I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I had signed up to review this book awhile ago and had some time available while I was in the hospital recently to catch up on a little reading. I can't say that I liked this book - there were a few things I enjoyed while reading it but overall there was a lot that I didn't love. The writing felt a tad two-dimensional to me. The characters all felt like exaggerated versions of themselves and their conversations and internal monologues felt very cliched. I didn't love Clemency's character either, her sunny attitude got to e a bit much and she just felt very under developed. And the start of the book where she's being super chatty with Sam on the plane was just jarring to me - as an introvert that's pretty much my worst nightmare is a stranger trying to talk to me. So just from the start of the book I felt like maybe this one wasn't for me. There were a number of subplots going on in this book, which in some ways helped to move the story along faster, but also felt like a bit much for one novel. So overall this wasn't my favorite book but it was a good enough novel and if you like light contemporary romances with no sex scenes then I would give this one a try.

Not really my thing but will certainly appeal to many as it is warmly written.

Jill Mansell is a must for your summer reading list!

Whenever I'm in the mood for a feel-good romance, I know Jill Mansell will deliver. The characters are always quirky and likable, and I like the stories. In this case, I liked both Clemency and Sam, and the book was filled with many funny and heartfelt moments. It would make a perfect summer read!

My favorite Jill Mansell so far. Yes, it's more chiclit than romance but the I still enjoyed the book and the characters are complex. Flawed but relatable. Definitely highly recommended.

Jill Mansell's books are the perfect way to spend an afternoon - they are also perfect poolside reading - just enough story to keep you interested but a light, fluffy read that keeps you entertained and feeling happy.

This story had it all - bickering sisters, chance meetings with your one true love, an adoption story, a coming to terms with your real self story, and a suspected appendicitis that turns out to be an unexpected baby! I saw all of it coming except the baby.

Grab a towel, a bottle of water, get in your pool float and crack open Mansell's latest and prepare to completely enjoy your day.

*Book provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This might shock you, but it’s true: Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay was my first Jill Mansell book to read. I have always wanted to read her books and I own some of them as well, but I have never gotten round to it. This will change now for sure, because I totally fell in love with her writing.

The story follows Clemency, who meets Sam in a plane, on the seat next to her, of all places. They are not off to the best start, but that changes throughout the flight, a connection is definitely there, but then he leaves.

Three years later, she sees him again. However, he is now her step sister Belle’s boyfriend. Belle and Clemency have never really gotten along with each other, lot’s of fights, drama, misunderstandings and more has always come between them. The chemistry between Sam and Clemency is still there and even grows stronger when they spend time together, which was wonderfully described by Jill Mansell. Both of them don’t act on their feelings though, because Belle and Clem have a pact.

To make things easier for herself, Clem gets herself a fake boyfriend. It’s actually her best friend Ronan and it’s a lot of fun reading about them pretending to be a couple. I also really enjoyed the scenes between Sam and Clem and was actually impressed that nothing really happened between them, it makes them genuine and authentic characters. Belle is a very interesting character as well, she get her story told too and so did Ronan and some other characters. They are a great bunch of friends and family and some parts of the storyline are very surprising and gripping.

Jill Mansell’s writing is on point. It feels like real life, like being there with the characters as part of the story. The book is full of twists and turns and ups and downs, that’s what makes a story exciting and you just get hooked as a reader.

Even though the story kind of has a love triangle involved, it’s not thy typical story you expect and that’s the great thing about this book. There are some unpredictable things involved as well and together with the fab bunch of characters, the brilliant storyline and the gorgeous setting this book is a real diamond.

Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay by Jill Mansell is a sweet chic Lit romance. We meet our heroine, Clemency at the start, when she boards a plane and sits next to a man who immediately draws her attention. Sam, our hero, is distant at first, but our bubbly charming Clemency is hard to ignore for too long. When they arrive at their destination, Sam quickly disappears and Clemency catches up to him to learn that he is married.

Three years later, they will meet again, as Sam comes to St. Carys, on the arm of Clem’s sister Belle. Both are shocked to see each other again, and though she learns that Sam’s wife died, Clemency has to keep her distance, since Belle is now engaged to Sam. We also get to meet Ronan, another hero in this sweet story. Ronan is a long time friend of Clem and they work together as real estate agents. Because she is determined not to interfere with Belle’s relationship with Sam, Clem will get Ronan to help pretend that they are a couple. Clemency was a great heroine, always fun, caring, romantic and loyal to her friends and family.

Ronan meets Kate during a showing, and they become friends. In a short time, he will begin to realize that he is falling for Kate. This was a another romance that mingled with the main characters, and the fun people of St. Carys. The only one I wasn’t crazy about was Belle, who came across as snobby, arrogant and bitchy. Towards the end, this will change somewhat to make her more likable. I loved the close friendship between Clem and Ronan, which made this story so good, as they were fun, humorous, with witty banter. The relationship between Sam and Clem was quieter, since it doesn’t really happen til later in the book.

This was a very nice romance, with wonderful characters, small town atmosphere, and a few very nice background stories. The other good characters besides, Clem, Ronan, Sam, Belle, Kate were Josephine, Verity and Marina. The story with Marina was very good, and emotional. Jill Mansell does a wonderful job writing a fun story line that also touched series subjects, such as cancer, adoption and gay relationship. I wholly recommend Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay as a book for you to read.

Jill Mansell’s novels all have certain elements in common: romance(s) between likeable characters, friendships and/or family relationships that are central to the plot, humor, and happy endings. Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay is no exception.

The book opens with Clemency and Sam meeting on a plane and feeling a spark of connection. Sam, however, is in a relationship, so nothing comes of it. Three years later, Sam’s stepsister Belle brings home her new boyfriend—who just happens to be Sam. Since Clem thinks it will be easier for her and Sam to ignore their past attraction if she’s also involved, she asks her friend and coworker Ronan to pretend to be her boyfriend. Ronan agrees, but only because he is pining after Kate, who he believes will never be interested in him since their one romantic encounter ended disastrously. Can true love cut through this tangled web? And even if Belle and Sam break up, what about the pact that Clem and Belle made to never go after each other’s boyfriends?

So, there are a lot of romantic relationships in play here. (I’ve even left one out. Maybe one and a half, if you stretch a bit.) And that’s not all! Ronan is adopted, and the discovery of the identity of his birth parents also plays a role in the story. The rivalry between Clem and Belle gets a fair amount of page time, too.

I think that in the case of this particular novel, Mansell is juggling a few too many balls with her plot, and it hurts the overall narrative. None of the romances between the various characters get explored in detail, and I found myself not caring so much any of the couples. In particular, Sam and Clem seem to have almost no page time alone together, so it’s hard to see how any sort of relationship could build between them. The adoption subplot was interesting, but it was cluttered up with Ronan’s birth mother’s run-ins with her ex-husband, who I didn’t feel added much to the story at all and could have been easily cut from the book.

The overstuffed plot made this only an OK read for me, but I think devoted fans of Mansell’s books will find a lot to like here. Readers who enjoy British chick lit might want to give it a try, too.

An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Clemency, the woman who prides herself on not just being on time but being early when she flies, is running late. A mishap leads to her rushing onto the plane seconds before takeoff. She apologizes to her seatmate, notices that he's quite good looking, and proceeds to blabber about why she was so delayed.

Her seatmate is unmoved.

Realizing that he does not want to talk to her AT ALL, she takes a vow of silence. Her seatmate, though, the quite good looking Sam, makes amends for his earlier cold behavior, and the two begin chatting. They share one of those instant connections, and when they arrive at their destination, Clemency hopes - she even sort of believes - that they will continue to get to know each other. But Sam cannot continue this, and they part.

Three years later, Clemency is living in her hometown area in Cornwall, and her stepsister - the self-involved and selfish Belle - lets her know that she and her boyfriend are coming to town. Belle's boyfriend wants to find a seaside place where he can escape after a tough work week.

That boyfriend turns out to be Sam.

Clemency and Belle have NEVER gotten along, yet even though Clemency would love to torpedo Belle's romance, she does not. She and Sam pretend not to know each other. Clemency also decides to pretend something else, and that pretense involves her best friend Ronan. The two work together at a real estate business, and Ronan is one of those guys whom every woman seems to covet. He's gorgeous and witty and polite and kind. His typical idea of romance lasts about a week or two, but there is someone in town he is pining over, and she's the one woman who doesn't want him.

Belle, meanwhile, likes Sam. He's a fantastic boyfriend: he's handsome and successful, two very important things to Belle. You sense, though, that something is missing - that maybe she is trying to convince herself of substance where there is none.

Since this is a Jill Mansell novel, you know that you will meet a cast of entertaining, relatable, and quirky characters. There are a couple of other subplots involving Ronan and other characters, but the heart of the book is Clemency. She's someone who is always early, and perhaps this symbolizes her relationship with Sam: they met too early. As Mansell shows, timing is everything, so when the timing is right, you have to take advantage.

Jill Mansell fans will love this book. It's everything you've come to expect from her, including The Feels. There were a few scenes in which I cried so hard for Clemency. Mostly, though, I wanted to go to Beachcomber Bay so I could meet them. They're people I want for friends. Well, maybe not Belle. I'm not so sure about her.


*** Scheduled for publication on the blog on May 2.

Captivating, warm, lighthearted and funny!

This is an engaging, romantic story that reminds us that sometimes things happen for a reason and happy ever afters really do exist.

The prose is polished and beautifully descriptive. The setting is charming and quaint. The characters are sweet, lovable and real. And the plot is a wonderful mix of humour, heart, emotion and courage.

This is, ultimately, a story about life, love, loss, heartbreak, family, acceptance, happiness and discovering one's true self, and once again Mansell has proven when in comes to writing moving, heartfelt stories with characters you can't help but fall in love with she's one of the best!

Thank you to NetGalley, especially Sourcebooks, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

**(Please note review link below will be active on May 3, 2017)**

Meet Me At Beachcomber Bay is the first Jill Mansell I’ve read in years. I’ve always enjoyed her books but sadly my local library did not add to their collection of her books.
One of the things I like about her books is that there are always complicated family relationships but everybody still respects and appreciates each other. Besides, it is never just the main couple that finds their HEA/HFN, but several others – in all shapes and ages – do as well.
Meet Me At Beachcomber Bay is no different. There is a cast of interesting characters who all have their secrets. There are lies and misunderstandings, and even a fake relationship. To make matters even more complicated, the main hero is in a relationship with the main heroine’s stepsister. A plot like this could easily fall apart but Mansell navigates it seemingly effortlessly.
I enjoyed the writing. The first few chapters were a bit more fragmented than what I remember from Mansell, but that’s not a bad thing at all.
This is a lovely read – fun and fluffy, but with enough sadness and poignancy to give it a bit of depth. 4 stars.

Jill Mansell is one of my favorite authors. Her books are always about communities and how our stories are often interwoven with those in our community whether we know it or not. This story is about the town of St. Carys and their intertwining stories. Jill Mansell’s characters are matchless. They are immensely relatable and wonderfully developed. I feel like I could slip into St. Carys and become friends with them all.

Clemency is late for a plane through a simple mistake. She is sure her seat mate is annoyed at her and ignoring her, but after they start talking, they realize they have a connection. Clemency gives him her business card, but discovers he is married and doesn’t see him again for years . . . until he shows up on the arm of her stepsister Belle.

Belle and Clemency have a completed relationship. Their parents married when they were teenagers. Clemency and her mother were poor while Belle and her father were rich. Misunderstandings and relationship woes have happened in the past and Clemency just wants to get along with Belle. Willing to help her out is her work friend Ronan, who Belle has always had a crush on. Ronan has relationship woes of his own compounded on the fact that he would really like to look for his birth mother, but doesn’t want to hurt his adopted mother’s feelings. And there is more . . .

I love all of the characters and the storylines that go with them. They are all tied up nicely at the end too so you aren’t left wondering what happened to your favorite side character. I read through this book too quickly as I now find myself wishing I could read more about Beachcomber Bay and it’s in habitants.

My favorite quotes:

“When he’d gone out on the evening of this twenty-fifth birthday, Sam had never intended to meet the love of his life.”

“And Marina, thinking What am I like?, discovered she was so British she was incapable of refusing the command and found herself submitting to a hug from the ex-husband she hadn’t seen for over five years.”

“The physical contact with her baby boy, which she’d longed for but been unable to allow herself to experience until now, was like nothing she’d ever felt before. Never had she felt so happy, so complete.”

Overall, Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay is a delightful novel full of interesting and well-rounded characters. The setting in St. Carys makes the story complete and really makes me want to visit someday. I loved this book!

Book Source: Review E-Book Copy from Sourcebooks. Thank-you!

What can I say: this book had Jill Mansell written al over it. Seriously, I really don't know how she does it. But it's like stepping into a warm jacuzzi and you can just sit and relax. Meet me at Beachcomber Bay is just a funny book about Clemency and Belle, two step-sisters who kind of hate each other.

And now Belle is back at St. Carys, with her perfect boyfriend Sam. But, what do you know... Clem already met the guy three years ago on a plane. And although there was a definite spark between Sam and Clem, she saw him throw away her business card after the flight, so he was definitely not interested. Not wanting to be embarrassed, Clem asks her happy-go-lucky-colleague Ronan to pretend to be her boyfriend.

And Ronan is happy to comply and loves to get carried away in his role as the exemplary boyfriend. He is the typical boy-next-door-who-can-charm-the-pants-of-your-mother. Happy-go-lucky and smiling all the time. Girlfriends everywhere, but never sticking to one. Until he meets Kate. But since Kate thinks Clemency is his girlfriend, she really doesn't want to get caught in the middle of their relationship.

And then there's Sam, who just has a very jealous streak, when it comes to Ronan. But why? And what is happening with Belle? All of a sudden very busy with her figure and her health?

The story takes some unexpected turns and twists. And although you can see the ending coming from miles away, Jill still manages to surprise you in the end. But in all, a lovely read. So five out of five stars from me. If you love Jill Mansell, I would highly recommend this one.

Clemency meets a man, Sam, on an airplane has a connection, wow, it's been a long time. They chat the whole time during the flight. Could it be? They land, meet again in baggage claim and she finds . . . he's married.

No, it can't be. Clemency moves on. She's a real estate broker and together with her boss, Ronan, they are one of the biggest agencies in St. Cary's. Another key character in the book is Clemency's stepsister, Belle. She is quite the charmer. If you recall the story Cinderella, think wicked stepsister, she is both of them, including their ego.

Three years after that fateful plane trip, Clemency gets a call from Belle. Her and her new boyfriend are moving to St. Cary's. Can Clemency show them some properties to possibly purchase? Guess who the new boyfriend is?

Oh yes, there is a huge plot twist, of course, after Ronan and Clemency (friends forever) become a couple.

Thanks Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this very entertaining book.

This story is set in the seaside town of St Carys. It revolves around the residents of the town. Two of the main characters are step sisters, Belle and Clemency, who have a love/hate relationship. I loved the relationship between Clem and her colleague Ronan. There were quite a few humorous moments between them and their friendship and feelings for each other were obvious. I liked Sam but felt that he was a bit wishy washy when it come to his relationship with Belle.

If you are looking for an easy enjoyable read that will make you laugh and want to cry at the same time this is it. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I read this book in one day, which is pretty typical for me and a Jill Mansell book. Loved all of the various stories running through out and definitely thought the characters well thought out. And I SUPER appreciate getting a glimpse beyond the ...SPOILER ALERT... happily ever after. I wish more authors would give us that glimpse.

Jill Mansell writes some of the most charming books I have ever read and Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay is sure to stay in my heart for some time to come. This is a solid and heartwarming story that kept my interest intact from page one all the way though to the end. I absolutely loved every single minute of it and am excited to read more books by the author in the near future.

** Review to be posted on all channels come release date **

Ok, I'll admit it: Chick Lit is my guilty reading pleasure. I'm always on the lookout for authors, both US and UK that I haven't discovered. Jill Mansell is my hands-down favorite. I have to physically force myself to stop reading because I want the story and experience to last as long as possible. Her latest, in my opinion, further cements her role as one of the queens of the romance/women's fiction/chick lit genre. Relatable, yet quirky characters, steal your heart and the twists and turns in the plot add surprise and delight. I never hesitate to share Mansell's name with fellow readers looking for honest, funny, heartwarming and sometimes, heartwrenching, novels. She is a sheer pleasure to read.

Not my usual type of book but this is one of the great things about netgalley, we get to read genre which we might otherwise avoid. Meet me at Beachcomber Bay reminds me of a longer version of Woman's magazine stories. Good for a holiday read with fun but somewhat unrealistic characters. If you enjoy this type of fiction then it's a great choice.