"The first in a gorgeous new series from the author of Summer at the Cornish Cafe.

Summer is on the horizon, and the people of Porthmellow are eagerly awaiting the annual food festival. At least, most of them are...

For Sam Lovell, organising the summer festival in her hometown is one of the highlights of her year. It’s not always smooth sailing, but she loves to see Porthmellow’s harbour packed with happy visitors, and being on the committee has provided a much-needed distraction from the drama in her family life (and the distinct lack of it in her love life).

When their star guest pulls out with only a few weeks to go, everyone’s delighted when a London chef who grew up locally steps in at the last minute. But Gabe Matthias is the last person Sam was expecting to see, and his return to Porthmellow will change her quiet coastal life for ever.

Curl up with this gorgeous novel and savour the world of Porthmellow Harbour."

More Cornwall! With a little Doc Martin small town vibe.

Reading this book made me want to visit Cornwall and eat Cornish pasties! A vibrant festival in a Cornish village is the setting for slow burning romance and the righting of some past misunderstandings. A satisfying ending and an enjoyable read. Cosy chick lit from a fave author!

Phillipa Ashley’s books never fail to entertain and this is no exception. A lovely setting with lovely characters and a good storyline. An excellent read. Phillipa has the gift of writing in such a way that the reader almost feels part of the story with the characters personally known. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The story is set in Cornwall, a place I have never been to, but heard about the beauty of it many times. The characters are really loveable who you can relate to. Nearly all of them have their own issues and secrets that later came to light. So the plot is made up of mini-plots that deal with the stories of the characters. Certainly there is a happy ending all around. I can recommend this book to everyone who likes a good romance.

How nice to be taken back to Cornwall in Phillipa Ashley’s latest novel. I have enjoyed reading many of her previous books set in this county, and was looking forward to discovering what events were about to unfold in this new tale. I found once again a story that, once started, was difficult to put down.

The book is set in the little Cornish seaside town of Porthmellow, where the annual food festival is just around the corner. The festival was dreamed up 10 years previously by Sam Lovell and friends who were looking for a way to reverse the fortunes of their failing town. Fortunately, the festival has gone from strength to strength and Sam looks forward to organising it every year, despite simultaneously running a busy catering business and looking after her younger sister. However, this year the star attraction, a renowned chef, has pulled out at the last minute. Fortunately, one of Sam’s team, Chloe, has found a replacement in Gabe Matthias, once a Porthmellow resident and now a famous chef based in London. However, Chloe has no idea that the return of this man is Sam’s worst nightmare, his departure years before having followed an event that spelled disaster and misery for Sam, her sister Zennor and brother Ryan.

As I expected, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and its characters; I was pulled into the story, and couldn’t predict how it was going to end. Sam is a very likeable and determined young woman, who has brought up her younger sister while building up a successful business and worrying about the fate of her brother, who she hasn’t seen for many years. It is also to her credit that the town’s food festival has become such a popular event, attracting visitors and exhibitors from a wide area. I thought it a shame that she has held a grudge against Gabe Matthias for many years over an admittedly serious event without apparently knowing all the details. The full details of what happened are hidden also from the reader until late in the story; until then, we are just given hints. In addition to the central story of Sam and Gabe, there are serious situations for other major characters, adding to the enjoyment of the book as a whole. I can recommend this book for anyone who would enjoy a bit of drama and romance in a beautiful setting; a perfect holiday read.

This book was beautiful - one of truth and lies. The location was that of holidays for some and home for others and loved the way that this came together. The past coming into the present was tough and the relationships involved were described as if talking about your friends.

My only negative about this book was that it built up the festival to a high and it came right at the end without much of it actually being mentioned.

I love Ashley’s Little Cornish Isle series, so this one was a no-brainer. And I’m really glad I grabbed it. A small coastal village full of characters as the build up to their annual food festival challenges residents and volunteers alike with preparation, weather, publicity and life. Samphire Lovell has a mobile truck from which she sells handmade pies at various festivals and events throughout the countryside. A business she started after the death of her mother, as she was struggling to keep her family fed and together after the death of her mother. An income stream that became even more important when her brother was arrested and jailed after a robbery, and she found herself without brother or boyfriend. But, that was eleven years ago and her sister Zennor has grown up and started a graphics design business with her best friend Ben. All is now focused on the run-up to the festival – their biggest ever and making sure everything goes off without a hitch. Sam, as the organizer has found Chloe – a recent blow in to town, with experience in event organization as her second in command – and al things are moving smoothly toward the big event in a few weeks.

And then their headline chef becomes suddenly unavailable due to his own bad behavior, and that leaves a big hole in the programme – and when you add in Sam’s worries about her own pie business, local complaints about traffic disruptions and noise during the festival and what seems to be a concerted negative campaign against the festival on the facebook page, Sam’s more than a bit worried. She didn’t know worry though until Chloe, doing her job and rounding up another ‘big’ chef’ gets a commitment from Gabe – Sam’s ex and former town resident now major London chef – things heat up for Sam – not in a good way. Can she and Gabe (more she than he) actually work “together’ politely and professionally after all this time and anger? And just how much more can go ‘wrong’ with the festival – weather appears to be a concern with very un-June-like winds that threaten the ‘show tent’ and could prevent festival visitors, someone splashing Sam’s van with red paint, pulling down signs and more negative traffic on facebook don’t hold a candle to Sam’s own mixed up thoughts about Gabe, or the interactions between people in the committee – locals all but Chloe and all familiar with the history there.

I actually enjoyed this story very much, although I wish that less effort was expended in ‘presenting’ the feel of a small village with many different storylines (Chloe and Drew, Evie and Troy, Sam and Gabe, Gabe and the town, the missing Ryan, Bryony and her overlarge attitude) – which worked to present the ‘everyone knows everything’ sort of vibe but also added many people to ‘catch up’ with – without actually presenting us with a clear entrant for the ‘next in the series’ to become the focus. Weather, terrain and even a sense of the ‘locals’ was clear in the story, and while I would have loved to read more about the food at the festival the sense of community, family and Sam finding the answers to questions she had for a decade to get – the story had me wanting the best for the little town and its people and ready for the next festival – coming sooner than anyone has actually planned!

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href= “ https://wp.me/p3OmRo-amL/” > <a> I am. Indeed

I appreciate the opportunity from NetGalley and the publisher to read an advance copy of A Perfect Cornish Summer in exchange for my honest review.

A Perfect Cornish Summer is a perfect summer romance. Not only does Sam experience romance, she also has to conquer several business troubles along the way. Beautifully written story had me looking up vacation spots in Cornwall!

I love a Cornish tale, it always makes me want to go and visit after I've finished reading.
Reading this story was like being a local and part of the community, getting to be behind the scenes of the festival.
There are many threads to this story and each kept me guessing and identifying with the characters. I was willing it to all work out for them in the end.

Any novel that is based in Cornwall is always going to be a good one and when you combine it with good storytelling such as the work of Phillipa Ashley then you are in for a wonderful read.

A Perfect Cornish Summer, fits this description. What started as a small idea ten years previously has grown into something more – the annual food festival in Porthmellow.  Sam the festival organiser had the original idea ten years ago and it was only meant to be a small event but it has grown and grown and it looks like this years is going to be bigger than ever.

When the famous headline chef for the festival has to withdraw due to some misappropriation of money  – it looks like the tenth festival will not be as stand out as Sam had first wanted. That is until Chloe an incomer to Porthmellow wanting to get more involved in the local community manages to gain TV Chef Gabe Maithas to attend.

What Chloe doesn’t realise that Gabe is well-known in Porthmellow.

He left a long time ago and many people remember what he did before he went.

Sam certainly remembers as it had an impact on her and her family at the time and still now.

Will Gabe’s presence stir up old memories or will he be able to get people on side again?

Chloe, might have caused an upset, but she has made her mark on a few people in the village and her past is about to arrive and bring a whole load of baggage with it. Troy into his eighties, still helping the harbour master and his wife Evie provide some sage advice to everyone as well as humour in the book. Outspoken Bryony and her dog seem to pop up at the most interesting moments. Drew spends his time on the sea, but his quiet persona doesn’t detract from the turmoil he is going through. Zennor, Sam’s younger but probably wiser sister has some romantic interests if only they were reciprocated

As for Sam, how can she possibly have enough time for anything when she is organising a food festival.

There is a lot going on in this novel and it takes you a few chapters to get straight who everyone is and how they all relate.  I find this with any start of a series of novels, the groundwork has to be done to keep us reading the book but also to then go and pick up subsequent novels featuring characters we have grown to love and probably dislike in equal measure.

Besides being full of characters and storylines it is also full of the descriptions of wonderful food including the mouth-watering sounding pies which Sam creates in between festival business. Of course there is the setting of Cornwall, always guaranteed to bring you brilliant weather and high winds to threaten marquees and people in equal measure.

An enjoyable read which has everything you want from women's fiction – to take you away on holiday, for romance, for laughs and for some wonderful food.

Phillipa Ashley has done it again and she is fast becoming an author you can rely on for great reads.

Porthmellow is the kind of place that I daydream about living in. It is beautiful, in Cornwall, by the sea and the people who live there care about one another. The setting for this book is an upcoming food festival. The residents we follow include Sam, the organizer; Gabe, who once dated Sam and is now a celebrity chef; Sam's sister and her partner, Ben; a mom, Chloe who has been estranged from her daughter and granddaughter and many other locals. Their stories are all told in a way that allows the reader to care about them. Over the course of the story, lives are lived, misunderstandings are cleared up and characters grow and love. If this is your kind of book, try this. It is an enjoyable read.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this escapist read. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book from start to finish. The book follows the stories of several people all from the same small place in Cornwall and how all of their lives come together to make their festival. Each individual story is gripping and you can’t wait to find out how it ends. Worth a read and looking forward to more reads from Phillipa Ashley.

A great read, with so many different characters which all had there own story but linked in well, which kept younguysssingbas to what would happen and how things would turn out. Will definitely look forward to many more books by this great author

I love Cornwall and really enjoyed all the references and rich descriptions. This was a good solid read, perfect for a sunny day with a likeable main character.

Sam was a likeable character and I quickly found myself feeling emotionally invested in her festival preparations. The other characters were just as likeable, I enjoyed finding out more about their lives. It seemed that the festival was a lifeline for most of them.

With the star chef unable to attend the festival and the replacement not looking like a popular option, I was keen to see where it would all lead and this kept me flipping the pages.

I absolutely love Cornwall so there were many descriptions and moments that made me smile, one scene in particular brought back memories of tiny roads that absolutely did NOT feel like roads! Food was also a big part of the storyline which meant that I felt hungry on multiple occasions whilst reading this book.

I really enjoyed the ups and downs of life in Porthmellow and, even though there were a few troublemakers, the sense of community spirit was heartwarming. The committee get-togethers were a favourite of mine, the combination of personalities was just perfect and made for very entertaining reading!

This was a warm and comforting read, perfect for curling up on the sofa with a cuppa.

This is the first book I’ve read by Phillipa Ashley and it certainly won’t be the last. I really enjoyed this well-written story that has plenty of romance, humour, and twists and turns.

Sam is organising a summer festival in her town of Porthmellow, and a well-known television chef is due to be the star guest. Unfortunately, he has to pull out and his place is taken by another famous chef who grew up locally – Gabe Matthias, the man who broke Sam’s heart. Can they put their differences aside for the sake of the festival?

My only (small) criticism is that it took me a little while to get going because there were lots of characters to follow but, once I’d got to grips with them all, it flowed beautifully.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

A Perfect Cornish Summer, is just that - Perfect. This beautifully written book was a breath of fresh air, exciting and deliciously fun.

It was based in one of the beautiful little Cornish towns, Porthmellow, where Summer is on the way and people are eagerly awaiting the annual food festival.
For Sam Lovell, organising the summer festival in her hometown is one of the highlights of her year and takes her mind off her family problems and lack of love life. However it’s not alway smooth sailing and when she finds out one of the star guests has pulled out only a few weeks before the event, panic sets in. It doesn’t help that some have been negative towards the event on social media,l. So when a London Chef who grew up locally is able to step in at the last minute, everyone except Sam is delighted. Gabe Matthias, gorgeous, famous Chef is on his way, will his return change her quiet coastal life forever?

This romantic, funny and tender novel is perfect for those looking to disappear for a few days, drink up the delights of the gorgeous Cornish coast, it will lift your spirts and leave you fuzzy and warm deep in the pit of your stomach.

5 out of 5 for me. Well done Phillipa, yet another wonderful book.

Ah, Spring is in the air (if you can see if past the snow) and it's time to begin a new Cornish series from Ms Ashley. That alone should say it all.

The Queen of Cornwall (yes, that is a title) introduces us to the coastal village of Porthmellow. If you've been to Cornwall, then you don't need a vivid imagination to know where you'll be set. However, if you've never been to this county, then close your eyes as you read (yes, I know that's impossible, but humour me) and you will soon smell the spray of the sea as it breaks over the harbour wall. The treks up the narrow and winding roads will become familiar and to be enjoyed.

As with her previous Cornish series, Ms Ashley fills her novel with engaging characters in beautifully written and described situations that brought forth a plethora of emotions; admiration, wonder, sadness, and breathlessness as it came to an end.

Multiple story lines run through this book, with everything coming to a head at the end in a whirlwind that was unputdownable for me. However, there are plenty of stories hinted at throughout that I am hopeful will provide the basis for the following novels with, one would hope too, plenty of scope for characters from this first to make their appearances.

To surmise, welcome back to Ms Ashley, you've been away too long.

My thanks to both Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the review copy.

Loved this book. It is set in a small cornish costal village.

Sam runs a local pie and pasty van called stargazey and is the organiser of the local food festival. She has booked a very famous chef to come and do demonstrations but at the last minute he pulls out. Her co chair of the commitee books another famous chef to take his place but what she doesnt realise is that Gabe is Sam's ex and they did not part on good terms, in fact Gabe ruined Sam's life.

Gabe and Sam have to learn to be around each other for the festival, but what Sam doesnt realise is that Gabe has secrets that could change Sams life for the better.

Really nice read. Very much enjoyed it.

A Perfect Cornish Summer had a lot of potential, but only capitalised on about half of it. While offering what could have been a cool subplot of sabotage and a dark side to a cute harbour town, it merely fumbled its way through and let it become as boring as all the other storylines.

It had an excellent start, giving me a bit of background but also engaging me enough to want to keep reading, but didn’t pull me in much more than that. The writing was good, but the dialogue was quite stilted and awkwardly-phrased in the middle to end of the book. I could understand awkward conversation, but it was the phrasing itself that just didn’t sound realistic.

I didn’t love the changing POV - Chloe’s were SO boring, despite what could have been an engaging storyline - and it didn’t really contribute much to the story. Gabe was definitely not a likeable character, even though he was portrayed as one.

The romance did not grab me at all, and I honestly would have enjoyed the book a lot more if they’d become friends again.

Decent read, but not one I’d probably pick up for a second time.