“Rufus was having similar thoughts. But he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so at ease with someone. Certainly not a woman. He hadn’t been this relaxed with a woman since Rowena. He wasn’t entirely sure how it happened. He just knew he didn’t want it to end any time soon, which was crazy.”
Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm is a charming, lighthearted story full of delightful characters and animals.
Don’t dream your life, live your dreams….Phoebe Dashwood is a passionately committed vet who’s living the dream. She’s about to open her own small animal practice at her grandmother’s animal shelter, Puddleduck Farm in the New Forest.
Phoebe is helped by her two oldest friends. Her best friend Tori is a mix of hard-headed journalist and hopeless romantic, who thinks love will conquer all when she finds the right man!
Then there is Sam, Phoebe’s staunchest ally, whose integrity and selflessness mean he would do anything to make Phoebe happy, no matter what the cost to himself.
Very soon Phoebe discovers that fantasy and reality don’t quite match.
An unscrupulous bunny breeder, a poisoned stream, and a complicated attraction all conspire to throw her dreams in a spin.
Events come to a shocking climax at the New Forest Show where Phoebe’s world is turned upside down and she has to make some life changing decisions.
Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm is the second book in this series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Della does a great job at catching her readers up and ensuring that no one feels lost in this story. I enjoyed this book. I love a book that is bursting with quirky yet charming animals and that takes place in the English countryside. This book is great for those lazy afternoons when all you want to do is read. There are plenty of wonderful characters in this book that create this fun reading experience. Della creates characters you connect with instantly, and you find yourself rooting for them before you know it. I loved Maggie! She was a great secondary character. The scenes where she was Phoebe’s receptionist were hilarious and made me laugh.
One of the things that really stuck with me while reading this book was meeting Phoebe’s patients. We get to see pets, and their owners in various states, whether a new pet is getting a check-up or someone has to say their final goodbye to their furry best friend. I definitely was crying during this scene. As a pet owner, I just felt this connection with all these pet owners. I understood the joys pets could bring to our lives, but also the heartache. Including these side, stories added richness and depth to this book.
This story has a love triangle between Phoebe, Rufus, and Sam. I’m not a huge fan of love triangles; they just aren’t my jam. That meant the romance in this book wasn’t my favourite, but I think if you love this trope, you will enjoy the love story between Phoebe, Rufus, and Sam. Sam has been in love with Phoebe for a while, but she doesn’t return his feelings and only wants to be friends. So Sam is left trying to move on, but it’s a rocky road for him. Phoebe and Rufus both realize that there is this attraction between them, but they have emotional baggage that makes it difficult for them to make that first move.
Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm is a heartwarming, nice, and easy read and perfect for fans who love those charming English romances.
Thank you, Boldwood Books and Rachel Random Resources, for giving us this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
