Escape the rat race by heading to the Yorkshire Moors in Jane Lovering’s funny, warm and magical new novel.
Needing an escape, Dora swapped city living for life as a shepherdess on her grandad’s Yorkshire farm. More than a decade later Dora is still there, now farming the fifty acres and caring for the one hundred rare sheep by herself. She never hears the call of the city, but instead relishes the peace and simplicity of life on the moors.
When Dora’s glamorous but quarrelsome sister Cass, her teenage nephew Thor and his handsome tutor Nat, turn up for an unexpected and unreasonably long stay, life on the farm is thrown into chaos. Cass brings with her unwelcome memories from the past, and of someone who once stole Dora’s heart.
Dora takes refuge in the comforting routine of the farm, the sheep never allowing her too much time to dwell. But, as the seasons change, the snow starts to melt, and as lambs begin to fill the fields, Dora can’t keep hiding in the hills. Because even though she’s trying, Dora can’t run away from a love that never really let her go…
If you’re a fan of cosy, heart-warming fiction which is more than capable of transporting you to a place entirely new, then Home at Folly Farm by Jane Lovering will absolutely do that for you. Transporting me from my sofa to the charming Yorkshire countryside, this was a gorgeously evocative read that allowed me to step outside of reality for a little while, and turn my attention to the bustling world of Dora’s grandfather’s farm, and a whole lot of family drama to go alongside that.
In Home at Folly Farm by Jane Lovering, readers are introduced to Dora. Having left the city to take over the running of her grandfather’s farm, Dora has dedicated years to the running of the farm she loved so much growing up, and continues to spend her days rearing a rare breed of sheep in the hopes she’ll keep alive a much-loved and treasured animal she’s worked so hard to nurture. Though the farm may be ramshackle and perhaps rather run down, it’s the place that Dora calls home, and she really couldn’t see herself living anywhere else. The farm and its inhabitants gives Dora a purpose, and though it’s hard work, it’s all she really knows. Through discipline and dedication, she’s managed to keep the farm afloat all these years, and she’s not about to let it crumble just yet.
When Dora’s sister Cass turns up, with her teenage son in tow, things definitely begin to get a little heated on the farm, and it quickly became clear to me that there were some serious tensions simmering between the sisters. I of course instantly wanted to find out what had caused the rift between these two, and thoroughly enjoyed finding out more about their shared history and what it had been like for them growing up together. I adored the comparisons between Dora and Cass, those of which Lovering captured so well, in that achingly opposite way that siblings seem to naturally have. I found Cass to be very amusing, although tedious at times. Dora, in contrast, felt very serious to me, but I suppose having the responsibility of a farm to run would do that to a person, as opposed to not really having any responsibility at all, and still living with your parents, as Cass did.
Nat’s character also added another level of tension to the plot which again, I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the dynamics between Nat and Dora, and found myself drawn to him just as much as Dora seemed to be. It was exciting, watching the barriers break down between these two, who both had their own reserves when it came to attraction and emotions.
Amongst the different relationships and friendships that blossomed throughout the telling of this story, I found the farm itself to be such an energetic and colourful setting. I loved the liveliness of the place and found the routines which Dora followed in order to take care of her grandfather’s pride and joy interesting, even educational, as she worked hard to ensure everything ran smoothly. I, for one, do not think I’d be able to run and manage a farm in the same way, and seeing Dora do so certainly had me feeling a certain amount of respect for her.
This was a warm, easy and fluid read, perfect to lose oneself in and turn your mind to a busyness of a different variety! I loved the family feel to the story, and the delicious threads of romance that weaved their way throughout the pages. It was a lovely escape, and I’d like to read more from Jane Lovering in the future.
You can purchase your copy of Home on Folly Farm by Jane Lovering here.
Jane was, presumably, born, although everyone concerned denies all knowledge. However there is evidence that her early years were spent in Devon (she can still talk like a pirate under the right conditions) and of her subsequent removal to Yorkshire under a sack and sedation.
She now lives in North Yorkshire, where she writes romantic comedies and labours under the tragic misapprehension that men are queueing up for her. Owing to a terrible outbreak of insanity she is the minder of an enormous ginger cat called Arthur and a training-averse terrier; she is also the owner of five practically grown-up children, and she has to spend considerable amounts of time in a darkened room as a result (of the animals, not the kids).
Jane’s likes include marshmallows, the smell of cucumbers and the understairs cupboard, words beginning with B, and Doctor Who. She writes with her laptop balanced on her knees whilst lying on her bed, and her children have been brought up to believe that real food has a high carbon content. And a kind of amorphous shape.
Not unlike Jane herself, come to think of it.
She had some hobbies once, but she can’t remember what they were. Ask her to show you how many marshmallows she can fit in her mouth at once, though, that might give you a clue. Go on, I dare you.
You can find out more about Jane ( should you wish to, of course) from her blog and website at http://www.janelovering.co.uk
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