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arienne311's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kazza248's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book, it has a feel-good magical atmosphere about it as if Luna had cast a spell on it.
Flora was doing what she always wanted, her own business a bookstore/cafe, in a small village, she was commuting to and from Oxford to her married life and her husband Malcolm and supporting him in his restaurant until she catches him having an affair with one of the staff, he tries to blame her for neglecting him with her own business but she moves out and lives above her shop for a few days till Luna offers her a spare room.
Luna has a son Daniel and grandson Caleb who also lives with her at Starlight Cottage, her son seems very standoff with Flora but says it's fine that she stays.
with the Charter day coming up and things to organise Flora is very busy as well as Malcolm constantly wanting her to come home, so he could control her she doesn't know what she wants to do but has to make a decision, there are lots of surprises and laughs in this book, a recommended read.
Flora was doing what she always wanted, her own business a bookstore/cafe, in a small village, she was commuting to and from Oxford to her married life and her husband Malcolm and supporting him in his restaurant until she catches him having an affair with one of the staff, he tries to blame her for neglecting him with her own business but she moves out and lives above her shop for a few days till Luna offers her a spare room.
Luna has a son Daniel and grandson Caleb who also lives with her at Starlight Cottage, her son seems very standoff with Flora but says it's fine that she stays.
with the Charter day coming up and things to organise Flora is very busy as well as Malcolm constantly wanting her to come home, so he could control her she doesn't know what she wants to do but has to make a decision, there are lots of surprises and laughs in this book, a recommended read.
thewoollygeek's review against another edition
5.0
Another great read from Liz Elle’s, I loved returning to the Cosy Kettle and seeing a whole new side to Flora and netting new residents and returning tools favourites. Another lovely r ad that melts your heart as you go along, addictive as always and sad when it ends ; in a good way because the endings aren’t sad ! Can’t wait for the next. Lovely summer read
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
saschadarlington's review against another edition
4.0
In March I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing, New Starts and Cherry Tarts at the Cosy Kettle by Liz Eeles. Like that wonderful novel, A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle takes place in the quirky village of Honeyford in the Cotswolds and many of the same people whom I loved in that novel are revisited.
A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle focuses on Flora, the new owner of the bookstore, who discovers that her husband, Malcolm, has been cheating on her with one of the waitresses from his restaurant. Initially shocked and hurt, Flora stays several nights in the attic of the bookstore, until Luna, an eccentric new-agey woman offers her a room in her cottage. Unbeknownst to Flora, Luna is the mother of a man she had a bit of a run-in with at the Cosy Kettle when his son accidentally knocked over some decor and Flora didn’t react as well as she could have.
While New Starts and Cherry Tarts at the Cosy Kettle was lighter, more of a romance, and yet hit all of the emotions, A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle feels a little more somber and a bit more like women’s fiction. There are some fun moments because of the eccentric characters, but when one is exploring the implosion of a 20-year-old marriage, it’s rightfully more melancholic and thoughtful.
Both are very good novels, written well, and with insights, but if you’re looking for the same effervescence that was in New Starts and Cherry Tarts at the Cosy Kettle, you won’t find it in Eeles’ new novel. But I’m not sure that given the subject matter you should expect to.
The characterization is again very good, with Flora discovering new things about herself and mostly discovering who she is. I liked the fact that she struggled with what many people struggle with: do you stay with the devil you know or move on? Do you stay with the safe or take a risk? It’s a common question in life and it’s dealt with well here.
While the novel may not provide a decidedly happy-ever-after, it was again appropriate and appreciated due to its thoughtfulness.
I did feel that there was some repetition during Flora’s introspective moments regarding her marriage, which was noticeable enough to draw me from the narrative, but not enough for me to be highly critical of.
All in all, this was an engrossing, satisfying read that kept my interest throughout, gave me some laughs, and some thoughtful moments. I loved the character of Luna and hope to see her again in future novels. Very enjoyable.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle focuses on Flora, the new owner of the bookstore, who discovers that her husband, Malcolm, has been cheating on her with one of the waitresses from his restaurant. Initially shocked and hurt, Flora stays several nights in the attic of the bookstore, until Luna, an eccentric new-agey woman offers her a room in her cottage. Unbeknownst to Flora, Luna is the mother of a man she had a bit of a run-in with at the Cosy Kettle when his son accidentally knocked over some decor and Flora didn’t react as well as she could have.
While New Starts and Cherry Tarts at the Cosy Kettle was lighter, more of a romance, and yet hit all of the emotions, A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle feels a little more somber and a bit more like women’s fiction. There are some fun moments because of the eccentric characters, but when one is exploring the implosion of a 20-year-old marriage, it’s rightfully more melancholic and thoughtful.
Both are very good novels, written well, and with insights, but if you’re looking for the same effervescence that was in New Starts and Cherry Tarts at the Cosy Kettle, you won’t find it in Eeles’ new novel. But I’m not sure that given the subject matter you should expect to.
The characterization is again very good, with Flora discovering new things about herself and mostly discovering who she is. I liked the fact that she struggled with what many people struggle with: do you stay with the devil you know or move on? Do you stay with the safe or take a risk? It’s a common question in life and it’s dealt with well here.
While the novel may not provide a decidedly happy-ever-after, it was again appropriate and appreciated due to its thoughtfulness.
I did feel that there was some repetition during Flora’s introspective moments regarding her marriage, which was noticeable enough to draw me from the narrative, but not enough for me to be highly critical of.
All in all, this was an engrossing, satisfying read that kept my interest throughout, gave me some laughs, and some thoughtful moments. I loved the character of Luna and hope to see her again in future novels. Very enjoyable.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
managedbybooks's review against another edition
3.0
When Flora finds out about her husband’s secret fling, she escapes to the one place she feels safe: her beloved café, The Cosy Kettle, in the charming village of Honeyford. Serving up cream teas to her café regulars is the perfect way to soothe her broken heart, and although she’s never lived in the area, the little community welcome her with open arms.
She’s soon lodging with local eccentric Luna in her remote and beautiful Starlight Cottage, snuggled between rolling green hills. Luna’s handsome son Daniel lost his wife several years ago, and as Flora gets to know him, sharing walks through the blossom-scented woods, they both slowly begin to heal… and she realises that behind Daniel’s quiet exterior, there’s a passionate nature that makes her forget all about her ex-husband.
As she settles into her new life, hosting a baking competition for the village’s summer celebration seems like a great idea… but with Daniel’s mysterious silences leading Flora to believe he’s hiding secrets, she can’t help but wonder if she can really trust him. And when the race to bake the perfect Victoria sponge stirs up old rivalries between locals, Flora starts to feel like she’s bitten off more than she can chew.
A perfect read for summer days at the beach!
*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
She’s soon lodging with local eccentric Luna in her remote and beautiful Starlight Cottage, snuggled between rolling green hills. Luna’s handsome son Daniel lost his wife several years ago, and as Flora gets to know him, sharing walks through the blossom-scented woods, they both slowly begin to heal… and she realises that behind Daniel’s quiet exterior, there’s a passionate nature that makes her forget all about her ex-husband.
As she settles into her new life, hosting a baking competition for the village’s summer celebration seems like a great idea… but with Daniel’s mysterious silences leading Flora to believe he’s hiding secrets, she can’t help but wonder if she can really trust him. And when the race to bake the perfect Victoria sponge stirs up old rivalries between locals, Flora starts to feel like she’s bitten off more than she can chew.
A perfect read for summer days at the beach!
*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
meg728's review against another edition
5.0
Lovely!
I love this little romance comedy series! This time we follow the story of Flora who is making her way in a new town after buying the book store and opening the a cozy Kettle Cafe! I enjoyed the funny moments in these books but especially love watching these women grown into their own and take chances on a different life!
I love this little romance comedy series! This time we follow the story of Flora who is making her way in a new town after buying the book store and opening the a cozy Kettle Cafe! I enjoyed the funny moments in these books but especially love watching these women grown into their own and take chances on a different life!
clarab12's review against another edition
5.0
A gorgeous lovely summery story. This was such a great installment in this series can't wait to get reading the next part and see where the story takes us!
vikkiew87's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. This is a perfect place to escape on a sunny summers day. This book is perfect for fans of Jenny colgan, Cathy Bramley and Debbie Johnson. This book had so many funny parts, I laughed all the way through. This is a definite page turner and I loved it. I highly recommend this book.
thereadingchemist's review against another edition
4.0
Even before I read the blurb for this book, I was immediately pulled in by the cover. It reminds me of a cosy summer cottage where I could curl up with a good book and get lost. I knew I wanted this one as one of my summer reads.
Flora is in her mid 40s and considers life to be near picture perfect with her thriving bookstore and husband who owns a successful restaurant. Unfortunately, everything comes to a crashing halt when she catches Malcolm mid tongue lock with one of the waitresses (who’s in her 20s). After realizing that Malcolm has been having an affair and lying to her, Flora leaves her life with Malcolm in Oxford and relocates to Honeyford where her bookshop is.
As someone who had a very similar experience happen, I couldn’t help but immediately feel for Flora and everything that she had gone through. Malcolm is literally the world’s biggest piece of sh*t. He doesn’t support Flora. He thinks her bookshop is a waste of time hobby. He is incredibly condescending.
It’s not until Flora starts residing at the Starlight Cottage with Luna with her son Daniel and grandson Caleb that she starts to realize how much of her life had been devoted to someone who was too selfish to care about her. I loved watching Flora grow increasingly independent and sure of herself as she started taking a larger interest in both her customers at the bookshop as well as the community of Honeyford as a whole.
It was really important to me that the romance between Flora and Daniel wasn’t rushed and over the top because, let’s be honest, no one needs a rebound after a relationship comes crumbling down. Plus with Daniel as a widower and single father, it felt much more natural that Flora and Daniel started off on very uneasy footing and had to actively work to get to know each other and knock down the walls around their hearts.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. This book didn’t really come across as the laugh out loud type (unless you’re laughing at how over the top Luna can be), but it definitely is heartwarming and will have you rooting for both Flora and Daniel the entire time. This is definitely the perfect summer read for an afternoon filled with sun and sangria. I can’t wait to read more books from this author!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the eARC. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Flora is in her mid 40s and considers life to be near picture perfect with her thriving bookstore and husband who owns a successful restaurant. Unfortunately, everything comes to a crashing halt when she catches Malcolm mid tongue lock with one of the waitresses (who’s in her 20s). After realizing that Malcolm has been having an affair and lying to her, Flora leaves her life with Malcolm in Oxford and relocates to Honeyford where her bookshop is.
As someone who had a very similar experience happen, I couldn’t help but immediately feel for Flora and everything that she had gone through. Malcolm is literally the world’s biggest piece of sh*t. He doesn’t support Flora. He thinks her bookshop is a waste of time hobby. He is incredibly condescending.
It’s not until Flora starts residing at the Starlight Cottage with Luna with her son Daniel and grandson Caleb that she starts to realize how much of her life had been devoted to someone who was too selfish to care about her. I loved watching Flora grow increasingly independent and sure of herself as she started taking a larger interest in both her customers at the bookshop as well as the community of Honeyford as a whole.
It was really important to me that the romance between Flora and Daniel wasn’t rushed and over the top because, let’s be honest, no one needs a rebound after a relationship comes crumbling down. Plus with Daniel as a widower and single father, it felt much more natural that Flora and Daniel started off on very uneasy footing and had to actively work to get to know each other and knock down the walls around their hearts.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. This book didn’t really come across as the laugh out loud type (unless you’re laughing at how over the top Luna can be), but it definitely is heartwarming and will have you rooting for both Flora and Daniel the entire time. This is definitely the perfect summer read for an afternoon filled with sun and sangria. I can’t wait to read more books from this author!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the eARC. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
mae0524's review against another edition
3.0
This story is written as a first person narrative where characters are described directly. The main conflict is internal as the main character battles with themselves but the secondary conflict is external as the character battles other characters and society norms. The popular themes shown throughout include change of power, communication, death, fear of failure, heartbreak of betrayal, lost honour, lost love, oppression of women, self-reliance, and wisdom of experience.
Flora is a small town bookstore and café owner who is attempting to figure out who she really is and how much of her life she has been hiding from. Luna is a fellow shop owner in Honeyford who is all new age magic and helping others, her son Daniel is more traditional mannered than his mother. He is a widowed and has a young son named Caleb. Malcom is Flora’s husband who spends most of his time in his restaurant and does not approve of Flora’s venture into owning her own business. Flora has taken off to Honeyford after discovering Malcom cheating with a much younger woman who works for him. While contemplating her next move, she meets Luna who offers a place to stay after sensing that her soul needs some recharging and nurturing. There she meets Daniel who is the opposite of his mother and works in finance even though he dislikes it. Slowly both Daniel and Flora begin to heal from destroyed relationships, but Malcom isn’t giving up so easily.
The ideas are interesting and in a unique placement throughout the story. The flow is organized and logical while the voice is unique to this work. The word choice and sentence structure help to enhance the overall story. Yes, I would recommend this book. This would be the book for those who enjoy success stories, short reads about character growth, or any small town stories. This book would not be good for those looking for lots of action, steamy love scenes or lots of drama.
Flora is a small town bookstore and café owner who is attempting to figure out who she really is and how much of her life she has been hiding from. Luna is a fellow shop owner in Honeyford who is all new age magic and helping others, her son Daniel is more traditional mannered than his mother. He is a widowed and has a young son named Caleb. Malcom is Flora’s husband who spends most of his time in his restaurant and does not approve of Flora’s venture into owning her own business. Flora has taken off to Honeyford after discovering Malcom cheating with a much younger woman who works for him. While contemplating her next move, she meets Luna who offers a place to stay after sensing that her soul needs some recharging and nurturing. There she meets Daniel who is the opposite of his mother and works in finance even though he dislikes it. Slowly both Daniel and Flora begin to heal from destroyed relationships, but Malcom isn’t giving up so easily.
The ideas are interesting and in a unique placement throughout the story. The flow is organized and logical while the voice is unique to this work. The word choice and sentence structure help to enhance the overall story. Yes, I would recommend this book. This would be the book for those who enjoy success stories, short reads about character growth, or any small town stories. This book would not be good for those looking for lots of action, steamy love scenes or lots of drama.