The Bookshop at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash

Dare to dream big…

When Nancy opened her dream bookshop overlooking the golden sands and shimmering waters of Driftwood Bay, she may have taken on a little too much. She might know all about books, but doesn’t know the first thing about business! She did however, want to do something meaningful with the inheritance money she got from her beloved Aunty Theresa.

When Dennis, visiting grandson of one of her dearest friends, offers to help, Nancy knows she can’t say no. Dennis is a high-flying businessman, with a fancy London job and a successful banking portfolio to prove it.

Trouble is, he makes the worst first impression. Nothing short of an insufferable know-it-all, Dennis takes every opportunity to remind her how out of her depth she is.

But Nancy knows her strengths, and just as much as she needs Dennis, he needs her too. There’s plenty she can teach him, and the more she shows off her world of Driftwood Bay, where the pace of life is slower and the morning sunrises are the most beautiful thing you can witness, perhaps they could become more than just business partners?

An utterly gorgeous romantic read set by the beautiful Cornish coast, perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley and Heidi Swain

Title: The Bookshop at the Cornish Cove

Author: Kim Nash

Published By: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 28th October 2024

Links:  UK:   Amazon     US:   Amazon

Waterstones      WHSmith (Hardback)

Our Review

There are so many things that are absolutely gorgeous about this book, the title for one, the cover, Driftwood Bay and this cosy little bookshop.

Nancy is a lovely character but not so good in the business department so it's no surprise to discover that her idyllic bookshop, her life's dream come true, is not doing so well in the financial sense.

Enter Dennis, her friend Vi's grandson who is a bit of a stuffy accountant type it seems. He certainly doesn't impress Nancy either with his choice of words or actions however she does think he's a bit of a hunk despite all that.

Nancy has an official launch party coming up and needs all hands on deck and Dennis appears to be just the man for the job. Once they begin to understand each other their working relationship becomes a whole lot easier, that is until someone causes trouble for them further down the line.

I really loved Nancy and her little hobby of painting shells and felt she so deserved a happy ending. I felt as though I was in the bookshop with her alot of the time as it sounded like such a lovely place to be. I'd already fallen in love with Driftwood Bay from reading Kim's other books so it was exciting to pop back for a visit to see how everyone was getting on.

I really enjoyed the relationship that Nancy had with her brother, the easy way they spoke to and tormented each other was such a joy and showed another dimension to Nancy's character, it also provided lots of humour in the book as well as sentimentality and family loyalty.

Packed with friendship, romance, (I mean what could be more romantic than meeting in a bookshop,) and a cast of interesting characters, this book is a perfect, uplifting and cosy read to get you through the long cold winter nights. I thoroughly recommend but I guarantee you will be wanting to open a bookshop of your own.

Sincerely

Book Angel x 

About the Author

Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, funny, heartwarming, romantic, feel-good fiction and has wanted to write books since she was a little girl. The Cornish Cove series is set in the fictional seaside village of Driftwood Bay in Cornwall and is published by Boldwood Books. The Bookshop at the Cornish Cove is her latest book. 

She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni, is Digital Publicity Director for publisher Bookouture (a division of Hachette UK) and is a book blogger. 

When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog at Cannock Chase, reading, binge-watching box sets on the TV, and dreaming of living by the sea! She's also quite partial to a spa day, lemon drizzle cake and a gin and tonic (not all at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Staffordshire and organises local and national reader/author events. 

Follow the rest of the tour here...

 

Home for Christmas by Heidi Swain

Bella is living her best life in Wynbridge, with her beloved Spaniel, Tink. She’s found a way to keep the house she inherited from her grandparents while expanding her dream business – Away With the Fairies – and she’s ecstatic that Christmas is on the horizon!

 

In fact, everything is perfect until family friend, Catherine Connelly asks Bella if she’d be willing to rent part of the house to freelance author, Jude who is researching the history of the Connelly Clan and Wynthorpe Hall ahead of turning his findings into a book. The plan had been for Jude to stay at the hall, but he can’t cope with the chaos and Bella reluctantly agrees to open her door to him.

 

Initially, the pair clash but then friendlier feelings begin to grow and Bella finds herself wondering if Jude could become more than just another guest before it’s time for him to leave. That is, until he announces he has no time for Christmas!

Title: Home For Christmas

Author: Heidi Swain

Published By: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date 10th October 2024

Links: UK:  Amazon   US:   Amazon

Waterstones   WHSmith

Our Review

First of all can we please just have a round of applause for the gorgeousness of the cover, the paperback has shiny gold lettering and I guarantee would bring so much joy to anyone unwrapping this as a present on Christmas morning. Home for Christmas is the sixth of Heidi's books set in Wynbridge and I was excited to head back there for this Christmassy delight.

Bella loves everything about Christmas and every year she follows her family's tradition by starting the preparations on the first of December, each day she has a specific task to do whether it be decorating the whole house with festive fayre, (yes the whole house, even the bathroom) or making mince pies and sausage rolls. She is a creature of habit and is happy to carry on the ways of her grandparents keeping their memory alive as her house belonged to them before they both passed. 

When she's asked by her friends Catherine and Angus if she will put up a lodger who is writing a book for them about the history of Wynthorpe Hall, she is reluctant but feels they've been so kind to her over the years so eventually agrees. Expecting an older gent to turn up she is more than a little excited to see a gorgeous hunk of a man appear on her doorstep by the name of Jude. The only thing is she quickly finds out he hates Christmas. Whilst Bella and Jude don't exactly hit it off at first, Jude is immediately enamoured by Bella's gorgeous little spaniel called Tink and I just know you will fall in love with her too.

Jude's dislike of anything remotely Christmassy creates an awkward situation for Bella who feels that she can't express herself properly in her own house which is very soon taken over by the mounds of paperwork involved in researching Wynthorpe Hall. She has to keep reminding herself that it's only temporary but as the time draws near for him to leave she begins to get to understand him a bit better and wants to get to know him more.

Jude turned out to make Scrooge look like Santa himself such was his dislike of the festive period and anything to do with it and Bella makes it her business to find out why.

I loved the little business that Bella worked very hard at, it was called Away with the Fairies, Bella made fairies and also dressed like one when she went to fairs etc to sell them. It was such a quirky idea for a business which sounded like hard work but satisfying and fun, I could just imagine how cute the fairies were and Bella gets a lovely request about her fairies which was amazing. 

Home for Christmas is literally everything about Christmas all wrapped up in a book, the sort of story you need to read curled up in front of the fire when the weather is freezing outside as it is guaranteed to warm your heart.

Heading back to Wynbridge was lovely to see how lots of Heidi's previous characters were getting on, including Holly and Bear and the staff at The Cherry Tree Cafe which was the author's first book.

Fabulously festive and fun, you will struggle to find anything more Christmassy than this uplifting read from one of my favourite authors, Heidi Swain.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

Follow the rest of the blog tour here

About the Author

Heidi Swain is a Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author who writes feel good fiction for Simon and Schuster. She releases two books a year (early summer and winter) and the stories all have a strong sense of community, family and friendship. She is currently writing books set in three locations - the Fenland town of Wynbridge, Nightingale Square in Norwich and Wynmouth on the Norfolk coast, as well as summer standalone titles.

Heidi lives in beautiful west Norfolk. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her tbr pile is always out of control!

Heidi loves to chat with her readers and you can get in touch via her website or on social media.

The Holiday Escape by Heidi Swain

About the Book

Her dream holiday is his everyday life. His dream holiday is her normal life. What happens when they collide?

 Ally and her dad, Geoff, run the family business, a creative retreat, from their home Hollyhock Cottage in picturesque Kittiwake Cove. They give their guests their dream break, but Ally hankers after glamourous city living, fancy restaurants and art galleries.

Ally’s survival strategy is to escape out of season, take a break abroad and pretend to be the person she always imagined she would be. She meets Logan while she’s away and he turns out to be exactly the kind of distraction she’s looking for.

With her spirits restored, Ally returns home, picks up the reins again and sets her sights on another successful season, but when Logan unexpectedly arrives on the scene, she soon realises she’s in for a summer that’s going to be far from straightforward…

 A story about bringing a holiday home – and what happens when what goes on on holiday comes back to bite you…

Title: The Holiday Escape

Author: Heidi Swain

Publication Day: 25th April 2024

Published By: Simon & Schuster UK

Links:   UK:   Amazon    US:   Amazon

Our Review

I loved how this book starts with a huge glimpse into an important part of Ally's persona. When she goes on holiday she likes to be the person she wishes she was. So she creates a whole new life, new name, new job and everything, after all what does it matter she will never see these people again... or will she? 

Whilst on the way to Barcelona Ally gets chatting to a nun and a young man next to her called Logan. When asked her name she panics and gives her best friend Flora's name, she enjoys the holiday apart from feeling guilty for lying to the nun. As she and Logan become closer she realises that she is starting to have feelings for him and so stands him up on their last evening together.

When she arrives home at Kittiwake cove she tries to forget all about him but soon comes face to face with him again. He is not very impressed to find out she lied to him.

Ally is torn, she has always wanted to leave Kittiwake cove but can't after a promise she made to someone very special. The guilt of leaving her dad with such a heavy workload far outweighed her sense of adventure so that's where she stayed.

Ally's Dad's story was lovely and let's just say there was more than one happy ending in this book. As Ally and Logan begin to get closer again someone throws a spanner in the works but for Ally maybe the most surprising thing of all is what she actually wanted had been under her nose all along.

It was just joyful watching Ally's character develop over the book and to top it all a very satisfying ending all around.

Another classic Heidi Swain novel, bursting with a sense of adventure, community, friendship and love.

                                                                                    ***

Click below if you would like to read our review of Heidi's other standalone novel.

The Holiday Retreat

Sincerely

Book Angel x x 

About the Author

Heidi Swain is a Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author who writes feel good fiction for Simon and Schuster. She releases two books a year (early summer and winter) and the stories all have a strong sense of community, family and friendship. She is currently writing books set in three locations - the Fenland town of Wynbridge, Nightingale Square in Norwich and Wynmouth on the Norfolk coast, as well as summer standalone titles.

Heidi lives in beautiful west Norfolk. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her tbr pile is always out of control!

Heidi loves to chat with her readers and you can get in touch via her website or on social media.

Date With Destiny by Lucy Vine

Ginny is about to turn 32. It’s a year she’s been thinking about for a long time. Sixteen years ago she crossed paths with a psychic who made some key predictions about her thirty-second year…

Three bad things: A heartbreak, a loss of independence, and a death.

Three good things: A life-changing trip, reconnecting with someone, and meeting her soulmate.

The issue is that Ginny is due to get married in a month… but it’s all nonsense, obviously. But when some of those pesky predictions start coming true she starts to wonder what might happen next…

Title: Date With Destiny

Author: Lucy Vine

Published By: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date: 9th May 2024

UK: Amazon      US:  Amazon

Our Review

Joyful, upbeat and lots of fun. 

I loved my Date with Destiny by Lucy Vine. 

Having met Lucy a couple of times I find that her bubbly personality and effervescence really spills over into her books. Her writing is skilful in that it has a raw and fearless quality about it and she makes no apologies for her characters’ flaws. 

I really enjoyed the premise of the book being the six predictions that Ginny had received sixteen years earlier and the fact that her friends won’t let her forget it. Ginny seems perfectly happy at the beginning of the book where we meet her at a hen do that she’s not really enjoying but then everything begins to go wrong for her and she finds herself with a lot of soul searching to do. 

With three handsome guys surrounding her she seems to be spoilt for choice but the truth is that the one she wants she can’t have so she has to work out how to survive on her own and with the help of her best friend Myfanwy she finds the courage to stand up for herself. 

This book made me laugh out loud in parts but I also found real empathy with Ginny, one because of how she needs a couple of days to recover after peopling, which I do too and two because of the lovely tenderness she felt for her auntie which really touched my heart especially when she wished she’d given her more time when she was younger. 

It’s a great feeling picking up a Lucy Vine book and know you’re going to be in for a wild ride.  

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Lucy Vine is a writer, editor and columnist. She's the best selling author of Hot Mess (2017), What Fresh Hell (2018), Are We Nearly There Yet? (2019), Bad Choices (2021), Seven Exes (2023) and Date With Destiny (2024)

Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash

 

It’s never too late…

After five husbands and five broken hearts, Lydia feels like she’s always been chasing something. But now she’s found her purpose, and having moved to Driftwood Bay to spend more time with her daughter Meredith, she’s happier than ever. 

But there’s still life in these old bones yet! With her newfound sense of identity, she’s keen to re-explore the things that made her happy as a younger person. Lydia’s passion was dancing – she used to compete in her younger years, and there’s no place she’s more at home than on the dancefloor. 

So when widower and antiques restorer Martin tells her about a big dance competition, she’s ready and raring to bring more joy into her life. But while making memories with Martin, the more she realises that both of their hearts need restoring too...

An utterly gorgeous romantic read set by the beautiful Cornish coast, perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley and Heidi Swain

Title: Making Memories at the Cornish Cove

Author: Kim Nash

Published By: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 17th April

Links:   UK: Amazon       US: Amazon

Our Review

This is the third book in the Cornish Cove series and I thoroughly enjoyed my trip back to Driftwood Bay and to see how Meredith and Clem were getting on after getting together in Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove which is the first book of the series.

Making memories at the Cornish Cove tells the story of Meredith’s mum Lydia who had arrived in Driftwood Bay after leaving her fifth husband. Meredith and Lydia hadn’t had much of a relationship when she was growing up and Lydia hoped to grow closer to her daughter over time. 

When Lydia receives a box of her belongings from her ex she is surprised to find something that meant so much to her when she was younger but she had given up all hope of ever being able to fulfill the dream of her youth. However when she meets Clem’s dad Martin he gives her a glimpse of what her future could look like. Their friendship grows as they find a mutual interest in reviving old items whether that be toys or clothes and you could really sense the satisfaction they got from restoring things that meant a lot to other people. 

Lydia soon becomes an integral part of Driftwood Bay as she makes new friendships and her relationship with Meredith grows stronger by the day. When it looks as though an injury scuppers her chance to indulge her childhood dream, Meredith comes to the rescue and there is a really touching moment between Mother and Daughter which took me by surprise and brought tears to my eyes. 

Lydia is a fantastic older protagonist who's had a wonderful life and shows that it doesn't matter how old you are, it's never too late to follow your dreams and Martin sounds like a gorgeous silver fox with a twinkle in his eye.

Driftwood Bay is the perfect place to live with a community of friends who help each other out when the road ahead gets tough and there’s lots of sexy men who live there. 

Another lovely heartwarming novel to escape into as you drift away to Driftwood Bay. 

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, funny, heartwarming, romantic, feel-good fiction and has wanted to write books since she was a little girl. The Cornish Cove series is set in the fictional seaside village of Driftwood Bay in Cornwall and is published by Boldwood Books. Book 3 in the series, Making Memories at the Cornish Cove will be published on 17th April 2024.

She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni, is Digital Publicity Director for publisher Bookouture (a division of Hachette UK) and is a book blogger.

When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog at Cannock Chase, reading, binge-watching box sets on the TV, and dreaming of living by the sea! She's also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Staffordshire and organises local and national reader/author events.

#TeamBATC2024Showcase

It's hard to believe but it was nine years ago that I went to my first ever Team Books and the City do and where I met both Milly Johnson and Heidi Swain for the first time, I remember it was called a Spring Blogger evening and I'd never blogged in my life but that night when I got home my daughter helped me set up a blog and since then I've never looked back. I've got the fabulous SJ Virtue to thank for all those brilliant events and really for all the lovely blogger and authors and general book loving people I've met since then who have now become great friends and it's always a pleasure to catch up with them.

The  #TeamBATC2024Showcase was just as spectacular with thirteen authors and over 100 guests including 70 who were there on zoom. The evening started with quick hellos to some of the fabulous friends I've met over the years and then we get to help ourselves to the incredible stash of books on a table which was also laden with food and drinks including some delicious book themed cupcakes. I would have taken a photo but my cupcake disappeared in seconds and was totally delish.

Once we had settled down we were introduced to all of the authors and they each described their book and then read a chapter from it. There was alot of intrigue as we were left hanging at the end of every chapter we heard knowing that we just wanted more. Some of the readings had us all in stitches as did SJ when she told us what she thought of Poldark's headwear...

It was such a lovely, fun and bubbly atmosphere and I was glad my husband met me afterwards to help me carry my books home.

Lovely Heidi Swain signing my book sample

From left to right, 

Dawn Crooks, Isabelle Broom, Me and Maureen Stapleton

I will do my best to link to every book that was discussed on the night and I would just like to say another huge thank you to Sara-Jade Virtue and the whole of the Books and the City Team for all their hard work and suffice to say we are in for another amazing year of books from S & S.

***********

Alina Khawaja  

Beverly Kendall                                       

              

Eva Verde                                                

Heidi Swain

Helen Fisher

Holly Hepburn

Julie Haworth

Laura Wood

Lauren Bravo

Lucy Vine

Rachel Hore

Rebecca Ryan

Sharon Gosling

Every Smile You Fake by Dorothy Koomson

Please take care of my baby. But don't try to find me. You'll put him in danger. x

Profiler and therapist Kez Lanyon is shocked when she finds a baby on the backseat of her car, with an unsigned note asking her to take care of him.

Kez has a pretty good idea who the mother is - Brandee, a popular social media star with a troubled background, who once lived in Kez's house.

Brandee recently dropped out of the limelight and if the internet rumours are true, Kez knows Brandee's life is in danger.

Kez is torn. Should she simply take care of the baby as she's been asked, or should she risk her whole family by using contacts from her previous job to save this young woman?

Time is running out for Brandee. Can Kez find her before it's too late?

                                                                        *****

Title:  Every Smile You Fake

Author: Dorothy Koomson

Published By:  Headline Review

Publication Date:  15th February 2024

Links:  UK:   Amazon    US:   Amazon

WHSmith

Waterstones

                                                                       *****

Our Review

This book is completely unique in the clever way that it’s written and covers so many issues which interlock with each other. 

It’s so topical and highlights many of the negative effects that social media has had on society and the world around us. It shows how the internet has aided and abetted racism, sexism and misogyny and the detrimental affect that has on society and families. It’s actually terrifying how our young people can be manipulated into thinking whatever the heads of these organisations want them to think due to their unfettered access to them. 

The book begins with two points of view, Brandee with two e’s is an influencer, a young woman who was exploited by her mum as a child because her mum put every aspect of her life on the internet for likes. 

Kes is Brandee’s boyfriend’s step mum. Her background is extremely interesting, she is a trained profiler and can read people from their body language. 

The timeline goes from present to the past where Kes's life unfolds. For example in the past her job as a therapist is plodding along nicely until one particular couple come to her for marriage guidance and she recognises the husband from years before. Her life changes significantly from that point and she goes on to have a lovely family. 

But when Brandee leaves her baby in Kes’s car and goes missing, Kes tries to do as Brandee asks by not looking for her but eventually finds herself racing against the clock to find her again and her whole life begins to implode as her past catches up with her. 

Full of shocks and surprises, this raw, emotive and chilling book was another hard hitting, psychologically thrilling page turner from Dorothy Koomson which will have you outraged and desperate to know what will happen next. I guarantee you will be thinking about the issues raised in this book for a long time after you’ve finished. 

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Dorothy Koomson is the award-winning author of 15 novels and has been making up stories since she was 13 when she used to share her stories with her convent school friends. Her published titles include: Tell Me Your Secret, The Brighton Mermaid, The Friend, When I Was Invisible, That Girl From Nowhere, The Flavours of Love, The Woman He Loved Before, Goodnight, Beautiful and The Chocolate Run.

Dorothy’s first novel, The Cupid Effect, was published in 2003 (when she was quite a bit older than 13). Her third book, My Best Friend’s Girl, was selected for the Richard & Judy Summer Reads of 2006 and went on to sell over 500,000 copies. While her fourth novel, Marshmallows For Breakfast, has sold in excess of 250,000 copies. Dorothy’s books, The Ice Cream Girls and The Rose Petal Beach were both shortlisted for the popular fiction category of the British Book Awards in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

Dorothy’s novels have been translated into over 30 languages, and a TV adaptation loosely based on The Ice Cream Girls was shown on ITV1 in 2013. After briefly living in Australia, Dorothy now lives in Brighton.

In 2019 Dorothy was awarded the Image Award by The Black British Business Awards to celebrate and honour her achievements.

For more information on Dorothy Koomson visit www.dorothykoomson.co.uk