Review: Some Like It Hot At The Picture House By The Sea by Holly Hepburn

Part Four in the brilliant new series from the bestselling author of The Star and Sixpence series. 
 
After several months in Cornwall helping her grandfather run the family business, Ginahas almost forgotten what London life is like, and her boyfriend Max has most definitely noticed.... With all her energy going into the newly renovated Palace picture house and the ever-successful Ferrelli's ice-cream business, he's not getting much attention. To make matters worse, Gina is spending more and more time with her friend and co-renovator, Ben, and old feelings are starting to resurface.
 
But as Gina's time in Cornwall draws to a close and she starts thinking about returning to life in London with Max, the cinema's very future comes under threat from a developer with greed in his eyes. Will Gina stay in Polwhipple? And can she help owner Gorran save the Palace before it is too late...? 

Review: Well the final part in the Picture House by The Sea series did not disappoint! This was obviously where all the story lines came to a head and things were resolved or not as the case may be. Because of that the plot is very much things coming together and so you can expect drama drama drama! I loved that it was structured like this because it made it super quick to read and I flew through this. There are romantic moments, there are heart warming moments and there are some tough moments too, very much reflecting Gina's life entirely and totally relatable!

Obviously Gina completely shines in this series. I love her as a character because she always wants to do the right thing and I find that admirable about her. She is down to earth and she is a strong woman who gets stuff done on her own merit-what more could we want for in a heroine? Ben obviously plays a big part in this final instalment too. I just love how laid back he is, he really is a tonic to the whole storyline, and yet that doesn't mean he doesn't have passion. He is so passionate about everything that he is into and I love that about him! Gina's family really come into play in this novel and It was great to see them altogether in one place. We also have the villains of the story, Rose and her mother. Rose doesn't play as big a role in this episode as she has in previous, but her nastiness still adds some fuel to the drama, as you might imagine. 

Of course there is a little bit of ice cream and a lot of movie magic in this book, as there has been in all the others. There are references to quite a few different movies throughout this book, and not just Some Like it Hot. That is one of the things I have loved about this series, it has definitely inspired me to go and watch the movies of the names of the episodes! Thankfully there wasn't quite as much Italian coffee and cooking in this one and so I didn't have to arm myself with an espresso and a bowl of pasta to read it but it was still just as much fun as the other books in this series. 

I cannot wait to see this book released as a whole as I think it will work really well following on from one another and I can't wait for everyone to start falling in love with Gina, Ben and the Picture House by the Sea just as deeply as I did. 

All four parts are available here

And you can pre-order the full novel (out on 10th August) here

Guest Review: Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice Cream by Sue Watson

Dani’s on a mission to get her life back on track by the end of the Summer. Running, rowing, aerobics and more, but perhaps all she needs are sweet treats and a second chance? 

Twenty years ago, Dani fled Appledore with a broken-heart and a suitcase full of shattered dreams. Only now is she brave enough to put her past behind her and return for a summer selling homemade ice-cream and getting fit by doing sit-ups by the sea. 

But the new-look cafe is filled with old memories of Jude, her teenage sweetheart-turned-sour. She thinks of him every time she swirls warm sauce onto a “chocolate-bockaglory” and even with the help of Chris, her gorgeous personal trainer, the urge to break her diet is everywhere she turns. 

When Jude makes an appearance at the cafe on the eve of Dani’s birthday party, history threatens to repeat itself. Is Dani strong enough to say no? And is the love she’s been longing for much closer than she thinks? 

A truly delicious, laugh out loud beach read that’s guaranteed to melt your heart.

Review: This is the second book in a series about The Ice Cream Cafe, an ice cream parlour in the seaside Devon village of Appledore. I really enjoyed the first book (Ella's Ice Cream Summer), and was looking forward to returning to the cafe and its characters. Although part of a series, either of these books could easily be read as a standalone story. 

In this book, we meet a few new characters in addition to renewing our acquaintance with others. The central person here is Dani, who, like Ella in the first book, is returning to Appledore after a long absence. There is a mystery to Dani's sudden departure from the village twenty years before that unravels as the story proceeds. Dani has returned to take up the position of assistant manager of the ice cream cafe, an unfortunate job I thought for someone who is constantly trying to lose weight. The 16 chapters of the book are named after diets that Dani has tried, usually in an effort to catch the eye of or hold on to a member of the opposite sex. However, when she decides to lose weight for her own satisfaction, she turns to exercise and we meet lovely gym owner Mike and follow the trials and tribulations of Dani's task. 

I think many readers would recognise Dani's problem of trying one diet after another, returning to bad eating habits as each one fails to have the desired effect. You certainly couldn't criticise Dani's perseverance and determination, but I found her a little annoying at times. Having said that, she is also the source of a great deal of humour, as are a couple of the others working in the cafe. 

I would have to say that I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first in the series. However, on its own it lives up to its subtitle - a feel-good holiday romance, and, as such, a good one to pack away for holiday reading. 

To order your copy now, just click the link! UK or US 

Guest Review: Ella's Ice Cream Summer by Sue Watson

Ella’s life just hit rock-bottom, but can a summer by the sea mend her broken heart? When life gives you lemons… make ice-cream!

Life hasn’t always been easy for single mum Ella, but she has just hit an all-time low; she’s jobless, loveless, very nearly homeless and, to make matters worse, now the owner of a pocket-sized pooch with a better wardrobe than her.

Packing her bags (and a bigger one for the dog), Ella sets off for the seaside town of Appledore in Devon to re-live the magical summers of her youth and claim her portion of the family ice-cream business: a clapped-out ice-cream van and a complicated mess of secrets. 

There she meets gorgeous and free-spirited solicitor, Ben, who sees things differently: with a little bit of TLC he has a plan to get the van – and Ella – back up and running in no time.

Review: Although Sue Watson has written a good few books, this is the first that I have actually read. It is the first in a series about The Ice Cream Cafe that sound perfect for a summer read. The title describes this book as a laugh out loud romantic comedy, but in addition to that it is a story with many other facets. I will admit that it didn't have me hooked right from the start, but I soon got engrossed in the story and finished it in quick time. It is a really heart-warming tale. The book has a really enticing cover, that speaks of summer holidays and days out at the seaside. 

The main character is Ella, of course - a 44-year-old divorcee caring for two teenage children and an ageing and sometimes forgetful mother. She has reached that stage many women will recognise where her kids are about to fly the nest and she is thinking 'what next?'. When she is unexpectedly left a legacy by an aunt she hasn't seen in over 30 years, things begin to take a turn in an unforeseen direction. From an uncertain future in Manchester, she decides on a completely fresh start, and is suddenly selling ice cream from a van in the sleepy little Devon village of Appledore and dreaming up the most delicious ice cream flavours. 

There is a great deal of humour in this book, mostly emanating from Ella's mum and her forays into the world of the internet, egged on by her grandchildren. Another character that made me laugh out loud was a Pomeranian dog fostered by Ella; this little canine had an enormous wardrobe with outfits for every occasion, and Ella was obliged to dress her appropriately. Of course, there was a bit of romance as well, courtesy of gorgeous Ben, a local solicitor. On top of all that, there is a mystery running through the book that Ella must solve. It kept me guessing!

In summary, I would heartily recommend this book to anyone. The only thing I would say is that it will leave you wanting to go out and buy an ice cream, or even experiment with making some yourself; a recipe is included should you be tempted. 

To order your copy now, just click the link! UK or US 

Review: Singing in The Rain at The Picture House by The Sea by Holly Hepburn

Part Two in the brilliant new series from the bestselling author of the Star and Sixpence series. 

Gina has returned to her family in the picturesque Cornish town of Polwhipple, to help run the Italian family's ice-cream business while her grandfather recovers from an accident.

Dismayed to find her old haunt from childhood visits to Polwhipple, the little picture house by the sea, in a state of disrepair, Gina is determined to help. Long past its heyday now, the little art deco cinema needs all the help it can get. With the help of her old friend Ben, Gina goes to the town's committee to ask for funding to renovate the hearthstone of Polwhipple's community. And what better way to prove the little picture house's worth, than by throwing another fantastic themed screening... 

But Ben's activities are closely watched by the venomous Rose, who wants him all to herself. And how is it exactly that she knows Gina's boyfriend Max... Download it now to find out! 

Review: this is the second part in the new series from Holly Hepburn and I literally read this the moment it hit my Kindle! I am loving this series so far and the length of the instalments in the series mean that you can read them during a lazy afternoon or in an evening in the bath-they are a great length and each is a completely story from start to finish. 

The characters in this series are great too and by part 2 we are really getting to know them and how they all relate to one another.  I'm really enjoying spending time with Gina, she definitely has her head screwed on right. I love the relation ship she has with her grandparents and I really admire her determination. I love the fact that she can come against adversity and will try whatever she can to conquer it. I have also been enjoying getting to know Ben. It is always a little odd when you reconnect with a childhood friend but I am enjoying  seeing Ban and Gina's friendship develop and I love Ben's loyalty and sense of right and wrong. 

There are two other factors which make this series great, firstly the food. There are awesome descriptions of ice cream and coffee in these books so definitely be warned about that-you will need a decent snack to enjoy with these novellas. And secondly, the eponymous picture house itself. I loved the idea of this old cinema, left to rot and ruin, not being taken care of properly, bringing a community together and coming to life once more. Of course it makes me want to watch all of the films too, but I defy anyone not to fall in love with this cinema. 

I highly recommend downloading this series and I can't wait to find out what happens in the next instalment!

Guest Review: The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop by Abby Clements

Anna and her husband Matteo are ready to embark a delicious Italian adventure. After a year and a half running their ice cream shop on Brighton beach and raising their baby Isabella, Matteo is starting to miss Italy. A shared passion for ices means it's easy to settle on a new business idea - they'll open a shop in the town's cobbled square, a short walk from the sparkling blue sea. For a while, life is sweet; but then Matteo's overbearing family get involved... 

Anna's younger sister Imogen feels like things are finally coming together - she's living with boyfriend Finn in a beach house in Brighton, and her photography is taking off. Then her career stalls, and the lure of Capri - and a man from her past - prove difficult to resist. 

Join Anna and Imogen and share a summer on the Amalfi Coast that you'll never forget.

This book is the sequel to the wonderful Vivien's Ice Cream Shop. I read it hard on the heels of the first book, but it would stand alone nicely if you hadn't read the first tale.  All the same lovely people are there, along with beautiful settings and mouthwatering flavours of ice cream and sorbet of course.

I really liked all of the characters in the story, although a couple took a while to grow on me. The central players are, as in the first book, two sisters (Anna and Imogen), very different but both strong and likeable in their own ways. In this book, we follow them through the ups and downs in their love lives and careers. Anna and her partner, Matteo, have developed the ice cream shop left to the sisters by their grandmother into a thriving business. Imogen is much more passionate about her photography business, but is struggling to decide which direction her life should take. Her partner, Finn, is still by her side.

The action in this story again takes place in both England and Italy. The descriptions of the Italian setting had me packing my bag to take a trip there. I could just see the sun shimmering on the Mediterranean, so evocative is Abby's writing.  I could almost taste those delicious ice cream flavours that were dreamt up in the shops in both countries.  I'm also dying to try the gin cocktail with lime sorbet that Anna's partner was drinking.

I would recommend this book to people of any age. As I said at the beginning, you wouldn't have to read the first story to appreciate this one, but if you haven't read it, why not give it a go? Do be prepared, though, to be overwhelmed by the need to dash out and buy: a) ice cream; and b) tickets for a trip to the Amalfi Coast.

Review: Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop by Abby Clements

When Imogen and Anna unexpectedly inherit their grandmother Vivien's ice cream parlour, it turns both their lives upside-down. The Brighton shop is a seafront institution, but while it's big on charm it's critically low on customers. If the sisters don't turn things around quickly, their grandmother's legacy will disappear forever. 

With summer looming, Imogen and Anna devise a plan to return Vivien's to its former glory. Rather than sell up, they will train up, and make the parlour the newest destination on the South Coast foodie map. 

While Imogen watches the shop, her sister flies to Italy to attend a gourmet ice cream-making course. But as she works shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best chefs in the industry, Anna finds that romance can bloom in the most unexpected of places...




Review: aww I definitely shouldn't have waited so long to read this book, it was just as delicious as I anticipated and then some! I loved the idea behind this, first of all, the idea of inheriting an ice cream shop and then having to work out what to do with it-love it! I really liked the setting as well because I could picture exactly what was going on at each point. I really didn't expect the extra sub plots that went along with the main story line, they were really interesting and its always good to have a bit of romance thrown into the mix as well. The book does come with a warning that it will have you craving ice cream or any kind of frozen sweetness really so have something in the freezer ready to accompany your reading!

I loved the balance of Anna and Imogen as characters, they really are ying and yang in terms of their personalities, one being an adventuring traveller, the other being a real home bod, but their contrast really worked for this novel. Imogen got into some real scrapes and some which affected the whole business whereas Anna had to be the sensible one to sort it out. I like Anna's sideline story line the best I think, I liked the journey that she went on over the course of the novel. There is another subplot about the girls' family as well and it thought this was a really interesting twist. It would be good to see if this comes up again in the sequel!

Obviously ice cream features heavily in this novel, which will make you hungry, but so does travel, particularly Italy, which will make you yearn to go there as well. I seriously need to go back to Sicily after reading this book, the description of all the settings was excellent though. I really felt like I was there with the girls (and boys!) and I'm sure every reader will have a similarly positive experience! Overall, just a great read with a good balance of plot, setting and characters. I can't wait for the next one!