Member Reviews
A lovely summery story, beautifully set, warm characters and engaging story. Great beach read = thank you!
Thanks Netgalley, Publisher and of course the author, who is one of my favourites. Great read, great characters, great location and enjoyed every page.
This is the third book in the Porthmellow series. The setting has moved slightly and athough many of the characters from the other two books are featured, the backdrop is the sea and all its dangers.
Marina is a sea widow, having lost her husband seven years ago to the water and she works for the Wave Watchers aiding the lifeboat rescue service. Her cousin Tiff arrives to stay with her and the story starts to unfold.
I found it as enjoyable as the previous two books and loved the new characters, especially Dirk and Lachlan!
Also I liked the way it was set among the backdrop of the beach and the whole seafaring community, a sort of Cornish Baywatch!
A very enjoyable Summer read I recommend to all, and thank you Netgalley, the publishers and author for allowing me an early read and review.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Avon Books for gifting a digital advanced review copy of this book to me via NetGalley - my thoughts are my own. This was an Easter 2020 read for me and I enjoyed my first ever visit to Porthmellow - this was the perfect way to visit Cornwall during Lockdown.
I have seen great reviews for Phillipa's books and I will now be adding her previous books to my wish list.
This book follows Marina and Tiff, cousins who have led very different lives since they used to spend summer holidays together in Cornwall. Both have to deal with the baggage from their past and to move forward with their lives.
The stories evolved well as we joined Marina and Tiff on their year of making new friendships - I loved how kindness and community were central to the story, as was the local lifeboat and volunteers.
Hopefully by the time this book is published in June 2020, the Lockdown will have eased, but I would recommend this book for a relaxing read anytime of the year - maybe with a glass of Pimms and a plate of seafood or a Cornish pasty.
How wonderful to be back in Porthmellow once again!
A two-pronged story of cousins Tiff, a journalist from London, and Marina, local teacher & creator of Wave Watchers, a provision she set up after the devastating death of her husband seven years earlier. Tiff, broken-hearted & jobless, comes to love with Marina to get away from pressures in London. Marina too is having an emotional time as the seven-year anniversary of her husband’s accident at sea means he will be officially classed as dead, whereas she feels she has been lost in limbo for so long despite having come to terms, as much as she can, with the fact he is dead.
Tiff meets Dirk, moody RNLI mechanic and sparks fly as they run each other up the wrong way and have disagreement after disagreement. Whereas Marina meets kindhearted but hermit-like Lachlan who has a sad story of his own, both support each other to cope with what life has thrown at them but a big misunderstanding puts an end to their budding romance.
Some incredibly poignant moments in this book and it has been written with much care that they are handled sympathetically and sensitively.
I enjoyed this book, especially as it focussed on two stories which is somewhat unusual for this genre. It was good to hear of other familiar characters from previous Porthmellow books too, although I would have perhaps liked them to featured a little more than a basic name-check. I was also waiting for the inevitable plot-twist to happen from the first chapter, and that kind of spoilt it a little as I kept wondering if it would happen at the start of each chapter and was surprised that it took so long to come out - I also don’t think it particularly added to the story other than to give two characters a reason to fall out & reconnect, I felt the story would have been good enough without it, but maybe that’s because the anticipation of it happening spoilt my enjoyment somewhat.
Not as good as the other Porthmellow books, which are 5 stars, but still an enjoyable read.
A perfect feel good book. Loved the life boat discriptions and it made you want to go to Cornwall. I read it in lock down and it just took you some where nice. I did guess the turn in the book but it did not spoil it . I loved the two love elements and we all know how intrussive the press can be and Phillipa covered it well.
Thanks to Avon books for this copy of the book. This is the third in the Porthmellow series and what a delight to be back in that part of the world. I'm sure you could enjoy this as a standalone book but for me I enjoyed catching up with characters I'd left behind when I finished reading the last book - I always want to know what happens to the folk once I've finished my time in their company.
Thoroughly enjoyed this and I'm going to search out some more of Phillipa Ashley's books!
My first Phillipa Ashley book and definitely not my last. The book starts 7yrs ago when Marina’s husband Nate vanished whilst fishing in his kayak of the cove of Porthmellow in Cornwall. The lookout station had been abandoned for many years and Marina wondered if Nate would have been saved if it had been manned.
Their marriage hadn’t been perfect, Nate had debts, he was thoughtless, wasted too much money on crazy schemes and wasn’t always considerate but she loved him. On the morning of his disappearance they’d had yet another argument, he’d turned down a job and was convinced he’d be able to make a mink supplying fish to local restaurants.
Fast forward 7years and Marina has got the lookout station back up and running. Assisting the coastguard and keeping the coast safe for all its users.
You follow Marina on the next chapter of her life waiting for the 7 year anniversary of Nate’s death where he can officially be declared dead and she can move on with the rest of her life.
Two women, two love stories, but can there be two happy endings? Marina's husband went missing 7 years ago, and is presumed dead. Her cousin Tiff has fled London to escape the humiliation of betrayal. Set on the beautiful Cornish coast, this is a perfect summer read. Although this is part of a series, this book can be read as a stand alone entry.
Sweet story that brightened my mood during these dark times. Well written and heartwarming. I enjoyed every page. .
This is the third book in the Portmellow series.
It is another brilliant Cornish coast love story.
The book is bout three people who have run away from their problems to Portmellow and one who lives there.
This is a brilliant read with ups and downs that makes you want to keep on reading to the end in one sitting.
Many thanks to the publishers and netgalley for allowing me to read this.
The latest in this series set in the fishing village of Porthmellow, this time the story concentrates on two cousins, Marina, a resident of the village who is still grieving after her husband was lost at sea nearly 7 years before, and Tiff who is hiding after a newspaper article that she wrote went disastrously wrong.
Two men come into their lives, Lachlan has his own demons and Dirk is the mechanic on the local lifeboat.
The story kept me hooked all the way through, with characters from the previous stories giving continuity and the new ones keeping it fresh. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy feel good stories with additional drama.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley from the publisher during the lockdown in April and it helped with my Cornish withdrawal symptoms, I could almost hear the seagulls and smell the sea.
Perfect escapism for a lockdown situation! I haven’t come across any of Phillipa’s previous books which is a shame as I really enjoyed this one.
Great characters and such a beautiful setting that it makes me want to go there immediately.
Perfect reading material to sit and chill out with.
Thanks #netgalley for allowing me to read this!
Tiff Trescott has been let down badly by her boyfriend, Warner, and as a result has lost her job as a journalist in London. She decides to escape to Porthmellow in Cornwall and stay with her cousin, Marina. Sure that she won’t enjoy it, she’s taken a job with a local publication. To her own surprise she begins to enjoy herself
Marina is still trying to get her life back together after losing her husband, Nate, in a sailing accident 7 years ago. This is made harder for her as Nates body has never been recovered. She throws herself into her volunteer work with the Wave Watchers, a charity she instigated in Nates name.
Dirk is a lifeboat mechanic, dark, brooding and handsome, but Tiff seems to have got off on the wrong foot with him. Lachlan has fled from his home in Scotland after a horrendous accident that left him scarred both mentally and physically. He moves into the cottage two doors down from Marina, who finds herself attracted to him, even though he is making a determined effort not to join in with any of the locals.
This is a lovely, readable love story, set in the gorgeous sounding village of Porthmellow. The characters are engaging, and you find yourself rooting for them. The descriptions of the location are excellent, making you want to get straight in your car and go off for a break down there. There are unexpected and intriguing turns that make you want to keep reading. This is a really good book that I would highly recommend as it’s at the top of this genre.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.
I always love ready Phillipa’s books, they are perfect escapism. Set in Porthmellow in Cornwall, Marina is a volunteer at Wave Watchers - a volunteer unit which watches over the coastline of the town for anyone in distress. She formed the group after her husband Nate went missing seven years ago while kayaking, and wanting to make sure that no one else has to go through that again. She is joined in Porthmellow by her cousin Tiff who has had a rough time in London and needs to escape for a while.
The book has everything you need for a good book- romance, gorgeous descriptions of Cornwall and a little bit of action. Recommended.
This is the third book in the Porthmellow Series by Phillipa Ashley. I have read the other two books, but I believe you could enjoy this book on it's own if you have not read the previous books in this series. Of course reading a series in order gives the reader a much deeper understanding of the stories.
In this book we meet four people at a crossroad in their lives. All have a different situation they are dealing with, but with the help of each other they are strong and face the challenges head on. I loved the optimistic plot that actually gave me some strength to push forward myself. (I read this while the world is fighting COVID19, and any positive message at this time is appreciated.)
I enjoyed this book for an "escape" to the wonderful area of Cornwall with its beautiful cliffs and beaches. I can feel myself actually there in the author's fantastic descriptive words. She has great character development and I have come to love each of the unique characters of the town of Porthmellow Harbor. I look forward to the next book in the series (I hope there is one).
I want to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the pleasure of reading the advanced reader copy. My review is my own opinion not influenced by reading the ARC.
I love Phillips Ashley’s book as they always bring Cornwall to life. You can almost imagine being there when you are at home! Lovely read, lots of fun and a great plot. Definitely one for the reading pile. Thanks for letting me review this book.
I thoroughly enjoy Phillioa Ashley's books and was delighted to have the chance to read this advance copy. Set in Cornwall this is the story of two cousins, both hurt and both with something in their pasts which makes them want to hide away.
Marina whose husband disappeared at sea almost seven years ago and her cousin Tiff, who runs to her when her life as a successful reporter in London goes wrong.
It's a feel good story and the descriptions of life in a sleepy Cornish seaside village help us to understand the healing which takes place there for both of them.
A good read.
Thanks to Avon Books UK for sending me an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book. Cornwall is one of my favourite places and with the current Pandemic ‘A Perfect Cornish Escape’ sounded quite appealing. I read this book in a couple of days and enjoyed it. It definitely hit the mark; light romance, Cornish backdrop and some girly chat. While it’s not ground-breaking it does what is says on the tin. You don’t pick up this book expecting anything else; so, for, what it promised I think it definitely delivered. If you want to escape to Cornwall and get embroiled in the drama of a small town and some new romance then this is the book you want.
Some of the writing was a bit clunky in places and every time I heard ‘Wave Watchers’ I though of ‘Weight Watchers.’ I loved Lachlan’s character. Scotland being my second favourite place; so I was happy there too. Dirk’s name got on my nerves slightly; it didn’t seem to fit his character and I just really hated the name! I loved Tiff and Marina’s relationship and Tiff’s character was lively and exactly what the story needed. The story starts with Marina having started ‘Wave Watchers’ in memory of her husband Nate who was ‘presumed’ dead after a kayak accident. Enter Lachlan; Scottish stranger (shirtless) and romance ensues. Lachlan and Marina’s relationship was more of a slow-burner. There‘s also lots of added complications but I won’t give away too much. Tiff and Dirk have a fiery relationship and Dirk is also ruggedly handsome; just what Tiff needs as she stays with her cousin Marina to get over a break up.
If you want to escape to Cornwall then this is the perfect book for you as it is depicted really vividly. ‘A Perfect Cornish Escape’ was the perfect escape for me and much needed in the current climate. A great summer read.
This was an okay romance story. It didn’t move me and I just couldn’t get into the characters. I wanted to feel bad for them but I found it all just too predictable, even the twist I was waiting for. Many others may enjoy it but all that I found I liked was the setting. It sounded breathtaking and beautiful yet dangerous as the sea can be. There was some humour in it and I enjoyed those parts but the rest of the book was just spent waiting for them to realize they were meant for each other. In my opinion it needed either more humour or more seriousness, it was caught in the middle so I can’t really label it. Sorry that I didn’t enjoy it but perhaps others will