Cover Image: Summer on the Little Cornish Isles: The Starfish Studio

Summer on the Little Cornish Isles: The Starfish Studio

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Member Reviews

Loved, loved, loved this book. I got lost in the story and enjoyed it so much. The characters in the book are every day people...and I enjoyed the book immensely. I would encourage you to read this. Phillipa Ashley has a way about her writing.

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My reading adventures on the Little Cornish Isles have been a little hit and miss. I liked spending Christmas at the Driftwood Inn (Book 1), but the less said about my views on the Flower Farm (Book 2) the better. Because of that I was a little wary about returning, but I’m so glad I did. This was a definite hit for me, in fact it’s my favourite of the series by far.

I loved reading about how Poppy picks her life back up and transforms the neglected Starfish Studio into a potential success. She’s a great character, a pretty ordinary woman who was chugging along with life until her partner got a wild idea. I loved that when it all fell apart, she still kept going, because she wanted to prove that she could do it, even if it hadn’t been her dream in the first place. True, I would have liked to have seen her explore her creative side a bit more, but with everything else going on, she didn’t really have time.

I liked Jake a lot too. He really has been through the wringer, even more than Poppy, but it was great seeing him slowly recover and begin to love the isles again. They make a really good team and I loved how he supported Poppy without ever stepping on her toes.

The romance is a slow-grower with occasional lurches that almost come out of nowhere. But it works, because the rest of the book is full of warmth and charm and character, with lots of little stories involving the side-characters to keep everything interesting and engaging. I think this one is my favourite because it really captured the essence of island life and coping together in a small community. It definitely left me wanting to pack my bags and explore for myself.

So if you’re looking for a summery relaxing read with warmth and heart and a slow-burning romance, then this might just be the book for you.

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A lovely and enjoyable book, perfect for lazy summer afternoon. It moves and makes you laugh.
I loved the characters and the fantastic setting. And the cat was great.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for this ARC

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Love Philippa Ashley books and this one didn’t disappoint. Read it very quickly and finished in record time! Wonderful to dip into previous characters from the other books. Just wish I could be there!

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This lovely story, set on the Little Cornish Isles of Scilly, is what good chick lit is all about - betrayal, romance, humour, friendship, community spirit, and a new business venture thrown in too. Phillipa Ashley has written some interesting characters, everyone has their little quirks, even down to the cat and the dog.

I loved the development of Poppy and Jake’s personalities. You get to know Poppy’s past pretty quickly but many secrets evolve throughout the book all the way to the end. Each chapter finishes in a way that you just have to keep reading. This is definitely a “one more chapter” book, so perfect for a holiday read where you have no distractions.

There are two previous books in this series, but this can be read as a stand-alone. Yep, that’s more being added to my “to be read pile” then! Definitely an author to check out more.

I’d like to thank Phillipa Ashley, Avon Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my independent opinion. I really enjoyed it and I'm happy to share it with you as part of my Recommended Reads on my blog https://teaandcakeforthesoul.wordpress.com/

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Another unmissable tale in the Cornish Isles series. A gentle romance between two troubled characters. Add a crazy cat into the mix and you have got a great summer read.

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If you are a fan of Britain based books, this is the ultimate summer beach read. I had never even heard of the Little Cornish Isles before I read this book, and now, I want to live there. Phillipa Ashley does such a beautiful job of describing the area, it sounds like the perfect locale. Who wouldn’t want to run away from real life and start a new one on a tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean? Sign me up.

Poppy McGregor is a 30-something on vacation with her significant other, Dan, on the island of St Piran (which according to the author’s note is a product of her imagination.) They stumble upon The Starfish Studio. Dan is not amused to think that Poppy will be bringing home more local trinkets, but surprisingly, once inside the studio, he is transfixed. On a whim, Dan suggests that he and Poppy give up their jobs and their lives in Staffordshire and move to an island. Poppy is shocked, but is willing to give the idea a thought.

Pop forward three years and life has absolutely changed for Poppy and Dan. Ashley gives us a story that is a page turner. A light romance that has its twists and turns, ups and downs. The local people of St Pirans are quite the characters, from Kelly the handy-woman to Minty the artist. You’ll find people to love and people to loathe in this story. I admire the pluck of Poppy. She’s a cookie who just needed a little shove to find her toughness.

As I said, this is a fabulous beach read. What could be better than hanging out by the waves while reading about an island? I’ve got to say that if St Piran were real, I’d be making plans to vacation there. What I didn’t know was that this book was part of a series. You can bet I’ll be reading the other two now.

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I loved all the characters in this book. The two main characters; Jake, who is mourning a lost love, and Poppy, who is running from her disastrous past and is wanting to be independent. Both come together in order to help Poppy when the studio she has rented is found worse for wear.

Fen, one of the secondary characters, and Archie, Jake's grandfather have background stories, entwined with Jake and Poppy's, along with Leo, the island's feline inhabitant. Leo's role is comical at times and he definitely has everyone around his little paw!

Such a lovely story, easy to read, relaxing on a summer's day!

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Ah how lovely to be transported back to the Little Cornish Isles in this 3rd book about these fictitious members of the Scilly Isles. I have also read the preceding two books in this series, and have not failed to be enchanted by both story and setting. It is not necessary to have read the other books to follow what is going on in this one, but I'm sure I am not alone in looking forward to meeting some familiar faces in a story, and there were quite a few in this book.

The action in this case takes place on the island of St Piran's. Elderly artist, Archie, has had a nasty accident, leading him to give up running the Starfish Studio, where he paints and sells his own and other artists' work. In spite of lacking relevant experience, Poppy and boyfriend Dan decide to give up their jobs and take on the studio's lease. However, poor Poppy is dumped at the last minute, but decides to go through with the plans for the move on her own. The studio is a bit run down, but Poppy soon discovers what it is like to be living in a small community where everyone looks after everyone else. Her new neighbours, in particular Archie's grandson Jake, join her in trying to make a success of her new business. Poppy is hoping that all the activity and her new environment will help her get over her disappointment in losing Dan.

I have really enjoyed Phillipa Ashley's stories about the Little Cornish Isles. They are full of interesting and engaging characters and Phillipa's skilful way of writing grabs you and transports you to these marvellous sounding islands. However, it does sound as if you need fairly good sea legs or enjoy travelling in a helicopter or small aircraft to visit. I really admired the character of Poppy in this story. Her determination to make a go of things and stay positive was admirable in the extreme. Of course, you had to like handsome Jake, with his tanned body and glamorous tales of travelling all over the world in his job as wildlife photographer. In addition, it would be wrong not to mention Leo, the large ginger cat who acts like cats do, getting into mischief and adding a bit of humour to the proceedings from time to time.

In summary, I can heartily recommend this and the other Little Cornish Isles stories; they might just have you revising your holiday plans and heading to the Scilly Isles.

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Summer on the Little Cornish Isles by Phillipa Ashley is fabulous!
I enjoyed it so much I literally could not put down, You are pulled in into the magnificent setting of Cornish Isles, its beautiful beaches and azure sea as well as intriguing locals.
When Pippa's long standing boyfriend announces that he is leaving her for his boss lady, she decides to go ahead and move to the Isles as planned. There, she is to become new owner of the little local gallery.. However things do not go according to plan.
Not with the gallery, not with the old owner, not with plans in general.
I delighted and despaired reading about Pippa's adventrues and the new life she emarked on. Full of promise, new beginnings and second chances for love.
Delightful story just perfect for the summer showing us that anything is possible. Easy to read, nicely paced with many funny moments, it's an absolute gem.

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Well, I guess it had to happen. We're at the 3rd nook of Phillipa Ashley's 'Cornish Isles' trilogy, and this reader (for one) doesn't know what he's going to do? I won't follow my first inclination to track down the author and 'persuade' her to write another...please?

As has been the case with the other two books in this trilogy, the focus is on a stranger to the isles who has troubles to get over and a part of those is to fall in love with the Scilly Isles. Here, we are introduced to Poppy who has been let down by her boyfriend when they were both supposed to be taking over an art studio and she's left to make the best of things by herself.

Suffice to say, the author populates her story with wonderful characters each with their own quirks and agendas. Characters from the other two books in the series make their appearances and always leave me wishing I could find out more. Hugo for one deserves his story to be told...Ms Author?

Want to know more of the story? Go read someone elses review, you won't get that from me. I shall leave you with my urging you to buy this book. You don't need to have read the first two, though you may wonder who some of the characters are if you haven't, it won't spoil your enjoyment of this wonderful novel.

Thank you Ms Ashley.

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Poor Poppy! She's put a lot into the plan to move to the Isle of Scilly and run an art studio and then.....her boyfriend dumps her and the art galley turns out to be, well, almost a dump. But wait- there's Jake, who's got sadness in his past but who feels a spark- the first one in a long time- when he meets Poppy. I'm a sucker for novels set in Cornwall and this is no exception. This is classic chick lit so you know how things will turn out (maybe..) but it's a wholly enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

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Thanks to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for review.
I loved this book from the very first page.
This book makes you feel good and makes you believe in happy ever after, after all.
Only took me one day to read because it was just that good.

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What a fun book, that is a perfect summer read. When Poppy and her crabby boyfriend Dan visit the Cornish Isles on vacation they decide to look for a way to stay. Three years later, and minus crabby Dan, Poppy shows up to take over the art consignment store, the Starfish Studio, which had been the store of Jake's grandfather, the painter. Lots of fun characters and a great story of two people overcoming their past. I really enjoyed this one, and had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommend this book and author.

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A cute, light romantic comedy perfect for summer, particularly for those of us a little fascinated by Britain. It's got the small island town that you visit for vacation and imagine how perfectly idyll it would be to actually live there, but then go back to your regular life. Here the main character takes that plunge, for better or worse. While this doesn't break any new ground, it's the kind of book you want to read by the pool/beach. I didn't realize there's a whole Cornish Isles series, but I'd be willing to check out some of the others.

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This was a lovely cozy read. I liked this one better than the previous book Spring on the Cornish Isles. Mostly because Poppy was a much better lead character.

Loved reading about the island life, the studio, and all of the local characters.

Overall a quick and cozy read.

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Great read, continuning a great series of books.

The story centres of Poppy, who makes the move to the island on her own after being so badly let down by her boyfriend Dan whose idea it was to move in the first place. When she gets to the island she meets Jake, who she remembers from her first visit years ago - they are both such likeable chracters you really hope everything works out for them.

Well written with some surprises along the way. Hoping there will be more books in this series!

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I absolutely LOVED this book. I enjoyed the first two in this series, but this one trumps them both. It's just so lovely and so heartwarming that I struggled to put it down! First of all, the cover is absolutely beautiful and I love the bright colours and the pretty flowers dotted all around. It makes me want to move there straight away.

The overall story was really interesting as well. I loved the character of Poppy, she was so relatable and I really felt for her when she decided to move down to the island regardless of what was going on in her life. Having decided to move down to the island was a big step anyway, but now she has to do it on her own must have been even tougher! Another character which I really felt for was Jake. I really felt sad and emotional at what he had been through. The location of the story was stunning. I loved the beach, the harbour, and I especially loved reading about the gallery - it just sounded so summery and lovely!

There are twists and turns throughout this novel and all of them will leave you hooked. It was such a lovely read that I'm sad it's over! Throughout the whole book I was rooting for Poppy and Jake and just hoping that they could let go of their hurtful and painful pasts and be happy together. They seemed so happy when they were in each others company - that I was sad when it seemed like it was ending when Jake went to a photography shoot and Poppy's ex, Dan, showed up!

Overall, another amazing novel by the talented Phillipa Ashley. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly. I've really enjoyed reading this series, I'm not sure if there are going to be anymore but I will definitely be reading them if there are! Now I just have to go and read some more by Phillipa Ashley...

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We all have those authors we stalk on Twitter! The ones we squee when they post a coming soon or new book cover...Phillipa Ashley is 3rd on my list! I love her books and this one did not disappoint...solid Chick Lit...fun, happy, not too serious :c)

Grab a cup of coffee and your dog and curl-up with this one :c)

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I have enjoyed the first two books in this series but this last book is the best by far just couldn't put it down and so heartwarming and shows how one summer can change everything. The characters are excellent and the story plot gas you wanting to go and visit the isle of scilly a great feel good book. So many twist and turns and romances and you can totally excape when reading it as simply brilliant loved it so much and worth more than the five stars I have it.
Poppy and her boyfriend have always loved Cornwall and when Dan her boyfriends suggest giving up their jobs and moving to the starfish studio on the isle of scilly and poppy doesn't need telling twice she really can't wait. When it comes to moving Dan just can't do it and tells poppy she's been having an affair with his boss and will not be going with her. She still goes but gets a big shock when she sees the state of the starfish studio as its been neglected for some time. Jake gets a phone call from his mum saying can he go to the isle of scilly and meet the people taking over his grandfathers studio as the grandfather had been taken ill. When jake and poppy first meet they can both feel things but have both had hard pasts as jake lost his wife on the isles and can he move forward and stay on the isles. He helps poppy get the studio up and running as he feels sorry it's been left in a mess and there defiantly is something between them but can they both admit it or not. Can poppy make a go of the studio and move forward from Dan but what happens when he turns up saying he still loves her and made a mistake what does poppy think and has Jake left it to late to admit his feelings.
So many twist and turns but can the isles make people admit their feels and move forward and be happy or not. Loved the book didn't want it to end.

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