The perfect summer read! Romance and lots of eating and cocktails, so, whats not to love? A sweet, easy read for a summer afternoon on the porch. I loved it! 5 stars!

Although the cover is very beautiful and draws the attention of potential readers, it is also misleading. I was expecting that the female protagonist is owning a cocktail campervan, whereas in reality she had a horsebox converted into a Pizza Foodtruck and the male lead is the one with Ruby, the red cocktail campervan. This confused me at the very beginning, because I was always waiting for the two of them to team up and share their businesses.

The story that enfolds then is very sweet, cosy and full of pizza and cocktails to a very mouthwatering degree. The different events that Lucy and Jack are booked to are described very lovely and lively.

Some of the dialogues on the other side sounded very outdated, especially when ppl in their 20s were speaking. It didn't sound right for my ears, but well, I can live with that. Really annoying was the constant insertion of "Hah!" in every third sentence someone utters.

All in all a nice cosy story for a summer day with a bit of (unnecessary) drama to spice things up.
But I would definitely read a sequel, if only to know what kind of bookings they would get during all those colder months when no one is doing a garden party anymore. Halloween party? Guy Fawkes day? Christmas markets?

Lucy and Jack meet at various different events, she in her pizza van and he in his cocktail van. Will romance blossom after a stormy start? Ideal holiday reading or to curl up with on a cold, wet day.

This was an enjoyable and well written romance. A good fast easy summer read. It had a good plot, right amount of love, romance, mystery, friendship and adventure. Lovely characters and setting. Perfect escapism at its best.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper UK for an Arc in exchange for an honest review

Lucy and Jack meet each other when working at an event in their respective food/drink trucks. Both have been hurt in the past and are reluctant to get involved but they keep being drawn together. Just when they start to open up to each other, something happens which makes seeing each other at markets and events difficult. A Great story with the happy end we want and need in these times.

This was a gorgeous, summery romance and the perfect read to whisk you away to a much warmer location where beaches are sparkling, cocktails are pouring and pizzas are cooking. Already being such a huge fan of Caroline's books, I was so excited to meet Lucy and Jack - two admirable characters with a drive to live out their dreams. I adored Lucy and Diva Daisy, they were a great pair to follow around as they catered for multiple glamorous events. I also enjoyed the little scenes in which Lucy attended a book club with the locals at the end of each month, giving us a little inside scoop on the other personalities amongst the village. Lucy was a very relatable character for many women out there, afraid to let her guard down after already being hurt, never mind to a man that seems to be a ladies man and a player. She took the time to get to know Jack, whilst keeping a barrier between the two, which was a very smart decision.

Jack was also a wonderful character who had a troubled past and when all is revealed, you can understand why. He was a charming man with incredible talents at creating cocktails and with every page, I wished I could be sat on a beach with Ruby glistening in the sun near by so I could treat myself to a cocktail or two... or three. He was an experienced traveller and I loved reading about all of the places he had travelled to over his four years of being on the road.

The side characters were also a great bunch and the party scenes were definitely my favourite - each event having so much to offer, every location being so different from the one before. I loved getting to watch Lucy's business bloom with every event she catered for and I could definitely keep going with her and Daisy's adventures! This was a fabulous, fun and entertaining read - highly recommended.

I enjoyed reading this book, following the ups & downs of the blossoming relationship between the two main characters as they begin to see beneath the other’s façade & learn who they really are. Obviously they encounter some potholes in their road to happiness but the cocktail campervan steers the couple around them.
I liked the fact we got to read both male & female perspectives of the story and their individual experiences, this added an extra dimension to the book that others often miss, and allowed the reader to gain a deeper insight into each character’s background, thoughts & behaviours.
I adored the fact that this book is set on the stunningly beautiful Northumberland coast - so many of these types of books are set in Cornwall so it made such a pleasant change to read of the glorious scenery of elsewhere in the country (especially as I’m from Northumberland myself & know how gorgeous the coastline is up here - I hope that after reading this book some readers may be tempted to come visit and experience it for themselves).
A thoroughly enjoyable book.

3.5/5 ⭐ Many thanks to the publisher for the free digital review copy.

I am a huge fan of books with a food/cooking theme, so this book was no different. I absolutely adored Jack and Lucy's story. The story was very slow to get into, there was a lot of plot building before the romantic timeline between Jack and Lucy commenced - so I kind of had to put the book down a lot of times. This is basically why I rated the book with 3.5 out of 5 stars. I definitely appreciate when books get better along the way, but for this one, I had to wait a bit longer. Even then, I kept coming back to TSCC, because I really wanted to know how Jack and Lucy's story unfolded!

The description of Lucy's "by the sea" life was so perfectly written! The author's way of writing is immersive - it just kind of pulls you in from the very beginning. Jack and Lucy's journey towards love was not smooth at all - both of them had very sad backstories, but I really appreciated how their struggles were explored + how fleshed out their issues were.

If you're looking for a book with a lot of heart, I recommend picking this one.

What a fun read. I loved it that the book mentioned some of the places I’ve visited in the North-East of England as I could easily imagine myself in the settings. A very enjoyable slow-burn romance that made me want to have a go at making my own pizzas! Having taken leaps of faith with new lifestyles in my own life, I love reading about others doing the same. This is my first Caroline Roberts book, but won’t be my last.

‘… I do like a good romance and a happy ending,’ Louise chipped in. ‘Heaven knows we need it. Real life’s hard enough at times. Surely books can be a bit of an escape.’

I don’t know what it is but these British seaside romcoms really hit the spot when needed. The concept behind Caroline’s tale is rather unique with Jack’s Cocktail van and Lucy’s Pizza van bringing a fresh approach to this style of story.

‘Lucy sighed, ‘Having a steady job’s not the be all and end all, Olly. Not when it starts to feel like a noose around your neck.’

Lucy finds herself in her thirties and, after a split with her fiancé and her life in finance, decides to buy a small cottage by the sea and renovate an old horsebox into a mobile pizza venue, All Fired Up. Add in ‘Cocktail Jack’ and you have an easy summer romance as two lost souls come together over drinks, pizza and cake whilst visiting a range of really interesting events.

‘Life moved on, your dreams shifted, some of them shattered and you had to let go of them, but then new goals and opportunities came to light.’

There is much to enjoy about this getaway, with everything from starting a new business, to book clubs, to the actual venues that these catering vans attend. For each event Caroline includes an invitation which sets the scene by giving the location, time and actual event eg. wedding. It is a wonderful way to travel the English countryside.

This brings me to the locations. It was wonderful to have the story not in the usual Cornwall locale where most of these stories tend to be set. Instead, it is in north east England in the beautiful Northumberland! Travelling that fabulous countryside in a classic campervan to Bamburgh Castle, as one example, was such a treat!

‘… I love the way of life, the freedom it gives me. I never feel tied down.’

As Caroline wrote herself, ‘.. this book was written during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns of 2020. Amidst such strange and unprecedented times, it was a joy to be able to head off (in my imagination)’ - and I couldn't agree more! For pure escapism and a tale of friendships, broken hearts, loss, and finding courage - with loads of yummy food and drinks! - look no further than these seaside campervan tales.

‘… it felt like summer … and seaside … and fun. All the worries of the world fading away. The here and now was all that mattered.’








This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Escapism at high level! An entertaining, heartwarming and sweet story that made me smile and root for the characters.
Had fun and liked the style of writing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

If a could describe my favorite type of romance, it would be one like "The Seaside Cocktail Campervan." Why? It: 1) takes place in a picturesque beach town in another country (in this case, Northumberland, England); 2) it features a lead female character who has started a small business and is struggling to make a go of it, while trying to figure herself out; 3) it includes a lead male character who is dealing with his own internal struggles; 4) there are plenty of beautiful phrases and words to help me picture the gorgeous views of North England, so that I feel a bit like an armchair traveler. So, if you like romances that include these elements, read on to learn a bit more about "The Seaside Cocktail Campervan."

The story revolves around Lucy, a trained accountant who felt unfulfilled in her well-paying job, so she followed her dream to open up a mobile pizza business in a 'horsebox.' (I'm not English, so I had to look this up. It's basically what we call a camper van in the US.) Basically, she's using her grandfather's well-loved pizza recipe and taking it 'on the road,' creating custom pizzas in a portable pizza oven. At the beginning, her business is struggling and she worries if she made the right decision to leave her accountant job. However, one decision she doesn't have second thoughts about is her little seaside cottage, which she shares with her dachshund Daisy.

At one of her first bookings, she meets Jack, who owns a mobile cocktail service housed in a restored vintage VW campervan. Unfortunately, their first meeting isn't a pleasant one, since it occurs after Daisy unceremoniously does her business on one of Jack's cocktail menu boards. So the relationship starts out rocky, but they run into each other at many of the same festivals and events, and start to build a tentative friendship. Due to their pasts, each is hesitant to get involved in a relationship, but can't deny the spark that occurs whenever they are together.

However, when Lucy's best friend Becky reveals something about Jack's past, Lucy decides to keep her distance. Although Jack's actions don't match the description of the Jack that Becky knew, Lucy doesn't trust him. Despite this, she finds herself growing more attracted to him, especially when he plans a romantic beach dinner date for them.

But of course, few romances are easy, especially in books, right? So there are some bumps along the road, and I, as the reader, began to wonder if Jack and Lucy would ever get together, despite the fact that they seemed perfect for each other. Does this book have a "happily ever after?" I guess you'll have to read "The Seaside Cocktail Campervan" to find out!

This was a slow building romance, and at times, I felt like it moved a little too slowly. There was a lot of inner dialogue, which is sometimes good at helping the reader understand the main characters' motivations. But at times, it made the book drag a bit. However, it was worth pushing through these sections, because they help the reader feel the deeper connection between Lucy and Jack. I especially liked the way the author, Caroline Roberts, gently dealt with the more intimate moments between Jack and Lucy. So many authors today think they need to be overly descriptive. For me, that takes away some of the magic of romance.

After reading this book, I dream of owning a food truck and traveling around fairs and festivals in England!

I give it a "3 stars," which is how I rate books that I enjoyed and would read a second time, perhaps in a few years. (I reserve '4 stars' for books I could not put down, and '5 stars' for books that were so compelling that I want to re-read them again immediately.)

I have read the majority of this author's previous books and enjoyed them.
This book did not disappoint.
I would say it is a lovely summery read which in principal is a love story but also has a strong theme of family and friendship in it.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this read.

It was OK, not really what I expected. I would give it 2.5 stars. Didn't really love the characters, even Daisy. Lucy didn't think her dog did anything wrong when she destroyed Jack's sign. She should have been apologetic. There was a continuous miscommunication between Jack and Lucy. They never talked to each other to figure anything out. Lucy listens to a friend and instantly changes her feelings toward Jack. Jack sees "Pride and Prejudice" at Lucy's house and assumes she's some sort of romantic. The way he treated her after spending the night at her house was ridiculous. They acted more like teenagers instead of adults. There was so much back and forth with them. I like him, now I don't, now I do. I like her, now I don't, now I do. Everything could have been resolved if they actually talked with each other. The best part of the book were the scenes at the events. I would have loved to read more about the different events than Lucy at home or Jack off by himself.

Definitely give the book a try, especially if you are a fan for romance and women's fiction, this one just wasn't for me. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Love the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I throughly enjoyed this well written romance. A good fast easy read. Great plot, characters and setting.. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

I loved this book !
Jack is serving cocktails from his beloved camper van, Ruby . Lucy makes pizzas from a horse box .
It is set in Northumberland with beautiful scenery which comes alive to the reader .
This is a romantic tale telling Jack and Lucy’s story, around the various events they both attend.
Add Lucy’s mischievous dog Daisy into the mix and chaos occurs
A highly recommended summer read
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins, One More Chapter and Caroline Roberts for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

I was lured by The Seaside Cocktail Campervan as it is set in Northumberland, my hometown. Lucy has her own pizza business, All Fired Up that she operates from her van and old horsebox fully revamped. She is training her new recruit, seventeen-year-old Tamsin on how to make dough balls and spread her special tomato sauce when she notices Jack and his Cocktail campervan, a red VW. She travels to events in her mobile pizza van, taking her black-and-tan rescue Dachshund, Daisy with her who sleeps in the back of the van. In a lull serving customers, Lucy takes a short break and gets chatting to Jack, the flirty barman and cocktail maker.

This was a delightful little tale for me and I loved the mention of the historic town of Morpeth where Lucy used to work as an accounts clerk. In an endearing story, Lucy and Jack get off to a bad start when Daisy puts in her twopenn’orth. Blend together a great locale, a quirky dachshund, plenty of scrumptious pizza, some delectable sounding cocktails and soupcons of breezy romance and you have a lighthearted, dazzling read. This one is sure to make you smile.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from One More Chapter via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

When Lucy isn’t in her cosy cottage by the sea, she’s winding through the Northumberland coast with her loveable Dachsund Daisy, cooking up a storm at the local village celebrations. Inspired by her Italian Poppa, Lucy’s chasing a new dream with her pizza van business. And at one particular party she meets Jack, the brooding but gorgeous owner of the Cocktail Campervan.
Wary of repeating mistakes of the past, Lucy and Jack keep it strictly business. But as the summer drifts by in a swirl of garden parties, fun and fizz, laughs and celebrations, and as the cocktail campervan creates the community they so desperately need, romance starts to blossom – one stop at a time

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book. I absolutely loved it! I would have liked it to end a bit later i.e. what happened when Lucy's bestie found out?? I wont spoil it for anyone but to lose a couple of hours this book is perfect, I felt engaged with the characters and there was a dog which is always a bonus for me (especially if theyre naughty!) Grab a cuppa, take the phone off the hook and enjoy

This was the first book that I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The narrative flowed well and gave a good insight into the thoughts and feelings of both central characters and I liked the way the invitations to events started off some of the chapters as it was a little bit different. Overall it was a gorgeous, lighthearted Summery read and the ending was all I hoped it would be. One slight criticism that I would mention was that I noticed the phrase ‘Hah’ was used so much though out the book. Once I had noticed this it really started to get on my nerves! It didn’t take anything away from the story at all though.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and Netgalley for giving me access to this book for an honest review.

4.5⭐. I really enjoyed this book. It was the perfect summer read - although I did find myself regularly wanting pizza throughout this book! The inclusion of the recipes at the end was also very welcome.

I enjoyed the characters and the building of the relationship throughout the book. A little predictable, but that's exactly what I expect out of this kind of book so wasn't a problem for me.

I will definitely be checking out more books from this author in the future.