What a light hearted and lovely read.

I really enjoyed the inhabitants of Cranbridge and the life and soul of the inn.

It’s such a lovely Christmassy read with all the feels needed to keep you happy and light.

Very relatable characters and they really make you route from them to do the right thing.

Loved it

The Village Inn of Secret Dreams - Alison Sherlock

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily

But with the rundown Inn threatened with closure, Belle may be forced to leave, unless a buyer can be found … quickly.

So, when her oldest friend Pete Kennedy returns from working abroad with a plan to save the Inn, Belle should be overjoyed. The trouble is, Pete has some rather radical ideas for the renovation which Belle disagrees with.

But when a snow storm hits, Belle and Pete are forced to put aside their differences and work together to help the village.

I feel like I have missed out - this is the first book I have read in the series and whilst I enjoyed it, I can't help but feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous two books. This is such a cosy book to read filled with love, joy and warmth.

Overall this was a quick book to read, filled with community spirit and just generally a joy to read.

Rating 4/5

A lovely story about friendship, community, family and love. When best of friends have a missed opportunity due to mostly bad timing, it causes frustration and mistrust. When opportunities change and friends must work together to save a bar/restaurant that is important to the community, second chances are available but require work. A heartwarming book!

Third book in this series and as always very enjoyable, and a lovely bit of escapism. I do however have one problem which again is the repeated over use the word soft, soft laugh, soft hair, soft smile, soft scent, perhaps it's just me but I find the use of the same word so many times irritating, that aside it is a lovely book to cosy up with

A new author for me, but I can happily say that I'm so glad I came across this lovely book and even better that this is part of a series.
The beautiful village of Cranbridge sounds absolutely idyllic and The Mucky Duck and it's transformation to The Swan Inn means it fits in perfectly.
The characters that make up the community are a quirky, mixed bunch that really help to add that little extra to the story line. between Belle and Pete.
It was also lovely to see that among the Christmas celebrations, subjects of loneliness and poverty were addressed and the effects that giving others a little help at these times can have.
I look forward to exploring more books by Alison.
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood books and Alison Sherlock for the ARC copy.

A sweet and entertaining story that made me wish it was Christmas. Heartwarming, well written and entertaining.
I liked the characters and the plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a warm, sweet read my first one from this author and I hope it won’t be my last. A perfect Christmas read even if it’s only September it didn’t matter. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

It felt so warm and welcoming to be back in Cranbridge, amongst old and new friends. The regulars in the village are all present and just added to that feeling of coming home.

Although in Pete's case he really is coming home after 3 years in Singapore, but he's not sure he wants to stay in Cranbridge any longer than strictly necessary. He's also hiding a secret from his family, and seems in complete denial as to his true feelings towards Belle, who he tries to think of as just a sister!

But yet Pete decides under the influence to save the Black Swan Inn, and purchase it, but whether the village will like the changes he intends to put in place, or whether he will listen to Belle's ideas are another matter altogether.

I really enjoyed Belle's story, and also discovering whether the mucky duck will truly turn into a swan or not!

Was lovely to see more of Dodgy Del, and some of his latest get rich quick ideas are hilarious, but his heart is always in the right place, and it seems his nephew may not be the trouble maker he seems to think he might be.

I loved the interactions between Belle and Pete, from joking comments, to out right disagreements, you could tell their true feelings a mile off... well unless you are them!

I love the sense of community in these books, and just feel as though I belong there too. It's another joyous book to read. I found it to be a rather quick read, and I was carving out time to keep returning to the book, which tends to be the sign of a good story for me.

My fingers are crossed this isn't the last we see of this series as I'm enjoying it so much.

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

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

It was lovely to back in the village of Cranbridge. Pete has come back from a few years away from his home and family and is itching to be away again. This time we focus on life in The Black Swan (known locally as The Mucky Duck) - Belle's aunt and uncle have never been the greatest advert for a happy ever after and things are looking bleaker than ever with their intention to sell the Black Swan!

Another great book from Alison Sherlock.

It's so good to revisit Cranbridge, I so enjoyed the last visit & it's great to catch up with the villagers. This is about Belle who lives at The Black Swan with her aunt & uncle & things are on a downwards spiral at the pub. Pete whose family run the Cranbridge stores, returns after loosing his job in Singapore. Childhood friend of Belle who helped her with her move to Cranbridge as a child. Things change dramatically for Belle but is it for the best? Who doesn't love a love story & this will not disappoint. Enjoyed this book. Please can we have another??

Belle was 12 when her parents marriage finally imploded, Neither of them wanted her so she was pawned off on her Aunt and Uncle. While they argued non-stop with each other, they both loved Belle unconditionally and she finally had a family. Pete and Josh were neighbouring kids that took Belle under their wings and they became lifetime friends. The Black Swan, the Inn that Belle’s Aunt and Uncle own is going under but is saved when Pete comes back to their little village and buys it. What ensues is a battle between Belle and Pete about the renovations and their emotions. Some of this story was quite predictable and I found Pete rather full of himself and hard to like. Overall it is a fun cozy romance. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for inviting me to read this book.

If you want a good Christmas romance to curl up with then this is the book for you. The characters are sweet and the setting is well described, all in all this is a great book to read. 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this eARC

Another brilliantly warm and emotional read from Alison Sherlock. It’s been lovely being back in Cranbridge with familiar faces, and it was wonderful getting to know more about Belle this time. I loved her relationships with the girls even if she was still so hesitant to trust anyone. The harder things in life such as grief, poverty and loneliness are handled sensitively in this book and I loved how the village as a community was almost a character in its own right. A definite hug in book form.

What can I say? IT was a sweet read. I liked the People in the Village. With all its special personalities. I likes that IT was about finding love and rekindling love. I liked the atmospherical feel of the book, IT felt comforting and soothing.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read This e arc in exchange for an honest opknion

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good book. I enjoyed the main character a lot. It was a very cozy book!

It was lovely to be back in Cranbridge again. I think that this is now my second favourite book of the series (the original is still my favourite).
Loved the continued community feel, support for local businesses, and the friendships between the characters. If only people in the real world were so nice!
Full review will be posted on the blog tour next month.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is the story of Belle, she’s lived with her aunt and uncle in Cranbridge since she was 12 when her parents split up. Like any normal couple they have their moments when they fight but they also love one another and her.

Her aunt and uncle own The Black Swan Inn, the only pub in the village. But the inn, needs a lot of work as it’s getting to the shabby state and they don’t have the funds to carry out the renovations. So they decide to put it up for sale, making Belle think of her future, where will she go and what will she do?

Having drunk too much, Pete, brother of Josh, whose just returned home, decides to buy it. This gives Belle happiness as it means she can stay in the place she’s called home, but for how long?

Every character in this story was identifiable. The author has covered the topics such as grief, loss, the feelings of losing your home, drug use, relationship troubles as well as people having to manage in winter, when they don’t have much to eat or can keep warm and how the community comes together to make sure their friends have what need beautifully.

3rd book in the series, although I didn’t know that when requesting to read, so it just goes to show you can read it as a stand-alone book! Pleasant storyline, loveable characters. What more can you ask for ?

I really enjoyed reading this story. It was written in a familiar way so all the characters become friends and you found yourself willing them on in their dilemmas!. They would pull through and life would be great with a little bit of effort!!. Thanks Alison!. This is just what I needed while I was at a low ebb. I'm needed up now!!. I can't wait for the second book in the series.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC book for an honest review.

I’ve definitely been on a Christmas book run recently - which is certainly not a bad thing - and this is one hell of a Christmas book. It’s full of warmth and joy and love and cosyness.

It shows the hardships and the triumphs that come with families, especially families at Christmas, and especially families in such a tight knit village community.

Each character is their own person, each identifiable as someone I know. Belle and Pete are lovely main characters who just seem so genuine and they bounce off each other perfectly. The village inn itself is a beautiful character all of its own. It is why I’ve always dreamed of moving out of a busy town and into a small village - local pub, Christmas fetes, community spirit - especially as the snow settles on a winters evening.

Alison hits just the right notes with how to portray the harder topics - grief, loss, the risk of losing your home, relationship troubles, alcoholism and drug use, and winter poverty. They’re not just thrown in for entertainment purposes, there’s real heart there.

It is really such a perfect book and I think it’ll be one I return to whenever I need warming up.