Book Review - Summer at Sandcastle Cottage by Christina Jones

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Summer at Sandcastle Cottage

Author: Christina Jones

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Accent

Publication Date: 18th March 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

After trials, tears and a torturous break-up, Kitty Appleby has finally found where she's meant to be. Tumbledown Sandcastle Cottage, in the delightful seaside village of Firefly Common, is home, and Kitty's eccentric band of friends and neighbours are enjoying a glorious summer.

There's just one tiny little problem. Sandcastle Cottage doesn't belong to them. And Mavis Mullholland, Kitty's landlord, is on her way home from her round-the-world cruise . . .

Kitty can't bear to lose the community that's welcomed her in. But secretly, she can't bear to leave Sandcastle Cottage without finding out more about the mysterious and enigmatic Vinny . . . Why can't she stop thinking about him, when she's faced with losing everything?

This has left me with a massive smile on my face and great warmth in my heart. 

It is everything I wanted the book to be, and it's the first full length Christina Jones novel that I've read for years, only due to lack of books being written as far as I can tell, and was mildly nervous that it wouldn't be as good as I remember this author to be. 

Well my fears were unfounded, Christina Jones' writing is as fabulous as its ever been, and I was hooked on this story.  It continues 6 months after where the Christmas at Sandcastle Cottage short story finishes, but don't worry that just gives good background to the characters, this can easily be read as a standalone and the relevant bits are dropped in. 

I love Kitty, Jemini and Apollo, little Teddy and the dogs of course.  They are an unlikely group of people to live together but needs must and they have been there 6 months now at Sandcastle Cottage, on a short term rental that is due to end imminently, but they don't want to split up as its a working "family unit" as such. 

There are so many wonderful threads to this story, but I can't work out what to say as I don't want to spoil anything, but there is romance, there is laughter, there's some emotional bits, some amazing sandcastles, foot in mouth moments.  Not to mention a surprisingly impressive party from one set of neighbours, quoting of a wellness guru from the other neighbour, some feisty conversations and just the most perfect ending going. 

I've adored my time on Firefly Common, and would love the author to return there in future books, its a gorgeous seaside setting, and is just so quaint, it even has an old fashioned fish and chip shop that Kitty works at. 

It's a joy of a British summertime read that I just thoroughly enjoyed every second of. It was a smooth read, and didn't take me too long to devour, and when I wasn't between the pages I was trying to work how whether I could justify stopping working just to continue reading. 

So great to see Christiana Jones back writing again, I can't wait for whatever her next book is. 

Thank you to Headline Accent and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.