Summer at the Dog & Duck

At the beginning of the year (is it really April now?! Time flies!) I've read the first book of the Dog & Duck-series by Jill Steeples. Thanks to NetGalley I was able the read the next book: "Summer at the Dog & Duck" will be published on 1 June. If you haven't read the first one yet, please notice that this review might contain some spoilers.

A few months have passed since Ellie took over the pub called "The Dog & Duck" and started the relationship with Max Golding, the good looking property developer and owner of a manor. It's spring now and Ellie enjoys running the pub and the company of her dog Digsby. Sadly, there isn't a lot of time for Max as they are both busy with their jobs. Then there is the summer fair coming and some other celebrations, too.

When Max' teenage sister Katy shows up, there are a few arguments not only between the siblings. And we shouldn't forget Max' ex Sasha who has a little surprise and Ellie fears the worse. And it's kind of weird that her name is Sasha because my boyfriend's name is Sascha. 😃

So this is a quick summary of the events. Although books like this are predictable, I loved reading this heart-warming novel. On some points I was like "omg, Ellie. Don't you see what's happening with you? Even I can see that!" But I don't know. If you were in her situation, would've you noticed? I think not.

On the other hand, I couldn't tell at the beginning what the problem between Katy and her mum was. I understand her behaviour now and you can see a big development in her character - as well as in Sashas.

The end came too quickly and it's a cliffhanger! Now I want to know what happens next. Will Max propose? What about their announcement? How are the reactions? What about Polly and George? I hope there will be a third book!

What a feel good story about a close knit community, thanks Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy. Well worth a read

If you read the cover blurb of "Summer at the Dog and Duck", it promises a feel-good story with happy ending, meeting nice characters in a close-knit community, lovely English countryside, who-will-end-up-with-whom intrigues (without great surprises) and warm-fuzzy vibes all around.

I am happy to say that the author, Jill Steeples, delivers on all the promises: satisfaction guaranteed while reading and on finishing the book. It is an easy and entertaining read, perfect for summer holidays.

Ellie and Max are an affectionate, sympathetic couple, so you find it easy to root for them and you wish for them to sort out all the upcoming obstacles in their way. I also like the fact that they are not afraid to stand up to each other and tell the other if they have a problem (with some necessary hide & seek involved).
Ellie is a lovely character through and through: she stands by her friends & does not neglect them just because she is in a relationship; she supports Max over the troubles with his sister yet isn't afraid to take her side when she feels that's the right way to go.
It is also a welcome element that Ellie gives Max the benefit of the doubt & tries not to jump to conclusions when a situation arises that screams * obvious SETUP, but you have to fall for it & break up with boyfriend!!!*.

This was a fun, relaxing read and I will also read Book#1, Winter at the Dog & Duck to learn how Ellie & Max became a couple.

This is the second book in this series and although I didn't read the first, although I would have liked to I don't think it really mattered as I think it was a well written book that doesn't really require too much prior knowledge of the characters.
The characters are definately what makes this book, this is the first book I have read that doesn't have any unlikeable characters in it. Ellie is the main character and is very likeable she runs the local pub and is literally pulled from one job or good turn to another with hardly any time for boyfriend, Max the rich property developer. Add into this Max's little sister coming to stay with him from Spain full of angst, moods, rebellion and upset, makes life even harder for Ellie and Max.
The book has a feel good vibe running right through it and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, the village was full of community spirit and there was plenty going on to keep it interesting. I can definately see another in the series being a success.
I would like to thank netgalley and aria for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely return to the Dog and Duck and the lovely landlady- Ellie Browne. I loved the first book in the series and you very quickly settle amongst familiar characters and the wonderful village community and feel like you are rejoining friends. This would be the perfect read to take on your holidays- easy to relax into and a feel good story.

Ellie and Max are a lovely couple but life throws more than a few obstacles in their path during the course of the book with his ex and his sister making an appearance.

A pub called the Dog and Duck just has to have a resident dog and black labrador Digby is an adorable character in his own right. The regulars are lovely and really make you want to live in Little Leyton with the Dog and Duck as your local.

I was sent this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
.Ellie has returned to the idyllic country village of Little Leyton to run the local pub, The Dog and Duck.. She is just starting a relationship with Max, a wealthy businessman, but things, or should I say people, are getting in the way.. Firstly Max's ex is back on the scene and then his teenage sister turns up with a whole load of problems. How will the relationship continue?
Summer at The Dog and Duck gives us all a peek into the realms of village life, where everyone knows everything about each other. The book gives a comforting warmth and the pages fly by effortlessly
The main character, Ellie is a hard working, independent woman with a heart of gold. The relationship with Max is packed full of chemistry and I desperately wanted her to find the happiness she deserves..... but life just keeps getting in the way!
A charming, warm hearted read from Jill Steeples.

Ellie is now landlady at the Dog and Duck and trying to fit her busy life around Max's equally busy schedule so that they can get to see each other, things are always coming up to get in the way though.

She has also taken on Digby the black lab so has to find time to walk him every day but she has great friends around and brilliant staff. To make matters worse Max's younger sister Kate is sent over from Spain to stay as she has been getting into trouble over there and not getting on at all with her stepfather.....and Max has absolutely no idea how to manage a stroppy teenager!

Ellie soon starts to win Kate round but then Max's very glamorous ex, Sasha appears in the village and has decided to stay and is renting a house from Max.....Ellie definitely needs to get the bottom of that one!

Great to be back with all of the old characters and following up on the story of Ellie and Max....a lovely warm hearted book showing typical village life and exactly the sort of place I would like to live!

4☆ Feel good, full of charm

This is the second book in the series.
I wasn't fortunate enough to have read the first book in the series, however this one most definitely can be read as a standalone.

I absolutely adore country pubs so when I came across this book I was very excited and it didn't disappoint.
The cover is simply beautiful, it captures the essence of the Dog and Duck perfectly!

The Dog and Duck is a charming pub that oozes character and charm. It really Is the social hub of the community. Many a gossip to be had within the pub.

Ellie and Max have had their fair share of ups and down, so when Max' s Ex shows up with a shocking confession. Ellie and Max's world is about to be turned upside Down.
Are they both strong enough to overcome this new hurdle.

 Max is pushed to he's limits when he's sister turns up as well, bringing a whole lot of family drama and plenty of Sass.
 I felt sorry for Max as he now has 3 women to try and please and do right by them all. But someone is undoubtedly going to get hurt.... I just hope he can hold it together for Ellie.

Ellie is so lovely and caring. She is a hard worker and always has time to listen. The perfect landlady. If only she made more time for herself.
I just hope she can stay strong enough to recover from Max' s Ex!

Summer at the Dog and Duck is everything you expect it to be. A fun, feel good , laugh out loud moments, shocking confessions, gossip and not to mention the adorable Digby the Lab. A pub just doesn't feel complete without a loveable dog!

I do wish I had read the first book as I would of liked to of got to know Ellie and Max more. They are a genuinely nice couple that has it's ups and downs just like any couple does.

This is the perfect summer read, I can just see myself sitting in a beer garden in the country sunshine reading this charming book.

I Most definitely recommend reading this delightful book.
Be warned it may just have you wanting to visit your local.

The perfect chick lit book, summer reads, Rom com, lovers of charming pubs.

The perfect summer beach read that is sure to leave you smiling, happy and ready to head to England for your own slice of village life. Jill Steeples should be writing tourism brochures for village councils in need of new blood – every moment of this book was steeped in atmosphere. Ellie decided to move back to her hometown after a successful but unfulfilled life in London, the early exposure to a village where everyone knows your name, your history and your business is a transition not easily left behind. When her best friend’s father decided he wanted to give up landlording the town’s pub for travel, Ellie stepped in and has taken over: small changes that mark the Dog & Duck as a community gathering point. News, information, meetings, romances and even a few tiffs occur regularly, and the presence of Digby the Labrador makes for a homey atmosphere.

But, pulled twelve ways from Tuesday, it seems as if Ellie is never wanting to say ‘no’ to anyone, from welcoming her parent’s tenant, to spending time with her best friends and carving out time with her new-ish boyfriend Max, there’s rarely time for Ellie to just move forward without worrying about something. And when you add Max’s teenaged sister Katy to the mix, complete with stroppy behavior, attitude and a bone-deep sadness that he doesn’t seem to know how to handle, one more person has been added to Ellie’s to sort out list. With plans for the summer fete, concerns about her own management style for the pub with surprise inspectors prone to dropping in, her own insecurities about her relationship, the limited time they spend together and now Max’s pregnant ex-girlfriend turning up to rent one of his cottages, the constant barrage of elements continues. And yet, with good grace, only a few minor meltdowns and the communication breakdowns between Max and Ellie occurring with regularity, while I could see the possible ending coming, the actual pathway was as twisty as a maze.

But, despite the back and forth and Ellie’s occasional moments of insecurity and second guessing, the characters were real, present, flawed and likable. Secondary characters, including dogs, pensioner regulars, and the seemingly endless well of good humor that Ellie draws from to keep herself balanced, it was hard to put this story down. With a super surprise at the end that was only a surprise to Ellie (I figured it out quite early) and a wonderful sense of family, friends and community – this is a story that will make you contemplate your own relocation to a small community if only to get those welcomes. A favorite for the writing and the feel-good endorphins that have run wild for the hours since I finished the last page, I’m curious to see what the next season at the Dog & Duck will bring.

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=” http://wp.me/p3OmRo-94a/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Lovely feel good book. Just perfect for the summer. I really enjoyed the book. It was exactly as i expected from the description. Lots of fun to be had for the characters in such a lovely close knit community

It was so lovely to be back at the Dog and Duck again! It was like being reunited with an old friend who you haven't seen for a while, but with whom you instantly reconnect. I thought I might have forgotten some of the old characters, but no, I was straight back into the story.
What a wonderful instalment this is. We are back with Ellie as she runs the pub, and continues her relationship with Max. Everything changes when Max's sister Katy appears, and there are some difficult times ahead when she arrives.
An uplifting and heartwarming story to make you look forward to the summer.

My Rating:

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

It’s that feeling of being left behind. As if life is something that’s happening to everyone else, while I’m still waiting to even get on the bus.

He’s a bit full-on, isn’t he? He has this sort of wild energy that fills all the air in a room, and then when he leaves, it’s like you can breathe again.

‘I’m on my way,’ he said, sounding so much like a proper all-round superhero that I half expected him to fly in through the window in his cape and knickers, although that was probably just wishful thinking on my part.

For once he drove slowly and carefully. Usually he went at breakneck speed, throwing the Jeep around the bends in the lane like he was a rally driver while I hung onto the edges of the seat for grim death, but this time he was clearly mindful of Sasha and her special cargo.

My Review:

Summer at the Dog and Duck was a light, charming, and sweet British rom-com. I am new to the author and had not read the first book in the series although I did not need to as the book had strong legs and able to stand alone, although I enjoyed the writing and tale so much I would like to go back to read the origins of their story. The storyline was packed with amusing humor, colorful details, and insightful observations as well as a plethora of busy small village inhabitants and happenings. It held my attention and alternated between squeezing my heart and creasing my face with a smile. And I am happy to add a new word to my Brit vocab list that intrigued me and required Googling - “misog,” which for the uninformed like myself, was reported by Urban Dictionary to be an abbreviation for miserable old git and can be used to insult either sex. I do love learning new words, especially those of the more colorful variety.

What a great second book by Jill Steeples! I did really enjoy it, and it made me wish I was landlady of a pub in the country! I read the first book sometime around the end of last year and I did enjoy it, but I must say that I think I enjoyed this book more.

This book delivered a heart-warming and delightful story with good humour and lovely characters and relationships and got me excited for summer! The storyline was interesting from start to finish and even though it took me quite a while to read it, I still thought it was delightful and had a lovely happy ending.

Without giving too much away, drama arises when Ellie's boyfriend Max's ex-girlfriend Sasha (that was a long one!) arrives in the village with an unexpected surprise! Will Ellie and Max be able to get through this bump in their relationship? Or will they go their separate ways?

Overall, a fabulous book with a great story that I really loved. It's lighthearted and just what I look for in a chick lit book. If you wasn't sure on whether to pick this one up when it's released, let me tell you that you should!

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria for a chance to read this book in return of a honest review.

Ellie is back! It's now Summer at the Dog & Duck, and Ellie has settled into her life in Little Leyton. She's running the bar, dating Max, and spending time with her friends Josie and Polly. Life couldn't be sweeter....and then Max's kid sister Katy and super-hot ex-girlfriend Sasha show up in town.

I rather enjoyed Winter at the Dog & Duck. I thought it was fun, if not completely absorbing. I hate to say it, but Ellie REALLY got on my nerves in this one. So much so that at one point, I didn't think I'd be able to finish it. Polly and Josie - and wanting to know more about the handsome newcomer, George - kept me going. I also liked Katy a lot, but the whole storyline with Ellie and Max made me want to throw in the towel.

Max is....I don't know. He's not terrible, but he's got some issues and what happens is Ellie gets all worked up about how much of a jerk he's being and then ends up apologizing. Yes, you read that right - Ellie apologizes to Max when Max is the one who should be apologizing to her. It really irked me. Maybe I'm just tired of reading about unhealthy relationships. Shrug.

I don't think I'll be continuing the series, which is a little bit of a shame - it's great fluff reading, and the setting is lots of fun. Too bad the characters just don't do it for me! I'm being generous and giving this one a 3 star rating, but truthfully it's more along the lines of 2.5.

This was a nice light hearted novel, sometimes predictable, sometimes very funny. Ellie, landlady of the pub, is happy in her work and happy in her romance with her friend Max. Max's sister Katy arrives and sets the cat amongst the pigeons. An old girl friend of Max's turns up, with her own little agenda. And Ellie copes with it all. Somehow!