Publisher: 3rd February 2022 by HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter
Pages: 250 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary, romance
My Rating: 3 cups
Synopsis:
Welcome to Berecombe-by-the-Sea for a year of very special celebrations…
This year sees the seventy-fifth anniversary of D-Day. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to those brave boys who went to fight on French beaches for our freedom.
And now Berecombe is playing host to our American allies once more. All surviving soldiers who were billeted in the town have been invited for street parties, a D-Day parade, a black-tie ball at The Henville, and much, much more.
So, come along, get dressed up and join in the fun!
Ashley Lyddon arrives in the quaint coastal community of Berecombe feeling more than a little lost. The former art teacher desperately needs a fresh start after a car accident that cost her everything. How is it that the town’s older residents seem to have more zest for life than she does?
A certain American history lecturer, Eddie McQueen, has also blown into town, just like the GIs did seventy-five years previously. Then, as now, they shook things up, and left secrets trailing in their wake.
Ashley knows all too well, like the D-Day soldiers, that laying the past to rest is easier said than done although her new community seems to believe that tea and cake – lots and lots of cake – solves most of life’s problems. And as Ashley is forced to admit, they are nearly always right…
My Thoughts
This proved to be such a lovely inbetween read - a light and refreshing sweet tale that provided a perfect balance of history and romance in a wonderful English coastal community. It must be stated from the outset that this is the first book in a new series for Georgia and it is definitely ‘Part 1’.
‘The escape Berecombe afforded was gradually eroding the brittle façade she’d constructed in order to face the world. She was beginning to relax.’
The Great Summer Street Party is an interesting mix of past and present. The tale of Ashley’s accident is very much front and centre with her moving to the coastal community for rehabilitation and a redirection in life. She quickly becomes involved in projects and with the locals, including a visiting American history lecturer. Tales of the past are told through reminiscing or letters and I found this aspect of the story very engaging - but very open ended. Herein lies my problem.
‘I think I want–wanted–the fairy-tale.’ ‘Fairy-tales are hard to come by, love.’ ‘I know. Doesn’t stop you wanting them, though.’
This is very much ‘Part 1’ as stated in the book title. To get a complete story you will, I assume, have to read all three expected parts. Both the contemporary and historical tales are left very open by the conclusion. This book appeared more of an introduction to the characters and their backstories. I found the historical romance tales more engaging with the contemporary romance a bit too ‘insta-love’ for me and very quickly addressed.
Overall this is a quick and enjoyable read with final resolutions to come with the next instalments. Readers who enjoy an easygoing romance in a lively local community are sure to sign up for this new series.
‘In my considerable experience, as soon as you decide what you want to do in life, it always throws you a curve ball, making you re-think it all over again. Live for today is my advice, maybe next week at a stretch.’
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.
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