Book Review - The Cornish Cream Tea Bus by Cressida McLaughlin - #HolidayReading Madeira

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Amazon UK

Title: The Cornish Cream Tea Bus

Author: Cressida McLaughlin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: 8th August 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Baking fanatic, Charlie Quilter, inherits a vintage bus in her late uncle’s will and is keen to give it a new lease of life. Charlie thinks it will be the perfect mobile café for afternoon tea, so she heads to the picturesque Cornish village of Porthgolow, hoping for a new start. However, Daniel Harper, the owner of the posh spa up on the hill isn’t very pleased that her bus is parked outside his lovely hotel. Has Charlie’s Cornish dream developed a soggy bottom? Or can she convince Daniel that her bus could take them somewhere wonderful?

Make sure you have snacks by your side while you are reading this book, I failed to guess how hungry it may make me, and was rather frustrated reading it when the bar next to me had closed, so I couldn't get ice-cream and the other bar was clearly preparing a barbecue.   I definitely had food on the brain while reading the first two parts of this. 

That aside, OK, I do have a craving for a cream tea, haven't had Cornish clotted cream for yonks, this is a fabulous story, and I love all of it. 

Originally published in 4 parts, I read this lovely combined version, so was able to read it all in one go, but it felt as though each part could easily be read as a standalone,,, but why would you only want to read 25% of a great book?

I loved reading Charlie's story, discovering just how a Cornish Cream Tea bus make work.  i loved her ideas for rejuvenating picturesque Porthgolow. 

Getting to meet all the villagers, was entertaining, and young Jonah quickly earned a place in my heart. 

So many stand out moments, I adored every second of this book, 

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

Book Review - The House of Birds and Butterflies by Cressida McLaughlin - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: The House of Birds and Butterflies

Author: Cressida McLaughlin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper

Publication Date: 26th July 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Abby Field loves every inch of Meadowsweet Nature Reserve on the idyllic Suffolk coast where she lives and works. Especially Swallowtail House, the rambling but empty country house that seems to look out at her each time she passes it’s shut-up windows.

When a TV wildlife programme choses a rival location for their new series, Meadowsweet is under threat – unless Abby can whip up a plan to keep the visitors flocking. But she finds herself distracted by the arrival of a brooding – and annoyingly handsome new neighbour… bad-boy novelist, Jack Westcoat.

With the pressure on, Abby and her cute rescue huskie, Raffle, must pull something special out of the bag. But with Jack in need of a good friend – and Abby feeling the pull of attraction, she can sense her resolve fluttering away…

Until reading this book I don't think I had given nature reserves a thought ever. I think I knew they must exist but past that I had no clue. 

I am astounded by the amount of research that must have gone into the writing of this book.  

I felt as thought I was on the Meadowsweet Reserve along side Abby, as we spotted assorted wildlife, and the details were easily able to paint a vivid picture. 

I loved the assorted events that Abby put on over the course of the book at the reserve, as well as her slow building friendship with the lodge at Peacock Cottage. 

In fact its the lodger, Jack who had the most interesting story-line, just why was he there, and what was he running from. 

An entertaining story that will appeal to both fans of the author and nature lovers.

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

Q&A with Cressida McLaughlin - #BlueMoonGuesthouse Blog Tour

1. Can you tell us a bit about what inspired you to write The Once in a Blue Moon Guesthouse?

I spent many of my childhood holidays in a seaside town in Dorset called Burton Bradstock. It had the sandy beach and ice cream kiosk, and the towering cliffs.  I have happy memories of long days on that beach, or in the teashop in the village, visiting Lyme Regis and Corfe Castle.  Then, several years ago, I went to Hastings for a few days with my husband.  We found a beautiful hotel right on the seafront, in one of those impressive, grand old houses. Each of the rooms was themed around a different country, and we stayed in Japan, with a futon and a square spa bath - it was such a unique place. Over time, the memories from my childhood holidays and the hotel in Hastings came together, and I had the idea of a guesthouse where each of the rooms was themed around something that had meaning for my central character, a place that was her business, but also symbolic of her friendships, her past - the things that made her who she was. The Once in a Blue Moon Guesthouse developed from that one idea. 

2. What do you find hardest about writing in general?

Believing in yourself.  It’s so easy to think that everything you’re writing is a load of rubbish, and hard to fight the urge to hold your finger down on the delete key.  Like everything, there are good days and bad days, but sometimes it’s tough to push through the doubts (that only you create), and get the words on the page.  First drafts will never be any good, second and third drafts improve things marginally.  As with so many things, you have to keep working at it, be patient, carve out your story over time – and squash the doubts!  

3. Has any other writer influenced the way you write?

There are lots of other writers that I admire, and who have probably influenced the way I write somewhere along the line.  I love Harriet Evans’ writing style, her way of striking a balance between wholly believable characters and dramatic, emotional storylines.  Jill Mansell and Miranda Dickinson are two other writers I love reading and really look up to, and I try to emulate their humour and romance, and the magical quality of their books, though I’m sure I don’t come close. 

4. Please could you tell us something that isn’t commonly known about you?

I had – and possibly still have – a massive crush on the Disney Robin Hood fox. 

5. Could you describe your perfect day?

It would involve some writing in the morning, followed by a nice lunch and spending the afternoon walking somewhere picturesque with my husband, or reading outside in the sun.  I love being close to water, a river or the sea, and I’d end the day with an al fresco dinner as the sun went down.  Food will always feature heavily, but the setting is important too – I love the Lake District, Cornwall and Edinburgh, as well as Norfolk, and would be happy doing those things in any of those places. 

Thank you so much Cressida for answering my questions. I loved Once In A Blue Moon Guesthouse. Check out my mini review from when I read it on my recent holiday here.

Robin Brennan has come home to Campion Bay. Now her parents have retired, she’s set to become the new landlady of The Campion Bay Guesthouse.

Bookings have been as thin as the hand towels, and it doesn’t take long for Robin to realise that the place needs a serious makeover. Perhaps throwing herself into the task will help to heal her sadness at the tragic end to her dreams in London.

As she gives the guesthouse a new lease of life, Robin encounters old friends and new, including old flame Tim, who’d clearly like to reboot their romance. But what about Will, the new arrival at No. 4, who’s rocked up with the cutest dog ever?

Caught up in a flurry of full-English breakfasts and cream teas, Robin’s never sure what, or who, the next check-in will bring…

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Follow along with the rest of the blog tour. 

Book Review - A Christmas Tail by Cressida McLaughlin

Amazon UK

Title: A Christmas Tail

Author: Cressida McLaughlin

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Competiton Win

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date:  5th November 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

This book was first published as an e-serial Primrose Terrace Parts 1-4. Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Lucy Dillon and Debbie Johnson.

A Christmas Tail was first published as a four-part serial set in Primrose Terrace.

Catherine ‘Cat’ Palmer realizes that bringing an adorable puppy into work is a bad idea, especially when it gets her the sack. Deciding it’s the perfect opportunity to launch her dog-walking business, Cat enlists the help of flatmates Polly and Joe. After all Primrose Terrace, the street where they live, is full of home-alone hounds.

Getting to know the owners and their precious pooches isn’t all plain sailing, but soon Cat is making friends, particularly with sexy Mark and his Collie, Chips. But is he the right man for her?

With her talent for misadventure, Cat’s new life starts to show some cracks, and when one of the street’s loveable schnauzers gets ill, it looks like this Christmas could be turning into a dog’s dinner. But Cat has never given up on anything in her life – and this is one Christmas that’s definitely worth saving…

I am so full of enthusiasm for this book, and its fabulous array of characters, lovely plot, some romance and of course the dogs, that I'm not sure what I should say in what order! 

This book had previously been released in four parts, so if you haven't read any of them yet, do get the combined book, definitely worth while, and you can absorb the whole story easily that way. If you have a part or two already, having seen how they all a separated, I can assure you all four are lovely novellas, my favourite being Tinsel and Terriers (Part 4), due to it working as a great Christmas story, full of the Christmas spirit, as well as being a fitting finale to this fine book. 

I'm just going to take a second to exclaim just how pretty the cover of this book is in paperback. It has subtle sparkly glittery snow all over it, but not in an over bearing way, just in a I know its there and its gorgeous way!

Despite the name A Christmas Tail, it really is a book you can read all year around. It does have a fab festive finale, but the rest is set throughout the year,, so easily works when ever you want to read it. 

That being said, there is so much to love in this book, that I don't know why you would want to wait. As a dog lover (but not owner), I have fallen in love many times over in A Christmas Tail, with all the dogs that Cat has to walk. 

My favourites are easily Disco, the puppy that Cat takes into her nursery job with her, and that ultimately loses her that job. But as a result Disco is the catalyst for Cat to take up her new career as a dog walker to all those on Primrose Terrace, who may need her services. My other favourite dog is Olaf, the Spaniel who just seems gorgeous, and belongs to a lovely family, that Cat tries her hardest to help out. Olaf's fancy dress costume, could be considered predictable, but it still had me laughing out loud when revealed!

I think the fact that Cressida McLaughlin names her main character Cat, but has her walking dogs, is the first hint into her sense of humour, and the fun that is present in A Christmas Tail. 

Along with the dogs, there is of course a host of human characters to get to know, from Cat's flatmates, Polly (who is also her best friend), and Polly's brother Joe. I didn't really get a feel for Polly at all, mainly as she spent a lot of the book studying for a veterinary nurse exams, so she was present, but I didn't really see much of her personality shine through. Joe on the other hand, I loved. He is am ace illustrator, who at the start is a bit surly as he is getting over his ex girlfriend. As the story progresses he becomes more and more likeable, and seeing his personal growth and change was lovely to see. 

There are also the various dog owners, most notable the Captain with his Papillon Paris, Jessica and her three Westies, and Jessica turns out to be a real help to Cat, Frankie, and her children, and Spaniel, Olaf, Elsie the lady next door, who has Disco the loveable pup, and the eldest dog on Primrose Terrace, Chalky, who is seen as the wise dog. 

Primrose Terrace is a great place to live, along the coast, not far from Brighton, and has a real neighbourly and loving feel to the place. Everyone starts to come together has Cat runs various events for the residents and their furry friends, and new friendships are formed, and a real community spirit prevails. 

A Christmas Tail, is an uplifting story, that I didn't want to put down. I spent my day at work, wishing I was done, just so I would be able to continue reading. The writing style is easy to follow, and draws you into the heart of the story.

A Christmas Tail is a wonderful debut novel, from a very talented upcoming writer. I can't wait to read more books by her.