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jo_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Preferring to read these serialised novels as a whole, I have patiently waited for this one to be published.
Charlie Quilter loved spending time with her Uncle Hal on his Cotswold Tour Bus, an Old Routemaster which he used to meander through the Cotswolds with, giving tourists funny and interesting tours.
When he dies and leaves the bus to Charlie, she knows she has to keep his memory alive and use the bus to its full advantage. Drawing on her experience as a baker at the local cafΓ©, Charlie thinks she can bring the cafe to the bus and then take it on tour.
After a false start in the Cotswolds, her friend Juliette invites her down to Cornwall, to rest, grieve for her Uncle and also heal from her recent breakup.
Charlie packs up the bus and with her little dog Marmite she heads to Cornwall. Not one to rest on her laurels, she throws herself into the start of serving cream teas upon the bus. Being an outside in Cornwall and "emmet" if you will, she has an uphill battle to fight and not just the ones she drives on.
A big red bus, parked up outside a posh spa hotel isnβt what the owner Daniel Harper wants his residents to see. Clashing with Charlie over the coming days about her ideas for the local seaside village, myths about mermaids, crumbling cliffs and plenty of local gossip makes for an interesting times ahead.
I loved the way that the bus was brought to life and I had my heart in my mouth when Charlie was making her journey around some of the twisting lanes of the countryside as well as the wonderful coastal positions. Full of warmth and romance and a sense of community coming together to give other people a great time. A selfless way of joining in with society.
This book left me wanting a sequel β there has to be more to this storyβ¦ what is going to happen at Christmas there??? Mince Pies on the Cornish Cream Tea Bus?
Charlie Quilter loved spending time with her Uncle Hal on his Cotswold Tour Bus, an Old Routemaster which he used to meander through the Cotswolds with, giving tourists funny and interesting tours.
When he dies and leaves the bus to Charlie, she knows she has to keep his memory alive and use the bus to its full advantage. Drawing on her experience as a baker at the local cafΓ©, Charlie thinks she can bring the cafe to the bus and then take it on tour.
After a false start in the Cotswolds, her friend Juliette invites her down to Cornwall, to rest, grieve for her Uncle and also heal from her recent breakup.
Charlie packs up the bus and with her little dog Marmite she heads to Cornwall. Not one to rest on her laurels, she throws herself into the start of serving cream teas upon the bus. Being an outside in Cornwall and "emmet" if you will, she has an uphill battle to fight and not just the ones she drives on.
A big red bus, parked up outside a posh spa hotel isnβt what the owner Daniel Harper wants his residents to see. Clashing with Charlie over the coming days about her ideas for the local seaside village, myths about mermaids, crumbling cliffs and plenty of local gossip makes for an interesting times ahead.
I loved the way that the bus was brought to life and I had my heart in my mouth when Charlie was making her journey around some of the twisting lanes of the countryside as well as the wonderful coastal positions. Full of warmth and romance and a sense of community coming together to give other people a great time. A selfless way of joining in with society.
This book left me wanting a sequel β there has to be more to this storyβ¦ what is going to happen at Christmas there??? Mince Pies on the Cornish Cream Tea Bus?
nerdosaurus1998's review against another edition
4.0
This was a lovely book to read, making me miss the summer sunshine, smells, and sounds of the beach.
I also wish a Cream Tea bus actually existed haha
The one thing I think I didn't like about this book was Charlie's constant animosity and suspicion towards Daniel, especially as one of the times she went up to him all angry was based on gossip of people who had not been as supportive of her business. Everything that goes wrong, she blames Daniel for it. Sometimes justified, sometimes not. I just found that constant finger-pointing to be the only bad part about the book.
I also wish a Cream Tea bus actually existed haha
The one thing I think I didn't like about this book was Charlie's constant animosity and suspicion towards Daniel, especially as one of the times she went up to him all angry was based on gossip of people who had not been as supportive of her business. Everything that goes wrong, she blames Daniel for it. Sometimes justified, sometimes not. I just found that constant finger-pointing to be the only bad part about the book.
marmelb's review against another edition
2.0
This was a very short book, more a novella really. Pleasant, fun read but needed to be longer with a bit more story to it, other than just setting up her Cornish Cream Tea Bus.
bookshappythoughts's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
πππ βπ π£πππ€π βπ£πππ πππ πΉπ¦π€
By Cressida McLaughlin
My first fiction book of 2024 did not disappoint!
It is a lovely story about a woman called Charlie who inherits a vintage bus from her late uncle Hal.
Charlie thinks the bus will make the perfect mobile cafe that will serve cream teas, so when her friend suggests she comes to stay in beautiful Porthglow in Cornwall.
The Cornish Cream Tea Bus is born.
But up on the hill, there is a swanky spa hotel owned by the handsome Daniel Harper. Will he welcome this cafe on wheels, or will he see it as a complete eye sore?
π Lovely story
β€οΈ Rivals to romance
π Fab characters
π Drama
β¨οΈ Lots of fun
By Cressida McLaughlin
My first fiction book of 2024 did not disappoint!
It is a lovely story about a woman called Charlie who inherits a vintage bus from her late uncle Hal.
Charlie thinks the bus will make the perfect mobile cafe that will serve cream teas, so when her friend suggests she comes to stay in beautiful Porthglow in Cornwall.
The Cornish Cream Tea Bus is born.
But up on the hill, there is a swanky spa hotel owned by the handsome Daniel Harper. Will he welcome this cafe on wheels, or will he see it as a complete eye sore?
π Lovely story
β€οΈ Rivals to romance
π Fab characters
π Drama
β¨οΈ Lots of fun
kirstyami's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
annebrooke's review against another edition
2.0
I was looking for some happy reading matter and this book popped up so I decided to give it a go. I really wish I hadn't. Sadly, our heroine Charlie is very irritating and seems to have some kind of saviour complex as she arrives in a Cornish village with plans to make it a much jollier place. Sorry, Charlie, but it was actually quite nice and peaceful before you arrived! Charlie is also very argumentative and rude - at one point she barges into the unfortunate Daniel's very nice hotel without permission, interrupts everyone having breakfast there and all but makes them have a tour on her bus. If I was Daniel, I would definitely have called security at this point. The plot is basically pointless crisis followed by success, then another pointless crisis followed by another success. I was desperately skipping from about halfway through to get to the (obvious) ending and I don't think I missed much.
I don't think I'll be taking this bus again!
I don't think I'll be taking this bus again!
cv_xo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nukkoldv's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
emmastinylibrary's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A heart-warming story about Charlie, who has inherited her uncles old Routemaster bus, Gertie, and decides to drive it down to Cornwall to spend some time with her friend while pondering what to do with it.
Along the way, Charlie meets two men, both very different, but both possible suitors. As she gets to know them better she realises which one is for her, but there are difficulties in then getting together.
I enjoyed meeting all the characters, good and bad. Usually I find the miscommunication trope is irritating, but this novel makes it into a valuable life lesson and I'm looking forward to reading more from the seaside town of Porthgolow.
Along the way, Charlie meets two men, both very different, but both possible suitors. As she gets to know them better she realises which one is for her, but there are difficulties in then getting together.
I enjoyed meeting all the characters, good and bad. Usually I find the miscommunication trope is irritating, but this novel makes it into a valuable life lesson and I'm looking forward to reading more from the seaside town of Porthgolow.