Matilda Next Door

Matilda has dreamt of leaving the outback to pursue her dreams, but doesn’t have the heart to leave her family in the lurch. She does, however, leap at the chance to flat sit in London while her childhood friend returns to Australia to care for his ailing grandparents. She doesn’t expect London to be so… huge, though. Intimidating, really, and is grateful for Henry’s video calls to check up on her. He’s changed since he left home. Taller, broader, more confident. Interesting.

And then the baby arrives.

Henry is shocked by how much his grandparents have aged since he left for university and a career in the big city. He’s grateful to Tilly for watching out for them and making sure they had plenty of home-cooked meals in the freezer. His grandmother is even more acerbic than he remembers (and the reason he left in the first place) but his grandfather’s patient tenderness for his sick wife is humbling and makes Henry glad he’s there to help. And he rather enjoys his calls to London, though Tilly looks disturbingly attractive wearing his shirts (her clothes are missing from the airline). Then a frantic call from Tilly throws the logical-minded Henry’s head for a loop.

A baby.

This is a cute girl-meets-boy-and-falls-in-love-many-years-later, romance. Henry is socially inept, and Matilda is the sweetheart of the community- always willing to help those in need. These two belong together

It took a long time for the main characters to come together (almost half the book) and I think it was a missed opportunity to create more friction between them. Overall- an enjoyable read.

Kelly Hunter is a master craftsman. Love her stories, and Matilda Next Door found an immediate home on my keeper shelf. 5 stars!

‘Matilda Next Door‘ begins the ‘Outback Brides Return to Wirralong‘ series, and if you’ve read the earlier series, ‘Outback Brides‘, then you’ll know that you are in for a treat as we return to a small town that, at times, seems bursting with life and love. Although this is a spin-off series in one way, you really don’t feel that you should have read the earlier one first. I would recommend it though, for those were also delightful romances set in a country with its own unique beauty.

Tilly and Henry were childhood friends and while Tilly may have had a crush on Henry, that certainly didn’t get in the way of their close friendship. They really are quite opposite of each other in personality, yet they fill in those open spaces for each other quite nicely. Henry might be considered cold by some people, yet that’s his personality. Tilly saw parts of him that the rest of the world just couldn’t. And one vacation that didn’t end up quite as expected, one baby, and two people who are right for each other are about to have the adventure of a lifetime – and maybe fall in love along the way.

I had fun with Henry and Tilly as they each opened their eyes to what was right in front of them all along. A feel-good romance that has edges of emotions that will keep you rooting for this couple throughout. Love the quirky residents of this small-town, the closeness of neighbors (no matter the actual distance), and watching Henry learn to deal with those pesky emotions and socializing with a wee babe. If you’re in the mood for a good, solid romance with likable characters, an adorable baby, and the beauty of the Outback – then pick up ‘Matilda Next Door‘ and get started on a new series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Tule Publishing. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I received this arc from Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I read the prior two Outback Brides series and I was excited to see a new series beginning. As with the other two, this is a multi-author series and the prior characters are mentioned and they made appearances in this book too. In Matilda Next Door, we meet Matilda, aka Tilley and Henry who also grew up in Wirralong. Matilda stayed and became a baker and helped out others in the community. Henry left for college In London and stayed, getting a job that allowed him to make a lot of money. Tilly and Henry were childhood best friends. Henry has decided to come home to visit his parents and Matilda heads to London to stay in Henry’s flat while he is away. She always wanted to travel and this is her chance to finally take a holiday.

Tilly has some challenging moments with her luggage being lost, trying to find her way to the museums, getting groceries to the flat, etc. Finally, a stranger arrives and leaves a baby with her that she told her was Henry’s. The mother died of cancer but left the paperwork for Henry to raise her. Tilly now has to also take on the care of an infant. Henry’s mother suffers a stroke and he can’t leave to go back to London so Matilda had to make the trek back home with the baby.

Henry has no experience with a baby so he has Tilly move in temporarily to help him with his daughter. He also has longtime issues with being socially awkward so he’s unsure how to proceed with Matilda and his daughter.Matilda realizes that she is in love with Henry and his daughter but is afraid she will get hurt. It was sweet learning that Henry always was interested in Tilley but felt he had to deny his feelings.

The story was so easy to read and enjoyable. All of Kelly’s books are always so well written. I loved the interactions between Henry and Matilda as well seeing the character growth for both of them. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars.

4.5 stars

I found this story to be a quick read with lots of warm-fuzzies. Kelly Hunter is a new-to-me author and, to be honest, I almost passed on this one due to timing issues. But I am a sucker for friends to lovers, and then you throw in a baby-on-the-doorstep element, I just can’t resist.

Even before baby Rowan shows up, Tilly and Henry have a chemistry that cannot be denied. And that was mostly via video chat! For the small bit of time Henry and Tilly are in the same space in the very beginning of this book, I really wasn’t sure how the author would find a groove with them. I felt a small spark, but wasn’t convinced. Then I spent the rest of the book with butterflies for these two people that obviously were meant to be together. There conversations when they were thousands of miles apart just melted me.

As outgoing as Tilly is, she never really let people know the real her. If she was hurt by their words or actions, she didn’t speak up but instead pasted on her congenial smile. Henry always saw right through her act, even as a child. While they have barely seen one another over the last 10 or so years, Henry finds Tilly is still the people pleaser she always was.

Henry is a tough nut to crack. He is very stoic and literal. He finds order in his life to be calming. It may not make him happy, but it also doesn’t make him sad. While most people around Henry, including those that raised him, think his serious demeanor translates to him not knowing how to love, Tilly knows this isn’t true. She sees the young boy inside of Henry who was ignored by his mom and verbally berated by his grandmother, and knows his quiet ways are a defense. Henry broke my heart into a million pieces more than once. That man has been through it in his life and deserves all the happiness and joy Tilly can bring to him.

One of the things I loved about this story is Tilly’s understanding. She has quite a few bouts of insecurities when it comes to the relationship she begins to build with Henry. It’s really no fault of his, either. And Tilly gets that. She gets that Henry doesn’t know how to open up because he was never taught to speak his mind…his hopes, and fears, and dreams. So instead of going off half-cocked in anger, jealousy, or defeat, Tilly thinks things through first. Henry, in his own way, does the same. These two might not always talk to each other when they should, but they do eventually talk and work things out.

This series is one of those where each book is written by a different author. It has a great start with this story and I’m hoping the rest can live up to the standards that are now set.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter
Outback Brides Return to Wirralong, Book 1
Aussie farm girl Matilda Moore kicks off her dream trip to London by flat-sitting for her childhood friend. But London is daunting, crowded and noisy, and that’s before Tilly finds a baby on the doorstep. There’s a note attached: “Henry, if you’re reading this, please know the worst has happened.”
When a long-anticipated holiday takes an unexpected turn…
Probability expert Henry Church has finally returned home to Wirralong, Australia to see his grandparents when he gets a phone call from Tilly that breaks every statistical analysis. The probability of him being the father is marginal. Plus, he knows nothing about caring for a baby. Emotions and socializing are even bigger mysteries. He begs Tilly for help—can she cut her holiday short and bring the baby to Wirralong?
Tilly will do almost anything for her childhood best friend, but falling in love with him and his motherless baby is an emphatic no. Out of the question. Or is it?
This is Matilda Moore and Henry Church’s story.
Matilda Moore of Moore Creek Station had two loving, smothering parents, no siblings, and a clothing wardrobe heavily stacked towards denim and plaid. Early dreams of becoming a ballerina had come to naught. For one, there had been no ballet teacher in her particular stretch of rural Australia.
Secondly, she’d never for one minute been graceful, willowy or ethereal. Sturdy was more the word that came to mind when people thought of Tilly.
Able to drench a mob of sheep and sing along to the radio while she did it— out of tune and unconcerned because who was going to hear her anyway?
Henry, who’d been raised by his elderly grandparents who were getting frailer every year, and yet somehow he’d still managed to escape Wirralong in order to build a life of his own. Henry, who was coming home from London for a month to visit his grandparents, while Tilly took her first overseas trip, and apartment-sat Henry’s London bachelor pad for him while he was away.
‘Have you heard from Henry? When’s he coming in?’ ‘February fifteenth. Two days before I leave. Which is …’ She’d best start using the calendar. ‘… eight days away. I told him I’d pick him up from the
airport in Melbourne but he said no.’ ‘You’re not his chauffeur.’ ‘Yeah, but I had to offer. I’m going to be living in his fancy Trafalgar Square apartment for a month for free.’
I highly recommend reading.
Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter
Kelly’s Books with Tule:
What a Bride Wants
Great Wedding Giveaway
The Courage of Eli Jackson
The Jackson Brothers
The Heart of Caleb Jackson
The Jackson Brothers
What a Bachelor Needs
Bachelor Auction

The Great Wedding Giveaway
Pursued by the Rogue
The Fairy Tales of New York

The Downfall of Cutter Jackson
The Jackson Brothers
Must Love Cowboys
American Extreme Bull Riders Tour
Maggie’s Run
Outback Brides

Outback Brides of Wirralong: Emma
Outback Brides of Wirralong
Matilda Next Door
Outback Brides Return to Wirralong

Outback Brides Return to Wirralong
Book 1
Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter

Book 2
Maeve’s Baby by Fiona McArthur

Book 3
Serenity’s Song by Cathryn Hein

Book 4
A Nanny Called Alice by Barbara Hannay

A romance unlike many other books I’ve read a strong, confident woman with a big heart loves the man she grew up with. He’s stoic and what people perceive as cold. But that is from outward appearances. Aren’t we like that too. Come to a conclusion about someone’s personality based on what we see without really trying to get to know the real person inside. You could certainly not know what the benefits would be if you just take the time. Tilley certainly learns this lesson and by her encouragement and love, Henry does too.
Certainly learned a lot of colloquial words common to Australians in this book. Sometimes it was hard to follow along but certainly worth the time to expand my knowledge.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I was given an advance reader’s copy of this book which I really enjoyed but it left me wondering about one little detail which I cannot say as it would be a spoiler.
I really liked the main characters, the plot and I am really hoping for a follow up on this story.

I recently had the pleasure of reading Kelly Hunter’s Matilda Next Door, book #1 in the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong series. This story centers around the always close emotionally, but lately geographically distant friendship of Matilda Moore and Henry Church. Matilda, or Tilly, was and is the ranchers’ daughter that is friends with everyone… always caring for her friends and family. Henry, because of his mother’s death, was forced to live with his grandparents since elementary school. Henry is socially awkward, aloof with most people… never with Tilly. She is his one true friend in life. Henry has grown up to be a brilliant, but often misunderstood analyst in London, far, far away from Australia.

Henry is returning for a month-long visit with his grandparents. Tilly, in turn is flying to London to house sit his posh flat, and to finally have her dream vacation. Henry finds his grandparents more feeble than he had expected. Tilly suffers from her luggage being lost… also from the cold harshness of an unfamiliar metropolitan city. Both are struggling, and commiserating through daily video calls. This is when the craziness intensifies… Henry’s grandmother Beth, who is a pessimistic killjoy, suffers a medical emergency, and an unknown baby, supposedly Henry’s, is deposited upon Tilly. Nothing rachets up craziness and struggle like an unexpected baby!

This story was incredibly easy to read. In fact, I wish it had been 1000 pages longer! The story is great! The settings new, intriguing, and each supporting character adds rich embroidery to this lovely book. Will Tilly’s and Henry’s commiseration develop into more? Will Tilly’s jealousy of Amanda, the deceased mother of baby Rowan derail Tilly and Henry? Will her parents and his grandparents help or hurt their new relationship? Will Henry stay in Wirralong? Is there hope for Tilly, Henry, and baby Rowan?

Matilda Next Door is a lovely and fun book to enjoy!