Wow. It has been a long time since I have devoured a book this fast! I read 70% in one sitting. What a beautiful story. A breath of fresh air, or should I say sea air? I loved everything about this story from the setting, the sea, the characters, and the storyline. Main character Meredith sets sail to a new town, a new home (a lighthouse), and a new beginning. In this small town where everyone knows everyone, will she be accepted as a newcomer? Can she renovate her new home to what she likes? A feel-good, uplifting, and happy story. Parts had me laughing out loud. I fell in love with Clem. What a hottie. What a man. An all round amazing story. Five out of five stars. I enjoyed every page. Would highly recommend. Kim Nash has written another outstanding story again.

I feel like I already know Kim thanks to Social Media, even though I had never read one of her books. Now that I have read this book I want to read everything she has ever written! I am not sure if it has already been decided, but I beg you, please let this be the start of a new series. PLEASE!

Based on above and the stars rating I think it is clear that I absolutely LOVED this book. Right from the start I felt like I knew and loved Meredith. With Mere telling the story first person I was immediately swept away and invested. I smiled a lot, felt my heart warmed and wished I could swap places with Mere for the most part, except when dealing with some mean people in the village. I literally laughed out loud on numerous occasions, especially around Vi. I hope to be like Vi when I get older and then I would love nothing more than to have a new friend like Mere around. Clem was also charming and really easy to love.

This story was just the perfect mix! It was uplifting, heart-warming, romantic and laugh out loud funny.

Meredith Robinson is nearly fifty years old and has just bought a lighthouse. She’s been living with her best friend Gabby for the past year, but moves three hundred miles away from the Midlands into her new property which is in Driftwood Bay, Cornwall.
But while Driftwood Bay Lighthouse maybe isn’t quite how Meredith expected it to be, she makes friends straight away with villagers Gemma (who owns the bakery and café) and her sister Lucy (who owns the B&B). Lucy suggests she might need help from Clement ‘Clem’ Penrose to sort out the lighthouse, as he’s a carpenter and general handyman. Oh and absolutely gorgeous and sexy and almost a decade younger than Meredith… whit whoo!
I was into the story straight away from the first page. Well, who wouldn’t be? You want to know more about Meredith and why she’s bought a lighthouse and what’s going to happen. The chapters are a really good size too, so you keep saying “Oh I’ll just read one more” and you read several.
Clem is rather lovely and I liked the fact that he was younger than Meredith, but not too much younger as she’s nearly fifty and he’s forty. I’m 53 and could see myself going out with someone in their forties, but not in their thirties. I also do relate more to books where the main character is around my age, than some size eight romantic heroine in their twenties.
Kim Nash has a wonderfully natural writing style. I can hear her voice coming across so well and her sense of humour in the pages in brilliant. The setting is great and everything is described so beautifully that I could easily picture it all. There are many great characters too. I loved Violet and my own Nanna was called that, which made her even more lovely. Vi is absolutely hilarious too, I loved her cheeky comments. And Gladys, awwww! Not all the characters are sweethearts though, some are absolutely vile and you want to keep reading to find out why.
Overall, it’s hard to find fault with this book. It’s an absolute dream of a story, with wonderful believable characters and a gorgeous setting. I hope there are more books to come in this series, because I know I’m going to miss the area and everyone who lives in it.
9.5 out of 10

Meredith is embarking on a new life in Cornwall, where she has bought a lighthouse, sight unseen. When she arrives she is astonished at the amount of work to be done. With the help of Clem, she starts the lengthy renovations and while they work together friendship blossoms, maybe into something more. But fate likes to throw spanners in the works. Secrets are discovered and they may change everything.

I loved this, I especially loved the more mature ages of the main characters.

I've been reading some pretty deep books of late, so this was like a breathe of fresh air and came along at just the right time.

Hopeful Hearts was the perfect piece of escapism and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my visit to the Cornish coast and Driftwood Bay.

The story is heartwarming, uplifting and was an absolute pleasure to read. The characters are all so lovely, friendly and you soon feel like you're among old friends, Dyllis aside.

Meredith was such a lovely character, she was worth her weight in gold, always wanting to lend a helping hand to others. And Clem, he's now my new favourite book boyfriend, so hands off!

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Looking for a gorgeous read?
This could be just the book you need!
With laugh out loud events and romance, too,
A great read all the way through!

All alone and feeling low
Onto the internet did Meredith go.
Took a look and found a lighthouse dream
Next she's bought it, it would seem!

Almost fifty, she's starting anew
Restoring the lighthouse is what she'll do.
She wasn't expecting it to be so bad,
But the views from it stop her being too sad.

The friendship of most folks living nearby
The morning alarms from the seagull's cry.
A local handyman who know what to do
Maybe now her dreams really can come true?

But there are secrets and surprises also in store
Can she trust anyone any more?
A heartwarming story with community at heart
And new and old friendships playing a part.

A gorgeous story, a brilliant read, too,
I have no hesitation highly recommending to you.
For my complementary copy, I say a huge thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

When this book is marketed as “feel good” they really meant it. This book is a charming, gentle read but with plenty going on. A few dastardly moves and underhandedness that Meredith is totally in the dark about as she takes a huge life risk, up sticks and relocates 300 miles away in a the picturesque Cornish village Driftwood Bay. It even sounds romantic.

The Lighthouse Meredith bought online, unseen is definitely far from what she was expected. Its ramshackle and not at all renovated as she was led to believe. Cue handsome, good with his hands Clem and things start to happen and not just in the way of renovations. Phew, many steamy moments later and you’ve found yourself with only a few chapters left and no idea where the hours went.

Kim Nash creates a brilliant backdrop for this romance novel. I loved that it is actually a damn fine read and not all mushy and gooey eyes, dribbling all over each way. It is just life, new starts, friendships and hopefully, everything crossed a good dollop of love thrown in. Will Meredith stay when she finds out something that she would rather not have known? Who is being honest with her? Will she ever be accepted in Driftwood Bay by the not so welcoming locals? well some of the locals anyway.

Honestly this is an utterly delightful read, beautifully described locations and endearing characters that will have you wanting to move into the nearest Lighthouse pronto. Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove is an absolute gem of a story that will warm your cockles. Perfect.

What an absolute delight this book is!
I needed a book that was light,loveable, and easy to read and this book fit the bill perfectly! Not only did it give me those factors, it also had a beautiful flowing story that I felt so invested in and characters that I absolutely adored.
The comedy timing in this book is absolutely bob on! I laughed so much that at times, I had tears rolling down my face! Not only did I find it funny, but it also really melted my heart at times due to how lovely these characters are.
I’m so thrilled I chose this book as it’s exactly the right book that I needed to read at exactly the right time. This book has lifted my spirits no end!
Thank you Kim Nash for such a fabulous read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove is my first novel by Kim Nash and it most certainly won't be my last! What a fabulously, awesome story of it is!! I was engrossed from start to end - descriptions of the area made me want to revisit Cornwall.

Meredith, after the breakdown of her marriage plus the feeling of being abandoned by her mother alongside her best friend, Gabby spending more time with her boyfriend managed to discover herself, at nearly fifty in a new location in a worse for wear property, knowing no-one!!

I belly laughed at Vi and wished she was my nan (mine was fabulous but a couple of social classes above me!) whilst I cried reading about Mere's mother. I loved this book....

If you want a light and breezy book set in a gorgeous place, this is your book!

Meredith makes an impulsive buy of a lighthouse in Cornwall (as you do, lol!) and she finds herself a little underwhelmed when she opens the door. The lighthouse has been neglected and needs a lot of work. Luckily, there is Clem, the local handyman who is also very easy on the eye :)

It is a hard slog but Meredith sets to, makes friends in the village (and these friends are SO lovely, they should be cloned for everyone to have), and tries to work out why Dillys from the local shop, is so hostile towards her.

Of course, the path of love doesn't run smooth, but this book has a positive energy about it and the coming together of different characters really makes it.

4 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

What a delight this book was to read! Kim’s novels are always enjoyable and beautifully written, but I think that this one was my favourite so far.

The setting is beautiful and very easy to picture from the descriptions. But it’s not all idyllic, as Meredith arrives to find that her rather impulsive property purchase requires a whole lot of work.

The sense of community is strong in the book, though she encounters some resistance from some of the locals at first.

The characterisation is marvellous, with really authentic and realistic characters. I really liked Meredith and her sense of humour shines throughout the story. There are many genuinely funny moments in this sparkling story and it’s a really uplifting read.

Relatable and very readable, I thoroughly enjoyed this gorgeous book, and I’d really love if we had more from Driftwood Bay in the future, as there are so many wonderful characters who could make for a fantastic series. Highly recommended.

I loved the idea of this so much, but reading it was even more of a delight, I loved this with my whole heart, who wouldn’t want to take on a lighthouse and restore it, never mind a Cornish lighthouse, which is even better.

This is a wonderful tale with lovely , relatable and realistic characters , obviously some aren’t perfect or lovely but that’s life, Meredith and Clem are adorable, I love their chemistry and humour. Clem is just perfect, gorgeous, reliable, helpful, I could go on for ages about him. All the characters that make this special community and bring such joy to Meredith’s life are lovely.

It helps that Kim writes so beautifully to construct these characters, describe the scenery and beautiful lighthouse that you could be friends with these people and see every scene, walkthrough the lighthouse. As well as this she fills the story with sweet and gentle humour. I can put my hand on my heart and say if you love romance, Cornwall or community you will love this.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

** Link will be added when I post my review for the blog tour on April 14th **

As a bookworm and avid reader of crime fiction, every now and again, I like to escape with a light, heartwarming novel that will whisk me away to a charming and idyllic setting, making me feel like I’m living vicariously through the characters. And let me tell you, Kim Nash's Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove did not disappoint!

From the very first page, I was captivated by the enchanting setting of Cornwall and the picturesque coastal village of Driftwood Bay. Readers will find new beginnings, taking risks (leaps of faith!), fractured but also found family, a real sense of community, new and old friendships, and so much more.

The story centers around Meredith, who takes a chance after receiving an inheritance. After one drunk night, she purchases a lighthouse and this starts a new life for the single woman looking for… something!

As Meredith settles into her new life, she finds herself surrounded by an eclectic cast of characters, each with their own unique personalities and quirks. From the feisty and fiercely independent Violet and her beloved dog Gladys, to the hilarious and fun café owner Gemma plus her sister, Lucy, the suspicious locals, Meredith’s unsympathetic mother, and the good-looking handyman, Clem, each character added depth and richness to the story, making it impossible not to become fully immersed in the world of Driftwood Bay.

As Meredith and Clem’s relationship blossoms, they are faced with their own personal challenges and demons, which they must confront and overcome in order to move forward.

Nash's writing is fun, emotional, full of wisdom and authenticity, making it easy to root for the characters and their journey towards healing and self-discovery.

I absolutely LOVED Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove! It was funny, inspiring, moving at times! I also found it quite thought-provoking. A wonderfully sweet, compulsive read. In fact, I think this really is the author’s best book yet and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Whether you're a fan of romance novels or simply enjoy a good story with relatable and endearing characters, this book is definitely worth checking out. So grab a cup of your favourite tipple, snuggle up in a comfy chair, and lose yourself in the charming world of Driftwood Bay – you won't regret it!

Every book that I’ve read by Kim Nash has been an absolute joy to read, so I knew when I started Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove I was in for a real treat. This book was such a wonderful read with fabulous characters. This author really knows how to make a book come alive and when reading it you feel you are actually there in Cornwall and are living the story. There wasn’t one single thing I didn’t like about this book, It’s like a big warm hug wrapped in a book.

What an absolutely delightful story about love, friendships and new beginnings. Meredith is at a crossroads in her life. She’s 50, living on her friend’s sofa and one night after drinking too much buys a rundown lighthouse in Cornwall. The welcome she receives from the locals is mixed but she does makes some friends straightaway, mainly in a Gemma. She enlists local Clem to help her do up the lighthouse and there’s an attraction but is it reciprocated? I loved how this wasn’t a straight forward romance but had some interesting twists. A great bunch of characters and a real sense of community. I found myself really liking Meredith and rooting for her! Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

A new Kim Nash book is always a happy day and this one was a wonderful tonic and an absolute joy to read as have the others that I have read!

We follow Meredith whose life is in the duldrums and in a moment of clarity (!) she impulsively buys a lighthouse in Cornwall. Books in Cornwall are a win win for me so throw in a lighthouse and you pretty much have me sold from the start! Despite not having seen the actual lighthouse, she decides that this is the fresh start she has been looking for and sets off to potentially move in and just see how things go. To say things don't go to plan is an understatement. You don't quite realise how complex living in a lighthouse is until you try and fit your house furniture into a building with a lot of steep steps and walls that are rounded! The lighthouse is unhabitable and you follow Meredith as she starts to have doubts and worry that she may have bitten off more than she can handle.

Luckily, the lovely local B&B owner Gemma comes to her rescue and welcomes Meredith to the community like a long lost friend. I think this is always a welcoming thread in the author's books - the real sense of community that she writes into her storylines. It isn't all sweetness and light for Meredith though with the community and we get a real balanced view that show us that not everyone is happy about her moving into the tightknit community.

Obviously, as soon we learn about the local handyman Clem, we know he will be integral in the plot and I loved the sparks that flew between him and Meredith as they work together to bring the lighthouse back to life - and also Meredith.

Hopeful Hearts was a beautifully written novel that I couldn't put down and I'm already eagerly awaiting her next one!

Highly recommended.

What a totally gorgeous read – and a book hug I really needed after a bit of a stressy week, an escape to the seaside at lovely Driftwood Bay, enveloped by the warmth of Meredith’s new friendships, loving the chemistry between her and wonderful handyman Clem, caught up in the work needed at her new home, and hoping for the happiest of endings. Read in one sitting – and I really adored it.

But things don’t start well – a few glasses of wine too many, and Meredith finds that she’s bought a lighthouse she hasn’t even seen. The estate agent promised it was part renovated, but arriving with her furniture – which the removers can’t even get in through the door – it looks nothing like the pictures he shared and needs a tremendous amount more work. Gemma from the bakery comes to the rescue with tea and cake, and her sister Lucy provides a bed for a few nights at her B&B – and an introduction to handyman Clem, easy on the eye and good with his hands, but who she had already had an unfortunate run-in with when doing a food shop when she first arrived. But he is just the person she needs, full of ideas, hard working, building furniture to fit the lighthouse’s curved walls – and slowly turning the lighthouse into the home she hoped it could be. And it turns out he’s fun to have around too – laughs aplenty, and (although she’s really not looking for love) the real possibility that their easy friendship might turn into something more.

And on the friendship side, her life is also rather brightened by the elderly Vi and her over-exuberant labrador Gladys – with the threat hanging over her of needing to rehome her dog and move into care, she’s delighted when Meredith offers to take on the daily walks. And Vi and Meredith prove good for each other too – Vi takes the place of the grandmother Meredith loved and lost, providing emotional support and copious cups of tea, while Meredith makes it her mission to help her with her mobility so she can enjoy the village’s social life again. The schedule of work on the lighthouse is rather driven by the imminent arrival of Meredith’s mother for a visit – one she rather dreads, always a difficult relationship, and one that has damaged her confidence for most of her life.

Enough – I’m telling you the whole story, and I really mustn’t. The author really does have such a wonderful touch with relationships – the friendships she makes from her arrival, the continuing support of her long-standing friend Gabby, and her relationship with the lovely Clem really warm the cockles of your heart, and it’s lovely to watch Meredith becoming stronger and more self sufficient as her confidence and sense of belonging grows. But not everyone is welcoming – her visits to the village shop and the hostility of its owner become a regular challenge, and it turns out that there may be a few secrets standing in the way of her happy ending. And that visit from her mother? All done with the perfect emotional touch, the many issues involved really sensitively handled.

The whole story is quite simply told – that sounds almost rude, but all I mean is that the story is told only from Meredith’s perspective, and in her distinctive first person voice, and it works just perfectly. As a reader, you experience the surprises and occasional setbacks along with her, entirely in her corner, your affection for her steadily growing. And what started as a bit of a mistake might just turn out to be the best decision she ever made – as she sits on the lighthouse’s balcony and looks out across the waves (the descriptions are superb, and the author really brings the whole setting to life), you’ll have a tear in your eye too at the real possibility of a happy future.

This was such a lovely read, filled with characters I really took to my heart – and I’ll really look forward to enjoying many more visits to Driftwood Bay. Highly recommended by me!

The cover is lovely and, I felt, set the scene for the book.

It was great reading about slightly older women in books as you don't usually find that. I felt the characters were all well written, as were the descriptions of the setting.

The book had plenty going on especially with Meredith trying to find her feet again after buying a lighthouseand relocating. Meredith came across as such a lovely person. The sense of friendship and close knit community also shone through making this a wonderful book to cosy up with. Although this was a nice easy read, more serious topics were touched upon which added some drama and heartbreak.

This is the first of this author's books I've read but l will certainly be looking out for her others.

Thank you Rachels Random Resources, Boldwood Books, Netgalley and the author for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Meredith's life is at a standstill. She's stuck in a dead-end job, approaching fifty, and her dating life is a string of disasters. But one evening, while browsing the internet, she sees an ad for a lighthouse, and in a moment of impulsiveness, she makes a ridiculous bid for it.

With the help of local handyman Clem, she sets about renovating. And as they work together, a bond begins to form. But when Meredith finds out that Clem is keeping a secret from her, it changes everything. Will they find a way to build something more meaningful together?

My Opinion

I was first drawn in by the lovely cover, my attention was grabbed upon discovering that Meredith had just bought a lighthouse and was moving to Cornwall. This was a lovely, relaxing read and for me it was a great introduction to Kim Nash. Kim Nash has written a lovely book about starting fresh, and has not shied away from writing about how it can be difficult moving to a new place where you don't know anyone. A wonderful book that will appeal to fans of romance and contemporary fiction.

Rating: 4/5

Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove is packed full of romance and fun. Kim Nash writes about believable characters who capture my imagination, and Meredith is a perfect example. I’ve never visited Cornwall, except via many books, and yet I was easily able to conjure up a clear image of the village and the lighthouse.
Meredith has been through life’s proverbial mill, and yet she still remains positive, and impulsively buying a windmill seems self-prophetic. Despite discovering that she may have bitten off more than she can chew, she is determined to turn the windmill into a home. Spurred on by the spectre of her Mum coming to visit, she enrols the help of local handyman, Clem, to assist with the renovations.
There are some wonderful characters to discover and some that are less than wonderful, but they all add together to create a very special community that could provide Meredith with exactly what she didn’t realise she needed.
I can’t pick out a single favourite character, except for the delicious Clem, who I liked more than the others. Perhaps, if pushed, I would say it was a tie between sisters Gemma and Lucy, and Violet with her Labrador, Gladys. Both sets of characters brought a special amount of joy to Meredith’s new life.
Of course, Kim writes with a gifted hand when it comes to gentle humour, and I had plenty of reasons to smile and more than a few chuckles as I followed Meredith’s adventures. A standout part would have to be her initial meeting with Clem and then her subsequent embarrassment at realising how much she was going to need him.
I can wholeheartedly say that I loved this book, and I’ve already recommended it to a few friends. Kim Nash has written another winner and I hope you love escaping to this lovely Cornish lighthouse.