Member Reviews
Coming Home to Ottercombe Bay by Bella Osborne is a lovely novel about loss, love and finding your roots.
When Daisy comes back to the little childhood home town for her great uncle's funeral the last thing she expects is to stay long. So it comes as a great suprise to find out that she has inherited something but it comes with a clause that is will not under any circumstances accept. Until life happens and things begin to change her own life forever.
Deceptively llight and easy tone hides a moving story of a young woman's closure about her mother's myserious death, constant running away and keeping yourself at distance from anyone that you care about, because that is the only way not to get hurt.
Charming, nicely paced with endaring characters set in the beautiful coastal town this book will put a smile on your face. It will give you hope and mend your soul.
It's bursting with love, it tells a beautiful tale of friendship and second chances. With many funny moments it will make you laugh out loud. I just hope I will have a chance to meet again with wonderul people of Ottercombe Bay.
I enjoyed reading it so much and I highly recommend it to all lovers of intricate and alluring stories.
Favorite Quotes:
Here was a prime example why people should leave home and explore the world, thought Daisy. Staying here had turned Tamsyn into Ottercombe Bay’s answer to Phoebe Buffay from Friends, blurring the line between adorable and certifiable.
Bloody hell, the grapevine here spreads faster than a Kim Kardashian selfie.
I have neither the patience nor the crayons to explain this to you.
‘I’ve been possessed by a demon.’ ‘Drink plenty of water, it’s just a hangover.’ ‘I suspected someone might have a voodoo doll of me and now I know it’s true… Even my hair hurts.’
You are different but in a good way. Like a limited edition.’
She’s a raisin away from being a total fruitcake.
… she couldn’t think of a time she’d been happier with the possible exception of when her parents had bought her bunk beds so her imaginary friend had somewhere to sleep.
My Review:
I adored, smirked, and speed my way through all four parts to this cleverly amusing and engaging series featuring a small quirky coastal village and an initially unwilling new inhabitant. The premise was entertaining and the storylines were active, well paced, laced with levity, and easy to fall into. I adored Ms. Osborne’s crisp writing style and breezy humor. I enjoyed each quirky and well-drawn character and reveled in the goat race with participants wittily named Hairy Potter, Billy the Kid, Barb. E. Cue, Hot to Trot, and Vincent Van Goat. What fun! The last two installments were busy and fast-paced with several twists and turns all the way through to the satisfying conclusion. I learned two new phrases to add to my Brit list with “load of witpot,” and “I’d fill my boots if I were you.”
~4.5 STARS~
Great beach read full of charm, quirky characters, and a beautiful, quaint setting!!!
Daisy Wickens has returned to the picturesque town of Ottercombe Bay for her great-uncle, Reg’s, funeral. It holds some wonderful memories as well as some very sad ones. Not one to stay in one place for long, Daisy has plans to attend the funeral and leave again. However, her Uncle Reg had other ideas for her. Before she can obtain her inheritance of an old railway station, she has to stay put for an entire year! This will be one of the most difficult times, but she will also find out so much about herself and possibly even find her Mr. Right!
The characters were charming and quirky. Daisy is pretty complicated. She has traveled all over Europe, but not for all of the right reasons. She is running from the ghosts of her past. This is when the additional secondary characters are so important within the book. Each person, especially Max, helps her face those ghosts and become the woman she was meant to be. The romance between Max and Daisy is a slow build up, but this book is more about her journey, and he happens to be a great discovery along the way. As I wrote, the secondary characters, like her Aunt Coral, Tamsyn, Jason, and even her deceased Uncle Reg had an important part of the book. Even Aunt Coral’s beloved dog, Bugs, was a character I adored.
If you are looking for the perfect beach read this summer, look no further than Coming Home to Ottercombe Bay!!!
This book was originally published in four parts which I read separately. I loved this book and eagerly awaited the next segment of the story.
A surprise inheritance, lovely cast of characters, gorgeous location and a pug named Bugsy Malone make this a brilliant read. I was engrossed from part 1 and really loved the whole book.
Highly recommended - perfect holiday read or sunday afternoon on the sofa.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
1 like
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Avon Books UK for my unbiased opinion of the book. This is a four-part book series rolled into one delightful book! Daisy comes home for Uncle Reg's funeral and plans to do a roundabout as soon as possible. Surprisingly she finds herself after the will is read stuck in Ottercombe Bay for the next year! After several half-hearted attempts to leave and screw up her inheritance, Daisy resigns herself to stay for the year and possibly fall in love in the process??? You do not want to miss one of the best beach reads of the summer! You will not be able to put it down! I loved this book from beginning to end it was a pleasure to read it again.
I really enjoyed this story as Daisy returns to Ottercombe Bay. She's not planning on hanging around but her Great Uncle Reg's will means other plans are in store for her. There are some great characters - I especially loved Daisy's friend for being slightly batty yet not over the top. The ending is the one that the reader is rooting for throughout - no spoilers but it isn't contrived and is just perfect. All in all, a lovely summer read that will have you packing your bags for Cornwall and looking forward to drinking a gin cocktail by the sea - bliss!
4 Adorable Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
What a delightful book, filled with quirky characters in a quaint village... why is it I have not inherited A historic building filled with character... with the stipulation I must live in this charming village for a year in order to inherit? I’m up for it! I’ll even pretend I’m your long lost relative... I just want a cottage with a name in a small charming town, preferably by the beach in the UK... and while you’re at it I wouldn’t mind a best friend like Tamsen and a love interest like Max....
Daisy returns to her childhood village of Ottercombe Bay... Daisy has wanderlust so she is not all that thrilled with the prospect of staying in the same place for a year, and inheriting a building she’s not quite sure what she’s going to do with.... Daisy was such a real and relatable character and I would love to hang out with her and her BFF Tamsen... admittedly Tamsen was the best character in this book... any girl that will go swimming in freezing water in a gorilla costume is a girl we all want to hang out with! Right? The girl had spunk, sass, and she was loyal to a fault! So many lovely characters in this book sweet Jason, caring Cora, and annoying yet adorable max...
This really is the perfect beach read! A book that puts a smile on your face, makes you laugh, and gives you that warm fuzzy feeling in your heart! The perfect lighthearted read for that summer vacation... on the beach... poolside... or sitting out on your porch in the sun.... just don’t forget your sunscreen!
*** many thanks to Avon UK, the author, and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of this book ***
This was a sweet coming home story with a gorgeous cover and a well written story inside. The main character was compelling and the supporting characters were sweet and overall the whole thing was done well. I enjoyed it a lot.
I haven't read a book like Coming Home to Ottercombe Bay for quite a while. Although it has a romantic element, I think that I would be inclined to class it as 'chic lit' rather than a romance. I actually hate that phrase if I'm honest, but I think that it best sums up the style of this book. Daisy is a traveller, who has spent the last few years travelling the world and avoiding settling down. Now after the death of her Great Uncle, she finds that she has to return to her childhood home, that she left when she was 7 and face the demons of her past.
I enjoyed this book overall, it was a little slow in the odd part, but I think that matched the style of the storyline and characters. Daisy's Aunt and the dog Bugsy Malone were both entertaining and there was some light relief added by the next door neighbour, Tamsyn. Even if she was a little too over the top and out there at times.
There is a romantic element to this story, but it isn't the main point of the plot and I really liked that about it. There's little be upset or offended by and Daisy even tones down her favourite swear word to cock-a-doodle-do. This would be a great beach read in the summer or when lazing around and if you're looking for a relaxing and enjoyable read, you won't go far wrong with this.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Daisy has returned to the Bay for the first time since her mother died for Great Uncle Reg’s funeral. Intending only to stay for a few days, Daisy discovers that Reg has left her an inheritance. The only snag is that Daisy must stay in Ottercombe Bay for one whole year before she can claim it as her own. Does Daisy manage to stay in Ottercombe Bay? Does she ever find out what really happened to her mum? Will she find her ‘happy-ever-after’?
I absolutely LOVED this series and I’m so excited to be on the Blog Tour for it! This book has previously been released as four separate instalments and I jumped up and down each time the Blog Tour came around as I really wanted to be part of it. Finally my persistence paid off, and here I am!! And I’m so pleased to be here for the release of Ottercombe Bay as a full length novel. If you are going to read this book (which you really need to!), you might as well do it in one go!!
So, where do we start? Daisy returns to Ottercombe Bay for the first time since her mother died for her Great Uncle’s funeral. She doesn’t really want to be there and is intending to leave as soon as the funeral is over. Sly old Great Uncle Reg though has left Daisy an inheritance, but she has to stay in Ottercombe Bay for one whole year before she can claim it as her own, else she gets nothing! I loved Daisy’s character, although at the beginning when she first returns she comes across as a bit ‘stroppy’ and ‘temperamental’. Obviously there is a lot of background to Daisy’s story, which we don’t find out about until some way into the book, and this does explain why she’s doesn’t want to be back home. Thankfully, as the book moves on, Daisy really comes into her own and becomes such a lovely character!
The location of the book was wonderful and it had my imagination picturing all these places. The old station building sounds beautiful, and I have to admit I have a bit of a thing about trains and stations so having this in the story was great for me! You are kept guessing for a little while as to what Daisy turns the station into, but what it becomes is such a fabulous and modern idea. It certainly made me want to plan a visit! I loved the fact that Daisy has to stay in Ottercombe Bay for a year before she gets her inheritance – me personally, I would have stayed there for free!
As like previous books, the author has given us some wonderful writing. The story is heart-warming and romantic with plenty of laugh out loud moments. Daisy’s character has grows and grows as the book moves on and by the end I can’t believe she’s the same character who turned up in Ottercombe Bay a year ago! I also have to give Bug the dog a special mention! I loved Bug all the way through and I nearly choked on my cup of tea with the command for him to get into his basket!! (You’ll understand when you read it!).
The cover of the book is the “pièce de résistance” – it is absolutely beautiful. The covers for all of Bella’s books are works of art, and I for one would love to have them hanging on the wall. If you’re the type of person who ‘judges a book by this cover’ then this is definitely the book for you!
A fantastic series! I’ve loved every single word of this book and would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone! Cock-a-doodle-doo!!
Daisy likes to travel but she returns to Ottercombe Bay when her Great Uncle Reg dies, she left the Bay after her mum died when she was a young girl. Uncle Reg has left Daisy the old disused railway station but there are strict conditions, she has to stay for a year to claim her inheritance.
As Daisy has no choice, she decides to turn the railway station into a gin bar and a hot chocolate cafe so she can sell it when the year is up and continue with her travels, she also wants to find out how her mum died. As the months progress she finds herself falling in love with the bay, she also discovers she has feelings for her old friend Max and as her questions are finally answered about her mum, she has to decide whether to stay in the bay or continue with her travels.
A fun entertaining read with a good cast of characters which I enjoyed.
I loved this book. It's fun to read with lovely and quirky charachters.
The book hooked since the first pages and couldn't put it down.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for this ARC
Previously reviewed this one in it's serial form...all of my former opinions still apply :c)
My review has been posted to Goodreads.
Review has also been tweeted as usual.
Thank you! :c)
Returning to Devon years after her mum died there, Daisy inherits a house from her great uncle Reg who's just passed away.
Along with her aunt Coral, neighbour Tamsyn and Max she is set on doing it up, after getting over the shock.
After Max's dad gets out of prison, Tamsyn gets a boyfriend and Daisy discovers what happened to her mum and how she died, tensions rise at the old railway station especially her turbulent relationship with Max as her ex returns to her and causes a lot of trouble...
I totally loved the idea of inheriting a railway station as well as the characters whom bounced well off each other with their voices and ways. There was a nice contrast and I could believe in their friendships and relationships. It was a nice long read dealing with issues that can effect us all from death, grief, love and doubt I will definitely look out for more by Bella in the future!
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
As usual I picked this novel up based on the cover. It was interesting read. I would recommend it others who enjoy women's fiction.
What on earth do you do if you discover you have inherited an old abandoned railway station that has had planning permission turned down for multiple times? What do you do if the conditions of this inheritance are that you have to stay in Ottercombe Bay for a whole year especially when you a someone with itchy feet and never stays in one place for long?
Well that is exactly what Daisy is faced with, and along with some old and new friends has to make some big decisions.
There are other questions from her past that need answering, other mysteries to be solved and potentially a new love interest too.
Easily though my favourite character was Tamsyn, Daisy's wonderful best friend, who has a real way with words and a delightfully inquisitive mind - or you could just call her bonkers!
Add in to this story Bugsy Malone, a pug who takes an instant dislike to Daisy, and at times seemingly wants to get rid of her, and you have a brilliant set of characters to make a hugely entertaining book.
i loved reading this, it felt like a breath of fresh air, in amongst other books featuring surprise inheritances and keeps you reading and interested from start to finish. I loved it!
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
The moment I saw the cover I totally fell in love with this book. Yes, yes I know. I should not be judging by appearances. But what was inside was equally heartwarming and comforting. The book traces one year in Daisy's life when she is forced to stay in Ottercombe Bay in order to get her inheritance. So keeping her wanderlust on hold, she is forced to confront the painful memories related to her mother's death.
There is a mystery, a bit of romance and a lot of funny moments all thanks to the cunning black pug, Bugsy. I am glad Osborne gave him much importance, we can't help but adore him. I eagerly waited for his pranks all the time.
Osborne has successfully captured the life of Ottercombe in its true beauty and it stays as a soothing, calm village with helping, lovely neighbours till the very end. Quirky Tamsyn, sweet Jason, annoying but loving Max, caring Coral and the list goes on. It was almost as if I was living there myself. We could feel the salty sea breeze and a certain cosiness that can only be found in Ottercombe Bay.
Thank you, Avon, for giving me a review copy via NetGalley. It was an enjoyable read!
A very enjoyable book that appeals to all readers,never a dull moment well developed and characters are life like.
Could not put the book down a page turner.
I absolutely loved this series and it is wonderful to have it all together in one volume. It was amazing to see the plans for the railway station becoming a gin bar and hot chocolate café by day! You get drawn into the plans and get excited with all the developments and the vision for the opening! The characters are all wonderful - with a mystery running through the book
You will definitely make friends with the characters and fall in love with the bay,