Member Reviews

Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutre for the ARC of The Café at Marigold Marina. This is my personal review.
Fergus had big dreams of renovating a dilapidated rundown café on Marigold Marina. But this was not a dream that Rosie had but she went along with it. When Fergus dies unexpectantly Rosie wonders if she wants to continue with his dream.
This book will have you wrapped up with so many emotions as you read. I enjoyed going along with Rosie as she comes to terms with losing her husband and finding herself.

Was this review helpful?

A very easy, heartwarming well written book with great characters, a good story line with plenty of lol moments along the way which I can thoroughly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

Rosie opens the cafe but it was more of her deceased husband’s dream than hers. She has friends on the marina but are most of them true?
Enter cute Kit with a book barge; he had my vote from day one. Rosie seemed to be in a mental fugue for most of the book. She is finally forced to face the truth about her marriage and her husband and, which I suspected early on.
It’s a good read. The character development is substantial for Rosie and also Tabitha, Kit’s sister.
I liked the cozy marina setting, but the book barge was the most inviting concept.

Was this review helpful?

Rosie's husband died in a tragic accident and inherits the cafe that was his dream. As she's grappling with the death of her husband. She is also trying to run a cafe.

I liked this book. This isn't my normal go-to read. But a good heartfelt read.

Was this review helpful?

A wonderful story with themes on friendship, family and secrets. The characters in this book are so well written - you feel like you know them.

Was this review helpful?

I literally love Tilly's books. They are always really fabulous. They are always feel good, fun, touching, romantic and funny. This one is no exception. I loved the characters, I loved the storyline and can we take a second just to talk about the beautiful front page. Stunning.

Was this review helpful?

This book was wonderful. The main characters were so well thought out, as was the plot. The author kept me on my toes flipping back to Rosie’s past, giving hints at a darker side of the story. I read this book in two sittings as I was desperate to know the true backstory and also how this book was going to end. I will definitely be looking at more from this author. Thanks netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

An easy read in a beautiful setting.

Thank you Bookoutre and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

Rosie's husband's latest money making scheme is to buy a rundown cafe located in Marigold Marina on the River Avon, unfortunately Rosie is aghast at his decision.

This is Fergus's grand idea, they purchase the cafe and move from Newcastle to Stratford and start renovations. Within weeks of arriving, her husband suffers a fatal heart attack, leaving Rosie a widow at 30 years old. Although she was against buying property, Rosie remains to run the cafe to fulfil her late husband's dream.

She makes the cafe a success but Rosie's life is empty until one particular resident of the marina starts dropping into the cafe every day for his lunch. Attracted to Kit, Rosie considers it's far too soon after her husband's death to think about romance.

Sweet story about starting again and second chances.

Strangely the very attractive and eye catching book cover depicted a coastal location, yet this is set in a boat marina slap bang in the centre of England.

Was this review helpful?

I've been meaning to try one of Tilly Tennant's books for a while now, and I was immediately charmed by the blurb of The Cafe At Marigold Marina when I spotted it. The cafe and the bookshop barge, the seemingly slowburn romance, the marina in general... I thought this was going to be the perfect heartwarming romance, and just what I was in the mood for. Unfortunately, this story and me most definitely didn't get along instead.

I still really like the marina setting and the cafe made a great backdrop for the story. The community spirit in general was great too, and it's probably one of the reasons I kept reading for this long. I love a good slowburn romance, and I understand that the main character is still grieving, but still... I wasn't a fan at all by how everything was developed. Rosie basically has no backbone and not only did her husband treat her like garbage before he died, she clearly didn't see that how he treated her was wrong. On top of this, she keeps calling Nicole her friend and says she has to keep her promises even though both clearly don't make sense at all... The constant mention just how much she is still grieving, how she can never be with someone again and the whole 'Fergus said' became so frustrating that I had to force myself to keep reading.

On top of this, we have to deal with not only a love triangle vibe, but also with a cheating element. Both are major pet peeves, but I can overlook them depending on how they are developed. In this case, I really couldn't stand how they were incorporated into the plot though... Especially with the main character Rosie being so blind to it all when it's all SO obvious. I felt the reactions of the characters in general was a bit all over the place and not consistent enough to turn them into believable and rounded characters. The tone of the writing itself wasn't for me either... And I confess that I started skimreading somewhere after the halfway mark just to be done with it sooner.

All in all this wasn't the positive and uplifting romance experience I was hoping for... I might give her books another try, but The Cafe At Marigold Marina was a clear miss for me.

Was this review helpful?

An easy read, full of friendship and romance. The storyline is predictable, but sometimes that’s what you want in a book - something that is just fun to read. This is a great book for breezy summer reading!

Was this review helpful?

This is a good story, a great beach read.
Rosie is recently widowed and is determined to finish her husbands dream of owning a cafe. She works hard and struggles with her new feelings for Kit. Lots of emotions in this story; both highs and lows.
Secrets, lies, and self discovery.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

What a beautifully written story where Tilly Tennant takes us to Stratford upon Avon to enjoy the barges on the river. Rosie moved to the derelict Cafe with her husband Fergus but rebuilding it was always his dream and not hers. When Fergus dies a grieving Rosie carries on and successfully opens the cafe.

I loved the description of the marina, the friends Rosie makes along the way and laughed at the pub stop bike ride. This is a ‘ can’t go to sleep because I want to know what happens next’ book and even after the last page I’m still thinking about Rosie.

Was this review helpful?

I find Tilly Tennant a bit hit and miss but this one is a hit, bright and breezy but with a tragic start. Set in Stratford upon Avon beautifully descripted making you want to go and enjoy Stratford yourself. Interesting characters very enjoyable. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

Was this review helpful?

How truly delightful does this book look and sound! The cover straight away drew me in with it's warm skies and blue waters. I did initially think it was based by the sea, but it is in fact based by the river in Stratford Upon Avon. We meet Rosie, who moved all the way down from Newcastle to open a cafe with husband, Fergus. Tragically, Fergus dies during the cafe's renovations and instead of selling up and moving home, Rosie decides to stay and make a go of it in Fergus's memory. I loved Rosie's character - she's mild, meek and very shy but what a strong woman she is to stay where she knows nobody and deal with her grief let alone a new business venture!

Marigold Marina sounds beautiful, and we get to meet some great characters who live and work there. Grant, who runs the boatyard is so likeable, and his mother Edith certainly pulls no punches in telling it how it is! Tabitha, who works at the cafe, and her brother Kit, are equally likeable with Tabitha being far wiser than her years and Kit sounding impossibly perfect! There are also some not as nice characters, and despite being Rosie's friend I really didn't warm to Nicole at all. Of course, things never run too smoothly and there are a few secrets and insecurities hidden amongst the Marina community which kept me hooked into their storylines throughout!

Rosie's little cafe sounds amazing and I have little doubt that I would definitely become a regular there! She has little self confidence (which you'll understand why as her story is revealed), and yet she runs the cafe like she has done it for years! I loved her relationship with the other characters, although she deserved to be treated better by some, and really kept everything crossed that she had a happy ending!

I've read so many of this author's books but this has to be my favourite! It's so delightfully bright and breezy and full of warmth, love and friendships! There were so many moments where I laughed out loud, and we really needed to see more of tipsy Rosie! I was completely hooked by the end of the first page and had it finished in a few hours! It is such a fabulous read that will pull on your heart strings and lighten your heart all in one go! Love, loved, LOVED it! Would definitely recommend!!

Was this review helpful?

This lovely novel is set in Stratford Upon Avon in a wonderful marina. Here Rosie, recently tragically widowed, is trying to put her life back together and continue with her husband’s dream of setting up and running a cafe. As Rosie’s confidence begins to return and she begins to make her husband’s dream her own she begins to fall for Kit. However, there are things yet to be revealed and Rosie needs to come to terms with the reality of her marriage. Will she be able to finally move on?
I loved this gentle summer novel. The slow unfurling of Rosie’s truth was painful and realistic and the characters were rounded and likeable. I loved it.

Was this review helpful?

This has to be one of my favourite books by Tilly Tennant.
It really got under my skin and into my heart.
Fergus had been searching for somewhere to follow his dream of owning a business. He’d had several dream ideas in the past that never went more than the idea stage. When a café came on the market by the marina near to Stratford, hundreds of miles away from their native north east, he thought it the perfect place for a new dream. His wife Rosie of course went along with his dream. The café was a real mess, and before they got to the opening stage Fergus tragically died.
Rosie bravely pushed on with the plan even though she is grieving her loss, and with no family nearby to support her.
The café successfully opened, I loved the ambience of it with the décor and could almost smell the bacon and coffee.
The marina had a few businesses including a book barge, gift shop, a farm shop and boat hire. The owners really looked out for Rosie, giving her wonderful support.
A fabulous story of friendship, family and secrets with a great cast of characters.
I loved Kit from the book barge and his sister Tabitha, both with worries of their own.
Nicole from the gift shop had supported Rosie but was prone to some odd behaviour.
Grant from the boat hire was lovely, and the group outing on the bikes was such fun.
Rosie’s friendship with Kit was so nice. Him teaching her to swim was just the best, she was so brave.
A real heart-warmer this one, it got me so emotional too.
I thoroughly recommend it.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

This was a slow read. I am a Tilly Tennant fan but this story was too predictable . The main character was Rosie and you just wanted to shout at her. The marina sounded great and you wanted to hire a bike. Kit and his book barge sounded lovely and you wanted to buy a book. I loved the north east connection. It is a story of losing your husband, following his dream and then learning the truth and falling in love properly. An ok read.

Was this review helpful?

A Five-star read that unfurls like a beautiful flower in the sunshine. This was a great story, it started out one way, just a widower trying her hardest to follow the path life dealt her, but honestly this author does such an amazing job of bringing you the story and doing everything just under the surface making you wonder exactly which direction the story will pull you, then boom you go down a completely different path. It will make your heart break, but then you will feel the water on you as you read, and you know the path is the right one. Do not miss this great story, I am really hoping that we get to hear more from Marigold Marina and all of its inhabitants, as they all have great stories to tell.

Was this review helpful?

Rosie has moved across country with her husband, who wanted to open a small cafe on the marina within Stratford upon Avon. When her husband dies of a heart attack, a month after they move, she is devastated. To honor him, she decides to stay and still open the cafe. When she later learns things about her husband, it crushes her again. Meeting Kit, the man who has a used book and library, she slowly begins to see life again. Good story, and hard to put down. would recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Welcome to the café on Marigold Marina

What an enchanting read!
I felt like I’d moved to Marigold Marina myself , Rosie deserved so much more from life than she had with her husband Fergus and I’m so happy she finally realised what was happening in her marriage , I won’t give too much away but what she went through happens to so many women and men and I’m glad the author decided to write about this subject.

A perfect book that kept me entertained all the way through.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advance copy of this book to read and review.

Was this review helpful?