Summer at Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain
Published: 2nd June 2016
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 464
Available in e-book
Blurb
Amber is a city girl at heart. So when her boyfriend Jake Somerville suggests they move to the countryside to help out at his family farm, she doesn't quite know how to react. But work has been hectic and she needs a break so she decides to grasp the opportunity and make the best of it.
Dreaming of organic orchards, paddling in streams and frolicking in fields, Amber packs up her things and moves to Skylark Farm. But life is not quite how she imagined - it's cold and dirty and the farm buildings are dilapidated and crumbling.
But Amber is determined to make the best of it and throws herself into farm life. But can she really fit in here? And can she and Jake stay together when they are so different?
Dreaming of organic orchards, paddling in streams and frolicking in fields, Amber packs up her things and moves to Skylark Farm. But life is not quite how she imagined - it's cold and dirty and the farm buildings are dilapidated and crumbling.
But Amber is determined to make the best of it and throws herself into farm life. But can she really fit in here? And can she and Jake stay together when they are so different?
Review
Heidi’s first novel The Cherry Tree Café is a book which
sadly I have on my kindle but due to getting married the week after it was
released I’ve not read it, so I was unprepared for just how much I was going to
love Summer at Skylark Farm. It was just the absolutely perfect book for me as being
a country girl I love reading about village life with its community spirit,
village fetes, cosy teashops and everyone gather in the local pub on a Friday
night and Summer at Skylark Farm has this in bucket loads.
Amber works in corporate events and has become her bosses
go-to girl when he has a problem, something Amber used to dream of but now her
job is overtaking her weekends and quality time with boyfriend Jake and Amber
starts to realise its time for a change.
So when Jake drops the bombshell that he’s moving to the country to help
his aunty run Skylark Farm Amber decides to pack her job in and join him.
Armed with her floral wellies, Boden tops and a pile of
Country Living magazine Amber throws herself into farm life, even if it is a
little colder and more run-down than the glossy image she imagined. Soon she’s
taken charge of the chickens and keeping a watchful eye over Pip the pony and has
even made friends with Annie’s dogs.
It’s not long before Amber has become firm friends with
local girls Jess and Harriet and has become part of the community even offering
to take over the hosting of the May fair, but with Annie and Jake both hiding
secrets can Amber commit to a life on the farm once she knows everything.
Amber is one of those characters who you just can’t help but
adore. Right from the start of the book you can tell she’s a very determined
lady who believes in doing her best to make people happy, even to the extent of
her own happiness. I was so glad she decides to leave her job and move to
Skylark Farm as almost instantly she becomes happier and more relaxed, finding
joy in the little things in life like baking her own cake and having a clean
henhouse. I loved how she formed easy
friendships with both Harriet and Jess and it was a real friendship where
you’re not afraid to say exactly what you think and this made for some funny
moments.
I loved many of the other characters, especially Annie, she
might be old but she’s totally clued up and doesn’t miss a thing and I loved
how she sort acted as a mother figure for Amber when she was finding things
tough. I also loved how the farm animals also had their own personalities and
love that Patricia the hen and Pip the Pony both have their own share of the
drama.
I found Summer at Skylark farm a wonderful read full of lovable
characters, with a dreamy setting of the farm and surrounding orchards and it
had enough drama to keep me entertained. I think it’s the perfect book to
kick-start your summer reading and one which could easily become one of my go
to favourites when I need a little pick me up. So go and grab yourselves a copy
and spend an idyllic afternoon down on the farm.
Thank you so much to the publishers for sending me a copy to
review in exchange for my honest opinions, I think Summer at Skylark Farm by
Heidi Swain deserves a big fat 5 out 5 stars.
