Top Ten Tuesday: My Favourite Books by My Favourite Authors

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Guest Review: Family Ties for the Village Midwife by Tilly Tennant

As the clouds chase the sun across the Lake District hills, and the warm breeze hints at spring on the way, midwife Zoe Padbury is counting her blessings. Until a surprise arrival changes everything…

Zoe Padbury is a big believer in second chances. She’s been so happy since she started over in the village of Thimblebury. Especially now she’s moved into Hilltop Farm with her boyfriend Alex and can be on hand to help his daughter when her baby arrives.

All that changes when Zoe’s father arrives, arm in arm with his newly pregnant fiancée Chantal. Chantal is bowled over by Thimblebury’s picture-perfect charm, and before Zoe’s had a chance to draw breath, they’ve made plans to get married in the old stone church, make Zoe their future baby’s midwife and move into the cottage next door.

Worried about her mum’s broken heart and how Alex feels about having her family so close by, at first Zoe doesn’t notice that Chantal’s brother has also moved in and is determined to make trouble, ruining the lives of the people who have made her feel so welcome. With the villagers up in arms about his behaviour, Zoe is torn in two. Can she protect her new life and love without losing her family?

Review: This is the third book in a series of stories featuring Zoe Padbury, a midwife who is attached to the medical practice in the Lake District village of Thimblebury. Following the break-up of her marriage, she has moved to the village from Manchester and has recently become romantically involved with neighbour Alex who lives with his pregnant daughter Billie. Although part of a series, I feel that this book, like the others, can be read as a standalone.

In this story, we find Zoe considering moving in with Alex and Billie. She is shocked to receive a phone call from her dad announcing that his much younger girlfriend, Chantal, is pregnant. Zoe’s mother, who has become very bitter since divorcing Zoe’s father, is annoyed about the situation, and more so when he decides to marry Chantal. What’s more, when Chantal visits Thimblebury and sees how pretty it is, she insists that the wedding should be in the local church. When Zoe finally moves in with Alex, her father and Chantal see an opportunity and move into Zoe’s former cottage, further upsetting Zoe’s mother. However, worse is to come when Chantal’s brother and his dog move into the cottage as well. Both man and dog are very unpleasant and cause no end of trouble in the peaceful village. Poor Zoe finds herself caught in the middle between her new friends in the village and her family, all the while trying to carry on with her job.

Gosh, this was a particularly dramatic instalment of this series. I did feel sorry for Zoe, with stress on all sides. As well as the situation within her family, there were some difficult patients and tricky births for her to deal with, as well as personality clashes in the medical practice. As usual, Tilly Tennant has skilfully portrayed typical village life, where everybody knows what is going on with others and pulls together when necessary. I enjoyed meeting up with characters from previous books in the series who I feel I am getting to know, and I even felt quite upset that a disruptive element had disturbed the usual peaceful atmosphere. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and finding out how everybody is faring.

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Guest Review: Healing Hearts at the Forever Cottage by Jill Steeples

The winds of change are sweeping through the idyllic Cotswold village of Lower Leaping.

After a tumultuous few months, Tess Alexander is ready to welcome her first guests to The Garden Retreat, a beautiful lodge in the grounds of Hollyhocks Cottage.

With her daughter Hannah home from her travels in Australia and her mother, Marjorie, acting out of character, Tess has to juggle many demands on her attention. Even her flourishing relationship with dashing Rob Templeton is put to the test when he faces an emotional dilemma from his past and Barney, her beloved beagle, has her at her wits end.

Tess can weather most storms with the unbridling support of her close friends Dilly, Gina and Suzy but when a passing remark in the local pub causes her to question one of those friendships, she wonders who can she really trust?

Can Tess overcome the obstacles in her path to find the happy ending she truly deserves?

Review: This is the second book in the Lower Leaping series from this author. Lower Leaping is a small village in the Cotswolds where the central character in the first book lived in the lovely Hollyhocks Cottage. This new book can be read as a standalone, although reading book 1 first will increase any reader’s enjoyment.

Once again, this story features Tess Alexander, still living in her beloved cottage with her faithful beagle Barney, but now also with her daughter, Hannah, who has returned from her travels with a broken heart. Tess has converted the garden annexe to the cottage into a self-contained retreat and is now ready to offer it to paying guests. Unfortunately, her sense of achievement is overshadowed by a series of worries and not just about Hannah. Her normally content mother is acting strangely, her relationship with Rob Templeton has apparently met a bump in the road, she has suspicions about one of her trusted group of close friends and her ex is liable to turn up whenever he feels like it. Even Barney has decided to go on an adventure. Tess is a strong woman, but can she cope with all of this and come out the other side with her sunny personality intact?

I enjoyed everything about this easy to read story, especially meeting up again with Tess and other characters from the first book in the series. There were also some new additions to the cast, and once again they were likeable and interesting people. I am envious of anyone booking a stay in Tess’s garden retreat; it sounds as though they will be well looked after. In fact, the whole village and its community have been so well described by the author as to make me wish I could visit. I was delighted to find that Tess and Rob were in a flourishing relationship after meeting up in book 1, but it was not all plain sailing. I hope that there will be more from Lower Leaping soon and readers can find out how things are progressing for Tess and the others.

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Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books Featuring May Flowers

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Guest Review: The Invitation by Veronica Henry

A secret love story.

A chance to stay forever...

London, 1953

Clementine falls for handsome Alfie Arbutus over cocktails at the Savoy and knows that life will never be the same again. Especially when he invites her to visit the family home he will inherit one day, Foxwood Manor...

Stella lost a part of her heart forever when Edwin Arbutus died. Their wartime love affair changed everything - but now she has her young son, Ted, to fight for.

Elizabeth hopes that throwing the glamorous Snow Ball at Foxwood will bring light back into its darkened walls, and into the eyes of her heartbroken husband, Michael, for the first time since they lost their eldest son.

Yet as the gilded invitations are sent, the lives of all three women collide with unimaginable consequences - will the secrets of the past break the family apart, or bring them back together?

Review: I always love a book written by Veronica Henry. She is so versatile, and has taken me to all sorts of destinations over the years. Reading the synopsis of this book set not long after the end of the Second World War made me wonder if I was going to enjoy it, but I needn’t have worried; the compelling story had me hooked right from chapter one.

The story revolves around the Arbutus family and their home, Foxwood Manor, located in the Somerset countryside. It focuses particularly on the family matriarch, Elizabeth, her son’s partner, Clementine, and her late son’s lover, Stella. The whole family have been deeply affected by the loss of the elder son (Edwin) in the war. He was an accomplished artist, and his paintings adorn the entire house. The narrative is set in 1953, but also travels back a few years to follow the wartime romance between Edwin and Stella that resulted in a son he never knew about. The introduction of Clementine, and later Stella, into the family motivates Elizabeth to re-introduce the Snow Ball, once an annual event at Foxwood Manor but not held since Edwin’s death. Can this lift the spirits of the family, especially Edwin’s father, and bring joy back to the household?

This was a powerfully emotional book, filled with romance, drama, family connections and secrets. The three main characters are all strong women in their own ways and the way in which the author drew them together was captivating. The shadow of Edwin is everywhere in the story but not in a spooky way. It was touching the way he was remembered; like some of the characters, I expected him to walk through the door at any minute. There is a fourth woman that I feel deserves a mention - faithful cook and housekeeper Daisy. I was full of admiration at the way in which she could conjure up amazing meals for any number of people in minutes. I can confidently recommend this book to anyone seeking an escape for a few hours into another world. I miss the characters and hope that we may meet again in a future book from Veronica Henry.

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Top 10 Tuesday: Authors I Wish Were Still Writing Today

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Some of these authors are still writing but under a different name, in a new genre but some of them have sadly passed away or no longer write and I wish I could have a new novel from all of them!

Review: Lift me Up by Milly Johnson

 Tam Remington had her life planned out. Until a conversation in a broken lift—with her worst enemy—changes everything.

For a decade, Tam has quietly held YorkMart together whilst others took the credit, making herself smaller in the process. When she's briefly promoted to acting Managing Director, she finally has a chance to shine—until her promotion is snatched away and handed to Jack Cesaroni—the man brought in to do the job that should have been hers.

Tam expects nothing but disappointment from Jack. But when they're trapped in a lift between floors thirteen and fourteen, he sees what no one else has: Tam is exceptional. That single word of recognition sparks something Tam thought she'd lost—and an unexpected connection she never saw coming.

Now Tam faces an impossible choice: stay being the smaller version of herself she's become used to, or take a leap and reclaim the vibrant, authentic woman she once was—and discover how wonderful it could be if she lets someone see the real her…

Review: I absolutely loved listening to this one on audio-having one of my favourite narrators really made the whole experience even better. There’s just something about a familiar voice that brings the characters to life in such a comforting, engaging way, and it made Tam’s journey feel even more personal. It quickly became something I looked forward to picking up again whenever I had the chance.

It also had that classic Milly Johnson feel that I always enjoy; especially the satisfying character arcs where certain people get exactly what’s coming to them! There’s a real sense of “girl power” running through the story, and I loved watching Tam grow into herself and start to recognise her own worth. The title feels spot on because that theme of empowerment is woven all the way through. I also really connected with the thread of someone planning a wedding they’re not entirely sure they want, which added an extra layer of relatability and emotional depth for me.

Right from the start, the close proximity trope had me completely hooked-the lift situation was done so well and created just the right amount of tension and connection between the characters. Overall, it was a really enjoyable listen, perfectly paced, and just a genuinely uplifting story.

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Guest Review: Hitler By Ian Kershaw

Ian Kershaw's two volume biography, Hitler 1889-1936: Hubris and Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis, was greeted with universal acclaim as the essential work on one of the most malign figures in history, from his earliest origins to the final days of the Second World War.

Now this landmark historical work is available in one single, abridged edition, tracing the story of how a bitter, failed art student from an obscure corner of Austria rose to unparalleled power, destroying the lives of millions and bringing the world to the brink of Armageddon.

Review: Ian Kershaw had written previously a two volume biography of the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. This book is a combined and abridged volume of these two books.

It describes his early years and somewhat bohemian life in Austria, before moving to Germany. At the outbreak of the First World War, he joined the German Army and served on the Western Front. It was during this time, and its aftermath, that his political views started to take shape. Disillusioned and embittered by Germany’s capitulation and the measures imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, back in Munich he became involved in right wing politics. Having been imprisoned following a failed coup, on his release, he pursued a more orthodox approach to gaining power for himself and his National Socialist, or Nazi, Party. Eventually, as the party gained more seats in the government, he was appointed Chancellor of Germany in 1933. By suppressing opposition, he became effectively a dictator and was able to pursue his policy of expanding German territory eastwards. This led to the outbreak of the Second World War. The book describes how this unfolded, leading eventually to his demise as the Soviet Union’s Army overran Berlin.

As a combination of two books, this is quite a long read or listen (I listened to the audiobook). However, it is a very detailed account of Hitler’s life; his rise to power; how he was able to conquer large areas of Europe through a mixture of gambling, bluffing and bullying; and how his armies were eventually driven back and defeated. It also describes the various individuals who were instrumental in his life. It is a salutary lesson in how a leadership cult can develop. As a very comprehensive biography of one of the most infamous individuals of the 20th century, I recommend this book.

Guest Review: The Hopeful Hearts Bookshop by Debbie Johnson

Single and in a dead-end job, Kate feels hope spring when an anonymous invitation falls from the pages of a book. Now, she’s standing in a charming Scottish village and trying to ignore the six-four silver fox by her side. He’s got an invitation too, a husky Chicago accent, and dangerously gorgeous sea-blue eyes…

Widowed ex-police officer Brody never expected to be stranded in Scotland with a cute British lady. Her smile might be bewitching… but her attitude? Way too cheerful. And eccentric bookshop owner Moira says they can stay for free, as long as they don’t mind sharing one very cozy little cottage.

That’s the least of their problems. Turns out Moira’s bookshop needs them just as much as Kate and Brody need a fresh start. And with a twinkle in Moira’s mischievous matchmaking eye, things are soon hotting up in surprising ways!

But as they string fairy lights over snug reading nooks and rally the whole community to buy their favourite reads, can Kate and Brody save the bookshop and heal their hearts? Or will their fresh start come crashing down?

Review: What a treat to find a new release from Debbie Johnson. Everything she writes brings a smile to my face and leaves me wanting to read more. This book has the most amazing colourful cover, featuring so many elements from the story; it really draws the eye and invites the reader in. I picked up this book and found it hard to put down, finishing it all too soon.

The story centres on two people, Kate and Brody, who are brought together by chance after discovering cards bearing an invitation inside the books they were reading. These cards were placed randomly in ten books by Moira, owner of the Edge of the World Bookshop in the small seaside village of Bonnie Bay in the far north of Scotland. They invited the receiver to leave their cares behind, come and visit the bookshop and stay for a while. She believed that the cards would reach the right person at the right time. For Kate, living a solitary existence in London and in a dead-end job, it seems like an adventure that would cheer up her world if she could just take a leap of faith.

Although suspicious at first, to widowed gruff ex-cop Brody, visiting the UK from Chicago, it seems like it might be an exciting experience before returning home to his empty house. By sheer coincidence, Kate and Brody find themselves travelling to Bonnie Bay at the same time. What at first appears an unlikely match turns into the complete opposite as the pair find themselves sharing a cottage as they renovate the now neglected bookshop. As the bookshop comes back to life so too does the whole community, but as Kate and Brody become closer, each wonders how they will be able to part company and return to their old lives when the time comes.

What an absolutely lovely romantic, and sometimes steamy, story this was. As well as two likeable but seemingly very different characters, the reader is treated to a whole caring and close community of often comical figures, and an amazing setting with all kinds of wildlife including many of my personal favourites. I couldn’t see Kate and Brody as a couple, coming from disparate worlds and with a bit of an age gap, but the wonderful Bonnie Bay seemed to work some sort of magic on them as they became inseparable. I loved the way in which Kate’s imagination and Brody’s practical skills were put together to revive the book store, with locals providing valuable backup in all sorts of forms including pints of Guinness. I was glad to see on the cover that this is Bonnie Bay Book 1, because I definitely want to learn more about this intriguing village as well as finding out what happened next for Brody and Kate.

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Guest Review: The Mysterious Affair at Styles By Agatha Christie

In The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie invites readers into a quiet English country estate—where jealousy simmers, secrets hide behind every polite smile, and murder strikes with chilling precision. When the wealthy matriarch Emily Inglethorp dies under suspicious circumstances, the entire household becomes a tangle of motives, lies, and carefully guarded truths.

Enter Hercule Poirot. Meticulous, brilliant, and delightfully eccentric, he begins his very first literary investigation. With razor-sharp logic and a flair for uncovering human folly, Poirot follows a trail of subtle clues that lead to one of Christie's most surprising and cleverly constructed conclusions.

This restored edition preserves the charm and originality of Christie's 1920 debut while offering a clean, modern reading experience. Whether you're deep into the world of crime fiction or just discovering Christie's genius, this book promises suspense, delight, and the unmistakable thrill of a mystery done right.

Review: Having enjoyed films and television programmes based on books by Agatha Christie but never having read one, I was keen to read this book. I was not disappointed.

This book was the first of the author’s to be published in 1920 and introduces the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Set in 1916, during the First World War, it is based in a country house called Styles Court. It is narrated in the first person by Captain Hastings, an Army officer on convalescence leave from the front line, who has been invited to the house by one of the stepsons of the owner Emily Inglethorp. I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the actor who played Captain Hastings in the television series “Poirot”. There is a rich cast of characters, typical of a country house at that time. One night, shortly after Captain Hastings’ arrival, Emily Inglethorpe is found dead in suspicious circumstances. It is suspected that she had been poisoned. Staying in the village near the house are a number of Belgian refugees, including Hercule Poirot who Captain Hastings had met and befriended whilst serving on the Western Front. The Police request Poirot’s assistance in a seemingly intractable case.

The plot bears many hallmarks of Agatha Christie’s detective stories. It is set in a country house; there are a number of potential suspects, many of whom appear to be hiding secrets; there are clues and red herrings scattered throughout; and at the end, everybody is gathered together for the final dénouement. Agatha Christie used her knowledge of medicines and poisons, gained whilst working in a hospital dispensary during the First World War, to good effect in this novel. I enjoyed listening to this book, which kept me guessing throughout, and would recommend it to all whodunnit fans.

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Guest Review: The Forever Cottage by Jill Steeples

🌿 It's never too late to follow your heart... 🌿

Tess Alexander lives an enviable life with her husband Charles, at Hollyhocks Cottage in the idyllic Cotswold village of Lower Leaping. Dreaming of their early retirement, Tess’s plans are dashed when Charles shares some devastating news and suddenly she’s left alone with only Barney, her adorable Beagle dog, for company.

Facing an uncertain future, Tess tries to reconnect with her old self. She begins to transform the neglected garden office into a beautiful retreat, the perfect spot for her to indulge in her long-forgotten creative passions.

However, a chance encounter with charming but down on his luck, Rob Templeton, soon puts pay to her plans, when she offers him the place to stay, sensing a kindred spirit.

With the support of old friends, Gina and Suzy, Tess must now step out of her comfort zone and embrace a different way of life, one that is filled with secrets, possibilities and second chances, if only Tess is prepared to take them.

With so many demands on her attention, will Tess find a way to follow her heart and discover her own happy ending?

Review: This book is the first in a new series from this author, set in a charming Cotswolds village. I have very much enjoyed Jill Steeples’s other series of stories, so I wasn’t surprised that I found this book an easy and entertaining read. As promised for future books in the series, this story can be read as a standalone.

The central character in this book is Tess Alexander, whose husband of thirty years has left her for a younger woman. Tess is living alone but for her dog in the family cottage in the Cotswolds village of Lower Leaping, her daughter having taken a year off to travel before resuming her studies. She loves her cottage and its garden and living in the village with its friendly community. With lots of time on her hands, Tess decides to clear out the summer house in the garden and use it a place to relax and craft. However, when she bumps into Rob Templeton while shopping and hears his unfortunate tale, she offers the spruced up space to him as a temporary home. As time passes, Tess becomes used to a different way of life, enjoying the company of her friends and next-door neighbour. She also gets to know Rob better and feels as though, with time, she may be able to open up her heart once more.

This was an enjoyable story with a collection of mainly likeable characters. I greatly admired Tess, with her determination to turn her life around after her silly husband had gone off with a younger replacement. Like her fiends, I thought she was far better off without him. It was good that she had the funds to make the desired changes to the cottage and summer house. I wasn’t at all sure about the wisdom of inviting a stranger to literally live in the garden, but what a kind gesture that was. Of course, no story is really complete without a dog, and Tessa’s companion Barney the beagle was a star. I am really looking forward to the next instalment in this series, where there will hopefully be developments in Tess and Rob’s relationship.

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Guest Review: Henry V: The Astonishing Rise of England’s Greatest Warrior King By Dan Jones

Henry V reigned over England for only nine years and four months, and died at the age of just 35, but he looms over the landscape of the late Middle Ages and beyond.

The victor of Agincourt was a model king for his successors. Shakespeare's version of Henry V saw his youthful folly redirected to sober statesmanship, and in the dark days of World War II, Henry's victories in France were recounted in British propaganda. Churchill called Henry 'a gleam of splendour in the dark, troubled story of medieval England', while for one modern medievalist, Henry was, quite simply, 'the greatest man who ever ruled England'.

For Dan Jones, Henry is one of the most intriguing characters in all medieval history, but one of the hardest to pin down. He was a hardened, sometimes brutal, warrior, yet he was also creative and artistic, with a bookish temperament. He was a leader who made many mistakes, who misjudged his friends and family members, yet always seemed to triumph when it mattered.

As king, he saved a shattered country from economic ruin, put down rebellions and secured England's borders; in foreign diplomacy, he made England a serious player once more. Yet through his conquests in northern France, he sowed the seeds for three generations of calamity at home, in the form of the Wars of the Roses.

Review: This is the biography of the English king Henry V by the historian and journalist Dan Jones. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author. Most people will be familiar with this monarch through William Shakespeare’s play and the films based on the play. These concentrate on his martial achievements during his 9-year reign from 1413 to 1422. However, this book gives a more complete and nuanced account of his life.

Born in Monmouth in 1386, Henry was the son of the nobleman Henry Bolingbroke. When his father was sent into exile by the then king Richard II in 1398, the young Henry was taken into the court of King Richard. Henry Bolingbroke returned to England in 1399 to re-claim his inheritance, but instead forced Richard to abdicate and seized the throne as Henry IV. The young Henry subsequently became heir to the throne. During his teenage years he gained military experience during Owain Glyndwr’s Welsh rebellion and assisting his father put down a rebellion by the Percy family. It was during the latter rebellion, at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, that he received a near fatal injury from an arrow to the face. He survived thanks to the expertise of a doctor sent for from London.

When his father died in 1413, Henry succeeded him as King Henry V. During his reign he achieved military successes in his campaigns in France to assert his claim to the French throne. Probably the most famous was his victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, but there were other campaigns. Eventually, in 1420, a treaty was signed recognising him as heir to the French King Charles VI. Unfortunately Henry died in 1422 whilst on campaign in France, possibly from dysentery, prior to the death of Charles VI so never became king of France.

I found the book to be a balanced biography, illustrating Henry V’s skills as a military commander, but also describing his ruthless and brutal side when he felt it was necessary to protect his kingdom. As a more complete biography than the one we get from Shakespeare’s play, I would recommend this book to all interested in this period of history.

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Guest Review: Hopes and Dreams at the Chocolate Pot Cafe by Jessica Redland

Welcome to Whitsborough Bay, a place where hopes and dreams really do come true... ✨

Life at the Chocolate Pot Café has never been sweeter for Tara Porter. Nestled on Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay, her café is thriving, her friendships are close, her foster parents are back where they belong—and she’s finally let herself fall in love with artist Jed Ferguson.

For Jed, returning from Australia feels like coming home in every sense. His teenage daughters have settled, his gallery opening is a success, and with Tara by his side, the future looks full of promise.

But the past can’t stay at bay forever.

When Tara’s estranged foster sister reappears, old wounds resurface. And when Jed is reunited with twelve year old Aaron - a boy he once believed was his son - secrets unravel and loyalties are tested.

Now Tara and Jed must decide whether facing the past will shatter everything they’ve built—or hope it gives them the strength and courage to dream again.

Review: I am an avid reader of Jessica Redland’s books, and was pleased to see that in this new release, I will be returning to the fictional Yorkshire seaside town of Whitsborough Bay, and Castle Street, where the independent shops sell all manner of goods. This book is a sequel to Jessica’s earlier book, Starry Skies Over the Chocolate Pot Cafe. However, there is no need to have read the earlier book, since this one begins with a detailed cast of recurring characters and past events are explained in the text where necessary. This story can be read as a standalone.

The main characters in the book are Tara Porter, who owns the chocolate pot cafe, and Jed Ferguson, a single father and artist who owns the gallery across the road from the cafe. Tara lives above the cafe with her adorable house rabbit. As well as running her successful business, she likes to help people in any way she can. She and Jed have been in a strong relationship for some time, but their busy lives sometimes get in the way. However, suddenly things become even more complicated as Jed’s ex-wife reappears from Australia with her children in tow at the same time as Tara’s foster sister, who betrayed her in the worst possible manner, resurfaces. Tara and Jed wonder what impact these arrivals will have on their lives.

It was great to return to Whitsborough Bay and catch up with its inhabitants, Tara and Jed in particular. I have to admit that I was glad of the cast of characters at the beginning of this book. This story had so many threads to it - never a dull moment. Jed’s ex-wife was an absolutely incredible woman, dragging family back and forwards to Australia. I was afraid that Jed might not be strong enough to reject her latest suggestions. The tale of what happened with Tara’s foster sister was shocking and saddening and would increase any reader’s respect for Tara herself. I think this is one of Jessica Redland’s best books so far. It has multiple aspects, being full of romance, drama and humour, and that sense of community always found in Whitsborough Bay. If you’re not familiar with this author’s books, this would be a good place to start.

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Guest Review: The Best Thing That Ever Happened by Sarah Bennett

One flat. One friendship. One chance to change everything...🏠☕💗

Kat Bailey’s life is going nowhere. Working at her father’s coffee shop in the picture-perfect Cornish holiday hotspot, Halfmoon Quay, makes her dream of becoming an author feel more fantasy than reality – and playing third wheel to her flatmate’s new relationship isn’t helping. So, when her childhood friend Harry Penrose offers her his spare room, it feels like an opportunity not to be missed.

Harry has his own dreams and if he could just dare to be honest, when he pictures his future, Kat is at the heart of it. But now they’re living under the same roof, Harry knows the risk of declaring his feelings. And when his plans clash with Kat’s family ties, the time has come for her to choose between the life she’s always known — and the future she’s only just begun to imagine.

Review: This is book 3 in the Halfmoon Quay series from Sarah Bennett. In case you are new to the series or just need a reminder, there is a helpful guide to the characters as well as a map of the Cornish seaside village of Halfmoon Quay at the beginning of the book. This, like the other books in the series, can be read as a standalone story.

This story centres on Kat Bailey, who works in her dad’s coffee shop, and Harry Penrose, chef at the village’s renowned restaurant. Kat has long held dreams of becoming an author, but family problems have meant that she has no time to follow her dreams. When her flatmate gets into a serious relationship with her boyfriend, Kat feels it is time to look for a new place to stay. Harry, who Kat has known since schooldays, offers her the spare room in his flat and she moves in. They both begin to feel an attraction towards the other but are afraid to declare anything when they are living in such close quarters. However, it looks as though they may be forced apart when Harry’s ambitions for the future may be wrecked by Kat’s dad’s plans. Kat has to make a big decision which side to take.

I enjoyed returning to Halfmoon Quay and catching up with some familiar faces in this romantic story filled with family ties and friendship. Once more, I was attracted to the setting of this quaint little seaside village with its close, supportive community. I loved both Kat and Harry; strong characters with ambitions that you felt they were bound to achieve. It was interesting learning the cause of Harry’s unpredictable nature earlier in life. When it comes to Kat, I was shocked by revelations about her parents and willed her to escape from the hold they had over her. As in previous books, it was heartwarming to see how her group of close friends quickly rallied round when needed. I am already looking forward to the next book in this series and hopefully finding out more about Kat and Harry.

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