Ivy Lane: Spring: Part One by Cathy Bramley

The Blurb:

Friendship blossoms at Ivy Lane...

Tilly Parker needs a fresh start, fresh air and a fresh attitude if she is ever to leave the past behind and move on with her life. As she settles in to a new town seeking peace and solitude, taking on her own plot at Ivy Lane allotments seems like the perfect solution. But the vibrant, friendly Ivy Lane community has other ideas and endeavour to entice Tilly into seedling swaps and Easter egg hunts. Can Tilly let new friends into her life, or will she stay a wallflower for good?

Ivy Lane is a serialized novel told in four parts - taking you from spring to summer, autumn to winter - which tell a charming, light-hearted and moving story you won't want to put down.

 

My review:
 

We meet Tilly Parker as she moves in to the area. We know she has moved after losing James, but we don't know what has happened to him. Tilly cuts a sad lonely figure, and as a reader I almost instantly wanted to join her and make life happier for her.

Tilly applies for, and gets an allotment space at the local Ivy Lane allotments. There she meets amongst others, Charlie and Gemma. At the outset Tilly wants to be left alone, but you can see as time passes, Tilly enjoys being part of the community and becomes more of an integral part as we go. 

Tilly has a few disasters which made me warm to her even more, and throughout I definitely had an urge to rescue her and make it all better. I was struck by the hole that James has left in Tilly's life, but wasn't sure if it was a breakup or a bereavement. I am still pondering it even now. Charlie would be great for her!

I really enjoyed the style of writing, and found it easy to like the characters and develop soft spots for them.  We get a glimpse of them all, their warmth, and their eccentric ways. 

I have wanted an allotment for a while (even though I never garden). They feel like places of tranquility and escape. This story has made me want one even more now.

I can't wait to see what happens next....roll on summer!

Thanks to RandomHouse UK, Transworld, for a copy of the story in return for an honest review.