Book Review - All Summer With You by Beth Good - #HolidayReading Mexico

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: All Summer With You

Author: Beth Good

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 27th June 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

There's no place like home...

Nursing a broken heart, Jennifer Bolitho retreats to Pixie Cottage. Her new landlord - a former soldier turned movie heartthrob - has grounds so large, she's sure the little house nestled in the woods will bring her solitude.

Alex Delgardo also has reasons to hide away. Seeking refuge after a tragic incident turned his world upside down, he knows that the most important thing now is to care for his ailing family.

But when Jennifer enters their lives, that changes. Because, as they both learn, you can't heal others until you learn to heal yourself..

Well I was under the spell of this book from the opening chapter,  where we meet Baby the Escapee goat.  And Jennifer whose cottage its got into. 

Jennifer is hiding from the world and trying to heal her broken heart.  She's very into Cornish folklore, and the stories she tells are fascinating. 

Not looking for love but when has that ever stopped your heart.  

Meeting Nelly and Alex is life changing and I was delighted to see how Jennifer developed over the course of the story. 

Such warm writing that had me gripped.  I was barely able to put the book down I was enjoying it that much.  

It was great to be back in Pethporro and I hope to be able to visit this charming Cornish village again in the future.

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

Book Review - The Oddest Little Tea Shop by Beth Good

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title:  The Oddest Little Tea Shop

Author: Beth Good

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 16th August 2018 

Rating: 5 Stars

It's a big day for Charlie Bell - the grand reopening of her Aunt Pansy's long-closed tea rooms in Tremevissey, a quaint Cornish seaside resort. But not everyone is happy for Charlie. The locals say the tea rooms are cursed. For Pansy was cruelly jilted by her lover, and walked out into the ocean, never to return.

Charlie dismisses the 'curse' as superstitious nonsense, but by the end of the first day, her world is in tatters, and she's not even sure the tea rooms can open again.

Then in walks a rugged, taciturn man with a sexy smile and everything he owns on his back, looking for a summer job . . .

Is Gideon Petherick an angel in disguise? Or is history about to repeat itself?

Without a doubt this is my favourite of Beth Good's Oddest Little books. I was completely hooked from start to finish and for s short novella, it certainly has a lot packed into it. 

There are secrets to be uncovered,  a curse to deal with, tea rooms, a lovely Cornish setting, a very handsome man,  and a whole lot more beside. 

It is definitely a book featuring a tea shop, and its owner Charlie Bell is trying her best to make it work for her long deceased Aunt Pansy.   However the grand re-opening isn't exactly smooth and the serious of events at it that go wrong are hilarious. 

I am a huge fan of Beth Good's novellas, and this would be an excellent introduction to them and the author for anyone.  Its a quick compelling story, that I  didn't want to end.  A really enjoyable experience. 

Thanks to Beth Good for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Winter Without You by Beth Good

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Winter Without You

Author: Beth Good

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 1st November 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

What do you do when you lose everything?

After the tragic death of her boyfriend, Hannah Clitheroe is hiding away from the world. But when she discovers she's inherited a house in Cornwall, she knows it's time to face reality.

Her estranged grandmother lived in Kernow House for years, but Hannah soon realises someone else thinks it's rightfully theirs: Raphael Tregar, a difficult man who quickly gets under her skin.

But as winter sets in, there's one more thing that keeps her up at night, and the rising fear that she may not find her true home in Cornwall after all...

For a couple of years now I have been hoping that Beth Good would write a full length book, given how much I love her short novellas.  And now that I have read Winter Without You, I'm delighted to say how much I adored this book. 

This really is a warm hug of a book, perfect for those cold winter days, it is heartwarming, funny in places, with hints of romance, and just an all around fabulous story about Hannah and her new Cornish inheritance. 

Add in a mix of animals, one shepherd who has a bad reputation, the local rabbit catcher, and a couple of other strays that Hannah allows to stay with her, she is starting to turn Kernow House into a real hope.  Just a shame that someone else may have a dubious claim on the property. 

We discover long hidden family secrets, and all the characters are easily believable and just seemed like good people to know, if a bit gossipy.  There is plenty of plot in this book,  loads of smiles and given the reasons that Hannah is in Cornwall could lead to a depressing book, it really wasn't.  I didn't find it overly emotional but did enjoy seeing how Hannah was able to start making a new life for herself. 

And the Boxing Day pageant just sounded like a lot of fun, as did everything going on on Christmas day.  With some worrying moments but also some grand romantic gestures this really is a book for anyone who just enjoys a good story.  

Yet the character I wanted to know a lot more about was Lizzie, she seemed at first so vulnerable but really grew as the book progressed, and I really loved seeing her coming out of her shell.  

I found my self whizzing through this page without even realising how much time had past, in fact had I been able to spare the time I would have happily read this in one sitting, and I was sorely tempted to.  I loved this book and very eager to see what the author writes next. 

Thank you Netgalley and Quercus for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Oddest Little Romance Shop by Beth Good

Amazon UK

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Title: The Oddest Little Romance Shop

Author: Beth Good

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author suppliedcopy

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 30th August 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Izzie has the perfect plan for a perfect life. Work hard, get married, settle down, start a family. But when a mysterious Valentine's day card arrives, asking in a bold scrawl, 'Will you marry me?', it upends everything.
Because Izzie thought she'd found Mr Right - and the card isn't from him.

Puzzled, she sets out to discover the identity of her secret admirer . . . and is shocked by the truth. Torn in two directions, Izzie doesn't know what to do.

Should she stick to the plan, or is it time to take life in a bold new direction?

What an incredibly sweet romance, that was also completely odd - but there was no shop really in the book to complete the title. 

What we do have is a prologue that enticed me into read more of the book, and a series of events that unfurled with a great deal of drama and intrigue. 

This is one fast paced book where the only thing I was sure of what that Izzie was definitely planning on marrying the wrong man at the start.  What I couldn't have predicted was how her true love would appear into the book, and the true nature of her fiancee. 

This was incredibly short and was a very fast read, I think it took me an hour in two sittings to read, and that's only because starting great books at 2:30am to tend to mean I need to put them down shortly afterwards for sleep!   

I loved every moment of this quirky little story, and just couldn't wait to see what direction it would go in next. 

Thank you to Beth Good for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Oddest Little Chocolate Shop by Beth Good

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title:  The Oddest Little Chocolate Shop

Author: Beth Good

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source:  Author supplied copy

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 1st August 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Treat yourself to something delicious . . .

'I love Beth Good's quirky style!' - bestselling author Katie Fforde

When Clementine discovers that Monsieur Ravel's beloved chocolaterie is about to close, she rushes to rescue it - without thinking through the consequences.

A lost Persian cat, a depressed but utterly gorgeous French chocolatier, an allergic shop assistant in search of true love, the oddest little chocolate shop Clementine has ever seen . . .

Can Clementine save them all, or has she bitten off more than she can chew?

A delicious, feel-good novella set in the world of chocolate-making from popular romantic comedy writer Beth Good.

Have I mentioned recently how much I love Beth Good's Oddest Little books - I have read a variety of them now and they never fail to bring a smile to my face, and give me an hour or two of pure escapism. 

And The Oddest Little Chocolate Shop is no exception - don't expect lots of delicious chocolate descriptions, as its really about the contents of the shop - in fact when we first meet the shop and the chocolatier, the sexy Dominic Ravel,  its empty! 

But that doesn't deter Clemmie from entering, meeting Monsieur Ravel and trying to work out what is going on, and who the white cat on the shops doorstep belongs too. 

With a cast of quirky characters, some sizzling chemistry, some chocolate, and a sibling relationship that would drive me a bit bonkers,  this is a lot of fun packed into a short space.  I just loved every second of it, could picture the shop and surroundings quite clearly and loved the dialogue too. 

Beth Good has mastered the art of telling a good amount of story into a small amount of pages, leaving you feeling as though it could have been a full story that you were reading, and not just a novella.   I am so eager to see her full length release later in the year. 

Thank you to Beth Good for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Oddest Little Beach Shop by Beth Good

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Oddest Little Beach Shop

Author: Beth Good

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 12th July 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

From the first day of Annie's arrival in the sleepy Cornish resort of Polzel, next-door neighbour Gabriel seems determined to make her life difficult.

Despite his sexy looks and angelic name, Gabriel behaves like an ogre to everyone, and has apparently been that way since losing his wife in a surfing accident. Annie would do far better, her friend Claudia urges her, to focus her attentions on Jamie instead. Jamie's the hottest lifeguard in the village - and her co-worker in the Polzel beach shop.

But when Polzel's famous annual pie-rolling contest sees Annie and Gabriel forced together, it turns out Annie might have a thing for big Cornish ogres after all . . .

A feel-good summer novella from popular romantic comedy writer Beth Good and another quirky entry in her 'Oddest Little Shop' series.

It is always a pleasure to read a Beth Good novella, and this was no exception.   

I loved the setting of Polzel, the two rival shops on the beach, one of which Annie has just moved above and the other is rival Gabriel, who appears to be a man of many talents. 

Annie is still adjusting to looking after her nephew,  when she decides to move to Cornwall and start their lives fresh. 

With a village full of quirky characters, what isn't always apparent is whether it will be Gabriel or Jamie that she may end up with. 

This is a sweet rom com, with plenty of moments to make you laugh including everything to do with the pie-rolling content, which just sounds bizarre but fun.  

The only shame about this lovely novella, is that it had to finish, my mind is still on the characters and I would loved it if this was longer, so I could have learnt more about them.  This is a lovely relaxed book on the whole, to help you while away an hour or two, when you just want to escape into a shorter story than a full length book. 

Thank you to Milly Reid at Quercus for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Oddest Little Mistletoe Shop by Beth Good

Amazon UK

Title: The Oddest Little Mistletoe Shop

Author: Beth Good

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied review copy

Publisher: Thimblerig Books

Publication Date: 1st November 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Rose Mistletoe runs her family's flower shop on Christmas Parade, and loves every minute of her job. So when the Parade comes under acquisition by a redevelopment company, Rose forms a protest group against the bid. 

But business tycoon Nick Grimsby is determined to make her sell up. His company is planning to knock down the parade of traditional shops and build a block of exclusive apartments instead. And it seems the sexy billionaire will go to any lengths to get her shop.

As Christmas approaches and Nick dangles the proverbial mistletoe, can Rose resist his powerful allure? Given how gorgeous he looks in a tuxedo, the answer is probably no. But she's not going to make it easy for him!

Because Rose has secret plans of her own ...

Oh I do enjoy sitting down with a new book from Beth Good's Oddest Little Shop series, and this new ones is a delight of romance and humour, and so quick and easy to read too. 

Set on the appropriately named Christmas Parade the Mistletoe Shop, named after Grandpa Mistletoe, is a flower shop that is battling to stay open and independent, after bids from a tycoon to try and redevelop the parade into exclusive apartments. 

Rose Mistletoe, what a fab name that is, runs a flower shop and is determined to pain Nick Grimsby as the devil. She is very quick to jump to conclusions which lead to some very funny moments dotted about the story. 

I loved the writing, its warm, funny and the pacing was rather quick. Everything felt not rushed...but sort of frantic against time to get various things done by Christmas but there was no mistaking the chemistry between our two leads. 

This is another excellent story from Beth Good, which i am so pleased I was able to fit into my Christmas reading schedule. If you are looking for a novella that will make you laugh, smile and is great for the run up to Christmas then look no further. 

Thank you Beth Good for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Christmas at the Lucky Parrot Garden Centre by Beth Good & Viki Meadows

Amazon UK

Title: Christmas at the Lucky Parrot Garden Centre

Author: Beth Good & Viki Meadows

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Thimblerig Books

Publication Date: 17th October 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Christmas is coming to the Lucky Parrot Garden Centre near Whitby. And along with those first flakes of snow comes a tall, dark, and highly tempting stranger ... 

Hannah is a sensible, hard-working Yorkshire lass, and her heart is set on a career in landscape gardening. Not on falling in love, not even with a man as drop-dead gorgeous as Daniel Elliott. He's a film producer, for goodness sake, more used to Hollywood parties than stomping about in muddy wellies.

But as the evenings draw in and the snow thickens, can Hannah resist the warmth and sparkle of this very unusual man? And if she can't, what's to say Daniel won't disappear every bit as mysteriously as he arrived?

What a charming novella that I thoroughly enjoyed.  To start with I was wondering what on earth I was letting myself in for, when Hannah had some rather odd suspicions about the man she has seen at her neighbours house. 

Hannah it turns out is very good at jumping to conclusions as well as getting herself into funny but embarrassing situations, which are great fun for the reader.  I loved the setting of the Lucky Parrot Garden Centre, and would love to hear more about the other worker there. Then again I also want the next book in this series to be a straight sequel so I can see what happens to Hannah next. 

A special mention has to go to the animals in the book, an eclectic mix which are so so funny. It is not often that you have hens, a parrot, a snake and a cat all in the same book, and in some combinations in the same place at the same time. 

There is clear chemistry between Daniel and Hannah which I enjoyed reading about, and their Christmas day also made me laugh. 

Overall this is a light hearted, funny Christmas novella, from an author I always enjoy and a debut writer that I think does add a slightly different feel to the book and I can't wait to see what is next from them. 

Thank you to Beth Good for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Cornish Colouring Book Club by Beth Good - Back Catalogue Books

Back Catalogue Books is my new regular Saturday feature, focusing on books that are not the latest releases. There is going to be a mix of Q&As and also reviews, depending on what I have the space for. 

If you are an author wanting to take part in Back Catalogue Books then please do email on gilbster at gmail dot com and I'll whizz the questions over to you. 

I hope everyone enjoys this weekly look back at some of the slightly older books that are about but still great, and that I eventually make a dent in my TBRs as a result of it!

This is Beth Good's first full length Rom Com, that was released just before her fabulous The Oddest Little Gingerbread Shop, which I also loved. 

Amazon UK

Title: The Cornish Colouring Book Club

Author: Beth Good

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Thimblerig Books

Publication Date: 18th October 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Four twenty-somethings in a Cornish seaside town are in the worst muddle of their lives. Can joining a local Colouring Book Club change their fortunes and colour them happy again? Or have they strayed too far outside the lines?

A perfect feel-good romantic novel set in gorgeous sunny Cornwall!

For a while I've been very curious about the adult colouring book craze, so when I spotted on Amazon a book about a colouring book club, and by an author I tend to enjoy, I couldn't resist purchasing to see just how what feels like a very solitary activity could possibly have a club around it. 

What I have discovered is a book that does have a focus on colouring, but there is so much more to it than that. The two leading ladies both are dealing with huge things in their personal lives and its those stories that really makes this book as great as it is. 

For Emma is working in a library and ahs come up with the idea for this club, she is hopeful others may turn up, and she is just coming to terms with the fact that she is pregnant. It is currently a secret, and she has a whole host of decisions to make about it. 

Then there is Crystal, and her larger than life mother Fiona. Fiona encourages Crystal to take up colouring, while they are sunbathing at their beach hut, as a way of hopefully taking Crystals mind off her troubles. There are hints about what is wrong with Crystal but until it was revealed I wasn't completely sure what it would be, and just how critical it is.  

Fiona also persuades her daughter to come along to the colouring book club, and very shortly there are a few male romantic interests on the scene, one for each lady, even if they aren't necessarily convinced they want a man at the moment. 

I loved Crystal's first encounter with one of these adult colouring books, how unsure she was at first, until before long she was getting annoyed that she didn't have the right shade of pen that she wanted for a specific details of her picture.  I loved the descriptions of all the various colouring books, and having seen some in bookshops, I could imagine just how intricate the designs would be. 

At the club itself where friendships are forged along with an hour of light hearted conversation between like minded people, there was occasionally discussion on shading techniques, and it amused me how the most unlikely looking of people were showing up, which just shows how appearances can be deceiving. 

Set to a lovely Cornish coastal backdrop, the Cornish Colouring Book Club is a charming, yet uplifting romantic comedy, with far more to it than meets the eye. It is an easy to read book, that had me hooked from the first page, with wanting to know more about Emma and Crystal. This may be Beth Good's first full length romance, but I am positive it won't be her last, as she writes very relatable to characters that I enjoyed reading about. 

Book Review - The Oddest Little Gingerbread Shop by Beth Good

Amazon UK

Title: The Oddest Little Gingerbread Shop

Author: Beth Good

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Gift

Publisher: Thimblerig Books

Publication Date: 28th October 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Busy professionals Sophie and Mark don't know each other, and don't have time for a relationship anyway. But their lives are about to collide in the most delicious way possible, as they hurry to a conference on a snowy December evening. Oops, watch out for that reindeer!

Another cosy and highly festive quick-read romcom from popular writer, Beth Good. Pop the kettle on, grab yourself a gingerbread man, and start reading ...

A Quick Read Romance.

I never know what to realistically expect from short stories, but this one really hit all the right spots for me. It had a clear story, two characters getting to know each other, a time line progression, and far more importantly in a Christmas short story, just enough magic to have you puzzled. 

I really think you need to suspend your knowledge of reality as your read this short story, or at least any cynicism, as I really do think Christmas is a magical time, and there was something incredibly odd and inexplicable about the Gingerbread Shop itself. 

Within the first couple of pages, I was laughing and smiling, and then I wondered if perhaps I was wrong about the genre as Mark and Sophie were walking through a deep dark scary wood, but once they arrived at the shop, I was able to sit back, relax and wonder. 

I'll leave you to make up your own mind as to exactly what happens in the Gingerbread shop, but I was enchanted by it, and it really was an odd little shop. 

In a story that has reindeer, delicious baked goods, a couple of people thrown together in unusual circumstance, and the cosiness and enchanting qualities of the season, you have a marvellous festive short story that will let you while away an hour in pure bliss. 

Book Review - The Oddest Little Christmas Cake Shop by Beth Good - Back Catalogue Books

Back Catalogue Books is my new regular Saturday feature, focusing on books that are not the latest releases. There is going to be a mix of Q&As and also reviews, depending on what I have the space for. 

If you are an author wanting to take part in Back Catalogue Books then please do email on gilbster at gmail dot com and I'll whizz the questions over to you. 

I hope everyone enjoys this weekly look back at some of the slightly older books that are about but still great, and that I eventually make a dent in my TBRs as a result of it! 

So today I have a review of The Oddest Little Cake Shop, which is just one of many books by Beth Good about odd little shops dotted around the place. 

Amazon UK

Title: The Oddest Little Christmas Cake Shop

Author: Beth Good

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Thimberlig Books

Publication Date: 8th November 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

A FUN AND FESTIVE ROMANCE TO WARM YOUR HEART AND MAKE YOU LAUGH!

Rosie Redpath can light up a room just by smiling, or so her nan Nora says. And Rosie thinks she knows exactly what she wants from life when she takes a temporary job at Minchin's Cake Shop. But then she meets the ultra-sexy Russian baker Pyotr and falls head-over-heels with his delicious Christmas cakes.

Only problem is, cake impresario Pyotr has a secret he's been hiding for a long time. Could Rosie be the right woman to help him solve it this Christmas? 

I found The Oddest Little Christmas Cake Shop to be a charming little novella with a lot of action and surprises along the way. 

I was impressed by this novella, it features Rosie who is just trying to get her first job out of uni, and finds one at Minchin's Cake Shop, but things are definitely not as they seem at the shop. Mrs Minchin takes an instant dislike to her, Colin who works in the shop is around Rosie's age and seems to be quite on the level. 

Then there is Pyotr, the sexy Russian baker who is co-owner of the shop, who is clearly hiding things from everyone, and I doubt even your wildest guess would be able to predict just what is going on for him, but suffice to say it was intriguing and had me completely gripped. 

I found The Oddest Little Christmas Cake Shop to be a very easy to read book, will have you hooked for an hour or two, with its description of the Cake shop, to all the drama involved, plus a brooding romance. I sometimes find novellas can feel slightly lacking, but in this case I can safely say that this felt like a very complete story, and even a decent bit of background to the characters too, to add the extra dimension. 

A thoroughly enjoyable story, that wasn't overly festive so could easily be read all year around, and although it was my first introduction to this author, it certainly won't be the last time. I am looking forward to working through the rest of her books in due course.