Following up the story from Summer in a Cornish Cove, this story brings us back to choices made and chances pushed off for both Cara and Oliver, as their hearts are both searching for something more. I read the first and found the atmosphere of the place, and Cara’s struggles after losing her beloved Christo, her artwork and her friends and family banding together were standouts, and I think the relationship between she and Oliver lost much in the ‘romance’ department for me – as he was married and playing out – even as he refused to see the limitations of his situation. But now we are two years-ish on, and Cara has a new little boy, Toby, fathered by Oliver – and is doing her best to hold it all together, reveling in her children, creating her “Cornwall infused” art, and trying to sort out just why she feels uncomfortable with Greg, now recently widowed and her ‘mentor’ to all things artistic, constantly pushing her to shed the ‘hippie artiste’ veneer and step into the world of the ‘up and comers’ in the art scene. And, poor Cara, content with her own tiny gallery and uncomfortable with all the expectations from Greg – and his constant push to get her to the States and into his bed – it truly is a self-serving (and rather creepy) portrayal of desperation thinly veiled behind a mask of ‘helpful’.

But again, Ryder brings the magic of Cornwall to the forefront – as Oliver is struggling in their newly defined marriage, watching his youngest son retreat and withdraw, worried that the young boy is suffering from a similar depression. His wife Deanna is ‘asserting her control’ and showing the many cracks in her own façade – making choices and proclamations for the family without any regard for Oliver – and clearly attempting to punish him at every turn for the summer with Cara. A bit more grasping and cold-hearted than I originally saw her as in the first book – when Oliver fell into her game as she used their youngest son to rein him in – the continued attempts to punish and show herself as in control did them both a disservice -sadly, it took Oliver a bit to put his own guilt into perspective and see that what they had developed was not good for them or the kids. And his depression – worsening and becoming a daily struggle, only lessened by close examination of the painting from Cara’s hand in his study. Despite the less-than-ideal way these two found one another, the love and desire between Oliver and Cara is clear to see.

It’s going to take significant time, a quick chance encounter, and a declaration of love worthy of a Hallmark movie to bring these two together again. And Ryder brings us there through multiple moments with friends, family, self-reflection and self-discovery – all neatly detailing and infusing the story with the touchstone of Cornwall and it’s wildly changeable beauty. From the cliffs and giant waves to quiet estuaries, tropically lush gardens, cloudless skies that bring the stars to your fingertips we are treated to both Cara and Oliver reaching for and clinging to the star they built from hope, heart and love into a future full of possibility and potential. This one added the heart and sense of character I missed in the first – and brings a whole new sense of ‘fated’ to this couple.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-a4n/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Have not read the first book but found it did not matter. The setting for this book (Cornwall) was described in great detail. A thoroughly good read.

I haven't read the first book but felt that wasn't a hindrance. The author did a great job of keeping the reader abreast of the story.
The first couple of chapters were grating to read. Lots of telling and not a lot of showing. I felt like I was reading the side notes for a play. But the author got into her stride and the story flowed nicely.

Cornwall is stunning and she brought that out beautifully. The story was a little small and I would have liked to see more development with the Greg storyline. There wasn't enough threat from him and I couldn't understand why she was so enamoured of him. Maybe I would have appreciated that if I had read the first book.

This was a simple, entertaining read. I could imagine reading it on holiday down in Cornwall and enjoying the ports and cliffs mentioned.

I enjoyed the previous book in this mini series but was disappointed in the finish. This book takes up the story from where the previous book left off and was an entertaining read. I would not like to have read it without having read the first, as. I think I’d have been a bit lost in places.

Loved, loved, loved this book!

Plot about an artist painting in a small village in Cornwall. Lovely Cara is widowed and raising 3 children. The last one a child from an affair with a married actor who must stay with his wife because she threatened him with the loss of his children. He gives up his sucessful career when his wife tells him its her turn to go to work and basically leaves the family to pursue her dream. Both end up going down 2 different paths to happiness.

Beautifully written, characters believable, and with scenery you can imagine in your eyes mind.

A love triangle with Cara and 2 men, but also a love story of family, friends and places. If you’ve never been to the south of England, this book will make you want to go.

My only complaint is that the end is rushed, like a lot of books. It’s was a “cant put this book down” for me. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced read

Cottage on a Cornish Cliff,  Kate Ryder

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: women's Fiction, Romance

Gah, women's fiction...men write romance, they read it too, so I hate this category. Sexist and outdated.

I hadn't read book one so borrowed it via KU.
I enjoyed it though I had a few reservations, especially the way Oliver is so – well – spineless. He lets Sylvie walk all over him, he lets Deanna run their lives and when he meets Cara he finally takes something for himself but he still hasn't sorted out his marriage and the ending I thought was so sad.

I was so hoping in book two he'd finally step up, man up, be responsible. When he was with Cara he seemed a different man, and I loved him, then he'd get depressed again and just let events happen. I know depression is hard, but its not just him suffering, its his family, children, and of course Cara and her family. He knows he has an issue – I just wanted him to try to take steps to deal with it. He seems to use it as an excuse.... “the Grey Mist descended” and he just lets it.
So I was really hoping for good things for Cara in book two, wanting her and Oliver to be together. When he was with her he really seemed a better man. I didn't like Deanna, his wife, felt that she wanted the celebrity aspect, the wealth and benefits more than she really wanted Oliver. He seems almost like an afterthought in their marriage. Maybe it started differently but now they've become two separate people held together by the children.
Cara's art career is blooming, helped along by Greg. I did not like that man, he just seemed so sleazy, being overly touchy with Cara even when his publicly beloved wife was dying. Inevitably Cara gets swept along by the changes he says she needs to make to reach the top in her art, but I kept thinking did she want that or was it Greg? She was happy painting, selling online and in her gallery, and now the pressures built was she still happy. Had her art become more burden than pleasure? It certainly appeared that way.

There's the same mix of secondary characters as in book one but somehow I didn't enjoy this as much as that one, even though I didn't like the way book one ended :-)
Its kind of a sad story here, no-one seems really happy, Oliver is back with the family but its clear things aren't right there, Deanna is stretching out picking up her career, but doesn't want full independence, doesn't want to lose Oliver – or at least I felt she didn't want to lose the lifestyle, Greg is carefully grooming Cara but I felt it was more for the career prestige of discovering a new top artist than for herself, and Cara misses Oliver badly, and seems to be taken in by Greg and his advice for her art even though its not making her happy.
I found most of the story a bit hard going, even though its perfectly written. I was so convinced Oliver was leaving it too late, that Cara was going to move forward with Grey. Deanna? Well, TBH I never liked her so I wasn't bothered what she did as long as she let Oliver move on. In both books there are odd snippets of precognition, or the supernatural and I felt it jarred rather than added to the story.

Stars:Three, a well written book, but a story that just didn't connect closely with me.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

My review has been posted to my blog & Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

The star of this book is undoubtedly the location – the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall. Cara and Oliver have forsaken love to care for their families, but the magic and beauty of Cornwall may be able to work its magic to bring these two love-lorn souls together. A gentle love story with a magnificent backdrop