Recommendations based on "The Start of Something"

A story of falling out of love from the winner of the Comedy Women in Print Award, for fans of Monica Heisey and Dolly Alderton

Gripping, emotional and uplifting – a novel about the true power of friendship.’a tender, emotional and uplifting read … I loved it’ Lucy Diamond’A superb writer – the Irish Jojo Moyes’ Irish Examiner The simple fact of the matter is that Iris loves life. Maybe she’s forgotten that. Sometimes that happens, doesn’t it? To the best of us? All I have to do is remind her of that one simple fact.Monday morning starts like any other – until Terry discovers her best friend Iris has gone missing. Finding her takes Terry, Iris and Terry’s confused father Eugene, into an extraordinary journey – one that will change all of their lives. And, along the way, what should be the worst six days of Terry’s life turn into the best.Because friendship teaches us all to be brave. And, sometimes, the rules are made to be broken.

One summer can change everything . . .Perfect for readers who love Debbie Johnson, Cathy Bramley and Trisha Ashley.“Warm and funny and feel-good. The best sort of holiday read.” Katie Fforde"Filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!" Jill MansellDemi doesn’t expect her summer in Cornwall to hold anything out of the ordinary. As a waitress, working all hours to make ends meet, washing dishes and serving ice creams seems to be as exciting as the holiday season is about to get.That’s until she meets Cal Penwith. An outsider, like herself, Cal is persuaded to let Demi help him renovate his holiday resort, Kilhallon Park. Set above an idyllic Cornish cove, the once popular destination for tourists has now gone to rack and ruin. During the course of the Cornish summer, Demi makes new friends – and foes – as she helps the dashing and often infuriating Cal in his quest. Working side by side, the pair grow close, but Cal has complications in his past which make Demi wonder if he could ever truly be interested in her.Demi realises that she has finally found a place she can call home. But as the summer draws to a close, and Demi’s own reputation as an up and coming café owner starts to spread, she is faced with a tough decision . . .A gorgeous story exploring new beginnings, new love and new opportunities, set against the stunning background of the Cornish coast – starring a feisty, compelling heroine who leaps off the page and encourages you to live your summer to the full.If you loved Summer at the Cornish Cafe, don’t miss the next in the Penwith Trilogy, Christmas at the Cornish Cafe!Phillipa Ashley's book 'Four Weddings and a Christmas' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2023-11-13.

'Full of quirky characters, friendship and humour, you will devour this engaging and heartwarming novel in one sitting' Sunday Express S Magazine Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you raid the pantry in the middle of the night... The Comfort Food Cafe is perched on a windswept clifftop at what feels like the edge of the world, serving up the most delicious cream teas; beautifully baked breads, and carefully crafted cupcakes. For tourists and locals alike, the ramshackle cafe overlooking the beach is a beacon of laughter, companionship, and security - a place like no other; a place that offers friendship as a daily special, and where a hearty welcome is always on the menu. For widowed mum-of-two Laura Walker, the decision to uproot her teenaged children and make the trek from Manchester to Dorset for the summer isn't one she takes lightly, and it's certainly not winning her any awards from her kids, Nate and Lizzie. Even her own parents think she's gone mad. Her new job at the cafe, and the hilarious people she meets there, give Laura the chance she needs to make new friends; to learn to be herself again, and - just possibly - to learn to love again as well. For her, the Comfort Food Cafe doesn't just serve food - it serves a second chance to live her life to the full... What readers are saying about Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe: 'My new favourite author' - Holly Martin, bestselling author of Summer at Rose Island 'A lovely, emotion-filled, giggle-inducing story' - Sunday Times bestselling author Milly Johnson 'A book of hope and solidarity, friendship and humour and the belief that everything might just turn out okay after all' - Sophie, Reviewed the Book 'If this book had arms it would grab you and pull you in to the most amazing book ever... just magical' - Lisa Talks About 'An engaging, entertaining and loveable book' - Rae's Reads 'I wish I could actually go there... an original story and it has such a romantic ending' - With Love for Books

Discover the secrets and surprises that the scenic Scottish town of Briar Glen has to offer... ‘A warm beautiful read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley Reviewer ‘A great story . . . a happy feel good read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley Reviewer The feel-good Scottish romance from the bestselling author of A Secret Scottish Escape When wedding planner Sophie Harkness refuses to move a friend’s wedding to accommodate a spoilt bridezilla, she finds herself out of a job. That is until she discovers her late grandma has purchased a local shop for her in the pretty Scottish town of Briar Glen. Surprised and delighted, Sophie opens her own porcelain shop in honour of her grandmother. But when an unusual tea set is left with Sophie, along with a mysterious letter, she can’t help but be intrigued by the story behind the antique. And when the handsome but aloof art critic Xander North comes knocking on her door, Sophie is about to find out the true colourful past of her latest treasure. The perfect feel-good romance for fans of Jo Thomas, Katie Fforde and Trisha Ashley. NetGalley readers are falling for A Scottish Highland Surprise ‘[I] adored this feel good, fun, emotional and life affirming book’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A great read... highly recommend’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A great holiday read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Charming characters, mystery and romance’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An easy and lovely read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Uplifting’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Well written with a cute and funny storyline and well developed characters’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Uplifting and enjoyable’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This author is amazing, she knows how to get you hooked straight away’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A great story and a perfect ending’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Love Heart Lane - where friends are there for you no matter what A new start... When Jinny Birdwhistle is pushed over the edge one time too many times and quits her job as a tabloid journalist, an impromptu - and rather unconventional - job search leads her to a new house, car, and career making honey and chutney in the small Scottish village of Heartcross. And with handsome beekeeper Gabe Warner to help her learn the ropes, she's ready to embrace 'country girl life' and leave the past behind her. ...uncovers an old secret Yet there's more to strong and silent Gabe than meets the eye and though Jinny planned to leave her journalistic instincts in London, she can't help doing a little digging. Now, as she uncovers a mystery that links to her own history, Jinny realises that you can't outrun the truth and the only way to move forward is to face the past. But now that she's at home in Heartcross, she won't have to do it alone... Readers can't get enough of the Loveheart Lane series: 'Christie Barlow has fast become one of my favourite authors! Her books are a ray of sunshine when you read them, even if sad things happen' Sinead 'A lovely romantic story that will make you smile and god knows we need it' Tara 'I absolutely adored this book...gave a warm feeling as you read each page' Suzanne 'There's pretty much nothing I want more now than to escape to a small Scottish town and live in a cottage... sweet and cozy and a nice escape from the wild reality we are all currently living in' Nicole 'A cosy and heartwarming read, exactly what I needed now' Anna Maria 'Christie Barlow has rapidly become one of my favorite cozy romance writers' Mackey 'I loved Clover Cottage...This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites!' Kristin

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A romance like no other . . . this book has it all’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A brilliant read and a perfect ending . . . best read of the year’ NetGalley Reviewer The brand new seasonal novel from the author of the bestselling book, A Secret Scottish Escape ‘A charming read full of romance and mystery. Delightful’ Woman’s Weekly When Leonie Baxter finds herself out of a job and out of a relationship, she’s at her wits end. Her life has just been turned upside down and she needs a plan, fast. By chance, on a walk with her rescue puppy, Leonie stumbles across a striking house in the woods; fully furnished but unoccupied. As a journalist, she is determined to find out more, after all, reporting is in her nature. But her attempts are thwarted by Lily Cruickshank who lives in the cottage next door. Why won’t Lily help Leonie? And who is the mysterious Flynn Talbot, whose letter Leonie finds inside the house? And in uncovering the secrets of the abandoned house, will Leonie open her own heart and let love back into her life? The brand new escapist story from the bestselling author of A Secret Scottish Escape and A Scottish Highland Surprise, for fans of Jo Thomas, Trisha Ashley and Cathy Bramley. Readers can’t get enough of The Cottage in the Highlands ‘Mesmerising, magical and moving’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A really lovely book about friendship, romance and second chances’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fabulous . . . a page-turner of a book’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Has a lot of heart, a story about all the different types of love’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A feel-good story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A lovely read . . . I highly recommend this book’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Just the right amount of mystery, a bit of adventure and a slow romance’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An excellent cosy mystery and romance’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was transported to the lives of these characters’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Heartwarming and sweet, a story about second chances’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A surprisingly little twist’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Another fantastic addition to the Love Heart Lane series...It has drama and romance in spades!' Bella Osborne You won't want to miss the next spellbinding chapter in the Love Heart Lane series - where friends are there for you no matter what. When Julia Coleman meets Flynn Carter again in the cosy village of Heartcross it can only mean trouble. Flynn might be rich, brooding and sexy, but Julia knows first-hand he's ruthless and she plans to watch his every move. When Julia discovers Flynn's plans for beautiful Starcross Manor her greatest fears come true. Because Flynn's dreams of turning Starcross into a luxury hotel could ruin Julia's dreams...and finish off the community of Heartcross for good. Flynn makes it clear he doesn't want trouble, and he's not the man Julia thinks he is. As he sets about convincing the community he's changed, he hopes he can convince Julia to give him another chance too... Readers can't get enough of the Loveheart Lane series: 'Christie Barlow has fast become one of my favourite authors! Her books are a ray of sunshine when you read them, even if sad things happen' Sinead 'A lovely romantic story that will make you smile and god knows we need it' Tara 'I absolutely adored this book...gave a warm feeling as you read each page' Suzanne 'There's pretty much nothing I want more now than to escape to a small Scottish town and live in a cottage... sweet and cozy and a nice escape from the wild reality we are all currently living in' Nicole 'A cosy and heartwarming read, exactly what I needed now' Anna Maria 'Christie Barlow has rapidly become one of my favorite cozy romance writers' Mackey 'I loved Clover Cottage...This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites!' Kristin

When she moves to Amish country to find peace and healing, Madeleine finds a special community--and a special man--who pull her out of her solitude and into a new life. Moving to Pennsylvania wasn't in Madeleine's original plans. She should still be in California and should have married her pilot fiancé a year ago--but death has a way of changing everything. Now the former Air Force flight nurse is living alone in Paradise, Pennsylvania, and working as a maid at the Lancaster Grand Hotel. She isn't exactly a widow . . . but she sure feels like one. Saul Beiler isn't exactly a widower . . . but his wife is long gone. His eleven-year-old daughter, Emma, doesn't know that her mother fled the Amish community--and married another man--but she does know that her dat is lonely, and that a pretty young maedel just moved in next door. Madeleine's numb heart begins to thaw as she spends more time with the innocent and ever optimistic Emma. The stronger her friendship grows with the young girl, the more intrigued Madeleine grows about the humble, strong man raising her on his own. But even as a strange attraction pulls Saul and Madeleine across a stark cultural divide, they--and everybody around them--have to wonder: What could they possibly have in common besides heartache? Will love allow Madeleine to finally find the home she's been dreaming of all along?

‘Much more than a romance... I absolutely adored this story’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book isn’t just a summer read – it’s almost like a summer vacation. Highly recommended' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ In the little town of Greenley-on-Sea, summer has arrived. The turquoise waters of the sea sparkle in the sunlight and, along the beach’s promenade, holiday-makers spill from ice-cream parlours and vintage shops. For Sarah, summer brings the chance for a fresh start. As well as playing Miranda in the Greenley Players’ production of The Tempest (where she’ll get to spend loads of time with her best friends Lottie and Sid) she finally feels ready to find love again after surviving heartbreak. Could handsome colleague Dr Finn Macdonald be the very man she’s looking for? Famous actor Nate finds himself hiding out in Greenley whilst a potentially career-ruining scandal blows over. But when the Greenley Players get wind of his arrival, they draft him in to help out with their performance – and Nate certainly doesn’t bank on his instant connection with the beautiful woman in the lead role... As the temperature rises and the Players’ performance draws closer, can Sarah and Nate overcome their pasts and find love again? From the RNA Award-shortlisted author of The Little Theatre on the Seafront comes a gorgeous, feel-good summer romance. Prepare to laugh, cry and fall totally in love with Greenley-on-Sea and its wonderful cast of characters. Readers LOVE Summer Season on the Seafront! ‘Fantastic... I was quickly drawn into this book and was hooked from the first page to the last... A perfect summer read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Five stars from me... Very highly recommended!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A wonderful story... Had me smirking, laughing, and also wiping the odd stray tear... Highly recommended.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Faultlessly enjoyable.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fun, funny, intelligent, heartwarming and heartfelt... Absolutely five stars from me.’ Belinda Missen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐