A Seagull Summer

This book was very enjoyable. It had a diverse range of characters, most of whom were quirky and interesting. The story was one of a slow burning romance, in a seaside setting. A perfect, relaxing holiday read.

A great read, the sory of Leah and Brendan. She is in Dorset to carry out a research project, and he is there to find out his family secrets. Life gets complicated when Leah's mother and brother turn up, but she has Brendan on her side if she will let him be there for her.

It is the second book in the series, but I don't think it matters if you haven't read the first book.

This is the second book in the Seasons by the Sea series but can be read as a standalone.

A great book featuring a dysfunctional family, a slow burning romance and a possible happy ever after.

Leah is in Dorset collecting seaweed samples for her research. She's socially awkward and possibly not neurotypical. She's really, really bad at talking to people.
Brendon is a Australian tourist who is visiting the area trying to find out what happened to his great-grandfather. He has absolutely no problem talking to people. He's the ray of sunshine that Leah is not.
Brendon is terrified of seagulls. Roger is a hand-reared seagull who has taken a shine to Leah.
Leah is a person with a lot of baggage and the reasons why she is like she is are revealed slowly as the story progresses. The supporting characters are realistic (and sometimes funny) as they always are in Jane Lovering's books.
There were some very dramatic parts and some bits that made me laugh out loud. I really enjoyed reading this book.
I received a review copy of this book from Netgalley.

Jane Lovering is one of the authors that I wait impatiently for new books from. A Seagull Summer is the second in the Seasons by the Sea series.
At face value, it’s the story of when research scientist Leah meets Australian visitor Brendon. Put like that, it’s a simple tale but the reality is quite different. Jane Lovering excels at creating characters who are slightly damaged.
As usual, no spoilers here, I would hate to ruin this beautiful story for future readers.
Leah finds it hard to connect with people. She’s got a lifetime of baggage and is testament to a series of poor decisions which begin with her conception to a teenage mother.
The Devon coast plays host as Leah discovers that making mistakes is human and not the end of the world. There’s a gentle nod to book one of this series as Leah and Brendon unpick the tapestry of Leah’s past.
In particular, I enjoyed the respectful inclusion of gender fluidity as we are introduced to Tass and given a gentle introduction to preferred pronouns.
The star of the show is, without a doubt, Roger the Seagull! His presence heralded many of the twists in the plot from a random dunking to a life or death situation.
I hope you enjoy this story gentle story which takes a good look at social unawareness and how love and understanding can heal most wounds.

A perfect summer reading! I liked the characters, the plot and the setting.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Meet Leah, a 34 year old scientist lacking social skills spending the summer in Devon collecting seaweed samples for a research project. Joined by her gender-fluid research assistant Tass she runs into an Australian tourist called Brendon, spending the summer researching his long lost great-grandfather.

Leah and Brendon are chalk and cheese but his persistence and good nature lead Leah into sharing secrets about her life with him, secrets she's never shared with anyone except her best friend Claire, who died a year ago from cancer.

If you want a feel-good summer romance with a few laughs and a few tears, some self-discovery and a deranged seagull called Roger, STEM heroines and good-natured heroes, family issues and warm Devon summers then this is definitely the book for you.

I read the first book in this series Christmas Secrets by the Sea and loved it. This is pretty much tangential to that book, the only connection is that Davin O'Riordan lives and is filming his TV series in the village below Leah's accommodation (and well maybe a bit more).

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A fun enjoyable read with a great set of dysfunctional characters. Fundamentally a romance but with plenty of sub plots therein driven by the quirky characters who are somewhat believable in their own way. Tongue in cheek and made wonderfully funny with the antics of Roger. A much needed lighthearted read.

This book is the second book in the series, but it is definitely a standalone novel. There were references to the first book, but they did not have much of a part in this book.
I found it a little difficult to get into this book, but I was able to carry on reading it. It is a bit of a slow burner. This book is well written, but I did not warm to some of the Characters. Tass was my favourite, but they were only a minor character.
This book was good, but it is not a book that will stay with me. I am however looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Wrap yourself up in a warm blanket of a sunny Dorset seaside cottage and a rather special seagull! This delightful tale tells of the influence of an unlikely bunch of characters drawn together by family, work and a few chance encounters. Leah and Tass reside in a tumble down cottage for a few weeks of summer vacation research. By chance a wonderfully traditional Aussie dude and a rather obnoxious seagull pitch in for the ride. Initially they find it hard to gel, with somewhat opposite personalities and outlooks on life, but as the weeks unfold, they find similarities that draw them together and challenge their deep rooted beliefs and behaviours.

Jane writes with great depth of feeling and expresses eloquently some of the internal troubles that Leah in particular faces. She is more than once spot on with her inferences and expressions and this heartwarming tale draws you in to finish almost as soon as you have started.

Some 500 pages devoured in just a couple of sittings, I recommend this book to all lovers of a good chick-lit with a bit of grip. If you’re looking for a holiday read this is a perfect choice. It’s a story that will leave you feeling warm and tingly inside and send you scouring the British coast for a cheeky but affectionate seagull with a grey tuft of feathers on his head (but watch you guard your cake in the process!). 😂

Just lovely 😊

With thanks to NetGalley for arranging an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy Jane Lovering's books. She is an excellent storyteller who creates wonderful storylines with engaging characters. I thought this was a sweet, slow burn romance. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters, but I really struggled to connect with the main character, Leah. I understand that the way she is is due to her upbringing. However, I found her irritating and it took me a long time to warm up to her. I think Roger and Brendon made it a more enjoyable read. It is a good story and a fun book in which to escape.

I would like to thank Jane Lovering, Farrago Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Great summer read! Really liked Leah's character. Such a warm personality! Great story. This is the perfect book read on the beach with a glass of wine!

Such a fun, beach set rom-com. Perfect for your beach bag.. Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is an enjoyable romcom, with a side helping of some serious, tricky family issues.
Leah is a hard-working scientist who’s not good at enjoying herself. Brendon, in contrast, is a free spirit who very much lives for the moment. Whereas Leah would rather forget her difficult mother, Brendon is on a quest to find out more about his in the form of his great-grandfather. Leah is also trying to come to terms with a difficult secret.
Events, and a demanding seagull called Roger, bring the two together. There’s the will they, won’t they element that all romcom fans love, with other action to keep us interested while the emotion grows steadily in the background.
There were some fascinating secondary characters and lots of entertaining situations.

A Seagull Summer
Jane Lovering
Pub Date 6 aug 2020
Spoiler Allert

Leah is a trained scientist in a phd she take seaweed sample and has her assistant Tass two get them ready for lab. She staying in this beach house on top of a cliff a beautiful view of the sea and cows in the fields next two the house. Leah getting a divorce from her husband and really not interested in men at the moment till she meets Brandon who she rescue by the cliff from falling down it he asked her if he could stay at the house for a couple of days while researching his grandparents house for his mother he come from Austria and his staying a few days he offers two pay for the rent of keep. Leah says yes in the end and offers him the shed he could be anybody and she only just met him . Then Tass her assistant came two her she gladly meets broaden he a surfer with blond hair and two die for with looks. She told Tass he staying in the shed she says why there plenty of room she just smile at him. Back at the house Tass and Brandon are setting up the internet and h helps her with the water pump two fill it needs two people two fill the tank up. She had a shower and Tass was doing the shopping online order two come. Leah walked down two the beach and finds the sailor there with a seagull by him called Roger he says been her sine he born his mother left him and doesn't trust any seagull only human he take anybody sandwich of them. She talked for a while then she couldn't believe it there was Brandon in his boat she said come up and look at the boat He showed her around the boat and the top was lovely but underneath was terrible like rotten wood the smell was making her feel sick. Then she went on top deck dived into the water took her samples of seaweed and went back two the house they'd had coffee and talked for a while Brandon was easy two talk two only he didn't like sea gulls he was so afraid of them. Tass was cooking lemon chicken and invited Brandon for dinner he came with a bottle of wine they eat dinner and fed the rest two the sea gulls Roger. They all talked all night about why he came her two look for his grandparents and she came here two collect work for her seaweed work. They had a good night.
Brandon asked Leah for coffee down at the beach for a walk like a date and she excepts his offers they have coffee and talk for a while she told him about Claire her best friend that while she was in the hospice dieing she was sleeping with the husband her best friend husband she knew it was wrong but it felt good like they needded each other and in the end she stop it after Claire died she felt so bad she knew it wasn't write. Then she told Brandon about her husbands cheating on her she fought it was pay back for sleeping with Claire husband and couldn't trust men really Brandon said not all men are like that and kissed her he except the kiss. He told her about his girlfriend he left behind she wanted a family and once they bought the house she fought I change my mind but I doubt want children not ready yet and I bough she understand it>Leah told Brandon she couldn't never have children over the up bringing she had with her mum raising her at 15 in a one bedroom flat with hardly nothing there and then came Dylan her brother they'd look out for each other brought each other up Claire went two university and Dylan look after his mother spent most of the time in the attic playing games and youtube he never really grew up. She like Brandon they been on the boat a couple time collecting seaweed they talked all the time he was an easy listener. Leah was getting email from someone called x saying why doubt she get in touch with animals and stroke an animal and try two love it. And she fought she go and stroke the cows in the field and has shed did there was an electric fence there and it gave her shocks and she got stuck then Brandon came two the rescue knew she was crying and helped her out and she thanked him and when inside. Leah and Brandon went down the beach for a walk and the filming crew were there and if they could take shots of them walking down the beach they agreed has extras it took three house two film a short clip they were glad when it was over they went back two the house and her mother turned up with Dylan she couldn't believe it she hadn't spoke two her mother for ages and send her money every month for the bills. She then had dinner they talked she needed a holiday her mother said Dylan was talking two Tass. Leah didn't realise that Dylan was turning into a young beautiful man with his long hair. It was nice two sea them she told them they'd be busy working her her mother agreed kept themselves two themselves. Leah went back with Roger two his shed this kissed reaching for his grandparents and next thing they woke up two knocking it was Roger he was hurt he had plastic caught round his feather Roger had two cut the plastic off him he didn't like the idea though in fact he hated the idea they mended the bird and he gave him fruitcake and he flew back away. They never slept together only kissed. Dylan was missing Leah was down at the beach there was a fire when she was half way back Tass was saying there a fire and Dylan was trap with his leg under the rock it took all they strength two cut it free and the smoke was coming for them they went down the banking took Dylan two hospital and he had a sprain foot with bandage around it. Back at the house she couldn't believe her mother was on the computer and trackingher parents looking for them she said been having classes. She learnt two forgive her mother in the end after the fire it made her think more about life and she knew why her mother was like she was like a 15 year old but she forgave her like Claire forgave her. She fought I try two make a go with Brandon after all he'd liked the idea two.
I loved this book the ocean was brilliant makes me want two be buy a beach house Leah character I fought she would have got tow know her mother more. Brandon and Leah character were amazing. I nearly forgot the emails were from Claire her best friend she set them up before she died she knew Claire forgave her over her husband affair she knew they were having an affair I. the end. Leah was shocked but was happily that Claire forgave her she could rest now.
This book is amazing I loved it. I gave it four out of five stars.

Leah is a scientist researching seaweed and so is set up in a Dorset cottage to carry out her research with her assistant Tass. She is a very closed in character due to her upbringing and finds it really difficult to relate to people so when the typical brash Aussie, Brendon, appears in her life and her mother, the cause of her problems, turns up with her brother is she finally going to have to face up to her past?

A good story with some very different characters, I loved Brendon and the way he lightened the atmosphere and felt for Leah with her life closing in on her and her inability to cope with situations and especially confrontation with her mother........ but obviously the best was Roger the seagull!

I really liked this, the story was interesting and the characters were a bit different. Yes the ending was a bit predictable, but I don't always need a huge surprise for my summer reading.

Despite the cover, this story wasn't as lighthearted as I expected it to be. This wasn't a bad thing at all. In fact, it was reminiscent in some ways of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, in that Leah, the main character, is slightly off kilter when it comes to what society regards as normal. Which is why reading this book was such an enjoyable experience, as it delves into Leah's mind.

The emotional damage suffered by her and her brother is explored sensitively, the characterisation is excellent with its layering and growth, the drama of the event about 2/3 in adds spice, and the seagull is surprisingly cute.

It was so lovely to be back in Christmas Steepleton – but I must say at outset that there’s absolutely no need to have read the first book in the series to experience the author’s wonderful sense of place. It was rather nice though to have those moments of recognition – The Boys of Christmas was set in the same location too – with some lovely small nods to the characters I’d so enjoyed. But Leah isn’t staying in the village itself – she’s staying in a dilapidated cottage up on the cliffs (the setting and the house itself just wonderfully described) where there’s only running water if you pump it up – and that’s rather difficult on your own.

Do you know, I’ve seen reviews where people have said they didn’t take to Leah and found her difficult to identify with – it perhaps says more about me than about her, but I really liked her from the very beginning. Some people have baggage – Leah really has an entire luggage trolley. She’s socially awkward at the best of times, at her best immersed in her work as a seaweed scientist. But she’s been damaged over the years by her difficult family, further hurt by her dysfunctional and now-ended marriage, she can’t stop her inclination for over-thinking everything, and she’s also struggling with grief (and a good bit of guilt) after the death of her close friend Claire.

The sudden appearance of happy-go-lucky Aussie Brendon in his fluorescent shorts isn’t what she wants at all – but, unable to refuse him the use of her shed (did I mention she also has an inability to refuse anyone anything?), he might just turn out to be just what she needs. And if not, he does have a boat (of sorts) to help her collect her seaweed samples.

The book isn’t just a double-hander – there’s a great and gloriously eccentric supporting cast too, the arrival of some more welcome than others. And Leah also has an assistant – Tass, who might only be a minor character but I liked them very much. Did you notice the use of “them”? Rather bravely I thought, the author has made Tass gender-fluid, using gender-neutral pronouns throughout. I will admit that I’m not sure it entirely worked – I just thought it sometimes made the writing (and the reading) a tad awkward, but all kudos to the author for giving it a try.

And I really must mention Roger, mustn’t I? He’s a seagull – hand-reared, a bit over-friendly, fixing you with his eye, knocking on the window, liable to steal your food out of your hand (with a particular liking for fruit cake). And Brendon has a real fear and phobia of British seagulls – things aren’t going to go well, are they? But what a wonderful character he is…!

The pace of the book is quite steady to start with – a lot of well-crafted dialogue, lots of humour (of course), a bit of introspection, a slowly developing relationship, a growing mystery about the anonymous emails appearing on Leah’s laptop. But the pace picks up quite considerably in the last quarter with some really well written drama – and it also produces my favourite line in the whole book, “It’s a fucking seagull, not Lassie”. But now I’ve said that – it had me collapsed with laughter – perhaps it does work rather better in context.

I could quote lines I loved until the cows come home – one reason I’ve always loved the author’s writing so much is that she can have you in tears of laughter one moment, and the next moment you realise you have a lump in your throat and the tears are there for an entirely different reason. Her writing just sparkles – wonderfully clever descriptions, such realistic exchanges, small details that surprise and bring real joy, a deft touch with all the emotional content. Self-discovery and capacity for change, finding love where you least expect to find it… this book really does have a bit of everything, and I really enjoyed it.

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