So, can you tell I’m trying to get all the Christmas reads to you before Christmas? (Yes, I do know we’re there, really!)

So this is the story of Tilly, who I was thrilled to hear was an interior decorator (I love books that involve transforming places, especially at Christmas!) Tilly is trying to cope with her sister Bridget (who was excellently done in moving from spoilt and naggy to down to earth and back again!) Tilly is being pushed into committing further by her short term boyfriend Rufus who is hilarious in how dedicated he is to clinging onto their relationship because he’s so taken by Tilly’s character. And so was I (taken with her, that is!)! I enjoyed everything about Tilly and found myself always rooting for her as she tried to set up her sister Bridget with the newest addition to the area, racing driver Seth and his son (Bridget also has a child).

It’s claimed this is a ‘laugh out loud’ and I’d argue that it’s more of a ‘snort out loud’ read, as some of the moments totally catch you unaware. Sadly the only parts that I had to drag my eyes back to were actually those involving the cafe, but only because I really wanted to see how her and Seth were going to help Seth keep his son, since Seth’s mother was intent on taking over guardianship.

All in all, I very very much enjoyed this and have bookmarked Karen Clarke into my list of authors to continue reading. Oh and I read it as a standalone as opposed to as part of the series (I might have clicked more with the cafe, her friends and boss if I had but as I said the book had mountains more to keep me occupied!!) Thanks so much to Bookouture and Netgalley for the book in return for an honest review.

f you're looking for a book that will make you laugh and weaves Christmas and romance together then this is the book for you. Tilly's exploits will draw you in and leave you dying to know what happens with the handsome stranger, the one Tilly doesn't realize is world-famous. I had a smile on my face more than once while reading this book, take a chance on it, and let your spirits be brightened.Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. #Netgalley

An entertaining Christmas story with a great setting and loveable characters. I enjoyed reading Tilly’s story, and was cheering for her happily-ever-after. This wa my first book to read by this author, and I really liked her writing style.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I love Christmas books and really enjoyed returning to the Café at Seashell Cove. Tilly is tasked with getting the café ready for a really special party.
She rescues Sam's son from the sea and romance blossoms between the two. They have a lot of 'baggage' to overcome and a few bumps in the road. But it's a really lovely relationship building.
The book is leading up to all the wonderful plans in the air for the party and you can feel the anticipation and magic in the air.
I can't wait to read more from Karen Clarke

Here we are at the final instalment of the Seashell Cove series. Readers of my blog might know that I wasn’t too keen about Cassies story, but that the lovely Meg swept me of my feet. So let’s see if Tilly could warm my hearth.
In the last instalment of the Seashell Cove serie we follow Tilly. In the previous novels she always felt like the wild child of the trio. And when we meet her in the first few chapters of the book that image is confirmed. Tilly doesn’t really know what to do with her life. Everybody expects her to behave like a grown up, but what does that mean? I loved Tilly’s free spirit. She has a warm and gentle hearth and wants to please the people she loves. But in doing so she sometimes seems to forget that she is the one who has to life her live and become happy. I really enjoyed spending time in Tilly’s head. But and it pains me to say this, that is where the enjoyment pretty much stopped.
The overall story is pretty predictable. From the very first minute that Tilly meets Seth and his wonderful son it is crystal clear where the story is going to take you. And I have no problem with that what so ever. I read these books for the smouldering romance, so no complaints there. But… and this is a major but then I should actually feel the romance. Tilly and Seth had zero chemistry or maybe that was just me missing it all because I was so annoyed with what an ass Seth was. Seth is one of the least manly man I have read about in the past few months. And when I say that it means something. Alfa men are absolutely not my cup of tea. Far from even! Cave man don’t make my heart beat faster. But has no balls on his entire body, so I just couldn’t feel Tilly being attracted to him.
Another part of the story that I disliked was the fact that Tilly just couldn’t be a strong, independent woman who made her own choices. Everything was solved for her in a convenient way. I won’t go to much in debt, because I don’t want to spoil the story for you. But she can’t just get out of a relationship because she is unhappy. No, the guy turns out to be a lunatic and that is why she gets out. What is wrong with a woman standing up for herself and just saying this doesn’t make me happy so I am going to let go. Another example is one of the big problems Tilly is faced with in this book. Instead of making her a strong character that solves her own problems, let’s bring a men into the story so he can save her!
And the last of my complaints this book might be titled The Christmas Café at Seashell Cove, don’t expect to be blown away by all the Christmas cheer in this story. Tilly’s story could have taken place in any time of the year if you ask me. Only in the last 10 pages Christmas takes a prominent role. If course for fans of the series that won’t really matter, but I was a little disappointed. I was really looking forward to explore Seashell Cove during the holiday season. But no, don’t go dreaming about luscious descriptions of fairy lights in the village or wonderfully scented Christmas baking’s, because they are hardly there.
I think I can safely say that this series was a bit of a disappointment for me. The writing is good and the overall storylines are fun and entertaining, although very predictable. But I really disliked a lot of the characters and really missed character development. But if you are a fan of the previous books I think you will enjoy this last instalment of the series.

Review will be published on my blog on 24/12/2018

Such a fun, amazing read! Highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. All opinions are my own.

For the first time ever, I read a book that’s part of a series, out of sequence. And I didn’t really mind half as much as I thought I did. This book is the third book in the Seashell Cove series, and usually, I HATE to read a book when I haven’t read the ones before it. But as each of the books in the seashell cove series have different protagonists, it made reading out of sequence a lot easier. There were times when I wish I had read book one and two, namely when the other protagonists stepped into the story. Especially because this meant I knew how their lives turned out, leaving less mystery if I go back and read the other two books (which I am hoping to do at some point). It was easy to read as a standalone though, and Karen made it quick to pick up on the plots from the past books.

It was a really sweet story that was both warming and festive. Tilly, the protagonist was really likeable. I would love to have her as a friend. And Seth, the love interest, was extremely dreamy, I’d developed a bit of crush on him by the end of the book.

The story-line was fast paced, a real page-turner, and I found that I couldn’t put it down. It was full of drama, and although the romance was a little predictable, it was so sweet that you forgave the fact that you knew they were going to end up together from the start. Every character in the book was dynamic and interesting and I especially loved Jack’s presence in the story (Seth’s son), and his story-line.

I really enjoyed this book, and I would love to read Cassie and Meg’s stories sometime in the future. I have found recently that I share my mum’s love for these kinds of stories a lot more than I thought I did. They are like the paper versions of the Hallmark movies I am so fond of. Innocent, heartwarming and harmlessly entertaining. Sometimes I just want to read something cosy, that makes me laugh and feel happy to combat some of the more serious novels I like to read.

This was the perfect read such a delightful read that I was completely hooked throughout. This is a new author for me and I can't wait to read more of Karen's books.

Lovely festive Christmas read. Perfect for over the long winter nights. Magical storyline. Great characters that pull it all together

This is the third in the Seashell Cove series and while it can very easily be read as a standalone I personally think you gain more from having read the others. It's nice being able to recognise places and characters and revisiting them is an added bonus.

This story was a great Christmas read, it was warm, fuzzy and it definitely got me in the Christmas spirit.

Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

This appears to be the week for "café" books. If holiday stories aren't set in cafes, then they are set in bookstores. Regardless of the setting, however, The Christmas Café at Seashell Cove is a delightful, humorous holiday tale. Seashell Cove is a series by Karen Clarke that features a different resident in each book, although past and future featured characters all make at least a cameo appearance in the current storyline.

Tilly is a free spirit who loves to work wherever her heart leads. Currently she is doing interior design work but she refuses to take it too seriously or even call it a "job." She likes getting paid to do what she loves without the strings of a "business" attached. This Christmas, however, her friends and the café owners, are putting a great deal of pressure on her to turn the new addition to the café into something spectacular, each wanting to use the grand opening holiday celebration as a very special occasion to reveal big surprises. In addition, there is a new man in town with a young son who may, or may not, hire Tilly to redecorate his new home. The man, Seth, unfortunately comes with a very overbearing mother who has ideas of her own. 

There are all of the usual holiday read must-haves: a bit of intrigue, encouraging friends, a colorful character or two and, most importantly, romance with missed cues and crossed signals that can keep the reading enjoyable and interesting. The folks of Seashell Cove always are a delight to catch up with and Tilly's character is one of the best and most interesting to date. 

If you are a fan of cozy books - mystery or romance - and like a good holiday tale that is not too over-the-top Christmassy, then The Christmas Café at Seashell Cove is a must read for you. Once you've read this one, I encourage you to catch up with the other folks from Seashell Cove. You will be glad that you did. 

Much appreciation to #Netgalley, @Bookouture, and the author, @KarenClarke123 for my copy of this humorous tale!

Tilly is an interior designer, but lives in a small town on the coast. She has never had a real "adult" relationship, and is trying one with a local college instructor. But, things change when she meets a handsome man on the beach after rescuing his young son from the water. Turns out he's a retired race car driver and a single father. His own mother, however, is trying to take his son away from him, an she's very bossy and arrogant. Tilly thinks her sister, who's separated from her husband and has a young daughter, might be a good match so she sets them up on a date. Meanwhile, Tilly's trying to get a project finished at a local cafe in time for a holiday party.
The story line is very interesting. You sort of hope that it will go one way, but lots of things get in the way and you begin to wonder. I thought that the children, in particular, were nicely-drawn characters. They added some fun to the story.
I'd highly recommend this book for a good holiday read!

I know I mention this a lot, but I love it when an author gets the complexities of sisters’ relationships right. Honestly, whether you’re born *really close together* or *really far apart*, sibling relationships are so complicated? You’ve got to appreciate it when it just feels right.
That can definitely be said for Tilly’s relationship with her sister, Bridget. There’s a lot of history there, but the way Karen Clarke manages to make her way through all of that? Just beautiful. Especially because it’s based on a mutual understanding and a development of character that – honestly? You don’t really see too often for secondary characters!
What I also loved, was the set up of Tilly’s friend-group. This is the third book in a series, so her friends have each already got their “moment to shine”, so to speak. However, starting the series with this book, I found that that didn’t really make my understanding of the friendship group any less. If anything, I really appreciated the way these three friends are there for each other.
Finally, of course, there’s the romance. And while the *endgame* was pretty obvious from the get go? I loved the twists and turns thrown in there. Possibly, that was why I felt a bit let down by the ending: the lead up to that “big kiss” was so good? That the moment it actually happened, I felt as if it should have been something more. More of a big declaration, maybe. Although, of course – wishing for snow and then actually getting snow? That will never not be the perfect ending for a cosy read made for the holidays!
Rating: 3.25/5

This is the final installment in the Seashell cove series. This time we learn all about the character of Tilly who is living from little interior design jobs. This time she has been asked to renovate the Seashell Cove little café which won't be as easy as expected. In the meantime she meet a beautiful and famous man while saving his young son from drowning into the sea. I found this book quite entertaining, fun and full of events and romance. Tilly is trying to work out what a real relationship with a man should feel and look like. She hasn't had a real relationship with a man so far. In my opinion this last book from the Seashell Cove series is not the best installment of the 3, but I still enjoyed it a lot! Can't wait to see what Karen Clarke will come up with for her next book!

Another great book by Karen Clarke. The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove is the third book in the series but is so great it can be read as a stand-alone book.
This book is Tilly’s story and like the rest is well written.
A fab book that I struggled to put down.

Lovely story that brings together Meg, Cassie and Tilly. We’ve already heard Meg and Cassie’s stories in previous Seashell Cafe books so this is the turn of Tilly.

Warm and embracing, this series is set at the Devon seaside and it is the bookish equivalent of a cosy armchair and a hot chocolate - perfect companions on a rainy afternoon. It has a real Christmassy feel and is full of warmth, mischief and amusing episodes... plus a few that are more tricky.

This has been my favourite Seashell Cafe book - and I’ve loved them all.

The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove was an absolute delight to read. Even though this story is part of a series I didn't feel like I was left on the back foot having only arrived at this episode as I was put into the picture of Seashell Cove perfectly.

This story was a pure joy to immerse myself in filled with family, friends and that perfect sprinkling of Christmas charm. Tilly and Seth's chemistry sizzled and added that extra layer of magic to the story creating that irresistible Christmas happy ever after.

A well written and easy to read story that gave me plenty of lough out loud moments. This is a perfect read for the festive months and has left me wanting more so I'm now off in search of the remaining books that make up this series.

This is the first book I have read from this Author and I was pleasantly surprised.

At first I found the book a little hard to get going and a bit dis-jointed but soon started to get my head round the
characters & the setting.
The story soon picked up momentum & although the ending was a given I enjoyed it.

This is the third book in the Seashell Cove series and I can say you don’t need to have read the previous two books to enjoy this one and I highly recommend the first two books as if they are both fantastic.

Beautifully written, easy to read cosy book with a charming seaside town setting with a lovely community feel. Great characters who are easy to identify with, lovely romance and a great plot. Heartwarming, a story of new beginnings and the importance of friends and family. I loved it.

Perfect for a cosy evening or weekend snuggled up on the sofa. A festive trat which is a joy to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.