Produced by Ian Kearey, the album features contributions from Dave Arthur, Matthew Shaw, Nathan Salsburg, Ossian Brown, Pete Cooper, Pip Barnes, John Watcham and Glen Redman.

[11] Ben Hogwood of musicOMH said, "The voice of Shirley Collins is blossoming again, delivering its compelling stories with the urgency of a singer who simply had to make this record.

[6] AllMusic's Mark Deming said, "Heart's Ease goes further, revealing she's still a vital performer and an artist willing to explore new and unfamiliar territory, suggesting a more interesting future than listeners might have imagined".

[5] Mike Goldsmith of Record Collector said, "Heart's Ease is ample evidence that Shirley Collins still has the ambition, passion and guts to not only document where folk has come from but where it's going.

[8] The Guardian critic Jude Rogers stated, "Collins' past, present and future come together to form a fascinating picture of her full, complex character".