SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES. STANDING ON THEIR OWN TWO FEEEEEEET!

Ohhhhhh my goodness me - what a refreshing read this is! Being a single mum myself, of  course I am going to zoom in on those parts of the storyline, especially due to the way the author wrote them.

Many books I have recently which have featured a single mum or two, have made us single mums' out to be whining, negative women who aren't good role models to our children. This book however, did the complete opposite. Whilst I am incredibly proud to be a single mum, after reading Portia MacIntosh's new book, I felt even more proud to be one. Not only did MacIntosh celebrate single mums with her main character, Lily, she also showed all the haters that bringing up a child on your own is something to be proud of in more ways than one. This author didn't patronise us, nor did she make us out to be a negative thing. Instead, she embraced us by allowing her character to kick all of the haters bottoms. For that alone, I want to thank Portia MacIntosh for writing a story which shows single mums in a positive way - it's refreshing to see an author thinking for themselves where this topic is concerned.

So, Lily wants a new start for reasons which aren't clear to us readers at the start. Her son's happiness is at the forefront of her mind, but so is being able to lock the door on the past. However, with the locals going out of their way to alienate Lily and Frankie from the town before they have even unpacked their belongings, Lily's 'fresh start' looks to backfire before it has even properly begun. Even though Lily is determined to do things on her own without the help of a man, when her new neighbour comes to help her out, she knows it would be incredibly rude to say 'thanks but no thanks', especially when he is too hot to trot. The neighbour, not his llama (of course). 

It's amazing how much animosity one deli can cause. Or is the animosity radiating from her new visitor who likes the water the ground with his self attached hose? Who knows!

Hand on heart, if you were to ask me to tell you one negative thing about this book, I couldn't reply. It's not that I'm afraid of saying negative things, it's because I genuinely cannot think of anything negative to say. Portia MacIntosh really has outdone herself with the content of 'Summer Secrets at the Apple Blossom Deli'. From start to finish I was  gripped by such a refreshingly brilliant storyline which just kept on given. Even though the storyline contained more laugh out loud moments than serious moments, the author still managed to give the more serious situations the same amount of attention. Portia MacIntosh is known to make me snort drink from my nose, but when the vibe of the storyline changed to accommodate a stressful situation for Lily, MacIntosh delivered the sombre moments with the gritty oomph that they rightly deserved. Okay, she did include some things which did make me laugh out loud and visualise things when, being perfectly honest, I would have preferred NOT to, but it all worked very well together and I cannot fault the delivery of the theme in any way shape or form.

I LOVED every single thing about this book, so much so I had to wipe a stray tear from my eye when I reached the end (er, I think it was a stray tear, either that or the sweat from the 37573838 degrees outside was dripping down my face). I have everything crossed that 'Summer Secrets at the Apple Blossom Deli' is the start of a brand new series, but if it's not, I hope MacIntosh can feel MY LOOK radiating through this blog post as a 'wtf, get on with it'. Although, seeing as my daughter loves the fact the author has included a Shopkin name in her title (apple blossom), I cannot wait to see what Shopkin name you'll manage to put into the second book in the series - there had better be a second book!

Such a hilarious, unique, refreshingly brilliant, and addictive read which will tickle your taste buds more than Shirley Valentine like her ahems tickled until Friday. I urge you all to go and read this - you will be missing out on a beaut of a book if you don't!

Loved this cute and humorous romance. This book is well written with a good plot and characters. I couldn’t put this book down. I highly recommend this book.

Before I begin my review I have a shameful confession to make. Although I have several of her books on my Kindle ‘To Be Read’ pile, I haven’t actually read anything by Portia MacIntosh. I know, I know where have I been? I did say it was a shameful secret. Anyway sorry to digress a bit there. Going by how much I enjoyed reading ‘Summer Secrets At The Apple Blossom Deli’, those books are not going to be on that TBR pile for long. I absolutely loved reading it but more about that in a bit.
I really felt for the characters of Lily Holmes and her son Frankie Holmes. Lily has decided that she has to get away from where she is currently living. It’s obvious that something bad has happened. Hints are dropped throughout the book as to what happened. Frankie isn’t all that keen on the move to start with because he feels as though he is being uprooted from all her knows and he has to leave his friends behind. Thankfully Lily’s bosses are understanding of her situation and second her to work on opening a deli in a small seaside town. All does not go to plan though and she faces extreme hostility from the townspeople, who think that this deli will kill off local businesses. This hostility isn’t only directed at Lily, it even reaches as far as the school playground and is aimed in Frankie’s direction. My heart really went out to Frankie because nobody wants to be his friend and he is feeling isolated, spending a heck of a lot of time on his own. I’ve been in that sort of situation myself so I instantly understood how Frankie would be feeling. Frankie runs away and this is when we meet the hunky, handsome, gorgeous sounding cider farmer from the farm next door. Frankie is mesmerised by the animals on the farm and this is when he gets talking to the cider farmer. The cider farmer knows how it feels to be the outsider and so he supports Lily and gives her tips as to how to integrate herself into town life. Will Lily recover from what led her to flee her former home? Will Lily and Frankie manage to integrate into town life? Will Frankie make friends? Will Lily find happiness with the cider farmer from next door? Well for the answers to that question and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out.
I picked this book up at a perfect time for me. I was feeling a bit down in the dumps, my back was killing me and I was in desperate need of something to cheer me up. This book ticked all those boxes and more. I literally loved this book from the moment I opened the front cover. Reading this book became an addiction. The pages were turning so fast that it was almost as if they were turning themselves and before I knew what was happening I had finished the book which I was so disappointed about. The characters were all realistic and written in such a way that I really took to them and in Frankie’s case I found myself empathising with him because of being bullied. Difficult subjects are tackled within the book but the author writes about them in a compassionate way with a dash of humour thrown in for good measure. I also loved how the author wrote about a small town mentality, where the residents are immediately suspicious of outsiders and are paranoid that these newcomers will destroy town life as they know it. Again I really empathised with this because we moved to the village where I live over thirty years ago and I still feel like a newcomer at times. Reading ‘Summer Secrets At The Apply Blossom Deli’ certainly took me on an emotional, bumpy rollercoaster ride. There were moments, whilst I was reading this book where I wanted to cry, I found myself smiling, I felt myself wanting to lend a sympathetic ear to Lily, I found myself wanting to bang heads together or slap somebody silly with a wet fish, I found myself laughing at something that one of the characters had done and well you get the picture. This certainly is a book that has a bit of everything and will stay fresh in your mind for a while to come.
To conclude, I have to say that I really loved, no make that ADORED reading this book. As I indicated at the beginning of the review, I am going to make reading Portia’s other books one of my top reading priorities. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to other readers and especially to those who need cheering up or simply need a distraction. I can’t wait to read Portia’s next book. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.

The Blurb :
Lily Holmes is ready for a fresh start. And there’s no better place to begin again than the idyllic seaside town of Marram Bay.
All Lily wants to do is focus on making her new deli a success and ensuring her son’s happiness. Not the postcard creeping out of her handbag, and definitely not finding a new man in her life!
But this isn’t going to be as easy as she first thought. The town is in uproar about the city girl who’s dared to join them and she’s fighting a battle at every turn.
Perhaps with a little help from the gorgeous cider farmer next door, she may be able to win them over, but her past secrets threaten to ruin everything…

My Thoughts :
We meet Lily Holmes, Lily has left behind the bright lights of London and her son’s dad to move to Marram Bay in Yorkshire. Along with her 8 year old, Frankie, Lily has high hopes for a new start by opening a new deli as part of a chain of YumYum delis that she works for. Moving into a beautiful cottage called Apple Blossom, filled with apple trees in the garden, Lily thinks she can make Marram Bay her home.
Soon she realises the whole town doesnt want her there and will do anything to ship her out. Lily will not be beaten and trys to win over the residents of the bay.
I really warmed to Lily from the off, she is a very likeable charactor and likes to get things done.
Her first meeting was with cafe owners Clara and her husband, who offer Lily and Frankie a meal when everything else was closed. Lily also has run in’s with Frankie’s new teacher Mrs Snowball (love this name) as she often arrives late to drop or pick Frankie up.
And then there is Cider Farmer Alfie, who maybe after more than just her Apple trees.
With an array of fun charactors we are treated to a great summer read with a few twists and turns along the way, Portia MacIntosh as always delivers us a treat, one that will leave us smiling from ear to ear.

This novel is the perfect summer read. Highly enjoyable, very atmospheric, and with engaging characters that will entertain you for the entire novel (there are a few scenes that are really hilarious). It opens with the protagonist, thirty-one-year old Lily Holmes, arriving to Marram Bay, a touristic town in Yorkshire, with her eight-year-old son, Frankie, full of hopes and dreams and ready for a new start. But her hopes are quickly crushed when she learns that the entire town doesn’t want her there, because of the new deli she is there to open. Luckily, Lily doesn’t give up easily and she prepares to win the town over.

I liked the character of Lily. She is portrayed as a strong woman, a single mother raising a child alone, juggling a full-time job, her eccentric mother who pretends to be her sister, the hate of a town that doesn’t want her there, and the arrival of two men who just seem to want to complicate her life even more. One is Nathan, her ex-boyfriend and father to her eight-year-old son. He is a hippie who wants to save the world by eating vegetables and spending his time on Lily’s couch watching reality shows and soap operas. The other man is Alfie, the handsome and charming neighbour who seems attracted to Lily, but he seems too perfect to be true.

SUMMER SECRETS AT THE APPLE BLOSSOM DELI is a heartwarming, well-written, and entertaining novel.

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

A new part of their lives awaits Lily Holmes and her son Frankie in the seaside town of Marram Bay. She will manage a deli there; her company even gave her a cottage to live in.

Things are not easy and they get more complicated when she arrives. It turns out the locals don’t want the deli and they don’t want Lily there. Frankie struggles at school with his teacher and he doesn’t have friends. The mothers turn against Lily as well. Luckily they find Clara and Henry, who are really nice, as well as Alfie, their neighbour from the farm. The two of them have instant chemistry and he tries to help her with the locals as well.

Lily hires Channy though and hears all the gossip, also things about Alfie. Is he really just a womanizer and goes on date after date?!

When Frankie’s dad turns up, things get even more complicated and Alfie’s vet friend Charlie definitely adds some drama as well.

The story has a very exciting and interesting storyline with a great flow. It’s a roller-coaster ride for Lily, full of a lot of sweet and memorable moments. Portia MacIntosh captured them beautifully. Frankie added some sweetness as well and I just adored the scenes between Alfie and Lily.

The ending is wonderful and it’s great to see the change in everyone. The book is about juggling single motherhood and a job, but so may other things as well. It’s romantic, sweet, vivid, fresh, I really like Portia MacIntosh’s writing style.
The characters in this book are well well lined out and relatable.

It’s the perfect holiday read full of highlights and exciting moments!

Summer Secrets at the Apple Blossom Deli is a charming, summery read that takes us to Marram Bay and into the life of Lily Holmes as she meanders through all sorts of highs and lows, from single motherhood, moving to a new town, disgruntled locals, opening a new restaurant, an unexpected visit from her ex, and a blossoming new romance.

The prose is well turned and light. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are amusing, quirky, authentic, and cordial. And the plot is a fun, flirty, beguiling tale full of tricky situations, tender moments, humorous mishaps, self-discovery, friendship, family, community, happiness, romance, and scrumptious food.

Overall, Summer Secrets at the Apple Blossom Deli is another entertaining, refreshing, enjoyable treat by MacIntosh that reminds us that life is truly an adventure!

Lily is in the unenviable position of opening a chain restaurant in a small town where the locals are (rightly) concerned about what this will mean for them. Marram Bay seems like the perfect place for Lily and her son Frankie to get a fresh start away from London and Frankie's dad but it's not so easy at first. The ups and downs of the move are at the heart of what turns into a charming romance not only for Lily and Alfie, the local cider maker, but also for Lily and the town. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This has a good heart and made for a lovely read on a sunny afternoon.

First book I have read from this author and I enjoyed it.

Lily has moved to Marram Bay with her young son for a new start in the country, leaving London far behind.
Her job is to set up and run a new deli in town, problem is that the locals aren't too happy and don't want her or the deli in town. The only person on her side in handsome neighbour Alfie.

An entertaining read with a great range of characters.

What a cute cosy romance! I loved everything about this story. The characters, the setting, the plot. This book was a joy to read. I would love to read more about the characters in Marram Bay and luckily it seems Portia MacIntosh is writing more about them.

Really looking forward to reading more by this author.

Solid chick lit…doesn’t take itself too seriously! You’ll laugh, cry, and say “Oh! No!” Definitely a fun weekend read :c)

This is a story about Lily, who moves with her 8 year old son, Frankie, to a small, northern coastal town called Marram Bay.
She moved to Apple Blossom cottage and plans to open up another deli in a chain of YumYum delis that she works for.
The move is a way for her to get away from the past, start afresh and give her little boy a better quality of life in the country, rather than being cooped up in London.
Lily’s move is a rollercoaster for her. She isn’t welcomed into the small town; the locals fearing that the deli will ruin business for the other livelihoods ran by the town’s natives.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s perfect holiday book material and made me laugh out loud and smile throughout. I liked the characters and felt like they were well developed.
I’d recommend this to anyone who wants a quick, easy, enjoyable read and for this who enjoy Jojo Moyes, Sophie Kinsella and Giovanna Fletcher.

I've never before read a novel by this author but this cover was simply too beautiful to refuse. I also loved the storyline so as soon as I saw it on Netgalley I thought I'd request. Now I was so glad that I did!

It follows main character Lily and her son who move to a beautiful little village called Marram Bay. Lily is set with a task of setting up a new deli but, unfortunately, the other locals aren't happy. Not only are they not happy with the new deli, they also aren't happy with Lily and her son moving into their domain! The locals seemed a little old fashioned in this sense and I really felt for Lily and her son Frankie.

A lot goes on in this novel, making it exciting and unputdownable. We soon find that not all the locals are as cold as the rest, and Lily soon makes friends with a few people, such as Clara and her husband. She also meets Alfie, who is a cider farmer close to her home, and the pair hit it off. But is Lily happy with where she is? Or will the other locals drive her out and back to London?

Overall, it was a really lovely and easy read. I would definitely be looking out for further novels by this author. I would recommend you giving this a go!

An adorable summer feel good book.

The story begins with our heroine and her son relocating up North to open a deli. They have to face a number of trials and tribulations when it comes to fitting in and winning over the locals. I love a good chick lit now and again but I like the female leads to be a bit stronger. I felt she bowed down to other people a lot and could have stood up for her son with a lot more gusto than what she actually did. I found I just wanted to give her a good shake through most confrontational issues.

It’s an easy read, not to be taken too seriously. I received an advance copy and there are quite a few spelling errors and grammatical errors that I’m sure will be ironed out before publication.

Lily and her son Frankie are new to Marram Bay moving from London as her job demands it. As she prepares to set up a deli branch for her bosses like they asked her to, she has to contend with all the locals whom are deeply against the idea and Danny to stop it opening and in their eyes stealing their local trade.



They befriend locals Clara and her husband whom run the cafe on the very day they arrive and they cook them their welcome meal as well as later helping out babysit Frankie.



She has to deal with Mrs Snowball who's Frankie's new teacher as she often takes him to school late for varying reasons and the teacher often has words with her over other matters too.



She meets cider farmer Alfie after her son runs off and As she has a garden now full of apple trees she realises that cider farming makes a lot of sense local business wise and he also makes jams.



However, once she hires Channy to work in the deli once it's open, she learns more about the locals and especially about Alfie's character. She later goes on some dates with him and end up together back at Lily's only for Frankie's dad and then Viv, Lily's mum to turn up!



So as she tries to win over the locals, successfully open the deli, possibly become Alfie's girlfriend and deal with nightmare Nathan and his vegan ways influencing their son, will she be able to manage it all?



This was a really great book, we see the struggles single motherhood can bring whilst keeping a career but Lily is a strong capable woman who doesn't need a man but gets her happy ending anyway! The writing was fun but dramatic at the right times while there was no dips in action waning off as Frankie or Lily have so many things going on in their lives.



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

Lily Holmes has high hopes as she opens her new deli in a tiny English coastal village. She believes she and her son have found the perfect place to start over. What she didn’t count on was the resistance from the locals. They don’t take kindly to an outsider moving into their village and “trying to change things”. Lily is crushed, she has to make this work. Maybe the good-looking apple orchard, cider making next door neighbor and put in a good word on her behalf?