I’m absolutely delighted to be closing the blog tour for lovely Heidi Swain and her new novel Poppy’s Recipe for Life and I’d like to thank Harriett Collins at Simon and Schuster for inviting me to take part. Heidi is such a smashing person whom it’s my pleasure to know in real life and she has featured on Linda’s Book Bag many times before.

Today, not only do I have my review of Poppy’s Recipe for Life to share, but if you live in the UK you have the chance to win a fabulous Poppy’s Recipe for Life prize. I have received one of these glorious parcels and let me tell you, this is something you’re really going to want to win. You can find out how to enter at the bottom of this blog post.

Heidi always tries to attend the blogger and author meet ups we have locally and I wrote about meeting Heidi with other authors in 2018 at the Simon and Schuster Spring Blogger Evening here and again in 2019 here. I reviewed Heidi’s Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market here and was thrilled to ‘stay in’ with her to chat all about Sunshine and Sweet Peas In Nightingale Square here. Finally (for now anyway) Heidi provided a smashing guest post when Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at the Winter Wonderland was published, explaining exactly what Christmas means to her and you can find that post here.

Heidi’s latest book, Poppy’s Recipe for Life, was published on 30th May 2019 by Simon and Schuster and is available for purchase through these links.

Poppy’s Recipe for Life

Things haven’t always been straightforward in Poppy’s life but her dreams are finally within her reach.

She’s moving into a cottage in beautiful Nightingale Square, close to the local community garden, where she can indulge her passion for making preserves and pickles. She may not have the best relationship with her family but she is surrounded by loving friends, and feels sure that even her grumpy new neighbour, Jacob, has more to him than his steely exterior belies.

But the unexpected arrival of Poppy’s troubled younger brother soon threatens her new-found happiness and as the garden team works together to win community space of the year, Poppy must decide where her priorities lie and what she is prepared to fight for …

My Review of Poppy’s Recipe for Life

Poppy may finally be getting her wish to move into Nightingale Square.

Poppy’s Recipe for Life is absolutely glorious. Heidi Swain has written the most wonderful, uplifting and captivating story that warms the heart and soul and brings joy to the reader. I finished the book feeling my life had been enriched by the read. There are so many fabulous elements that it’s tricky to know quite where to start in a review to convey the delights of reading this book.

However, having said that Poppy’s Recipe for Life is joyful and heart-warming, that doesn’t mean Heidi Swain shies away from difficult topics that will resonate with many readers. She considers the nature and importance of family and friends and understands that these relationships can be harmful as well as comforting so that I’m sure some readers will feel she is writing about them and not just characters in a book. There’s a sensitive and moving portrayal of grief and its effect on mental health through Ryan that I found touching and affecting. I loved the imagery of cooking and gardening too because those activities illustrate so thoughtfully how practical work and nature can lead to improved well-being. Poppy’s Recipe for Life certainly entertains but it supports and educates the reader too in a subtle and caring manner.

The community spirit in Nightingale Square is so beautifully conveyed. What I found fascinating about the author’s writing is that although there are several characters living and working around the square, Heidi Swain makes each one so distinct and real that I had no issue keeping track of them and their relationships. I felt I had come to know each person intimately and clearly – and my goodness I cared about them. The manner in which their personalities are developed, and their emotions and relationships are explored, elevate Poppy’s Recipe for Life into something more than the genre might suggest because there is depth to ponder as well as a superb narrative to enjoy.  I adored every one of the people here, but Poppy is a complete triumph.

Poppy is the kind of woman I’d aspire to be. She always tries to be positive and caring but is also so fabulously human and real that she doesn’t always achieve her goals. She sometimes doesn’t manage Ryan well and has a difficult relationship with her mother. It is her flaws that make her all the more compelling. I was desperate for her to have a happy ending but you will need to read Poppy’s Recipe for Life to find out whether that happens.

Poppy’s Recipe for Life genuinely put a smile on my face as I was read and the warm feelings of contentment, fulfilment and pleasure I had whilst reading it come flooding back when I think about it. I think that Heidi Swain has written the perfect example of this kind of fiction. I believe Poppy’s Recipe for Life is an outstanding example of its genre and cannot recommend it highly enough. It’s fabulous!

About Heidi Swain

Heidi Swain is the Sunday Times bestselling author of five novels: The Cherry Tree Cafe, Summer at Skylark Farm, Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market, Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage and most recently, Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair. She lives in Norfolk with her husband and two teenage children.

You can follow Heidi on Twitter @Heidi_Swain and visit her blog or website. You’ll also find Heidi on Facebook and there’s more with these other bloggers:

Giveaway

A Fabulous Poppy’s Recipe For Life Hamper

For your chance to win this glorious Poppy’s Recipe for Life hamper containing chocolates, a recipe card, Belvoir Elderflower and Rose Presse and a paperback copy of Poppy’s Recipe for Life by Heidi Swain, please click here.

Please note that, as this prize will be delivered by courier, this giveaway is only open to UK entrants who must be prepared to provide an address and telephone number which will not be retained after the prize has been delivered. Simon and Schuster will be sending the prize to the lucky winner!

Giveaway closes at UK midnight on Friday 7th June 2019.