Member Reviews

Thank you NetGalley and Aria, Head of Zeus Ltd. for a copy of "Dream of a Little Cornish Cottage" in exchange for my honest review.

The story is set in Wyllow Cove and the main character is Natalia Amore (Nat) who writes for "Lady" magazine. She recently kicked her husband out for having an affair. They share daughters Lizzie and Sarah. There is a lot of domestic drama. Nat has a sister Yolanda who has twin daughters Amy and Zoe. A lot of the story goes on and on about how Nat is more of a mother to the twins than Yolanda is. They certainly seem to live with her more than at their own home. There is also a lot of focus on the lodger that Nat has taken in to help make ends meet. She's interested in Connor Wright but it's pointed out over and over again how much "older" Nat is. In reality it's only 6 years but it's made to sound like decades.

There is a lot of "thought" dialogue throughout the book and the story moves at a slow pace. It was a difficult story to get into. The idea is wonderful but there was too much focus on the family drama and especially the "age gap" that did not need pointing out so often.

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Unfortunately, this didn’t really click with me! I found I had some issues with the pacing of this novel and I wasn’t really invested in the narrative or any of the characters. I still think it was enjoyable and easy to read,, but it did leave me wanting.

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Nat is living on her own in a large 5 bedroom house after divorcing her GP husband after years of being treated badly and an affair. She advertises for a lodger, which an Irish man, Connor, responds to. She then suddenly has to look after her mother after a fall, one of her daughters who splits with her boyfriend and also her two nieces whilst their mother works abroad. In the meantime she dreams of moving to a harbourside cottage for a fresh start.
This is a slow burning book, I couldn't understand why she was so cautious about any romance with her lodger, who is 33, whilst she is 39. She is also treated badly by her ex husband and her new boss at the magazine where she writes a weekly column. As the story progresses though she does start growing a backbone, but will this be enough to overcome her fears? There are also some deep secrets which aren't revealed until towards the end of the book.
I could imagine the scenery that the book is set in with the coves and the harbour side community. Well worth spending a couple of evenings enjoying this.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

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I have a few hangups about this one.

The age difference is only 6 years... but you would think it was 20 the way it's made into such an issue.
The timeline is weird. It repeatedly references weeks passing, but then seems to be written as if only days have passed? I'm not sure how to describe it, but it didn't make sense or flow well.
The last 20% of this book is great... but that first 80%?? Ooof, it drags. The story moves like molasses.

I appreciate the opportunity to this book in exchange for an honest review and I thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC.

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Dnf at 10%, I liked the look of the blurb it seemed like a good sweet read but going into it I didn't enjoy our main character, the writing wasn't for me and I just couldn't get into it.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

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Lovely book to read on this dull bank holiday.
Natalia (Nat) is the put on but much adoring mum of two and very loyal and loving Auntie to her twin nieces.
Nat’s ex husband Neil is the village doctor but a douchebag!
He’s cheated on her for years and snobbishly tried to keep her apart from the rest of the lovely seaside village her and her family live in.
Nat’s a writer for Lady magazine and is in need of a spark!
She recruits a lodger - a very easy on the eye Irish lodger.

This book was so good. I’m going to seek out the other books written by this author.

This book was 4.5 stars.

This honest review was provided free of charge for an arc provided by netgalley.
Thankyou to the publishers and author.

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Nice beach read about a forty year old woman life after a divorce from a cheater a cute somer rad interesting characters and plot very enjoyable to read

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A cute summer read; very easy to get through, although a bit unrealistic at times.

I struggled a bit with the main character Nat, an almost-40-year-old who seems to be dealing with issues more geared to a woman twice her age. But it’s always good to see the voices of women authors and characters shared, even though a deeper dive into one or two of her issues would have been more compelling - there was so much going on, it was hard to keep track.

Nice easy read for the beach!

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Column writer Natalia Amore, has finally ditched her cheating husband and put plans in motion to move on with her life. But just as she steps towards a fresh start her whole family suddenly need her support now more than ever. Will Nat ever be able to find happiness and move on?

A light and warm feel good read!
I loved the setting and the contrast between Nat and her ex husband, this amplified how unhappy and restricted she had been in the previous years.
The setting of the little village was adorable. We had brief introductions to a range of lovely characters that added to the story. The characters seemed to jump out from the pages and every one had a different and unique personality that sung!
The themes of family and relationships and starting over were both believable and realistic. The story is backed by flashes of clever humor and lots of emotion to give this a really well rounded plot.
It wasn't as straightforward as I expected, the little twist added that something extra to really make this sing.
An enjoyable and delightful Summer read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the ARC copy, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

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After Natalia's husband cheated on her and they got divorced she put an advert in the local newspaper for a lodger to fill an empty room in the house that she hates and to give her a bit of extra money towards the bills.
Natalia goes from an empty house to having a handsome lodger, her sisters 2 children come to stay, her daughter splits up from her boyfriend and comes home and then her mum has an accident so moved in too.
A lovely story with plenty going on to keep you guessing. Loved it

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Natalia, newly divorced from her cheating Doctor husband Neil. Left with a huge soulless house, Nat decides on a lodger to help make ends meet, in walks Connor. Gorgeous, Irish with a heart of gold he soon makes himself at home much to the disgust of ex husband Neil and daughter Sarah whose end of a relationship brings her back home. The house soon fills up with two neices, left by Nats famous TV chef sister and estranged Mother after a fall. Nat's plans to sell up and down size are momentarily put on hold. Twists and unexpected turns will keep you going. A little long winded in places but overall enjoyable with rounded believable characters

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I got off to a rough start but once I invested my time in it, I I realised It was a fun book and the setting was perfect. Loved the descriptions and all the characters. The story was cozy and adorable.

Thank you to to the Netgalley @netgalley for this sweet book in exchange for my honest review.

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Another fun book, set in a gorgeous location, with humor and enough emotional angst to make this a great read. The slow-burn romance, idyllic setting, and cast of delightful family members, neighbors, and villagers will make you laugh, sigh, and smile as you read this entertaining book.

Natalia (Nat) Amore, recently divorced, living in a huge home after her two daughters have left to live their own lives, decides it’s time to put the house up for sale and downsize. First, she needs some extra cash to pay the bills, so she decides to let out a room to a lodger. In walks Conner, handsome, and younger than Nat, who needs a room for just a few months. Nat knows that letting the room to a younger man will cause the villagers to talk, but after throwing her cheating husband out of the house just a few months earlier, she decides to take the chance and let the room out to Conner.

Before Conner can move in, Nat has her energetic twin nieces thrust upon her for an extended visit while her sister works overseas. Soon after that, Nat’s daughter Sarah breaks up with her cheating boyfriend and has to move home. Later, she takes in her mother, who’s had a fall. With a house full again, Nat’s plans to downsize will take a little longer than expected.

I really enjoyed this fun book. The beginning had a bit of a chaotic start, but once I got going, I became invested in the characters and couldn’t stop rooting for Nat to get her Happily Ever After. Nat is a nurturer and can’t say no when family needs her, and puts the needs of her family before her own needs (sound familiar?).

Conner is the perfect man, he can fix the garden fence, is happy to babysit the nieces, enjoys some playful banter with Nat’s mum, and can fix anything in the house, plus he’s not bad to look at. But, is he too good?

Sometimes Nat’s obsession with age, and helping her family got a bit much, but her delightful sense of humor and the way she loves her family made up for it.
I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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A fab read and quite the page turner, found myself with my heart in my mouth a few times and prayed Nat would get her happy ending, loved the characters and Nat's mum was great, loved the Cornish setting also.
I loved Nat and how she looked after everyone, her nieces, her sister and her daughters as well as her mum, was a shame she never had the time to do what she wanted until her new lodger made her look at her life a bit differently.
Wonderfully written and would highly recommend would rate higher if it was possible
Can't wait to read more from this author
Loved it :)

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Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is a really nice feel good read with great characters, great storyline and set in a beautiful location.

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Natalia Amore has not long divorced her husband Neil who was cheating on her. As part of the settlement, she got the house or the Mausoleum as she calls it as it's full of her ex husbands family items. Money is tight so she advertises for a lodger & gets a very handsome Connor Wright. It's a 'will they or won't they' story but so much happens inbetween. Can any more be put on Nat's shoulders? She has so much to contend with! A really good book that I throughly enjoyed. Well worth a read & now to find more books by this author.

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Nats life is full to bursting; and so is her house! her daughter who is broken hearted; her mum!; her ex; her sister and adorable nieces; her boss. And then there’s her lodger! This is an enjoyable and madcap book with genuinely likeable characters and a real twist in the tale and the most perfect end to the story. All set in glorious Cornwall. Read it and lose yourself in Nats story!

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When the perfect man applies to become her lodger Natalia Amore is thrilled. But is he a little too perfect? When her nieces, her broken hearted daughter and her very demanding mother come to stay he doesn’t leave. Her obnoxious ex husband wants her back and her new boss is keen to sack anyone over 40 so all in all Natalia’s life is in free fall. An enjoyable read about family, love and hope.

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A lovely lovely story and such a twist I really did not see. I loved the twins .Yolanda was a character and I am so glad she came to her senses. Natalia was amazing.Looking after everyone. Her x husband was a pain and her new boss but it all came good. Alzheimers is a horide horide illness but at least Natalia found out she was loved..The cottage sounded fab and the book had a perfect ending

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Although I found the beginning of the book rather slow I did enjoy reading how Nat was always there to help family members. I found her obsession with Connor irritating at times but then something interesting happened that kept me reading.

I loved the twins characters and Nat’s mum. The ending was unusual but had the feel good factor. I would class this as a beach read

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