A Very French Affair by Sue Roberts

A Very French Affair

Sue Roberts

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

From Southport to the South of France - this is going to be a summer to remember!

Life just got a whole lot more complicated for thirty-eight-year-old single mum Liv. Her son Jake is practically perfect in every way, but he's started asking some difficult questions, and the answers lie in a holiday romance twenty years ago. Back when Liv was staying with her aunt on the French Riviera...

Returning to the Cote d'Azur, with its white sandy beaches, her supportive aunt, and exquisite wine and cheese is harder than it sounds though. Because - if she's going to give Jake the answers he needs - Liv knows she has to hunt down her first love Andre. And since she's a professional baker rather than a professional investigator, she doesn't even have a clue where to start.

At first, finding the one that got away proves trickier than she thought. And if she succeeds, how will he take the bombshell secret Liv has been keeping? Liv has to do the best thing for her family, but does that mean closing the door on this very French affair?

A joyful, laugh-out-loud story about second chances, secrets and sunshine! The perfect summer read for fans of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan and Sophie Kinsella.

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I always really look forward to reading a new novel by Sue Roberts. They're typically easy to read, enjoyable and full of the good stuff! I absolutely fell in love with this cover, and I do love reading books set in France, so I couldn't wait to get stuck into this one. I love the bright colours used for the sea and sand, the town on either side of the cover and the pretty grape vines dangling along the top of the cover. It screams summer and with all the washout weather we have been having in the UK recently, I couldn't wait to get stuck in.

It starts with main character Liv talking about her own cake business that she runs from home, with the help of her assistant Sam. She also touches on the fact that Jake is her son and that he doesn't have a father. One day Jake comes home from university and expresses to his mum that he wants to quit university and maybe go into the food industry. Liv is obviously concerned as to what had brought this all on, so during a heart to heart, Jake - quite harshly I thought - mentions to Liv about never knowing who his dad was. This of course brings up fond but heartbreaking memories for Liv.

As the story goes on, we learn that Liv's aunt who lives in France (the very same aunt who she stayed with that fateful summer when she met the love of her life, Andre) needs a knee operation so Liv and her friend Faye decides to head on over to help her and also get a little holiday out of it. Liv also wants to go over there so she can find Andre, Jakes father, and tell him he has a son. This novel came to life when Liv went to France. I loved the characters, the location sounded beautiful and my mouth was watering at all the descriptions of the lovely sweet treats that were made at the bakery!

There's a lot of drama which takes place throughout this story, which I absolutely loved. I love this authors style of writing so much so I knew that I would adore one of Sue's novels set in France! The ending was heartwarming and was exactly what I had hoped for. It sounded idyllic and I couldn't put it down. It's the perfect summer read. Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel which I have reviewed honestly.

Publication Day Review: The Cornish Cream Tea Bus: The Eclair Affair by Cressida McLaughlin

The Cornish Cream Tea Bus: The Eclair Affair

Cressida McLaughlin

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Part Two of the charming new series from the author of The Canal Boat Cafe. Perfect for cake lovers and old-fashioned romantics!

Charlie unveils her signature bake...

Charlie and Marmite finally arrive in the picture-postcard Cornish village of Porthgolow in their vintage Routemaster bus. Not everything is as it seems and Charlie's friend, Juliette, tells her about the owner of the big hotel up on the hill who has managed to upset the locals. That doesn't stop Charlie and Marmite making new friends and the bus finds a new lease of life as the perfect mobile cafe for afternoon tea.

But what will Charlie make of the enigmatic Daniel Harper when they meet, and more to the point, what will he think about Charlie and her bus parked outside his lovely hotel?

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I was dying to read part two of this series, as I enjoyed the first one so much. Where they are separated into novella's, you read them so quickly and then you're left eagerly awaiting the next one in the series! I think I love this cover more than the first! I love the pink sky, the pretty bunting hanging along the top of the cover, and of course the bus - Gertie - taking centre stage. I also love the names of the novella's, this one in particular was a fave - The Eclair Affair, sounds so mysterious and I couldn't wait to read about where the story goes in this one...

Charlie is in full swing when we start this novella, her bus has recently been transformed so that it's a mobile cafe and it sounds delightful. There's an upstairs seating area as well as space downstairs for seating and a kitchen! It sounds like a great idea, to have a travelling tea bus. The baked delights that Cressida describes sound mouthwatering and I just wished there was something like this that existed in real life as it sounded so tempting!

Charlie's character herself was really relatable. She seemed like such a genuine and caring character. And I loved reading about her conversations with the eccentric Reenie. As well as Reenie, there are also other secondary characters that you get to meet and read about, and most of them (with the exception of a few) are all really lovely and a dream to read about. The storyline itself is really addictive, reading it in a few hours and then not knowing what to do with yourself next because you need to wait for the next in the series!

Porthgolow once again sounded idyllic and I loved the idea of the food festival which was being held on the beach. Charlie gets a few bits of bad feedback (mainly just locals who don't like change) but she goes with her gut and it works out well. With regards to Daniel, he seems like a mystery to me. One minute I feel he is really lovely and him and Charlie are getting on well, the next he is a bit distant! One things for sure, I can't wait to read about how their relationship is going to go over the next few instalments! Can't wait!

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy, which I have reviewed honestly.

One Summer in Santorini by Sandy Barker

One Summer in Santorini

Sandy Barker

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

There was something in the air that night . . . 

Sarah has had enough of men. It's time to rekindle her first true love - travel - so she books a sailing trip around the Greek islands with a group of strangers.

The very last thing Sarah wants is to meet someone new, but then a gorgeous American boards her yacht... And when she also encounters a handsome silver fox who promises her the world, she realises that trouble really does come in twos.

Will Sarah dive into a holiday fling or stick to her plan to steer clear of men, continue her love affair with feta and find her own way after all?

The perfect holiday read to escape with this summer, for fans of Annie Robertson's My Mamma Mia Summer and Mandy Baggot's One Last Greek Summer.

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Oh, how I have been dying to read this novel!!! As soon as I saw this pop up on Netgalley, I immediately requested it. I adore the title of the novel and the cover is absolutely stunning. It's so summery and simply beautiful! I love the little houses in traditional Greek colours along the bottom, the sea in the background and the perfect ombre sky. I know this was the authors debut novel but I had high hopes and I wasn't disappointed!

At first, I was a bit unsure of the main character Sarah, she seemed a bit full of herself and a bit moany but seemed to change dramatically once we got into the story and she got onto the yacht. I then started to love her character and found her hysterical in some parts with what she came out with. I also found it so interesting and loved reading about the other characters who were also on the yacht.  It's funny how you can immediately warm to some people, and others you're unsure of (Josh and Patricia!).

This novel was just as I expected however, the stunning surroundings of all of the Greek islands sounded idyllic and I just wish that it was me who was on the yacht! Some of the places which Sarah visited sounded beautiful and everywhere was so well described that I could clearly picture in my head where they were. Another thing that I adored was the descriptions of food! Warning: Probably not best to read this novel if you are hungry! I longed to eat a Greek salad or try some of the other local delicacies! It was a perfect summer novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

As well as main character Sarah, I loved reading about the other secondary characters and particularly warmed to Marie and Gary as well as Josh and I was so interested to read about where Josh and Sarah's relationship was headed as from the start Sarah was adamant that she didn't want any kind of relationship! But I have to say the thing I loved the most was the locations, it just seemed like Sandy Barker really knew what she was talking about and the descriptions just made me fall in love! It was obviously researched really well and because of that it made the novel really fantastic. Overall, an amazing first novel I've read by this author - I can't wait to read more by Sandy Barker in future! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Blog Tour: One Last Greek Summer by Mandy Baggot

One Last Greek Summer

Mandy Baggot

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Beth Martin is 31, newly divorced and wondering just what life holds for her...

Best-friend, Heidi, is adamant that all the answers lie in Corfu - the island where the girls partied away their youth. So cue a trip to the sun-drenched Greek island, ouzo cocktails, a trip down memory lane... and Alex Hallas, the man Beth has never quite forgotten.

As they dance under the stars, the sand beneath their toes, old feelings begin to resurface and Beth might just have a chance to take back her life. If they can learn to love the people they've become...

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Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer. The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year aware in 2016.

Mandy's books have so far been translated into German, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. Mandy also loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X Factor. Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.


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I'm always so, so excited when I know Mandy Baggot is going to release a new summer novel. I absolutely adore them. They make me feel so warm and fuzzy inside and have me longing for a bit of Greek weather and of course Greek food! The cover for Mandy's newest novel, One Last Greek Summer, automatically has you longing for some sun, cocktails and fun!  I love the many colourful flowers, the bright blue sky, the traditional white washed buildings and it gives you a bit of an insight as to what the characters look like too. The whole cover is just really inviting and I couldn't wait to get stuck in. This novel was absolutely brilliant and has just made me love Mandy's novels even more.

 The novel started out with Beth walking into work to her divorce party, there was a few willy balloons mentioned so it started off with brilliant humour! As the story goes on we learn that Beth has just separated from her husband Charles, who is also the CEO of the company she works for, due to him cheating on her with a co-worker. However, along the way we learn the reasons behind the relationship and they are so sad and emotional! I really feel for Beth and what she had been through, she came across as such a strong woman but also quite vulnerable.

The story develops into best friend Heidi convincing Beth to take a holiday to Corfu, where they had been once before when they were twenty-one. On this particular holiday, Beth met handsome Greek Alex and had quite a relationship with him, Beth had never quite managed to forget him, nor him her. It's all very romantic when they meet by chance and recognise each other straight away but also a little slower than Mandy's other novels. However, I was really loving this storyline due to the addition to Heidi, her character was so bubbly and happy and I loved reading about her time with Beth. It was great to read about some of the country and the food and drink!

Overall, I really, really loved this novel. If I could rate higher than 5 stars then I would! It's really enjoyable, lighthearted and will have you wishing for Summer! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle by Liz Eeles

A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle

Liz Eeles

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

The Cosy Kettle cafe is the perfect place to escape this summer, for fans of Cathy Bramley, Jenny Colgan and Debbie Johnson. Guests can tuck in to fruit puddings and strawberry-studded ice cream, but for Flora, the warm summer breeze is blowing in big changes...

When Flora finds out about her husband's secret fling, she escapes to the one place she feels safe: her beloved cafe, The Cosy Kettle, in the charming village of Honeyford. Serving up cream teas to her cafe regulars is the perfect way to soothe her broken heart, and although she's never lived in the area, the little community welcome her with open arms.

She's soon lodging with local eccentric Luna in her remote and beautiful Starlight Cottage, snuggled between rolling green hills. Luna's handsome son Daniel lost his wife several years ago, and as Flora gets to know him, sharing walks through the blossom-scented woods, they both slowly begin to heal... and she realises that behind Daniel's quiet exterior, there's a passionate nature that makes her forget all about her ex-husband.

As she settles into her new life, hosting a baking competition for the village's summer celebration seems like a great idea... but with Daniel's mysterious silences leading Flora to believe he's hiding secrets, she can't help but wonder if she can really trust him. And when the race to bake the perfect Victoria sponge stirs up old rivalries between locals, Flora starts to feel like she's bitten off more than she can chew.

After her new start, will Flora ever truly belong in Honeyford? And, this summer, can she risk opening up her heart again?

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Oh I was so excited to be reading another novel by the lovely Liz Eeles again! I have adored every single one of her books and this one was no different. I really loved the first one in this series of novels and I was looking forward to being back in Honeyford with such caring characters and it's idyllic sounding setting. The cover, as I knew it would be, is absolutely beautiful and it's certainly the type of novel I would go out of my way to pick up - it's very eye-catching with it's bright colours and sweet treats along the bottom of the cover! I love the pink sky, the colourful bunting and flowers and the cute awning over the cafe windows.

This particular novel follows bookshop and cafe owner Flora, who I've been intrigued about since book one and couldn't wait to read more about her. She seemed quite reserved and quite snobby in the first book but I quickly warmed to her during this one. At the beginning, Flora leaves work early to go and meet her husband, Malcolm, at his restaurant and finds him in a tight embrace with one of the - much younger - restaurant staff. Heartbroken, Flora moves out and moves in with slightly crazy but completely lovely Luna, as well as her son Daniel and his son Caleb.

A lot happens for Flora in such a short amount of time and I completely felt for her. It must be horrible to be with someone for so long, only to find them with someone else. And I must say that I thought Malcolm was a really horrible man! He was patronising, made nasty remarks and I just couldn't stand the man! Malcolm was the only character whom I didn't like however, and I loved all the rest. I particularly warmed to Caleb, bless him, as well as Becca and of course Stanley. They all seemed like such lovely people. It was also interesting reading about the relationship between Flora and Daniel, you could just feel the spark between them!

I also love the events that take place throughout the novel, the Charter Day event, the parade, the book club and the author event all sounded really fun and I loved the community feel that you got throughout this novel. I fell in love with Honeyford all over again and I really hope this isn't the last one in the series! I'd love to read about all of the characters if I could! This book was like a warm hug. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Summer at the Little French Cafe by Karen Clarke

Summer at the Little French Cafe

Karen Clarke

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

In the beautiful village of Chamillon lies the Cafe Belle Vie, where you'll always find croissants and friends when you need them the most - and where Elle is hoping to uncover the truth about her past...

Thirty-year-old Elle Matheson has decided it's finally time to find the mother who gave her up as a baby. With a faded postcard from the Cafe Belle Vie in hand - one of the very few things she has from her mother - she heads straight to the Île de Ré to begin her search.

With only the postcard and the ivory shawl she was wrapped in as clues, finding her mum is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, even with the help of friendly - and gorgeous - cafe-owner Charlie. And since Elle hasn't exactly told her younger sister what she's up to, the little white lies about where she is are starting to add up...

But Elle is really starting to feel at home on the beautiful island. The locals are welcoming, the cafe is homely, and Charlie is always there with a helping hand, a listening ear, and a pain au chocolat.

Is Elle about to discover not just where she came from - but where she belongs?

A hilarious rom com perfect for reading in the sunshine! Fans of Debbie Johnson, Zara Stoneley and Debbie Macomber will love Karen Clarke!

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Oh to be back in France with the lovely Karen Clarke and some amazingly caring characters! I loved the first one in this series and couldn't believe there was going to be another one - so I was so happy when I found out that we were going back to the idyllic setting! The cover is similar to the first, so there's a good sense of continuity. I love the bright blues used for the sky as well as the sea, the colourful buildings with their traditional colours and the French flag colours used on the bunting along the top of the cover. It looks so summery and inviting - I couldn't wait to dive in!

Even though you can completely read this novel as a standalone, you'll make the most out of it if you read the first one because then you'll know some of the secondary characters a little bit better. It's not required however, and you do get to meet everyone anyway but the first book was so lovely and enjoyable that you may as well read it anyway! With the second one in the series we meet Elle, who has come to France to try and find her birth mother. With not much to go on, she ends up at the exact place that's pictured on the postcard she has from her mother, and from there somehow accidentally gets a job at the Cafe Belle Vie! 

The story moves quickly, with Karen's usual humour, which makes the pages fly by. I love Karen's style of writing, it's easy and enjoyable and fills you with happiness. I once again fell in love with the location of the novel and the characters and this time I found myself warming the most to Dolly! She was such a lovely and caring character and I was excited at the prospect of Elle finding her real mother. There are a lot of possibilities, but it was a refreshing read and I enjoyed meeting all the other older ladies who name begun with 'M'. I would say that Charlie doesn't come into it much until at least 40%, but this doesn't affect the overall feeling of the story - it actually makes it better to focus on the main character and not her love life for once.

Overall, I feel like Karen's novels just keep getting better. After reading her novels, I'm seeping with happiness! They are just such lovely, feel-good novels and I'm really hoping there's another one in the series! I'm enjoying being in France too much for it to all be over now! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay by Ali McNamara

Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay

Ali McNamara

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

The sun is shining on the golden castle on Rainbow Bay - and change is in the air!

Amelia is a single mother, doing her very best to look after her young son, Charlie - but money is tight an times are tough. When she first hears that she is the last decedent of the Chesterford family and that she has inherited a Real-Life Castle by the Sea, Amelia can't quite believe her ears. But it's true!

She soon finds that owning a castle isn't quite the ticket to sorting out her money problems that she'd first hoped: she can't sell, because the terms of the ancient bequest state that any Chesterford who inherits the castle, must life there and work towards the upkeep and maintenance of the family home. So ever-practical Amelia decides to uproot her little family and move to this magnificent castle by the sea.

Living in a castle on the beautiful Northumberland coast is fun at first, but organising the day-to-day running is a lot more complicated than Amelia first imagined. Luckily she has help from the small band of eccentric and unconventional staff that are already employed there - and a mysterious unseen hand that often gives her a push in the right direction just when she needs it most. It's only when she meets Tom, a furniture restorer who comes to the castle to help repair some antique furniture, that Amelia realises she might get the fairy-tale ending that she and Charlie truly deserve...

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There's always something extra magical about Ali McNamara's novels and this one is no different. The last novel I had read of hers was brilliantly written and captivating and I knew that this one would be the same. Immediately, I was drawn in with it's pretty cover. I love the colourful flowers used, the cute car in the middle, the huge imposing castle in the background - and of course the glistening sea on the right hand side! Everything looks beautiful and makes for a really spellbinding cover.

Onto the story itself, I immediately warmed towards main character Amelia. You could see from the start that she was doing all she could to help make Charlie's life the best it could be on such a low amount of money. When I read the part where Amelia looks in the fridge for dinner and it's mostly empty, it really upset me and I had high hopes that they would get their happily ever after - after all, it was the least they deserved after what they had been through! 

When they arrived at Chesterford Castle and there was a few ghostly goings on happening, I couldn't wait to read more about it - I found it so interesting reading about the previous inhabitants of the castle - some of them sounded quite cheeky! As well as main character Amelia and her son Charlie, there are also a bunch of other secondary characters that you get to know and love too. I particularly liked Arthur, he seemed like a lovely man underneath his grumpiness! And I also loved Dorothy's character too. I also really enjoyed reading about Amelia and Tom's relationship and seeing where that was headed - I just wanted it to desperately work out for Amelia because she really had been through quite a few wars and deserved to be happy.

Throughout the book, I just felt like there was this magical, spellbinding energy and I loved it. I love Ali McNamara's style of writing - it's wonderfully captivating and I enjoyed every page, every character. It was a fabulous novel and I can't wait to read more by this author in the future. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.