Lighthearted book
Loved it. Humorous in places. A few good twists and turns to keep you interested. A lovely easy book to read

"The Beachside Flower Stall" is the second book in the Beach Bay series and I was looking forward to a summery read.

I really liked the setting in Shipley and the cute little flower stall but I missed the summery atmosphere a bit. I also expected the flower shop to play a more important role in the story.

I kind of enjoyed reading this book and certain parts of the story, especially Rubys past, but I found the main characters pretty annoying. There were so many things about Carrie I didn't understand and I just couldn't get myself to like her. Megan was the typical bitch with lies and intrigues who you aren't able to like at all. Tom remained pretty shallow to me and not easy to judge.

I wasn't a fan of the love story either. I don't like it if the love is based on old feelings and in the present there is nothing which shows the feelings between the protagonists. As a teenager Carrie was in love with Tom but Megan snatched him away in front of her eyes, so this is the only we know about their feelings. I missed the two having some chemistry.

The book was ok to read but felt a bit long at times. Still I am looking forward to the Christmas story of this series.

This was an enjoyable, lighthearted read!! I got caught up. in the characters and their surroundings! I wanted to go and live with them!! You can tell, that for the most part, communities come together, to help and heal each other.
Sometimes I ant to shake Carrie, telling her she is so much more, but that is just telling myself, how involved I am in the characters and their lives. I love Ruby, I want her as my own! There is love, laughter, anger, and tears. All the makings of a great book!!
I would read any of this author's books and will be the next , as soon as I can! Thank you for the adventures!!

This is book two in the ‘Beachside Bay’ series and I didn’t actually know that until I had finished it, meaning this book can easily be read as a standalone. I would recommend obviously reading them in the correct order, in case any characters pop up from this one and it get’s a little confusing, but I will let you know how that goes when I go back and read book one.

Anyway, despite the reading in the wrong order scenario (oopsies haha!), I was immediately drawn in to this book from the gorgeous cover. From the very start, this was every bit a perfect comedy-romance and although you’re sort of sure how the book will end, you can’t put it down anyway because you’ll soon fall head over heels in love with Carrie and have that desperate need to know that she really does get her happy ending.

The move to Shipley was organised by Carrie’s mother, after Carrie lost her job and had nothing else lined up. Her ill aunt Ruby had no intentions of going back to work at the flower stall, leaving Carrie with no idea of when she’d be able to head home, far away from Tom and Megan. Ruby was such a loveable character and when you get to know the true meaning behind her depression, you will love her even more than you already did because she deserves the entire world and lucky for her, Carrie is about to give her that. Ruby’s entire story arc was my most favourite, despite Carrie being the main story, because there was just so much depth and heart-ache in it – I wouldn’t rest until I knew Ruby got what she had been searching for, for so long and keeping such a secret to yourself for all these years – it really is devastating.

There was some other little reoccurring characters involved like Jane, aunt Ruby’s assistant, who was absolutely hilarious! She had me cringing and laughing all the time with her overly detailed sexcapade stories. Older people really do have no limits or filters when exposing their private lives to the world. She was a breath of fresh air that balanced out the two heart-breaking stories we had to read between Ruby and Carrie’s lives. If Karen didn’t provide us with such humour, I think I definitely would have broken down multiple times!

Despite the devastation, this book was filled with humour and had me smiling non-stop. I grew incredibly fond of all these wonderful characters, except Megan, who irritated me more than enough times throughout the book. You’d think after ten years she’d have grown up and put a filter over her mouth, but no, some people just never change. The fake boyfriend scenario was really heart-warming to watch because, although Toby wasn’t ready for a new relationship and wanted to work things out with his wife, the friendship that blossomed between Carrie and Toby was really sweet and he had her back so many times. Everyone needs a Toby in their lives.

The ending was all types of sweet and expected, but nevertheless, I was so happy that after all of these years, Carrie got the ending she had only ever dreamed of. She may have hated the idea of coming back to Shipley at first, but after putting up such a fight and losing over and over again, she finally won.

The Beachside Flower Stall is the second book i have read in this series and i was glad to be back for a visit. We start by meeting Carrie & Tom, they have spent all their time together and surely its only a matter of time before they get together, when Carrie is invited to Toms 21st she knows this is it. Well - it was until Megan (her best friend who Carrie invited along) steals Tom. Carrie Leaves and thats that.

When she learns her Aunt Ruby is taken unwell and someone needs to run her flower stall, Carrie finally returns to the little town - and plans to keep her head down and get along, when BAM - turns out not only is Tom in town, he is marrying Megan and yep, you guessed it Carrie has the job of sorting the flowers.

The Beachside Flower Stall was a wonderfully sweet read, with humor, love and plenty of flowers. It was true chick lit and a wonderful easy read that allowed the reader just that time to escape real life and loose themselves in a book for a while.

The Beachside Flower Stall is a return to Shipley, the second installment in the the Beachside Bay series. The book contains a whole new cast of characters although a few favourites from The Beachside Sweet Shop pop up too.

I really enjoyed The Beachside Sweet Shop and was looking forward to the second book, although unfortunately this book didn't grab me as quickly. However, I did enjoy the story as it got going, particularly as the meaning behind individual flowers were entwined into the story, reiminscent of Vanessa Diffenbaugh's The Language of Flowers. There are a number of storylines throughout the book but I really enjoyed Ruby's story which was a heartwarming storyline.

There were also a number of times during the book when Karen Clarke's humour shone through and I found myself laughing out loud.

The book can be read as a standalone novel, however it is the second visit to the beachside town of Shipley and the series is introducing the reader to a great cast of characters who I hope to meet up with again soon. Karen Clarke has created a great setting and I look forward to returning again soon.

Thank you to the publishers, Bookouture, for inviting me to take part on this blog tour in return for an honest review.

Carrie moves to Shipley to help her aunt Ruby, who owns a flower stall. Carrie doesn’t really know much about flower arrangement apart from a few Youtube videos, but she’s ready to help her aunt. When Carrie finds out that the guy she loved years ago is marrying the woman, who snatched him from her, she gets anxious because she’s the one, who is going to make wedding flowers.

It was such a wonderful book, very much enjoyed the writing style and the story itself. It’s a fun book with great pacing and I’m definitely going to read the third book in the series, when it’s wintery outside.

Having read and loved 'The Beachside Flower Shop I was looking forward to this one . I certainly wasn't disappointed . This is a wonderful book test kept me entertained right up to the last page . It's an easy and predictable read but I absolutely loved it . Wonderful characters and a lovely story.

Thank you for allowing me to read and review this book. I am just not interested in this book anymore. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Very enjoyable and well written, this is a lovely easy read with a likeable and slightly hapless main character in Carrie. It also made me laugh in parts, a pleasant surprise (particularly as this book did not inform me in the blurb that that it was 'laugh out loud' or suchlike, which I find a bit annoying!). Charming and entertaining, it would definitely inspire me to read more from this author.

Review of an advance digital copy from the publisher.

I enjoyed this book. Karen has a way of making you want to be there

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I really enjoyed the first book in this series so when this book was put on Netgalley I had to get it. While this is the second book in the series you can read it as a standalone.

Carrie was in love with Tom but after Megan muscled her way in and ruined everything Carrie couldn't stay in Shipley so she moved to Manchester the very next day. Ten years have passed and Carrie returns to Shipley to help her aunt on her flower stall. 

Carrie never really got over her feelings for Tom so when she finds out he's marrying Megan she's more than a little wounded.  When Carrie see's Megan again she is transported back to her teenage self and feels the need to impress her. 

Carrie discovers that her Aunt has been keeping a secret for many many years. This part of the story is so heart breakingly sad. I really felt for Ruby and can't imagine being in her situation. 

This is such a sweet story. I knew quite early on how it was likely to end but this didn't ruin he enjoyment of the story at all. If you enjoy chicklit then you will have no problems spending the day wrapped up in Karen's world.

This is the second part of the series "Beachside bay" - first part was about a sweetshop on a the seaside village of Shippley and this time around we are still in the same village but with different characters. This time we deal with an aunt that is experiencing depression once a year around the same period, her niece comes to help her manage her flower stall while she stays at home to depressed to be able to work. I really liked reading this second part of the series, it was fun, entertaining, and full of events. You can't get bored while reading this book. I really like Karen Clarke's writing style and I will read more of her books in the future.

This heartwarming, emotional story the runs the gamut of joy, humor, and sadness. Carrie and Ruby are easy to become emotionally invested in their journey...there is a lightheartedness to the pair, making it easy to be drawn into their little world. This a nice series that can be read as a stand alone...the author does a great job of keeping the reader from getting lost in having missed out in reading the first book.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I found this book a little tricky to get into for some reason but I was glad I persevered with it. The humour really grew as you horse further into the story and there was a twist at the end which was different to one I was expecting ( I won't say any more as I hate spoilers!). Overall a fun summer read.

The whole package of the title as well as the cover had me requesting this straight away. A cute summer chick lit read, The Beachside Flower Stall is a relaxing and easy read. Carrie Dashwood is in the sleepy town of Shipton in Dorset to look after her aunt Ruby's flower stall. The book is quite funny in parts.
"Glittery conscious" was a great alternative to "guilty conscience,"and the writing style gives an easy, informal attitude to the book. The book resonated with me, as I think it will with anyone who has ever been to the south coast of England during the summer. It reminded me of summer holidays. I liked Carrie, and Ruby too. They were realistic characters. Secrets are revealed and memories and old friends revisited which makes The Beachside Flower Stall a good read. It is a book with a wonderfully summery feel. Life is not all peachy, though, as there are some conflicts and troubles people go through, which are revealed as the story takes shape.
Thanks to Karen Clarke and her publisher for my ARC via NetGalley. A recommended summer read!
Looking forward to reading more by Karen Clarke, including The Beachside Sweet Shop.

DNF at 18%. Not my thing but thank you to the Publisher for the review copy though!

The Beachside Flower Stall sees the author returning to Beachside Bay, which she introduced us to in her first novel The Beachside Sweet Shop. Instead of sweets to indulge ourselves in it is flowers!

Carrie returns to help Ruby, her aunt with her flower stall whilst she is feeling a bit blue. Carrie is totally out of her comfort zone with flowers being an accountant she much prefers figures. But with nothing else to do it seems that it is the best option.

Carrie is not only launched into running a flower stall without any help as Ruby's assistant Jane decides she needs to do something to bring her marriage back to life immediately, she also agrees to provide flowers for a local wedding.

However, the wedding might be a problem. It is between her schoolgirl crush, Tom and her one time friend Megan. She escaped from them before, will she have to do it again?

Can Carrie put the past behind her? Can she interfere in Ruby's past successfully? Or will it all be a disaster?

This is a book with wonderful laugh out loud moments, not least from some of the situations Carrie finds herself in. With plenty of heart warming moments too this book has it all for a satisfying read.

I just loved The Beachside Flower Stall. I read it in 1 day I could not put it down. A great holiday read. I'm looking for more books by Karen as I loved it that much.

In the first book (The Beachside Sweet Shop) we had met Marnie, a young woman who desired nothing more than to be elsewhere. In this story, we meet Carrie, who left town years ago after her best friend betrayed her with the man she loved. Now, with her aunt Ruby unwell, Carrie is back to run the shop and help with her aunt’s care, and avoid the traitorous ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend as long as possible. But long is never quite what you expect, when she realizes that her aunt has the commission for wedding flowers for the wedding of those two people.

As with the first book, this one alternated between frustrating and engaging, as early on there was a decided lack of development in the characters: we had the uber bitch, the ‘nice guy’ and Carrie – the ‘good girl’ who never made a fuss. While descriptions were lush, and allowed Shipley to shine, it wasn’t until the background information was shared, and we see the relationship between Carrie and her former friend, and the developing romance with the now-ex boyfriend (aka man who broke her heart). Then Carrie starts to feel more flushed out, and it allowed her relationship with her aunt, and the advice and stories shared with Ruby that gave the story more depth.

Like the first, there are no great big surprises or twists – this is a story of redemption and healing, and reconnecting with your roots. It takes a bit to get there, but the journey is enjoyable and perfect for those moments when a light and uncomplicated read are required.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” http://wp.me/p3OmRo-92P/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>