Happy publication day, Donna Ashcroft and ‘The Little Village of New Starts’ – I am absolutely delighted to be kicking off the blog tour today. Many thanks, as always, to Bookouture for the tour invite and ARC. Here is my review:
Evie Stuart is playing it safe. She lives on her family’s remote farm in the Scottish Highlands and never ventures beyond the local village of Lockton. The most unpredictable events in her life are the antics of Miss Daisy, her grandmother Agnes’s pygmy goat. She’s learned that bad things happen when she’s impulsive, and she’s determined not to get burned again.
Callum Ryder is exactly the opposite of what Evie wants in her ordered world. Six foot two of reckless energy with twinkling eyes and a dangerously charming smile, he’s a thrill-seeking American firefighter with no idea how to slow down. Callum enters Lockton like a whirlwind, fleeing his problems in New York City in search of the truth about his Scottish family.
Yet the pair might have more in common than they think… When the well-meaning Agnes persuades her to help Callum find his grandfather, Evie finds herself being challenged more than she has in years: from swimming in the fabled Bonnie Lochan to exploring an ancient castle and even entering the village jam-making championships. Turns out it’s easy for Evie and Callum to connect when they let go of their fears and enjoy the most surprising summer of their lives.
But getting close to Callum so quickly soon starts to look like it might ruin everything for Evie: she’s heading for a disaster exactly like the one that destroyed her a year ago when she fell for the wrong man and let him change her life. Maybe a fresh start isn’t going to be so simple after all… Is the safe haven Evie’s built about to crumble down around her?
What does TWG think?
Someone switch on the fan because it has gotten hot in here!!!! I would say, ‘so take off all your clothes’, just like the popular song goes, but I think Callum has done more than his fair share of stripping!
Callum has flown to Scotland on an adventure to find his Grandad, also known as the mysterious ‘L.M’. What he didnt bargain for, however, was a certain redhead to get under his skin in more ways than one. Poor Callum has a bit of a wounded soul after losing his mum. Not only is he dealing with the grief surrounding that, hes also dealing with an horrendous bout of guilt.
Evie, like Callum, has a wounded soul, but for reasons completely different to his. Different they may be, yet they still leave their emotional scars on the characters.
Donna Ashcroft’s new novel is the much needed light at the end of the tunnel. The storyline may be fictional, as are the characters, however the message behind the novel is something readers can hone in on, and believe, during these unprecedented times. The feeling of hope gave me such joy while I was reading, when I felt as though there was no joy to be had in the outside world.
This storyline is steamy at times, and if you blush easily then make sure you read it in the garden so that you dont need to try and explain anything haha.
The family dynamics of Evie and her family were humbling, genuine, and absolutely hilarious. When I grow up I want to be like Nanna Agnes – that woman reminded me so much of my great grandmother, Waddy, it was uncanny! I was just waiting for Waddy’s trademark phrase ‘golla golla cats meat’ to come out of Agnes’ mouth!
I must mention my favourite character though as they are an absolute legend…..
….Miss Daisy, come on down! Omg! I never knew a goat could be like that! (If they cant really, dont tell me as I want to believe that they’re all like Miss Daisy!).
I throughly enjoyed delving into Evie and Callum’s story – the most uplifting read I have read in a while. Donna Ashcroft made her characters come alive in a way that readers will keep on remembering, refusing to forget the sheer joy those characters brought to their lives, albeit temporarily.
Ashcroft is definitely my go to author when I need something to put a smile back on my face. I dont think you can put a price on that really, can you? A diamond in the rough, a shining star in the night sky, Donna Ashcroft is my hope when the going gets tough. I cannot recommend this enough.
The Writing Garnet 
This sounds lovely! I’m adding to my TBR. Thanks for the recommendation.
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