Ice Creams at Emerald Cove - Holly Martin

 

Escape to the Cornish coast this spring with a trip to the beautiful Emerald Cove, where the sea sparkles in the sunshine, the sand glitters like gold, and true love is in the air. From the bestselling author of Sunrise over Sapphire Bay comes this gorgeously romantic and uplifting tale.

Skye Philips and Jesse Hamilton have a complicated relationship. They’ve been neighbours, best friends and even briefly married. But ever since Skye returned to the beautiful shores of Jewel Island to help her sisters Aria and Clover run their family hotel, she doesn’t know where she stands with Jesse.

When they’re together the chemistry between them sizzles, but with Jesse living in Canada and Skye on the Cornish island she calls home, they’ve kept things casual. Till now…

Jesse is coming to Jewel Island for the annual Pudding Parade and Skye knows this is her chance to tell him how she really feels. But putting her heart on the line isn’t easy when it’s been broken in the past. Will Jesse return her love? Or will she lose him for good?

Everything she's ever wanted can be hers if she's willing to take the chance, but is Skye brave enough to risk her heart once again?'

Set sail to the Cornish coast where sunshine, laughter and romance awaits. This stunning love story is guaranteed to steal your heart this summer; it’s the perfect read for fans of Sarah Morgan, Veronica Henry and Jill Mansell. 

My Review:

I am a big fan of Holly Martin and this book is another smash! An absolute pleasure to be back with sisters Skye, Aria and Clover. You may have read the previous two books about these ladies so will enjoy the catch up of familiar faces but please be assured you can read this as a standalone. Enough detail is included to bring you up to speed but not too much for those that have read to feel like it’s repetitive. I couldn’t read this one fast enough, I always dive straight into any of Holly’s books without any waiting. Hooked from the start, I didn’t want to put it down – especially this time with so many delicious sounding goodies making my mouth water. Be transported to Emerald Cove; there is a nice gentle pace, but it is full of emotion and heart. You get ample enough drama met with heart warming and tender times. You will be rooting for the best for everyone. It’s a brilliant community feeling, I love catching up with Island life and wish I could go there myself. Great characters, well written storylines, and an inviting setting, you don’t need anything more when you want to cosy up with a fantastic read. I hope we get to visit the Island again soon…

GUEST POST: ‘Behind the Scenes of Being an Author’ with Caroline Roberts – A Writer’s Life

‘Behind the Scenes of Being an Author’ with Caroline Roberts – A Writer’s Life

Hi Jenn, thanks for having me here at The Comfy Chair and for coming up with this great idea for a blog post.

So, today is publication day for my new book ‘Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry’ (yippee!) and I’m delighted to be welcoming you all back to Primrose Farm.  


Behind the scenes - inspirations

The Pudding Pantry books are set near to my home in the glorious Northumberland countryside.

I’ve always been interested in farming life, and whilst out walking in the valleys and moorland, the characters of Rachel and her wonderful family - the four feisty generations of Swinton women who are striving to take their farm forward after personal tragedy - came to mind. We have several farming friends locally, who welcomed me to their homes with cups of tea and a smile, ready to answer my many questions about the practicalities and the emotions around working a farm in rural Northumberland. I loved touring the farms and meeting the animals.

Susan Green, who has a fabulous pudding company, The Proof of the Pudding, based at her farmhouse near to Alnwick, gave me a tour and great insight into the hard work and ups and downs involved in creating such a business from scratch. A photograph of a beautiful barn conversion in our local lifestyle magazine helped set the seed, too. I love the stone and character of old farm buildings, and could really picture the tea rooms coming to life in the story in the old barn.

Behind the scenes of a series

With regards to the series, there was always going to be Pudding Pantry books one and two, but there was so much more to say when I got to the end of the Christmas book, that it felt like ‘unfinished business’. I knew I needed to stay with these gorgeous characters - who felt very much like friends - a little longer, and so, book three ‘Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry’ was born. I’m so glad I had the chance to see the story play out further. The book was lovely to write and has a joyful feel, and a sense of achievement and of fulfilment both for the characters in the story and for me as the writer.

I hope you enjoy spending time at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry as much as I did. In fact, I wish it was a real place, so I could go there and chat over tea and scrumptious puddings with my friends. We could find ourselves a comfy chair at the Pudding Pantry!

Behind the Scenes - where the writing magic happens.

The first book in the Pudding Pantry series was written in the main in my conservatory, a place where I can look out across my garden and to the fields beyond. That view is inspiring in itself, and at the moment there are lambs and sheep in the field directly behind my house.

The latest book ‘Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry’ was created in my new writing room. I was finding I needed a space of my own to ‘go to work’, and get my head down and concentrate. So, I converted our small bedroom, adding a lovely wooden desk and investing in a good-quality comfy chair! (A necessity for a writer as well as a reader!). I love my Etsy picture: ‘Big stories start with little chapters’ that hangs in front of the desk – a reminder not to feel overwhelmed and to break down the story, working on it one bit at a time. That’s a good tip for any writer; to plan out the plot and then concentrate on the section you are on, so it doesn’t feel too much to work on at once, especially when writing something as long as a novel.

Here’s a video tour of my writing world. Come and join me …

  

 

From Jenn and The Comfy Chair....

Thank you Caroline for trusting me with such a fun, unique guest blog post. I'm thrilled to be able to celebrate your publication day in this way!

My Review:

I’ve been a big fan of this series from the start, its setting, the characters and the storylines the have drawn me and made me believe I am part of the community. Through all the ups and downs, loves and heartbreak, I’m a firm fan. I’m also partial to drooling about the amazing cakes and goodies littered through each book. I don’t need much encouragement to have a little treat whilst I read but this book should come with the caveat you MUST be eating cake whilst reading!

Rachel is getting married, the happiest of happy times and oh.. this book gives you plenty to enjoy. I don’t want to give you spoilers but watch for some surprises in this one. The hen party is full of fun as you would expect and best friend, Eve, is around as ever with her amazing crafty ways. I was worried for her in this one, she wasn’t the Eve we have come to know and love.

I was so happy reading the whole community mucking in to share in the happy event. It captures community life no end and that’s what makes this series very special. Whilst we focus on Rachel, her family and her friends are really important.

Caroline Roberts writes beautifully, bringing these characters alive and bringing us heart-warming stories. (Plus the sweetest cravings ever known!) She isn’t one to shy away from difficult storylines either, and touches on some sensitive subjects. I would love to go back again, see what life holds for Rachel, Eve and co. Plus I’m sure we could discover more yummy cake recipes!

This is without a doubt a five star worthy book, a fantastic read that I wholeheartedly recommend.