Mel returns back to her birthplace, after 7 long years away. She has a lot to work through and still not in the right headspace. A chance meeting, a new commission and a place top stay lead to new friendships, a full on work project and a lot of grief reignited. However, she also get the chance to lay some ghosts to rest, to reconnect with her past and ultimately feel at home again. A sad but uplifting read.

This is part of a series set in the Lake District. I have read all the preceding, and enjoyed them. I enjoyed this one as well, but it is one of the weaker stories in the series. The protagonist has an interesting job, and deep ties to the community where the series takes place, and a backstory shadowed by a terrible tragedy. She has a LOT to work through, and unfortunately, a good part of the book is her working through it. I found my self thinking several times throughout the narrative-Do they not have therapists in the Lake District? or England?
I would have preferred more engagement with the professional life and the community and less of the therapy, but I understand why the author made the choices she did. It just did not work for me.
Another significant shortcoming is the male love interest. He is quite one dimensional and way too good to be true. A more complicated and nuanced portrayal of the man would have gone a long way toward making this story more relatable and interesting. If you want me to buy into this love story, I need it to be less one-sided.

This is another fabulous episode in the escape to the lakes series. It features many returning characters from previous books.
This episode was much sadder than the previous ones with a study in grief the major theme. There were times when tears were shed but at the same time it was also the most hopeful.
I look forward to more books in the series.

I’ve been enjoying Jessica Redland’s books for many years now, so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to review Sunshine After the Rain, the latest in her Escape to the Lakes series.

This book follows Melanie when she returns to Lake District seven years after a tragic event. In spite of the serious nature of some of the topics covered in this book (see the trigger warnings after the spoiler line if you want to know more), the story is uplifting.

As usual with a Jessica Redland book, I felt involved with the characters right away, especially Mel. It’s totally understandable how she reacted in the past, and it was very rewarding watching her choose to facilitate her healing as best she could.

I can’t really say much more without spoilers, but the ending was perfect and comforting.

Overall, this was an emotional, but ultimately uplifting story. I definitely recommend it, but save it for later if you’re feeling very emotionally fragile.

I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

~~~~Spoilers below this line~~~~

TW: on page death of parent. Prior to story death of child

I always look forward to the next Jessica Redland book and I couldn't wait to go back to Willowdale Hall. Mel, wows she's been through so much and her journey, at times, felt very close to home. My heart broke for her on several occasions but at the same time I wanted her to get her happy ever after. Does she? I'm not spoiling that for you.

This is a rollercoaster ride of a book featuring sometimes challenging storyline that Jessica does best.

I'm hoping they'll be more books as this series doesn't feel anywhere near finished.

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

Another in the Lakes series - can easily be read as a standalone but recommend you check the others out.

Perfect light, summer read. Recommended.

I enjoyed this latest story in this series. Such wonderful characters and a brilliant story. Jessica always delivers and this was up there with the others. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Jessica Redland never disappoints. Another beautifully written instalment in the Escape to the Lakes series. Highly recommended for fans of Jill Mansell, Lucy Diamond and more.

The fourth book in the Escape to the Lakes series by Jessica Redland and I absolutely loved it. Very well written and with a really good storyline made Sunshine after the Rain an easy and extremely enjoyable read. Great cast of characters, some featured in the earlier books of the series so you feel as though you’re with old friends, and some new ones too. Excellent! Highly recommended.

I have read a lot of Jessica's books - 11 I believe - and I love all of them but there's something about this series that puts it above the rest, maybe it's the Lake District setting, which I love.

I love that our protagonist is an older woman - I'm not talking old, she's in her fifties I think - but normally with these kind of happily-ever-after books we focus on young women and couples. So it was refreshing to see a woman in her later years still want to explore new things and still want love.

You don't have to have read the previous books to understand this one, they're perfectly enjoyable as they are. But I have read the others and it's nice to see characters from them in the background. It shows that whilst each book focusses on one person or one couple, there is this huge sense of community. Just because we've finished one story doesn't mean we have to abandon those characters.

Whilst Jessica's books are the epitome of feel-good, she doesn't hide away from the difficult topics: death, grief, loss, divorce, platonic and familial relationship difficulties; it had me in tears at a few moments, some sad but also some out of happiness.

Jessica's books always cheer me up, even when I didn't realise I needed it. They're so uplifting and cosy and heartwarming. Some may say a bit cheesy because it doesn't happen in real life but that's what I love. Real life can be a bit shit if we're honest, and her books help me to escape for a few hours. I always know I'm going to love her books.

I have recommended every book of hers I've read to friends and family and I plan to continue. Her stories light up the room, you can't help but feel warmer for reading them. And once again, I want to move to the Lake District - particularly the fictional locations Jessica has created - and join this community because it just sounds like a perfect life.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Jessica had plans to make this a long series and I really hope she does because I absolutely love them.

Mel and Flynn's story is heartbreaking and and compelling. This novel is so touching but beautiful. Being from Cumbria, the descriptions of Keswick and Derwent really made me homesick , they were so well done, I really need to move back home as Mel did.
Yet another wonderfully compassionate and romantic book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

This is book 4 in the Return to the Lake series and all the couples from the previous books make appearances. The author gives good summaries about Autumn and Dane from book 1, Oliver and Rosie from book 2 plus Emma, Killian and the alpacas from book 3. There is also a summary of complicated family relationships, not all of which I have retained.

Mel, 52, is a conservation architect who used to live in Willowdale, Derwent Water in the Lake District with husband Flynn, a conservation builder, until her son Noah died of a drug overdose at the age of 18 seven years ago. Fuelled by grief she moved to Newcastle, divorced Flynn and barely contacted her extensive family anymore. Now she is back, trying to make amends with her parents and older sister Georgia at her mother's 80th birthday bash. When she is offered the project of refurbishing Willowdale Hall for owners Oliver and Rosie, she moves back permanently.

I loved how Mel repairs the fractured relationship with her parents and makes new friendships, The story is very much about reconnecting and healing, I just wish Flynn had come in earlier than the 76% mark and the story wasn't so overly fixated on Mel's grief. The setting is gorgeous and the characters, human and animal, engaging. It's a lovely, warmhearted escapist second chances summer read, especially if you love alpacas and the Lake District, and the cover is beautiful as always.

Oh my giddy aunt . Jessica Redland has done it again with an amazing book. You can read it as a stand alone but you do meet up with lots of your favourite characters. Mel and Flyn’s story is heart breaking, amazing and you feel for them both. Again Jessica covers difficult subjects well. Might need tissue and chocolates at times. I love the books being set in the Lake District. Read it. You won’t be able to put it down.

A touching story of grief and family. It took me a bit to get into, but once I did I really enjoyed the characters and journey. I would have liked more interaction between Flynn and Mel, but a nice read about second chances. Part of an ongoing series but perfectly fine on its own.

This author can do no wrong in my eyes. I've loved every book I've read by her and this was no exception.