One Last Summer at Hideaway Bay - Zoe Cook

The Blurb

Secrets lie waiting beneath the Cornish waves in this moving and unforgettable love story. Perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks, Kelly Rimmer and Jojo Moyes.

Lucy, hi. It’s Tom. How are you? It’s been a while. I’ve been meaning to get in touch but it’s hard to know how to after so much time. I hear you’re doing really well up there. I knew you would be.
You should come here, you know, back to Hideaway bay. Come and see everyone, see how little it’s all changed. Feel the sand between your toes, the Cornish sea breeze on your face. When the sun hits the surf in that way it does, it’s as magical as ever.

That’s why I’m writing to you, actually. I want to get the gang back together again, one last time before…well…just one last time. You should come too. The four of us, a summer on the beach, like old times. We all want you here for it. I want you here for it. It’s been so long since I saw you.

I still think about you.

Tom

The Review

I read this book as part of the Harper Impulse #SummerImpulse readathon and was very keen to get stuck in.  Bloggers and reviewers have been speaking highly of this debut novel from Zoe Cook and I was excited to see if it lived up to the hype.

The story starts with Lucy living the high life in London.  Outwardly, it looks like she's got the lot - a glamorous job, a party lifestyle, and a group of friends who share her recreational drug use habit - but as she reflects on life following contact from her childhood sweetheart Tom, she realises that maybe it's all a façade.  As Lucy heads home to Cornwall's Hideaway Bay, she's unprepared for the life-changing summer that lies ahead...

The first section of the novel set the scene and gave an overview of Lucy's chaotic London lifestyle, which contrasted well with the quieter pace of Cornwall life depicted later in the book.  Personally, I felt the London section could have been slightly shorter and still amply given the juxtaposition between the two settings. I think I was ready to be whisked to Cornwall earlier in the story given the summery cover and blurb.

Lucy is not always a likeable protagonist, but that didn't detract from the empathy I felt towards her. If anything it made her seem a rounded, 'human' character and more believable.  Tom was definitely the easier to warm to of the two main characters.  I liked the periphery characters too, and would love to find out more about their backstories in sister novels.

I'd heard other readers say they'd sobbed at the ending and I'd prepared myself to crumble as I reached the final pages, but although moved by the end of the book, I didn't actually shed a tear.  I think maybe I'd prepared myself for a devastating tear-jerker ending and had steeled myself up before reaching the end!

This book may appeal to fans of David Nicholls and Jojo Moyes and is a well-crafted debut novel from Zoe Cook.

With thanks to Harper Impulse for providing me with a galley copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Cover reveal for Phillipa Ashley's Summer at the Cornish Cafe

I was very excited to hear that Phillipa Ashley was writing a new series and I'm thrilled to be able to share the cover for book one, Summer at the Cornish Café, today!

 

The book, the first in the Penwith trilogy, is due to be published by Avon on May 5th.  I can't wait!  It promises to be the perfect slice of summertime reading.

Midsummer Magic- Julia Williams

Midsummer Magic landed on my doormat just a few days after Midsummer's Night.  Pretty much perfect timing!

Julia Williams has taken inspiration from A Midsummer Night's Dream by giving Shakespeare's characters and storyline a modern twist.  Described as 'a captivating modern day tale' that will 'delight fans of Katie Fforde and Veronica Henry', Midsummer Magic is an entertaining novel. 

The plot is split between two time frames.  Entertainers Tatiana and Bron and TV hypnotist Freddie Puck are followed through both these stories, mainly set in the present day but with regular flashbacks.  Their 80s heyday now long past, Bron and Freddie visit Cornwall to make a TV show based around local myths and legends.  The standing stones are believed to have magical qualities, providing true happiness to couples that spend the whole night there on Midsummers' Eve. 

Newly engaged Josie and Harry are staying with family in Cornwall along with their future bridesmaid Diana and best man Ant.  Impressed by meeting Freddie, they agree to being hypnotised as part of the show.  How will they behave under Freddie's magical influence? 

Inspired by one of Britain's best, Williams also portrays Britain at its best.  The descriptions of the landscape and flora are beautifully written so that the reader can visualise the scene, the characters are either realistic in their flaws (Ant, Diana, Josie, Harry) or caricatures based on celebrity culture (Bron, Freddie and especially washed-up has-been Tatiana). 

I found this book to be an easy read- funny, with elements of farce and characters that are likeable.  Knowledge of A Midsummer Night's Dream (one of the plays I studied for A level English Literature!) helped my enjoyment as I was able to anticipate what would happen next, but is certainly not necessary to enjoy Midsummer Magic- ultimately a readable, humorous book which I am sure will be found by many a sun-lounger over the summer.

Midsummer Magic by Julia Williams is released  on July 4th 2013, published by Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins.

7.5/10

Many thanks to Avon at HarperCollins for providing me with a review copy of this title.  You can find out more about Julia Williams and her previous books at her website here.

In the Summer Time- Judy Astley

I have previously read and enjoyed some of Judy Astley earlier books, but must admit I haven't read one for the last few years. 

Her latest offering In the Summer Time is set in beautiful Cornwall, where Miranda and her family have gone to scatter her step-father's ashes.  In order to fulfil his final wish the family have to confront memories from their last trip there twenty years previously.  Miranda is both dismayed and comforted to find that her teen sweetheart Steve is still a local whereas her mother Clare is trying to come to terms with the loss of her soul mate.  Z-list celebrity Harriet is escaping the press following the end of her relationship to a top-flight footballer, whilst teenagers Silva and Bo are adjusting to adolescence, not feeling like they are either children or adults.  In the Summer Time cleverly shows how different age groups often share the same emotions, providing a deliciously entertaining and touching read.  Miranda in particular is a warm and likeable character holding her family together, someone that women will relate to.

With a gorgeous cover, In the Summer Time will draw in the holiday book buyers, and I am sure that if they are looking for an enjoyable, humorous tale of family life, friendship and romance they will agree that Judy Astley has come up trumps again.

In the Summer Time is released on 4th July 2013, published by Bantam Press.

9/10

With thanks to Bantam Press for providing me with a review copy of this book. 

You can find out more about Judy at her website here.