Saturday 22 August 2015

Book Review & Giveaway - The Little Flower Shop by the Sea by Ali McNamara - Cornish Week - Paperback Summer



Amazon UK 
Title: The Little Flower Shop by the Sea
Author: Ali McNamara
Format reviewed: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Publisher: Sphere
Publication Date: 30th July 2015
Rating: 5 Stars

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!

Ali McNamara has done it again. Every time I think she can't write a better book, she comes along and does it. This is a fabulous summery read, set in the picturesque town of St Felix in Cornwall. I would be very surprised if you didn't fall in love with the town, the flower shop and Jake the way I did. 

Poppy Carmichael hates flowers, and she has never had any intention of returning to the town of St Felix , despite having spent happy summers there for most of her childhood, So when she inherits her grandmother's flower shop, The Daisy Chain, she doesn't have a choice to return, even if its just to get it ready to sell.

However the shop and the town are known to have mystical healing properties, and she soon decides to try and give running the shop a go, with the help of Amber, a florist her parents send to help Poppy out. Amber is also in need of the healing properties of the town. 

There is a lot in this book about the language of flowers and how each flower means something different, and when combined in bouquets they can cause almost miraculous things to happen. Whether you believe it or not, and Poppy is incredibly cynical about it, there does seem to be an increase in the fortunes of everyone once they start using them.

Within the town, there is a cast of fabulous characters, including Jake the local flower grower and Poppy's flower supplier, and he is recovering from his own heartbreak. Jake has 2 children and also Miley, his pet monkey. I am utterly convinced that Miley is the star of the book, and she is like a mini human. All the best scenes include her in some way, and a lot of the laughs do too. The town also has their own Ant and Dec, who run the bakery. 

The Little Flower Shop by the Sea is a story focusing on new friendships and relationships, and as Poppy digs into the history of the shop and the local castle, she uncovers a few mysteries. There is a good variety of sub plots going on, all of which are very interesting. 

I found The Little Flower Shop by the Sea to be a colourful story that I loved reading a lot. 


Giveaway to win a paperback copy of The Little Flower Shop by the Sea (INT)

If  you like the sound of this book, then this is the giveaway for you. I am giving the readers of Rachel's Random Reads a chance to win their own copy of The Little Flower Shop by the Sea, in paperback. 

Giveaway open to internationally (so long as The Book Depository ships to your country), all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 26/8/2015. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

56 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good summer read.

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  2. So many favourite flowers but I think pink carnations top my list! Thanks for the fab giveaway .. have really enjoyed this Cornish week :) x

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  3. Would normally say Gerbera's but loving Peony's just now. Have really enjoyed Cornish week. Thanks for the giveaway. Lx

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  4. My favourite flowers are red roses :) xx

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  5. sweet peas are my current favourite Sarah

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  6. My favourite flower is a rose.
    glenka@hotmail.co.uk

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  7. Cornwall and flowers, what's not to like! Yellow roses are my favourite, I love having them in the house. Thank you for a lovely giveaway.

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  8. I love all types of lilies. The scent is beautiful

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  9. All but I have a sweet spot for tulips and orchards, something exotic and sweet about them.

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  10. My fave flowers are frecias xx I had them in my wedding bouquet, they smell gorgeous xx

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  11. I love roses, but really like the scent of honeysuckle.

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  12. My favorite flower is Gardenia!

    Raffle name: Artemis Giote

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  13. Hard to choose, but honeysuckle for happy childhood memories

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  14. Argh. Rafflecopter name is Sharon Hopkinson. Wrong sign in - sorry!

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  15. I loved this book, great review!

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  16. Mine is a daisy. Thanks for the lovely giveaway, this book is on my wishlist, I've really enjoyed the other books so far by this author.

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  17. I like carnations because they last for ages and you can get some modern bright purples and pinks that are really pretty.

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  18. My favourite flowers are lillies

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  19. Sounds great this book,and the cover is super sweet!
    My favorite flower is lilac :)
    Thanks for the great giveaway :))

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  20. Poppies are my favourite, love the colour.

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  21. Gerbera is my favourite flower xx

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  22. It's so hard to pick a favourite! I love fragrant ones like freesias, jasmine, gardenia and frangipani but my favourite of all is one we don't get here in the UK, the ginger lily.

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  23. Love Roses. Only ones that are scented though.

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  24. love Iris, they're so exotic xx

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  25. My favourite are Sunflowers & I love growing them with my kids!

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  26. Sunflowers - they're bright & happy!

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  27. It changes with the seasons, but my all time fave is the red rose. x

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  28. Violets (I even called my little girl after them)

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  29. I love the small of night scented stock. It reminds me of my mum.

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  30. Snowdrops and cyclamen are memories of my mum xxx

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