Member Reviews
A wonderfully heartwarming book! It’s all about redemption and not letting the past colour the future. Join Eden, and some wonderful characters, as they bring people together to help build community.
A lovely book with a real community feel addressing the issues of deprivation in coastal regions. I enjoyed it, the characters were good and enough of a plot to keep you interested. Slight rush at the end but still worth reading. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy
After the death of her mother, Eden leaves her high glying corporate job and heads for the small seaside town she spent holidays in as a child. Shocked by how much some are struggling, she decides to start up a meal venture for locals. But all that is threatened when her former boss makes an appearance. My only issue with this book is that the ending seemed quite abrupt.
This one fell a bit flat for me. Didn't really like the characters, it all seemed a bit rushed and unbelievable. Definitely not one of my favourite reads by this author.
Another lovely story from this author with a great coastal setting and plenty of strong characters. I loved the idea of the community kitchen and the way she shows that it can be hard for people who are overrun in the tourist season but then struggle in the winter. A lovely warmhearted book that draws you in
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Eden's Comfort Kitchen' by Tilly Tennant
Congratulations Tilly on yet another absolutely stunning page turning read!!!I have absolutely loved each and every book I have read by this incredibly talented author and this book is certainly no exception!!
Yet another absolutely stunning escapism page turner by the extremely talented Tilly!!! If you are ever looking for a pick me up that will turn any frown upside down then Tilly Tennant is a definite go to author for me. All of her books that I have read are heart warming page turners including this absolute beauty!! In this gorgeous story we meet 27 year old Eden Sherwood. Eden has suddenly lost her mother and she feels responsible for her Mum's death. It feels like bad news and tragedy follows her everywhere and that it would be better if she went somewhere different. She decides to return to Seaglass Bay where she spent happy childhood vacations for happier memories. She enters her cottage 'Four Winds Cottage' and Seaglass Bay and the villagers in Seaglass Bay give her a warm and embracing welcome. It is not long before she gets to know many of the villagers and sees how they are struggling themselves, especially after all the tourists return home. Eden is determined to do something good after all the bad she feels she has done so decides to open up a community café where people can have a home made meal paying only what they can afford and make some new friends along the way. The café goes down brilliantly and when she can see customers enjoying their food and chatting away she feels that she is finally making her Mum proud. However, when handsome land developer Cam arrives wanting the land that her café stands on things start going downhill especially as Eden used to work for him and knows what he is capable of. However, Eden refuses to give up without a fight and is determined to save her community café. She challenges Cam to work with her for a fortnight to see the difference the café makes to the community and how much they will lose if it gets taken away from them. Can Eden save the community café? Can Eden ever stop blaming herself and make a life in Seaglass Bay? Grab your copy of this heart-warming and stunning page turner to find out for yourselves and I can guarantee that you will not regret it!! With a beautiful storyline ram packed with friendship, community, helping, romance, determination, second chances, grief, hope, warmth and everything you could ask for and more in a beautiful book what on Earth are you waiting for? Tilly's gorgeous, fantastic and evocative writing skills will pick you up and sweep you away to the stunning Seaglass Bay leaving you looking at the beautiful scenery surrounding you, smelling the fresh air and warm your heart throughout!!! I was completely invested and immersed in the storyline and was absolutely devastated when I came to the end and realised I had to unpack my suitcase and return to rainy Wales. The scenery, atmosphere, village and characters all came to life around me and I completely fell in love with everyone and everything about Seaglass Bay!! I would absolutely LOVE to see this turned into a series!! Hint, Hint Tilly ;) !!! An absolute emotional rollercoaster coaster ride of emotions from laughter to heartbreak, joy to devastation and everything in between!!! I gave up counting how many times I told myself one more chapter just to HAVE to know what happened next as this happened over and over until I ended up devouring the whole book in one sitting!!! This would make an absolutely gorgeous movie that I would love to see made!!! This book is a stunning page turner which will have you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Living in a small village myself Tilly portrays life in a small community perfectly with everyone knowing everybody else and also willing to help out when needed! The atmosphere was gorgeous and I loved the setting. It made this book a perfect book to read anywhere and anytime from on the beach in the middle of the day or curled up in fire in the middle of the night. I would love to see this book turned into a movie I would be the first in line to watch it!!
Well done Tilly on yet another stunning book!!! This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors and here's to your next success 🥂!!!
The characters were are well defined, strong and realistic. I became completely invested in not only Eden but every single one of the fantastic, unique and larger than life characters. My heart broke for Eden and how she blamed herself for what happened and it was beautiful watching her go from strength to strength as I got swept away in this beautiful storyline!! I absolutely oved getting to know each and every one of the characters that Tilly's stunning writing skills and brilliant imagination created for this brilliant book. I loved watching Livia and Eden's friendship and bond develop as well as meeting her, her mum Julia and children Nancy and Levi who were so sweet!! I also adored Ralph at 'the Darling Dolphin' pub who also helps to care for villagers in need. I could genuinely talk about these amazing characters for hours and that goes to show how much Tilly cares about her characters in the fact that she has made them larger than life, unique and a complete breath of fresh air!! Each and every character was brought to life thanks to Tilly and I really felt as if I was right next to them throughout feeling and seeing absolutely everything they were seeing and feeling. I loved seeing the interactions, friendships and more between all of the characters and they will definitely stay with me for a long time. I would love to meet them all again and see more from this beautiful village and it's amazing community!! Congratulations Tilly on creating another fantastic group of amazing, relatable and unforgettable characters!!
Overall an absolutely stunning emotional page turner that will sweep you off your feet and take you on a gorgeous break away.
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Eden returns to Four Winds Cottage after recently losing her mother. She has so many great memories there especially past holidays. Seaglass Bay was always such a comfort for her so she is hoping that it will be now, when she needs it the most. Her mother always helped the local villagers during the holiday visitors go home. Eden wants to continue her mother’s legacy so she opens a community kitchen, where friends and families can have a home cooked meal. The villagers enjoy spending time with each other while enjoying Eden’s wonderful heartwarming meals. Cam arrives in Seaglass Bay and he is determined to purchase the land that Eden’s new kitchen is sitting on. She won’t go down without a fight and so she challenges Cam to a cooking challenge. But when Cam up and leaves without warning Eden wonders if she failed to win over his heart and save her comfort kitchen that has given her a new purpose?
Eden’s Comfort Kitchen, written by author Tilly Tennant is a wonderful story of reminiscing on the past and making a new beginning while meeting new friends along the way. I absolutely loved the story of Eden, she had such a great heart and wanted to help all those around her. Seaglass Bay sounds like such a lovely place to visit. Tennant is so great at transporting the reader from wherever they are in the world to the location in the story. I loved Seaglass Bay and the villagers felt like family. This story hits all the feels and I loved it, so I highly recommend it!
Eden's Comfort Kitchen by Tilly Tennant
A cozy and emotional read! If you like some romantic story and which happens in the coastline, this is the book for you. The story was about Eden. You could feel her life was like a rollercoaster. I enjoyed much about the life in Seaglass Bay. The community kitchen bought everyone together. The laughters and chatting there were just amazing. Definitely a feel good story!
Many thanks for NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for my copy.
Pub date: Oct 23, 2024
I had a real sense of deja vu on starting this book, to the point I actually had to go and check my 'read' list incase I'd already read it.
I initially found Eden to be intensely unlikeable, which was a refreshing change from falling in love with the main character almost instantly. This also made her feel very real as everyone in real life is flawed in some way. She did have a great redemption arc, and one of her best qualities was her ability to reflect on how she'd messed up in the past and change her behaviour.
Whilst the story was largly predictable, I liked the narrative on the poverty that exists in seaside towns, and the realistic depictions of grief, community and family. It, for me, was also about learning what is important in life, which is something we all do at some time or another.
If you love cosy seaside romances then this is for you!
This was a read that I went into without knowing to much and had not read the blurb, this is something which I like to do with a contemporary stories. We follow Eden after her mother has passed away and she wants to escape to be able to start healing from this loss. While she is in the little village of Seaglass Bay she realises that there is a need for a community project and through this she starts to find herself again. The author has research how grief and loss which means that the characters are very well rounded with a strong basis in the emotional side of the story.
This story takes the main protagonist on a life-changing emotional journey. It begins with Eden starting a new life in Sea Glass Bay after running from her former life after an unexpected tragedy. Eden is a woman in turmoil, grieving and full of guilt. This part of the story is full of negativity, and the reader wonders if Eden will find a way to be happy. The community in the seaside town is close-knit, but they welcome the young women, and their kindness gives them the courage to take her life in a new direction. There is a strong community spirit, which defines the story. A thread of conflict brings romance into Eden's life but also threatens to destroy her new confidence. I like the friends Eden makes, and I want them to have good lives. The story has a lovely setting and a heartwarming ethos.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
A gentle, heart-warming hug of a small town romance!
Eden is still grieving the loss of her mum. She needs a change of scenery and heads to one of the places she has fond memories of, Seaglass Bay. She soon realises that the town of her childhood fantasies is very much on the real world - the residents are having a tough time, working multiple jobs and still not making ends meet. She gets a new fire in her belly and thinks up ways to help her new friends and neighbours.
Her community café, where you pay what you can afford, would appear to be a way to help the locals without making them feel like a charity but a local developer wants the land the café is on.
I love a gentle romance sometimes. No heart stopping action scenes, just a gentle delve into the emotions of life and with this story we really delve into grief. This was a quickish read for me and I happily read it all in one go. The townspeople are brilliantly written and I really enjoyed getting to know all those differing personalities.
The ending did seem a wee bit rushed and I would have loved an epilogue to see who things got on after all the "main action" died down. For a romance Cam's character arrived well into the story, which meant the romance had to kind of go at warp speed. I did feel like a few things were left open-ended such as where are they going live? How will Eden be able to pay her bills?
The scenery was definitely captured well and I could see the scenes playing out in my head.
This is such a heart warming book! And while there are a few sad moments in the book, it really is a feel good book. I enjoyed getting to know Eden and her past. I felt so badly about the way that she thought about herself; how she felt that her mother’s death was her fault. It was so easy to want to reach into the book to give her a hug. Never for a second did I see Eden the way that she saw herself, or even the way that her sister described her to be.
The townspeople of Seaglass Bay were welcoming and friendly; it made me want to go to the town be befriend these people! It really was the perfect cast of characters and the perfect setting. A town with which Eden had some familiarity, hoping to work on herself and grow as a person. A town in which she has some happy memories of her mother.
The romance between Cam and Eden was cute. I do wish Cam was introduced a little earlier in the book so that the relationship was built up a little bit more. They may have worked together, but like they said, they didn’t really know each other. I wish we could have seen more of them getting to know each other. However, I enjoy their interactions and think they are a great couple.
This book really just feels like a warm hug on a cool day.
Never have I been left disappointed by a Tilly Tennant novel. She writes such gorgeous, heartwarming fiction and you immediately feel it enveloping you like a warm, fuzzy hug.
The characters throughout are charming and Eden was a character I immediately took to heart.
I absolutely love the idea of a Comfort Kitchen, it sounds wonderful! I feel like I've gained several pounds after reading about the comfort foods.
A thoroughly enjoyable and engaging romance.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “Eden’s Comfort Kitchen” by Tilly Tennant. Tilly is on my “must read” list with her heartwarming stories. I completely lost track of time as I was pulled into the town of Seaglass Bay.
Eden recently lost her mother so she decides to go back to the place that held wonderful memories for her- Seaglass Bay, where she vacationed as a child. Eden makes friends with the locals and decides to open a kitchen to help feed her neighbors and everyone can spend time together. Everything is going well until Cam comes to town. He wants to buy the land her restaurant is on.
I was reading so fast to see how the book played out. And the ending did not disappoint! Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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After Eden’s sudden and tragic loss of her mother, which she feels responsible for, she runs back to her childhood vacation spot, Seaglass Bay, the place where she last remembers happy memories, to try and escape from the pain. Eden embraces the small town life and starts connecting with the locals and in doing so discovers that many of them struggle to get by. Fueled by her guilt and pain, and determined to help the community that has taken her in as one of their own, Eden decides to open a community cafe where people can come and eat something home cooked and only pay what they can afford. All is going to plan until a handsome but aggressive land developer named Cam comes along wanting the spot that Eden has set up her cafe in. Eden used to work for Cam, so she knows what he’s capable of. She makes him a deal in order to try and get him to back off but is there more to him than meets the eye? Will Eden stop running and deal with her grief?
This is definitely a story about personal growth and found family, with a little bit of romance added in. I loved the small town aspect and how lovely the locals were. The community really rallied around Eden once they realized what she wanted to do to help and that was nice to see, because we live in a world where you don’t even know your neighbors anymore.
There were lots of heartfelt moments, but the ending felt slightly rushed, and I wished there was an epilogue to see how things flushed out in the end. Overall man easy and pleasant way to spend the afternoon.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review
Considering we’ve already had the pleasure of two books from Tilly Tennant this year - The Village nurse series - I wasn’t expecting anything else and was content to wait until next year for something new from this wonderful author. So imagine my surprise when I saw Eden’s Comfort Kitchen pop up and then I read the blurb and just knew I had to read it. I loved this story from beginning to end and it provided the perfect change of genre and setting amidst the numerous historical fiction books that I have read lately. I always connect with Tilly’s characters and stories and this proved to be no different. It was a captivating, wholesome, feel-good read that I didn’t wish to end. The setting of Salt Glass Bay and the people who live there really get under your skin and you are rooting for a positive outcome for everyone but in particular our main female character Eden.
Ok, the first half might have been sad in a way, as in when we are introduced to Eden she is newly arrived to the beautiful coastal village of Salt Glass Bay and is so down on herself. It was hard going at times to read about her. Not because of the writing or the plot and I don’t mean it in a bad way but I just felt she put so much unnecessary pressure and guilt on herself and always thought the worst of herself, her actions and her personality. She could see no good in anything and the fact she believed her family would be better off without her spoke volumes as to why she felt the need to flee from her family at a time when family should be as close as possible in one tight unit.
I didn’t like the fact that she behaved this way and she really needed to take a different stance on things and see that she was a good person who could do brilliant things and make those around her who love her deeply so very proud. I make it sound that this was a bit doom and gloom but it wasn’t in the slightest. It’s just the tone of the first half of the book was in line with how Eden was behaving and acting. But soon Salt Glass Bay will start to work it’s magic and the true Eden that perhaps she didn’t realise that she had harboured deep inside her will start to emerge and she will go on to do brilliant things for so many people.
Eden is grieving following the sudden loss of her mother to a heart attack just a month previously. The blame lays at her feet or so she thinks and now she is viewed as the black sheep of the family. She wasn’t an easy child growing up and some of this has carried through to adulthood. Leaving her job in a property developers behind she has rented Four Winds Cottage for six months in the hopes of revaluating her life and making a fresh start. She’ll have time to ponder her next move. Eden thinks that her sister Caitlin just feels that Eden can never take responsibility for her actions or do the right kind. Maybe there is some truth to this, but really deep-down Eden isn’t all that bad and is way too harsh on herself. Saying she doesn’t deserve comfort and understanding only punishment and blame was a bit too much I thought. I was keen to discover what exactly led to Eden feeling so woeful and guilty about everything. In a way I wanted it to live up to my expectations but on the other hand what on earth could she have done that led her to abandon her family and led her to be so utterly miserable about things?
Numerous characters are introduced as the book progresses, but this never became confusing. In fact, the more the merrier as it all added to the sense of community and friendship that was developing and it also allowed for further development of the main plot. Livia works with her mum Julia running the ice cream parlour as well as raising two children Levi and Nancy who added lots of little cute moments. I adored Livia as a character and hope that in the future she may get a book of her own. She was always on the go and never complained about the lot that she had been dealt in life. Livia became a solid supporter, confident, ally and friend to Eden and I felt this was the turning point for our main character. Her reinvention began and she knows now is the time to make her life better and do something for others. Something that gives back and with her mother looking down upon her hopefully she would make her proud. Getting a job in the local pub, The Darling Dolphin, alongside Livia and with boss Ralph, Eden sees how Ralph cares for those who are in need. That perhaps everyone in Salt Glass Bay is doing well and there are those struggling to make ends meet and need a helping hand. Ralph gives those people some food at the end of the day and here is where inspiration strikes for Eden.
The idea of a community café/kitchen sets its seeds in Eden’s mind and soon she is at hard work making her vision come to fruition. This was the turning point for Eden where she left wallowing behind and started to do good for others. She wasn’t as morose or filled with self-doubt and this is where I thought go on Eden you can do it and now is where I am starting to feel more empathy, understanding and appreciation towards you. The local scout hall is selected as the venue and Eden will fund things herself with those who can afford to do so donating a small fee for their dinner. Eden came into her own with the support of the new friends that she had made. I adored how everyone pulled together to get the venture off the ground because they knew if successful it would make such a positive difference to the community. Running the café keeps Eden occupied and she doesn’t have time to dwell on the so called mess that she has made of her life. Eden starts to feel needed and mattered and this becomes like an addiction to her. The more effort she puts into the kitchen the more she wants it to thrive. But what happens when her six-month stay is up?
For the vast majority of the book there was no romance and to be honest I was glad. There wasn’t a desperate need for it as the story itself was strong enough with characters I was caring for and a plot I was becoming deeply engrossed in. But then lo and behold it arrived in the form of former work colleague of Eden’s property developer Cam who wants to buy the land the scout hall sits upon. Eden when taking on the project knew this was for sale and that the kitchen mightn’t be a permeant fixture in the village but still she won’t go down without a fight. A challenge is given to Cam. Come and volunteer at the kitchen for two weeks and if after that he hasn’t changed his mind then go ahead and buy the land. Cam willingly accepts the bet. He comes across as witty, interesting and lovable but Eden has a bee in her bonnet about him and after all he can be ruthless when it comes to property deals. I loved the way things played back and forth between the pair as personal and professional lives started to mingle. But saying that despite cupid potentially calling it wouldn’t have bothered me if this element of the story had been present or not.
All in all Eden’s Comfort Kitchen as a delightful read which I very much enjoyed. The ending was a bit abrupt as it ended at the 80% mark on my Kindle but I do sense there is room for another story if not two or three more. I want to know what happened to the characters after I left them and there are several unanswered questions also. If you have a few spare hours then you won’t go wrong by picking up this fabulous read which will leave you wanting more.
3⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Eden’s Comfort Kitchen.
Eden has just suffered a major loss and she feels like she was to blame for what happened. She decides she needs a change so she quits her job, gets rid of her apartment, sells some of her belongings and decides to go spend time in Seaglass Bay where her family vacationed as a child. Everyone is very welcoming and she finds a job. She also learns that many people are struggling in Seaglass Bay so she gets an idea for a community kitchen where people can pay what they can. But Cam comes to town and threatens to take it all away.
I enjoyed this book. The storyline was very well written and it tackles major issues that many people go through in life.
Eden's Comfort Kitchen is the third book I have read from Tilly Tennant and it does not disappoint. Tennants are the books you turn to when you want to have your heart warmed and invigorated, enthused by the power of the human spirit for the self and others
Eden believes she causes havoc wherever she goes, and it would be better for all if she just left and started anew elsewhere. She has just lost her mother and decides to relocate to Seaglass Bay, in the cottage where she spent many idyllic Summers as a child. She want's to give back to the community her mother loved and when she sees how they struggle during the off-peak season, she decides to open a comfort cafe. However, things go awry when a face from Eden's past returns, and not just for a friendly ello. Cap is looking to sell the land from beneath the communities feet...
Another beauty from Tennant that will warm your soul and engage your heart. Absolutely stunning
Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Tilly Tennant for this wonderful ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Running from her troubles, Eden finds her bliss by helping out the community that she comes to love. Strong community ties, HVE and friendship are what made this a great read!