Green Hills and Daffodils

The Green Hills Series, Book 1

By: Celyn Kendrick

Narrated by: Elena Valentine

Length: 13 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

American Jane Dawson is in search of balance in her life—because she falls on her face—a lot. Now, surrounded by thousands of acres of sheep-poop and social landmines, her romantic sheepdog hero, Moss, stands by her side, looking handsome and dignified while his luxurious hair is swept by unseen winds—until he eats the sheep-poop, that is. Full of history, mythology and legend, there is more to the odd little town than its idyllic sheep-filled pastures. Amongst an unforgettable cast of characters, Jane discovers the community and companionship she hadn’t even known she’d been looking for—especially with her new neighbor. No, not the hot widower-landlord Crabby McCrabbit-Pants (known to most as Rhys Kellan), but the sweet and painfully shy Stewart Rygby. With Jane acting as his champion, Stewart emerges from his shell to start uncovering secrets that have defined his life thus far. Through shifts in legislation and culture, Stewart is freer to be himself than at any time in history—but who is that? A tale for the ages, the story begins to emerge in this exciting first book of the Green Hills series!

©2022 Celyn Kendrick (P)2023 Celyn Kendrick

I liked it but at the same time I didn't.

I received a free audiobook copy in exchange for a review.

She goes to another country, gets her sheep, falls in love/lust, and makes friends. The end. So I have to ask. What exactly was the conflict? What was the reader supposed to root for? Everyone lived a pretty calm life, only tiny problems popped up, like the MC tripping or saying bad, and that was it.

I enjoyed the story, the setting, and that there were funnies. I liked the main character because she said what was on her mind and often she’d say something “inappropriate" and, based on the other character’s reactions, made me laugh. But it was too smooth of a read because there were barely any problems. The biggest problem, which should have been focused/involved the MC, mainly dealt with Stewart and his family (all stuff that happened in the past). Otherwise, the story ends on a cliffhanger, leaving me to imagine the writer just cutting her book off so she could turn it into a series for more $$$. I hate when authors do that. It’s like they write a really long manuscript, are told it will have to be shortened or made into a series, and bam! Instead of rewriting parts so each book includes the required "pieces” and have it end "correctly," they just stop and say, “The end,” and then begin book 2. I figured there would have been more about the MC figuring out and executing what she would do instead of going back to the US, but that was more like a subplot.

Anyway, I found a lot of repetition throughout the story, which I dislike. But, thankfully, there were no other big issues that stood out to me.

I know it can entice readers to have stories parallel to what’s currently happening in the real world/society, but in this case, no. I'm so over what's trying to be forced down our throats. I don’t know anything about the writer but I think she must be young or just trying to “fit in.” It seems the younger crowd is all about being nonbinary people, “woke,” neurodivergent, and part of the LGBTQ+ group, hence all the gay and/or bisexual characters in this story. It's seem the majority of people "into" the above have most of the above going on with them personally, as an individual. It's too much for me.

The one area that confused me was the age gap between Stewart and Michael. If Micheal’s sexually-motivated letters didn’t start until he was 18… Well, even then, I would be questioning that since Stewart was so much older. Why would the author have had him start those at 16 when he's sending these letters to a 30-year-old? Sorry, that was just a weird relationship there.

The narrator did an awesome job. I loved her accents!

Captivating listening

"Green Hills and Daffodils" is a heartwarming tale that combines romance, history, and a touch of whimsy. The audiobook captures the essence of the story with Elena Valentine's engaging narration, bringing the characters and their journey to life. If you're looking for an enchanting and feel-good listen, this book is a perfect choice to escape into the charming world of The Green Hills Series.