The breathtaking promise of the English countryside can lift even the heaviest spirits . . . Willow Armstrong, the once-famous “Queen of Weight Loss” and president of Pound Busters, succumbed to stress eating after her divorce. Now the scandal of getting caught on camera binging on pizza, and the internet-wide mocking of her new curves, may destroy her career. Add in a business advisor who … business advisor who drained her finances, and Willow is out of options—until she learns she’s inherited a house in England’s most picturesque locale, The Cotswolds.
Willow’s trip across the pond to sell the property and salvage her company soon becomes its own adventure: the house, once owned by grandparents she never met, needs major work. Plus, single dad Owen Hughes, the estate’s resident groundskeeper and owner of a local tour outfit, isn’t thrilled about the idea of leaving . . .
Yet as Willow proceeds with her plans, she’s sidetracked by surprising discoveries about her family’s history–and with Owen’s help, the area’s distinctive attractions. Soon, she’s even retracing her roots—and testing her endurance—amid the region’s natural beauty. And the more she delves into the past, the more clearly she sees herself, her future, and the way home . . .
Praise for Sharon Struth
“Struth has a gift for layering stories within stories while keeping them all connected.”
—Library Journal
“Struth is an author to watch!”
—Laura Drake, author of RITA-award winner The Sweet Spot
“Sharon Struth writes a good story about love and loss. She knows her characters and has a path she wants them to take.” —Eye on Romance
“The plot is refreshing and will definitely keep the reader turning page after page.”
—Fresh Fiction
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Willow’s Way made me smile and want to read more by this author.
This was my first time reading Ms. Struth’s work but it won’t be the last. This was a really good story involving so many issues (weight loss, self esteem, family secrets, loss) along with a delightful trip to England where we get to visit the Cotswolds. Loved the characters including the dog! They were very likable and realistic. Lovely romance too!
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
In Willow’s Way, author Sharon Struth weaves a wonderful women’s fiction story about a woman’s personal journey of rediscovering herself.
Willow Armstrong is a forty-year-old divorced woman and founder/CEO of Pound Busters, a successful weight loss company. Willow has always struggled with insecurity and has been self-conscious about her weight since childhood. She had lived in the shadow of a mother who had been a model, and a step-father who ridiculed her. Twenty years ago, at the end of college, Willow started Pound Busters, and became known as “The Queen of Weight Loss.” But two years ago after a very embarrassing and publicly humiliating divorce from her ex-husband, Richard Carter, Lieutenant Governor of New York, Willow had a significant weight gain which led to public fat-shaming and an unsure future with the Board of Directors of Pound Busters.
Desperate to figure out how to change her life around, Willow discovers that she has inherited property in Bitton, England, which had originally been bequeathed to her mother who had passed away in a car accident. Willow travels to England to check out the property and is surprised to uncover long-held family secrets. Along the way, Willow gets a second chance of rediscovering herself with the help of Owen Hughes, a single father and estate groundskeeper and owner of a tour company.
Willow’s Way is a delightful story that transports the reader across the pond to the picturesque English Cotswolds countryside. You can’t help but empathize with Willow as her trip to England leads her on a personal journey to find her way after going through some very traumatic and painful situations in her life. With the help of Owen Hughes, Willow learns about her family’s past history and gets a second chance to learn how to love herself as she is. You can’t help but cheer Willow on as her adventure in England gives her a chance to move forward with her life, and a little bit of romance added to the mix!
With an enjoyable cast of characters, a richly vivid English countryside setting, and a realistic story of struggle and rediscovery, Willow’s Way is a heartwarming women’s fiction tale that will keep the reader engaged from beginning to end!
Willow’s Way is the second book in the Sweet Life Series but is a standalone read.
This is a really sweet story. The kind our hearts need now and then. The setting is an old rundown house with a cottage on the property. Right now that cottage has a widower with a daughter and a neat and funny grandmother living there. Will they be able to continue doing so? The house was left to Willow whose mother ran away when she was pregnant with Willow. Willow’s mother never told her anything about any family at all and the need to know something, anything, about a family that is now non-existent, seems to haunt her. This is also a story about problems we all have that really come down to lack of self-confidence in the end. Trying to overcome those problems is a lot of work but meeting someone to help you makes a big difference.
Sharon Struth writes a lovely story with true to life characters and description of a setting you can almost see. A story everyone can identify with and yet…one you can’t be sure how it will end.
Sharon Struth has a lot of very enjoyable, very dear books like this. Don’t miss any.
**This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Willow’s Way (A Sweet Life Novel #2) by Sharon Struth is a delightfully romantic story with a bit of adventure. How embarrassing for Willow Armstrong, a weight coach and owner of a weight loss company called Pound Busters to be caught by the media when she is giving in to temptation and cramming a slice of pizza into her mouth while driving. A recent bout of emotional eating has added some extra curves on her previously lean frame and this has caused the board members of Pound Busters to question her ability to continue as the president of the company. In her anguish over losing her fortune to a scamming business manager, she goes to her hidden nest egg and finds forgotten documents and a will which reveals she had inherited a home through the default from her mother. She is surprised to find out she had been denied the possibility of meeting grandparents in Bitton, England. So, off Willow goes to England to see the house her grandparents had left for her, and find some answers about her family.
I won’t post spoilers, but I really enjoyed the character of Willow and the friends she makes during her journey. Her thoughts about her life as she starts a walking tour adventure along the Cotswold Way are very emotional. She comes to terms with her constant efforts to prove her worth to others.
A refreshingly wonderful reading experience!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This was a sweet book. As someone who struggles with her weight, it was uplifting and encouraging. While the story is fiction, the emotions that revolve around weight control and lack of self-esteem was spot on. I loved how Willow grew and developed into a self-assured young woman.
The characters in this book were delightful. From Willow to Jilly to Owen to Henry, the dog. You find yourself smiling at their interactions and their antics. This was a wonderful story of rediscovering who you really are, where you are from, and where you want to go. The setting in Cotswalds countryside in England is another plus and has you wanting to plan a trip to visit the area.
The author has done a wonderful job of drawing us into Willow’s life and her struggles and has us cheering her on as she matures and develops into a lovely young woman who is secure in the knowledge of the wonderful person that has been buried deep inside her. Her personal journey is touching and encouraging.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an unbiased review.