The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage: The most uplifting, feel good novel of 2023 from the bestselling author! (Love Heart Lane, Book 10)

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. The characters are well drawn and the storyline had enough humor and surprises to keep the reader engaged. Jinny was brave to leave home and her dad in search of a place to live and work without sacrificing her morals.I recommend The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage to all who enjoy a light romance and a story about two people starting over.

I adore this series and it is great to meet another character who is due to become the next resident of Heartcross in the Love Heart Lane series.Jinny is a journalist in London, he father owns the paper and she wants nothing. It is her father's attitude that makes her stop and want to evaluate what she is doing. After an exchange of words, Jinny leaves London, her flat and her job to try to get a job in the adorable Scottish village.Bumblebee Cottage used to belong to Dixie and George, it is now empty and waiting for the next chapter in its history. Jinny has big boots to follow but the gorgeous Gabe will be around to help her when she needs it. Did I mention that Gabe has a secret? No! Oh, he isn't the only one who does though...This is another gorgeous read and one that I really enjoyed from the outset. Jinny is a character who I liked, while she has had everything handed to her, including her job, flat and car, she has not had much in the way of choice. It is when her father wants her to intrude on someone's private life that she realises that she doesn't want this life, that people have rights and that her father has no moral boundaries.Coming to Heartcross is a step away from everything she knows. Luckily the community is supportive and amazing, if you have read any of this series then you will already know this. If you haven't then go to the beginning of the series and dread them, you will get to know the area, and the community and they are all amazing books.Anyway, where was I? Yes, supportive community... and they do look out for visitors and guests. It turns out that Gabe has a few secrets and this is something that the journo in Jinny just has to delve into. Apart from that, if you knew you liked someone and wanted to know a bit more you would do the same thing. Before you sit there and shake your head and deny it, have you looked people up on Facebook, Instagram or other social media sites? Yep, I knew you had!So the secrets, are good and they are also heartbreaking. But this is not a sad book, it is one about making fresh starts and Bumblebee Cottage is just the place for that. Once a thriving business makes chutneys and honey, it needs a new occupier to breathe fresh air into the jars and recipes. Will Jinny be the one to do that and can Gabe help her or is there too much hurt for them?This is a fabulous book and one fan of cosy, heartwarming, contemporary fiction and romance will adore it. I have loved every book in the series and this is another that hits all the right spots and I would definitely recommend it.

Trigger WarningsThis book contains:• Manslaughter that was never identified or owned• Troubled relationships with parents.CharactersJinny is a top journalist from London who’s had turbulent feelings about her job, and the demands her father (as her boss) has made on her. When she reaches her breaking point, she’s determined to find a life that’s aligned with what she wants, even if she must fight to get it.Gabe is a highly secretive man working at Bumblebee Cottage, and yet, isn’t quite what he seems. While he appears to be devoted to the Cottage and it’s produce, there are a few too many inconsistencies in his life to make someone like Jinny comfortable.StorylineJinny leaves London after she reaches the breaking point of writing stories for her father’s tabloid by invading the privacy of celebrities. The only problem is, she doesn’t exactly have much of a skillset to do anything other than journalism. When she sees an opportunity in the Scottish Highlands for a job that comes with a home, she didn’t expect to get the job and meet a mysterious man.Overall ThoughtsI really enjoyed the mystery element of this story, especially alongside the romance story.We get hints throughout the book of what’s going on, and yet you’re still missing a few pieces until right near the reveal. These little hints, and suggestions keep you thinking, keep you involved and gives you a reason to keep reading even if the romance doesn’t keep you hooked.The romance element is intricately entwined with the mystery I mentioned, and yet in a way separate from it. While we get the attractive guy who’s immediately nice to Jinny, he’s kind and appears to be a loving member of his family. He’s also very reserved and doesn’t tend to open up making the development of their relationship something that takes time and slowly built trust.That slow burn, the carefully built trust that creates a strong bond between the two characters was something that kept me hooked wondering when it would be consummated. The careful dance between them was beautiful, slightly stressful and fun to read.My only problem with this one is that neither of the characters were Heartcross locals from childhood. I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve read one of those, so I’m hoping we’ll get back to some of those more “local” stories in the series soon.

Finding peace was exactly what Jinny wanted. She gave up her previous job as a journalist, gave up her fancy car and apartment. Jenny answered the ad for Bumblebee Cottage and changed her life forever!

Read it in just over a day, couldn’t put it down. Now over too quick . Could have read more. Loved to have had the wedding.really a must to read.great storyline