So if the colourful and stunning cover for Spring at Blueberry Bay by Holly Martin doesn't immediately grab your attention and scream read me now, then the opening chapter certainly will. I was drawn straight into the story on the very first page as we meet Bella Roussel aged 29. She has grown up on Hope Island in the isles of Scilly and loves it there but recent events in her past have tarnished her outlook on life and she is at that breaking point where if a job doesn't materialise she really doesn't know what she can do. Even within the first chapter I felt we really got to know an awful lot about Bella and how she thinks and feels and how she has reached the point she is at today.

At the same time Holly Martin created such a lovely picture of Hope Island that I think every reader wishes it was real so they could go on holiday or if lucky enough to move there. With names like Buttercup Beach, Mistletoe Cove, Blueberry Bay and even the horse shoe shaped rainbow cottages where Bella lived with their unique names just seemed so magical and a place where all your worries would disappear. Sadly though this wasn't the case for Bella her worries only seem to be growing stronger as searching for a new job hasn't been as fruitful as she would have wished. An incident from her previous job that she has become tarnished with (even though she had been cleared of all blame) has prevented any of her applications being successful. But is this all about to change as an interview for The Umbrella Foundation – a charity working to help the homeless is on the horizon but will everything go to plan. Bella has almost been in a cocoon of her own making in recent months and now it may just be her time to emerge and shine and shoe everyone what an incredible woman she truly is.

I really felt there was no messing around here with the usual endless setting up that often is found in a book in this genre. The author really got straight down to business and slotted in the back-story where needed. It brought the story forward rather than pushing it backwards and it remained like this for the rest of the book. Instantly I loved Bella as our main female heroine, she was clearly going through so much and her childhood had clearly impacted the person she was today. She was kind, caring and always there for others putting their needs first but I loved how her family siblings - Rome and Eden and her parents were always there for her. Rome could see Bella was struggling and helped her out but in the most unobtrusive way possible as he knew Bella still had her pride and wouldn't want to be worrying others. But when someone has resorted to selling anything of value and is now down to her last bag of porridge as her only source of food you can't stand back and let someone go on like this and I'm glad Rome didn't.

If Bella gets this job hopefully it would turn her life around. On her way back to Blossom Grove with her cottage full of books which would never be sold ' Books also don't judge her for being different. They were loyal, steadfast and always made her feel happy' Bella sees a homeless man sitting outside and this is where her true nature shines through. Bella although she more or less has nothing herself invites the man in and offers him food and to have a shower and get himself sorted. My instant gut reaction was woah what on earth are you doing Bella? That is so dangerous and foolish? But I suppose given the nature of her previous job and the charity she now wants to work for Bella felt she could but do nothing else. This spur of the moment decision will change Bella's life for ever and I couldn't read the pages fast enough to discover would Bella find the happiness she so clearly deserved.

This man that was waiting at the door whose real name is Issac was instantly likeable. OK I'll go further than saying likeable he was drop dead gorgeous and had a personality to match. I had glanced through some reviews before reading the book and everyone was mentioning how Issac was 'the' book boyfriend and everyone would love him. I thought hmm I'm not sure of the use of the term book boyfriend, it seemed so clichéd and over used. How can a reader really fall that so much in love with a fictional character? Boy was I wrong and I'll admit it. I fell head over heels for Issac and I could see why Bella had similar feelings. It was just so unfortunate as to how they met and the fact that Issac had to lie to her. He had created a perfectly reasonable scenario and I wished he had come clean earlier to her but he seemed to dig himself into such a deep hole that it was difficult to get out of it. Bella wears her heart on her sleeve. She is honest and open and I could see why she was really hurt when the truth comes to light. Yet the intensity between the pair when they are at the cottage only gets stronger and stronger throughout the story that you know something will have to give.

There is such a connection between the pair it was oozing from the pages. It all felt so real and you could only wish that you would experience the same in life at one point or other. Given that Bella was so deeply hurt in her past, and now has little or no friends bar her family, and the scars of her past are still clearly visible you wonder whether she can let herself go and open herself up to such a deep what could be lasting love? This must have been really hard to even attempt and the reader can see there is always that niggle growing ever more persistent at the back of her heart and in her mind saying don't let yourself get hurt again, you're better off the way you are. Surely allowing love in is much better than the situation Bella finds herself in when we first meet her?

Spring at Blueberry Bay was packed full of humour as well as plenty of steamy, intense scenes. Don't get me wrong this wasn't overdone or could be likened to some of those books you see with covers of topless men. That's a whole other genre. These intense scenes needed to be there and they really did help the reader get a feel for the emotions and situations the characters were going through and in a way resistance was futile. As for the humour I mentioned it's not often I laugh out loud at a book but here I did several times over. Oh poor poor Bella when she goes for the interview a weaker woman may have just given up, sat down on the floor and cried but no she kept going. In a way I was mortified for her but it showed her strength of character and how she really wanted the job.

When Bella gets the job even though things are very complicated I loved how another side of her character came into play demonstrating just how much of a multi layered person she really was. Her ideas for raising money were creative and inspiring. That Pokemon Go type Easter Hunt was ingenious and really someone should jump on it and make it a reality. Towards the end this was used in such an incredible way that it couldn't fail to melt even the most hardened of hearts. I loved how everything began to unfold and how things weren't plain sailing. I was there with Bella every step of the way. I laughed alongside her and yes even shed a tear or two. As for Issac well I think anyone who reads this book will want an Issac in their lives. Why can't he be real and come waltzing into my life one day? His gesture with a dog was easily the most incredibly romantic thing I have ever read. It was so heartfelt and although some may think this was a simple gesture it was so much more than that and my heart melted when he did it. I sincerely wished Bella's fear of love, of letting people or even mixing business with pleasure wouldn't prove to be huge stumbling blocks in the path to find true love and happiness.

There were other characters mentioned and normally I would want more of their story but this was truly the story that belonged to Bella and Issac and so it didn't bother me in the slightest that there wasn't more people featured. The spotlight was placed firmly on a pair that you wished you could be friends with in real life and Holly certainly made me feel as if I knew every little detail of their lives. The characters were warm and lovable and that's the overall feeling I got from this book as well.

Spring at Blueberry Bay was utter perfection from beginning to end. In a genre where we are flooded with books on a daily basis and at times a genre which I think is becoming slightly jaded and the usual love story has been done to death Holly Martin is a breath of fresh air. It takes a lot for me to rave about a love story these days in the chick lit genre as I feel they have become too repetitive and predictable. This wasn't the case with Spring at Blueberry Bay. The author has written with such flair creating the fabulous setting of Hope Island and with characters you truly care about and only want good things for. Holly has that magic writing touch that will want you coming back for more time and time again.

I said Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky was the best Christmas book I have ever read and now Spring at Blueberry Bay is up there as one of my favourite Holly Martin books. It blew me away and I hope my return visit to Hope Island in the summer will do the same all over again.

4.5 stars.

When one of my favourite authors starts a new series I always do a little happy dance – and some shapes were definitely being thrown (people still do that, right?) when Holly Martin announced her latest book.

Spring At Blueberry Bay wastes no time in getting into the story. Within the first few pages we are introduced to the main characters, Bella and Isaac, and I really loved the unique way they met.

With her usual skill, Holly creates believable, likeable characters and a plot that is gripping from the beginning – I couldn’t wait to see how this heartwarming tale panned out.

Here’s the blurb:

Bella has always had a sunny outlook and caring nature, despite recently falling on hard times. When she finds a handsome homeless man on her doorstep, her kind heart tells her she must help him. So, she invites Isaac into her cottage and into her life in ways she could never have imagined…

But Isaac is not what he seems. He’s keeping a huge secret from Bella, yet he never expected to fall for this open, generous and charming woman.

Bella can’t ignore the chemistry between her and Isaac, but she’s had her trust badly broken in her past. Will she run when she learns the truth about Isaac, or will he be the one man who can help Bella believe in love again?

While Bella seems like an open book at first, it becomes clear that there is much more to her than meets the eye and discovering what makes her tick creates some really emotional scenes (tissues at the ready).

Isaac is a perfect hero; handsome, sexy, generous and romantic but with his own flaws, meaning you can still relate to him (and I really related to him).

As always there is an excellent supporting cast, including Bella’s cousins, Eden and Rome, although they are more like her brother and sister, who I really hope are the subjects of future books.

Spring at Blueberry Bay has got the series off to a fabulous start – roll on the next one.

Format: Kindle.
Price: £1.99.
My rating: Four and a half stars.

With many thanks to Bookouture (via NetGalley) for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Down on her luck Bella badly needs a new job and, as if by magic, a tall, handsome stranger walks into her life and turns it around. However, things aren't quite as straightforward as that and fragile Bella sets upon an emotional journey that digs up insecurities from the past. The author keeps us guessing, right up to the last minute, as to whether she can overcome her fears and embrace a brighter future.
A beautiful read that had me cheering for warmhearted Bella. She's the sort of woman anyone would want as a best friend - loyal, honest and funny. Holly Martin skilfully combines poignancy with humour, along with a generous dose of hotness - thanks to one dreamy hero. What a delight to turn on my Kindle and enjoy an evening with kind, sexy, capable Isaac.
A must read for fans of seasides and page-turners. With blueberry in the title, it can only be described as the superfood of beach romances!

I fell in love with this book right from the word go. This is just a hopelessly romantic read and you really do have to suspend any cynicism you have for the duration of this novel, but that is so much fun! I loved meeting these characters and sharing some swoon worthy moments with them.

Bella has been hurt in the past in more ways than one and that made me warmth o her and empathise with her right away. I liked the fact that she was guarded and had learned from events that had previously happened to her. She is also a strong and proud woman with big dreams and ambitions. Although she is in some financial trouble, she doesn't want to ask for help but is more than happy to help others. It was great to read about someone who is ambitious and career-driven and yet can manage to get herself involved in a romantic relationship too.

Isaac is also a proud person and so you can see straight away that this may cause problems if he is involved in a romantic entanglement. He too is big on career and has been hurt by his past. I really warmed to him as a character too and so I had a great time seeing the journey that these two people went on over the course of the book. Bella's family also provide for some interesting story lines and I would really love to hear more about Eden and Rome (Bella's siblings) in the future!

In terms of storyline, Holly Martin throws everything at these characters that she possibly can, there is drama and heartache around every corner and that made this read a real page turner and fast paced. I read this book in two sittings and loved every moment of it. Because the characters are so strong, you find yourself really cheering them on and wanting them to make a success of the situations they are facing.

The setting of this book definitely deserves a mention. I'll be honest that I never really knew where the Scilly Isles were and now I do, I really want to go there. Holly Martin has a knack for describing beautiful coastal settings that make you want to be there smelling that salty air and feeling the spray on your face more than most and this book is no exception. You will fall in love with these characters, you will fall in love with the setting and you will fall hopelessly in love with the romance of it all. This is a must read for summer and if you've not read anything from this author before, this would be an excellent place to start!

Holly Martin is one of my absolute favourite storytellers when I want a book that will leave me with that happy, glowing feeling inside. She is the Queen of the Happy Ever After and when I read the blurb for Spring at Blueberry Bay, I couldn't wait to read it and just a few short hours later, I wasn't disappointed. What I especially love about Holly's books is the worlds that she creates, and even the lives and jobs that she gives her characters. She comes up with these beautiful sounding places that I just want to live in, and gives her characters unique jobs as opposed to just churning out a typical chick lit type novel where our unlucky in love heroine lives in a huge city, falls in love with the nearest hunky man she accidentally trips over and shags her way to a happy ever after. Don't get me wrong the sex and hunk factor in Holly's books is amazing, it's just not the only thing her books have going for them.

I read the blurb for Spring at Blueberry Bay and found out that our main character, Bella, was about to invite a homeless man into her home and that Isaac, said homeless man, was about to change her life in ways she could never imagine. I was quite alarmed that a woman could invite a man into her home so easily, and I wondered where Holly was going to take the story but all is not as it seems and we (view spoiler) It's only a tiny spoiler to reveal that piece of information because it is revealed to the reader right at the start of the story and I felt it could have worked out as more of a shock to the reader had Holly dragged it out for a little bit longer. That said the opening allowed us to see the kind of woman that Bella is, and I found myself instantly endearing myself to her because she was just such a lovely, kind-hearted person that it would be impossible for readers not to like her straightaway. Isaac himself is also a man of mystery, not just to Bella but to the reader also and I enjoyed learning more about him.

I really wanted to just climb into this book and live there because Holly has created not only a fantastic setting but another batch of truly unforgettable characters, not just in Bella and Isaac but in the supporting characters such as her family members Erin and Rome who I just loved. The road to the happy ever after that Holly Martin always delivers is never a smooth one, and that's also the case in Spring at Blueberry Bay. The reader is screaming for the characters to get together, but we know that it will be the closing pages that finally gives us the ending we have been waiting for. Throughout there are some wonderful scenes between the characters, and I absolutely loved how Holly Martin created something akin to Pokemon Go (I was addicted months ago but the craze has long passed me now) and used that in helping one of the characters create a truly amazing grand gesture. Holly's books are just perfect for escaping into and in the past they have really helped me through some difficult times. She is an author I know I can always rely on to deliver and some of her love stories have been some of my absolute favourites of the last few years. How she manages to do it time and time again I have no idea, I just know that we as readers are incredibly lucky that she does. I can't wait for the next book in the Blueberry Bay series and to meet these characters again.

Bella is a sweet, loving person who befriends a homeless man, Isaac. Little does she know that he is not who he seems to be as she falls under his spell. This story is full of warm, endearing feeling that will make you smile and wish that you could read forever. I recommend this book for lovers of contemporary romance.

Spring at Blueberry Bay by Holly Martin is now available from Bookouture. An egalley of this book is made available in exchange for a honest review.

What a wonderful romance book. I was pulled into the story immediately. This book has a great plot with love able and down to earth characters. I highly recommend it.

Have you ever fallen so deeply in love that you cannot see anything else around you? Have you ever fallen so deeply in love that your thoughts are completely occupied by them, and not even the prospect of chocolate will be able to turn your thoughts elsewhere?

Me too -daydreams-.
Ahem!
What? You want more information?
Er, yes.
Okay. Fine.
Which man did you fall in love with?
With a man? Don't be so stupid!
Errrr, did you fall in love with yourself?
No!!!!!! OH MY GOD, I cannot keep it to myself any longer...I fell head over heels in love with.....

THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not even joking! It's not the sort of thing you joke about, I mean, the book has taken my heart and has occupied my thoughts since I finished it! (Which reminds me Holly M, next book please kthx!). I also found myself a new book boyfriend although judging by the comments on social media at the moment, it's looking like I'm going to be joining the huge queue! He seems to be a rather popular fellow and it's no wonder really as he managed to get me RATHER hot under the collar once or twice.

Ha, ha, ha oh who am I kidding, more than once and I'm not embarrassed to admit that either! I also decided that Issac is 'The One' so his personality characteristics will be shown to prospective boyfriends. Gone are the days of swiping left and right on Tinder or poking someone on Facebook; instead the new thing is to shove a character in front of the person and be like 'OI, if you aren't a replica of this character then it's a big, fat NUH'.

The main female lead in the storyline is called Bella. She has had such a difficult upbringing and has unfortunately found herself merely surviving, as opposed to living her life to the full. When a homeless man gets comfortable on Bella's doorstep, the storyline then introduces the male lead, Issac. Despite Bella's circumstances her heart still remains selfless, and other people's needs are put higher on her list of priorities instead of her own. Now, there is a lot more to Bella's and Issac's situation that meets the eye, yet that seemed unimportant at first due to the firecracker chemistry between the two strangers.

What an incredible storyline though! Not only does the book contain two people who are fiercely attracted to each other with chemistry and sexual frustration that just jumps off the page and find its way to us readers, it also contains heart ache of a completely different nature which really made me think. As the storyline unfolded and Bella's past became even more clear, I wondered how on Earth she has managed to stay so strong and be able to live her life with those thoughts in her head. I can't even begin to imagine how Bella must have felt but Holly Martin certainly did a fantastic job of conveying Bella's feelings and emotions into the storyline. I must admit that it really did blow me away.

I've already mentioned that the book contained scenes of a sexual and flirtatious nature -fans self-, and thought-provoking circumstances, yet the entire storyline seemed to constantly blossom in ways I can't even describe. At one point my eyes were welling up at the sheer beauty of certain events.

If Holly Martin bottled the beautiful, poignant, raw, flirtatious and loving feelings which oozed from her book, she would make an absolute fortune. I wish I could fully explain just how beautiful the storyline was to read, and just how much it too my breath away. I honestly felt as though I was transported to Blueberry Bay itself, and you know what? I would have given anything to be able to stay alongside such humbling and diverse characters in such a wonderful setting.

I cannot recommend this book enough, truly. You really will be missing out on something unforgettable if you do not grab yourself a copy.

Spring at Blueberry Bay is a book EVERYONE needs to read and lose themselves in. Full of three-dimensional characters with such more-ish personalities, scenarios to keep you fulfilled in every single way (phwoar), and multiple emotional moments to keep your heart full and your soul loved.

A truly majestic and unputdownable book from the unbelievably talented, Holly Martin. Not only is this my most favourite book of hers to date, it has also become one of my most favourite books ever. I loved it.

Thank you Bookouture and Holly.

Another fantastic book from Holly Martin!

I must say I have yet to read anything from her that I haven’t enjoyed. A lovely romance story, the perfect beach read. I must say I have fallen for Isaac!

This is such a feel good and fun story that I would recommend it to anyone looking for romance!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Bella is kind of a great modern Pollyana, she is naive, sweet and loves to work in charity. She is in need of charity now, for she has lost her job in the worst possible way and has been embroiled in gossip and prejudice in the same way she has been when as a child and was abandoned by her parents in her aunt's house. All of this shook her belief in love. She still has a family that wants to protect her at all costs and does not want to leave them worried, casting her hope in a new job interview.

Isaac is a handsome, gentle and polite guy who comes out of nowhere at the door of Bella's house asking for help and is surprised to find so much candor and affection in one person .

What promotes the involvement of the two is very interesting and is what made me stuck to know how the facts would unfold throughout history, as both Bella and Isaac have serious problems of trust in people in its own way.

A book about the discovery of love, about how to fight for it and how to give it a chance to sprout in the heart.

Narrated in the third person alternating the point of view of each protagonist and with a light, pleasant, engaging and funny writing, I plunged my head into the lives of these characters so complex and suffered and I found myself wringing each page read so that the end was exactly as I imagined ....... but it was not ..... it was much better. One of the best epilogue I read this year, extremely creative, lyrical and full of symbolism.

In addition to this, I can not forget talking about the dogs who steal the scenes at various times along with the brother and sister of Bella and this extremely attractive and cheerful cover that reflects well the atmosphere that surrounds the characters.


Highly recommended
5 /5 stars

Kisses, Myl

Another stunning book from Holly Martin, one of my favourite writers for romantic fiction.
This book follows Bella, a kind but solitary woman who's life is about to be changed indefinitely as she helps a stranger, embarks on a new job, and ultimately a second chance in life.
As with all of Holly's books the background setting is key to creating the ambience of the book with stunningly real depictions and it's own atmosphere that sets everything else; this time the setting is a remote island with it's wild solitary existence but equally close-knit community it reflects the tone of the characters within the book. Holly, like Isaac, is a beautiful person but with a close circle of trust and quite a few secrets; this story charts the emotional journey these characters take to try to make a better future for themselves and deal with their pasts.
Guaranteed to make you love, laugh and soul search, and hopefully they'll be much more from Hope Island in future books.

I loved the visit to Hope Island in this book! The descriptions made me feel like I was there. I loved Bella and Isaac. They fit together perfectly. Even though he was a bit deceptive when they first met, you understand why he did it. And while Bella has almost nothing, she would give him everything. So happy they get their happy ending and Bella learns some things about her family that allow her to be happy.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

If I could get away with simply putting "Holly Martin is bloody marvellous" as a review, then I would - but I don't think that will cut it, haha!

Holly has a wonderful knack of engaging the reader from the opening chapter, giving locations that are picture perfect and characters you instantly love.

I'm positive that Holly's writing and story lines keep getting better and better too - grabbing yourself a copy of Spring at Blueberry Bay will certainly leave you wanting more and is one that definately doesn't disapoint!

Spring at Blueberry Bay is the new book in Holly's latest series about three siblings, and this one is the turn of Bella who has always believed she is unloveable due to her childhood and has therefore built up walls of steel around her heart, so the last thing she expects is to have an instant attraction with Issac.

Issac comes into the story immediately, only doesn't make his real identity known until Bella arrives at his company for a job interview.
Landing the role as Events Manager at Issac's company, he and Bella try to keep a professional relationship but there are lots of heated moments as they start to fall for each other.

Spring at Blueberry Bay has some hilarious, laugh out laugh moments - one of my favourites being the telephone conference - but there were lots of tender and more serious moments, with ups and downs giving a great page turning balance to the book. Ultimately it is a truly romantic story that you can't help but grin at as your reading!

As I find with a lot of Holly's books, the supporting characters played key roles, the bond between Bella and her siblings Eden and Rome was just lovely - I'm very much looking forward to their stories in the coming months.

Spring at Blueberry Bay is gloriously romantic - escapism at its best!

Holly Martin books are always a breath of fresh air, and this was no exception! Although the story seems a bit implausible at times, I didn't care. It's fun, it's light, and it's perfect to curl up with on a rainy day! It definitely sets itself up for another episode, and I'm looking forward to following Eden on her journey...as that's where the second book seems to head.

Bella lives on Hope Island, she is struggling with her life, she has no job, no money and she is existing on a bowl of porridge each night. Outside her house she meets a homeless man who she invites in, he tells her his name is Zack and she offers him a bed for the night.

Bella has an interview for a homeless charity, much to her surprise the homeless man is actually the CEO of the charity, although his name is not Zach, it is Isaac. There is a spark between Bella and Isaac but Bella feels that Isaac is untrustworthy because he did not tell her who he really was and she is also dealing with issues from her past. They decide that they like each other enough to give it a chance although Bella does not believe she is lovable and Isaac wants to show her she is loved

This was a great book with plenty of romance, a feisty redhead and an ideal man, although both have issues to overcome. This is the first Holly Martin book I have read and it has everything needed to be a fantastic romantic story. Looking forward to the next one.

The setting of Hope Island is perfect and this is actually one of the things guaranteed with Holly Martin as she has such a gift for not only bringing characters to life but also the places where they live.

Bella and Isaac are pretty perfect and I really enjoyed getting to know their characters. Even though Bella had a pretty horrible start in life she really is a strong and determined person but with a vulnerabilty that is heartbreaking at times. Bella and her family were a delight to get to know and I loved their family dynamic. I can't wait to read their stories too in the rest of the series.

I thought that the chemistry between Isaac and Bella was just perfect it was sizzling, smoldering and steamy at times. Isaac well what can I say it was great to see Bella meet her match and I loved their first meeting it was brilliantly written. It would be hard not to fall under Isaac's spell I pretty much fell for him too!

All of the characters in this story were well written and even through they couldn't keep a secret on Hope Island all the inhabitants were great to get to know too. There were so many funny moments although most of the time it was poor Bella getting herself into some pretty embarassing situations. The message of family, trust, friendship and love is strong within this story and I loved how everything came together. I absolutely flew through this book it captured my attention completely with a perfect combination of laughs, emotion and of course a few sizzling moments along the way too.

A wonderful story that I have no doubt will leave you with a smile!

Thank you to Bookouture & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

To say I loved this story is a huge understatement. I read it in one sitting and honestly could not put it down once I started.

This isn't your usual boy meets girl and falls in love story. Bella is a young woman who has had a hard start in life. She is struggling to make ends meet, yet still finds enough kindness in her heart to invite a homeless man into her home and shares her last meal with him. What she doesn't know, is that Isaac isn't actually homeless. His intentions are good, but perhaps he has gone about them wrong, especially as Bella isn't the type of person who takes kindly to being lied to.

Bella is a lovely character, but she had such a bad start in life that she has put huge barriers up around her heart which will take a force of nature to bring down. Given the not so great start to their friendship, Isaac has to go some to find a way to explain his motives when Bella finds out the truth about him. From that moment on the story kicks up a gear.

I loved reading all the ideas that Bella comes up with, what a creative mind the author has to come up with everything she does. Being a huge fan of the game she uses as the basis for one of Bella's most ambitious ideas, I totally related to that part of the story in particular.

The characters are all very well written, the story flows throughout, and I loved every minute of it.

Huge thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Warning: this book may give you a serious case of “reader's insomnia”.

This said, be ready for a few hours of escapism and entertaining, where you will meet the most wonderful characters and wish you were one of them. What I liked most about this novel is that it is a romance where love between the two main characters is so strong and clear from the very first chapters : meet Cinder-Bella, a few days before she’s due an interview for her dream job, currently unemployed and struggling to make ends meet; she says she doesn’t believe in love after having been abandoned by her own parents as a child but has in fact so much love inside her that it doesn’t go unnoticed by Prince Charming in (temporary) rags, waiting for her at her door.
There are no threats from other men or women, no bad characters, just a gripping plot, full of twists and surprises, houses on fire, lost parents, new-found relatives, the most wonderful setting of the Scilly Isles and love, love, love! Whatever the female character will let you believe, it’s love at first sight.
I don’t know how this wonderful writer had somehow escaped my attention until now, but I will make up for it. Fabulous!

From the first page I loved the wonderful scenery and setting Holly Martin has created another time. Hope Island comes up with another wonderful atmosphere which makes me feel at home immediately.

Bella and Isaac are wonderful characters. I loved how they met and the chemistry between them was absolutely sizzling. It was heart-warming how they two got to know each other better and better. As much as I loved Bella, I loved Isaac more. He would make every girl's heart melt.

The humour in this book was absolutely hilarious. There were several scenes which made me laugh out loud.

Holly Martin's writing style is so enjoyable to read and I love her talent for creating romances which make my heart swoon and make me feel at home.

4.5 stars.

They weren't far off the mark when they said this was "an utterly perfect feel good romantic comedy. Why I've not read Holly Martin before is a mystery as her style is right up my street and, with a fantastic bunch of characters, Spring at Blueberry Bay was a superb introduction to her writing.

"I want you, you want me, so let’s just get this out of the way and then we can get on with just being friends or colleagues again."

What quickly became evident when I picked this us was how down-to-earth, relatable, and loveable the characters of Hope Island are. In Bella's case we have a smart, focussed, stubborn woman who at the same time has a fragility about her. She doesn't believe in love, she believes she's unlovable, but she has the kindest heart imaginable.

"Sometimes bad things happen and it’s nobody’s fault. We all need a little help sometimes and it’s OK to ask for it."

There was nothing not to love about Isaac. His and Bella's first meeting may have been based around a little white-lie, but it was with the best of intentions and from his small thoughtful gestures to the sexy moments when he takes control to those where his more vulnerable side creeps in, he was wonderful. And whilst his and Bella's feelings for one another moved at a fair old rate of knots, it didn't feel rushed or unrealistic.

"...we’re going to believe in wishes and magic and dreams coming true."

This story was what I wanted, what I needed and if you're looking for feel good romance with the perfect blend of humour, intimacy and those little moments of frustration that make each character imperfectly perfect, then Spring at Blueberry Bay is a book to indulge in. And with the wheels set in motion for Bella's siblings, Eden and Rome, Holly Martin has paved the way for future books nicely. I'm now off to one-click her back catalogue.