Sunshine and Secrets was a great story and it made me want to hop on a plane and go to St. Lucia. She told us a heartwarming story and I felt like I was there in that beautiful country. Who wouldn't want to have the chance to fly over there and help with a cooking job? Me Me Me! (That is, if I could cook more than the basic stuff i can cook now). lol Thank you for this complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A delightful tale that blends cooking and The Caribbean with a whole host of loveable characters.Glad to see that it's the first of a series, I can't wait to see what happens next... (and happy to be transported to a view of the Pitons in St Lucia, as it's a long while since I've been there...)

Review

You know i have a weak spot for food based books, and when one based in somewhere as gorgeous as this one it was obviously going to tick all the boxes for me.

Sunshine & Secrets is a relatively short read but manages to pack so much punch in this time. We follow Millie whos holiday plans are changed at the last minute when she is offered the chance to oversee the launch of a new cookery school. The Paradise Cookery School infact. Its surroundings make it Paradise however, getting it completed to deadline is anything but. Millie is already battling her own issues of heartbreak and then having to deal with the estate manager Zach who is constantly rubbing her up the wrong way how is she going to manage to trial the recipes, manage the staff and solve the issues of missing cococa pods?

Sunshine & Secrets is a light summer read that manages to connect with the reader in such a small space of time, that has you dreaming of ripe fruit and freshly baked cakes. I was so hungry and was so ready to be sat with a cocktail by the end of this and to me that is a sure fire sign of a fantastic read. I wish it was longer, but knowing the story continues on makes it all the more bareable.

I do love a good location in a novel, and that is exactly what enticed me to want to read this book.  St Lucia is the most luscious of back drops for this story, and it provides exactly the kind of escapism that both Millie Harper and the reader need.  Set on a hilltop cocoa plantation, you can imagine the greenery, the warmth and you can almost smell that amazing aroma that you only find on a Caribbean island following the afternoon rainfall.  Daisy James captures all of this perfectly, and it really does add to the story.

Now to the story itself. Millie Harper is heartbroken, and despite being a Michelin-starred chef, she finds herself working in a little patisserie in London as she tries to forget her heartache.  When the opportunity arises to oversee the set up of The Paradise Cookery School, a new cookery school being set up by the celebrity cookery book writer Claudia Croft, Millie jumps at the chance to leave behind her those painful memories, if only for a couple of weeks.

The two weeks that follow involve sun, rain, some very relaxed workmen, a lot of cooking and the mystery of cocoa pods disappearing from the plantation. Millie finds herself working far harder than she expected whilst trying to ensure that The Paradise Cookery School is in a position to be the roaring success she knows it can be. Plus, what would a novel set in such a beautiful location be if there wasn't a hint of romance thrown in for good measure?  With both Zach, the estate manager of the plantation and the handsome Marc capturing Millies attention, could there be romance on the cards for her?

I really enjoyed Sunshine and Secrets.  There was beautiful scenery, a great main character that was definitely relatable and just enough intrigue and mystery to make you want to keep reading.  It is the perfect story to read whilst laying on a warm beach, or cuddled up under a blanket whilst its snowing outside, imagining the warm St Lucian sun on your face.  I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for a little escapism as it will draw you in and get you dreaming of balmy days in St Lucia.  I will definitely be reading the next instalment in this series, Confetti and Confusion, as soon as I can get a copy!

Thank you to Daisy James, Canelo and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.  Thank you also to Canelo for providing me with the opportunity to be part of this Blog Tour!

This is the first book by Daisy James that I've read but it certainly has a winning combination; what could be better than combining food and the Caribbean? The setting is exquisite and even though I've never visited Saint Lucia, this book transported me there and to be honest I was sorry to leave. The descriptions of the food are just as delicious and gave me cravings for the rest of the day. Of course, there is romance too as well as drama in the form of a last- minute rush to complete the renovation of the kitchens before the guests arrive. A lovely escapist read!

Sunshine and Secrets by Daisy James is a wonderful, feel-good read. I couldn't resist it. Being auto approved by Canelo, I downloaded it immediately and was taken in by the excitement of starting somewhere new and the travel bug. It is a read/listen you will not want to finish!.

Sunshine and Secrets captures the beauty of the Caribbean. Despite never having been to St Lucia, I could practically taste the food and rum, the descriptions were so vivid. I did not like Zach at first, but warmed to him as the story progressed. I liked Ella a lot, and also Millie.

In Sunshine and Secrets, Daisy James creates a wonderful portrait of what life can be like if you take risks, and shows that there is often more than one route to happiness.

Despite the small cast of characters, they are extremely well fleshed-out and realistic, and I felt like I knew them well by the end of the book. In fact, everyone in the book helped to represent the reality of life on a small paradise island.

The book sparked welcome memories of a holiday I had to Barbados, and I was pleased to be able to draw on my own experiences of the Caribbean climate, customs food and people.

I did feel that some of the secrets and scandals could have been explored more, and that the book's ending was quite abrupt. That said, I can see scope for another book on St Lucia with the same characters, and hope there will be one! The book has such an undeniably wonderful, feel-good, "holiday" feel that you will want to read it all year round. I wanted to listen to it again as soon as I'd finished! Sunshine and Secrets deserves 5 sparkling stars!

The cover is beautiful, too!

Thanks to Daisy James and Canelo for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Review: I love these types of stories. Heartbreak leads to a new life and while problems occur a handsome stranger appears to offer support, this one happens to be set in the wonderful location of St Lucia. A brilliant scrummy read for the summer.

Absolutely fabulous story! Very well written and just left me wanting more from the author!

A lovely story that leaves you wanting more. Looking forward to the next instalment.

Heading off on holiday with her mum, Millie is looking forward to her break until her sister Jen ropes her in to help author and creator of The Paradise Cookery School, Claudia after she falls I'll. So, pastry chef Millie diverts her travel to St Lucia and her time to oversee kitchen unit fittings, chocolate making classes with the assistance of fellow chef Ella and grounds master Zach, whom teases her like crazy since her accidental first encounter with him.



All the time whilst creating her delicious bakes, with all locally sources fruit and cocoa beans, it's a therapy of sorts to her mind and thinking as she hashes over her past with Luke and their more simple life before the shocking revelation came and turned her life into what it is now, living in London back home while taking chances abroad.



With secrets to discover and uncover, new friends and a fresh chance at love, we follow Millie through her heartache to possibly discover her future and further adventure awaiting her.



A perfect summer read and full of dreamy sweet treats it's enough to keep you hooked as I devoured this book in one sitting!

The story flowed and the plot kept you guessing about the couples who would work out as well as if the actual cookery school would get up and running in time, a gripping treat.



Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan and Cathy Bramley.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

This is a heartwarming, tasty treat from Daisy James. There’s beautiful imagery painting pictures of the location, characters and events, bringing the story vividly to life in the reader’s imagination. One of my favourite examples is:

"Here in St Lucia, the Pitons wore nature’s cloak of dappled sunlight, their lush flanks shimmering in the breeze like an emerald waterfall.”

WOW - hope that helps you see what I mean!

Millie Harper has had a dramatic break up and is still suffering from the fallout when she’s off to holiday with her Mum. Whilst waiting at the airport she is contacted by her sister and asked to travel to St Lucia instead to oversee the setting up of ‘The Paradise Cookery School’. This is a chance in a lifetime and she jumps at the opportunity. However, being dropped off by taxi at the bottom of a hill to climb to the School in the ‘liquid sunshine’ makes this a somewhat soaking wet introduction to the locale! Then get ready for the local workmen to have a somewhat relaxed idea about actually working and you’re in for some hilarious, heartwarming events in a superb setting and with many fantastic characters. Add in the mystery of appearing and disappearing crates of cocoa pods and the drama filled encounters with the estate manager and she’s in for an interesting stay! Can she get the school ready on time? What is happening to the cocoa pods? Is she ready for a new romance?

I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into this luscious story. The descriptions of food had my mouth watering, the beautiful landscape had me dreaming of warmer climes (it is snowing here at the moment!) and the mystery was perplexing! There are also elements of suspense, just to add to this delectable recipe for a fun read set in paradise. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to read more in this series and by this author!

I requested and received a copy of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

I had an ARC through Net Galley. I really enjoyed this book. It fits squarely into the Women's Comtemporary Fiction category and is a really example of it. I enjoyed that there was an element of mystery to it, and a location setting that I hadn't come across before. It appears to be a series, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading those too!

Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for a copy of this book. A most enjoyable book which almost made me feel I was in the sun despite the snow outside. Took a wee while to get in this book as at first it read a bit like a travel brochure but I soon got there and got involved in the magic of the island and the story. A very amusing and entertaining read.

I have just finished reading this book and i absolutely loved it! Easy to read and took me away to a foreign isle whilst dreaming of chocolate! What's not to love?! Xo

As always, I love a new Daisy James book. And this one just looked so inviting I couldn't resist! The book is set in the stunning St Lucia and if you don't finish this book wanting to visit this place then you are crazy! It sounds absolutely beautiful and I really loved reading it.

I didn't realise at first that this novel was going to be quite so short but I believe that there are different parts following up so hopefully we hear more about this story! The cover is totally beautiful and extremely inviting. I love the bright blue sea, the pretty flowers either side and the huge house in the background of course! It all stands out and makes you want to read it.

Onto the story itself, it follows main character Millie, who was asked to overlook some building and recipe work at a new up and coming cookery school: The Paradise Cookery School. As Millie soon learns, it's not plain sailing and there's enough action to rival a mystery novel! It was totally gripping and I couldn't put it down. I always love reading Daisy's novels but for me I think that this was one of her best.

There was quite a bit of humour involved and I loved that. It made me smile throughout and made me want to read more. I loved getting to know the new characters, they were really interesting and seemed really friendly. The location is of course another reason why I enjoyed this story so much. The descriptions of the weather, the sea, the forest, all sounded so beautiful and I was tempted to look up holidays!

Of course, one of the very main reasons why I loved this book was - obviously - the food. The food! It all sounded mouth-wateringly good and so delicious! If you're not hungry when you start reading then you will be by the time you're finished! Millie and new friend Ella had to do menu tasting and this just sounded sooooo nice! The dishes and recipes which Millie and Ella were creating were very high-class (I didn't know what half of them were but they equally sounded lovely) and I enjoyed reading and learning about foods and spices.

It was a brilliant way to start a new series and was really enjoyable. I can't recommend this book by the lovely Daisy James enough. Thank you to Netgalley and of course, the publisher, for a chance to read this novel which I have reviewed honestly.

Lovely feel good book. Perfect for the miserable weekend we just had. I could curl up and get lost in the pages and imagine I was there. It was a fun book to read. It really was heart warming to read. Easy light read that is just perfect.

A feel good romance set in a cookery school in the beautiful setting of Africa. It will make your tastebuds burst and keep you interested in the outcome.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher, Canelo for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Ellie from Canelo for organising the blog tour.

Chef, Millie Harper, is offered a last minute job overseeing the setup of The Paradise Cookery School in St Lucia. It should have been her sister going, but unable to go she asks Millie to take her place. Millie, newly heartbroken and on her way to visit her mother, figures she has nothing to lose! When she arrives on the beautiful Caribbean island, she realises things are going to be as easy as she thought. There is a lot more work that is needed to be done and she also has to contend with the Estate Manager, Zach Baxter, who she seems to have got off on the wrong foot with! Can she get the cookery school finished on time?

What better time of year to read a book based on a sunny Caribbean Island! To be honest though, when Millie arrives she does seem to have arrived during a heavy rainfall, which is definitely more like the British weather! The name of the cookery school is also so enticing – The Paradise Cookery School – you can understand why Millie decided to go! Millie’s character is lovely! Being a Michelin star chef, Millie is more than capable of organising the completion of the cookery school. She does, though, seem to run into problems with the lack of urgency of the St Lucian workmen and clashing with the Estate Manager.

I have to admit, you know where this story is going to go right from the beginning, but it was a delightful story getting there! It was a nice quick read with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting – you couldn’t really ask for anything more from a book! It would appear that this is the first book in the series, so I certainly look forward to the next instalment!

It seems an odd time of year to be reading a book set in the Caribbean, but I guess with the snow outside a burst of sunshine is most welcome! Sunshine and Secrets begins as Millie Harper has fled a failed romance and her dream job to live quietly as a pastry chef. Her sister is having none of this and manages to get her a job testing recipes for a new celebrity cookery school on a cocoa plantation in St Lucia – despite many reservations, Millie agrees.

From then on, this book is a whirlwind of exotic locations and descriptions of spices that you can almost taste, and a lovable cast of characters who both inspire and infuriate Millie in equal measure. From beach bums to love-sick gap year students, there is definitely a character that everyone will love, in addition to a sneakily included mystery plot that will keep you guessing.

Alongside the romantic storyline, I loved the foodie aspects of this book. There are lots of descriptions of the recipes Millie is testing, and traditional St Lucian food, plus in the scenes where Millie is cooking or baking, and when she explores the market, you can almost see and smell the spices and cocoa – definitely mouth-watering!

Ultimately, this book is just good fun and it would be a great addition to your summer reading pile – but whatever the weather, it’s guaranteed to bring a bit of sunshine into your day.

Lovely light hearted holiday read which is great to read on a cold winters night and be transported to the Caribbean..
Easy to read ,grabs you from the first page.
Great story that does not disappoint.