📖 Blog Tour ~ Sunshine After the Rain by Jessica Redland

Boldwood 
15 May 2025

Escapes to the Lakes #5

Thanks to the publishers and Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour 

Melanie knows she’s been running away…

For the last seven years Mel has been hiding; from life, from her friends and from those who love her the most - her family. But being at home in her beloved Lake District has been far too painful for Mel to contemplate. Because seven years ago, Mel lost everything and she’s never been able to banish the dark clouds that follow her.

But maybe there really is no place like home?

When Mel returns to Willowdale for a family event, she has no intention of staying. But surrounded by her family she begins to realise just how much she's been missing and also, how much healing she still needs to do.

Starting a dream job at Willowdale Hall, going on walks with Emma and her funny alpacas and reconnecting with those she loves, Mel slowly begins to see chinks of light and a more hopeful and happier future ahead.

And as Mel begins to feel stronger, she also feels brave enough to face the most painful part of leaving home…the one man she has always loved. With his help, can she finally banish the dark clouds forever and see the sunshine after the rain?

📖 My Review…

Following a return visit to her family home in the Lake District Mel is forced to face some difficult truths as not only has she run away from the people she loves the most but she has also been hiding away from her greatest fear, that of confronting her past. When the opportunity arises for Mel to move permanently to Willowdale she does so with some trepidation but a determination to face her demons and make a new future. 

Sunshine After the Rain is a really lovely story not just because we are once again in this fictional corner of the Lake District, which the author writes about with such love and care, but it also gives us the opportunity to get to know even more wonderful characters who call this place home. The story flows beautifully and as we get to know the reason why Mel ran away from Willowdale seven years ago so we start to realise that this is a story about facing hurtful truths, about reaching out to grab a second chance when it appears and of the healing power of love. There’s a lovely reference in the story to the Japanese art of Kintsugi and the fact there is beauty to found in brokenness which really struck a chord and I must admit to shedding a few tears as Mel discovers that the broken pieces of her heart could be put together again.

Beautifully written as ever, this Escape to the Lkes series just continues to go from strength to strength and although each book is a standalone story it really does makes sense to start this lovely series from the beginning as that way you fall in love with the place, the characters and the wonderful writing.

About the Author

Jessica Redland is the million-copy bestselling author of novels, including the Hedgehog Hollow and Escape to the Lakes series. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough and the Lake District, she writes uplifting women’s fiction of love, friendship and community.

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