Review by Ronny
Once Upon a Thyme is a heartwarming romance with a lot of depth.
Favourite Quote:
There was a pig in the kitchen, with its trotters on the table and its snout in the fruit bowl. But this was fine—well, maybe not fine, I wasn’t happy about it, but at least the pig was a known quantity. The man, on the other hand, standing watching the pig eat a satsuma, was not.
Book Synopsis:
Can you bloom where your roots are planted? 🌱
Since taking over the family herb farm, Natalie has stuck with what she knows, rarely venturing much further than the nearby village where her invalid mother now lives. But then, one day, everything changes with the arrival of unexpected visitors.
First comes Zeb, employed by Natalie’s mother to help with the business but soon hinting at other motives. Then comes Simon with the famous band he manages, wanting to film in Natalie’s beautiful garden. The band causes chaos and the attitude of one particular member throws Natalie’s ordered life into confusion.
Over one magical summer of revelations and of uncovering secrets, Natalie starts to blossom and by the time autumn arrives she knows nothing will ever be the same again. Will she finally get an answer to the mystery of her childhood? And can she embrace the fresh start she so deserves – but which means she’ll have to take one enormous and brave leap of faith?
Review:
I love Jane’s writing, and I am always excited to sit down and read her latest book. What makes her writing stand out to me is that you get that charming, light, and fluffy romance but with a dash of emotional depth or sometimes a mystery. This was a delightful read. I found myself laughing right from the start, and then I became enchanted with Natalie and Zeb’s slow-burn romance. Poor Natalie is overworked trying to run her family’s herb farm and keep up with her demanding mother. However, despite the hard work of running a farm, Natalie loves it and adores being surrounded by her plants. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Natalie’s farm and the chaotic shenanigans that took place there. I adored the subplot around the band staying with Natalie’s family. They added laughter and light, especially when things got heavier in the book. There are some more emotional moments in this book, which are centred around a secret Natalie’s family has been keeping.
Zeb is an absolute delight as a hero. He is kind, understanding, supportive, and a genuine good guy. He isn’t toxic or overbearing; he just wants to be there for Natalie. This is a super slow, slow-burn romance. It takes a bit for these two crazy love birds to act upon those growing feelings. I’m not always a fan of slow-burn romances, but in this case, it works really well. I appreciated how Natalie and Zeb took the time to get to know each other before becoming romantically involved.
Once Upon a Thyme is another lovely romance by the talented Jane Lovering.
Thank you, Boldwood Books and Rachel Random Resources, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
