Review: Tea for Two at the Little Cornish Kitchen

Title: Tea for Two at the Little Cornish Kitchen

Author: Jane Linfoot

Publisher: 30th January 2022 by HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter

Pages: 416 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

St Aidan: a cosy Cornish village where friendships are made for life and it’s always cocktail hour somewhere…

The Little Cornish Kitchen is going on tour!

When internet sensation ‘Cressida Cupcake’ has a soggy bottomed TV fiasco and faces bake-off backlash she jumps at the chance to spend some time hiding out in St Aidan, dog sitting for her brother.

Picturesque Seaspray Cottage is meant to be Cressy Hobson’s port in the storm but with her blog sponsors having fled and her book deal gone sideways her funds are running low and she’s forced to turn to the locals for help. Soon her quiet weeks in Cornwall are filled with chasing sheep, saving the local retirement village, taking The Little Cornish Kitchen into people’s homes for baking nights…and keeping vigilant guard against romance.

The one and only time Cressy lost her head to love was over a decade ago while in St Aidan, and she won’t be making the same mistake again – a feat easier said than done when Ross Bradbury looks even better a decade on…and every step she takes seems to put him in her path!

My Thoughts

I admit that the cover of Tea for Two at the Little Cornish Kitchen really drew my attention in - the promise tea and scones on the coast looked so very inviting. Once I started reading it became clear that if you love baking, dogs and romance then you will simply adore this book. 

There are several themes in this book - baking (recipes provided at the end of the book), second chances, friendships, romance and the benefits of being part of a real community. It is certainly a lovely, feel good tale with a range of characters encountering all the goings on of village life. At times a little too drawn out for me with you really needing to appreciate dialogue heavy stories. So if loads of interaction and chatter of the various goings on in a tiny English village appeals, then this is certainly the book for you! 

Tea for Two at the Little Cornish Kitchen provides a window into village life on the coast. If you enjoy character driven drama then you will relish this cast of people with their everyday adventures and incidental chatter not to mention the spectacular Cornish coast.

‘When I think how much I’ve looked forward to chilling by the sea and reconnecting with my happy place. And now I feel like a tidal wave has picked up my entire ordered, nicely level life and tumbled it to chaos.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Love at the Little Wedding Shop by the Sea

Title: Love at the Little Wedding Shop by the Sea

Author: Jane Linfoot

Publisher: 3rd September 2020 by HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter

Pages: 323 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary, women’s fiction, romance

My Rating: 3 cups

Synopsis:

Return to your favourite little wedding shop by the sea for love, laughter and a romance to sweep you off your feet!

It’s the most romantic day of the year but the girls aren’t just gearing up for Valentine’s Day and a busy wedding season ahead, it’s also the 10 year anniversary of their beloved shop!

 

Jess is planning the party of the decade and with the champagne and cocktails flowing, sparks are going to fly…and not just from the fireworks display!

My Thoughts

'Little Wedding Shop by the Sea' is the fifth instalment in a fun, lighthearted chick lit series. Each book can be read as a standalone. If you are into seaside villages in Cornwall and love everything to do with weddings, then this is most certainly the book for you. 

This is classic chick lit at its best - formulaic yes, but a sure fire winner for those who sign up for it. Milla’s story is full of tears and laughter and much eye candy. So whilst on the one hand you will get the brewing chemistry, I do believe that Jane has provided richer themes that provide some depth. This is a book that encourages not only new beginnings but also the evolution and growth in confidence with the establishment of self, before launching into a relationship. 

‘Everyone here, including you, helped me learn to love myself. Maybe it’s time for you to let the guilt go. Learn to forgive yourself.’

Of course, there is always the attraction of the beautiful Cornish countryside with the St Aidan harbour and many of the locales on offer for wedding receptions.  Which leads me to the next feature - weddings! If you love a good wedding, or two, then this is most definitely the book for you. You name it and it is here ... the whole assembly of wedding planning from cakes to photography, from dresses to venues - this book covers it all. 

This is a series of books that is formed on a solid friendship base and, on this occasion, rallying together after Milla’s relationship woes. So if you love a good romcom by the seaside, look no further. You will laugh and lose yourself in the wedding madness that is the 'Little Wedding Shop by the Sea'.

‘Of all the weddings in the world, he has to turn up at this one.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Vintage Cinema Club by Jane Linfoot

Title:  The Vintage Cinema Club 

Author: Jane Linfoot

Publisher: 24^th May 2015 by HarperImpulse - Harper Collins UK

Pages: 306 pages

How I Read It: ARC ebook

Genre: womens fiction; chick lit

My Rating: 2.5 cups

Synopsis:

"A witty, warm-hearted romp through the lives and loves of three friends – with a cool retro vibe, and a sense of fun that will never go out of fashion." – Debbie Johnson, author of the best-selling ‘Cold Feet At Christmas’.

Meet The Vintage Cinema Club….

Izzy is a wow at making unwanted things pretty, but with three brothers and her shabby chic furniture business to run she doesn’t have time to date. Could a fabulous French proposal change her mind?

Single mum Luce’s vintage bridal dresses are exquisite, but there’s no way she’s ever going to wear one or walk down the aisle for that matter. She’s a strictly no romance, one night kind of woman – or so she thinks…

Dida seems to have it all – a chocolate and banana cake recipe to die for, lovely kids (most of the time!) and a great lifestyle. But what good is a fabulous home, when your marriage has more cracks than a pavlova and your husband is having it off with half of Lithuania?

Three retro fabulous friends, in love with all things vintage, run their dream business from the faded grandeur of a rescued cinema. When that dream comes under threat, they’ll do whatever it takes to save it.

Fans of Lucy Diamond, Michele Gorman and Milly Johnson are going to love this heartfelt, funny story.

My thoughts:

This story follows three friends - Izzy, Luce and Dida - as they fight to save the vintage cinema - their place of work and so much more. I believe the essence of this tale is about how these women became open to new possibilities in their lives, and the struggles to make those adjustments for a different, and perhaps better life. Letting go and moving forward. 

"There were times when she kicked herself for not daring to be more ambitious and confident. So much for moving out of their comfort zones".

I did enjoy the rich descriptions of wedding dresses and the reclaimed items and pieces that were easy to visualise. And I loved the time spent in France wandering through the markets etc. Whilst there are some passages dedicated to Luce and Dida, the focus for the most part is on Izzy and her evolving relationship with Xander. Sadly, this ultimately becomes the sole focus at the expense of a richer storyline - the plot becomes very thin and all about the sexual tension:

"Damn that the full blown, close up scent of him had knocked the breath out of her, and holy s*** to her collapsing knees"

If we are told once, we are told over and over how "how far out of her reach Xander was" and how "heart-stoppingly, sizzlingly gorgeous" he is. Got it. Move on please....maybe....guess not. So if you are into 'snogging and shagging' then this is the book for you:

"She couldn't decide whether to grab him, and give him the snog of the decade or keep her distance" - lust on full throttle ... the lust part of her brain was sending out a million messages a minutes, telling her to grab him and jump him ASAP".

At the end I found it to be ridiculous. I was not a fan of Izzy at all as she admits to using Xander and it was all about her - the whinging and 'poor me' become rather tiresome. I wanted to high five Xander when he called Izzy on it:

"doing one thing while implying you're doing something else doesn't count as deception, so long as you're the one doing it".

No guy would put up with Izzy and she only trusted him when he 'bought' her "you thinking about me at all, and understanding me, makes me know I can trust you enough to be with you". What!

There was potential here that, for me, was not realised. 

"It's so damned stupid that you only come around to realise what you want when it's too late to have it

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.