Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Family Secrets at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland.
Family Secrets at Hedgehog Hollow
Every family has its secrets, and at Hedgehog Hollow there is no exception…
It was always Samantha’s dream to run her beautiful rescue centre, Hedgehog Hollow, full-time. But just as her wish comes true, she becomes a victim of her own kindness when she finds herself with a house full of guests – all with their own problems and secrets – looking to her for support.
When her self-absorbed cousin, Chloe, unexpectedly turns up at the farm – swiftly handing over her baby to Samantha to care for – trouble is definitely brewing. Especially as Chloe won’t tell anyone why she’s left her husband, James…
As Samantha juggles new hedgehog arrivals, family dramas and her own health challenges, it soon becomes clear that she needs to start putting herself first for once. Little does she know that life-changing secrets from the past are about to unravel and turn their lives upside down…
Return to glorious Hedgehog Hollow with top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for a heartwarming, emotional but uplifting story of family, friendship and moving on from the past.
Purchase Link
My thoughts:
If you like reading about complex family relationships, secrets and a fair bit of drama, animal rescue, love, friendship, and forgiveness, this wonderful, feel-good series is for you. I’d recommend reading the books in order (Family Secrets at Hedgehog Hollow is the third book), but if you want to start from this one, rest assured you won’t feel lost – Jessica provided a helpful re-cap of the previous events to bring you up to speed.
Sammie continues to dedicate herself to giving the best care possible to hedgehog rescues people keep bringing in. She is also quite busy helping Josh’s Dad and stepmum Beth and their young family who have been and are still going through a lot of health problems. On top of this, Sammie has to look after her cousin Chloe, who unexpectedly left her husband, and Chloe’s baby boy. Not many people would find it easy to forgive Chloe for what she did to Sammie in the first book and her stroppy attitude in the second book. Well, this book might help you understand issues Chloe has been dealing with a bit better. The book is told from two alternating POVs – Samantha’s and Chloe’s- and we get an insight into what why Chloe didn’t find early days of motherhood easy and why she is so prone to self-defeating thoughts and angry at the same time. Chloe goes through a lot of development in this book and I would love to see what happens to her and her family in future.
Sammie continues to be as lovely as she was in the previous books, although she is stronger now. It was a real pleasure to see other familiar faces and learn more about what has been going on in their lives. There were other revelations in the book that changed my attitude towards some of the characters and once again highlighted Sammie’s forgiving personality and willingness to give everybody a second chance.
I loved every minute spent with Sammie’s little charges and the little factfile (True/ false quiz and Dos and Don’t of Hedgehog Care) at the end of the book.
This was a lovely escape from reality and I must admit I was hoping for another cliffhanger at the end of the book, because it would mean we are getting the fourth book in this much loved, heartwarming series. The good news: it was there! Can’t wait to read the continuation!
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources, NetGalley,Boldwood Books and Jessica Redland for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Author Bio:
Jessica Redland writes uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community set in Yorkshire where she lives. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast and her Hedgehog Hollow series takes them into beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.
Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaRedland
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaredlandauthor/
Newsletter Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNewsletter
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-redland
Thank you for reading the post! Happy Mother’s Day!
If you would like to find out what other bloggers thought of Family Secrets at Hedgehog Hollow, here is the full blog tour schedule:
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Sounds like the kind of book I’d like to read in a cosy room when it’s dark and raining outside. Thanks for the review.
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The cover is just pure sunshine, isn’t it? This is why I love rainy weather-I can just curl up on my sofa with a book like this.
Thank you for your comment, Elizabeth!
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I like the sound of Sammie as a character. Sounds like she’s certainly got a lot on her plate! The cover is really cute, though it’s also a good example of not to just a book by its over as there’s a lot more to it than I imagined at first.
Fab review as always!
Caz
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Oh, she is very sweet and yes, she is rushed off her feet trying to take care of too many things (and people) at the same time. Thank you, Caz!
All covers in this series are dreamy… 🙂
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Thanks for joining in the blog tour for Family Secrets at Hedgehog Hollow and for your lovely review. I’m delighted you loved your third trip to Hedgehog Hollow and I do agree that it’s a richer reading experience if starting from the beginning and getting to know the characters. And, yes, we’ll be back. January 2022 for A Wedding at Hedgehog Hollow 🙂
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Thank you very much for your fabulous book! The series just keeps getting better and better, and I’m so glad you decided to write the next book in the series. January seems so far away, but I’m hoping to read a few of your previously published books in the meantime.
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Thank you. Very kind of you. We had to have a bit of a gap because I also have my seaside-setting books in Whitsborough Bay to write and I have my final re-release of those – Christmas at the Chocolate Shop – coming out in early August and a brand new release – Snowflakes Over The Starfish Cafe – coming out in late August so a couple more releases before the next hedgehog adventure. Hope you are able to dive into my other books. They’re all on Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe to that. Thanks again 🙂
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It’s great to escape into a book, isn’t it? Glad you found Family Secrets at Hedgehog Hollow for that! 🙂
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It was great to put aside all the troubles and worries for a few hours and just enjoy a fictional world. Hedgehog facts are real, though, and I’ve learnt so much thanks to this book.
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Brilliant review, Toni! I love Jessica Redland’s books (I have read several before). I am new with this series, but I’m definitely going to put this on my TBR 🙂
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Thanks very much Noriko. Hope you enjoy a trip to Hedgehog Hollow. They’re all on Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe and I’d definitely suggest starting from book 1 as you get a much richer reading experience when you know the family history and go on the journey with the main characters 🙂
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That’s wonderful news! I am subscribing Kindle Unlimited, so which means I get to read all the books in the series in order! I am already so excited ❤
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I absolutely agree with Jessica – it is better to start from Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow. Oh, I just can’t wait to read your reviews of these books!
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Thank you, Noriko! I’m so glad we both share our love of Jessica’s books. I’m sure you’re going to enjoy this series!
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This sounds lovely and heartwarming and looks like other more depth was given to characters in book. Amazing review!
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It was all of these, Yesha, and it’s great to see that the characters whose stories were the focus of the previous books continue developing.
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So glad you enjoyed this one as much as I did Toni. I agree, the series does get better with each book. So, did you like Chloe by the time you finished this one??
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I could see what you meant by saying all her thoughts were reactions… I understand her better and I wanted her to work out things with James at the end, but I’d like to see if the changes stick in the next book.
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I agree, I hope they do.
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Did you ever think that Sammie was too quiet/non-confrontational?
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Yes, she needs a stiffer backbone for sure. She cares too much.
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Ha ha ha. Watch this space! It’s all part of her character arc 🙂 x
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Woo Hoo.
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2022 is so far away….We need Book 4!
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Really sorry but delighted you’re so keen! If I could write faster, I would, but I work 7 days a week and evenings and barely sleep as it is! Soooo tired! Plus (and don’t tell anyone) it isn’t written yet… but I’m starting on it soon and it will (hopefully) be worth the wait. Two more from Whitsborough Bay coming in the meantime 🙂
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Thank you for your hard work and for the joy your books bring us. So sorry about your lack of sleep, hope you get some time off and catch up on it. If something is really good, like your stories, it’s always worth waiting for!😍🦔😍🦔😍🦔
So happy about the new Whitsborough books!
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