Hetty runs a small party planning business and when she comes up with the idea of bringing back the Strawberry Festival in Swallowtail Bay it looks like she has a fight on her hands. The only place big enough and available to hold the huge event she has in mind are the fields attached to Thornhill Hall, the rundown hall above the town. The man who runs the hall is son and heir, John Thornhill and he is not interested in holding the event on his family’s land. Hetty isn’t one to give up easily and despite John’s continued refusal wears him down and persuades him that not only will the festival be good for the townsfolk but sharing the proceeds with his family will bring in much needed funds to help with repairs at the hall.

I loved Hetty, she’s a strong, determined woman who doesn’t let much get in her way when she makes her mind up. She slowly realises that the scowling John Thornhill is rather attractive when he smiles and even when her gorgeous baker ex, Ben returns determined to win her back, she finds it difficult to push John from her mind. John is gorgeous and reminded me very much of one of my favourite TV heroes, John Thornton (played so perfectly by Richard Armitage). John has to cope with his ambitious brother, Felix, his mother who, thanks to his father losing all their money in an unwise investment is now embarrassed to face the locals, and his father who spends all his time keeping away from people in his garden.

Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay is book two in the Swallowtail Bay series. I hadn’t read the previous book though, but it wasn’t necessary as this one works well as a standalone. This is a fast-paced, well-written, fun-filled story with a determined heroine and a gorgeous hero, what’s not to love? Thanks to HQ Digital for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.