Scan barcode
jo_bookworm's review
5.0
Tori has come down to Cornwall for a few weeks to take a break from her broken heart as well as her work.
She has followed her friend Melody who now lives in Sandcastle Bay and has agreed to stay rent free in Blossom Cottage in return for some berry picking. Seems a fair exchange.
What she did not bank on is being chased by a turkey that thinks it's a dog and encountering a quirky old lady who says she will marry Aidan Jackson within a year.
Aidan Jackson is in fact the owner of the cottage and the farm where the berries need picking. These are not any old sort of berries but heartberries - and they have to be picked at night, by the first full moon and candlelight and it all has to be done before the tide starts and in time for the festival which features of course heartberries and lots of romance!
Tori doesn't know what she has let herself in for, but if it means she can spend more time with her friend Melody and her sister Isla, then it is worth it.
Trouble is Tori starts to find that Sandcastle Bay and Aidan start getting under her skin and she realises that the bustling life she was living before was perhaps not living or loving at all.
Resolutely trying to not get her heart broken again, Tori and Aidan come to some sort of an understanding, but it seems that the locals of the village and the heartberries have other ideas.
If you want pure escapism, then Holly Martin is your go to author. I was transported to the beach, to the fields, to the cottage and even to Aidan's bedroom (saucy!) with such ease that I felt so reassured by the book that love is out there for everyone.
The humour is subtle and the wonderful characters are easy to like and love and all I want to do when I read books like this, is to keep reading, to keep wanting to know more about them, to experience what they experience. Pure escapism reading at it's best.
Clearly Holly Martin has set up this book to be another trilogy and I simply cannot wait until I can return to Tori, Aidan, Melody et al in the future.
She has followed her friend Melody who now lives in Sandcastle Bay and has agreed to stay rent free in Blossom Cottage in return for some berry picking. Seems a fair exchange.
What she did not bank on is being chased by a turkey that thinks it's a dog and encountering a quirky old lady who says she will marry Aidan Jackson within a year.
Aidan Jackson is in fact the owner of the cottage and the farm where the berries need picking. These are not any old sort of berries but heartberries - and they have to be picked at night, by the first full moon and candlelight and it all has to be done before the tide starts and in time for the festival which features of course heartberries and lots of romance!
Tori doesn't know what she has let herself in for, but if it means she can spend more time with her friend Melody and her sister Isla, then it is worth it.
Trouble is Tori starts to find that Sandcastle Bay and Aidan start getting under her skin and she realises that the bustling life she was living before was perhaps not living or loving at all.
Resolutely trying to not get her heart broken again, Tori and Aidan come to some sort of an understanding, but it seems that the locals of the village and the heartberries have other ideas.
If you want pure escapism, then Holly Martin is your go to author. I was transported to the beach, to the fields, to the cottage and even to Aidan's bedroom (saucy!) with such ease that I felt so reassured by the book that love is out there for everyone.
The humour is subtle and the wonderful characters are easy to like and love and all I want to do when I read books like this, is to keep reading, to keep wanting to know more about them, to experience what they experience. Pure escapism reading at it's best.
Clearly Holly Martin has set up this book to be another trilogy and I simply cannot wait until I can return to Tori, Aidan, Melody et al in the future.
larissa_sken's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kirstyreviewsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
The Holiday Cottage by the Sea by Holly Martin
Tori Graham is in need of a holiday. Trying to piece her heart back together after losing the love of her life, she escapes to Blossom Cottage, with its picturesque views of the sea. And plans to spend the summer in gorgeous Sandcastle Bay, where her best friend Melody Rosewood lives.
Tori’s not expecting her summer by the beach to be eventful, until she meets handsome and mysterious Aidan Jackson…
I stumbled upon this series whilst checking what audiobooks were available from my local library. Within minutes of starting the book I was hooked and as soon I finished this book I was keen to start the next in the series. This was a fun read and very easy to escape reality for a few hours.
I think this is only the second book I have read by Holly, but with the beautiful writing and addictive stories I will definitely be reading far more of hers in the near future. This is a relatively short book and very easy to devour in just one sitting.
Rating 5/5
Tori Graham is in need of a holiday. Trying to piece her heart back together after losing the love of her life, she escapes to Blossom Cottage, with its picturesque views of the sea. And plans to spend the summer in gorgeous Sandcastle Bay, where her best friend Melody Rosewood lives.
Tori’s not expecting her summer by the beach to be eventful, until she meets handsome and mysterious Aidan Jackson…
I stumbled upon this series whilst checking what audiobooks were available from my local library. Within minutes of starting the book I was hooked and as soon I finished this book I was keen to start the next in the series. This was a fun read and very easy to escape reality for a few hours.
I think this is only the second book I have read by Holly, but with the beautiful writing and addictive stories I will definitely be reading far more of hers in the near future. This is a relatively short book and very easy to devour in just one sitting.
Rating 5/5
portybelle's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed my trip to Blossom Cottage at the seaside with Tori Graham and meeting the residents of Sandcastle Bay. The growing friendship between Tori and Aidan was lovely to read about and I’ll never look at elbows the same way again! Wise old Aunt Agatha is certainly a memorable character and people really should listen to her romantic predictions in my opinion.
I enjoyed the community spirit in the book and the traditions around the heart-berries which Aidan grew on his farm. Sandcastle Bay was home to a close-knit, supportive community but still willing to be open and welcoming to newcomers such as Tori. There’s a lot about friendship in the book too especially between Tori, Melody and Isla. Although Tori had been keeping some poignant secrets from her friends which come out in the course of the book.
The audiobook was narrated by Penny Scott-Andrews and I very much enjoyed her narration. She gave each character a distinct voice and really brought them to life for me.
The Holiday Cottage by the Sea is sweet, funny, sexy and so romantic. I really enjoyed it and will definitely not be leaving it so long to read (or listen to) another Holly Martin book. I’ll be having a look at the other books in this series too to find out more about the characters I’ve come to know in this book and see if any more of Aunt Agatha’s predictions come true!
I enjoyed the community spirit in the book and the traditions around the heart-berries which Aidan grew on his farm. Sandcastle Bay was home to a close-knit, supportive community but still willing to be open and welcoming to newcomers such as Tori. There’s a lot about friendship in the book too especially between Tori, Melody and Isla. Although Tori had been keeping some poignant secrets from her friends which come out in the course of the book.
The audiobook was narrated by Penny Scott-Andrews and I very much enjoyed her narration. She gave each character a distinct voice and really brought them to life for me.
The Holiday Cottage by the Sea is sweet, funny, sexy and so romantic. I really enjoyed it and will definitely not be leaving it so long to read (or listen to) another Holly Martin book. I’ll be having a look at the other books in this series too to find out more about the characters I’ve come to know in this book and see if any more of Aunt Agatha’s predictions come true!
oliviagrace2806's review against another edition
3.0
Was a really cute read I love holly Martin books and everyone I’ve read has been good
However this one felt very insta lovey I prefer her books when there is history between the two so you can really feel the Angst which is why Leo and Islas book is one of my favourites of her books
I wish we’d got more of them talking about matthew I think that could have been explored a lot more
However this one felt very insta lovey I prefer her books when there is history between the two so you can really feel the Angst which is why Leo and Islas book is one of my favourites of her books
I wish we’d got more of them talking about matthew I think that could have been explored a lot more
klwpvfc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
3.0
Not my usual type of book, I tend to stay clear of the sappy romance genre however I received the second book in this series in a book box so I thought I should read this one first.
Sunshine Beach is a charming setting full of likeable characters, I particularly liked the interfering Aunt Agatha who has no filter whatsoever!
There was no great surprises in the outcome of the story, but it was quite a sweet little tale. If not a bit sickly as I may have to wait a while now until I read book 2!
Sunshine Beach is a charming setting full of likeable characters, I particularly liked the interfering Aunt Agatha who has no filter whatsoever!
There was no great surprises in the outcome of the story, but it was quite a sweet little tale. If not a bit sickly as I may have to wait a while now until I read book 2!
nicola_june's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
3.25
kitstercronk's review
4.0
Holly Martin is definitely one of my new favourite romance authors. I can't wait to get into more of her books! I especially loved the sibling dynamics in this, and I always adore a story set in a small English village full of nosy and quirky neighbors.
jessjackson's review
5.0
Super cute and I'm excited to read the other book based on two of the characters in this one