Book Review: A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge by Jessica Redland

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Jessica Redland back to Novel Kicks with the blog tour for her new novel, A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge.

Could one chance meeting change your life forever?

Zara is at a crossroads in life. While she adores her job as a producer’s assistant working on hit TV shows, travelling around the country means she doesn’t truly feel that she has a home. With a fractured relationship with her family and unrequited love weighing heavily on her heart, she is torn about what her next step in life should be…

Snowy is hiding from the world. He’s devoted his life to home schooling his young son and caring for sick owls at his home, Owl’s Lodge, deep in the Yorkshire Wolds countryside. While he’s passionate about both, it’s a lonely existence and he’s starting to question his decisions. But how do you step back into a world you’ve pushed away for years…?

When Zara brings an injured owl to Owl’s Lodge, its frosty, reclusive owner is far from welcoming. Despite hostilities, there’s a connection that neither could ever have prepared themselves for. As they discover a shared passion, a new friendship blossoms, but both Zara and Snowy are used to shutting people out.

Can they both find the courage to open up and the strength to move on from their pasts? And what could this mean for their future happiness?

Escape to the world of Bumblebee Barn and Hedgehog Hollow with MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER Jessica Redland for this brand new feel-good romance of family, friendship and hope.

*****

As far as family goes, Zara has mostly felt invisible. However, she likes her job, has great friends. OK, so she’s in love with one of them, but she gets by. 

When her job puts her into the path of Snowy, things have the potential to become even more complicated. 

Things aren’t that simple for Snowy either. His past is forever present and he’s stuck. Can he and Zara find a new life together? 

 If you’re not a stranger to Novel Kicks then you’ll already know how big a fan of Jessica Redland I am so I was very pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge. I was eager to get started. 

The author has a great skill of pulling the reader into the lives of the characters she creates. I immediately felt a warmth toward Zara who’s had her fair share of family issues, living in the shadow of a brother who can’t seem to do anything wrong. She can’t seem to do anything right. The love she has for her work is evident though and I liked the dynamic between her and best friend, Amber. Everyone needs a friendship like that. 

Snowy. Oh Snowy. I wanted to step in and give you a big hug. He’s been through a lot and definitely carries the guilt of that. I could definitely relate to him in a few ways. The relationship he has with his son and Grandfather is wonderful and comes across very well. 

The plot moves along nicely. Even though the themes tacked in this novel are heavy, Jessica Redland still manages to write with care. There’s a gentleness and warmth to her stories that really make you feel you’ve known these people forever. There is also great humour and a few times where I laughed out loud. 

A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge is perfect for that romantic literary escape when you just want to disappear into a wonderful story for a while. I loved it! 

About Jessica Redland –

Jessica Redland writes emotional but uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast where she lives with her husband, daughter and sprocker spaniel. Her Hedgehog Hollow series, set in a hedgehog rescue centre, takes readers into the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.

Say hello to Jessica via Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter.

A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge was released by Boldwood Books on 16th May 2024. Click here to buy on Amazon, Apple and Barnes and Noble. Click to buy on Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.