Review: An Invitation to Seashell Bay by Bella Osborne

 One ambitious businesswoman.

One irresponsible heir.

A deal that will turn both their lives upside down…

To grow her craft business, Nancy is in desperate need of two things: help and money. So when a potential investor she’s looking to impress recommends an assistant, she jumps at the chance to secure both.

Freddy Astley-Davenport is a notorious playboy with zero work experience. He’s poised to inherit his family’s estate in sunny Seashell Bay – but only if he can hold down a job for six months first. His plan is to take the assistant role in name only, then do the least work he possibly can.

Nancy has other ideas, though, and the pair butt heads from day one. However, as they argue, sparks begin to fly, and they soon discover exactly why opposites attract…

Review: this was such a lovely story. I read part 1 as a standalone and then listened to the rest of the book on audiobook. I loved getting to meet Nancy and Alice in part 1. Both strong independent women who are finding their way in the world. I loved the fact that Nancy had built up her own business and was doing everything in her power to ensure that it continued to thrive. Alice is similarly trying to be as independent as possible by taking a job in a school and moving to london. They are by no means the best of friends but their relationship is important especially in a world that can be as lonely as the one we live in!

Then along comes a couple of men to throw spanners into the works. We have dad from Alice’s school Dom and then we have Freddy. Freddy is the perfect antidote to Nancy's continuous hard work and diligence. He’s a playboy with no real understanding of the real world but naturally this makes him the perfect person to be her personal assistant. Freddy is such a fin character to read and you know whenever he enters a scene, there’s going to be humour and perhaps chaos!

Then the titular invitation to seasell bay happens and we get to explore a whole new world outside of London. We get a bit of background as to why Freddy is the way he is and in addition, a deeper understanding of Nancy’s drive. We discover the secrets that Alice has been hiding and we also get to meet a peacock named Percy! It was wonderful to see the world that Freddy comes from and see his family and why they are the way they are, it made him seem to have much more humour and as we get deeper into the novel it's hard not to fall in love with all these characters and really genuinely care about what happens to them. 

I so enjoyed my journey to seashell bay, it was funny and real and had a great deal of warmth and heart about it. I really recommend the latest Bella Osborne, I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I did!

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Guest Review: Caught Short of the Boundary and Other Tall Stories By Henry Blofeld

 

Review: This is a short collection of humorous anecdotes by sports journalist and cricket commentator (now retired) Henry Blofeld. Published in 1984, it includes stories from his school and university days, when he played cricket for Eton and Cambridge, to his unsuccessful foray into the world of merchant banking, before turning to journalism and commentating. However, most of the tales are concerned with his travels around the world following cricket.

The author is well known for his rich turn of phrase and sense of humour, and the book is infused with this sense of fun throughout. It is also illustrated with several cartoons. If any James Bond fans are familiar with the name Blofeld, it is because the spy’s creator Ian Fleming knew the Blofeld family and took their name for Bond’s arch-enemy Ernst Stavro Blofeld. This story is covered in the book.

This is less a book about cricket, but more about some of the incidents, many amusing but some more alarming, that have befallen the author during his career. As a short read, I found it very entertaining.

Review: None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

 Celebrating her 45th birthday at her local pub, podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie is also celebrating her 45th.

A few days later, they bump into each other again, this time outside Alix's children's school. Josie says she thinks she would be an interesting subject for Alix's podcast. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Alix agrees to a trial interview and indeed, Josie's life appears to be strange and complicated. Aix finds her unsettling but can't quite resist the temptation to keep digging.

Slowly Alix starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it Josie has cajoled her way into Alix's life - and into her home.

Soon Alix begins to wonder who is Josie Fair really? And what has she done?

Review: this is one of those Lisa Jewell novels where you just don’t trust anyone! What I love about Lisa Jewell is that she writes characters which are definitely not all likeable, but they are so so intriguing and also just so easy to relate to. This kind of thing could have happened to any of us. The other big takeaway I loved in this novel is that it features the whole podcast situation. There has been a lot of talk recently about true crime podcasters getting sucked into their work and going too deep. This is so the case with this one. Poor Alix didn’t know what was coming for her when she invited Josie into her life. This mixed media format which cracks open the world of podcasting and just what a risk you could be setting yourself up for is just wonderful. 

As already mentioned, I didn't love Josie or Alix, or any of the other characters for that matter but oh my goodness they were intriguing. They stayed with me for a long time. I also really sympathise with both of them. I felt for Josie because of the life she has led, whether she chose to live that way or not and I sympathised with Alix because she just didn’t see what was coming for her. They both have fully formed lives and they’re about to be ripped apart by this story. 

I don’t know why I am surprised but I am always just so amazed at how dark a Lisa Jewell novel can get. This wasn’t dark in the same way that The Family Upstairs and The Family Remains was dark, its not scary in that way but the way Lisa Jewell weaves in the level of deception and the depth of twists, turns and lies that go on over the course of this story-it’s just truly remarkable. I absolutely flew through this, I didn’t see a lot of it coming and I really do feel like this ending was left the way it was for a reason. If this is your first Lisa Jewell novel-you’re in for a treat and if you’re already a fan then rest assured, this is every bit as good as her usual offerings, you won’t be disappointed. 

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Guest Review: The French Chateau Dream by Julie Caplin

You are invited to a summer of sparkling champagne, warm buttery croissants and a little bit of je ne sais quoi

With a broken heart and a broken spirit, Hattie is in need of a summer escape. So when an opportunity comes up to work at a beautiful, stately chateau in the Champagne region of France she books her flights quicker than the pop of a cork.

Romance is the last thing Hattie is looking for but then she wasn’t expecting gorgeous Luc to stroll into her life. With picnics in the warm French sun and delicious foodie trips to the local market, Hattie starts to wonder if a holiday fling – or maybe even something more – might be just what she needs.

Review: This is the tenth book in the Romantic Escapes series by Julie Caplin. The lighthearted romantic stories in this series are set in various destinations across the world. Each one centres on a particular character, but one or more players from other books in the series pop up on a regular basis. Although the books can all be read as a standalone, I have enjoyed reading them in order and recognising the ‘visiting’ characters. As the title suggests, this story is set in France.

The central character in the book is wedding planner Hattie, who has been sent on ahead to a French chateau where her cousin is to be married in a few weeks time. She is glad of the chance to get away from life at home, where a long association with a needy ex has left her drained. The chateau with accompanying vineyard is imposing, but very rundown inside. Hattie hopes to find assistance from staff in preparing the house for the wedding, but finds resistance to her ideas at every turn. She has to use her skills to circumvent the obstacles in her path, including bringing in her own caterer from home. Fortunately, Luc, the handsome son of the chateau’s owner, is more helpful and a relationship develops between the two which makes Hattie realise how much better life could be.

I have really enjoyed all of the books in this series, this being no exception. There is a host of interesting characters in this story in addition to Hattie and Luc. It was nice too to meet up with someone from a previous book in the series. Food plays a big part in all of the books; this one having a wedding at its centre features lots of delicious dishes, sweet and savoury, all with a distinctly French flavour. In addition, especially as Luc is a winemaker, there is lots of information about wine and specific pairings with food. I loved watching Hattie blossom as she grew in confidence and found real romance with stunning and sensitive Luc. He certainly sounded a hero that will appeal to many readers. I can thoroughly recommend this new addition to this already successful series.

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Guest Review: Gone Fishing By Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse

 Two comedy greats talk life, friendship and the joys of fishing...

Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse have been friends for 30 years, but when life intervened, what was once a joyous and spontaneous friendship dwindled to the odd phone call or occasional catch up. Then, Glory Be! They were both diagnosed with heart disease and realised that time is short. They'd better spend it fishing...

So they dusted off their kits, chucked on their waders and ventured into the achingly beautiful British countryside to fish, rediscover the joys of their friendship and ruminate on some of life's most profound questions, such as: How did we get so old? Where are all the fish? What are your favourite pocket meats? What should we do if we find a corpse?

Following the success of the BBC's Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing series, this wonderful book by two lifelong friends is a love letter to the joys of angling, the thrill of the catch and the virtue of having a right daft laff with your mates. On the fish, the equipment, the food, and the locations, Gone Fishing is the perfect book for fans of Bob Mortimer, Paul Whitehouse and for anyone who wants to read a brilliantly written and endlessly funny joint memoir on life, friendship and joys of fishing.

Review: Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse are two comedians and friends. After both underwent heart operations / heart procedures, Paul Whitehouse, a keen angler, suggested fishing trips as a way of recuperating, getting out of the house, enjoying the countryside and partaking of a hobby that is mentally relaxing. These trips ticked all those boxes, so they came up with the idea of making a television series, with the two of them ruminating on a riverbank about the meaning of life and the universe whilst trying to catch fish. Several series later, this book was published in 2019 as an accompaniment to the television programmes.

Whilst not a definitive guide to angling, this book covers the authors’ introductions to angling and how they found the trips therapeutic, giving them the idea for the tv programmes. There is even a chapter on healthy recipes, including one for an example of one of Bob’s famous “pocket meats”. I am not a fan of angling, having had a bad experience on my one and only fishing trip in my childhood, but I found the book entertaining, sprinkled throughout with the duo’s anarchic humour. There are also some thought provoking chapters covering the ecology of rivers and how anglers are best placed to know when fish stocks become depleted. There is a lot of jargon in the book, which I found difficult to follow at times. So if you want to know the difference between a waggler and a quill (types of float), or Quantum Radical and Dynamite Crave (types of synthetic bait), then this book will help.

Overall, I found this to be an entertaining and humorous book; less an earnest guide to angling but more about enjoying the pleasures of the countryside.

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Review: Love Me Do by Lindsey Kelk

 She’s written the perfect romance . . . for someone else

Greetings card copywriter Phoebe Chapman knows a good romantic line or two – and it makes her a fantastic Cupid.

So when she lands in the Hollywood Hills – a place that proves film stars, golden beaches and secret waterfalls don’t just exist in the movies – she can’t resist playing matchmaker for her handsome neighbour, carpenter Ren.

But you can’t hide from love in La La Land.

And isn’t there something a little bit hot about Ren, her own leading man next door?

Review: Review: This book was so much fun from start to finish. If you know me you’ll know that I will read anything Lindsey Kelk writes and will recommend her books until the cows come home but this was a great standalone with all the feels and a great way to travel to LA without having to endure that hellishly long flight! I loved getting to meet Phoebe because she is a character who is easy to relate to. She has her flaws and she has a past btu she has come to LA for a break from her life and it was great sharing her adventure. Her sister is a fun character too and I enjoyed the ying and yang of their relationship and then her sister’s neighbour Ren is a great addition to the character line-up. They have a wonderful meet cute and you just know from their meeting that Ren is going to add quite the intrigue to the novel. 

My favourite character though has to be Bel. If you love the I heart series and you love the way Jenny and Angela meet and she sorts Angela out with the food and the shopping, this is the same but on the west coast. Bel is a personal trainer with every side hustle under the sun going on because of course she is an actress too and so you just know that she and Phoebe are going to get up to no good. The fact that she takes Phoebe out to one of the author's favourite restaurants to begin with really sets the tone for their relationship. Then we have glamorous retired actress Myrna. She is really something else. To begin with she gave me Sunset Boulevard vibes but then she also has a little bit of Elizabeth Taylor meets Moira Rose about her. Her meet cute with phoebe also includes fences like Ren’s does so there’s a definite theme going on here. 

I loved all the locations I got to travel to with phoebe and her new friends, it really was a great experience to be had through the pages of the book. Some of the locations I could picture because I have been there and others I felt like I had because they are described so vividly through Phoebe’s eyes-it was a lot of fun. And then we have the perfect balance of humour and romance that Lindsey Kelk always seems to manage to capture in her books. She never fails to make me laugh out loud with her funny one liners and the situations she puts her characters in. I mean “and do you know they don’t sell Birds Eye potato waffles in America? No wonder there’s so much political unrest.” How could you not laugh at that? I loved this book. You will laugh, you will go to Disneyland, you will be willing some of these characters to get it on already-what more do you want?

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Guest Review: Escape to Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson

Ella steps through the gate, and within seconds is standing at the edge of the most perfect beach she’s ever seen – a small horseshoe of sand fringing a rolling blanket of sparkling turquoise sea. Breathing in the fresh, salty air, she wipes the tears from her cheeks. Surely, in a place as beautiful as this, she can finally be happy?

Ella Farrell has reached breaking point. Shattered by her job and her boyfriend’s recent betrayal, she grabs her stuff and flees down the coast. When her car breaks down a few miles short of Cornwall, she’s astonished by where she’s ended up. Not on any map, the tiny seaside village of Starshine Cove is almost too perfect for words. A cobbled lane lined with pretty, thatched cottages slopes towards a pristine white beach… has she finally lost it, or is this place for real?

Spotting a little café on the edge of the cove, Ella settles in. It’s not long before – with a wedge of homemade raspberry cheesecake in front of her – Ella finds herself promising Connie, the café’s Dolly Parton-lookalike owner, that she might just stick around.

As days turn into weeks, Ella warms to the quirky little village and the people who live there. Particularly Jake, the broad-shouldered, dark-haired landlord of the Starshine Inn. As they sip cocktails together at sundown, Ella feels they’ve been friends for years… except that her heart does a little flip-flop whenever their eyes meet. Jake also came to Starshine Cove by chance – was he too trying to run away from something?

Just as Ella begins to feel the tension she’s carried for so long beginning to ease, the past comes knocking on her rustic, driftwood door. Will Ella find the strength to embrace this place and forge a new path, or is Starshine Cove – and her growing connection with Jake – simply too good a dream to last?

Review: This is the first book in a new series from Debbie Johnson that centres on Starshine Cove, a beautiful and magical bay and community in Dorset that I wished was real by the end of this story.

The tale concerns doctor Ella Farrell who has reached a crisis in her life, which has finally culminated in her fleeing home after catching her long-term partner cheating on her. After travelling around aimlessly for a few days, her car breaks down and, seeking help, she wanders down a path that opens out onto the most perfect beach she has ever seen. Further exploration reveals a village of small dwellings and businesses and a collection of truly warm and welcoming people who persuade her to stay for a while. At the Starshine Inn, she meets strikingly handsome landlord Jake, who also wandered into the Cove by chance and decided to stay. As the days and weeks go by, Ella gradually begins to feel part of the community and that maybe this is where she belongs. She also feels more and more attracted to Jake. However, a near tragedy has her realising that perhaps she should rethink her future and that Starshine Cove and her relationship with Jake could be just too good to be true.

I absolutely loved this charming, heart-warming and romantic story, with its incredible setting and amazing characters. There is a lot of the trademark Debbie Johnson comedy throughout the story, but also some very serious and heartbreaking back stories and moments for all the characters. Ella herself has had a hard few years and deserves a large dose of TLC, but others in the little village have also suffered hard times that had tears running down my cheeks as they were related. The stories of cafe owner Connie and elderly resident George are particularly poignant. It would be remiss of me not to mention perhaps the most important character of all - Larry, a stray dog befriended by Ella as she arrived at Starshine Cove, who became her faithful companion through thick and thin. This is a book that I recommend to all. Fans of Debbie Johnson will probably, like me, recognise echoes of her Comfort Food Cafe series which I also enjoyed immensely. I am already looking forward to the next book in this series, a taster for which is included at the end of this book.

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