A sweet, but very predictable story. A great summer read with a happy ending for everyone. I wish the author would have included a more detailed ending, particularly information on the ex's lawsuit!

Now, here is an author, that just takes my breath away. Every book I have read by Kim, I don't want her book to finish, she always writes from her heart and with so much love and all her books are uplifting and you feel good when you are reading them. So, The Cornish Cottage by the Sea by Kim Nash was no different, this book was Just Excellent from start to finish. It was a beautiful book and I loved everything about it.
The characters were excellent and I really felt for Jo Jenkins the main character, she is divorced and her two daughters are all grown up. Jo has always put other first and she knows it’s time to put herself first. But how?

Jo gets a big surprise when she inherits a beautiful beachside cottage in Cornwall, she grabs the chance to start over, leave everything behind and start a new part of her life.

When Jo gets to Cornwall, she finds a crumbling old cottage that needs a lot of love and attention but then, so does Jo. Jo becomes friends with several people in Cornwall and everyone plays their part - there's a kind-hearted jeweller, a no-nonsense businesswoman, and a local Jack of all trades with a past of his own.
Jo begins to rebuild more than just bricks and mortar.

WoW. . . . . . . . . .

I highly recommend all of Kim's books. They are a brilliant read especially for you great day off relaxing or holiday read. They will make you smile and very uplifting.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

A new release from Kim always makes my heart do a little happy dance!

The Cornish Cottage by the Sea is a heartwarming story of starting over and second chances.

It's set in the idyllic sounding Sandpiper Shore. Who doesn't want to live in a cottage by the sea, how perfect would that be?

Main character Jo was so lovely and I so wanted her to find her happy. If anyone was deserving of it, she was. There was a great cast of side characters too and their friendships were what we all aspire to have.

Written with warmth and happiness at heart, with a smudge of romance it's the perfect opener to the new series.

A thoroughly enjoyable and comforting read.

lt is always a comfort to snuggle down and escape to the kind of places Kim describes in her books. “The Cornish Cottage by the Sea” takes us to Sandpiper Shore, which is one of those places. Where everyone pitches in and meaningful friendships help people through thick and thin.

Jo is in her early 50’s, recently divorced with grown up very successful, independent daughters. She is given the shock of her life when she receives a surprise inheritance. Her Aunty - in - laws Cottage by the sea. Ratting around in a large house with no job and nothing to keep her occupied she decides to take the leap, move away and live in the house of her dreams. Of course, all is not going to go smoothly, the setting is stunning, the period house beautiful but the expense to ensure the roof doesn’t leak, the electrics are safe and the paint isn’t peeling off is astronomical. Cue the kind (and very handsome) electrician Jo’s new best friend, who helps her see the wood for the trees. Alongside other newfound friends Jo begins to flourish. The house improvements bring them all together bringing joy & happiness to lonely hearts and creating what look to become lifelong friendships.

Hidden and unspoken feelings that many may have experienced are encapsulated so well in the narrative which offers hope and understanding. It is refreshing to read about more mature ladies that are spreading their wings and moving on with life, rather than just bright young things dipping their toes in life. I was thoroughly immersed in life at Sandpiper Shore with Jo and friends and I look forward to visiting again in the future.

The Cornish Cottage by the Sea by Kim Nash

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

For Jo Jenkins, life has always been about putting others first. But with her children grown and her ex-husband as rotten as ever, she knows it’s time to put herself at the heart of the story. So, when she inherits a beautiful beachside cottage in Cornwall, she grabs the chance to start over.

The crumbling old cottage needs a little love, but so does Jo. And with the help of her new friends – a kind-hearted jeweller, a no-nonsense businesswoman, and a local Jack of all trades with a past of his own – Jo begins to rebuild more than just bricks and mortar.

But tucked away inside the cottage is a secret that could change everything. As the waves roll in and the sea air clears her mind, Jo must decide if she’s ready to let go of the past. Will she finally learn to embrace the life she truly deserves?

My Opinion

I enjoy reading Kim’s books so I am always on the lookout for new releases. I was delighted when I saw that The Cornish Cottage by the Sea was the first book in a new series – and what a great introduction it was. A comforting read.

Rating 4/5

I really enjoyed The Cornish Cottage by the Sea—it's the kind of cosy, uplifting read that’s perfect for a beach getaway or a quiet weekend. I instantly connected with Jo and rooted for her journey of rediscovery after years of losing herself in motherhood and a stifling marriage. Her bond with the cottage and her growing friendship with Seamus felt authentic and heartwarming. While the plot did feel a bit tangled at times, the emotional moments and charming coastal setting more than made up for it. A heartfelt, feel-good start to a promising new series.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookotoure and the Author Kim Nash for allowing me to read this before publication

Jo gets the chance to start over when someone she was once close to leaves her a Cornish cottage by the sea in her will, provided she lives in it. The cottage is not how she remembered it, but neither is her life as she is now an empty-nester and divorcee. Determined to live on her terms, Jo makes new friends, does things her way and puts herself first. All this takes time, and her new house finds its former glory as she grows stronger. There is romance, new friends and secrets to uncover too. I like the uplifting quality of this story and the likeable protagonist in whom you invest. All of them are relatable and enrich the story. The setting adds authenticity and depth, and the emotional tone makes it a heartwarming and occasionally poignant tale.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

There’s something quite special about starting a new series; new characters and locations to discover, which certainly brings plenty of joy and expectation. As we meet Jo Jenkins, it’s impossible not to be drawn to her and feel a genuine empathy for her new situation. Her ex is a piece of work and seems to have no redeeming features other than providing her with children. It was about time for something good to happen to her, and discovering the bequest of a seaside cottage is just the start.
As usual, Kim maintains a tight grip on the story and reserves the big reveal for maximum impact, and wow, it absolutely hit the mark. I suspected what was coming, but could not have guessed the detail or impact of the twists and turns ahead. Jo is bruised by her life experiences, but she’s happy to battle on and make lovely new friends along the way.
The Synopsis describes the jeweller, the businesswoman, and the Jack of all trades, but it doesn’t extend into any greater detail, and I can happily support that. There is greater joy to be discovered by diving in and learning how these characters work together and why Jo has been singled out for such a generous bequest when she wasn’t a relative, other than by marriage. Cue an appearance from her erstwhile husband.
There is a gorgeous romance that burns relatively slowly, moving at a steady pace and resulting in a perfect ending. I encourage you to buy or borrow a copy if you want to know more.
As the first in a new series, this book packs a terrific punch, and I can highly recommend it. So grab your sunny gear and head for the Cornish Coast.

How has it taken me this long to read another Kim Nash novel! I’ve been missing out on so much as this was a fabulous five star read. I instantly fell in loved with Jo and Seamus and the plot had my heart captivated from the start. The novel explores love, friendship and new beginnings and I can highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

I liked watching Jo make new friends and stretch herself. I did not like her family members (except her mother). The timeline was a mess, and things were just tossed in and supposed to make sense. Still, I cared about Jo and wanted to see her happy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kim Nash for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Cornish Cottage by the Sea coming out May 10, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love romance stories and English settings by the sea, so I was excited to check this book out. It wasn’t quite what I was thinking. I prefer really cozy romances. So this was a little messier and like reallife. I wasn’t as into the story as I thought I would be. I would definitely check out other books by this author.

I loved this! As I read further into the book I found I couldn’t put it down, I needed to see Jo succeed, to realise that Seamus was perfect for her, and to see her finally triumph over her ex husband.

Jo was a very relatable character, loosing your identity being a full time mother is real, and when your children grow and fly the best it’s hard to remember who you were before, in Jo’s case you add in an ex husband who belittled her and kept crushing her spirit and you have to fight even harder for what you want- and that’s after you figure out what that is!

Jo’s connection to the cottage was something that she had from the very first visit, and like her, the cottage needed some TLC. It was very apt that she finances the project by literally selling anything of value her husband ever gave her. The new friends she meets along the way help her to rediscover herself and realise what a healthy friendship is like: supportive and caring.

The added twists to the story were cleverly woven in and were so moving, I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but believe me once you start reading you won’t be able to stop, and when you read the last page you’ll wish there was just one more.

This would make an excellent summer holiday read, preferably in a cottage by the Cornish coast.

This was a charming read in many ways, with lovely descriptions of the coastal setting and some heartfelt moments. However, I found the plot a bit all over the place at times—it felt like it was trying to juggle too many threads, which made it hard to stay fully engaged with the story or the characters. That said, there were still plenty of warm, uplifting moments that fans of cosy romances might enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, the first book in a new series set in Cornwall.

Jo’s life has mostly been looking after her children and husband and taking care of their home. But, when her children leave to start their own lives and her husband leaves her for someone else, Jo doesn’t know what she should do now.

This story takes us to Sandpiper Shore in Cornwall , Golden sandy beaches, the most amazing views, the sound of the ocean and the sun on your face (I wish I was there right now).

Then Jo is notified that she has been left a cottage in Sandpiper Shore. She decides to move there and start her life afresh.

I loved the setting, characters and the friendships formed by Jo and her friends.

I highly recommend this book.

I'd wanted to read a book by Kim Nash for some time now, so I jumped at the chance to join the Blog Tour for her latest book. The setting was absolutely gorgeous of course since it's set in Cornwall, but even more so because the cottage is right on the beach which would be a dream come true for me.

Jo has recently had her life turned upside down by her Husband having an affair with her best friend, but strangely this presents her with an amazing opportunity. As a Housewife and Mother she's always put others first, but now she has nobody to please but herself and I loved that she embraced her newfound freedom.

The flirty banter with Seamus was hilarious; the pair of them got on like a house on fire and I was itching for them to finally get together! I loved Jo as a character as she was incredibly quick-witted and had an amazing sense of humour. She just needed to have more confidence in herself as understandably it's taken a sharp nosedive recently.

This book was so much more than a Romance novel for me as it also explored themes of friendship, starting over and community. I loved that by putting herself out there Jo is able to find new friendships with two women that she wouldn't have otherwise met and the three of them give each other a much needed confidence boost.

All in all this was an uplifting read full of joy and humour. It showed that change doesn't always have to be scary, and you can build yourself a new life and friendships if you're willing to be brave and put yourself out there. We could all learn a lot from Jo Jenkins I think.

Jo Jenkins is recently divorced and mum to two grown up daughters who have busy lives of their own, so she's feeling rather lost and without purpose now she's got nobody to look after, then she receives a phone call from a solicitor about her ex husband's Aunty June who has recently passed away bequeathing Jo the cottage in Sandpiper Shore, Cornwall in her will. Jo used to love visiting June and often dreamed of owning this beautiful cottage one day, so she's shocked to discover it's now hers, on the proviso that she moves into it and, without further delay and some wise words from her lovely mum as to why she needs to grab life with both hands and enjoy it, she decides to do just that. The cottage, unfortunately, isn't how she remembers it and needs rather a lot of work to bring it back to life so, with the help of the lovely Seamus who lives nearby and her two new friends Michelle and Emma the dream begins to become a reality, but not without some pitfalls along the way and a long buried secret that will change everything.

The Cornish Cottage by the Sea is the latest romantic fiction by this author and it was like wrapping myself in a favourite cardigan. From the picturesque depths of Cornwall, with it's beautiful beaches and rolling countryside Nash brings us a story of hope and happiness, a tale of new beginnings and budding friendships which Jo could cherish for life. As mothers, we all put our children's needs before our own, so much so that when they fly the nest we are left floundering, with no sense of which direction to take next and feeling quite useless and, for Jo this was worse because she had no one to continue her journey with, until she moved to Cornwall where Seamus, Emma and Michelle showed her there was still so much to look forward to. This is a beautifully heartwarming and, at times, emotional tale centred around the importance of friendship and second chances and I loved everything about it.

I'd like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Enjoyed reading this one. Jo's escape to a little Cornish village is an interesting challenge and ends up bringing her much more than new friendship.

She seems quite personable and I'm not sure I'd have been able to have settled as quickly as she does. The cottage itself sounds amazing and I'd love a project like hers. Her friends Michelle and Emma sound great and their Friday evening plans sound fun.

Jo's ex sounds infuriating and I was hoping he'd get some sort of comeuppance however the story is more about empowering Jo and following her journey. I did find it sad that her daughters had little interest in their mother and seemed to put more stock into their relationship with their dad despite the pig that he is. Can't choose your family and there are lots of positives for Jo in this.

The story ends in such a way that a sequel could follow. I feel like there's more to Jo and her friends that we could follow.

The Cornish Cottage by the Sea was a heartwarming and charming read with a fast pace that kept me engaged. I really liked Jo and her straightforward, supportive mother, and I admired Jo’s positivity, even when I wished she’d be more confrontational. Her witty banter with Seamus added to the enjoyment. The book delivered on romance, drama, community spirit, and unexpected twists. I appreciated the themes of fresh starts and taking chances. Overall, it was a delightful and uplifting story.

Thank you to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for the ARC!

Omg this book was fantastic . I literally couldn't put it down. Absolutely loved Jo Jenkins such a great character and Seamus was adorable. Loved the dynamic between the 3 ladies. Sandpiper shore sounds fab. I want an aunt to leave me a wonderful house by the sea. Can't wait to read the next one.

Oh by gosh, Kim has done it again. I absolutely adore Kim's writing. Her stories are uplifting and wonderfully entertaining. Also I had an amazing surprise when I read the acknowledgements and saw my name and it made me tear up.

From start to finish it was full of emotion, romance and humour.

I absolutely love Jo's character. She's had a really rough time at the beginning of the book but will things improved (well that's for you find out when you read it?).

There were parts in this book where I wanted to scream at certain characters but then other parts where I punch the air in celebration. I loved this book so much.