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3.5
The Start of the Story: A BRAND NEW beautifully uplifting romance from Jane Lovering for 2024
ByPublisher Description
Rowan Thorpe can be forgiven for living with one foot in the past. Since having to say goodbye far too young to the future she had planned, moving on still feels a daunting task. So, when historian Connor O’Keefe strides purposefully into her office and life, looking far too handsome for his own good and threatening to undermine the local legends she holds close to her heart, she is more than a little unsettled.
Connor has a past too, and his own reasons to keep his heart under wraps. But when a combination of fate and an unexpected snowstorm mean that Rowan and Connor have all the time in the world to swap stories, it may finally be time to for an end and a new beginning.
Heartwarming, escapist, page-turning and just the tonic for a dreary day. Perfect for fans of Jessica Redland, Beth Moran and Jo Barlett.
Praise for Jane 'I adored the dual timeline aspect of this gorgeous story and discovering the secrets from the past. Beautifully written and both heartbreaking and heartwarming' Jessica Redland
'A funny, warm-hearted read, filled with characters you'll love.' Matt Dunn on A Country Escape
What readers are saying about Jane
‘Full of interesting characters with Lovering's wise humour and her feel for landscapes, this is the sort of story that makes you smile as you finish it.’
‘As soon as I start a Jane Lovering book, I am instantly caught up with the story. She has such a warm and engaging style of writing… I always fall a little in love with Jane’s leading men myself! A real treat, this is definitely one of my favourite Jane Lovering books.’
‘Jane Lovering is an author who never fails to disappoint. A lovely book with a fantastic setting, which made me feel as though I was looking through a window and part of the story.’
‘This book is just an unputdownable delight, really heartwarming and just the tonic for a dreary January.’
‘I was swept into the world of this book, of love and belonging. And a bit of romance and mystery thrown in! Loved it!’
Connor has a past too, and his own reasons to keep his heart under wraps. But when a combination of fate and an unexpected snowstorm mean that Rowan and Connor have all the time in the world to swap stories, it may finally be time to for an end and a new beginning.
Heartwarming, escapist, page-turning and just the tonic for a dreary day. Perfect for fans of Jessica Redland, Beth Moran and Jo Barlett.
Praise for Jane 'I adored the dual timeline aspect of this gorgeous story and discovering the secrets from the past. Beautifully written and both heartbreaking and heartwarming' Jessica Redland
'A funny, warm-hearted read, filled with characters you'll love.' Matt Dunn on A Country Escape
What readers are saying about Jane
‘Full of interesting characters with Lovering's wise humour and her feel for landscapes, this is the sort of story that makes you smile as you finish it.’
‘As soon as I start a Jane Lovering book, I am instantly caught up with the story. She has such a warm and engaging style of writing… I always fall a little in love with Jane’s leading men myself! A real treat, this is definitely one of my favourite Jane Lovering books.’
‘Jane Lovering is an author who never fails to disappoint. A lovely book with a fantastic setting, which made me feel as though I was looking through a window and part of the story.’
‘This book is just an unputdownable delight, really heartwarming and just the tonic for a dreary January.’
‘I was swept into the world of this book, of love and belonging. And a bit of romance and mystery thrown in! Loved it!’
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesThe Start of the Story: A BRAND NEW beautifully uplifting romance from Jane Lovering for 2024 Reviews
3.5
“Listened to audio version but that is not available as a selection”
“I had not read anything by this author, but I will definitely be checking out more of her work now! This was a sweet tale of love and loss, and finding love again. Rowan was pretty salty, but I could not fault her for it. She had been through a tough loss, so it was understandable that she felt the way she did. I absolutely adored Connor though! *swoon* I loved how he gave Rowan her space, while also making his presence known. He did not back down, but knew when to back off a bit. Overall, it was a great story that kept me reading so that I could find out how the story was to progress.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!”
“Rowan has a job many would envy—she makes a living investigating and writing about folklore. You’d think she’d be thrilled when a visiting professor, Connor, shows interest in a local landmark near the cottage she and her late husband renovated. But Rowan is far from pleased.
The landmark in question is the Fairy Stane, a large, unmarked flat rock that local legend says should never be moved, lest the fairies living beneath it are set free. While Rowan respects the folklore, Connor believes the stone is an old Roman marker and wants to lift it to see if there are inscriptions underneath. The tension between them sets up an intriguing storyline, with an almost eerie setup that gave me "Leprechaun" movie vibes.
What drew me into the story was how many directions this plot could have gone. But here’s where I started to struggle with Rowan as a character. Even though she doesn’t believe in fairies, she refuses to let Connor lift the stone, not even to satisfy her own curiosity. Her reluctance to budge on this felt frustrating, as though she was too stuck in preserving tradition to explore the truth.
However, there’s more going on than just folklore. As Rowan and Connor grow closer, we see how Rowan is still deeply entrenched in her grief, which makes her hard to connect with at times. While the storyline itself is engaging and had me hooked, I found it difficult to fully relate to Rowan. Perhaps that’s a "me" problem, but it affected my overall connection to the book.
Thank you Boldwood Books, NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, and the author for providing me with a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.”
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