Well this was a mistake to pick up.

I can't count how many times I face-palmed because of the main character. Are you seriously blind, girl. If I were her I would have dumped the fiance within the first few chapters. And the love story is based on a few meetings of the two main love interest with little to no chemistry.

I did not enjoy this book and do not recommend it for anyone.

Another cozy book by Karen Clarke that follows in the Seashell Cove series. A Very enjoyable storyline.

Thank you to Bookouture for letting me be part of this tour.  I loved Karen's Beachside series and I was excited to dive back into her books. 

This book follows Meg. Meg used to work at the Old Bakery until the owner passed away without a will. His brother isn't interested in it so it's up for sale. Meg has loved baking since she was a little girl and can't imagine being happy doing anything else. I really liked Meg. She was a nice down to earth girl. She's not afraid of a bit of hard work and is passionate about her baking. 

From the moment we met Meg's fiance Sam I hated him. He seemed selfish and unsupportive. He didn't care about what Meg actually wanted at all. Whether it be her career or their wedding. He reminded me of my ex boyfriend in all honesty. 

Now Nathan the dishy estate agent was definitely more to my liking and not only because he has the same name as my boyfriend. Nathan was very supportive of Meg. He encouraged her passion for baking and didn't tell her to get a real job like Sam.

I also loved Meg's friends Cassie and Tilly. They were such loyal and kind hearted people. They were supportive of Meg's decisions and were really there for her in times of need. 

Karen's writing style was excellent. This is the perfect summer time book. It made me feel light and happy. I can't wait to catch up on the other book in the Seashell Cove Series.

Not my cup of tea. Characters seemed a bit week, motivations not defined enough to really care about the bakery or the peoply

This was a very well written and fun book. As soon as I saw the cover I had a feeling it would be a great read and I am happy to say that I wasn't wrong. Meg was a lovely character who was passionate about baking and I loved following her in her story. She had some hard decisions to make at times but the book still had a light and cozy feeling to it. Another author to look out for.

I absolutely loved this return to Seashell Cove- which sounds just the sort of place to spend a nice week by the sea surrounded by tempting cakes and bread for breakfast.
Meg has dreamt of making a success of the bakery that she used to work at before the owner died. She also has a wedding to plan to her childhood sweetheart, Sam. But Sam doesn't seem to be as committed to their relationship as she'd like.

The characters are all wonderful, even those that you'd probably hope to avoid in real life. There are some lovely surprises along the way and we are willing Meg to get her dream fulfilled. The cakes made me feel really hungry and keen to make something hopefully just as delicious this weekend.

Meg has some soul searching to do and some tough decisions to make.

I'm going to get straight to the point here - I absolutely LOVED this book and everything it stood for. Personally, I think that this is Karen Clarke's best book yet as the entire vibe of the storyline was truly magical, written with such warmth and magnetism. It would take a person made of stone to not fall in love with 'The Bakery at Seashell Cove', and I will tell you why!

Meg has been with her fiancé for most of her life. Waking up to him every morning is all she has ever known and, instead of feeling happy about her upcoming wedding, Meg can't help feeling that she will be making the biggest mistake of her life. To be honest, with a family like the one she is about to marry into, it's no wonder she feels the way that she does! They're awful people!! There's one thing being proud of their son's achievements with cycling, but then there is another thing thinking that Sam's faeces don't stink, even when he is in the wrong! I am probably not one to dish out relationship advice seeing as I am single and all that, BUT, I thought that couples were supposed to support their partners in whatever life throws at them, instead of patronising and belittling them at every opportunity? Like I say, I'm not good ol' Jezza Kyle by any means, so I could be wrong! -insert eye roll here-. Why should Meg have to make allowances for Sam whenever he jets off to different countries to ride his bike? Why isn't he supporting his soon to be wife with her bakery dream? Oh. Wait. I know why....it doesn't contain a bike..

So, if you haven't guessed already, but my opinion of Sam, and his family, isn't really a good one. I don't quite get why Meg has stuck with his attitude for as long as she has. I guess a part of me can see why if I really thought about it, what with the way that Sam treats her. Maybe she felt as though she wouldn't be able to cope on her own because that's how he has made her feel over the years, I don't know, but that was the vibe I was getting. 

Watching Meg come alive whenever she was in that bakery was like watching a child step into a toy shop. Her personality shone like nobody's business, with a completely different side popping out to say 'hello' at times, without feeling like she had to pretend to be something she wasn't. The one thing I loved most about Meg was that she refused to let go of her dream, even though people kept telling her to. Her passion for the bakery was infectious - how could anyone not support that?

'The Bakery at Seashell Cove' doesn't just revolve around Meg and her relationship with Sam, in fact it has so much to it, I am in awe at how the author managed to squeeze everything into the storyline! Obviously I won't tell you the other things that it contains, as that would be a spoiler! So, I'm going to tease you and say that there are several really touching moments in this book, and I can guarantee that you'll be sitting there wanting to scoop several characters up and hug them.

This book made me feel the happiest I have felt in a long time. I laughed, I nearly cried, and I felt as though I was on cloud nine due to the wonderful, wonderful characters and enchanting vibe. I truly didn't want the story to end - I wanted to hold on to that happiness for as long as possible, because I knew that as soon as I closed the book I was no longer part of 'The Bakery at Seashell Cove'.

Take this book in your hands and give it the attention it deserves because I cannot think of a better book to settle down with tonight - and I'm not just saying that because it contains cake!

A mesmerising, compelling, and enchanting read that had the recipe for perfection flowing through the entire book. Deliciously enticing with every turn of the page, 'The Bakery at Seashell Cove' is looking to be my top book of June. Simply perfect, I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

Happy Publication Day!What a delicious story. The Bakery at Seashell Cove is bound to get your tummy rumbling, with so much baking and yummy food! I loved reading this story and found myself falling in love with the bakery, the town and the characters!

I loved Meg’s character, bless her. So passionate about baking! She may have a bit of a hectic life at the moment but she’s a positive character who takes everything in her stride… I also liked Nathan’s character too, the perfect man from the sounds of it and the picture i built up in my head! And a little mention for little charlie, he was cute! I must admit I did find Sam’s character a bit arogant and self centred. Hmm. Anyway…

A perfect heart-warming story which I devoured in a day. Brilliant. I felt relaxed and right at home reading it the whole time as if I knew the characters all my life. Lovely. An easy to read, beautiful story with the perfect ending and a cherry on top (see what I did there?)… A well deserved five stars. Highly recommend! A perfect little getaway for your mind. A story I won’t forget in a hurry.

A perfect read for summer 2018.

It's been so lovely to return to Seashell Cove and to meet up with Meg again. She first appeared as one of Cassie's best friends in The Cafe at Seashell Cove but this time she's taking centre stage. I must say, I do love this kind of series in which there is the familiarity of the setting and some of the characters but they can be read as standalone stories.

First of all, don't read this book if you're really hungry. There is description after description of delicious cakes, breads, biscuits - you name it. But it made it the perfect book for me as I love cake!!

The previous book had touched on Meg's relationship with Sam. They'd been together since school and had sort of drifted along over the years. I guess that for each of them, being with the other one was just the most comfortable and easy option. But their relationship lacks that special something and when Meg meets Nathan, the really quite delectable agent tasked with selling the bakery that Meg loves, she realises that maybe she's been settling for Mr Not Quite Right after all.

I loved the fact that there's lots of baking in this book, and all the ups and downs regarding the bakery made for interesting reading too. I so wanted Meg to be able to run the bakery (she'd worked there for the previous owner before he died) and was just hoping that she got a chance to do so. There's loads of family stuff going on for Meg as well and her life was certainly a bit turbulent for a while, after years of bobbing along quite nicely. I thought she was an utterly charming character and I really wanted her to be happy.

I love Karen Clarke's books. They're so easy to read, with engaging characters, heart-warming storylines and gorgeous settings, and she gets the balance just right between serious issues and light-hearted humour. Her books are a joy to read and she's one of those authors whose books I get excited about before I even know anything about them.

Reading The Bakery at Seashell Cove is as pleasurable as tucking into a slice of your favourite cake. In fact why not do both at the same time and hit pleasure overload?! You won't be disappointed.

Karen Clarke is a new author to me but that’s about to change because I loved The Bakery at Seashell Cove and I need to check her other books out. This is a fun easy to read book set in a quaint seaside town, the characters are loveable and this author has a way of making you feel like you are reading about the friends you miss from the seaside town you know so well. Seashell Cove sounds like the perfect place to live and I can’t wait to dig into other books featuring this town and it’s inhabitants for me this was the perfect read to introduce me to a new author. Great job Karen Clarke.

A good and entertaining light read.. I really appreciated the style of writing and summer feeling of the book.
On the other side I found the heroine a bit tiresome and too submissive.
In any case it's a nice read that I recommend.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC

A cute read that was easy to get through. I would recommend this novel to people who enjoy light and fun reading,

4 seashells by the seashore for The Bakery at Seashell Cove!

I am ever grateful to my friend and Traveling Sister, Melisa, who told me about Karen Clarke’s books. They are pure fun, and The Bakery at Seashell Cove is no exception!

Where The Cafe at Seashell Cove was Cassie’s story, The Bakery at Seashell Cove is Cassie’s friend, Meg’s, story.

Also taking place in picturesque Seashell Cove, Meg Larson has it all. She is a baker, and she is about to marry her high school sweetheart, Sam.

But it all goes off-kilter when the bakery is up for sale, and Sam becomes distant. And obsessed. Completely obsessed with cycling! (My husband had his own obsession with cycling, but I digress! Lol)

Will Meg follow in Cassie’s shoes and have her own happily-ever-after?

If you are fan of brisk, fun, beachy reads with cute characters, a cozy setting, and British humor, give Karen Clarke a try. I am most definitely a fan and cannot wait to see whose story she explores next at Seashell Cove!

Thank you to Karen Clarke, Bookouture, and Netgalley for the ARC. The Bakery at Seashell Cove will be released on June 8, 2018.

It is only a mere few days since I was in Seashell Cove and was getting to know Cassie and how she was trying to make her mark on her parents cafe.

This time back in Seashell Cove we are with one of Cassie's friends who we were introduced to previously, Meg. Meg is a baker and bakes the cakes for the cafe and very popular they are too.

Trouble is the bakery where Meg works is being sold so she is feeling a little vulnerable especially as her fiance Sam is more interested in bikes and racing than he is in Meg. But childhood sweethearts can overcome anything if they are meant to be together.

Whilst Sam is away riding, Meg receives some rather shocking news about her family's past and what is exactly going on with her mother in the present. Turning to Sam seems the obvious answer but he is not being very forthcoming. Meg is starting to worry. To add to the worry of who will buy the bakery.

Nathan comes across Meg in the bakery when he is there to sell the place and show round potential buyers. Meg is not keen on it being sold and not remaining a bakery but vows to silently bake until she can't anymore. Nathan seems quite keen for the bakery to remain and when a secret buyer is found and Meg finally gets her dream she suddenly can see what life might be like if you perhaps choose different ingredients.

This is another great read from Karen Clarke. I was transported to the warmth of the ovens in the bakery, the dusting of flour over everything made the relationships sparkle. And I positively wanted to scream at Sam. Somehow it all works but it gives you enough to care about the characters and loathe them in equal measure as well as superb settings and great plot lines.

I am wondering where we are going to go next with Karen Clarke.

Meg Larson has the job of her dreams, working in the local bakery, and making and selling her amazing cakes. She's about to marry her high-school sweetheart, Sam, and lives in a beautiful home.. However, she finds the balance of her life completely thrown off when her boss suddenly dies, and the bakery goes up for sale. Meanwhile, all is not so wonderful with her relationship with Sam - whose focus is primarily on his cycling. Seeing cozy pictures of Sam with a female cyclist completely throws her.

Meanwhile, real estate Nathan Walsh wants to see her dream of continuing on in the bakery fulfilled. However, the previous owner's brother plans on selling the building, no matter what the future plans the new owners may have. It is patently obvious that, while the business side of Nathan should take precedence, that there is something deeper going on with him with regard to Meg.

This is an enjoyable, light-hearted romance. Family is very important to Meg, so her being so drawn to Nathan comes completely unexpected. Despite her goals, and her troubles, she can't help how she feels about him. So the growth of her relationship with Nathan barely takes off in this book. It is more of a friendship, with a pleasant ending, making this simply a sweet story. This is the second book in the Seashell Cove series by Karen Clarke.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Date of publication: June 8, 2018

The Bakery at Seashell Cove is a light story of personal growth and discovering just what you want out of life now, as an adult may be very different from the dreams of youth. This is an engaging story, the author has an effortless writing style, and there are a few funny moments. Almost from the beginning, we learn that Sam is a self-absorbed jerk and that Meg really needs to get rid of him. Nathan is the alternative love interest and seems like the much better choice.

I very much enjoyed this story, my only criticism is the supposed love story between Meg and Nathan. It really didn’t happen. The sum of their interaction is a few conversations and a couple of stolen kisses. That’s it, and then suddenly they are in love. I would have liked to see an actual relationship develop between them during the story, or have Nathan as the potential love interest that Meg moves on to after ditching the dastardly Sam and his critical family. Instead, the love declaration comes across as shallow and leaves a bit of a superficial taste to what could have been just a story about Meg finding her feet and deciding what she really wants from life.

Regardless, this story was enjoyable. It had a few funny moments and quite a few times where I would have loved to be able to tell Sam and his family where to go! The romance element was sweet, I just think it was taken too far, way too fast. But it was only a very small element of this book, and overall it was a lovely light read.

This is the second book and focuses on the friend Meg Larson who was helped Cassie(the first person introduced in the series) get the feel of her hometown in the previous book. She was (and is) a mild-mannered person intent on pleasing people around her. She is engaged to be married when the book begins but things are not rosy. She has evolved her goals and things she wants to do and no one seems to understand her. Well, almost no one.Meg has a lot of things to contend with during the tale. Everyone has an opinion and some maybe welcome but on the whole it seems to overload her system. I like this book because the individual relationships between people is very different and each have their own time in the limelight.The only problem I had with the story was that it all seemed a little rushed. Not the time in which all the events take place but the constant movement from one event to the next. But the 'feel' of the tale won me over in the end. If you are looking to relax and read a book that you can indulge in and expect to feel involved in the character's lives, this is surely a book for you.

A lighthearted, fun and easy read. Set in a quaint seaside town, full of colourful characters and some wonderful baking descriptions that make your mouth water. The plot was predictable and I did find Meg a bit of a doormat but overall enjoyable.

Absolutely Delicious!

I read The Cafe at Seashell Cove a few months ago, so reading this book felt like I was catching up with old friends.

Meg Larson is passionate about baking and about finding a buyer for The Old Bakery now the previous owner has passed away. In contrast, her relationship with her long-term boyfriend Sam seems to be lacking any passion whatsoever. His interest in Meg is far less than his interest in cycling, so it is a good job she has her close friends Tilly and Cassie to speak to. When Nathan - the good looking Estate Agent for The Old Bakery - starts to visit Meg more frequently than is professionally necessary, things start to get interesting for Meg....

I read this book in two days because I was on holiday from work and couldn't put it down. The descriptions of Seashell Cove and of Meg's cakes were absolutely delicious and the characters were wonderful - particularly some of the minor characters such as Meg's Mother's neighbour Kath. I found myself rooting for Meg and - without giving anything away - urging her to make a move.

I really hope there will be a third book in this series because now I want to find out about Tilly!

Loved this book!! The cover is what first caught my eye. It was a fun read and I felt like I was in the bakery working next to Meg. I loved the character of Meg and wanted to be her friend, especially when no one(her fiance, mother, soon to be mother-in-law) was being supportive of her bakery dream.

The bakery where Meg worked is up for sale. She still uses it to make some cakes for the cafe where she currently works. Meg wishes someone would buy the bakery and put her in charge. From the start I didn't like Sam. His family is just as bad. Sam's mom, Bevereley, blames Meg for everything and is "helping" with the wedding plans. Who would want an owl as a ring bearer, especially if you are deathly afraid of birds? The "slutty" wedding dress, which Beverley insisted was exactly Meg, was awful. Especially when Meg described the model looking like Porno Barbie. Besides her friends, no one seemed to support Meg and her passion for baking. Sam is too concerned with his cycling club and Meg's mom wants grand-babies. Then she meets Nathan. Meg gets featured on Britain's Hidden Gems' and everything changes.

From the start I figured out the identity of the anonymous donor. I enjoyed Gwen and her one-eyed tomcat. The stuff that came out of her mouth was quite hilarious. She had a rough exterior but she loved that kitty. Meg's two best friends Cassie and Tilly were always there for her. I need to read The Cafe at Seashell Cove to get Cassie's story!!!

I definitely recommend the book and can't wait to read more books by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Karen Clarke, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.