Book Review - Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood by Ali McNamara - #HolidayReading Cruise

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood

Author: Ali McNamara

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 22nd July 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

An Ali McNamara novel is the perfect escape.

Welcome to Bluebell Wood where the sun shines, the locals are kind and there's something more than a little bit magical about the place.

Ava loves city life but when something happens to make her feel unsafe, she retreats to the calm and quiet of Bluebell Wood. The once high-flying Ava now locks herself away in her fairy-tale cottage, only leaving to explore the trails of the nearby woods or to potter in the garden with her dog, Merlin.

When Ava begins to feed the wild birds that flock to her bird table, they start leaving her trinkets of appreciation in return. The gifts seem innocent at first, but they soon seem to take on a deeper meaning.

It isn't until Ava meets Callum, the handsome parish priest, that she can't help but wonder if the birds might have been trying to get her out of the house all along. But will their curious behaviour help to heal Ava, and transform her and Callum into the lovebirds they clearly long to be?

It's always a magical time when I get to sit down and read a new book from Ali McNamara and this was no exception. 

This is an author who has a habit of putting something a bit out of the ordinary in her books, and the specialness in this one comes from the birds that visit Ava's new garden. 

We know that Ava is clearly affected by something and her various anxieties are dealt with sympathetically, but I wouldn't have ever guessed at exactly what caused her to like she is  at the start of the story. 

She has a dog, Merlin who is fundamental to the story, and is involved in many of the storylines. 

I also liked meeting Linnet and Robin, plus actually everyone in Bluebell Wood. 

It sounds like a really charming place to live, and I was enthralled by the story. 

It was a wonder and had me hooked. 

Thank you to Sphere and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.