‘I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough… Uplifting, witty, moving and romantic… sure to make you giggle, sigh and keep you hooked.’ Bookish JottingsClaudia thought she knew how this summer was going to go. Turns out, she didn’t have a clue… It’s been two years since Claudia arrived on the beautifully rugged Cornish coast with nothing but a suitcase to her name. She’d walked out on the husband who … her name. She’d walked out on the husband who had never loved her, ditched the corporate job she’d never wanted and vowed that no gym membership card would come within ten feet of her ever again.
Swapping boardrooms and cocktails for a little shop right at the end of the beach road should have been a bit of a shock. But from the moment she first laid eyes on the empty, run-down store, Claudia knew this was where she was meant to be all along.
After all that upheaval, Claudia was looking forward to a quiet summer, full of the usual holiday makers and long walks along the clifftops. But life in her patch of paradise is about to change in more ways than one.
Enter recently widowed Jason, dragging his sullen teenage daughter Millie in tow. Millie and Claudia immediately hit it off. And while Millie loves everything about Claudia’s free-spirited way of life, practical architect Jason is less than thrilled about his daughter’s new interests. He doesn’t shy away from telling Claudia exactly what he thinks and sparks fly every time they meet.
But as circumstances throw Claudia into Jason’s path in increasingly unexpected ways, she begins to glimpse what lies beneath his fiery temper and sharp tongue. Claudia was sure her new life was perfect in every way. But was there something missing after all?
The perfect summer holiday escape, full of warmth, humour and heart. Fans of Sarah Morgan, Cathy Bramley and Phillipa Ashley will be charmed by this seaside romance.
Readers love The Little Shop in Cornwall:
‘This book was just what the doctor ordered and I could almost smell the sea air… A lovely feel-good novel.’ Sandie’s Book Shelves, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I sat up all night reading this lovely book, I just couldn’t put it down… A joy to read.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A delightful read… Reading one of Helen’s books feels more like a chat between friends rather than an actual book.’ Ginger Book Geek, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A heartwarming and funny rom-com… kept me hooked… I loved the twists and turns.’ Scrapping and Playing, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A bewitching, fun read with great characters in a delightful setting and an added mystery, too.’ Splashes Into Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘LOVED THIS STORY!!! It was super cute and I was hooked from the beginning.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘If you want to escape to a picturesque Cornwall village, this is the book for you.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A beautiful coastal setting, strong characters, a bit of mystery and romance, mix them together and you have a very enjoyable book.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Delightful… I really enjoyed traveling along with Jason and Claudia’s emotional journey.’ All Romance All the Time, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book was just what I needed. It has small town romance. It has second chances… It had it all.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A delightfully funny romance!… A fun, light, feel-good summer read.’ Lu Review Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved this book… I could picture the little shops and the beach with miles of warm sand and blue sea.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A breath of fresh air (or one full of sea salt)… I now want to pack up my life, say goodbye to my old self (like the main characters Claudia and Jason) and live beside the sea.’ Life by Becky,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐more
Some frustration with this story: the two lead characters were shoehorned into a situation that was supposed to strike sparks and didn’t; the baddies, that is to say, the two young entrepreneurs of the competing “spook” shop, were one dimensional and formulaic; and apparently some deity has it in for the leading lady, because she can’t turn around without discovering a new reason to be miserable.
Saving graces: the characters who were fleshed out had qualities that made them worth following, including her best friend the wiccan, her two fellow business people in the cafe next door, the daughter who felt exactly like any real-life teen trying to find her way, and the two leads who certainly behaved like modern, knuckle-headed grownups being pulled away from their comfort zones.
There were so many little stories within one story here. Claudia’s journey from heartbreak to where she is right now. Jason and Millie’s attempts to settle into a new place and try to move on from loss and hurt. So many themes were covered too – grief and loss, healing and learning to trust again, parenting, community life, the joys and the difficulties of running a small business, New Age spirituality, old fashioned witchcraft (!) …but they all fitted in so well into this lovely story. The overriding story is of course one of learning to love and trust again and I enjoyed how that flowed so naturally.
I loved Claudia’s character – loving, forgiving, ready to make a difference in the community – she’s a strong woman who came back from heartache and reinvented herself. It’s no wonder that Millie and then more reluctantly, Jason are drawn to her.
The descriptions of the south coast of Cornwall are enchanting. I must confess that I was enthralled by shop next to Claudia’s Healing Waves, The Porthsteren Page Turner, since I’ve always dreamed of owning a bookshop and cafe!
If it was possible to fall in love with a place just by reading about it, then I want to be transported to Porthsteren!
Enjoyed this read and will be looking for more books from Helen Pollard!
A delightfully funny romance!
Claudia moved from London to Cornwall after a traumatic divorce and opened a store that sells crystals, soaps, candles, and the like. She is a little eccentric. She believes in the power of the moon, drinks goat milk, and is best friends with a witch.
Jason is an architect that moved to Cornwall with his teenage daughter after the passing of his wife. He has no time for what he thinks is silly superstition, and is less than thrilled to find out that his daughter Milly is constantly hanging around with Claudia.
The banter between Jason and Claudia is bewitching.
I loved that despite having very contrasting opinions about most subjects, both characters were very mature and relatable. They are this kind of person you cannot but like, even when you have to disagree with them.
There is a strong sense of family and community throughout the narrative. Jason’s relationship with his daughter is realistic and his love for her palpable.
All this wrapped up in dreamy descriptions of Cornwall’s beautiful coast and beaches.
A fun, light, feel-good summer read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*For more book reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com*
The complications of life in an insular coastal town: do they leave room for romance?!
4stars
I found that this largely sunny Cornish beach story had its good points and some I was not so taken by.
Good
– the beautiful Cornish coastal setting. Author Helen Pollard includes some lovely descriptive passages about the area’s natural beauty;
– the basic second chance romance between newcomer widower Jason and New Age shop owner Claudia;
– Millie, Jason’s teenage daughter. She’s actually one of the lead characters and I really appreciated the author’s sensitive treatment of her issues;
– Claudia’s supportive friends Tanya, Sara and Evelyn.
But
– I did not like Jason; he never seemed to learn from his mistakes and was pretty close-minded. I also found his apologies lame and his outbursts of temper unjustified and off-putting.
– The repeated discussions of Wicca and witchcraft got a bit too down in the weeds and lost my interest.
Claudia’s numerous problems with her business provided drama, but give the woman a break! I found her battle against nature, sneering critics and competitors and mystery malfactors became so constant it brought me down.
Thanks to publisher Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.