It was cute.
I enjoyed following Tess and Simon. But the other characters took some space, and sometimes that felt unessesary. But it was cute and enjoyable.

This was an easy, light read in a familiar setting, accurately described with a wealth of characters who were well drawn and developed.
The author is new to me but one I will happily recommend and revisit.
If you enjoy being entertained, amused and like recognising your own foibles in characters, plus appreciate that love and adventure is not the sole right of the under sixties!!!! Read and enjoy.

Another great book by this writer, the characters are all so warm and quirky and I love the whole idea of the story and would love to stay there myself!

I was so delighted when I found out that not only did Dee McDonald have a new book out, but that we were meeting Tess again! You don’t have to have read any of her previous books (though you’re really missing out if you haven’t, because they’re fabulous), but if you have, you’ll remember Tess from before. Now married to Simon, they have a perfectly good life in London, with no plans to move to the countryside, but one trip to Cornwall changes all that. They face so many challenges restoring the old house, and as always in Dee’s books, we have many hilarious moments.

The wonderful characters and funny stories continue when the guests finally arrive, with some eccentric and interesting characters.

This book has it all; great humour, wonderful characters, beautiful setting and even a bit of crime from what would seem an unlikely source!

Just the book to lift your spirits and put a smile on your face, whilst keeping you thoroughly engrossed and entertained. Wonderful.

My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of “ The Golden Oldies Guesthouse “ for an honest review.

I hadn’t realised this was part of a previous series and read it as a stand-alone novel , which was of no problem at all. I thoroughly enjoyed this book , loved the characters and the setting of Cornwall, where I love.
The only downside to reading this book is that i can’t be a guest at Sparrows Nest .
It was really nice to read a book that dealt with the lives of the older generation for a change.
A definite recommendation .

I hadn't realised this was part of a series so I read this as a standalone. I think it reads well as a standalone and was a fantastic read.

Tess and Simon aren't planning on moving to Cornwall and starting a B&B but that's exactly what happens. It's love at first sight when they see the property and neither need any convincing to purchase it. The house is in need of lots of renovation work to turn it into the property of their dreams. When they finally open, their guests are nothing but quirky and completely different from one another.

The first half of the book was all about the renovation work being undertaken at their property. It feels slow at times but really builds the story up and sets the scene for the rest of the book. There are plenty of giggles with the characters around the village and the guests that visit the Sparrow's Nest.

The Golden Oldies Guesthouse has a little bit of everything in it. Dee MacDonald has a fantastic writing style and managed to encapsulate humour, romance and mystery within. An easy, heartwarming read that you're sure to enjoy.

Loved this well written book. It featured well drawn characters and a storyline that kept me reading. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Despite being a follow on from previous works this Tory works brilliantly as a stand alone as we get to see Simon and Tess on a new adventure with new characters. This story is full of humour, laughter and tender moments and is a comfy, lovely read. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc.

Tess and Simon buy a rambling guesthouse and have lots of work to get it up and running. I absolutely adored this story- seeing the guesthouse transform and start to have guests , with their own stories to tell. I can't wait to read more by Dee MacDonald. The characters are just wonderful and you get totally immersed in the story.

What a charming, adorable story! I'd love to see this one made into a movie.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness, I am so glad I found this book. The Golden Oldies Guesthouse is wonderful. The story is lovely, the characters are charming and the writing style of Dee McDonald will send you searching for other books she has written. I found this book delightful. Its sweet, and funny and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Thank you netgalley for the free arc. This review is my own opinion.

The Golden Oldies Guesthouse by Dee MacDonald
Source: NetGalley and Bookouture
Rating: 4/5 stars

While most people in their sixties are looking forward to the rest and relaxation that comes with retirement, newly married Tess and Simon Sparrow are looking for a new adventure. On the cliffs of Cornwall, Tess and Simon find exactly what they’ve been looking for, a run-down house that with, a good bit of work, will make a lovely bed and breakfast.

A good bit of work . . . . .

With their respective homes in London sold for a tidy profit and a whole host of hope, Tess and Simon begin contacting laborers for estimates and timetables. Tess and Simon quickly discover life moves a bit slower in the country than it does in the city. With a pressing need to open for business and recoup some of the immense expenses, Tess and Simon dive in and help the laborers in any way they can. Painting, cleaning, buying new furnishings, sewing new curtains and cushions, all while living in a small caravan isn’t exactly how Tess envisioned her retirement and new marriage. Be that as it may, Tess tries to keep a good attitude as she soldiers on and begins to see her fixer-upper come to life.

The guests arrive . . . .

After months – long, cold months – of soul-sucking and bank account draining hard work, Tess and Simon’s newly remodeled and renamed Sparrows’ Nest is open for business. Their four rooms are booked, and each guest is meant to stay for more than a month. On the roster, a publisher-turned-novelist, a would-be painter, an aging stage star, and a couple looking to rekindle their forty-year romance. Each guest has his or her own agenda, some for the better and some for the worse, and a desire to find some peace in their respective lives. The writer needs inspiration, the painter needs a lay over prior to her escape, the actress is seeking revenge, and the couple is on the verge of a major life change. While none expect to find a good bit of healing and clarity, that is exactly what each, in his or her own way finds at the Sparrows’ Nest. To Tess and Simon’s credit, they work hard not to pry and simply allow their guests the peace and solitude they have paid for; it isn’t until the lot of them has come and gone that Tess and Simon discover the truth of their guests.

The Bottom Line: I enjoyed every aspect of this book except one, SIMON!!! Simon is a complete and total ass who adds nothing but anger (on my part!) to the read. He is selfish, thoughtless, and somewhat unkind so when his part in the story lessened in the second and third parts, my enjoyment increased. Outside of Simon, I greatly enjoyed the descriptions of the old house coming back to life, the idyllic setting, the varied and wonderfully strange mix of locals and guests, and the various storylines associated with everyone. Except Simon 😊 I’m not sure there is a message or moral to be taken from this book, but it is lovely read that kept me turning pages at a fair clip. It is a rather long read at 500+ pages, but I found the pacing and the various plot lines to be sufficient and entertaining enough to not notice the overall length. A solid read to be sure!

A warm romantic light hearted read with a real feel good factor!
Tess and Simon whilst holidaying in Cornwall come across a huge dilapidated house with great potential so throwing caution to the wind they buy it and move down from London , renovating the house tries their relationship and uses more money than they anticipated but eventually the house is complete and they open up as an upmarket retreat! An eclectic mix of guests arrive, beautifully described and such a range of characters that you just want to keep reading! This book explores the diverse relationships that occur between the guests and shows that love,friendship and surprises are not just for the younger generation but for golden oldies too!
Great book will highly recommend!
Thank you net galley for this early read

This was such a delightful book, following on from The Silver Ladies of Penny Lane.
Sixty something Tess has finally found love again, with an actor named Simon. The first part of The Golden Oldies Guesthouse focuses on the couple falling in love with a house in Cornwall and then renovating it to become a guesthouse. This is fraught with difficulties and puts their relationship under a great deal of pressure.
The rest of the book has the guesthouse up and running and tells the story of their diverse collection of guests. Dominic is broken hearted after being dumped by lover Patrick. Celia seems prim and proper but is running away from something. Titania is seeking out her former love rival. Jackie is trying to rekindle her marriage but is it already too late?
The development of the guests’ characters, the relationship of Dominic and his new love interest, the disintegration of Jackie’s marrriage and the mystery surrounding the women drive the second part of the plot. There is plenty of drama as well as hope and triumph.
Dee MacDonald’s style of writing is fun and warm, making you identify and sypathise with the characters. It is great to have more mature central characters and be reminded that retirement can be a new beginning.
I felt a little disappointed that the ending was rather open ended in terms of outcomes for the guests, but I wonder if we will catch up with any of them in later books…
Overall, a fab feel-good book that will tantalise you with mystery and make you smile.

This book was just the perfect weekend read! I smiled, I laughed, I hoped. I just couldn’t stop reading it. Tess and Simon, could there be two more perfect fictional people? I just need readers to read this book! I cannot recommend it enough!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley

The Golden Oldies Guesthouse takes you into the lives of Tess and Simon Sparrow who stumble across an old, crumbling Victorian house during the delayed honeymoon to the countryside.=, and falls instantly in love with it. They then make a life-changing decision to sell their London house and transform the decaying building into a mini, extended-stay hotel.

This cute story was an okay read in my books. It would have been cuter if the author cut out a lot of the repair period of the house and delve more into the lives of the crazy first guests. It felt a bit rushed when the climax was reached around the guests' intentions of staying at The Sparrow's Nest (the hotel Tess and Simon named their home as.) One minute we were hearing their quirks and mysterious pasts, and then the next minute the actions of each of the guests when they were concluding their stay at the hotel that made their exits quite grand, were all of a sudden over.

Other than that, this book is a good commuter novel to tuck into, as long as you don't mind a major focus on renovations that take up quite a bit of the story.

Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for the chance to read and review this book. This is the story of an older couple who decide to give themselves a second chance. The first part is the story of how they discover and buy an old house. With lots of money and patience, they remodel it and turn it into a guesthouse. I liked this part, but I enjoyed the second part of the story even more. After they open the guesthouse, some interesting characters come to stay and the fun begins. The author does a great job of describing the characters, and I really enjoyed getting to know them. Highly recommend!

Newlyweds Tess and Simon Sparrow are on their honeymoon in Cornwall when they set eyes upon a large clifftop house, They both fall in love with it. With retirement looming, Tess and. When Simon decide to take a huge leap of faith. They buy the property with a view to open a guesthouse which they will run together.

What a delightful book, I loved it. It is so nice to read about sixty something, mature people for a change. It gives a different perspective on life, especially when you, yourself happen to be up their in years! My thanks to NetGalley and Bookoutre for this lovely ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Golden Oldies Guesthouse" tells the story of two senior citizens who re-make a large home in a remote part of Cornwall into a guesthouse. The novel contains stories within this story, relating the tales of guests who come to stay at the guesthouse.

The author has written quite an entertaining and engaging novel. The story line develops in a logical fashion, leading the reader from one humorous situation to another. Dividing the book into several parts creates a logical transition from one series of developments to another.

The characters were described in a way that allowed the reader to mentally visualize them. Each of them is characterized in a unique manner, and the story line effectively plays them off one another. Each character has his or her own individual story to tell as well. I found all of them to be likeable and endearing people. The end of the novel provides several fascinating twists and turns, yet wraps everything up neatly.

Readers will find this novel to be alternately poignant and hilarious. Once started, I found it difficult to stop reading until I found out what happened to the characters. This is by no means a heavy tome, but rather a lighthearted,, fun, and adventurous read. I only hope the author plans to extend the story further into more adventures of Tess and Simon and their friends, at "The Sparrows Nest."

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

We first meet Tess and Simon Sparrow on their honeymoon in Cornwall. When they set eyes upon a large clifftop house, they both fall in love with it. With retirement looming, Tess and Simon decide to take a huge leap of faith. They buy the property with a view to open a guesthouse which they will run together.

Once in Cornwall, they discover that it will take much more than a lick of paint for their dream to become a reality. With finances running out, ceilings falling down and no heating, their marriage is stretched to its limit.

Will the hotel be ready for their guests in time?
I saw this as a book of two halves. In the first half, we read about the extensive renovations and how the Sparrow’s coped with a Christmas family invasion. In the second part of the book, we get to know the guests who arrive. Each guest has their own reason to stay at Sparrow’s Nest. They are all quirky characters with interesting backstories. Dee MacDonald describes the Cornish coastline to perfection with the amazing clifftop location. You get a true feeling of the slower pace of life in that part of the country. I liked the contrast between Tess and Simon’s characters, they really balanced each other out well. There is so much humour and warmth throughout the book and you feel part of Tess and Simon’s journey. There are plenty of surprises in store and some life-changing decisions made.

The Golden Oldies Guesthouse has some multi-layered characters, a stunning location, and a feel-good atmosphere. People of all ages will be inspired by this wonderful story. It really shows that you can turn your dreams into reality at any age!