A totally delightful book about love, friendship, truth - an excellent read for everyone, although women will probably relate more than men.

Book blurb...

MEET ME AT BEACHCOMBER BAY is a romantic, funny and unputdownable new novel about love and friendship from Jill Mansell, bestselling author of THE ONE YOU REALLY WANT and YOU AND ME, ALWAYS - 'A glorious, heartwarming romantic read' Woman & Home. Perfect for anyone who loves Lucy Diamond, Milly Johnson and Katie Fforde.

Love is in the air in St Carys, but you'd never know it - the people of this seaside town are very good at keeping secrets...

The man Clemency loves belongs to someone else. She has to hide her true feelings - but when she ropes in an unsuspecting friend to help, wires start to get crossed.

For the first time in Ronan's life his charm has failed him in winning over the woman he wants. Loving her from afar appears to be his only option.

Belle seems to have the perfect boyfriend, but something isn't quite right. And now a long-buried secret is slowly rising to the surface.

The truth has a funny way of revealing itself, and when it does St Carys will be a very different place indeed…

My thoughts…

The fact that I chose to read Beachcomber Bay may surprise some. The story of (predominantly) young characters in conflict and all looking for love is a little different from my thriller/crime/mystery books. But I was enchanted by Beachcomber Bay, reading day and night, and being told on numerous occasion by ‘you know who’ that I am smiling as I read.

The three different storylines are very well plotted and have the necessary flawed characters. Jill Mansel has told lots of stories and is much-loved. I can see why. The author uses just the right kind of obstacles to ensure enough conflict, making the lives of her characters (and the storyline) unpredictable.

The love and friendship between characters is believable, but I did find the characters tended to be a bit frivolous with the truth. I know this story is meant to be a light-hearted read, but I didn’t admire any of the characters, for that reason. I was curious about how all their secrets and lies would play out, but I was not cheering for any one.

Unlike some women’s fiction that tackles real life issues, there is not a lot of substance to the conflicts in this one and no climax, no real redemption after the fall because none of the characters ‘grew’ or became better people, in my mind. It just all worked out.

That said, it was a nice escape story that made me laugh. A great light-hearted romance.