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

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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.

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