not be hurt again. Now, lists are all well and good UNTIL they take over your life – and Lily was simply moving from one list to the next, attempting to tick off items as she encountered them. Life had other plans, and with a cheating boyfriend and loss of her London job, she had no choice but to (very reluctantly) move back home with her parents and newly-installed in her old room, grandfather.

Jack was back in Cranley to meet with an old school-mate, Sam, heir apparent and grandson of the current Earl, Arthur. Jack works for a property developer in acquisitions, and his boss wants to acquire Willow Tree Hall to convert it into a luxury hotel and spa. Of course, Jack’s boss won’t take the no as the final answer, and is planning, with some political clout and a bit of underhandedness to force the sale for his own revenge. Jack takes this information back, and with his own self-doubts about being enough or needing people who will only leave him, again, he joins forces with the family to save the hall. Only one thing stops him- Lily, his teenage girlfriend that he’s never forgotten is working at the hall, temporarily, and she’s none to welcoming.

Oh the back and forth between these two was strong – from their own fears to Jack remembering a very different Lily, to Sam, his grandfather Arthur, aunt Rose and brother Will all remembering a strong willed but ultimately good-hearted man. We get to see how everyone’s lives have changed, and although there’s no mention of Tommy’s girl Eleanor (but plenty of Dylan) I can only hope that there’s a ‘where are they now” story to update us on the wonderful people and progress that has come to the hall since Sam and Annie have ‘taken charge” of the place. With Jack finally convincing Lily to speak with her own family about her guilt and obsession with control, to his gentle coaxing of Lily’s father to join the world again, as well as Lily pushing Jack toward his adoptive parents who grieve for the life he had and hurt because all they want to do is love him, even as he rebuffed most of their efforts, the story manages to pull several people and issues into focus, allowing the healing to start at Willow Tree Hall. With the outrageous Rose and the return of leather-clad aged rockers and an utterly OTT designer, the story has laughs, tears and plenty of heart – a solid installment in the series and sure to tickle readers who’ve wondered about the hall and Cranley since the last book.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review; all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-az8/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Willow tree hall and the surrounding village sounds like the perfect place to visit. I really enjoyed this book and all the interesting characters! Loved the story! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

I loved this so much, a very entertaining and enjoyable romance, cute characters, angst filled plot (which I love) well writing. This is the first in the series I’ve read but I wasn’t lost at all, just the opposite felt right at home. I will be off to read the other books now.

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

Favorite Quotes:

‘Paddling pool time,’ she said, with a grunt. ‘Which at least will replace the horror of bath time. And then bedtime followed swiftly by gin o’clock.’

‘How marvellous,’ said the woman, giving Jack a once over that would make anyone blush. ‘Is that flashy car yours? How I do like a man with a fast-running motor!’ ‘Thank you,’ said Jack, his mouth twitching into a smile. Aunt Rose had to be at least seventy years old and was dressed in a very fashionable dress, jacket and matching hat from which protruded a large feather in the same hot pink colour. Sam sighed. ‘I’d like to say that you get used to my aunt’s flirting but don’t assume that you have to.’ ‘My darling nephew, I do not flirt!’ said Rose, with a throaty chuckle. ‘I merely stun and disarm.’

‘Men!’ said Rose, rolling her eyes. ‘They’re just too awful but oh! L’amour! Who can resist them? Now, have you tried Tinder? I mean, you get a few freaks obviously but the sex is marvellous!’

‘You’ve put on a pound or two, haven’t you, chubby?’ ‘Stress eating,’ the man told him, taking a step backward. ‘Mind you, that’s nothing compared to your grey hairs.’ ‘It’s being famous again,’ said Mick, rubbing his grey sideburns which he’d missed with the hair dye. ‘People wanting money everywhere I look. Vultures, the lot of them.’ ‘Poor you,’ said the stranger in a sympathetic tone. ‘You really enjoyed those years being has-beens after all, eh?’


My Review:

I’m continuing to enjoy my stay in the quaint little village of Cranley and the extensive grounds of Willow Tree Hall. This installment was considerably more angst-ridden than the last with significant career, personal, and family stressors present for the two new main characters of Lily and Jack, who both separately find themselves unemployed and back in their small village after more than a decade apart. Despite the heavier issues and concerns covered, Ms. Sherlock thoughtfully and shrewdly provided comic relief often through the always effervescent and outrageous flirting of great-aunt Rose. Aunt Rose continued to delight and entertain with her feisty attitude and joie de vivre. I aspire to be as cool at any age as Aunt Rose in her seventies. Although, there were several other oddly enticing and idiosyncratic visitors bringing in smirk-worth levity as well. I am enjoying my travels to this busy little hamlet and look forward to more adventures there.

New additions to my Brit Word List include budge up – to move over, make room for others; and scrumping - stealing apples from someone else’s orchard.

I loved this entertaining romance. Well written with a great cast of characters. Romance readers will enjoy this book. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall, Alison Sherlock

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Women's fiction, Romance

Gah, I hate Women's Fiction as a genre heading, so outdated. Men and women can read the same books....its 2019, not 1919.

Anyway, after having read the first three books this one was like meeting old friends again, with new ones in Jack and Lily. Although all the stories are connected you don't have to have read them, each are stand alone romances, but if you have read them it adds a bit extra to the stories, seeing how couples are doing some time on from when we left them.

So many things about this book resonated with me, I share Lily's List addiction, I have lists for everything. I don't have Lily's control issues though, I understand why she does but it makes things hard for those around her and in the early days at the Hall it makes it hard for the family and for Lily. She means well but its simply not working out.
I loved how all the characters pulled together, how the villagers rallied round, how Hazy Memory and the wonderful Alex were included in this story, not family but almost family by adoption.
Rose – I want to be here when I'm older! I adore her. When she's talking about her Tinder dates and her sex life and grandnephew Sam makes an abrupt turn for fear of hearing more....Arthur, still the benevolent patient Earl, who sees beyond the obvious, who's at much at home in Bert's shed as he is in the stately grounds of the Hall.
Jack and Lily, a couple who are perfect but have past issues to get over first. Their backstory affected how they were today, the needed to look at that, understand it, before moving on.
Its a lovely story, full of little side plots and issues, of everyone pulling together for a common cause, of mishaps and mayhem, of the struggle to make the Hall profitable, or at least self supporting, of such wonderful characters, I felt as if I knew them personally.
Its chic-lit at its best, an easy read, some gentle romance, and a story to just sit and relax with. Of course normal things like Health and Safety, Food legislation, insurance etc have to be forgotten.... There's no way today's Red Tape would let half the things happen that do in this book. No selling cakes without inspections of kitchens, certificates, data sheets on every ingredient and traceability of it. No running a fete or launch without endless risk and safety assessments, signs everywhere warning of xyz, insurance to cover every possible event. I'm in favour of H&S, it has saved lives but somehow I feel we've gone too far the other way and where events like this were common when I was a kid everything get stacked against them now. The traditional British country fair is getting certificated out of existence, and as we see here it can benefit so many folk. It was wonderful to read things that I recall actually happening. I need to mention the apples though, 20-30 per tree is a pretty poor harvest. We used to get around 12-1500 from my four apple trees...
Lily's family are struggling, all of them in a tiny cottage, her, mum, dad and granddad, and her dad has just given up on life, after his amputation. I found that a bit sad, life isn't necessarily like that, most folk pick up and forge a new life as he is beginning to at the end of the book, but it was annoying to read at first, everyone mollycoddling round him, not expecting more. If that happens to you or yours don't be like Lily's family, don't just assume for them life is over. I've been there, it isn't!

Overall its a lovely relaxing read, full of country air ( I'm a country girl at heart), terrific characters, some slightly manic times, its a book perfect for a holiday read, or to escape real life for a few hours.

Stars: Four. Great relaxing read. Meeting the family again was like coming home.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

It's the second book I read in this series and was more than happy that I got this ARC as it's an entertaining and engrossing story.
The writer is talented storyteller and the plot flows without any hiccup, the cast of characters is well thought and likeable and you cannot help rooting for them.
I cannot wait to read the next instalment in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This was the first of the willow series I had actually read, but loved it and had started on the others too.
Loved the romance between the characters! Anyone who enjoys chic Lits will love this!

I don’t actually know why I didn’t realise that ‘Moonlight Kisses Over Willow Tree Hall’ is part of a series but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this story. I do have the other books nestled in my ever growing TBR pile so I can’t wait to read the series from the beginning.

Lily Harper is an events organiser who ends up back in her hometown and working in Willow Tree Hall. She thinks her life is a mess as she leaves her current job and goes through a relationship breakdown (through no fault of her own) I won’t go into specific details as I don’t reveal detailed spoilers, however she comes face to face with the mysterious Jack, the reason she left her parents home in the first place!

The narrative of the story takes you on a sweeping and twisting road of events where Lily’s character develops in a very interesting way. I absolutely adored Rose, she is hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud at one point to screaming for some of the characters to get their acts together!

I enjoyed Alison’s free flowing writing, it’s quick and snappy chapters giving the events from different points of view. I give ‘Moonlight Kisses Over Willow Tree Hall’ 4*/5* 😊

Thank you to Aria Fiction for the tour invite and an advanced copy of this book.

God I love Alison Sherlock. Every time I read one of her books I think 'surely this is the best leading man there's ever been' and then I read the next one and am proved wrong. I love her, the way she writes and I get so sucked in to the story.
I love the Willow Tree Hall series and I really love the new titles and covers that the books have now.
I would finitely recommend that anyone who hadn't read this series does so now!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 4stars.

Nice feel good book. It flowed very well. was easy to read. Nice characters. Good storyline. What’s not to love.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this.
Unfortunately I didn't read the three previous books in the series, but it was easy to read regardless. I can imagine it focused on the couples now living at Willow Tree Hall.
The story itself became more interesting after the halfway mark, once Lily relaxed a little. After her and Jack had sorted their differences, the romance side of things blossomed.

This was a sweet, if uneventful story, about chances—taking them and giving them. I did enjoy the tale and would have liked to have seen more interaction between Lilly and Jack. They only started to connect around the halfway mark of the book. Regardless, it was an pleasant read, a great book for a rainy afternoon curled up in a favorite chair.

Thank you to NetGalley, Aria, and Alison Sherlock for an ARC of 'Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall' in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Thank you netgalley and the Aria publishers for letting me this ARC. This is my first book by the author and I loved it. The story is simply charming and I loved Willow Tree Hall. Since I loved second chance romance so I adored Lily and Jack. Those two are adorable togather. It was a charming book. Perfect for christmas read❤. I recommend it to all Sophie kinsella and Lindsey Kelk lovers. A perfect romance and second chance read. Happy reading.

When I got this book I didn't realise it was part of a series, with three books before it. Thankfully, that did not ruin my enjoyment of it as you can read it as a standalone book. For me, the book reminded me of Downton Abbey and its storylines, so if you are a fan of estates and manors, you should enjoy this book! I've now gone back and bought the first three books so I can complete the full series!