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mahjabeen_alam's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Amber is the producer of a show called ‘Love on the Farm’ which Barney signed up. Amber decided to take the role of producer to be closer to her sister Sophie, as Sophie is moving to York for a TV show.
Amber is a relationship, however by the looks of things she not 100% of it.
But OMG Grant and Liza…absolutely hated them, like they were your typical; I think they were the executive producers. What I did love was the filming of the show and the relationship that you could sort of sense building between Amber and Barney. After the first two directors (Matt and Giles) leave a new director is bought into the show…Parker. Amber ex-fiancé, who we learn was a total arsehole to Sophie when he was directing the show that she was on. As well as Barney ex who turns up.
I loved the relationship between Barney and Amber, they really did fall for each other and we got see the love grow for each other as the story went on.
faas22's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kimikat273's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
Barney is a single farmer, but he's stuck in a rut when it comes to finding his ideal partner. His sister suggests applying for the Love on a Farm TV reality show. Enter Amber, the show's beautiful producer. Will love blossom for Barney with one of his matches, or with someone behind the camera?
I absolutely loved this book! Everything about it was so wonderfully written - from descriptions of farm life to the harsh background of reality TV. The hedgehog rescue centre was a nice addition.
I was rooting for Barney and Amber right from the start - their journey together was nicely realised.
I understand the author has written many other books, some involving the hedgehog centre and Fizz, Barney's sister who works there. This book can be read apart from the other Hedgehog Hollow stories, but I will certainly be looking out for them in the future!
I absolutely loved this book! Everything about it was so wonderfully written - from descriptions of farm life to the harsh background of reality TV. The hedgehog rescue centre was a nice addition.
I was rooting for Barney and Amber right from the start - their journey together was nicely realised.
I understand the author has written many other books, some involving the hedgehog centre and Fizz, Barney's sister who works there. This book can be read apart from the other Hedgehog Hollow stories, but I will certainly be looking out for them in the future!
alisonmw6's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
nannykaren's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my! I loved Healing Hearts at Bumblebee Barn. Having met Barney during the Hedgehog Hollow series, I felt as though I knew him and was willing him on to find love after all his previous dabbling! You do not need to read the Hedgehog Hollow series as this book is focused on Barney. (But it's also a great series of you fancy it!). I'd love to see the sunrises and sunsets at the Barn.... I have seen many in North Yorkshire and at Scarborough, Filey - Jessica's descriptions are glorious. I'd really love this to be the first in a new series - I feel there more to come from Joel, Milo and Zara!!
heatheradoresbooks's review
4.0
3.5⭐ rounded up
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, small town, farm life, reality tv show, cheating, abortion, loss of a family member, slow burn, no steamage
Barney & Amber
Sweet, sweet Barney ~ if I wasn't married, and a little younger, I'd hop across the pond in a heartbeat and live on the farm with him. He's like the sweetest, most compassionate person ever.
Amber is just as sweet. I was rooting for these two from the get go.
What I enjoyed the most:
~ the family dynamics for both of them. They were really close with their families and had great respect for each other. I even liked grumpy old Grandad.
~ the atmospheric descriptions of the countryside.
~ no main character drama.
~ even though I haven't read them ~ the tie in from Jessica's other series that follows Hedgehog Hollow.
I liked that the story had some sad elements of loss, along with how the farm name Bumblebee Barn came about, that really made the story come together as a whole. We have behind the scenes reality tv show drama that I can totally picture as being what really happens.
Most characters were very lovable, but there's always a few that could use a poke with a pitchfork. I was happy that the author made some from both genders unlikable instead of just going with one or the other.
Overall, this was fine for me. I thought I've read slow burn before but this is the slowest burn of my entire reading life. Maybe it's the authors writing style, but the journey for love took a lot longer than I would have liked. I think it's more on the general/women's/cozy fiction side as opposed to romance. I did find it to be well written though. The cover is cute too. With that said I do feel invested in Barney and Amber and would be delighted to read more about them if this is the beginning of a series.
*Thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, small town, farm life, reality tv show, cheating, abortion, loss of a family member, slow burn, no steamage
Barney & Amber
Sweet, sweet Barney ~ if I wasn't married, and a little younger, I'd hop across the pond in a heartbeat and live on the farm with him. He's like the sweetest, most compassionate person ever.
Amber is just as sweet. I was rooting for these two from the get go.
What I enjoyed the most:
~ the family dynamics for both of them. They were really close with their families and had great respect for each other. I even liked grumpy old Grandad.
~ the atmospheric descriptions of the countryside.
~ no main character drama.
~ even though I haven't read them ~ the tie in from Jessica's other series that follows Hedgehog Hollow.
I liked that the story had some sad elements of loss, along with how the farm name Bumblebee Barn came about, that really made the story come together as a whole. We have behind the scenes reality tv show drama that I can totally picture as being what really happens.
Most characters were very lovable, but there's always a few that could use a poke with a pitchfork. I was happy that the author made some from both genders unlikable instead of just going with one or the other.
Overall, this was fine for me. I thought I've read slow burn before but this is the slowest burn of my entire reading life. Maybe it's the authors writing style, but the journey for love took a lot longer than I would have liked. I think it's more on the general/women's/cozy fiction side as opposed to romance. I did find it to be well written though. The cover is cute too. With that said I do feel invested in Barney and Amber and would be delighted to read more about them if this is the beginning of a series.
*Thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
hedgehognerd's review
4.0
A lovely cozy romance to start my years reading.
I liked Barney and Amber from the start and wanted the best for them.
The book is so much more than a farmer finding love through a TV show. The story was more complex with family dynamics and ex-partners coming into the equation.
This is my first book by this author and the little snippet I got of Hedgehog Hollow makes me want to read those books too.
I liked Barney and Amber from the start and wanted the best for them.
The book is so much more than a farmer finding love through a TV show. The story was more complex with family dynamics and ex-partners coming into the equation.
This is my first book by this author and the little snippet I got of Hedgehog Hollow makes me want to read those books too.
kirstyreviewsbooks's review
4.0
Healing Hearts at Bumblebee Barn by Jessica Redland
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
While Barney loves his life at Bumblebee Barn - a farm that has been in his family for generations - he's struggling to find someone to share it with. The early mornings quad biking through muddy fields and the long hours looking after the crops and animals are proving to be a deterrent to finding love.
So when his sister, Fizz - desperate for Barney to find his soulmate - sees an advert for Love on the Farm, a new reality TV show to help farmers find love, he has nothing to lose by applying. After all, he isn't meeting anyone suitable down the traditional route and surely he won't be picked anyway...?
Thrown into the chaos of reality TV, Barney could never have expected that his whole life would be turned upside down, with buried secrets to be uncovered and his heart on the line. With his family and friends rooting for him, could the magic of Bumblebee Barn heal his broken heart and help him find love on the farm?
My Opinion
Jessica Redland writes beautiful books and this is no exception. This was a lovely book to read, whilst written as a standalone there were some familiar characters. From the off, you will be hooked. Barney's sister is determined that he is going to find a wife so she encourages him to take part in a TV show - will he meet someone suitable?
A nice, relaxing, slow-burn romance. Highly recommended for fans of Jessica Redland.
Rating: 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
While Barney loves his life at Bumblebee Barn - a farm that has been in his family for generations - he's struggling to find someone to share it with. The early mornings quad biking through muddy fields and the long hours looking after the crops and animals are proving to be a deterrent to finding love.
So when his sister, Fizz - desperate for Barney to find his soulmate - sees an advert for Love on the Farm, a new reality TV show to help farmers find love, he has nothing to lose by applying. After all, he isn't meeting anyone suitable down the traditional route and surely he won't be picked anyway...?
Thrown into the chaos of reality TV, Barney could never have expected that his whole life would be turned upside down, with buried secrets to be uncovered and his heart on the line. With his family and friends rooting for him, could the magic of Bumblebee Barn heal his broken heart and help him find love on the farm?
My Opinion
Jessica Redland writes beautiful books and this is no exception. This was a lovely book to read, whilst written as a standalone there were some familiar characters. From the off, you will be hooked. Barney's sister is determined that he is going to find a wife so she encourages him to take part in a TV show - will he meet someone suitable?
A nice, relaxing, slow-burn romance. Highly recommended for fans of Jessica Redland.
Rating: 4/5
bexbooksandstuff's review
5.0
As per usual Jessica Redland has knocked this one out of the park. I loved every bit of it. I always have a soft spot for Jessica's characters, they become my friends by the end of the books, and the fact that they pop up often in other books means they are never forgotten.
A great story which kept me hooked you can read my full review on my blog
https://www.bexbooksandstuff.com/post/healing-hearts-at-bumblebee-farm-by-jessica-redland-book-tour-review
A great story which kept me hooked you can read my full review on my blog
https://www.bexbooksandstuff.com/post/healing-hearts-at-bumblebee-farm-by-jessica-redland-book-tour-review
cleg11's review
5.0
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book
Barney’s farm has been I his family for generations and he wants someone to share it with. His sister Fizz tells him about a program (Love on the Farm), the farmers answer to love island and he decides to give it a go. The reality of tv turns Barney’s life upside down and finds himself falling for the producer Amber. Will they be able to put the past behind them and move forward with their relationship.
Barney’s farm has been I his family for generations and he wants someone to share it with. His sister Fizz tells him about a program (Love on the Farm), the farmers answer to love island and he decides to give it a go. The reality of tv turns Barney’s life upside down and finds himself falling for the producer Amber. Will they be able to put the past behind them and move forward with their relationship.