New Arrivals at Hedgehog Hollow

by Jessica Redland

  I wanted to dedicate this book to Richard – a fun-loving, gentle man who I always picture with a big smile on his face – and it felt particularly appropriate to do so because I was writing Book 1 the last time I saw him in February and writing my first draft of Book 2 when he left us. Rest in peace, Richard xx

  My continued appreciation goes to my Auntie Gwen who rescues hedgehogs and who provided the original inspiration for writing a book set in a rescue centre. One of my favourite prickly characters, Gollum, is inspired by one of Auntie Gwen’s permanent patients, Baldy, and I’ve used some of her treatment knowledge too.

  Thank you to my brother, Chris Williams, for his pharmaceutical expertise and advice and to Tracy Underwood for her expertise on counselling. I also researched Hodgkin lymphoma in depth and am grateful to the valuable information available online from the NHS and various cancer charities including Anthony Nolan, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and DKMS. I needed to make specific decisions, based on my research, about Paul’s treatment and his response to this. Each cancer patient’s journey is unique to them so Paul’s experiences may differ to others who have been diagnosed with the same type of cancer.

  This is the first book of mine that hasn’t been read by my beta readers. It’s not that I didn’t want them to, but more that I finished it at the eleventh hour and had no time to seek their advice. Mum, Liz and Sharon – hope you enjoy discovering one of my stories in its final format for once rather than an early draft!

  Of the eleven books I’ve written, this has been the hardest. I think of writing series as being my thing but it only struck me when I was a little way into New Arrivals… that this is the first time I’ve written a series or connected book using the same main character. All of my other books have a new heroine each time. And, suddenly, I was thrown. There was more of Samantha’s story I wanted to tell but much of the plot revolved round Josh and his family situation and it wasn’t working telling this purely through Samantha’s eyes. I sent a frantic email to my amazing editor, Nia Beynon, asking her how she felt about me writing from both Samantha’s and Josh’s perspectives. She was very happy to go for that and, thankfully, the story began flowing much more freely.

  As well as being the hardest to write, this book became the hardest to edit. Although Nia loved the story, she felt the timescale needed adjusting. She was right. She always is. But doing that had a massive knock-on effect on so many parts of the story and I effectively had to unpick it and sew it back together in a completely different way including writing a host of brand new scenes. It nearly broke me. I spent days on end, staring at my computer, wondering if I was capable of doing it but Nia was there with ideas, support and encouragement and it got there in the end. Nia – you are absolutely the best.

  As always, thank you to Dushi Horti and Sue Lamprell for their expertise in copy editing and proofreading and to Debbie Clement for this stunning cover. Isn’t it just gorgeous? And, of course, thanks to the whole of the team at Boldwood Books who are the most supportive, friendly, professional publisher with whom it is an absolute pleasure to work. Boldwood – I’m thrilled to have signed another contract with you – a whopping 12-book one – meaning lots more stories are on the way! Thanks also to my fellow Boldwood authors who read and promote my work. You’re all so amazing.

  Thank you also to the fabulous Emma Swan for bringing the characters to life on the audio version of New Arrivals at Hedgehog Hollow. It sounds incredible. And thanks to ISIS Audio for producing the recording and Ulverscroft for distributing it.

  In among the challenges of lockdown and the sadness of losing Richard, summer 2020 brought me something pretty amazing. Since becoming a published author in 2015, I’ve dreamed of being able to write full-time. Thanks to Boldwood Books and my amazing readers, I’ve now achieved that dream and I still can’t believe I get to spend my days chatting to my imaginary friends and making stuff up. Most of the time, it doesn’t feel like work and I cannot thank you all enough for making this possible.

  The other two people who made my dream possible are my incredible husband and daughter who support me, champion me and understand me – even when imposter syndrome takes hold and I feel like a fraud pretending to be a real author. Mark and Ashleigh, I love you both so much xx

  Thank you to Rachel Gilbey for organising a fabulous blog tour and to all the bloggers/reviewers who give their time for free, reading and reviewing my books, then promoting them to their followers. I felt so much love from this community for Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow and hope New Arrivals… is loved just as much. There are so many bloggers I would love to name but it would be a pretty long list so, to all those who have given a lovely review for one, two or all of my books, you are superstars and I am so grateful for everything you do.

  Last, but not least, we ran a competition in the summer. Subscribers to my newsletter were put into a draw and the winner was asked to name a hedgehog which would appear in this book. I hoped that the chosen name would be an exciting one and I couldn’t have been more thrilled when the winner, Sarah Rothman, suggested Snoop Hoggy Hog. I laughed out loud when I heard it and couldn’t wait to include it. I hope it gave you a laugh too. Thank you, Sarah. That was inspired. I hope you enjoy your copy of New Arrivals at Hedgehog Hollow with Snoop Hoggy Hog making his debut appearance in Chapter 33.

  If you’ve loved this second trip to Hedgehog Hollow, I’d be ever so grateful for a review – a sentence is enough – and a recommendation to friends and family. I’m off to write the third instalment now!

  Love and hugs

  Jessica xx

  Hedgehog True/False

  Hedgehogs are born with spines

  FALSE - Imagine poor mum giving birth if they had spines! Ouch! When hoglets are born, their skin is covered in fluid and, after a few hours, this is reabsorbed and soft white spines erupt from the skin

  * * *

  Hedgehogs are good swimmers

  TRUE - They're really good swimmers and, perhaps even more surprisingly, can climb trees. They do sometimes drown, though. It's not the swimming that's the problem; it's the getting out again

  * * *

  Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets

  TRUE - Isn't it cute? They're sometimes known as piglets, pups or kittens but the official term is hoglets

  * * *

  Hedgehogs are nocturnal

  TRUE - They are nocturnal although. It's not unknown for them to be out and about during the day but this is often a sign that something's wrong

  * * *

  Hedgehogs can run in short bursts at speeds of up to 3mph

  FALSE - They're even faster than that. They are surprisingly nippy and can reach top speeds of 5.5mph in short bursts. Go hedgehogs!

  * * *

  Hedgehogs lose half their body weight during hibernation

  FALSE - It's actually just over a third but that's still a significant amount and hedgehogs fresh from hibernation are going to need some major feasts to build up their strength quickly

  * * *

  Hedgehogs got their name in the Middle Ages from the word 'hygehoge' which translates today as 'hedge' and 'pig' combined

  TRUE - The name does what it says on the tin! They snuffle round hedges for their foot and this snuffling/grunting is just like a pig

  * * *

  Hedgehogs have good eyesight

  TRUE - It's often believed that their eyesight is poor but it's not the case. They simply don't use their eyes because they don't need to. They have a keen sense of smell, taste and hearing and it's these senses they will use far more than their eyesight

  * * *

  Hedgehogs are quiet eaters

  FALSE - They're very noisy when they eat. They love their food and will slurp, crunch and lip-smack with their mouths open. Not the ideal dinner guest!

  Hedgehog Dos and Dont’s

  Food and Drink

  * * *

  DO NOT give hedgehogs milk to drink. They are lactose intolerant. Dairy products will
give them diarrhoea which will dehydrate them and can kill them

  * * *

  DO give hedgehogs water but please have this in a shallow dish. If it's in a deep dish, the risk is that they'll fall in and be unable to get out again

  * * *

  DO give hedgehogs dog or cat food - tin, pouch or biscuit format - but not fishy varieties

  * * *

  DO try to create a feeding station for a hedgehog so that other garden visitors (including cats) don't beat the hedgehog to it. You don't need to buy anything expensive. There are loads of tutorials and factsheets online around creating your own simple station

  * * *

  Your Garden

  * * *

  DO avoid having fences with no gaps under them. Hedgehogs can travel a long way in an evening and they rely on being able to move from one garden to the next. Or you can create a hedgehog highway in your fence

  * * *

  DO place a ramp by a pond so that, if a hedgehog falls, it can easily get out

  * * *

  DO NOT let your dog out into your garden during babies season (May/June and Sept/Oct) without checking there are no hoglets out there first

  * * *

  DO build a bug hotel and DO plant bug-friendly plants. It will attract all sorts of delicious food for your hedgehogs

  * * *

  DO NOT use slug pellets. Hedgehogs love to eat slugs so pellets reduce their food supply and/or poison hedgehogs

  * * *

  DO have a compost heap or a messy part in your garden. If you can have some sticks/wood piled up in a safe corner, this makes a perfect habitat for hibernating

  * * *

  DO check your garden before strimming or mowing. Garden machinery can cause horrific accidents or fatalities

  * * *

  DO NOT leave netting out as hedgehogs can become trapped in it. If you have football goals in your garden, lift the netting up overnight and secure it safely to avoid injury or fatalities

  * * *

  DO always check bonfires before lighting as there may well be hogs nestling in there

  * * *

  Finding Hogs

  * * *

  DON'T assume that a hedgehog out in the daylight is in danger. They usually are but watch first. It could be a mum nesting. If it's moving quickly and appears to be gathering food or nesting materials, leave it alone. If this isn't the case, then something is likely to wrong. Seek help

  * * *

  DO handle hedgehogs with gardening glove - those spines are there to protect the hogs and hurt predators - but keep handling to a minimum. Stay calm and quiet and be gentle with them. Transfer them into a high-sided box or crate with a towel, fleecy blanket or shredded newspaper (and a thick layer of paper on the bottom to soak up their many toilet visits). This will help keep them warm and give them somewhere to hide. Make sure there are plenty of air holes

  * * *

  DON'T move hoglets if you accidentally uncover a nest but, if mum isn't there, do keep an eye on the nest and seek help if mum doesn't return. Hoglets won't survive long without their mother's milk. Put some water and food nearby so mum (assuming she returns) doesn't have far to travel for sustenance. If the hoglets are squeaking, this means they are hungry and you may need to call help if this continues and there's no sign of mum

  More from Jessica Redland

  We hope you enjoyed reading New Arrivals at Hedgehog Hollow. If you did, please leave a review.

  * * *

  If you’d like to gift a copy, this book is also available as a paperback, digital audio download and audiobook CD.

  * * *

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  You can buy The Secret To Happiness, another wonderful novel from Jessica Redland, by clicking on the image below. Or read on for an exclusive extract…

  Chapter 1

  Alison

  * * *

  It had to be time to get up for work. Surely. Alison stretched her arm out from under the duvet and retrieved her mobile from the bedside drawers. The bedroom briefly illuminated as she checked the time. 5.38 a.m. Not time for work, then.

  She turned her head towards the window. It had been raining for three hours and forty-seven minutes now. Starting with a torrential downpour at 1.51 a.m., it had now settled into a slow but steady rhythm. And she’d been wide awake for every single drop.

  Beside her, Dave was in a deep untroubled sleep, punctuated by the occasional grunt or snore.

  She slowly turned over to face him, but he had his back to her as usual. He muttered something when she gave him a gentle nudge, but didn’t wake up. She was about to give him a harder shove but stopped herself. What was the point? He’d only tell her to go back to sleep. Sleep? If only she could. And he’d tell her that getting upset about it wasn’t going to change anything. No, it wasn’t. But a hug and comforting words might help her find the strength to face the hardest day of the year.

  Peeling back the duvet, Alison pulled on her fluffy dressing gown and padded downstairs to the kitchen.

  The familiar feeling of despair enveloped her as the fluorescent tubing flickered then burst into life revealing the concrete flooring, bare plaster, and dilapidated dark wood units. Oh, the joys of living with a builder: a house full of unfinished projects because Dave couldn’t bear to spend his evenings and weekends doing what he did all day. Of course, paying someone else to do it was completely out of the question. She’d stupidly suggested that once. Never again.

  The dining room had been out of action for four years because it was packed out with boxes containing the new kitchen. It wasn’t good to moan about that either. Besides, they had no social life, so who would they invite round for a meal even if it was in use?

  He’d promised this would be the year for sorting it, though, and had even booked a week off work next month to finally fit the kitchen. She wouldn’t hold her breath.

  *

  Alison placed a giant mug of milky, sugary tea on the coffee table in the lounge and took a few deep breaths. It was time.

  Crouching down, she opened the cupboard on her grandma’s old dresser. There it was, nestled under Trivial Pursuit, a guidebook for Corfu, and a pack of playing cards. She lightly ran her fingers down the navy spine of the large photo album, goosebumps pricking her arms, then carefully removed it.

  Curling up on the large tub chair with the unopened album resting on her legs, Alison closed her eyes and breathed in and out slowly, trying to steady her racing heart. Fifteen years. Had it really been that long?

  As she slowly turned page after page, photos first, then newspaper clippings, the rain continued its patter against the front of the house and Alison’s tears kept in time with the slow and steady rhythm of the drops.

  *

  Alison was in the kitchen eating breakfast when she heard Dave thunder down the stairs. She glanced at her watch, tensing. He was running late as usual, which would somehow be her fault.

  ‘Where’ve you put my phone?’ he demanded as he strode down the hall, sounding more like an army sergeant than a loving boyfriend. A hefty six-foot-three rugby player, he dominated the kitchen doorway, blocking out the natural light from the glass either side of the front door.

  ‘I think you might have plugged it in to charge in the lounge,’ she said softly, knowing full well that he had.

  When Dave returned to the kitchen, phone in hand, she looked up at him expectantly, but he didn’t even glance at her. She willed him to look at her, to hug her, to tell her he was there for her. He’d forgotten last year but surely he wouldn’t do that again.

  ‘What were you doing up so early?’ he asked, his voice still gruff.

  Alison felt herself deflate. ‘I couldn’t sleep,’ she muttered. ‘Too much in my head.’

  He yanked open the fridge. ‘Where’s my butties?’

  Alison’s shoulders drooped even further. ‘In the blue container.’ Sh
e picked up her second warm croissant and slathered it with butter, blinking back the tears. He’d forgotten it again; he was more concerned with his sandwiches than her, as usual.

  Pushing a stray dark curl behind her ear, Alison took another deep breath. She’d have to prompt him. Last year, she hadn’t said anything until the following day and he’d had a go at her for not reminding him on the day. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  ‘So, it’s the 11th of May today.’

  He closed the fridge door and stared at her. ‘And…?’

  ‘And… well… it’s… you know…’

  ‘Ali! I’m late. Spit it out or shut up.’

  His eyes bored into her and she felt that momentary burst of confidence ebbing away. ‘Never mind. It’s nothing.’

  Dave dropped his packed lunch into his toolbox. ‘Where’s the bananas?’

  Damn! She knew she’d forgotten something. ‘Still on the shop shelves? Sorry. There’s pears.’

  ‘Bloody hell, Ali,’ he snapped. ‘When have I ever liked pears?’

  She continued eating while he wittered about pears being the devil’s fruit. Why did he have to make such a fuss about little things like that? Especially today.