Book Review: A Breath of Fresh Air by Jessica Redland

Please join me in welcoming Jessica Redland back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, A Breath of Fresh Air.

Rosie feels like there’s something missing in her life. She loves her job as the manager of Willowdale Hall Riding Stables, caring for the horses and teaching children to ride, and she loves the home she shares with her mother in the beautiful Lake District. But she can’t help wondering how her life might look if things had been different. What if her father had been around to help care for her mother? And what if she’d found someone special herself?

When Hubert Cranleigh – the owner of Willowdale Hall – is taken ill, his son Oliver steps into the breach. Brooding and distant, Rosie is furious when he claims not to know who she is. Especially when they have a history.

Rosie’s life is about to be turned upside down, but with the New Year comes new opportunities. What Rosie feels is missing from her life might be closer than she thinks, and with more significant consequences than she could ever have imagined…

Take a breath of fresh air and escape to the Lake District with million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland, for an uplifting story of family, friendship and love.

*****

Rosie feels she has a pretty good life. She lives with her Mum and runs the Willowdale Hall Riding Stables. She loves teaching children to ride horses. However, when her boss, the mostly grumpy Hubert Cranleigh has an accident, she finds herself facing the one person she had never wanted to see again and their arrival threatens not only her livelihood but also her home.

I have quickly grown to love the worlds that Jessica Redland creates. There is something a little magical about them. A Breath of Fresh Air is the second in the Escape to the Lakes series. I have not read the first book (not sure how this happened,) and if you find yourself in the same situation, A Breath of Fresh Air can be read as a standalone.

Rosie is a lovely character with a lot of warmth and passion. When everything she holds dear is threatened, she does all she can to save it.

Oliver. Oh, Oliver. Is there more to him than meets the eye? Well, it’s something I hope you’ll find out for yourself. I can’t talk too much without giving things away.

The setting is beautiful and vivid. I could feel myself there.

The plot moves well and I devoured this book in almost one sitting, like I do with a lot of Jessica Redland’s novels. Even with new characters, it’s like I am visiting friends.

There’s some serious themes tackled, such as mental health and having experienced some of the issues within this book, I think it was done with much sensitivity.

I am also really hoping that this isn’t the last we see of Rosie, Oliver, Autumn, Dane and Alice especially with how the book ended. When you read, you’ll understand what I mean.

Another wonderful, warm novel from Jessica Redland that’s full of love, humour and friendship. It teaches us that things aren’t always as they seem and that everything you want may be in front of you all along.

(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.) 

About Jessica Redland –

Jessica Redland writes emotional but uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community.

Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast where she lives with her husband, daughter and sprocker spaniel.

Her Hedgehog Hollow series, set in a hedgehog rescue centre, takes readers into the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.

Say hello via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter. 

A Breath of Fresh Air is the second novel in the Escape to the Lakes series which was released by Boldwood Books on 10th January 2024. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.