I always love picking up a book by Christie Barlow and this book did not disappoint. It was the perfect story to lose myself in over the Christmas period. From the very first few pages when we meet Grace you know that she is going to be integral in the story. As we discover how Grace is linked to Love Heart Lane we see her venturing back to Scotland and the castle with her three young boys in tow.

A book that can be read as part of the series or as a stand alone, it was lovely to revisit old characters from previous books whilst getting to know Grace and her boys. From the moment Grace steps off of the bus she feels at home again and the warm welcome she receives from childhood friends really instills the sense of community and how far they will go to look out for eachother. Grace's boys are real characters that made me chuckle throughout and it was great to see how they grew and the antics they got upto as the story continued. Whilst reading this book, I laughed at the antics of the boys and felt the pain experienced by Grace that she never managed to reconnect with her Grandad. This story will warm even the coldest heart and leave them wanting to read more. A truly wonderful read, that you will just want to curl up with and ignore the world once you start reading.

Heartcross Castle is the next instalment in the AMAZING Love Heart Lane Series!

Christie Barlow has done it again with this Book - it has all the Laughter and Romance you expect and always covers a difficult topic this time being of Domestic Abuse. I loved it from start to finish!

Andrew was an absolute Dream-Boat, I was rooting for him as soon as we met him!! He gave me such Celebrity Chef James Martin Vibes 😍 and I felt at some points it was in-between Saturday Kitchen and a Home DIY Show which was such fun!

I cannot recommend this series enough - and now we must wait for Peony Practice 🌸

I loved this book from the off and found it difficult to put down. Grace and the love for her children flows easily from the pages and they are so easy to relate to. Grace .left the castle years ago under a cloud of upset with her grandfather and so feels mixed emotions learning that he left the castle to her. However upon her return she’s shocked by the condition of the castle and worries about how she will cope. But as you find out Grace is an extremely strong lady and believes in making life better.

I just couldn't resist taking the chance again
To escape to Scotland and Love Heart Lane!
This time the story is of someone returning
After years away, abuse, heartbreak and yearning.

A surprise bequest ensures that Grace Power
Returns to the Castle she left in her darkest hour
Now, with her three sons, she's back there once more
Wondering just what she'll discover when she opens the door.

Will her old friends to whom she never said goodbye
Be willing to give her a second try?
And what about the celebrity chef who lives in part of it now?
He's attractive but keeps saying things that could cause a row!

Get ready for old friendships passing the test
And community support being absolutely the best.
Not only that, there's even a chance,
Of there developing a truly heartwarming romance!

The story is filled with angst, turmoil and laughter
A great read if you're looking for a happily ever after
But first there are difficulties to be faced and discussed
Before they can find a true love they can trust.

A brilliant addition to this series that is great
Showing how things can change with a twist of fate.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

This is the seventh in the Love Heart Lane series & as always an absolute delight to read.

I love Christie's writing style, her passion for her characters & the way she draws you in with her descriptions. You're easily able to transport yourself to Heartcross Castle, making it feel like you've come home to reunite with old friends.

Slightly darker at the beginning than normal, but it soon builds to a gorgeous heartwarming read, full of community spirit, love, laughter & friendship.

Book Review “Heartcross Castle” by Christie Barlow
JANUARY 10, 2022 ~ NIKIPRESTON ~

SYNOPSIS/BOOK BLURB

Heartcross Castle

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what

A second chance…

When her grandfather Marley passes away Grace Power discovers she’s been left the beautiful but crumbling estate of Heartcross Castle. As a single mum of three, Grace has no idea what she’s going to do with it – but who can say no to a roof over their kids’ heads and a chance to get away from past hurts?

And a forever home

Heartcross Castle is full of secrets – especially a lost security deposit box that holds the truth to everything… But when celebrity chef Andrew Glossop sets his eyes on the castle and, to make matters worse, mistakes Grace as the new housekeeper, Grace tells him there is absolutely NO CHANCE he is getting his hands on her home.

Devastated to have got it so wrong, Andrew will do anything to make it up to her – but is she willing to listen?

REVIEW ~ NIKI PRESTON ~ 4 STARS

Heartcross Castle is the kind of book that I will think about for some time to come. It resonated with me immediately as Graces’ situation was very reminiscent of my own, many years ago, so I gelled with her as a character from the start. I have felt her feelings myself and I think Christie Barlow dealt with the issue surrounding Grace and her boys with a confidence and delicacy that served to make for a marvellous book.

Grace and her boys are all very believable characters and I was just a little dubious when Grace receives her inheritance from her estranged Grandfather. I really didn’t want Heartcross Castle to suddenly become all mushy, hearts and flowers, as if by magic Graces life was better, kind of scenarios. Thank fully it really wasn’t this. Yes inheriting a castle at the worst point in your life sounds highly unbelievable but again Christie has a way of making it so much more than this. The castle is run down, it may turn out to be a huge mistake for Grace and her gorgeous boys. Instead she uses it to teach life listens to her boys. To finally give them a life full of love and laughter. Nobody deserves this more than them. I fell in love with the boys, full of life and mischief but always looking out for each other.

Then in pops an arrogant tenant in the form of the rich, good looking Andrew. After over hearing a conversation Grace finally see’s him for his true self and begins to chide herself for ever believing him. Has she done it again? trusting a man she shouldn’t once more? Is he out for all he can or is he hiding a better person in there somewhere? I’m not giving anything away, all I am going to say is that I would urge anyone who enjoys a good romance come strong women’s fiction with plenty of life lessons thrown in, to give this book a go. It’s brilliant and utterly heart warming.

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Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B091BL4DX3

US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091BL4DX3


Author Bio – Christie Barlow is the number one international bestselling author of fifteen romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty’s Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.

Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.

When Christie isn’t writing she co-presents The Book Show on Radio Northwich, enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.

Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.

Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christie_barlow/?hl=en

Twitter @ChristieJBarlow

Facebook page Christie Barlow author


With Thanks for the Advance Copy for the #Blogtour to…….

Rachel Gilby https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com/

Christie Barlow, Author http://@ChristieJBarlow

When she hears that her Grandfather has died and left her his castle in Scotland, Grace takes the opportunity to escape her abusive relationship and give her three young boys a fresh start. Returning to Heartcross for the first time in over 10 years, she discovers that the castle is rundown and in need of repair. With celebrity chef Andrew Glossop providing the only income, renting the servants quarters, Grace has to make the decision to stay or sell.

Heartcross Castle is a delightful read, with a gentle pace and a backdrop of Scottish countryside. There are many good characters to help keep the story moving and the growing relationship between Grace and Andrew, and his cookery interactions with the three boys is guaranteed to put a smile in your face!

A heartwarming story and an entertaining read.

Thank you to Rachel for letting me take part in this tour and to One More Chapter for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I have read a few books in this series and I love a castle so I knew I needed to read this book.

Grace Power is one hell of a woman. She has been through hell and back in her life but somehow she's still smiling. I am in awe of her resilience and resourcefulness. She is truly admirable.

Grace's three boys are adorable. They sure are cheeky at times but they really melted my heart more than once. They are very sweet boys.

I loved the Castle. Even in its run-down state is sounded magnificent. What a privilege to live somewhere so beautiful! I loved how the local community all railled around to help Grace and her boys. To see these people out of the goodness of their hearts open their arms again to Grace and welcome her home was beautiful and then to go and help her as they did. Oh, it got me.

I really enjoyed this book. Christie has shown us that it's not about how much is in your pocket but about what you can offer. With a little bit of kindness and some savvy bargains, you have everything you need.

Runaway Grace has spent many years away from her home of Heartcross, a stunning village nestled in the Scottish highlands, but when her Grandfather passes away she knows it's time to swallow her pride and return.

Having been only sixteen when she fled the safety of her family home things are bound to be different ten years on, not least the fact she has her three beautiful boys in tow. Grace had hoped that away from Heartcross she could achieve the life and independence she desperately craved, but the man she'd pinned her dreams upon quickly turned the magic she envisioned into a living nightmare.  Isolated from friends and family Grace is living her life hour to hour barely scraping by and constantly in fear so when she discovers she is the sole beneficiary of her Grandfather's castle she knows it's now or never if she is ever going to escape the clutches of her abusive fiancé and protect her children. 

Nervous about how the people she left behind will react Grace arrives back in Heartcross and soon realises it's the least of her worries as she discovers her once luxurious home has seen better days. Upon her return she also discovers that part of the castle has been long-term rented to Celebrity chef Andrew Glossop by her Grandfather, but the pair don't quite hit it off when the gorgeous chef mistakes Grace for 'the help'! With an obnoxious neighbour and a run down castle on her hands Grace wonders if she has made a huge mistake coming home, but will the villagers welcome her or not?

The Love Heart Lane Series is one of my all-time favourites and somehow Christie manages to up her game for each new release by adding even more characters to her already diverse cast. Although this book can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone you do cross paths with many of the people from the previous books and it definitely would enrich your reading experience to have enjoyed the previous novels - in my opinion anyway!

Heartcross Castle is yet another book filled with relatable, flawed characters that create such a wonderful sense of community that for me it genuinely feels like coming home when I throw myself into each new story. Whilst the underlying story in this book is the tension and romance between Grace and the gorgeous Andrew, Heartcross Castle is much more than your average romance book. Not only does the strong community spirit I've already mention drip from the pages, but it deals with much bigger issues including friendship, acceptance, death, abuse, healing, regret and making amends to name but a few.

I personally find Christie's writing style so easy to read and enjoy which made this book a delight to read and meant I flew through it so quickly I was left wanting more! I can't wait for the next in this fantastic series to be released so I can dive right back into Heartcross and catch up with my fictional friends. If you haven't already had the pleasure of reading any of this series I can't recommend them enough.

TW: Domestic abuse/violence, discussion of miscarriage

Going back to Love Heart Lane and Heartcross is like picking up with old friends and making new ones. Of course the wonderful scenery, the landscape and the thought of staying in a castle adds to the wonder and enjoyment of it all.

Grace Power and her three sons make an escape when she is left Heartcross Castle by her grandfather. However she was never reconciled with him by the time of his death and she is left wondering what she is going to do with this pile of bricks.

However bad it maybe, coming back to Heartrcoss and being able top provide a roof over the heads of her three sons is the most important thing in the world to Grace. The greatest of pleasures and achievements can be found in the smallest of things.

That can’t be said for her new neighbour Andrew Glossop, a famous household name with money behind him and a reputation of being flamboyant as a television chef. His first encounter with Grace is less that positive.

Grace though shows Andrew something about how to live a life that he has never seen and it seems that perhaps everyone’s life is going to change.

I was immediately in awe of Grace and her boys, their strength of a family unit come what may made me eyes fill with tears. I was so worried that the past was going to come along at some point (it could if there was a need for a sequel – hint hint!) the castle was a balm to soothe the soul of those reading the book as well as the main characters, added into the mix the lovely gardener and the joy from dealing with nature.

I think what I enjoyed the most was not just the change in Grace and her sons but also the change in Andrew. It took me a while to warm to him, bit like Grace I suppose and I was quite amused at some of the scrapes he managed to get himself into, but when he saw what a difference actions and reactions can make, his eyes were opened!

Yet again, Christie Barlow has hit the spot with this wonderful novel and for me is one of the standout ones of the series so far. All the books can be read as standalone but why would you not want to indulge in them all – you will want to move to Heartcross immediately.

Christie Barlow has created a series of books that I am always eager to return to – I don’t think she can write them as quickly as I would like to read them though. The Love Heart Lane series is going from strength to strength, Heartcross Castle is our next visit to Scotland and the community I know I have fully taken to heart.
I think Heartcross Castle is my favourite yet, although I probably say that every time. Grace Power is really one of those characters you get behind from the start and root for every step of the way and above everything you just want things to work out well for her and those three adorable (and fun loving) sons.
Emotive, dramatic and heartfelt; Grace and her boys go on a journey of discovery, from escaping their current situation to living in a castle; finding things are not always as they are imagined to uncovering old secrets, re-establishing old friendships and learning to live alongside someone who seems to have it all when you have nothing.
I was swept away by Grace’s determination, her passion for providing the best for her family and just how hard she worked to make things happen. I loved that we saw all our favourite characters and yet again saw they pull together to support one of their own.
There are moments of sadness, moments of fun, times where you will laugh and times where you may just become a little teary.
As an ardent fan I always recommend this whole series to everyone, but Heartcross Castle is a little bit special. As always well written, nicely paced and guaranteed you’ll want to cosy up and read in one sitting.

This is the first novel I have read in the Love Heart Lane series, this book is number 7 in the series but can be read as a standalone.

I really enjoyed this book. Once Grace and her boys were moved into the castle I was hooked and struggled to put it down.

There were some proper laugh out loud moments in the book. It was such an easy, feel good read.

I loved how all Grace’s friends pulled together to help her when she was struggling.

I will definitely read books by this author and look forward to reading others in this series.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Onemorechapter for having me on the tour and for the copy of the book via Netgalley.

Thankfully Christie Barlow is keeping her readers happy by publishing two books a year in the brilliant Love Heart Lane series because quite frankly I really can’t get enough of these books. Without doubt Love Heart Lane is my favourite ever series, with not a dud book in sight instead each story just gets better and better and my love for the characters, the plot and the setting only ever increases. You’d think by now perhaps the series would be running out of steam but that’s not happening at all and I think Christie just gets better and better with each new story she brings to us and you can tell how much she enjoys the writing. Long may it continue I say, if you are on to a winning, successful formula, which she clearly is, why go and change it or deviate from it at all?

Heartcross Castle is book number seven in the series and again as with all the books it can easily be read as a standalone but let’s face it why would you do that and leave it at reading just one book? Read them all for the community spirit, the fabulous setting of the village of Heartcross, the true and heart-warming friendships and also the brilliant storylines which make this series a real page turner and one you will relish. In this new story we are introduced to Grace Power in a brief but informative prologue. She has been estranged from her Scottish family since she was 16 and has taken up with Cole and for the last two years they have moved around a lot. Now she is beginning to tire of moving and questions whether she made the right choice? She feels lonely and not quite sure where she belongs. With no real friends who can she count on given Cole’s mood swings and the arguments that always escalate. But a surprise proposal and a secret changes things or so Grace thinks.

Fast forward six years and three kids later and Grace is in the depths of despair, stuck in an apartment block living on a knife edge in fear of what Cole will do next. Life has been more than tough for Grace and she knows her young boys are suffering just as much as she is at the hands of Cole. Years of empty promises, being constantly let down not to mention the abuse, both physical and mental, have taken their toll on Grace and when a letter arrives from a solicitors saying her grandfather Marley, owner of Heartcross Castle, has passed away and she is the only living relative Grace wonders is this the opportunity she has been waiting for? Will inheriting the castle be the good luck she needs to turn her life around? She steals away with Freddie, Joey and Billy having finally stood up to Cole but at the back of your mind you do wonder will Cole rear his ugly head again?

Grace is a character who is battered and bruised from her experiences but I found she pushed how she was feeling aside and always focused on the wellbeing of her children. They were her life and always front and foremost and at the heart of everything she did. But yet she has her own past hurts apart from what when on with Cole and guilt eats away at her. In the past she was hurt, rebellious and grieving the loss of her mother and was in no way prepared for the strict supervision of her grandfather. At first scant details are supplied as to what actually happened that made Grace flee the castle but as the story unfolds and develops all becomes clear and you can see why Grace escaped but that doesn’t make up for the fact that the guilt remains that she never made amends with Marley. But will the castle will prove a valuable lifeline for her and the boys now when they need it the most? She wonders will the residents of Heartcross and the friends she so abruptly left behind welcome her back with open arms or will they give her the cold shoulder?

Grace certainly has bridges to build back in Heartcross and you could feel her apprehension at returning oozing from the pages. This nervousness was all very real and valid but she needn’t have doubted her friends and the villagers as throughout the series they are known for their ability to rally around to help those in need, to offer a shoulder to cry on and just the feel good factor and cosiness is always abundant in spades. All the regulars that I have come to know and love were once again present and I loved all their connections to Grace. Isla and Drew, Felicity and Fergus, Allie and Stuart and so many more all pop up every now and again but the sole focus is on Grace and the journey she undergoes to find her new direction in life. I loved spotting the old familiar faces but it’s also become a bit of a game at this stage to see what new characters are briefly mentioned and to wonder will they get a book of their own in the future? I have my suspicions as to who future books could be about and hope these come to fruition. But in the meantime Grace’s story completely absorbed me, so much so that I really couldn’t stop reading until I had reluctantly reached the last deeply satisfying page. The descriptions of Heartcross Castle were wonderful and even though it’s not in the best of condition and fairly empty, still the memories Grace evokes of the years where the gardens were packed with visitors all made for a wonderful picture.

Soon the castle becomes a safe haven for Grace and the boys but an unfortunate encounter with celebrity chef Andrew Glossop, with him mistaking her for his new housekeeper, doesn’t see himself and Grace get off on the right foot. Andrew has leased the servants quarters as his new home and a filming location for his new TV show. He is passionate about his subject matter and money seems no object. He has no clue as to the struggles of everyday life and Grace is determined to keep her financial difficulties secret from him especially when she thinks he’d love to get his hands on the entire castle if she is forced to sell it. Grace is the complete opposite to Andrew. She is not motivated by wealth, success or materialistic things but instead is motivated by family and the love of her children. A tentative friendship develops between the pair and I loved how this aspect of the story unfolded with both Grace and Andrew bringing out the good things in each other and in doing so learning some important life lessons.

The three boys also provide plenty of comedic but also heartfelt moments and I found myself laughing at their antics, the boys have lots of fun and become settled and really go back to basics and nature especially as the grounds of the castle prove fruitful. It’s so far away from the life they had previously endured and experienced and Grace is just ever fearful that this will all be taken away from them. Will Grace have the strength, tenacity and fire in her belly to save the castle? Or will it all go horribly wrong? Is Andrew just out to get one thing? To discover the answers and lots more besides I have no hesitation at all in recommending Heartcross Castle. It’s exactly what I have come to love and expect from Christie Barlow and boy does she deliver every time. Peony Practice will be with us in May and I am already counting down the days. Do yourself a favour and make sure you are up to date with all the books by that time, you’ll be ever so glad to have discovered the Love Heart Lane series.

I really enjoyed this chapter in this lovely series, what a fabulous story based at Heartcross Castle.
I thought Grace was a great character and I really liked her x
As usual the residents all come together to help Grace out. Would love to live in a place like that.

A lovely story in a fabulous series, looking forward to Peony Practice!

This is a joy filled story which I packed away in a single sitting! I found it to be a total page turner which, once again, had me awake into the wee small hours. I think that the Christmas break has turned me nocturnal.
Grace Power is a fabulous lead, she epitomises kindness despite having endured some terrible treatment at the hands of someone who should have shown her nothing but love. Her three sons are her world, and she strives to create a safe and steady home for them all.
Of course, this is romantic fiction, so there needs to be a strong love interest. In this instance, we are introduced to Andrew Glossop, a celebrity chef who has lost touch with the tastes of the average consumer. Of course, their initial meeting doesn’t go smoothly as he mistakes Grace for his new housekeeper.
Christie Barlow has already created so many wonderful characters, and it was lovely to revisit a number of them as they formed part of Grace’s friendship group. That said, the introduction of Hector, Heartcross Castle’s groundskeeper, was a very special element. I could immediately picture him pottering around the gardens.
The gaping chasm between Andrew and Grace’s personal history is extreme. Grace has never even learned to drive, so her arrival at the Castle is after an overnight train journey. Andrew, on the other hand, has access to a fleet of vehicles, including a light aircraft.
This is a story which left me with a smile on my face and in my heart. I simply loved everything about it. Pure escapism, which is just what I needed.

If you love a heartwarming story, full of great characters, laughter, friendship and a true sense of community and you haven't read any of the books in the Love Heart Lane series yet ... well, what are you waiting for? This may be book seven in the series, but Heartcross Castle works well as a stand alone story, as do any of the books to be fair, so if this is your first visit to town, do not worry. Whilst the some of the characters will feature in each of the stories to differing degrees, each book has its own central protagonist, in this case single mum, Grace, who moves back to Heartcross after the death of her Grandfather, Marley.

It's a bittersweet moment for Grace, who needs a new start more than anyone, but it comes at a price, and that price is the fact she will never have the chance to make amends with Marley, or introduce her children to their Great-Grandfather. From the very early moments in the book you get a real sense of who Grace is and how she has changed from the girl she once was. I love how Christie Barlow is quickly able to establish her characters in such a way that you find yourself immediately drawn to them. Whatever mistakes Grace may have made in her teenage years, whatever cause her to turn her back on Heartcross, the woman we meet now is entirely different. There is nothing she wouldn't do to keep her three sons safe, even if that means moving the entire length of the country. I was rooting for her from the off. Curious to see why she left home, obviously, but more than anything, wanting to see how Heartcross would respond to the return of their long lost friend. If anywhere is capable of giving someone a new start, it is the wonderful community on Love Heart Lane.

Now this story doesn't belong entirely to Grace. There is a small ... distraction, in the shape of celebrity chef, Andrew Glossop. He is Grace's tennant, and from the moment they meet the sparks start to fly, partly driven by a case of mistaken identity. There are some really funny, as well as tender moments in the book between the two, the humour often amplified by the antics of Grace's three sons who really make an impression on Andrew. Now he is a very well observed character. From a wealthy family, he is completely unaware of what is happening around him, or how it feels for Grace moving back to a Heartcross, to a castle well past its best, with nothing but a few pounds to her name. Seeing Grace and the children grounding him in their kind of reality, watching the subtle changes in his personality, is truly wonderful to read. He is a kind and well meaning soul, that is clear, with an overbearing mother who adds a layer of conflict in his life, but there is clear chemistry between him and Grace that kept me smile and completely invested in their story.

Now one of the real draws of this series is the sense of community that you feel throughout. Small towns often get bad press, that claustrophobic sense of everyone knowing everyone else and the concept of privacy being alien to most residents. In Heartcross, that awareness, the understanding, is what really drives the stories. Grace needs all the help she can get, but has no reason to expect anyone to step up for her after all this time. And yet ... well, you need to read the book, but certainly seeing the whole town rally around provides some of the most tender and emotional moments of the book, and is one of the key reasons I keep returning to the series.

Not only has Christie Barlow created such a vivid and authentic setting that comes alive in every scene, she has developed a thriving town, full of characters I love to come back to and whose hearts are as open as their smiles. If you can read this book without at least one awww moment, not least of all because of Grace's youngest son, Billy, or laughter at the antics of twins Joey and Freddie, then you are probably reading the wrong kind of book. I love this series, love the heartwarming, tender and loving moments that we are treated to with every story. Love seeing the characters overcome the various obstacles and fighting their way to happiness, knowing that an entire town has their backs, and knowing that I am guaranteed a few hours of beautiful escapism with every read. Another winner and definitely recommended.

Favorite Quotes:

The man handed over a brown envelope. ‘Burns Funeral Crematory Services.’ Grace cocked an eyebrow. She knew she was now in Scotland and Burns was a popular surname around these parts, but she wasn’t sure that was the best name to use for a crematory service, though it definitely did what it said on the tin – or the urn.

It’s on the calendar and when any mum writes anything on the calendar it’s law.


My Review:

This was an entertaining and easy-to-follow women’s fiction story set in a small village in Scotland with substantial currents of family drama and a gentle undercurrent of a budding sweet and light romance. The storylines flowed with humor as well as real-life issues for a struggling single mother of three young boys fleeing an abusive situation. The characters were endearing and the storylines and writing style were engaging and lively. While this is the seventh installment in a continuation of a series, it could easily be read as a standalone.

Another great book in this series with Grace returning home to her inheritance of Heartcross castle after inheriting it from her Grandfather. Grace and her boys are wonderful characters and the story is a pleasure to read full of fun and a real heartwarming feeling that leaves a smile on your face. Definitely recommend the whole series

Heart cross Castle is the latest book in the Love Heart Lane series, we encounter characters from previous books, which is always a lovely touch to catch up with their lives. This book can be read as a standalone, but I personally would read the previous books if you haven't already. This one is possibly my favourite to date.

Love doesn't have to cost a thing and in fact some of the best things in life are free. When Grace returns to Heartcross Castle with her sons, she's seeking a fresh start. Escaping from an abusive relationship, her childhood home provides a safe haven.

While struggling to make ends meet, her old friends rally her dreams and make Grace believe anything is possible. Has she found her forever home or is Grace only making the 'moat' of the situation?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition in exchange for an honest review. Heartcross Castle was my first Christie Barlow novel and it can be read as a standalone or enriched by revisiting the characters from the Love Heart Lane series. While reading this enchanting novel, readers will realize that "true friendship, loyalty, isn’t about wealth.