The first Amanda James book that I have read, and will be looking out for more. A cheerful book, set in Cornwall, and delightfully written.

This is the second book in the Cornish Escapes series but they don’t have to be read in order. Like the first, it was a really nicely written, heartwarming story about community spirit and the forming of relationships. Several subjects are covered and worked through, showing that with a little help and support anything is possible. The descriptions of Lowena’s garden and the beach and sea were wonderful and I could picture myself there. And another eye catching cover too. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for letting me read and review this book.

It's a heartwarming story about the healing power of nature that helps the main character let go of the past and learn to hope again. I loved the characters and the beautiful setting. It was a gentle romance. I can recommend to everyone.

The Garden by the Sea is a lovely new offering by English author Amanda James. Ms. James pens books that speak to the heart. However, they may also have a bit of magick tucked inside.

Lowena Rowe is devastated when her elderly mother passes. A late in life child, Lowena’s Mum told her of the many childless years until she made a special wish on the old wooden magical Tintagel box which is said to have ties to King Arthur. Within the box are seeds as well as soil rumored to be from Tintagel, the seat of King Arthur’s legendary world. When Rowena finds this carved wooden box she makes sure it moves with her to her new seaside home of Kittiwake Cottage overlooking the Cornish coast. As Lowena and her feline companion, Conrad, settle in to her new home and position at the new community library housed in an old barn in St. Merryn and sponsored by mysterious benefactor Ben Mawgan.

Always rather a loner, Lowena is not deterred by moving to an area where she really doesn’t know anyone. But this move, this special house, the garden that draws all, brings forth a plethora of friends and a unique direction for her future.

This mystical, magical, special story is a great way for the reader to run headlong into the new year. This is a story of love, hope, and friendship that will warm the readers’ hearts. I absolutely loved this book and do recommend it!

I have been a fan of Amanda James’ books for years. She always manages to tell a good story with a touch of whimsy and The Garden by the Sea is no exception.

The story follows Lowena Rowe after the death of her much beloved parents. While cleaning out the family home she comes across an old box containing soil her mother claimed came from Tintagel, the supposed seat of King Arthur. The soil is supposed to contain magical powers that will “grow” happiness and love for whomever plants it.
Lowena moves to her dream cottage and dream job in the Cornish town of St Merryn where she meets some lovely and lonely characters. Lowena decides to plant the soil in her new cottage garden and magic does happen.

This was a lovely feel good book full of great characters and beautiful sounding scenery. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, uplifting read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter books, and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

A great feelgood Cornish book. After her mother's death Lowena decides to move to a lovely cottage in St Merryn in Cornwall taking her mother's gardening box that she always claimed was magical. Starting a new job in the library and feeling a bit lonely Lowena soon gets to know some other loners and through her overgrown gardens starts to make new friends... maybe the box was magical after all! A lovely warmhearted feelgood book that transports you to Cornwall and makes it a perfect beach read

After the death of her much loved mother Lowena moves to a small Cornish cottage with an overgrown garden overlooking the sea. She starts a part - time job as a librarian in a small community library where she meets a variety of misfits, including Ben, who had funded the library. She had been gifted a small "magical" box by her mother, will this help her life going forward?
This is an unashamedly feel - good story, full of characters who don't necessarily get on with each other, at least initially. The cottage garden sounded fantastic, even to me as a non - gardener. This story managed the trick of making me wish that I could move to this fictional community and join in with life there. Overall an ideal book to help you feel better on a Winter's day, or while away a few hours sitting by a pool when summer finally arrives.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review.

I enjoyed reading this book, it's a lovely easygoing and feel-good read. I love the setting in Cornwall, I would love to live in a cottage by the sea. I also enjoyed reading about the library, as I used to work in a library and miss working there very much. I enjoy reading books that feature libraries. They have such a wealth of customers and community spirit.
The book was a little predictable, and there were a lot of characters to follow, but they were well developed and interesting. It was an entertaining and quick read. I look forward to reading more books by Amanda James.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

After Lowena’s mother dies, she decides to sells both their houses and buys a beautiful cottage by the sea, where she usually always went to relax.

She starts working in a new tiny library in the area and with that starts also doing tiny projects in it. This brings her to new people, new friends, a new life. But her most prized possession, surprisingly enough for her is her new garden, where she loves to pass her time.

She got from her mother, and later grandmother, a box full of soil and seeds. She decides to plant them, not knowing what could come for it. And slowly the garden starts flourishing and bringing not only happiness but people together.

This is a feel good story, I’m not big on plants or anything garden-related to be honest. Mostly because I hate bugs and I always think of the garden my great-aunt had where I saw the biggest spider (I was a kid but believe me it really was big even from an adult perspective) ever and from the moment the spider disappeared from her web, I just can’t with gardens, gives me the creeps. It also doesn’t help that flowers bring bees and I’m allergic to them, so yeah. This book was all kinds of interesting for me.

I really enjoyed seeing the power of nature bringing people together tho. It was beautiful land heartwarming.

I also really enjoyed our main character – she is a really good person, damaged by life and still kicking. I loved seeing her discover a new life, making new friends and even having her luck at love. I loved the romantic banter and I could totally feel the chemistry. It was fun to see their relationship from both perspectives and I was definitely rooting for them.

However I still love the last book by the author better. The writing is as beautiful and the story has the same kind of soul in it, but I just found the last book more interesting and engaging.

Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the complimentary copy of The Garden by the Sea. This novel is the endearing story of starting over, finding love and overcoming grief.

Does a magical box make dreams come true? Since her birth, Lowena's mother claimed the box granted her wish for a child after years of trying. Now it is Lowena's turn to make a wish as she wants to find "the one" years after her heartbreak.

Set in a British seaside town, Lowena begins to build a new life, friendships and purpose. The community embraces her kindness and slowly she begins to realize life doesn't have to be so lonely. The cast of characters in this novel is simply the best. And Ben is just perfect and so loving.

I enjoyed the representation of a middle-aged love story. Truly a feel good novel.

When Lowena's mum dies unexpectedly she decides to have a new start so sells her mum's house and falls in love with a cottage that has a large garden over looking the sea in a Cornish village
Along with her new home she also has a new job opening a library where she comes in to contact with lots of different characters who become friends through helping her in her garden and the small wooden seed box her mum told her was magical
A lovely easy read

This was a gentle and heart warming story set in a beautiful part of Cornwall. Lowena is the main character although she doesn't play as large a part as most protagonists because there are a large number of other characters all who have their own stories to tell. Lowena has purchased a new home using her Mum's legacy to buy a property right next to the sea. The overgrown garden needs much attention but has such fabulous prospects that Lowena sets to, with the help of a number of very quirky neighbours, to turn it into a glorious plot and in doing so she uses a 'magical' box left to her by her late mother scattering some seeds from it which promise to bring love and happiness to the lives of the sowers. As the garden blooms, friendships are made and romance flourishes among several of the couples who have been befriended by Lowena. This is a sweet story and an easy read - especially if you can do so on as pretty a beach as the one in the book. I liked all the characters- most of whom were of an older generation who proved that age doesn't have to mean being out of touch, dowdy and miserable. These love-to-live characters brought a breath of fresh air to the story. There were parts that were a bit too hard to believe and times when the story dragged a bit with not a lot happening but on the whole, a pleasant enough story to relax with and indulge in some Cornish dreams. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

The Garden by the Sea by Amanda James. What can I say other than it was a feel-good , light-hearted read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
The setting of a Cornish village called St. Merryn, sounded breathtaking! It was heartwarming , full of friendship and community, the perfect read on a cold winters day.

I literally didn't want to put it down once I'd started it and I finished it in one sitting. The characters are likeable and you get thoroughly caught up in the story as it unfolds.

This is a wonderful story and I'll definitely be reading more by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Harpers Collins UK and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the second book in The Cornish Escapes, the books can be read as stand-alone as they are individual stories in their own right. This is an author that I will automatically read and I always enjoy her stories.

Lowena Rowe has just moved into a gorgeously sounding cottage with a wild garden that overlooks the sea. Her move also means a new job. It is a fresh start for her as she has sold her Mums home, there are certain things that Lowena brings with her to her new home, one of which is a little box that her Mum had told her was special.

This is a story that is captivating, enchanting and so wonderfully described. The author has brought together a mixed bunch of characters who have their own quirks and foibles. Zelah is fab and I do think she is one of my favourites. The thing with this story is that it felt right, by this I mean that there are some of the characters who I thought "that could be so and so from my village". Having characters that could so easily be from your community makes for really great reading.

The story is about bringing people together, making new friendships and helping others out. Stepping out of your comfort zone is something that is tough, but there are several characters that do actually need to make this journey to realise that there is more to life.

There is a romantic element to this story and not just for one set of characters. While I do think that these were really good, it did feel a little bit too convenient, this is not a bad thing as they all fitted in within the context of the story. I just think that there is the potential for being a lot more to several of the characters and a couple of them I was really intrigued to know more about.

This is a lovely and wonderful story, it is about new starts, looking towards the future and believing. It is a heartwarming story and one that I adored. It is one I would happily recommend.

A heartwarming and sweet story that made me smile and wish I could visit the places.
A story of starting again, hopes and great characters.
I loved the storytelling, the character development, and the descriptions of the places.
An excellent read.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

An old item handed down through the generations within this family, it is supposed to be magical and grant wishes made . 2Enjoy reading this story and find out what happens, it is well worth a read as you will really enjoy this. I highly recommend this and give it 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this e ARC

“Sometimes miracles do happen”
The Garden by the Sea is a very sweet, cozy read. Though the pace seemed a bit slow, it kept my interest. The element of magic added another level to the story.
What interesting and quirky characters!
If you are in the mood for a book that will warm your heart, you need to read The Garden by the Sea.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

You have to love a book set in Cornwall. Following her mother's death Lowena decides she needs a fresh start. She settles for a cottage by the sea where she can open a library. An easy going read about new beginnings and friendship.

What a lovely book! Makes you feel all warm inside & that the world is actually a good place!
Tamsin Rowe was in the attack & she finds a small wooden box in the attic, which was the old 'magical Tintagel' seed box that had been passed down from her great-grandmother down the line. It was supposed to have soil inside from King Arthurs garden. It was believed that you could ask it to make dreams come true. At nearly 40, she wanted to settle & have a child. The box heard & she had Lowena.

Present day, is Lowena's mum dies & she buys a cottage by the sea. On her own with her cat Conrad, she starts a new life. A positive story which is made better by feeling as though you are sat in this beautiful garden, sun on your face & the sound of the waves rolling on the shore. Loved Lowena & the other characters. This book will take you to this lovely place.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is a story of a community, having different/unique characters. Lowena, moves into a small cottage and starts a library in the community. Which raises questions amongst certain members of how she could afford to do it without help. Each character(and there’s a few) has their own stories and these come to light as you read.

There’s different subjects covered throughout, racism, teenage pregnancy as well as issues that go with winning a big pile of money etc.

It’s a heartwarming story of new beginnings and community spirit.