BOOK REVIEW: The Little Flower Shop by the Sea by Ali McNamara

The blossom is out in the little Cornish harbour town of St Felix.
But Poppy Carmichael's spirits aren't lifted by the pretty west country spring. Inheriting her grandmother's flower shop has forced her to return to Cornwall, a place that holds too many memories.
Poppy is determined to do her best for the sake of her adored grandmother, but she struggles with the responsibility of the more shabby-than-chic shop. And with the added complication of Jake, the gruff but gorgeous local flower grower, Poppy is very tempted to run away...
The pretty little town has a few surprises in store for Poppy. With new friends to help her and romance blooming, it's time for Poppy to open her heart to St. Felix and to the special magic of a little flower shop by the sea!

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 391

This book is just lovely! One of those books that feels like a lovely, warm hug from your best friend.
Poppy Carmichael is back in the beautiful west country village of St. Felix; a place she has not visited for many years as her memories were too upsetting. However, she has no choice but to return when her grandmother leaves her The Daisy Chain, her precious flower shop which has a very special place in the hearts of the St. Felix residents. Poppy has run away from responsibility her whole adult life but she is determined to make her grandmother proud. Whilst she faces up to the past, she becomes very involved in town life  and the people welcome her with open arms. Jake, the local flower grower is particularly friendly but Poppy is unsure if she will ever be able to let enough of her barriers down in order to let anybody in.
Ali McNamara is a fantastic author and I think that The Little Flower Shop by the Sea is my favourite book of hers. I loved the setting, the characters (animal and human) the story-line, dialogue, I could go on and on. As you can tell I would highly recommend this book, it is spot on for this time of year and beautifully written.

Many thanks to the Sphere for sending me a review copy, the book is out now!

Book Review: It Happened One Summer by Polly Williams

After years of romantic drought, Nell is enjoying a thrilling fling with a sexy new man and loving London life, somehow managing to juggle single motherhood with a busy career. Plus, in the city it's easy to avoid her sister who is about to marry Nell's ex. (Yes, messy). Then she gets the news. Please could she return to Tredower, the crumbling old family home in Cornwall for the summer? Disaster. Tredower has no Wi-Fi, harbours her big dysfunctional family, and far worse, memories of her passionate love affairs with the man who is about to become her brother-in-law. The past is another county. Can she go there?

Another woman is making her way west too, carrying an explosive secret. Love will be lost, and found, lives changed for ever...

Nell is struggling to juggle a high pressured career as a journalist with life as a single mum whilst also dipping a toe in the dating pool. When her  brother Ethan asks her to relocate to Cornwall over the Summer to look after their mother, Nell can't think of anything worse. However, after a while and a few problems at work, Nell decides that a summer in Cornwall might just be what she and four year old Cass need.
Nell's family life has been a little stressful over the years; she is not particularly close to her mother and barely speaks to her sister Heather after she ran off with her boyfriend Jeremy who is now Heather's fiance.
After agreeing to care for her mother, Nell is looking forward to a Summer in Cornwall and spending some quality time with her own daughter. But Nell's mother has other plans, she feels that she is near the end and wants the children to decide what happens to Tredower, the family home. So the rest of the family, including Jeremy arrive and Nell does not quite get the relaxing environment that she was hoping for.
It Happened One Summer also has a mystery element to it in the form of April James and her daughter Beth, they are down in Cornwall for the summer and seem to have a particular interest in Tredower and the family living there.
It took me a little while to get into this book but once the action had moved to Cornwall, I found myself really enjoying it. Polly Williams explores just how much family relationships can be tested and I found this to be very interesting and realistic. I liked Nell's character and I eventually came to like her mother Valerie, even though I could completely see how annoying she was.
The Cornish setting is just lovely and I loved reading about Tredower, the crumbling family home holding many secrets and desires.
It Happened One Summer is an absorbing read and I did like Polly Williams writing style, I would very much recommend it.

Many thanks to the lovely people at Headline for sending me a copy of the book to review, it is out now!