Sunshine After the Rain

Escape to the Lakes, Book 4

De: Jessica Redland

Narrado por: Rebecca Norfolk

Escape to the Lakes with million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland for a BRAND NEW uplifting story of family, friendship and love

Melanie knows she’s been running away... But maybe there really is no place like home

For the last seven years Mel has been hiding; from life, from her friends and from those who love her the most - her family. But being at home in her beloved Lake District has been far too painful for Mel to contemplate. Because seven years ago, Mel lost everything and she’s never been able to banish the dark clouds that follow her.

When Mel returns to Willowdale for a family event, she has no intention of staying. But surrounded by her family she begins to realise just how much she's been missing and also, how much healing she still needs to do.

Starting a dream job at Willowdale Hall, going on walks with Emma and her funny alpacas and reconnecting with those she loves, Mel slowly begins to see chinks of light and a more hopeful and happier future ahead.

And as Mel begins to feel stronger, she also feels brave enough to face the most painful part of leaving home…the one man she has always loved. With his help, can she finally banish the dark clouds forever and see the sunshine after the rain?

©2025 Jessica Redland (P)2025 Boldwood Books

Loved every chapter

Beautiful book, well paced, simple romance w touching ending. Truly enjoyed every chapter and look forward to Jessica’s next book as I’ve listened to them all.

SUNSHINE AFTER THE RAIN…

As with ALL Jessica Redland’s books, I enjoyed her newest book tremendously.

Mel and Flynn once had a near perfect life — a beautiful home, a business partnership in a field they were both passionate about, and a son named Noah they both adored.

Then Noah died and their world fell apart. Mel left and started a new life elsewhere. A new life, but a very empty life.

Mel finally returns home to her family for her mother’s 80th birthday celebration. Mel is shocked to find how much her mother’s health has deteriorated in her absence. As much as she wants to be close to her family, so much time has gone by, and to Mel, doesn’t seem possible she’ll ever rebuild the broken bridges she alone created. Not after seven long years of cutting herself off physically and emotionally from everyone, especially her ex-husband.

While home, Mel is forced to look at the past and admit the estrangement she feels from everyone is HER fault — a fact she’s been running from for a very long time; something she’s been able to justify, rather than admitting to the fact SHE was the one who mentally and physically checked out. SHE left, not everyone else.

While working to rebuild relationships, little by little the circumstances of Noah’s death begin to emerge. Meanwhile, Mel is also offered her lifetime dream — to renovate the previous home of author, Beatrix Potter. Mel moves in while making the architectural renovation plans. There she makes new friends — especially the seven alpacas that live there as well.

In the story, many loved characters from previous books reappear, one of whom is Alice, the woman was physically broken when she was hit by a hit-and-run driver. She was broken even further when it eventually comes to light that the hit-and-run driver was someone she considered a friend.

Alice is far down the road in her recovery while Mel is really only starting hers. Alice’s experiences help Mel immensely. Alice introduces Mel to the Japanese art of Kintsuki — an old practice of taking broken crockery and repairing it with gold; the concept being to make something old and broken into something new, while at the same time, NOT attempting to hide the old, broken places. Related to life it means to embrace and incorporate the broken pieces into the “new,” stronger, more beautiful piece.

After losing two children of my own (in much different circumstances than Mel’s), this concept resonated tremendously with me. It’s been a long hard road to get to a place where I can embrace myself and my old life, while moving forward TOWARDS a new, happier place, with more days filled with sunshine rather than rain.

Ms. Redland fills her book with all the sentiments and details readers love from her. Ms. Redland shows that sunshine really CAN follow the rain.

I highly recommend this book it’s great as a stand-alone, but I think being familiar with characters from other books, will make it even better.

I can’t wait for another book from Ms. Redland. I hope she gives us a follow-up to Mel and Flynn.💕

I always enjoy a great story

I always appreciate the author's stories. There is always a happy ending, but there is so much real life in between as well. Can't wait for the next new series.