Book picks similar to
The Cornish Hotel by the Sea by Karen King
chick-lit
hotels
rachel
coastal-beach-living
Guess Who I Pulled Last Night?
Nikki Ashton - 2013
Charlotte is scatty and engaging and after having her heart broken 3 years earlier by cheating, Capri driving, Grant she's now looking for love again believing that finding Prince Charming will make her life complete; but is the arrogant but frustratingly sexy Irishman, Niall Devine, that man?Bets is the glamorous good-time girl and beauty salon owner who secretly yearns to settle down. She is the life and soul of the party with plenty of notches on her bedpost but since flirting with hunky Stuart all summer she wonders if he may be the one that she finally commits to.Kerry, of the impressive cleavage, is the only of the trio to be married and a mother. She should feel satisfied and content but feels like she's missing out and losing her identity. Suddenly she's turned in to the bitch from hell, alienating all those around her, including Charlotte, Bets and her devoted husband, Kelvin.This is a charming story focussing on friendship and love, but exploring some difficult and sensitive issues in its course. It has humour and wry observations and some surprises along the way. It will make you laugh out loud, smile, cry and desperate to turn every page.
Annie's Holiday by the Sea
Liz Eeles - 2017
Even though there is zero phone signal and the locals – including the gorgeous but brooding Josh Pasco – can be decidedly grumpy at times, Annie starts to feel at home in Salt Bay.Soon Annie’s love of music leads her to relaunch the Salt Bay Choral Society, and she’s surprised to see how just much the choir means to the community – and she even starts to break through Josh’s surly exterior…But London is calling Annie back, and she has to make a decision. Give up her old life completely, or leave Salt Bay, her new-found family – and the choir – behind?Annie’s Holiday by the Sea is a heart-warming story about family, belonging and the healing power of music, perfect for fans of Jo Thomas, Holly Martin and Carole Matthews.
Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay
Katie Ginger - 2020
Even gorgeous but grumpy local Miles can’t take the shine off things. But then her ex-husband announces he’s getting married again, and someone in the village starts gossiping about Stella…Is Stella's dream over already? Or, with her new friends behind her, can Stella fight back and save her new life – and find the happy ever after she's been waiting for?
Fans of Cathy Bramley, Debbie Johnson and Jenny Colgan will fall in love with Swallowtail Bay!
Summer Breeze – Part One The Windmill Café
Poppy Blake - 2018
The Windmill Café, with its peppermint green sails is a roaring success and has given Rosie a chance to escape the heartbreak of her busy life in London.But then disaster strikes when popstar Suki Richards is taken unexpectedly ill at the party. Now all eyes are on Rosie…have her famous raspberry cupcakes poisoned her most high-profile guest? Or is someone else trying to damage Suki’s chance of stardom?If Rosie wants to save her picture-perfect life, and the reputation of her beloved Windmill Café, she’s going to have to get to the bottom of the mystery…and fast!
Summer at Conwenna Cove
Darcie Boleyn - 2017
But can the magic of Conwenna Cove heal the hurts of the past?
Eve has a glittering career, a loving husband and a future. But a terrible twist of fate means she loses it all, and with nowhere left to turn she flees to her Aunt Mary’s home in Cornwall. The last thing on her mind is romance – until she meets Jack.Jack has seen the worst things people can do to each other and realised he is better off alone. He settles in Conwenna Cove, and saves his affections for the rescue dogs he cares for. But when Eve arrives in the village he can’t deny his attraction to her. Eve and Jack are both scared to trust, but when they come together it’s impossible for either to ignore their feelings. Can they put their fears aside and learn to love again?
The Little Clock House on the Green
Eve Devon - 2017
She’s heard that Old Man Isaac is selling the clock house on the green and she’s determined to make him an offer – the very bricks that make up the little clock house hold precious memories for her.Only gorgeous entrepreneur Daniel Westlake is standing in her way. Their rivalry is the talk of the village and soon rumours are spreading thicker than jam on a scone…
Growing Up Twice
Rowan Coleman - 2002
Their teenage years were spent drinking too much wine in the park, making wrong choices with men and thinking tomorrow was too far off to worry about. Eleven riotous years later, Jenny realizes that nothing much has changed. Here she is, still hung-over and about to make her most wrong choice of man yet. Then tragedy strikes, and it seems as if Jenny, Rosie and Selin can never be true friends again.
The Bluebell Bunting Society
Poppy Dolan - 2017
Pull up a wonky chair, grab a cream bun and settle into a story about a little village, a determined caretaker – and bunting.At twenty-nine, Connie isn’t quite where she thought she’d be. When her beloved gran died Connie returned to Hazelhurst, the village she grew up in, and took over her gran’s old job as caretaker at the village hall. It might not be the stuff of dreams, but Connie loves working at Bluebell Hall – the heart of the community fuelled by copious cups of tea.So when Bluebell Hall is threatened with closure, Connie is determined not to let greedy property developers get their hands on it. She hatches a plan bonkers enough that it just might work. All it takes is a needle and thread, scraps of old material and willing hands.Can Connie convince the people of Hazelhurst that their village hall is worth saving? And will she save herself in the process…?A heartwarming novel about friendship, community and being brave enough to fight for what you believe in, The Bluebell Bunting Society is perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Tilly Tennant and Cathy Bramley.
Brief Encounter at the Picture House by the Sea
Holly Hepburn - 2017
Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley. The picture house by the sea is the Palace at Polwhipple – a lovely art deco cinema, nestled in front of azure Cornish seas. But it is long past its heyday now, and its only saving grace is Ferrelli's, the family run ice-cream concession in the foyer, which is famed for selling the best ice cream for miles. When Ferdie, the owner of Ferrelli's, falls ill, his granddaughter Gina drops everything to come and help out, leaving her boyfriend, Max, in London. But when she arrives she is dismayed by the state of the cinema, which she remembers fondly from summer holidays when she was a teenager, Enchanted by Polwhipple's golden beaches and friendly faces, Gina sets about restoring the Palace to its former glory with a themed Brief Encounter night, roping in her old friend Ben to help. But can one night alter the fortunes of this beautiful old picture house by the sea...?If you enjoyed part one in the PICTURE HOUSE series, download part two - Singing in the Rain at the Picture House by the Sea – now! 'Fabulously feel-good, funny and fresh, it will sweep you off your feet' Rowan Coleman 'Pure pleasure, a delight from opening credits to closing reel' Julie Cohen 'Deliciously romantic and sprinkled with the magic of the movies – it's the perfect treat!' Miranda DickinsonWhat people are saying about the STAR AND SIXPENCE and the CASTLE COURT series:'Warm, witty and laced with intriguing secrets' Cathy Bramley 'The perfect book to start the new year' Rowan Coleman 'A treasure of a find and I was completely enveloped within this world from the very first page. 5 stars!' Becca's Books 'A thoroughly lovely and entertaining read!' Book Kaz 'A charming story with real characters and an idyllic setting' Fictionophile
A Cornish Summer's Kiss
Jo Bartlett - 2019
Selling the restaurant they ran together in London, Lexie heads to Port Kara on the Cornish Coast to spend the summer working out her next move. In a cottage cut off by the sea at high tide, and with only her beloved Labrador for company, it should be the perfect place to start again. Except life in Port Kara becomes far more complicated when she agrees to help out local man, Elliott Dorton, at his adventure centre, and soon she barely has time to think. Lexie is content to bury herself in work and rediscovers the passion she used to have for creating unique dishes. Working with Elliott to make the adventure centre a success, they have the opportunity to cater for a showbiz superstar who has just set up home in Port Kara. Discovering they have more in common than she could ever have dreamt, despite the secrets she’s keeping about her past, Lexie realises her feelings for Elliott are in danger of taking her somewhere she never wants to go again. Having already lost her husband because of his attraction to high-adrenaline adventure, the last thing she wants to do is to fall for another man with the same addiction. Especially someone who’s a member of the local lifeboat crew, and whose own safety always comes bottom of the list. When Elliott puts his life on the line twice within a matter of weeks, Lexie realises that she has to leave Port Kara in order to protect herself from getting in any deeper. But when she’s caught in a life and death situation of her own, she understands for the first time what drives Elliott to do the things he does. Can she save the little boy whose life depends on her and, even if she does, can Elliott find them both in time for Lexie to have the fresh start she so badly wants? Fabrian Feel-Good Romance Novels are guaranteed to have a happy ending and leave you with a smile on your face.
The Woman in the Middle
Milly Johnson - 2021
Shay Bastable is the woman in the middle. She is part of the sandwich generation – caring for her parents and her children, supporting her husband Bruce, holding them all together and caring for them as best she can. Then the arrival of a large orange skip on her mother’s estate sets in motion a cataclysmic series of events which leads to the collapse of Shay’s world. She is forced to put herself first for a change. But in order to move forward with her present, Shay needs to make sense of her past. And so she returns to the little village she grew up in, to uncover the truth about what happened to her when she was younger. And in doing so, she discovers that sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to find the only way is up.Praise for The Woman in the Middle:'An unputdownable tale of redemption and hard-won wisdom, this is a book that speaks for us all wherever we are in our lives. Milly Johnson always delivers an absolutely cracking read' Katie FfordePraise for Milly Johnson:‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS’ Debbie Johnson'Every time you discover a new Milly book, it’s like finding a pot of gold' heat'A glorious, heartfelt novel' Rowan Coleman‘Absolutely loved it. Milly's writing is like getting a big hug with just the right amount of bite underneath. I was rooting for Bonnie from the start' Jane Fallon‘Bursting with warmth and joie de vivre’ Jill Mansell‘Warm, optimistic and romantic’ Katie Fforde
A Year of New Adventures
Maddie Please - 2018
Billie Summers has always been quite content in her little cottage in the Cotswolds. Sure, half the house hasn’t been renovated, but what’s the point when it’s only her? Working part-time at her uncle’s bookshop and planning writer retreats with her best friend allows her to pay the bills. What more could anyone want?That is until Oliver Forest, the bad boy of the book world, turns up to one of her retreats and points out that Billie hasn’t done anything very adventurous. Couple that with her best friend falling head over heels and beginning to drift away from their Friday night wine and dinner plans, Billie is starting to wonder if it isn’t time she took control of her life.So she starts a list: get fitted (properly) for a bra, fix up rest of house, find a ‘career’ and well, get a tattoo … Her life might just get the makeover it needs, too bad irritating and far-too-attractive for his own good, Oliver keeps showing up …
Because sometimes you need an adventure!
The Beachside Sweet Shop
Karen Clarke - 2017
The shop has been a much-loved feature of the little seaside town of Shipley for years, but now Marnie needs to bring it up to date, and she’s recruited gorgeous new assistant Josh to help. Marnie gets busy redecorating the shop and choosing delicious new sweets to stock, but things are never that simple: new neighbour Isobel, a fame-hungry blogger, is on a crusade against sugar, and she’ll go to any lengths to secure bad publicity for Marnie’s shop. Marnie fights back with homemade sugar-free treats, but with her best friend Beth heavily pregnant, her grandmother Celia recovering from an operation, and her very recently ex-boyfriend Alex returning to Shipley with a new love, Marnie has a lot on her plate. And then there’s Josh, with whom Marnie is struggling to keep her relationship strictly professional…Will both the sweet shop and love flourish? A deliciously heartwarming read about family, friends and handmade coconut ice. Perfect for fans of Cressida McLaughlin, Debbie Johnson, and Tilly Tennant.