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.

The Cornish Cream Tea Bus: Don't Go Baking My Heart by Cressida McLaughlin

The Cornish Cream Tea Bus: Don't Go Baking My Heart

Cressida McLaughlin

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Baking fanatic, Charlie Quilter, is surprised when her late uncle bequeaths his vintage bus to her in his will. Charlie thinks it will be the perfect mobile cafe for afternoon tea, and when her friend, Juliette, suggests Charlie comes to stay with her in the picturesque Cornish village of Porthgolow, she's thrilled at the change of a new start.

Charlie and her cute dog, Marmite, make new friends wherever their bus stops - except for the attractive but reclusive owner of the posh spa up on the hill, Daniel Harper, who isn't very pleased that her bus is parked outside his lovely hotel.

Has Charlie's Cornish dream developed a soggy bottom? Or can she convince Daniel that her bus could be the start of something wonderful for the little village - and for them?

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I was eagerly awaiting a new novel or series by Cressida McLaughlin, her novels are brilliant and I can never put them down! So when I saw the cover of this on Amazon I couldn't wait to read it. I absolutely adore the colours used - such bright pastel colours used on the bus, the bright yellow sand, sunshiny blue sky and the cute bunting along the top makes such a lovely cover and makes me want to visit wherever that cover was based on! I also love that at the start of each chapter there is a cute little teacup!

The story starts off quite sadly, with Charlie and her dad working on the old bus and feeling quite emotional as they've just lost a loved one. However, you can feel how close they were to Hal and how close they are as father and daughter and it was quite a nice opening. The story gets moving quite quickly, so soon we're enjoying Charlie taking Gertie out for a test run at a fair, to see how people react. Most of Hal's old friends aren't too impressed, and after a minor disaster strikes, Charlie is left feeling quite deflated. Her boss orders her to take some time off, and so Charlie decides to go down to Porthgolow to visit best friend Juliette and to get a break away from everything else.

Porthgolow sounded so idyllic and not for the first time throughout Cressida's novels I'm wishing that I could live or visit some place just like that! The story absolutely flew by, and once Charlie moved to Porthgolow I really started loving it and didn't want it to end! I loved the new characters, the new location, and everything that was changing with Gertie was just so exciting! I simply cannot wait to see what happens next in this series. It's absolutely fabulous and I urge you to give it a read.

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Summer Dreams at Villa Limoncello by Daisy James

Summer Dreams at Villa Limoncello

Daisy James

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Escape to Villa Limoncello... where dreams come true in the most unexpected ways.

Izzie Jenkins never expected to find herself living in a gorgeous oasis in Tuscany but when life gives you Villa Limoncello you say thank you and bake treats to celebrate!

Izzie and debonair chef Luca Castelotti are officially setting up shop together but when their inaugural 'Pasta and Painting' venture is sabotaged and one of their guests is poisoned they're forced to turn detective. Because if they can't find the culprit, they'll be out of business before they've even begun...

A gorgeous holiday read perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Jenny Oliver

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I've really been looking forward to this novel ever since I saw it was uploaded on Netgalley. I really enjoyed the first novel in the series but couldn't wait for this one as the synopsis just drew me in completely! As well as the synopsis, the cover absolutely caught my eye and I couldn't wait to get stuck in. It's possibly the most beautiful cover I have ever seen! I love the bright blue sky, with the shimmering sea underneath and the pretty flowers surrounding the cover. It all looks stunning and makes me want to visit the location immediately - I just wish I was reading this novel whilst lounging by the sea/pool - instead of in England!!!

I fell in love with this novel as soon as I started reading it. I absolutely loved the location, every description of the land and setting had me wishing to book a flight to Tuscany, and every description of the delicious food that Luca cooked had my mouth watering. I really enjoyed the characters as well, it was clear that Izzie had been through a lot but it was really nice seeing her come out of her shell a little bit with every page. It was also lovely to be reading about Luca and Izzie's blossoming romance. It was interesting to see where that was going to go.

This is possibly my favourite novel by Daisy James so far. I just felt like I related to the main character, Izzie, and loved the venture they were starting up with the 'Pasta and Painting' courses. It was so elegantly written, and I just fell in love with the story as well as the location. As well as main character Izzie, I also really liked Meghan's character and the holiday makers who are there for a team building exercise. This is no usual romance novel however, as there's a bit of mystery included too which makes it even more interesting. I couldn't wait to read about who was the person responsible for Carmen's 'poisoning'! It was just unputdownable from the first page.

Overall, an amazingly lighthearted summer read. Perfect to welcome in these hotter days. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Blog Tour: Edie Browne’s Cottage by the Sea by Jane Linfoot

Edie Browne's Cottage by the Sea

Jane Linfoot

Rating: 4 stars

Amazon UK

Those who don't jump will never fly...

Hurtling through the sky was supposed to be Edie Browne's flight of independence. But when she falls head over champagne bucket while celebrating her successful landing, her life is changed in an instant.

But starting over has its benefits, and as Edie relearns the basics under the watchful eye of her Aunty Josie and an entire Cornish village of new friends and neighbours, she finds love and joy she never could have imagined in the unlikeliest of places...

Come home to St Aidan and Periwinkle Cottage for a romance full of love, laughter and friends for life!

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Jane Linfoot is a best selling author, who lives in a muddy cottage, up a steep hill in Derbyshire, with her family, their pets, and an astonishing number of spiders. Although she loves seeing cows noses over the garden wall, she's happy she can walk to a supermarket.

Jane grew up in North Yorkshire where she spend a lot of her childhood avoiding horizontal gales blowing off the sea, and wrote her first book by accident, while working as an architect, and renovating country houses. While she loves to write feel-good books that let the readers escape, she's always surprised to hear her stories make people laugh, admits (occasionally) crying as she writes, and credits her characters for creating their own story lines.

Jane's garden would be less brambly if she wasn't on Facebook and Twitter so often. On days when she wants to be really scared, she rides a tandem.

Her latest books include a series of stand alone novels, based around a seaside wedding shop in Cornwall. Cupcakes and Confetti - The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea, Sequins and Snowflakes - Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop and Bunting and Bouquets - Summer at the Little Wedding Shop, and most recently, The Little Cornish Kitchen. These are all published by Harper Impulse, an imprint of Harper Collins.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

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I was so, so excited to read this new one by Jane Linfoot! I read a novel of hers from last summer and absolutely fell in love so couldn't wait to be reading another one of hers. The cover is absolutely stunning and completely eye-catching. I love the bright colours used throughout, the flowers, books, and of course the view of the sea in the background! It's beautiful and possibly one of my favourite covers!

The story follows main character Edie Browne, who has recently undergone a massive life change. She's decided to escape down to her aunts cottage for a little while to heal and make herself better and she's surprised by how lovely (and interfering) the other villagers are! Through half the novel I was quite confused as to if Edie liked neighbour Barney. Their relationship was funny (in a ha-ha way) and I warmed to them instantly. I really wished that they would end up together as they bounce off one another so well! Another character I instantly warmed to was little Cam - he was so sweet.

Auntie Josie was another matter at first, I found her to be quite stuck up and some things that she said put me off her a little bit! Although, the more I read about Edie and her relationship and the classes they go to, I found myself warming to her. The location of the story itself sounded idyllic - even if there was bad weather and grit hitting the windows at the start! I loved the sound of this gorgeous little Cornish village and I honestly found myself daydreaming about visiting Cornwall sometime soon!

It's quite emotional in parts, and I really felt for Edie with everything they had been through. Overall, it's a really enjoyable and lighthearted read with a wonderful ending! Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Poppy's Recipe for Life by Heidi Swain

Poppy's Recipe for Life

Heidi Swain

Rating: 5 stars

Amazon UK

Treat yourself to a glorious novel full of food, sunshine, friendship and love!

Things haven't always been straightforward in Poppy's life but her dreams are finally within her reach.

She's moving into a cottage in the beautiful Nightingale Square, close to the local community garden, where she can indulge her passion for making preserves and pickles. She may not have the best relationship with her family but she is surrounded by loving friends, and feels sure that even her grumpy new neighbour, Jacob, has more to him than his steely exterior belies.

But the unexpected arrival of Poppy's troubles younger brother soon threatens her new-found happiness and as the garden team works together to win community space of the year, Poppy must decide where her priorities lie and what she is prepared to fight for...

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I always love Heidi's novels and I just knew that this one would be no different. The cover is beautiful in every way and is so eye-catching I couldn't wait to read it! I love the bright colours, the little row of shops and the flowers surrounding the cover. It's just so pretty! I also loved that we'd be back in Nightingale Square once again - I adore the characters in these stories, everyone seems so friendly that I'd love to live somewhere with such a feel-good community feel!

When we first met Poppy, I really felt for her, it seemed like she had been through quite a bit and I was so intrigued as to why she didn't really get on that well with her mum. However, once I read a few of their conversations, I began to get a better gist as to why! I also felt quite sorry for Jacob, who seemed to be going through quite a lot too and wondered what his story will be. Everything was so interesting I just didn't want to put my Kindle down! I just loved hearing from Kate and Lisa again, and all the other lovely characters from the other novel set in Nightingale Square.

When Ryan came to live with Poppy for a few weeks, I thought there was going to be big trouble. I was pleasantly surprised when Jacob (who was always so moody and withdrawn in previous chapters) offered to help Poppy with Ryan and was hoping this is when Jacob starts coming out of his shell more and telling us a bit more about his background! The story really picks up once Ryan arrives, there's drama, tears and romance as well! I love, love, love the community feel of the whole novel and of course, Nightingale Square. The little events and parties they throw at the garden sound so delightful and so enjoyable!

Overall, I really loved this novel. It was summery, heartwarming and just really lovely. I love Heidi Swain's novels and this one was no different. I can't wait to read more by this author in future. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.