Review: 'Ivy Lane - Spring' by Cathy Bramley (2014)

Friendship blossoms at Ivy Lane...
Tilly Parker needs a fresh start, fresh air and a fresh attitude if she is ever to leave the past behind and move on with her life. As she settles in to a new town seeking peace and solitude, taking on her own plot at Ivy Lane allotments seems like the perfect solution. But the vibrant, friendly Ivy Lane community has other ideas and endeavour to entice Tilly into seedling swaps and Easter egg hunts. Can Tilly let new friends into her life, or will she stay a wallflower for good?
Ivy Lane is a serialized novel told in four parts - taking you from spring to summer, autumn to winter - which tell a charming, light-hearted and moving story you won't want to put down.
Last year I was contacted by author Cathy Bramley with the question whether I wanted to review her debut novel ‘Conditional Love’ (click here to read my review). I ended up loving it, and I was already excited about what Cathy would come up with next. It’s no big surprise that Cathy has now got herself a publishing deal with Transworld, and I got really excited when I found an e-mail about ‘Ivy Lane’ in my mailbox. The lovely Harriet at Transworld provided me with a review copy of the first instalment of ‘Ivy Lane’, and I looked forward to diving back into the world of Cathy’s wonderful writing!
Tilly Parker has been through a lot and she is ready to start anew and try to leave the past behind. She has moved to a new town where she hopes to build up a new peaceful life for herself, and in order to give her something to stay busy with she has got herself her own plot at Ivy Lane allotments. However, after her first few visits to her new plot, Tilly quickly finds out the Ivy Lane community wants nothing more than to welcome her with open arms and let her become a part of their group. Question is, is Tilly really ready to step away from the past and focus on the here and now? 
Before I say anything about the story, I just need a quick second to gush about the gorgeous cover! I love it, it’s so cute and the colours immediately remind me of sunny Spring weather. Thankfully, the story inside fits the cover perfectly, because this is the beginning of a wonderful tale. ‘Ivy Lane’ will be released in four different parts, each of them fitting the four seasons, starting with Spring. I straight away warmed to Tilly; even though not too much is given away about her and her past just yet (I’m sure the story will enfold itself more and more with each part), Tilly already seems like an absolutely lovely character and I can’t wait to discover more of her story. 
Next to Tilly, the book is filled with other colourful characters, each with a different personality, ranging from all ages. Even though I’m not the gardening type myself, I fell in love with the idea of an allotment and the way it brings people together. The first part of ‘Ivy Lane’ promises a warm, charming and uplifting story and the only thing I can complain about when it comes to this book is the fact that we have to wait so long before we can join Tilly on her summer adventures! 
Rating:

9,5/10

   For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com/ Goodreads    Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.