Cover Image: A Secret Cornish Summer

A Secret Cornish Summer

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Phillipa Ashely has that magical touch to transport you to beautiful settings.

I loved the characters, 3 generations of strong women and a hot next door neighbour.

This setting was beautiful and I am absolutely fascinated by lighthouses.

Phillipa's descriptions really bring the book to life and make you feel like you are there.

Highly recommended

Was this review helpful?

I received a free copy of, A Secret Cornish Summer, by Phillipa Ashley, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Most of the characters in this book had secrets, some lied about everything. Eden has finally moved on from her two timing ex Simon, until he turns up in Cornwall looking for her. Eden's grandmother Iris is turning 90, so exciting. I enjoyed this book, the characters are great except for Simon, I loved Eden, Morwenna, Courtney, Dion, and Levan.

Was this review helpful?

If you like to escape for the summer then this is the book for you. A great summer read set in Cornwall. This was a great story of finding love on your doorstep. I really enjoyed reading Edens story and how she found love with Levan. It took them a while to get there and to also find out what Levan was hiding but it was worth it. A great summer read that I can highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I love Phillipa's books they transport me down to Cornwall which is a place I love. Sun sand and lovely characters like Eden. A great read that gets me in the mood for my summer holiday in Cornwall.

Was this review helpful?

This is a superb summer read, which is full of friendship, family, romance, beautiful settings, gorgeous scenery, and luscious words. I loved it and really enjoyed it!

The main character, Eden, is back living in Cornwall, near her Mum and Gran, after separating from her ex husband. She has her own cafe, where she creates delicious coffee. One day, her Gran tells her to take a look outside, and there she finds a man called Levan, who is doing yoga in the next door garden. She chats to him, and finds out that he has bought the house there. Will she be able to let her guard down and let him in after what has happened between her and Simon, her ex?

I loved this book so much, and I highly recommend it. If you are looking for an easy to read, fun story which will uplift you and bring you joy, then look no further! This is the book for you - a perfect holiday read to brighten your day!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

Eden is now living in glorious Cornwall with her mum Sally after divorcing her husband. She is busy with her new coffee roasting and coffee shop business.

Her Granny, Iris is an important person in her life. Iris is the first to spot the new neighbour@

As the title of the book suggests, their are secrets to be revealed - what are these?

Was this review helpful?

Phillipa Ashley is one of my go to feel good authors. Her Cornish novels never disappoint and this one is no exception. Beautiful costal setting, strong family ties and friendships with a historical background and the ingredients for a hugely enjoyable novel. All the characters, good and bad, are well written and realistic. I loved and highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. Having enjoyed previous Philippa Ashley books, I was pleased to be granted the ARC for this. The Cornish setting was beautiful, but I found the story quite slow going, despite tackling some interesting themes with broadly enjoyable characters.

Was this review helpful?

Another fabulous book from Phillipa Ashley. The setting was beautiful and made me wish I could stay in one of the lighthouse cottages, as they sounded so perfect and peaceful. The plot line was unusual and the back stories of Levan and Eden added to the depth of the story. I loved the characters of Iris and Levan, but I found Eden irritating, especially her attitude towards Levan when he explained his past. Her lack of sympathy and understanding really grated on me and I felt Levan deserved someone better. I enjoyed the book so much I found it hard to put down. The ending seemed rather abrupt but made me wonder if there’ll be a sequel to Levan and Eden’s story in the future. I do hope so. Highly recommended for your summer book list.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

I love Phillipa Ashleys books set in Cornwall. You feel as though you are in Cornwall amongst friends. This book features Eden and her new neighbour Levan in the Lighthouse cottages. Eden is wary of love and although Levan is extremely good looking and charismatic, she needs to keep him at arms length.
I loved the way that family relationships are explored, with Levan feeling a great affinity to Eden's lovely family. He is keen to help, but has secrets that he is keeping hidden.
Whilst planning a 90th birthday party, they discover that granny has secrets of her own.
I loved every page. I could just imagine staying in the wonderful cottages and being invited to look around the lighthouse, enjoying the new coffee blends and collecting vegetables from the allotment and sitting to enjoy the views.

Was this review helpful?

Eden has had a traumatic time and is back living with her mum on the Cornish coast with her grandmother living nearby. Her dad and grandfather were both lighthouse men and Eden and her mum now live in a cottage connected to the lighthouse which is now automated.
Eden roasts coffee and has a van to serve it from ,it is a fledging business that is going well.
When her grandmother spots a man in the next cottage doing yoga in the garden everything is about to change for Eden but not before more traumatic revelations.
A book written by Phillipa Ashley never lets you down. It's never a straightforward story but always full of intrigue and secrets, the kind of book you can curl up and pass the hours with.
I throughly recommend this book as with all the other books by this author.

Was this review helpful?

Great feel good read, love the generational family feel . Interesting concept of spies in Cornwall with coffee and ex's thrown in what's not to like. Get comfy and settle in to read this great book. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

Was this review helpful?

Let's me honest, all of us Phillipa fans know what we're going to get when we dive into her latest books...step back, as Phillipa has upped her game with 'A Secret Cornish Summer'. Well, that's this readers opinion.
Suffice to say, I loved this book, though I now have a constant yearning for a good cup of coffee now! Eden and her family have such a bond, it's fantastic to immerse yourself in when you don't have that.. There's also a very serious backstory integrated into the book which is why this book gets my vote as this author's best (so far).
My thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the reading copy.

Was this review helpful?

This was a really good read. Eden lives with her grandmother. She roasts coffee for a living. Levan moves in next door, at 1st glance is a bit hippie doing naked yoga in the garden and shortless gardening, but as time goes on a secret is uncovered.

I really enjoyed this book, Phillipa is one of my go to authors as her books never let me down. A lovely summer read.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely love this authors books so was looking forward to this one and once I had started reading I couldn’t put it down.

I absolutely loved the descriptions of the lighthouse and the scenery and this book made me long for a holiday on the Cornish coast

This was so much more than a romantic read and had engaging characters I loved the character of iris she was the perfect grandma figure and was a story of family, friendships and learning to trust again and of making a fresh start and had a real community feel.

I would love a sequel to this story to see where the characters journey takes them next.

Was this review helpful?

"A Secret Cornish Summer" is another feel-good holiday read from Phillipa Ashley. The location is Hartstone Lighthouse cottages, somewhere in the far west of Cornwall. Eden has moved back to live with her mother after the failure of her marriage and is busy setting up a new business. Unexpectedly someone moves in next door, to the cottage which everyone thought was a holiday let. Levan is hiding one of the secrets of the title - his hush-hush job.

The story includes romance, redemption, a bit of mystery and family relationships. Difficult to put down.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

Was this review helpful?

Eden appears to be living the dream running her own coffee business in the beautiful Cornish peninsular but she is unable to let her guard down since her ex husband lied and cheated leaving her with nothing including self confidence. She starts to think maybe things could be different when a handsome enigmatic stranger moves next door to her cottage but things are more complex than she imagines. Well written putting you in mind of the sea.

Was this review helpful?

What a lovely feel good romance this was. Phillipa Ashley never disappoints. I loved the setting of this book, it evokes wonderful memories of holidays in Cornwall when I was younger. The main characters of Eden and Levan are well written, it is easy to empathize with Eden as she reveals things from her past and Levan is likeable but also has relatable flaws. Eden’s family are well rounded and enjoyable to read about.
I did enjoy reading this and I look forward to the author’s next book.

Was this review helpful?

Cute book that lifted my heart. It has the perfect recipe of heartbreak, mild drama and uplifting narrative.
I felt quite immersed and it only took two days to complete because of this.
Fabulous form of simple escapism. Something that i would call a pallet cleanser in-between those more arduous reads!

Fabulous.

Was this review helpful?

Definitely a page-turner for me. I was engrossed from the beginning and wanted to continue reading nonstop. I realized that I need to continue only when I had a chuck of time, since I knew it would be difficult to stop!

The plot is full of intrigue, family history, starting over and learning to trust again. It was very emotional to read.

The characters are fantastic, as always with a book written by Phillipa Ashley! I especially adore elderly people in books I read, so the inclusion of Iris as a main character was joyful. It was delightful to learn about lighthouses and the close-knit family that serviced them for years.

Since this a romance, I must say that the two destined for love are wonderfully suited for each other and I loved being on their journey to a happily ever after. Eden and Levan have a rocky road, but they can handle it and will come out at the end of the path stronger as one.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Was this review helpful?