I accidentally saw the Hallmark movie before I read the book. In fact, I didn't even know it was a book until I started reading and noticed how it was similar to a made for tv movie that I had recently seen. Strangely, I liked both the book and movie. Great characters and a nice story round this out to a pretty good read.

This is a delightful book ! It was first published in 2014 and promptly made into a movie for Hallmark. A second movie followed. I am a fan of the author and of the movies.
This book has all the perfect elements of a wonderful read that is delicious enjoyment from page one.
Ellen was a high-powered Manhattan attorney with a great career and gorgeous fiance who returns to her grandmother's hometown of Beacon Maine to fulfill her Grandmother's dying wish. She is high strung and a perfectionist and does not like the small town life. She must fulfill her Grandmother's wish to find the boy she once loved. and give him her last letter to him. As Ellen returns to town she quickly becomes a local celebrity by almost drowning. The local hunk of a carpenter rescues her and she soon finds herself falling for him . Their kiss put them both front and center on the local newspaper.
She begins to investigate for her grandmother's last dying wish and finds out more lies beneath the surface of her Grandmother's great love and decides to stay in Beacon longer then planned. She finds the town irresistible and loves the people as she integrates in. to the small Maine community. The mystery of her Grandmother and her last wish deepen her ties to the community. I loved this book and look forward to more in the series. It was heartfelt, lovely and a enjoyable trip to coastal Maine. The characters are a delight . I enjoyed it from page one . It was the perfect afternoon read.
Thank you with gratitude for the ARC which did not influence my review.

I love a good love story that includes food and baking and New England locales, but this one didn't make the grade. The main character leaves her fast paced NYC lifestyle to deliver a letter from the past for her late grandmother. That plot line worked, but not so much the romance (in one week when she spent the first three days annoyed) or the baking (I waited so very long for the bakeshop to make an appearance). I'm not from Maine, but I could think of a dozen ways to get more blueberries into a book with blueberries in the title and on the cover. I wanted to want to root for the main character but she wasn't likeable enough. Would've loved more of Roy and his family, though!

Cute premise, but the execution fell short.

https://randombookmuses.com/2017/07/23/review-the-irresistible-blueberry-bakeshop-cafe-by-mary-simses/

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2070021116

Starting out with this story, it does feel like it will transition comfortably to the screen: and be a standard entrant in that channel’s regular fare: nothing wholly exciting, happy-ish ending, where the setting and the underlying story are well suited to a passive hour or two of watching. Unfortunately, for me, the wholly dislikable heroine with her touch of superiority, her rather stereotypical view of small towns (which unfortunately was reinforced by the lack of place development – or compelling secondary characters) all served to form the framework for a mystery. Why did her grandmother stop painting and end up in Beacon?

Slow to engage, Ellen is one of those people that is sent on a quest to find her grandmother’s dying wish, with the delivery of a letter. A woman who seems to have made choices for her life by deciding which path would be most acceptable rather than intriguing, she’s caught up in the race for style points – as she defies logic and reason and sets out for Maine. But her arrival and plans to stay only a day are quickly shattered as she discovers a bit of mystery and seeks to unravel the clues.

Being honest, this book didn’t hold my attention – and the descriptions, while well written, seemed to have been picked from a tourism guide and were too glossy and generalized to give the town any flavor at all. While many people dream of a simpler life, and making that choice is not always the easy one, I just had too hard a time believing in Ellen’s journey and her choices – or perhaps her reasons for those choices: much like we aren’t really given her reasoning, there was little emotional connection to her grandmother’s story – or discovering what choices she faced – or why she chose what she did. Overall, this story was one that could be about anyone going to a small town from the big city, with only momentary flashes that brought interest or the place to life. Without development or real growth that felt palpable shown for Ellen, and an unbelievably dramatic transformation for her mother to caring and empathetic, there were large parts of the story that just missed in a rush to make a happy ending. A rush that left me hanging and wondering just how we arrived there.

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

Review first appeared at <a href=”http://wp.me/p3OmRo-96E/”> <a > I am, Indeed </a>

The cover art captivated my attention....this story captivated me. Loved every single word of it. Looking forward to the next novel by Ms Simses.

I've read several books by Mary Simses and I enjoyed this one. It has been made into a Hallmark movie and it's very suitable to their ideals. Ellen is fulfilling her grandmother's last wish, deliver a letter to a man in her childhood town. Ellen is an attorney and decides to take two days to drive to Maine from New York and find her grandmother's friend. This book is a nice love story punctuated by humor. Originally published in 2014 it is still a timely easy read.

I usually read for 20 minutes before I go to bed every night. When I picked up this book two hours passed before I knew it. You know what is going to happen from the start but the stubborn main character fights the outcome with all her will.

Squee!!! This marvelous novel is being made into a movie come October? I am so in and I cannot wait to watch it! I truly loved this book. And, even though I was left wanting more (this has nothing to do with the story itself rather, I loved it so much that I wanted another book straight away) I feel like I could read it all over again. I highly recommend this wonderful debut novel and cannot wait to see what the author brings her readers in the future. She is going to the top of my watch list for future releases!

** Full review to be posted online come release week **

I would not compare it to the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. It is a quick light read in the genre of a romance with a bit of historical mystery added, but it could have been much better with deeper character development. We never learn the why behind the breakup of Ellen's grandmother and Chet. She was happy with her eventual husband and family but obviously had regrets as she wanted a letter delivered. What were they? We never learn why, although extremely talented, she walked away from painting never to pick up a brush again.

As it is written, I think it will make a great Hallmark movie as it has their usual "fish-out-of-water confused young woman with a chip on her shoulder, who arrives in a small town wanting to leave as quickly as possible but meets someone and comes to see the errors of her way" and afterwards, everyone lives happily ever after theme.

I did enjoy it but it could have been so much more! Plus, if you are going to write a book that mentions yummy food and recipes left from her grandmother, why not include a recipe or two

I received an excerpt of this book. Wasn't really sure what to expect as I don't generally read these little fiction books. Except to get the recipes sometimes! And sometimes I get caught up in a story, as well. Readers of these tales will probably enjoy it- quick easy read over a cup or two of coffee or tea with come scones, or pastries! Not a bad story, just not my usual sort.

I wanted to love this book, but the main character was hard to like. The setting was cute and quaint but I felt like it was a typical big city girl falls for small town boy and changes her life to be with him.

I’ve always dreamed of going to Maine and couldn’t pass the chance to read a book that combined Maine, the undying love for beloved grandparents and blueberries. This book is a about a woman who is on a secret mission to deliver a love letter for her dearly departed grandmother. As Ellen discovers all the quirks and charm about living in a small town in Maine, the author makes you fall in love with it too. By the end of the book, I was ready to start writing recipes and menus for my own blueberry-themed restaurant. While some aspects of the love story make me sad, I would be devastated if RJ carried a torch for someone else for 60 years, I did appreciate the more modern love story. I did appreciate that the romantic elements were comported with much more elegance than many books use. If you’re looking for a light summer read, a beach book or if you love Maine, this is definitely a book to check out.

Mary Simses wrote a book full of characters who stole my heart. I loved this book. Everything about it. And I hope we get to hear more about Beacon, Maine and all its delightful citizens.