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Love Heart Lane #14
The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane: The romantic escapist MUST READ for summer getaways in 2024!
Preorder the brand new book in the Love Heart Lane series!The race to save the vintage flower van is on!
Flowers are Florrie Appleton’s life, so when her beloved Aunt Ada passes, and she’s swiftly issued with an eviction notice and told to vacate Rose Cottage, shutter her Vintage Flower Van business, and leave behind Ada’s gorgeous gardens, she’s devastated.
But Florrie is not one to go down without a fight, even if the developer she’s taking on is run by Tom Houston, the man who broke her heart at uni all those years ago.
Tom may have had the upper hand then, but Florrie has the whole of Heartcross behind her now, and as history has shown, there’s nothing this tiny Scottish hamlet can’t accomplish when they band together…
Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what
Flowers are Florrie Appleton’s life, so when her beloved Aunt Ada passes, and she’s swiftly issued with an eviction notice and told to vacate Rose Cottage, shutter her Vintage Flower Van business, and leave behind Ada’s gorgeous gardens, she’s devastated.
But Florrie is not one to go down without a fight, even if the developer she’s taking on is run by Tom Houston, the man who broke her heart at uni all those years ago.
Tom may have had the upper hand then, but Florrie has the whole of Heartcross behind her now, and as history has shown, there’s nothing this tiny Scottish hamlet can’t accomplish when they band together…
Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what
- GenresRomanceWomens Fiction
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2024
About the author
Christie Barlow
27 books366 followersAuthor Girl - published by One More Chapter @HarperCollinsUK
Christie Barlow is the international bestselling author of twelve romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty's Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie's dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn't writing she enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale's Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Twitter - @ChristieJBarlow
Facebook - Christie Barlow Author
Instagram - christie_barlow
www.christiebarlow.com
Christie Barlow is the international bestselling author of twelve romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty's Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie's dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn't writing she enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale's Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Twitter - @ChristieJBarlow
Facebook - Christie Barlow Author
Instagram - christie_barlow
www.christiebarlow.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 16, 2024
I received a free copy of, The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane, by Christie Barlow, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book fourteen in The Love Heart Lane series. Florrie is devastated when her beloved Aunt Ada dies, but then she finds out she cant stay in her aunts cottage or use her flower van, because it does not belong to her aunt. This was a good read, I really enjoyed this series too.
August 1, 2024
I was delighted to be back one more time at Heartcross village, because the setting is charming and the beauty and the friendliness is in the air.
The Vintage Flower Van On Love Heart Lane tells Florrie's story. When her great aunt Ada dies, Florrie has to save her beloved garden and the van where she sold her beautiful flowers for all her life from some soulless property developers, that planned to destroy everything.
I liked to follow Florrie in this journey. She is resourceful, she never quit, she is beautiful inside and out, and she loves her family memories so much she is determined to do whatever she can to save them. It was also so good to see this little community to come together and fight the petty businessmen.
I recommend this new book from Christie Barlow
because she manages, thanks to her writing, to get you involved in her world so much it seems real.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly giving me an advanced copy of this book to read.
May 22, 2024
I didn’t want to start this book and that’s because I knew that it was the last in what has been an incredibly wonderful series that has caught the attention of so many readers and for very good reason. But another part of me couldn’t wait to get stuck into the story as I have adored this series from book one and have followed it religiously always excited for each new book. I know that I am always in for a read filled with charm, friendship and community spirit.
Love Heart Lane is the perfect antidote to everything going on in the world today as you are guaranteed pure escapism and a pleasurable number of hours reading time. This may be book fourteen but it’s like an homage to all the books that have gone before it and you will be easily be able to follow along. It was wonderful to see all the old characters make an reappearance as well as some new faces and it felt familiar and comforting to return to a setting and a community in which Christie Barlow has once again created a story that had me in it’s thrall from the very first word.
The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane opens with a sad occasion as the residents of this very special village have gathered for the funeral of Ada Jones. Ada’s vintage flower van which stood outside Rose Cottage for so many years had been a focal point for everyone and held a special place in the hearts of many. For as long as anyone can remember the gardens have been filled with fabulous flowers and colour and subsequently sold in the van and all lovingly cared for and tended to by Ada. But now she is gone and her great niece Florrie, herself a florist, hopes to continue on the many traditions established by Ada. At the funeral Florrie lays eyes on someone that she hasn’t seen in 8 years and instantly many uncomfortable memories are stirred up. Images and memories that she has done her best to quash? Just why has Tom Houston shown up at Ada’s funeral especially as the last time she saw him, he had completely humiliated her and ruined her life. He left her broken hearted, hurt and confused and she still seethes with the anger created by his betrayal. Why all of a sudden has he appeared in Heartcross and at a time when she is extremely vulnerable due to the death of Ada? Really, she is not ready to deal with him at this point but it seems things are about to get a lot more complicated than she had bargained for.
Florrie had made a promise to Ada that she would always keep the flower van in business. Ada had been such a huge inspiration in Florrie’s life so much so that she became a florist herself and now has her own shop at Buttercup Barn which in it’s own right is very successful. Keeping both businesses running will be a juggle but Florrie is more than up for the challenge and wants to keep Ada’s memory alive. But when an eviction notice arrives at Rose Cottage giving her a month to pack everything up and vacate the premises and to leave the flower van where it is Florrie’s whole world is thrown into chaos. It seems the property and van had only been rented by Ada for all those years but Florrie had never known any of this and she is even more shocked to discover that Tom’s construction company is behind it all. It seems the past is coming back to haunt her in more ways than one and right from the outset the reader can’t help but be on Florrie’s side and have an intense dislike for Tom and his actions. The lease can’t be transferred and if the property doesn’t stay in the family it will have an affect on business as the flowers are grown in the gardens.
From this point on, the reader sees an incredible fire ignite in Florrie. She is determined not to go down without a fight as there is a beautiful love story and lots of history associated with Ada, Rose Cottage and the Vintage Flower Van. Having this story of the past link in with the present was wonderful and only added to the charm of the story. Sixty years of passion and devotion to flowers and nature can’t go down the drain and Florrie rallies the troops and starts a campaign to keep the van open. She knows she is facing stiff opposition against a company the size of Tom’s but things are getting personal and even though she doesn’t wish to have any interactions with him or to rake up the past she soon comes to learn that she needs to face things head on. Heartcross is a community which doesn’t stand for wrong doing or unfairness and that’s exactly what is happening to Florrie. I loved how the troops rallied around her and the publicity campaign swung into action gathering lots of attention on social media. At a time of need the villagers stick together and this is shown here with every turn of the page and I adored it all as it just gave me that warm fuzzy feeling inside. I felt it was the best of the characters and the setting coming to the fore once again as it has so many times before and I never grow bored of it at all.
Florrie wasn’t going to take things lying down and she threw her heart and soul into everything. She is hell bent on winning the Flowers in Bloom competition one last time which Ada has won for countless years and everything that Ada had worked so hard for well she wasn’t going to let it be demolished to make way for modern housing. The van soon becomes iconic and a tourist attraction in itself and Florrie thinks maybe Tom and his company may very well change their minds but it seems they too are hell bent on destroying something that is valued by so many in the community.
Tom was someone who I think was trying to say something to Florrie at several points when they did meet and that chemistry between them still existed but Florrie was so angry that she didn’t give him a chance to explain things. Slowly, my initial opinion of him started to change but there were points where I thought oh come on please just be honest with her. Don’t be beating around the bush and also do the right thing and save the cottage and van. But really I should have trusted the process and realised that Christie had everything carefully plotted out and had plenty of twists and turns to come which had me reading all the more quicker to see how things would pan out.
I loved seeing all the characters from previous books feature one again. I had enjoyed and devoured every one of their stories and it was brilliant to see the Heartcross family coming together once again when needed. There are too many characters to name here but suffice to say seeing their names mentioned one again did inspire happy memories of being with them on their journeys. Florrie’s story only added to what has been an extraordinary series and I was rooting for her from beginning to end. Whether it all works out for her or not you’ll have to read this delightful, entertaining and amazing story for yourself.
All good things must come to an end and I am truly gutted that Love Heart Lane has reached it’s conclusion. The only consolation is that Christie has a new series coming, Puffin Island, which will be published in September. If it is anything as brilliant as Love Heart Lane then readers are in for a real treat. Thank you Christie for such a fabulous series that has brought me endless hours of reading pleasure and will forever be one of my favourites. You did yourself proud with this last book and that ending was pure perfection bringing everything full circle and connecting so effortlessly back to book one. Readers will finish this book with a tear in their eye and also a smile on their face. It’s true what they say once you visit Love Heart Lane you will never want to leave and I didn’t. In years to come I know I will go back and read the series from beginning to end but for now I will let the characters take a step back and I will remember fondly the wonderful times I spent in their company. All I can say if you haven’t read any of these books is why on earth haven’t you? They never disappoint and The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane was everything I could have hoped for in the final book and much more.
Love Heart Lane is the perfect antidote to everything going on in the world today as you are guaranteed pure escapism and a pleasurable number of hours reading time. This may be book fourteen but it’s like an homage to all the books that have gone before it and you will be easily be able to follow along. It was wonderful to see all the old characters make an reappearance as well as some new faces and it felt familiar and comforting to return to a setting and a community in which Christie Barlow has once again created a story that had me in it’s thrall from the very first word.
The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane opens with a sad occasion as the residents of this very special village have gathered for the funeral of Ada Jones. Ada’s vintage flower van which stood outside Rose Cottage for so many years had been a focal point for everyone and held a special place in the hearts of many. For as long as anyone can remember the gardens have been filled with fabulous flowers and colour and subsequently sold in the van and all lovingly cared for and tended to by Ada. But now she is gone and her great niece Florrie, herself a florist, hopes to continue on the many traditions established by Ada. At the funeral Florrie lays eyes on someone that she hasn’t seen in 8 years and instantly many uncomfortable memories are stirred up. Images and memories that she has done her best to quash? Just why has Tom Houston shown up at Ada’s funeral especially as the last time she saw him, he had completely humiliated her and ruined her life. He left her broken hearted, hurt and confused and she still seethes with the anger created by his betrayal. Why all of a sudden has he appeared in Heartcross and at a time when she is extremely vulnerable due to the death of Ada? Really, she is not ready to deal with him at this point but it seems things are about to get a lot more complicated than she had bargained for.
Florrie had made a promise to Ada that she would always keep the flower van in business. Ada had been such a huge inspiration in Florrie’s life so much so that she became a florist herself and now has her own shop at Buttercup Barn which in it’s own right is very successful. Keeping both businesses running will be a juggle but Florrie is more than up for the challenge and wants to keep Ada’s memory alive. But when an eviction notice arrives at Rose Cottage giving her a month to pack everything up and vacate the premises and to leave the flower van where it is Florrie’s whole world is thrown into chaos. It seems the property and van had only been rented by Ada for all those years but Florrie had never known any of this and she is even more shocked to discover that Tom’s construction company is behind it all. It seems the past is coming back to haunt her in more ways than one and right from the outset the reader can’t help but be on Florrie’s side and have an intense dislike for Tom and his actions. The lease can’t be transferred and if the property doesn’t stay in the family it will have an affect on business as the flowers are grown in the gardens.
From this point on, the reader sees an incredible fire ignite in Florrie. She is determined not to go down without a fight as there is a beautiful love story and lots of history associated with Ada, Rose Cottage and the Vintage Flower Van. Having this story of the past link in with the present was wonderful and only added to the charm of the story. Sixty years of passion and devotion to flowers and nature can’t go down the drain and Florrie rallies the troops and starts a campaign to keep the van open. She knows she is facing stiff opposition against a company the size of Tom’s but things are getting personal and even though she doesn’t wish to have any interactions with him or to rake up the past she soon comes to learn that she needs to face things head on. Heartcross is a community which doesn’t stand for wrong doing or unfairness and that’s exactly what is happening to Florrie. I loved how the troops rallied around her and the publicity campaign swung into action gathering lots of attention on social media. At a time of need the villagers stick together and this is shown here with every turn of the page and I adored it all as it just gave me that warm fuzzy feeling inside. I felt it was the best of the characters and the setting coming to the fore once again as it has so many times before and I never grow bored of it at all.
Florrie wasn’t going to take things lying down and she threw her heart and soul into everything. She is hell bent on winning the Flowers in Bloom competition one last time which Ada has won for countless years and everything that Ada had worked so hard for well she wasn’t going to let it be demolished to make way for modern housing. The van soon becomes iconic and a tourist attraction in itself and Florrie thinks maybe Tom and his company may very well change their minds but it seems they too are hell bent on destroying something that is valued by so many in the community.
Tom was someone who I think was trying to say something to Florrie at several points when they did meet and that chemistry between them still existed but Florrie was so angry that she didn’t give him a chance to explain things. Slowly, my initial opinion of him started to change but there were points where I thought oh come on please just be honest with her. Don’t be beating around the bush and also do the right thing and save the cottage and van. But really I should have trusted the process and realised that Christie had everything carefully plotted out and had plenty of twists and turns to come which had me reading all the more quicker to see how things would pan out.
I loved seeing all the characters from previous books feature one again. I had enjoyed and devoured every one of their stories and it was brilliant to see the Heartcross family coming together once again when needed. There are too many characters to name here but suffice to say seeing their names mentioned one again did inspire happy memories of being with them on their journeys. Florrie’s story only added to what has been an extraordinary series and I was rooting for her from beginning to end. Whether it all works out for her or not you’ll have to read this delightful, entertaining and amazing story for yourself.
All good things must come to an end and I am truly gutted that Love Heart Lane has reached it’s conclusion. The only consolation is that Christie has a new series coming, Puffin Island, which will be published in September. If it is anything as brilliant as Love Heart Lane then readers are in for a real treat. Thank you Christie for such a fabulous series that has brought me endless hours of reading pleasure and will forever be one of my favourites. You did yourself proud with this last book and that ending was pure perfection bringing everything full circle and connecting so effortlessly back to book one. Readers will finish this book with a tear in their eye and also a smile on their face. It’s true what they say once you visit Love Heart Lane you will never want to leave and I didn’t. In years to come I know I will go back and read the series from beginning to end but for now I will let the characters take a step back and I will remember fondly the wonderful times I spent in their company. All I can say if you haven’t read any of these books is why on earth haven’t you? They never disappoint and The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane was everything I could have hoped for in the final book and much more.
March 28, 2024
As soon as I received an ARC of Christie Barlow’s new novel in the Love Heart Lane series, I knew I had to move it to the top of my TBR pile. Straightaway you are transported back to the idyllic Scottish village of Heartcross where old favourites and new characters draw you straight into a story full of love, warmth and friendship. There’s certainly some drama as Florrie Appleton and the Heartcross residents are in a battle to save the vintage flower van, Rose Cottage and its gorgeous gardens following the death of Florrie’s beloved Aunt Ada as they battle against the property developers. Florrie will not go down without a fight especially as the property developers are run by Tom Houston, the man who broke her heart eight years earlier. I devoured this book in a day and can highly recommend it. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.
April 27, 2024
A very sweet but ok, lots of romance, friendship and flowers. I’ve read a couple in the series and this one based on the story of Tom and Florrie but interwoven with past characters was lovely and charming too.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2024
You know what? I'm really going to miss these guys. One of the key lines from the series is that once you visit Heartcross you won't want to leave, and that is equally true of these books. With the Love Heart Lane series, Christie Barlow has created a set of stories, and developed a cast of characters who can make you smile, laugh, occasionally swear at your screen in disbelief, usually a totally avoidable case of miscommunication which leaves our many star crossed lovers, less in love and rather cross, and, more than occasionally, cry. They are a wonderful bunch and this is a heartwarming and beautiful series that I'm not sure any of us are ready to say goodbye to.
In The Vintage Flower Van, we get to know local florist and owner of Buttercup Barn, Florrie just that little bit better. It's a sad day that we head back to the village, the funeral of Florrie's Great Aunt Ada, a woman whose presence and eponymous Vintage Flower Van are almost as much a part of the village as the bridge that drew us all to Heartcross in the first place. A shock discovery just after the funeral puts Florrie in a bit of a tizz, and sets the residents of Heartcross into action to do what they all do best - join forces to fight a clear injustice as Florrie is threatened with the loss of not only her Aunt's cottage, but the Vintage Flower Van too. Now, if you know anything about this series at all, you will know their task is not going to be straightforward fight and, along the way, we are going to discover a lot of surprises about Great Aunt Ada and the history of the village, all of which is going to lead Florrie back to her former flame and lost love, Tom.
Now, I say lost love, but that is probably understating it a touch. Tom broke Florrie's heart although it's fair to say that the feeling is very much mutual. Now just what happened and why Christie Barlow feeds to us very slowly and very carefully, and it was absolutely delightful reading through the many mishaps and miscommunications that befall the two over the course of the book. The pair are at loggerheads for most of the book, but would we have it any other way. Florrie is determined and perhaps a little too single minded, but Tom can be just as stubborn. but I loved the pair of them, loved the humour, loved the conflict and the knowing that somehow Christie Barlow was going to make things right by the end of the book.
Alongside the dreamy and picturesque setting in which the author always makes me long to revisit the Highlands after every read, it is the characters who really make these book and we get to spend time with a good number of them over the course of the book. Florrie and Tom really do take centre stage, of course, but we get a good helping of Martha, and one of my favourite characters from previous books, Dolores too. Every single one of Heartcross's residents brins something very special to our reading journey and I have loved spending time with them. It makes a lovely distraction from the trials of modern life and. although we know that the books will almost certainly end with a HEA, there is plenty to enjoy along the way.
This series, this book especially, explores themes of friendships, family and loss, with a very relevant message underneath. Whatever the topic, everything is always dealt with in a kind and empathetic way, and even the most sorrowful of stories leaves us with a sense of hope and positivity that just radiates from the books, as does the author's love for her village and her characters. So if you are looking for a heartwarming read that will make you laugh and cry and probably serve up every emotion in between, this series is heartily recommended. And let's not forget that ending. A perfect way to say goodbye to the characters we have come to love so much. Yes, there is a touch of sadness to it, and not just because we are saying one final goodbye. But there is also a feeling of hope and new beginnings. I'll always remember Heartcross and the people we've all met through the course of the fourteen books. And, afterall, we can always do a re-read, right?
In The Vintage Flower Van, we get to know local florist and owner of Buttercup Barn, Florrie just that little bit better. It's a sad day that we head back to the village, the funeral of Florrie's Great Aunt Ada, a woman whose presence and eponymous Vintage Flower Van are almost as much a part of the village as the bridge that drew us all to Heartcross in the first place. A shock discovery just after the funeral puts Florrie in a bit of a tizz, and sets the residents of Heartcross into action to do what they all do best - join forces to fight a clear injustice as Florrie is threatened with the loss of not only her Aunt's cottage, but the Vintage Flower Van too. Now, if you know anything about this series at all, you will know their task is not going to be straightforward fight and, along the way, we are going to discover a lot of surprises about Great Aunt Ada and the history of the village, all of which is going to lead Florrie back to her former flame and lost love, Tom.
Now, I say lost love, but that is probably understating it a touch. Tom broke Florrie's heart although it's fair to say that the feeling is very much mutual. Now just what happened and why Christie Barlow feeds to us very slowly and very carefully, and it was absolutely delightful reading through the many mishaps and miscommunications that befall the two over the course of the book. The pair are at loggerheads for most of the book, but would we have it any other way. Florrie is determined and perhaps a little too single minded, but Tom can be just as stubborn. but I loved the pair of them, loved the humour, loved the conflict and the knowing that somehow Christie Barlow was going to make things right by the end of the book.
Alongside the dreamy and picturesque setting in which the author always makes me long to revisit the Highlands after every read, it is the characters who really make these book and we get to spend time with a good number of them over the course of the book. Florrie and Tom really do take centre stage, of course, but we get a good helping of Martha, and one of my favourite characters from previous books, Dolores too. Every single one of Heartcross's residents brins something very special to our reading journey and I have loved spending time with them. It makes a lovely distraction from the trials of modern life and. although we know that the books will almost certainly end with a HEA, there is plenty to enjoy along the way.
This series, this book especially, explores themes of friendships, family and loss, with a very relevant message underneath. Whatever the topic, everything is always dealt with in a kind and empathetic way, and even the most sorrowful of stories leaves us with a sense of hope and positivity that just radiates from the books, as does the author's love for her village and her characters. So if you are looking for a heartwarming read that will make you laugh and cry and probably serve up every emotion in between, this series is heartily recommended. And let's not forget that ending. A perfect way to say goodbye to the characters we have come to love so much. Yes, there is a touch of sadness to it, and not just because we are saying one final goodbye. But there is also a feeling of hope and new beginnings. I'll always remember Heartcross and the people we've all met through the course of the fourteen books. And, afterall, we can always do a re-read, right?
May 7, 2024
This is book #14 of the Love Heart Lane series. Whilst it is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone book. We are back with, what I believe to be, the last book of the series. How sad that this wonderful series has come to end though, I have so enjoyed my trips up to the Scottish Highlands. In this book, the story focusses on Florrie, Heartcross's resident florist. Her Aunt Ada has just died, and Florrie has promised to keep the business of the Vintage Flower Van running. However, when she finds out a secret Ada has been keeping for years, this may prove impossible for Florrie to do...
I loved this book, and the series as a whole. Each journey to Heartcross has been fun and emotional in equal parts. Florrie is a lovely character, and whilst she's still grieving over Aunt Ada, you know that she will do her best to fulfil Ada's wishes. When Florrie's first love, Tom Houston appears in the village, you really hope that she forgives what he did and lives happily ever after with him! Of course, things never run that smoothly, and whilst I liked Tom's character, he was obviously hiding something. I did feel sorry for him at times though as Florrie certainly liked to have a go at him - although I'm not sure his car deserved what it got!!
This was a lovely, warm-hearted read which showed off Heartcross's community spirit very well. The writing created perfect pictures in my mind of gardens full of flowers and the quirky little flower van. I expected a twist in the story and was glued to the book all ready for it to happen. It was such a wonderful story and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although sad that the whole series had finished. This was definitely the ideal read for the warm summer days! Would recommend.
I loved this book, and the series as a whole. Each journey to Heartcross has been fun and emotional in equal parts. Florrie is a lovely character, and whilst she's still grieving over Aunt Ada, you know that she will do her best to fulfil Ada's wishes. When Florrie's first love, Tom Houston appears in the village, you really hope that she forgives what he did and lives happily ever after with him! Of course, things never run that smoothly, and whilst I liked Tom's character, he was obviously hiding something. I did feel sorry for him at times though as Florrie certainly liked to have a go at him - although I'm not sure his car deserved what it got!!
This was a lovely, warm-hearted read which showed off Heartcross's community spirit very well. The writing created perfect pictures in my mind of gardens full of flowers and the quirky little flower van. I expected a twist in the story and was glued to the book all ready for it to happen. It was such a wonderful story and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although sad that the whole series had finished. This was definitely the ideal read for the warm summer days! Would recommend.
July 31, 2024
What a lovely summer read. This is a second-chance romance with lots of miscommunication and a stunning setting. I loved Florrie and her flowers. The Vintage Flower Van was beautifully described and had such a romantic background. When she's threatened with losing everything, Florrie comes face to face with an old flame who broke her heart. Is he there to take everything from her, or is there more going on than meets the eye?
May 23, 2024
The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane is the fourteenth and final book in the Love Heart Lane series by Christie Barlow. If you’ve been here for a while you will know how much I love this series and a tear was definitely shed when I got to the end.
Florrie’s Great Aunt Ada has died and left her Vintage Flower Van business and her cottage with its gardens behind and a promise from Florrie to continue her business. But Florrie is soon handed an eviction notice for Rose Cottage, with the developers threatening to demolish all that Ada had built. It hits harder when Florrie discovers it was the boy who broke her heart at uni, Tom, who is now in charge of the property developers dealing with this. Can Florrie and Heartcross win the battle to keep Ada’s legacy alive.
This final book feels like it has come full circle from the first in the series. The community of Heartcross come together to face this adversity.
Florrie and Ada’s stories are lovely and the addition of the Vintage Flower Van and floristry business felt really wholesome, something that certainly fits within the Love Heart Lane books.
As with all the series we see all the wonderful characters we have visited in the past come together and it is great to see them come together to fight for the Vintage Flower Van and Rose Cottage. And it was great to find out a bit more from residents that have featured in the past, Dolores sounds like a blast!
Christie rounds the series off in such a beautiful epilogue.
Completing this series does feel like I am going to be leaving my friends behind. It has brought me so much joy and I have felt like I have been a part of them. If I could move to Heartcross then I absolutely would!
Heart-warming and feel good this is a beautiful end to a wonderful series.
Florrie’s Great Aunt Ada has died and left her Vintage Flower Van business and her cottage with its gardens behind and a promise from Florrie to continue her business. But Florrie is soon handed an eviction notice for Rose Cottage, with the developers threatening to demolish all that Ada had built. It hits harder when Florrie discovers it was the boy who broke her heart at uni, Tom, who is now in charge of the property developers dealing with this. Can Florrie and Heartcross win the battle to keep Ada’s legacy alive.
This final book feels like it has come full circle from the first in the series. The community of Heartcross come together to face this adversity.
Florrie and Ada’s stories are lovely and the addition of the Vintage Flower Van and floristry business felt really wholesome, something that certainly fits within the Love Heart Lane books.
As with all the series we see all the wonderful characters we have visited in the past come together and it is great to see them come together to fight for the Vintage Flower Van and Rose Cottage. And it was great to find out a bit more from residents that have featured in the past, Dolores sounds like a blast!
Christie rounds the series off in such a beautiful epilogue.
Completing this series does feel like I am going to be leaving my friends behind. It has brought me so much joy and I have felt like I have been a part of them. If I could move to Heartcross then I absolutely would!
Heart-warming and feel good this is a beautiful end to a wonderful series.
May 6, 2024
How on earth have we got to book 14 in this series? I read this book with my usual excitement, I always enjoy coming back to this series, but this time tinged with sadness. This is the final book in the series, I will say the ending was perfectly done and it was an absolute pleasure to read as always.
The story focuses on Florrie, her Aunt Ada has died and she is to inherit pretty much everything. However, it appears that Ada never owned Rose Cottage nor the Vintage Flower Van where she sold her flowers. So begins the mystery...
Florrie had gone to Uni and met a young man, he swept her off her feet and left her stranded. She has never got over this and does not trust easily. She is amazed to see him in the village of Heartcross and it seems he is just like his father, a businessman first.
This story goes the extra mile, there is so much going on in it and it means bringing in some of the stalwarts of the village. They can indicate what happened many years ago, but not enough to stop Florrie from being evicted. Desperate, Florrie begins a campaign and the village is behind her. What starts as just word of mouth soon gets a whole lot bigger, and soon everyone is aware of what is going on... well almost everyone.
I have to say I want to not only live in Heartcross but I want to live in Rose Cottage, it just sounds amazing. I imagine there are many readers of this series who would love to live in this village. The author has created a community and characters that become your friends, some regulars drop by and it is just as you would want to find in your community.
The story of Florrie and Ada is one that I adored, there are different aspects to their pasts but it is Rose Cottage that is where they bond. Family and friends are important in the community and Ada's story definitely shows how special she was. It is through some digging and delving that Florrie discovers what Ada's past was and in turn, discovers more about her own!
This is a gorgeous story that is full of flowers and the community, there is mistrust, heartache and some deviousness going on but there is also a generous helping of romance, and more of the sense of community that readers of the series have come to know and love.
A wonderful way to finish this series and I am sad that it has come to an end. This book and series is one that grabs you, it is heartwarming, sincere and an absolute delight te read. It is one I would definitely recommend.
The story focuses on Florrie, her Aunt Ada has died and she is to inherit pretty much everything. However, it appears that Ada never owned Rose Cottage nor the Vintage Flower Van where she sold her flowers. So begins the mystery...
Florrie had gone to Uni and met a young man, he swept her off her feet and left her stranded. She has never got over this and does not trust easily. She is amazed to see him in the village of Heartcross and it seems he is just like his father, a businessman first.
This story goes the extra mile, there is so much going on in it and it means bringing in some of the stalwarts of the village. They can indicate what happened many years ago, but not enough to stop Florrie from being evicted. Desperate, Florrie begins a campaign and the village is behind her. What starts as just word of mouth soon gets a whole lot bigger, and soon everyone is aware of what is going on... well almost everyone.
I have to say I want to not only live in Heartcross but I want to live in Rose Cottage, it just sounds amazing. I imagine there are many readers of this series who would love to live in this village. The author has created a community and characters that become your friends, some regulars drop by and it is just as you would want to find in your community.
The story of Florrie and Ada is one that I adored, there are different aspects to their pasts but it is Rose Cottage that is where they bond. Family and friends are important in the community and Ada's story definitely shows how special she was. It is through some digging and delving that Florrie discovers what Ada's past was and in turn, discovers more about her own!
This is a gorgeous story that is full of flowers and the community, there is mistrust, heartache and some deviousness going on but there is also a generous helping of romance, and more of the sense of community that readers of the series have come to know and love.
A wonderful way to finish this series and I am sad that it has come to an end. This book and series is one that grabs you, it is heartwarming, sincere and an absolute delight te read. It is one I would definitely recommend.
April 24, 2024
The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane is a lovely bookend to the series that tugs fiercely at the heartstrings and, as with all the others before, I absolutely loved its charm, friendship, family and community spirit! Heartcross (an imaginary Scottish highland village) is a place that captures everyone who visits it and makes them want to stay!
This story centres around Florrie Appleton, who loses her beloved Aunt Ada and discovers she is going to be evicted by W. Houston Property Developers from Rose Cottage. Here her aunt lived and ran a booming flower business from the Vintage Flower Van. All this is about to change though if this company gets its way. Sadly, she could lose her Aunt’s legacy and dwelling. The cottage is to be demolished and the land turned into a number of new residents. Meaning all traces from the past will be erased: the flower gardens gone. Of course, Florrie is devastated. The town is horrified, too, when they hear the news. But, they rally around to offer their support as they have in the past when the community is threatened. This time it is to fight the developer. Florrie also launches a huge media campaign. She starts with social media sites and then expands into newspapers and television, rousing even more support for her cause.
But in the midst of these troubles an old flame turns up, she has not seen in eight years, and her reaction is one of confusion and anger. This man Tom broke her heart after spending two wonderful weeks with her. So why is he back? She soon finds out he is connected to the Property Developers but not in the way she expects. There’s lot of tension between them and old wounds resurface. Communication is a challenge as she attempts to retrieve reasons why they parted on good terms only to be abandoned—not to mention his connection to the Rose Cottage fiasco. But there is a plan being hatched behind closed doors that will stun everyone and Florrie’s questions will all be answered-- romantically and property wise. If the mysteries are solved, will there be a fresh start for this couple from the past? Not without a lot of digging and some fierce battles!
There is nothing quite like Heartcross and the spell this Scottish community has on the characters who visit it in the stories and for those of us who have indulged in the numerous books set in this darling village! There are many wonderful characters in The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane including Martha and Dolores who play excellent parts in the drama and solutions. Christie delivers another fabulous ending full of hope and fresh beginnings. When I turned the last page, I sighed with contentment as it left me happy, enlightened and uplifted. Yes, there are some bad things that happen but everything works out. Leaving us with a fantastic and delightful resolution that made my spirit soar.
Without question, I adored this novel and appreciate the warm characters who led me through their troubles but who found reasonable solutions and experienced noticeable growth in the process. The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane is memorable, mesmerising and magical. I highly recommend this and the whole series! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for the ARC.
This story centres around Florrie Appleton, who loses her beloved Aunt Ada and discovers she is going to be evicted by W. Houston Property Developers from Rose Cottage. Here her aunt lived and ran a booming flower business from the Vintage Flower Van. All this is about to change though if this company gets its way. Sadly, she could lose her Aunt’s legacy and dwelling. The cottage is to be demolished and the land turned into a number of new residents. Meaning all traces from the past will be erased: the flower gardens gone. Of course, Florrie is devastated. The town is horrified, too, when they hear the news. But, they rally around to offer their support as they have in the past when the community is threatened. This time it is to fight the developer. Florrie also launches a huge media campaign. She starts with social media sites and then expands into newspapers and television, rousing even more support for her cause.
But in the midst of these troubles an old flame turns up, she has not seen in eight years, and her reaction is one of confusion and anger. This man Tom broke her heart after spending two wonderful weeks with her. So why is he back? She soon finds out he is connected to the Property Developers but not in the way she expects. There’s lot of tension between them and old wounds resurface. Communication is a challenge as she attempts to retrieve reasons why they parted on good terms only to be abandoned—not to mention his connection to the Rose Cottage fiasco. But there is a plan being hatched behind closed doors that will stun everyone and Florrie’s questions will all be answered-- romantically and property wise. If the mysteries are solved, will there be a fresh start for this couple from the past? Not without a lot of digging and some fierce battles!
There is nothing quite like Heartcross and the spell this Scottish community has on the characters who visit it in the stories and for those of us who have indulged in the numerous books set in this darling village! There are many wonderful characters in The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane including Martha and Dolores who play excellent parts in the drama and solutions. Christie delivers another fabulous ending full of hope and fresh beginnings. When I turned the last page, I sighed with contentment as it left me happy, enlightened and uplifted. Yes, there are some bad things that happen but everything works out. Leaving us with a fantastic and delightful resolution that made my spirit soar.
Without question, I adored this novel and appreciate the warm characters who led me through their troubles but who found reasonable solutions and experienced noticeable growth in the process. The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane is memorable, mesmerising and magical. I highly recommend this and the whole series! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for the ARC.
May 24, 2024
This was an emotional farewell to some very well-loved characters. I will miss popping over the bridge to catch up with some of the wonderful residents of Heartcross. Although I haven’t read all the books in this series since the first one, I have been an avid supporter. The way that Christie Barlow weaves her magical words to create this very special village is a joy to behold.
It seems rather fitting that the theme of this book, as I believe was the essence of the first one, is to save the village. From repairing collapsed bridges to protecting the history of Rose Cottage, this community has earned a place in my heart.
Florrie is the perfect leading lady for this story. I love that she is natural in both her style and her nature. Eschewing the trappings of modern life, she follows her own path and doesn’t need a man's validation to support her. When faced with losing her Great Aunt’s home and business, Florrie digs deep and soon has the entire village's support against the property developers who have shocking plans for the space.
In flashback sections, we learn more about Tom, discovering that Florrie and Tom spent an idyllic fortnight in a remote location before the start of their final year at University. Ending in heartbreak for Florrie, Tom was immediately blocked from all methods of contact. Having read Florrie’s side of the story, I completely supported her actions but couldn’t help hoping that she may have been mistaken.
Of course, in the style that I have become quite used to, this is an ensemble piece, and there are cameos from some of the well-loved characters from previous books. For me, the highlight was spending time with Dolores, who was about to turn one hundred years old. Despite evidence to the contrary, she was not old at all.
Written with sincere warmth and relatable characters, this is a perfect story to end our visits to Heartcross. The epilogue certainly tied up any loose ends with a gorgeous bow. If this is your first trip, you’re in for an absolute treat!
Thanks, Christie, for helping me to escape to a happier place. Like Brigadoon, I will hope that it may reappear in the future.
It seems rather fitting that the theme of this book, as I believe was the essence of the first one, is to save the village. From repairing collapsed bridges to protecting the history of Rose Cottage, this community has earned a place in my heart.
Florrie is the perfect leading lady for this story. I love that she is natural in both her style and her nature. Eschewing the trappings of modern life, she follows her own path and doesn’t need a man's validation to support her. When faced with losing her Great Aunt’s home and business, Florrie digs deep and soon has the entire village's support against the property developers who have shocking plans for the space.
In flashback sections, we learn more about Tom, discovering that Florrie and Tom spent an idyllic fortnight in a remote location before the start of their final year at University. Ending in heartbreak for Florrie, Tom was immediately blocked from all methods of contact. Having read Florrie’s side of the story, I completely supported her actions but couldn’t help hoping that she may have been mistaken.
Of course, in the style that I have become quite used to, this is an ensemble piece, and there are cameos from some of the well-loved characters from previous books. For me, the highlight was spending time with Dolores, who was about to turn one hundred years old. Despite evidence to the contrary, she was not old at all.
Written with sincere warmth and relatable characters, this is a perfect story to end our visits to Heartcross. The epilogue certainly tied up any loose ends with a gorgeous bow. If this is your first trip, you’re in for an absolute treat!
Thanks, Christie, for helping me to escape to a happier place. Like Brigadoon, I will hope that it may reappear in the future.
March 29, 2024
I absolutely adore this series created by Christie Barlow. Every time I pick up a book in the Love Heart Lane series, it feels like I’m meeting up with old familiar friends. I was torn in reading The Vintage Flower Van On Love Heart Lane, on one hand I wanted to delve straight in, but as it’s the final book in the series so I wanted to savour it as I knew once I reached the last page I would feel grief-stricken at having to say a final ‘goodbye’ to the characters I have come to love and admire.
The last book features florist Florrie Appleton. When her beloved Aunt Ada passes, Florrie finds herself reeling as she receives an eviction notice and is told to vacate Rose Cottage, and shut down her Vintage Flower Van business. But Florrie won’t give up without a fight even if that means taking on developer Tom Houston, the man who broke her heart at university. With the whole of Heartcross behind her, there’s nothing the tiny Scottish hamlet can’t accomplish when they band together.
Each character is larger than life, the idyllic village of Heartcross so perfectly described that I’m convinced it’s an actual village! Don’t think for one minute these books are a ‘just a fluffy’ read. I love the depth of each story and how the author takes real-life problems that the reader can relate to and turns them into emotional, beautifully told stories that break me at every read. To offset the more serious issues are scenes that bring smiles and laughter.
I adored Florrie and Tom’s story despite the lows, the tears, and the pain the important message is ‘friends are there for you no matter what’ and the treasured memories you can make when you have genuine friends. I will be the first to admit I shed tears at a fitting end to a perfect series. And yes, my heart shattered as I said a ‘final goodbye’ to the most amazing characters who have made me laugh and cry as I’ve followed their journeys. It’s obvious that Christie Barlow puts her heart and soul into each book as once again she’s weaved her magic and written a mesmerising, emotionally filled story, that’s ultimately a heartwarming, ‘feel good’ read. Highly recommended.
You can follow me at
Blog: https://thebookreviewcafe.wordpress.com/
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Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@reviewcafe
The last book features florist Florrie Appleton. When her beloved Aunt Ada passes, Florrie finds herself reeling as she receives an eviction notice and is told to vacate Rose Cottage, and shut down her Vintage Flower Van business. But Florrie won’t give up without a fight even if that means taking on developer Tom Houston, the man who broke her heart at university. With the whole of Heartcross behind her, there’s nothing the tiny Scottish hamlet can’t accomplish when they band together.
Each character is larger than life, the idyllic village of Heartcross so perfectly described that I’m convinced it’s an actual village! Don’t think for one minute these books are a ‘just a fluffy’ read. I love the depth of each story and how the author takes real-life problems that the reader can relate to and turns them into emotional, beautifully told stories that break me at every read. To offset the more serious issues are scenes that bring smiles and laughter.
I adored Florrie and Tom’s story despite the lows, the tears, and the pain the important message is ‘friends are there for you no matter what’ and the treasured memories you can make when you have genuine friends. I will be the first to admit I shed tears at a fitting end to a perfect series. And yes, my heart shattered as I said a ‘final goodbye’ to the most amazing characters who have made me laugh and cry as I’ve followed their journeys. It’s obvious that Christie Barlow puts her heart and soul into each book as once again she’s weaved her magic and written a mesmerising, emotionally filled story, that’s ultimately a heartwarming, ‘feel good’ read. Highly recommended.
You can follow me at
Blog: https://thebookreviewcafe.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@reviewcafe
May 1, 2024
3.25⭐️
This is part of the Love Heart Lane series, it is #14 in that series, I have not read any of the previous books and while it is not necessary to read them in order to read this one it did feel a little hard to initially get into because I didn’t know this town or these people yet.
First thing I will say is that I loved this cover, it’s what initially drew me into the book, and taking a look at the series they are all gorgeous covers. Along with a Scottish setting (My family’s part Scottish) I was really intrigued to read this.
I was honestly a little disappointed with how little of a Scottish setting this book gave. If it didn’t say Scottish setting then I probably would have never known from reading it. Now saying that it did get some very nice small town community vibes in this. I enjoyed also the aspect of treasuring God’s beautiful creation, over greed.
There is a bit of a mystery component strung through this story, that kept me very intrigued throughout it. I enjoyed that aspect. I’m not sure what this is categorized as but it reads like a literary fiction, with maybe a side/ secondary romance plot line.
The romance to me was a bit flat. These characters didn’t have a lot of past or chemistry to go off on. I did enjoy some of their encounters and what I saw of them in present day, they had some really sweet moments, but it just seemed a bit far fetched the way they barely knew each other before this one 2 week encounter 8 years ago.
*This is closer door, the scenes end before anything happens, nothing real heated, sex is just implied.
*Also two lesbian characters briefly mentioned in this.
All in all this was a decent book, a bit slow to get into but I did enjoy it well enough.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read & review this arc!
This is part of the Love Heart Lane series, it is #14 in that series, I have not read any of the previous books and while it is not necessary to read them in order to read this one it did feel a little hard to initially get into because I didn’t know this town or these people yet.
First thing I will say is that I loved this cover, it’s what initially drew me into the book, and taking a look at the series they are all gorgeous covers. Along with a Scottish setting (My family’s part Scottish) I was really intrigued to read this.
I was honestly a little disappointed with how little of a Scottish setting this book gave. If it didn’t say Scottish setting then I probably would have never known from reading it. Now saying that it did get some very nice small town community vibes in this. I enjoyed also the aspect of treasuring God’s beautiful creation, over greed.
There is a bit of a mystery component strung through this story, that kept me very intrigued throughout it. I enjoyed that aspect. I’m not sure what this is categorized as but it reads like a literary fiction, with maybe a side/ secondary romance plot line.
The romance to me was a bit flat. These characters didn’t have a lot of past or chemistry to go off on. I did enjoy some of their encounters and what I saw of them in present day, they had some really sweet moments, but it just seemed a bit far fetched the way they barely knew each other before this one 2 week encounter 8 years ago.
*This is closer door, the scenes end before anything happens, nothing real heated, sex is just implied.
*Also two lesbian characters briefly mentioned in this.
All in all this was a decent book, a bit slow to get into but I did enjoy it well enough.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read & review this arc!
May 23, 2024
The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane was such a heartwarming story focusing on family, community, friendship and doing the right thing. This was the last in the series, but I've only read the last 3 but felt like this worked fine as a stand alone, except for the epilogue. The epilogue rounded out the series well but this wasn't as meaningful to me as I didn't know all the characters. I can see how this would have been wonderful to those who had read the whole series.
Starting at Ada's funeral, the story takes us on a wonderful, floral journey of Florrie's, Ada's niece, quest to save The Vintage Flower Van. Unbeknown to Florrie, Ada didn't own the flower van or the cottage where the flowers were grown, and the company who owns it wants to demolish it all. Florrie is heartbroken as she promised Aunt Ada she would keep the Flower Van going. To complicate things, the company is owned by Tom Houston's family, a blast from the past, which didn't end as Florrie had hoped. There were plenty of miscommunications and secrets happening. Something shady seemed to be going down with Tom, but he wasn't being open. I found the mystery exciting and wanted to know what Tom was hiding. I loved the relationships Florrie had with her friends and family. Her grandparent's story was very sweet and Florrie made the most of htis to try and get the Vintage Flower Van known out in the community. I really enjoyed Tom and Florrie's story and liked how it flicked back in time to when Florrie and Tom were at university.
Overall it was an emotional, feel good story with a some added drama. Worth the read.
Starting at Ada's funeral, the story takes us on a wonderful, floral journey of Florrie's, Ada's niece, quest to save The Vintage Flower Van. Unbeknown to Florrie, Ada didn't own the flower van or the cottage where the flowers were grown, and the company who owns it wants to demolish it all. Florrie is heartbroken as she promised Aunt Ada she would keep the Flower Van going. To complicate things, the company is owned by Tom Houston's family, a blast from the past, which didn't end as Florrie had hoped. There were plenty of miscommunications and secrets happening. Something shady seemed to be going down with Tom, but he wasn't being open. I found the mystery exciting and wanted to know what Tom was hiding. I loved the relationships Florrie had with her friends and family. Her grandparent's story was very sweet and Florrie made the most of htis to try and get the Vintage Flower Van known out in the community. I really enjoyed Tom and Florrie's story and liked how it flicked back in time to when Florrie and Tom were at university.
Overall it was an emotional, feel good story with a some added drama. Worth the read.
May 27, 2024
Florrie Appleton is attending her beloved Aunt Ava’s funeral. The woman died at age 84 having lived a full life as a dedicated florist and grower of all types of flowers. She lived in Rose Cottage with the grounds full of many flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Florrie had lived with her aunt for many years and is herself also an accomplished florist and owner of Buttercup Barn.
Florrie assumed that Ava would bequeath her home and her infamous Vintage Flower Van that is beautifully painted and decorated and from which Ava sold her flowers. However, Florrie receives a notice from a solicitor saying that the cottage had only been rented and now that Ava has passed, she must vacate the cottage at the end of the month and the Van is the property of the owner.
When the townspeople learn this, there is a huge uproar and people are at arms to not allow the owner, a property developer, to tear down the cottage, tear out the flowers and build little houses on the land.
Florrie soon learns that the developer is the wealthy Tom Houston with whom she had a two-week love affair in college. Afterward, he left and they had no contact. She is still angry with him and is surprised to find him in town. Is he the one totally behind this and if so, what can she and the town do to prevent this travesty from happening?
This is the last of 14 books written in this community. I’ve only read a handful of them, but of that number I have each and every one of them including this one. The author shows the true meaning of friendships and caring for others. A total delight. Enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Florrie assumed that Ava would bequeath her home and her infamous Vintage Flower Van that is beautifully painted and decorated and from which Ava sold her flowers. However, Florrie receives a notice from a solicitor saying that the cottage had only been rented and now that Ava has passed, she must vacate the cottage at the end of the month and the Van is the property of the owner.
When the townspeople learn this, there is a huge uproar and people are at arms to not allow the owner, a property developer, to tear down the cottage, tear out the flowers and build little houses on the land.
Florrie soon learns that the developer is the wealthy Tom Houston with whom she had a two-week love affair in college. Afterward, he left and they had no contact. She is still angry with him and is surprised to find him in town. Is he the one totally behind this and if so, what can she and the town do to prevent this travesty from happening?
This is the last of 14 books written in this community. I’ve only read a handful of them, but of that number I have each and every one of them including this one. The author shows the true meaning of friendships and caring for others. A total delight. Enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 22, 2024
It's the end of an era, at least that is what it feels like, when a long running favourite series finishes.
But wow Christie Barlow is going out in style Let me just mention that if like me you have been reading every single one of these books, then you have to read the epilogue. It almost had me in tears on public transport and it was the perfect way to end the series.
But before that we get Florrie's story, which is also her aunt Ada's story, and is a timeless classic of fighting for what is right, in this instance to save her cottage and the Vintage Flower Van from developers.
Heartcross is all about of Community and once again they rally round, and Florrie's ideas are great. And it is true that once you have visited Heartcross you won't want to leave, which is why it feels so painful that this series is over, as the location is an absolute favourite.
This is such a heart warming hug in a book, that let's us get to know more about a few of the town's long standing residents.
And since Isla is Florrie's best friend I welcomed a proper catch up with her too. After all the residents all feel like friends or family to me by now.
I think this could almost certainly be read as a standalone but why deny yourself the pleasure of reading the whole series?
It's a joyous story that I couldn't read fast enough, while also really not wanting it to end.
I'm already looking forward to whatever this favourite author of mine writes next.
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
But wow Christie Barlow is going out in style Let me just mention that if like me you have been reading every single one of these books, then you have to read the epilogue. It almost had me in tears on public transport and it was the perfect way to end the series.
But before that we get Florrie's story, which is also her aunt Ada's story, and is a timeless classic of fighting for what is right, in this instance to save her cottage and the Vintage Flower Van from developers.
Heartcross is all about of Community and once again they rally round, and Florrie's ideas are great. And it is true that once you have visited Heartcross you won't want to leave, which is why it feels so painful that this series is over, as the location is an absolute favourite.
This is such a heart warming hug in a book, that let's us get to know more about a few of the town's long standing residents.
And since Isla is Florrie's best friend I welcomed a proper catch up with her too. After all the residents all feel like friends or family to me by now.
I think this could almost certainly be read as a standalone but why deny yourself the pleasure of reading the whole series?
It's a joyous story that I couldn't read fast enough, while also really not wanting it to end.
I'm already looking forward to whatever this favourite author of mine writes next.
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
May 28, 2024
Florrie Appleton is a florist, following in the footsteps of her Great Aunt Ada, who, as the book opens, is dead. This isn't a murder mystery, though - this is a cozy romance full of misunderstandings and serendipitous happenstance. Aunt Ada had been operating her own floristy business from a vintage van on the site of her gardens, but after her death Florrie, who had planned to take over, is served eviction notices by a developer who plans to bulldoze the lot.
And the developer, is, of course, linked to a one-time flame of Florrie's, and so we have a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications as Florrie takes to social media to save her home.
I found this book to be a slow read compared to another I have read in the Loveheart Lane series, and didn't enjoy it as much as I could have. To me, the opening at a funeral was offputting, and Florrie was downright annoying the way she jumped to conclusions and didn't listen. The book did get better, though after a rocky start, and I enjoyed the secondary plotline with resident superstar Dolores.
This book was the 14th and final book in the Loveheart Lane series, and while it does work as a standalone, there are references to earlier happenings, particularly in the epilogue. It's a charming series in a picturesque setting (the author does know how to paint her scenes well!), that focuses on kindness and community spirit.
3.5 stars.
~Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~
And the developer, is, of course, linked to a one-time flame of Florrie's, and so we have a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications as Florrie takes to social media to save her home.
I found this book to be a slow read compared to another I have read in the Loveheart Lane series, and didn't enjoy it as much as I could have. To me, the opening at a funeral was offputting, and Florrie was downright annoying the way she jumped to conclusions and didn't listen. The book did get better, though after a rocky start, and I enjoyed the secondary plotline with resident superstar Dolores.
This book was the 14th and final book in the Loveheart Lane series, and while it does work as a standalone, there are references to earlier happenings, particularly in the epilogue. It's a charming series in a picturesque setting (the author does know how to paint her scenes well!), that focuses on kindness and community spirit.
3.5 stars.
~Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~
July 6, 2024
The Vintage Flower Van on Love Lane is a sweet, small town second-chance romance, centred around Florrie, the aptly named florist, and Tom, the well-bred businessman.
I thought the premise was sweet, focusing on Florrie’s attempts to save her family business and childhood home after the death of her great-aunt. However, the miscommunication trope made the romance really hard to get into, and the pacing was a bit off. It felt like the protagonist and her love internet spent so much time NOT communicating, that I didn’t feel invested in their relationship at all. I think I almost would’ve preferred it if the resolution was then to go on a date together or something, rather than rush them into a relationship.
However, the setting and the development of the secondary characters worked so well to really bring the story to life, and it made me want to check out some of the other books in the series. I think at times the story felt a bit slow, particularly since the characters didn’t communicate properly - so I found it hard to get into at the beginning. But from about 25% on I found myself caught up in the story!
Overall, if you’re looking for a sweet, small town romance that leaves you feeling warm and cozy, then you might enjoy this book.
Thanks to Christie Barlow, One More Chapter and Net Galley for providing me with a copy to review
I thought the premise was sweet, focusing on Florrie’s attempts to save her family business and childhood home after the death of her great-aunt. However, the miscommunication trope made the romance really hard to get into, and the pacing was a bit off. It felt like the protagonist and her love internet spent so much time NOT communicating, that I didn’t feel invested in their relationship at all. I think I almost would’ve preferred it if the resolution was then to go on a date together or something, rather than rush them into a relationship.
However, the setting and the development of the secondary characters worked so well to really bring the story to life, and it made me want to check out some of the other books in the series. I think at times the story felt a bit slow, particularly since the characters didn’t communicate properly - so I found it hard to get into at the beginning. But from about 25% on I found myself caught up in the story!
Overall, if you’re looking for a sweet, small town romance that leaves you feeling warm and cozy, then you might enjoy this book.
Thanks to Christie Barlow, One More Chapter and Net Galley for providing me with a copy to review
May 7, 2024
🌷Sweet story of community sticking together🌹
This story is quite a lovely way to end a feel-good series about a fictional small Scottish Highland town with a curse. But the "curse" is not a bad thing as it prophecies that once you come to live in Heartcross it (and maybe one of the villagers) will charm you so much that you will never leave.
Here lifetime resident Florrie has unexpected woes on the heels of her mentor great aunt Ada's death and she gets support and a plan of remedial action that involves virtually the whole town in an attempt to save Ada's legacy garden and flower van that's delighted the town for sixty-odd years. The romance for Florrie and former classmate turned property magnate Tom is touch and go. I would have liked a more involved romance but their troubled relationship dovetails nicely into Florrie's fight to keep Ada's flower van up and running.
The story does bring in the main characters from other novels in the series but in a manner that still allows it to be read as a standalone.
A pleasure to read: sweet, with friends, family and community bonds lauded and embraced.
Thanks to HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
This story is quite a lovely way to end a feel-good series about a fictional small Scottish Highland town with a curse. But the "curse" is not a bad thing as it prophecies that once you come to live in Heartcross it (and maybe one of the villagers) will charm you so much that you will never leave.
Here lifetime resident Florrie has unexpected woes on the heels of her mentor great aunt Ada's death and she gets support and a plan of remedial action that involves virtually the whole town in an attempt to save Ada's legacy garden and flower van that's delighted the town for sixty-odd years. The romance for Florrie and former classmate turned property magnate Tom is touch and go. I would have liked a more involved romance but their troubled relationship dovetails nicely into Florrie's fight to keep Ada's flower van up and running.
The story does bring in the main characters from other novels in the series but in a manner that still allows it to be read as a standalone.
A pleasure to read: sweet, with friends, family and community bonds lauded and embraced.
Thanks to HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
May 8, 2024
Oh wow, what a fantastic ending to a fabulous series. Over the last 4 years I have read and enjoyed the entire series. Each book just got better and better. I really wished that Heartcross was a real place, although I suspect that like each book mentions, if I visited then I would never want to leave.
I could quite happily live there, over the last 4 years I have come to know and love the characters very much. This story features Florrie, the florist who has featured in some of the previous books and Tom, a new character.
The characters from the previous books also feature heavily in this book, as the whole community flock together to save the Vintage Flower Van. It is so lovely to get an update on all of the characters.
Although this book can be read as a standalone book, it is much more enjoyable if you have read the previous books.
This book is the perfect Spring/Summer read, it is bursting with descriptions of Rose cottage, and I can vividly imagine how gorgeous the gardens are.
I am sad to know that this is my last ever visit to HeartCross, but it has a lovely ending to the series. It also means that I have a brand new series from Christie Barlow to look forward to reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.
I could quite happily live there, over the last 4 years I have come to know and love the characters very much. This story features Florrie, the florist who has featured in some of the previous books and Tom, a new character.
The characters from the previous books also feature heavily in this book, as the whole community flock together to save the Vintage Flower Van. It is so lovely to get an update on all of the characters.
Although this book can be read as a standalone book, it is much more enjoyable if you have read the previous books.
This book is the perfect Spring/Summer read, it is bursting with descriptions of Rose cottage, and I can vividly imagine how gorgeous the gardens are.
I am sad to know that this is my last ever visit to HeartCross, but it has a lovely ending to the series. It also means that I have a brand new series from Christie Barlow to look forward to reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.
April 27, 2024
The Vintage Flower shop On Loveheart Lane.
When Florrie’s much loved Aunt Ada dies she is determined to keep her Aunts Flower Shop van open and to live in the cottage her Aunt had lived in for most of her life. She is horrified to receive a letter from a property developers company telling her they own the cottage and flower shop van and plan to tear down the cottage for future development.
When Tom an old flame from university turns up and is involved with the property company Florrie is incensed particularly as after spending a wonderful fortnight with Tom and then finding he was getting engaged to someone else she cut off all means of communication.
Tom is bemused by her attitude, and this is because they just don’t talk about what happened mainly because Florrie won’t. And herein lies the problem I had with this book this went on for far too long and ended up being irritating for me. I appreciate it was to add to this tale which had deceitful illegal practices with a real villain in the background.
No great dramas but it was a pleasant enough read.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.
When Florrie’s much loved Aunt Ada dies she is determined to keep her Aunts Flower Shop van open and to live in the cottage her Aunt had lived in for most of her life. She is horrified to receive a letter from a property developers company telling her they own the cottage and flower shop van and plan to tear down the cottage for future development.
When Tom an old flame from university turns up and is involved with the property company Florrie is incensed particularly as after spending a wonderful fortnight with Tom and then finding he was getting engaged to someone else she cut off all means of communication.
Tom is bemused by her attitude, and this is because they just don’t talk about what happened mainly because Florrie won’t. And herein lies the problem I had with this book this went on for far too long and ended up being irritating for me. I appreciate it was to add to this tale which had deceitful illegal practices with a real villain in the background.
No great dramas but it was a pleasant enough read.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.
April 27, 2024
I loved this quote from the book because if everyone followed this rule then the world just might be a better place.
Friends are the most important people in your life and you should treat them as you want to be treated; if you do, those friends will be there for you no matter what. Looking after each other is a must. And my final bit of advice is something your great-aunt Ada swore by – have a glass of port every night before you go to bed. I’ve also found that a glass of champagne every day has done me no harm.’
Wow! That's some awesome advice don't ya think?
I really enjoyed this one to the fullest. This book makes me want to jump into the community and stay there.
Aunt Dorothy is my favorite character. She's charming and fun. I love it when her wisdom comes through just when you need it most!
As always I finished this book in one evening. The characters wouldn't let me put their story down.
I just love books like this that keep my attention all the way through.
5 stars for a well written story. I highly recommend!
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Friends are the most important people in your life and you should treat them as you want to be treated; if you do, those friends will be there for you no matter what. Looking after each other is a must. And my final bit of advice is something your great-aunt Ada swore by – have a glass of port every night before you go to bed. I’ve also found that a glass of champagne every day has done me no harm.’
Wow! That's some awesome advice don't ya think?
I really enjoyed this one to the fullest. This book makes me want to jump into the community and stay there.
Aunt Dorothy is my favorite character. She's charming and fun. I love it when her wisdom comes through just when you need it most!
As always I finished this book in one evening. The characters wouldn't let me put their story down.
I just love books like this that keep my attention all the way through.
5 stars for a well written story. I highly recommend!
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 11, 2024
I want to start by saying Thank You to Christie Barlow. This series has been so special to me, I stumbled upon at the most perfect time – when I needed the comfort of heartfelt reads, great characters and a place I could imagine myself. The Love Heart Lane series, and Heartcross, is just that. I have loved each book, each characters story and I would love to head there myself, as fans of the series will know – you’d never leave!
The final book in the series was always going to tug at the heartstrings more than ever and crikey did it; a fantastic story to end with.
Florrie is grieving the loss of her Aunt, a woman who helped instil a love of flowers, the local community and their vintage flower van. When everything is suddenly put at risk, and an unwanted yet familiar face is causing issues for her, Florrie rallies the local community, her friends and the power of social media to do all she can to save the legacy she wanted to continue.
Wow, what spirit Florrie has! I loved how ready she was to go into battle and do anything and everything she could to overcome every problem. Tom Houston is the painful reminder of a broken heart, he doesn’t understand her reaction to him and a host of miscommunication makes a difficult situation even worse.
With ups and downs, missed opportunities, poor communication and a whole lot of pride getting in the way; this book delivers a wonderful enemies to lovers romance.
Wonderful, perfect story to say ‘Cheerio.’
The final book in the series was always going to tug at the heartstrings more than ever and crikey did it; a fantastic story to end with.
Florrie is grieving the loss of her Aunt, a woman who helped instil a love of flowers, the local community and their vintage flower van. When everything is suddenly put at risk, and an unwanted yet familiar face is causing issues for her, Florrie rallies the local community, her friends and the power of social media to do all she can to save the legacy she wanted to continue.
Wow, what spirit Florrie has! I loved how ready she was to go into battle and do anything and everything she could to overcome every problem. Tom Houston is the painful reminder of a broken heart, he doesn’t understand her reaction to him and a host of miscommunication makes a difficult situation even worse.
With ups and downs, missed opportunities, poor communication and a whole lot of pride getting in the way; this book delivers a wonderful enemies to lovers romance.
Wonderful, perfect story to say ‘Cheerio.’
May 28, 2024
This is the final story in the Love Heart Lane series. The story can be read as a. stand alone but is even better having read the previous 13 novels in the series as you get to know the cast of characters and their back stories. Florrie is mourning the loss of her Aunt Ada. Florrie is a florist, just like her aunt. Her has lived in Rose Cottage for the past 60 years. She has tended the garden and cultivated the flowers to use in her floristry business. Ada's Vintage Flower Van, parked outside the cottage is much loved by the village and is loved by tourists. Florrie has her own flower business in the village and is set on moving into her Aunt's cottage and ensuring the future of the Flower Van. However, following the funeral she is shocked to find out that the cottage and the van were rented and she will be unable to takeover the lease. There is worse news to follow. The story is a lovely ending to this much loved series. Love Heart Lane and its residents will be much missed by all its fans. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC. All views are very much my own.
May 13, 2024
I have absolutely loved visiting Heartcross and this final book in the Love Heart Lane series was no exception. Florrie is determined to carry out her Aunt Ada’s final wishes to keep the Vintage Flower Van going after her death. However the same day as Ada’s funeral she is issued with an eviction notice which is shocking as she didn’t realise that Ada hadn’t owned her house or the van. With the whole of Heartcross behind her she is fighting it all the way. Tom Houston’s family are the owners of the development company who have issued the notice and he and Florrie have history……… This series has a real sense of community and with such vibrant characters is a fabulous read. Although the focus is on Florrie and Tom it was great to catch up with the other characters from previous books and if you haven’t read them their backstories are touched on. I really can’t recommend this enough. Thank you so much to Netgalley, One More Chapter for the ARC and of course Christie Barlow for writing such a brilliant series.
May 17, 2024
Florrie is devastated when her Aunt Ada passes, especially when she finds that her aunt's cottage and Vintage Flower Van actually belong to a property developer who plans to knock down the cottage and build houses on the fields where the flowers for her business grow.
I am lucky to be able to read advance copies of books across genres, which has resulted in me finding some great new to me authors, however there is nothing quite like reading the latest book in a series that I've really enjoyed. In this one the story concentrates on Florrie and her efforts to prevent the new development, supported by all the characters that I've grown to love in Love Heart Lane, especially when she finds that an ex with whom she had a brief fling at uni is involved with the development. The sad thing is that this is the last book in this series, however it does mean that there will be a new series to enjoy later this year.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
I am lucky to be able to read advance copies of books across genres, which has resulted in me finding some great new to me authors, however there is nothing quite like reading the latest book in a series that I've really enjoyed. In this one the story concentrates on Florrie and her efforts to prevent the new development, supported by all the characters that I've grown to love in Love Heart Lane, especially when she finds that an ex with whom she had a brief fling at uni is involved with the development. The sad thing is that this is the last book in this series, however it does mean that there will be a new series to enjoy later this year.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
June 10, 2024
The Heartcross community is always lovely as is the story of The Vintage Flower Van. In fact if that had been the only focus of this book I would have given it five stars. It’s a feel good cozy, full of heart, perfect escapism.
The romance is, however, a dud. I couldn’t get swept up in the cliches this time. The misunderstandings, flashbacks, things half said, not said, “a little white lie” or two, “trust me” and other standard romance tropes are halfheartedly rolled out .
Midway through the book Florrie muses “I’ve been playing it over in my head. What if I got it all wrong?” Will she finally resolve all misunderstandings to live happily ever after? “No, there were more important things than her getting answers at the moment.” When an author needs to string it out this way you know their heart isn’t in it, and neither was mine unfortunately. Would have worked so much better if the mystery hadn’t been entwined with the romance.
Didn’t realize it’s the last of the series until the epilogue. Having read all the books in the series I did appreciate the summing up.
The romance is, however, a dud. I couldn’t get swept up in the cliches this time. The misunderstandings, flashbacks, things half said, not said, “a little white lie” or two, “trust me” and other standard romance tropes are halfheartedly rolled out .
Midway through the book Florrie muses “I’ve been playing it over in my head. What if I got it all wrong?” Will she finally resolve all misunderstandings to live happily ever after? “No, there were more important things than her getting answers at the moment.” When an author needs to string it out this way you know their heart isn’t in it, and neither was mine unfortunately. Would have worked so much better if the mystery hadn’t been entwined with the romance.
Didn’t realize it’s the last of the series until the epilogue. Having read all the books in the series I did appreciate the summing up.
March 29, 2024
Love heart lane books are my absolute favourite and I was absolutely thrilled to receive this ARC to review, quickly abandoning my current read to start The vintage flower van on Love heart lane!
This was such a gorgeous read, so lovely to be back in Heartcross amongst the idyllic scenic surroundings and the familiar characters just like going home! However it was a bittersweet moment knowing this is the last in the series as I would love to read about the next generation of families in the village!
The unfolding story behind Florries battle to save Rose cottage and the vintage flower van in order to continue her Aunt Ada’s legacy and the ongoing complications of Tom from the property developers makes for such a lovely feel good read, full of community spirit,a sense of belonging, second chances and hope!
A wonderful read that i devoured but didn’t want it to end!
Would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read
This was such a gorgeous read, so lovely to be back in Heartcross amongst the idyllic scenic surroundings and the familiar characters just like going home! However it was a bittersweet moment knowing this is the last in the series as I would love to read about the next generation of families in the village!
The unfolding story behind Florries battle to save Rose cottage and the vintage flower van in order to continue her Aunt Ada’s legacy and the ongoing complications of Tom from the property developers makes for such a lovely feel good read, full of community spirit,a sense of belonging, second chances and hope!
A wonderful read that i devoured but didn’t want it to end!
Would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read
April 6, 2024
The Vintage Flower Van on Love Heart Lane
by Christie Barlow
An extremely well written story as any reader of the Love Heart Lane would come to expect.
A book fool of quirky characters good and not so good. Things are not always as they first appear. We follow the journey of Florrie as she is coping with death of her beloved great aunt Ada and the immediate eviction notice to vacate Rose Cottage Ada’s home and Florries when lived there in her youth and return the vintage flower van. Florrie and her friends are not prepared to go without a fight! Follow the journey to save Rose Cottage and Vintage flower van as they use all avenues at the disposal in the fight against the developers . Great read my only disappointment personally is the the epilogue made it all seem so final. Here’s hoping that there is still room for another peek in to the village of Heartcross in the future as for me it will be sorely missed new characters and old. 5/5
by Christie Barlow
An extremely well written story as any reader of the Love Heart Lane would come to expect.
A book fool of quirky characters good and not so good. Things are not always as they first appear. We follow the journey of Florrie as she is coping with death of her beloved great aunt Ada and the immediate eviction notice to vacate Rose Cottage Ada’s home and Florries when lived there in her youth and return the vintage flower van. Florrie and her friends are not prepared to go without a fight! Follow the journey to save Rose Cottage and Vintage flower van as they use all avenues at the disposal in the fight against the developers . Great read my only disappointment personally is the the epilogue made it all seem so final. Here’s hoping that there is still room for another peek in to the village of Heartcross in the future as for me it will be sorely missed new characters and old. 5/5
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