Improbable, yet still fun to follow plot and character twists and turns lead the way,
along with the beautiful scenery and fun sheep-in-sheep's clothing.

(Even in 2009 edition, a fat NO to mention of trump.)

When the last locked cellar door was opened, I hoped to see that the Blackwell Home had played
a big part in the Underground Railroad.

More Diversity welcome in all the books!

Readers may well hope that Mandy is woven in for a good Noah memory. ( )

Donna Ball's Ladyburg Farm series is a lovely escape from the world. At Home on Ladybug Farm is the second book and follows the story of three friends--Lindsey, Bridget and Cici--as they move into the next year of life on an old farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Cici's daughter Lori joins them and we learn more about Noah, the talented young artist they have incorporated into their household. Bambi the deer is joined by sheep and pigs and, as someone who kept farm animals, I laughed out loud a few times at the shenanigans. ( )

Wonderful, fun story. I love these characters! ( )

So, this picks up just a few months from where we left off after the first book.

The ladies now have 2 late-teen kiddos living with them and contributing some slave labor to the household. The older of the two is a college dropout, spoiled and strikes me as the “ooh, it’s tooooo haaaard, I don’t liiiiiike it” kind of why girl I love to hate. So she has like this totally brill plan, yeah, to like make money with like, uh the farm. Or several totally brill and not actually well-researched or thought out plans. No, she doesn’t actually speak that way in the book, but damned if I didn’t hear that in the back of my head.

The boy teen is really just fodder for drama–nothing house-related except that he does work around the house (and nearly burns stuff down and steals other things). I’ve got little use for his story line.

A change from the last book, that initially I hated, then I liked, then it took a left turn at “really, really, you just didn’t have to do that” is these snippet chapters where we see a little bit into the lives of women who have lived at the house over the years. I think I was mixed on this because this is really a “life and times of x persons” type of book who rest on renovations as facilitating why they are together and we care (like life and times books of knitters or book groups). And I haven’t been coached to care about the characters who are from different times that don’t impact the current characters in the book–or do they??? That’s all I’ll say about it. I won’t spoil the details, but contrived and unbelievable are two words to describe how I feel about it.

So, this is clearly less positive than the last review. And yet, I still like the farm. I’d still read another. The writing is still well done–despite the plot wanting some help at times. And for as much as I hate the totally brill idea chick, it’s kind of fun contemplating what the different ideas actually implemented would mean for the farm.

Read it if you liked the first one. ( )

I love this Ladybug Farm Series! This is the kind of book you do not want to end-you can image yourself as one of the three 50 (something) women, planning their day which comes with many obstacles and challenges. It is so exciting-their adventures, and planning their future (even though they thought they were retiring), and yet so much more to life.

I love the characters and the connections of the three women who are best friends, who gave up their city life to live in the country and tackle the restoration of an historic estate in Virginia. I adore their friendship with gay couple (Derrick and Paul-they are divine) and can image them sitting around drinking wine in the gardens and love their style!

What was very exciting about this #2 installment of the series was adding more from Lori (Cici’s daughter) which grows up and matures during the book, and learning more details about Noah (teen who is helping them out on the farm which they take under their wing), especially Lindsay. She is a mentor to him in so many ways from the art, landscape design, to every aspect of the land and home. I fell in love with his character. Also Ida May (housekeeper) is hiding a lot of stories throughout the book which comes to surface with a little historical fiction from past generations of the lovely historic home and how they seamlessly blend into this new generation.

This book will make you laugh and cry (the animals are funny and all the crazy things which happen, but there is so much love here). Cannot wait to see what is happening in the next book! This sequel is amazing and love Donna Ball’s writing style. I want to savor each moment as love everything about this series from the gourmet cooking, gardening, restoration, entertaining, designing, friendship, to being creative and thinking outside the box.

When you love historic inns, properties, real estate, and bed and breakfast and especially elegant farm inns, you can relate. This is a 5 star series and highly recommend. I have already purchased the e-book #3 (Love Letters from Ladybug Farm).

After reading Donna latest, “The Hummingbird House” (2013), I had to begin reading Ladybug Farm series and I am thorough enjoying it. I can escape with this book and imagine myself in the setting (not sure when I am going to get any work done), as want to lock myself in and enjoy this delightful and charming series!

All about dreams and making them happen – never giving up. An inspiring read which you will not soon forget!
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