Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Great holiday read and a feel good book

I really enjoyed my last visit to this little beachside town - the sweet shop was great but the flower stall is excellent. Carrie is such an awkward clunky character that you want to wrap her up and make everything okay. I just wanted to take her by the hand, tell her it would all work out and teach her how to arrange flowers so she didn't scare them into wilting.

Carrie Dashwood has returned to Dorset for the first time since she ran away when her heart was broken by her best friend, Tom. Years before just as she was about to reveal that her feelings for him has changed, Tom because involved with a 'supposed' friend of Carrie's, Megan. Carrie is in town to help her aunt, Ruby, who is struggling with her mental health, to run 'Ruby's Bloom's' - a flower stall that meets the towns needs for blossoms. The only real problem, aside from Carrie knowing nothing about flowers, is it appears that 'Ruby's Blooms' is about to be hired to do the flowers for Tom and Megan's wedding.

Apart from returning to this lovely little town, it is great to come back and get a glimpse of characters from the first book from a different angle. Doris Day, the nosy neighbour in Book 1 becomes no less interfering but even more interesting in this story. She is not the only person who gets a look in, Carrie has a date with someone I didn't expect at all to have his own little story to tell.

There are some laugh out loud moments once again as well as a few pull at the heart-string incidents where you just hope all will end well. I honestly believe that this series is getting stronger and I absolutely hope there is more to come. Pull up a chair, draw that cup of tea, grab the cookies and start reading - you won't be disappointed if you like a well told chick lit.

I loved the first book in this series The Beachside Sweet Shop and so was looking forward to starting The Beachside Flower Stall, I wasn't disappointed.
I enjoyed returning to Shipley and meeting characters from the previous story and meeting new ones too.
This book could easily be read as a stand alone but I also recommend the first book too.
A lovely feel-good read which made me laugh in places. An easy to read story which is charming and has a feel good factor. I loved it!

I really enjoyed the first book so I jumped at the chance to read an advanced copy of this story. It certainly didn't disappoint, another fabulous story with some great characters. I look forward to reading more from this author

After reading the beachside sweetshop I couldn't wait to get stuck into this one as well. This is book 2 in the series and was just as enjoyable as the first one. This is the perfect beach read. It's just a lovely and heartwarming story for any 'chick lit' fan.

great read and easy to follow story line. look forward to reading more from this author

The Beachside Flower Stall is just what its front cover describes: A beachside romance to make you laugh out loud. Well, I didn't really laugh out loud, but it did have some cute, humorous moments. I loved Carrie's character; she's the type of person I would like to be friends with in real life. She's down-to-earth, a bit clumsy, and doesn't put on any airs. She's kind and cares about others around her, even the nosy neighbor and the sociopathic former "friend."

I would recommend this book to readers looking for something fun to read by the pool or beach. I doubt I'll remember it in a couple of weeks, but it was fun while I was reading. You shouldn't expect anything life-changing, but you will get a few laughs and enjoy a fun story.

This is another absolutely brilliant book by Karen Clarke and a really enjoyable return to Shipley and some beloved characters from the first book. However, even if you haven't read the previous book - you could easily pick up this one and understand whats going on as the story revolves around brand new characters, with past characters just popping in from time to time.

The second book is about Carrie who fled from Shipley after seeing 'best friend' Megan kiss the boy she secretly loved, Tom at his birthday party. Many years later, Carrie is asked to help out at her aunt's flower stall 'Ruby Blooms' and goes back to Shipley to lend her assistance until her aunt is feeling better. However, when she arrives she realises that Tom and Megan are still living in the area and they are actually getting married. To top it all off for poor Carrie, Ruby's Blooms are asked to do the wedding flowers for her lost love's wedding! Queue the drama and heartbreak!

This book was brilliant, I find that Karen writes the stories really well with just the right amount of drama and humour to make me not want to put the book down! The book is easy to read and very enjoyable, the story doesn't feel rushed like some chick lits do and at the end I was wishing the book was longer as I didn't want it to end!

Overall, I loved this book just like I thought I would after loving the first one. So if you haven't read it yet, you need to! So a big thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy.

Second book in the Beachside Bay series. You don’t need to read the books in order, the series is mainly because of the stories being set in Beachside Bay. They can be read as a standalone book.

I loved the first book, so was hoping this one would live up to expectations! It did! We meet Carrie Dashwood. Carrie left the area when her best friend, Megan stole her first love, Tom. She has returned to help out her Aunt Ruby who is unwell and is unable to run her flower stall. Carrie has no idea what she is doing but begins to pick up the ropes. She manages to get an order to provide wedding flowers but they are for her ex-friend Megan, who is marrying her first love, Tom. She tries to convince herself that after so much time has passed it won’t bother her, but of course it does, and when she meets Tom again she realises that perhaps things weren’t all as they seemed and it things didn’t really happen like Megan told her it did.

This was a lovely book. It was great to have some of the characters from the first book making an appearance, particularly the village busybody Doris Day (I said it in my review for the first book, but will say it again – what a great name!) The story was fun and happy, but with a hint of sadness in it as well. You get swept away with the story, the writing, the characters and most definitely the setting. Would I like a beachside flower stall? – yes please!

OK, the plot is predictable, but aren’t they all in books like this! It’s a nice easy read and you get caught up in the story and you can’t think about anything else until it’s finished! Can’t wait for the next one!

Five Stars!

This was perfect for a dreary rainy day- although it would also be great as a beach book. It's classic chick lit and while some of it may seem a little silly, it's got a huge heart. Clarke has written a sweet heroine in Cassie, a wonderful aunt in Ruby, and a wicked frenemy in Megan. You will figure out what's going to happen but it's a fun read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Having read The Beachside Sweet Shop and loved it, I just had to read this book too. Oh my, oh my,  I am writing this review with the biggest grin just thinking about the situations poor forlorn Carrie gets herself into. Yes I know I shouldn’t laugh about someone in such a state that they hide under a table, with a child and the love of her life’s three legged dog,  Hovis, but laugh I did. I am getting in front of myself though as to why she is hiding telling porkies to a little girl she has only just met that would make Pinocchio envious of her.
Rolling back 10 years Carrie and Tom were friends, well Tom was, Carrie had fallen for Tom big style and decided that she would tell him at his birthday bash being thrown by his wealthy parents. For morale support she took along a friend, Megan. Beautiful confident Megan. Double crossing Megan.  Now 10 years on Tom and Megan and getting married, with the flowers being provided by The Beachside Flower Stall and Carrie has returned to her home town to help her aunt who is not well and owns the stall  hence Carrie is under the table hiding as she sees Tom homing in. Carrie hasn’t had closure on the relationship that she didn’t have in the first place because there wasn’t one, because Tom didn’t ever know how she felt, so her one way feelings have simply been in hibernation while she has lived away, but now she is back it is back to square one. She loves Tom but can’t tell him.
This book has a real good feel factor about it, which definitely should carry a warning stating, Do Not Read This In Public. It certainly causes a reaction in others when you do! I just couldn’t keep my laughing to myself not giggle but laugh. Loved these characters that I wanted to hiss and boo and cheer. What is great about these books is that the end is so predictable but the journey to get there is very unique.  All of these characters totally entertained me in their own way.  This is a lovely addition to The Beachside series. I want to live there. Just loved it!

5☆   New Beginnings

The Beachside Flower Stall is the 2nd book in the series, however I didnt have the pleasure of reading the 1st book. I found this didn't hinder my enjoyment in any way.

Carrie loves Tom. They have been on several dates but are yet to make things completely official.
When Carrie is invited to Tom's 21st party she decides that this will be the night she finally tells him how she feels.

Carrie decides to invite Megan along.
BIG MISTAKE!!!! 
Megan is beautiful, flirtatious, charismatic and is not afraid to go after what she wants.
Megan spends the whole night with Tom.
So much so Carrie is way out of her depth and has no chance of prizing him away from her.
She is devastated and runs out to meet her Dad.

Who needs enemies when you have a friend like Kate!
Needless to say she never gets to tell Tom how she feels.

Fast forward and Carrie is back home again and in charge of helping her Aunt Ruby run the flower stall when she is taken ill.
Desperately hoping not to see Tom and Megan again, She soon realises they did get together and are still very much together.

They are about to get married!!!!

But guess who has been given the job of making the wedding flowers???..... Carrie's, Aunt Ruby. Well Carrie has the job!

Poor Carrie as if things can't get any worse for her. Losing her job, having to return home & now wedding flowers for the two people who broke her heart!

Ruby for me is a gem. Carrie and Ruby's relationship is so heartwarming. Carrie's support for her Aunt whilst she taken ill is some of the best moments within the story.
I also love Jane her Aunts assistant. She added a breath of fresh air to the story and made me laugh.

I really enjoyed this heartwarming book. There was humour, it made me smile, it took me on a journey with Carrie. I was willing both Carrie and Ruby a happy ending.

I highly recommend this book everyone, especially to Chick Lit fans, fans of happy endings and new beginnings with a dash of humour and beautiful flowers.

I loved this authors first book so much, that when i heard a second book was being published i knew i had to read it.

It was a delightful read, brilliant story line and it was great to recognise a few characters from the first book even though they only played small parts within the story. It was easy to read and simple to follow the main story of Carrie plus the small stories of other characters happening in the background.

There was one character in the story that just made me want to scream and call em no end of names cause of the things they did, and i doubt I'm the only one to feel that way. The fact that i felt so strongly about this character just goes to show how well written this story is. The author has a real true talent of being able to make their characters literally come alive and make them real enough that the reader ends up talking to said characters.

I absolutely loved the book cover for this book, so colourful and appealing, so it stands out and really makes you want to pick the book up.

I can't wait for the next book which i hear it going to be a Christmas themed one.

This isn't the first Karen Clarke book I've read, and it won't be the last. This one was blooming marvellous (see what I did there??). I loved every minute of it. Initially, I thought Megan was a bit of a cliche, but I had a think, and realised I've known women like her - women who'd quite happily stab you in the back to get what they want.

It was lovely to visit Shipley again and meet some of the characters featured in the sweet shop, but this is very much a stand-alone novel and it works brilliantly. Carrie gets herself into some hysterical scrapes and I was totally engaged from start to finish.

Hurry up with the next one, Ms Clarke!

Having loved Karen Clarke's first book in this series, The Beachside Sweet Shop, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. Don't worry if you haven't read the first one though as they work fine as standalone reads. This time we meet Carrie Dashwood who has returned to Dorset to help her aunt Ruby with her flower stall. Last time she was there she fled the place because of her unrequited love for Tom Hudson. Will she see him again and if so, how will she cope?

What a complete and utter joy it was for me to return to Shipley. A few of the characters from the first book made a brief appearance which was a lovely touch. It made me feel like part of the community myself. I loved Carrie as a character. She's kind and I suspect would be a fantastic friend to have. Shame her former friend Megan didn't agree. What a thoroughly horrid person she was. I also thought aunt Ruby was a fabulous character, oh and not to mention Jane who helped her on the flower stall. I shall say no more than that she likes to over-share!

I found myself chortling away on many occasions at the different situations Carrie got herself into. But this is also a heart-warming read and the writing sets just the right tone. It's not saccharine to the point of being sickly but it's charming and feel-good and I loved every minute of it. As with the previous book, I wanted to be there, although whilst I could see myself running a sweet shop, I think if I ran a flower stall I would have a lot of buckets of dead flowers. I definitely don't have green fingers!

I hear that Karen Clarke is already on her way with the third book in the series which will have a Christmassy feel. Shipley is a wonderful creation and I can't wait to get back there.

Carrie is such a caring person and I loved getting to know her as she takes on the task of running her Aunt Ruby's flower stall. I loved Carrie's early attempts at arranging the bouquets they definitely made me smile. There were plenty of comical moments mainly involving Carrie embarrassing herself but it did make this book so much fun! Although the conversations with Jane were very amusing and had me giggling too.

Have you ever read a book and hated a character from the start, well let me introduce you to Megan. I think it would be hard to go through life without meeting at least one person a little bit like Megan. Some of the things she said even wound me up but then I would think calm down it's only a story. I guess my point is that Karen Clarke has done a fantastic job of creating a character who you pretty much hate but also find so entertaining with her shallow ways! I do wish that Carrie would have stood up for herself a bit more but I know that it is easier said than done. If I am totally honest personality wise I am more like Carrie and possibly would have done the same when backed into a corner.

All of the characters in this book are pretty brilliant and I loved that there was a good combination of light subject matter but also with a deeper theme at it's heart too. The plot moved smoothly and quickly meaning I read this book in two sittings. Although I wished I could have read it in one go as it was such an entertaining story that I didn't want to put down. I couldn't help but finish this book with a smile it definitely has that feel good factor to it! After reading this story I can't wait to read more books by Karen Clarke.

The Beachside Flower Stall is thoroughly entertaining with some delightful characters!

Thank you to Bookouture & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I really enjoyed this book - a gentle tale of Carrie's return to Dorset after a ten year absence. Picking up the pieces whilst her aunt Ruby has fallen apart, Carrie inevitably hears about her former best friend Megan, who stole her love, Tom.

A warm and friendly tale which encourages you to curl up in your favourite armchair and read through in one sitting. Although this is the second book in the Beachside set, it can easily be standalone. I'd say it's a more complex tale than the Beachside Sweet Shop but each has their own merits. It certainly has hidden depths...

A lovely read, 4 * from me

True to chick-lit formula in general, this book does not really hold any surprises after you have read the cover blurb, but if you'd like to indulge in an easy, relaxing beach read for the spring/summer days to come, this is definitely one to consider.

Also as with most books of the genre, for me, the real clincher is whether I end up liking the protagonist or not. In this case I had some serious doubts right at the beginning. The main characters came across as pretty one-dimensional with "goody-two-shoes", "mr-oh-so-nice-guy" and "bitch-queen" stamps all over them - no subtlety here.
The heroine, Carrie, was so gullible and painfully pathetic that pushed the borders of credibility and instead of captivating she was deeply irritating.

Interestingly enough, it were the secondary characters who got me more involved as the story progressed; somehow they were much better-drawn and very entertaining. Ruby's story touched me more deeply than Carrie's and I owe the most hilarious moments of the book to the endearing antics of Ruby's assistant Jane (view spoiler).

Somewhere along the middle of the book, Carrie became less annoying, as I felt that finally we were given some much needed development in her character: we learned more about her friendship with Megan as well as her relationship with Tom.

The seaside town of Shipley was a lovely setting and I would have loved to be given even more details about the place and its inhabitants (I haven't read the first book The Beachside Sweet Shop: A Feel Good Romantic Comedy in this series, so I don't know whether the author went into more details there or not).

By the end I was very much in charity with everyone - well apart from Megan, obviously - and I felt we were a bit cheated with the end. I missed a final-final chapter that could have been titled "6 months later". I really would have liked to read more about how Carrie & boyfriend and the rest of the cast were getting on.

In the end I decided I'd like to learn more about "Beachside Bay", so I will check out Book #1 in the series.

This is the second in a series, I read The Beachside Sweet Shop last month and absolutely loved it and I enjoyed this one just as much. Though this is a series as it’s set in the same charming, quaint, beach town, it reads fine on it’s own as the characters are new in this installment. There are appearances from the characters in the first book which is always fun.

Carrie is another wholly relatable character with plenty of awkward moments and situations that make her so endearing. She moves to Shipley to help her aunt Ruby run her flower stall when Ruby is having a difficult time. Carrie just lost her job and at her parents urging she decides to give it a shot even though the only thing she knows about flower arrangements is from watching a single YouTube video. When she finds out Tom, the guy she loved from afar is getting married to her frenemy Megan, she worries she may have made a mistake in moving.

Clarke has such an effortless writing style, it’s very easy to get swept away by one of her books. I felt like I was on another mini vacation while reading, it’s just so fun and joyful. It’s full of the same whimsy and humor that the first book had and the sexual innuendos from Bob, Ruby’s neighbor and Jane her shop assistant made me giggle like a schoolgirl. I had a grin on my face the entire time and I can’t wait to see what Clarke has in store next. I hear it’s Christmassy which makes my inner Buddy the Elf extremely happy!

A well written story of loss and friendship. The book has a beautiful setting. Enjoyed this author's style of writing. I must read the first book in the series.