Nicola May

I was charmed by Nicola May’s The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay, or more specifically the eclectic character ensemble it contained. And so Escape to Futtingbrook Farm‘s setup – a modern take on the office rom-com – sounded like fertile ground for this author’s creativity in character development. On that score, May does not disappoint. I found it refreshing too that most of this novel’s character set have already blown out 35 candles; some decades more.

Wiltshire’s small-rural village culture and the primary setting, a slick converted barn within a working turkey farm added humour, colour and intrigue, but also unexpected thematic depth. In terms of narrative though, the early chapters were a little exposition-heavy at times. Continue reading: https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/2022/10/nicola-may-the-hub-mark-david-green...… (lisätietoja)

Wow! What an amazing little novella; this book gave me goosebumps and really warmed my heart on a cold winter night. It’s a quick read that packs a big punch.

Evie is suddenly single and unemployed at Christmas and, when she meets handsome stranger Greg in the pub, agrees to help out in a homeless shelter. It is there that she meets one of the homeless men, Yves, and she agrees to meet him at various locations around London. At each location, the beauty of London shines through and Yves with a ‘Y’ hands Evie with an ‘E’ a little card at the end of each excursion reminding her of the lesson learned. With his sudden appearances and disappearances, it quickly became apparent that there was something special about Yves. He really made Evie look inside herself and open her heart to the possibility of a new relationship.

I have to give a special mention to Evie’s friend, Bea, who was responsible for my many chuckles when reading this book. She is absolutely hilarious, and is the complete opposite to peaceful Yves. She really doesn’t care what she says and is the perfect tonic to cheer up both Evie and the reader.

Although I had an idea in my head where the story was going, I wasn’t entirely right and the ending completely surprised me. It’s a wonderful book that reminds us of those we miss at Christmastime and when they are still in our thoughts, they will never be very far away from us.

This is an absolutely superb short-story. It is perfect for reading during the festive period, curled up in front of the fire with a nice glass of sherry.

I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.… (lisätietoja)

I must say that this title’s cover art is not what I usually go for, but I am very glad I looked past that. Nicola May’s The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay is such a fun read!

Leading lass Rosa is not someone who appealed to me right off the bat. She can be a little stand-offish, spikey even, and prone to biting the hands (or heads off of) those trying to help her. However, from the love she showers upon her rescue dachshund Hot, it is clear Rosa is a good egg whose life experiences have heightened her defence mechanisms. And, as the colourful residents of Cockleberry Bay take her under their wing and support the opening of her Corner Shop, her more appealing character traits shine through — her inner strength, drive and well-targeted sass. Continue reading >> https://bookloverbookreviews.com/2020/02/the-corner-shop-in-cockleberry-bay-by-n...… (lisätietoja)

I was drawn to this novella by its interesting cover and the blurb which suggests a learning journey with comic moments. I believe this was previously titled Christmas Yves.

I loved the first line - a great rant at an unfaithful partner!

We follow Evie as she learns, with the help of a homeless man, Yves, what is important in life and what can be damaging to hang onto. And there's a little twist at the end which made me smile, although I had seen it or something similar coming! I would not necessarily call this a 'Christmas story', as I felt Christmas was merely the backdrop to the events playing out.

It is a nice story to read, but I didn't take to Evie who, to my mind, seemed too heavily focused on having a baby, and had determined that Greg would make the perfect husband and father to her child far too quickly after being dumped by Darren. Greg talks about her not being materialistic, but I felt that in a way she was.

It did, however, make me think about the lessons Evie was learning on her journey. Something we could all stop and ponder from time to time.

My thanks to the author for a free digital copy of this book to review.… (lisätietoja)