Well I'm writing this as I wipe away the tears. What a delightful read! The book flowed so well and the wonderfully descriptive writing made me feel I was actually in Starshine Cove. Debbie's vibrant style brought all the characters to life. Who wouldn't want to live in Starshine Cove!

I absolutely devoured this book. Having read a number of Debbie Johnson’s books before including another one based in Starshine Cove, I thought I knew what to expect but this one felt like it had more drama than usual and loved it.

Cally, the main character was endearing, relatable and a little bit broken and the story contained twists and turns. The ending was a little predictable but it didn’t matter to me.

A great read, thank you.

So thrilled to return to Starshine Cove for a new adventure with a new protagonist.
I really like the way the characters and story from the first book are deftly woven into this one but as part of he now tapestry of the village, allowing this to be a standalone book should you stumble across it first.
All of the characters are so well written, whether in the forefront or a mere bit player- I would love to stroll into the inn for a drink or two and a chat!

Really lovely book, I enjoyed all the characters especially Cally really hope this is a series. Lovely setting. Beautifully described totally recommend
Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

The second book in this brilliant new series from Debbie Johnson, Starshine Cove is magical place and this visit is just as wonderful as the first. Great to catch up with previous characters, I really enjoyed getting to know them in the previous story. This time our main character is Cally, single mother of an 18 year old fabulous son, who finds herself looking to relive old, cherished memories. Her Mum has upped and left for Scotland after a whirlwind online romance, the hair salon where she works is out of action for a while and so Cally decides its time for something different.
She stumbles upon Starshine Cove and is soon welcomed by the lovely community who happened to be in the party spirit. Throughout this story we see time and time again, these characters coming together in a way that makes me long to be part of it. The locals soon take Cally into their bosom so to speak and treat her like one of their own. Cally and her son soon realise that there is something special and start re-evaluating their lives back home.
Cally is smitten with the place, with the locals and with one certain someone. Her memories may not have been wholly accurate and she needs to get her head around some pretty big revelations whilst navigating a romantic situation that is quickly becoming more than she anticipated.
I loved Cally, I adored her son Sam who provides much light relief throughout. I enjoyed getting to know Archie and his family more as well. He is a sturdy character, knowing what to expect but enjoying none the less.
This book is just a pure comfort read. I loved it from start to finish, and highly recommend it for those who are looking for something heart warming and feel good. I hope to return to Starshine Cove for another book soon.

What an enjoyable return trip to Starshine Cove for readers. Although I should state instantly that this can easily be read as a standalone, but why miss out on reading the first book in the series which was fabulous.

I really enjoyed getting to know Cally, her 18 year old son Sam, and her mother. It's a story of Cally learning a lot about herself and her childhood, and I loved her trip to Starshine Cove on a whim.

However it was Archie I was enthralled with, along with his daughters Lillie and Meg. His story is one that might bring tears to your eyes, and seeing the changes in him as he gets to know Cally was really heartwarming.

And Starshine Cove itself once again was the star of the book - I especially loved the Snowman building competition. All the quirky characters from the first book are still there, and this is a place that I am loving more and more each visit and just wish it was real.

There is a lot to love in this story, and I had a great time devouring the words on the pages.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I loved this book! Callie's adventures down to Starshine Cove were heart warming and struck the right chord for a happily ever after at Christmas. There were some sad events addressed, especially with Archie's wife and to an extent, Callie's relationship with her Mum. Brilliant read. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review.

"Well, I can do my best, but I am only a hairdresser. If you're looking for a miracle, there's a church at the top of the road"

Hairdresser Cally is at a crossroads in her life. Since the death of her father, she has been the main carer for her mum from a young age. Her mum fell into depression and did not take care of herself. Yet after meeting a man online, Cally's mum decided to move to Scotland with her new love. On top of it, the hairdressing salon Cally works has to close for urgent renovations.

After flicking through some old holiday photos, Cally decides to search for the seaside village she vaguely remembers from her childhood. Cally graps her 18 year old son, and they drive to find Starshine Cove.

George, one of the community members, offers them a place to stay, and Cally and Sam quickly get roped into village life. Cally even gets close to one particular person. Yet, she is reluctant to follow her heart. After all, she will only be in Starshine Cove for a few weeks.

I am so happy we returned again to Starshine Cove. Even more so that it is the festive season. Cally and Sam are embraced into a warm welcome by the residents of the village. It's lovely to catch up with some characters from the first book (Ella, Connie, George) but also to get to know some other residents of Starshine Cove.

I couldn't help but feel sorry for Cally. After years of putting herself last and caring every day for her mother, it must have felt deflating to be ignored by her mum.

The author tackles some serious subjects like grief really well. You get drawn into the story quickly, and I was eager to find out if Cully and Archie get together or not.

It's so lovely to slip back into the comfort surroundings of Starshine Cove. The Village sounds as beautiful during the winter as it does in summer, and it's truly a magical place. The community has always an excuse for a celebration and you wish you could be part of it.

Secret at Starshine Cove is an utterly feel-good holiday romance to escape with.

This is the second book n the starshine cove serie, but don’t let that put you off reading this it can definitely be read as a stand-alone (although I recommend starting with book one just because you’ll love this so much you’ll go get the first anyway) New characters, new issues, so much humour, I love the banter between characters it’s so much fun , a fantastic festive addition to the series and I can’t wait to read the next

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

*4.5 stars!
I absolutely fell in love with the first Starshine Cove book. The community, the people, the love...the magic!
I wanted very badly to visit for myself!
The second book is just as lovely. New characters and new issues, some seeing me absolutely agreeing and some seeing me get angry on their behalf.
I LOVED the banter and the humour! Theres nothing better than someone 'getting' your brand of humour, and this book had it in spades.
I now really really badly want to visit for myself!
Please sign me up for the new book and please hurry up and write more! :D
Thanks to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Starshine Cove series but it can be read as a standalone book as I did.

The setting was beautiful and all the characters were just perfect especially her son Sam. Some of the storylines brought tears to my eyes but the ending more than made up for it.

An enjoyable festive, heartwarming read and I can’t wait for the next instalment.

Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Debbie Johnson for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

3.75🌟
This is a sweet little romance that is a very easy read. I found myself quite absorbed in it and didn't want to put it down because I felt a connection to the characters and their plight, as well as loving the setting for the majority of the book.

It made me nostalgic for happy memories from holidays I've been on too, and made me miss being close to the sea and taking walks on the beach. It's a good book for transporting you to another place for a while!

That being said, the book has emotional aspects that make it a deeper read, namely the main character trying to work her life out. It makes the book have another dimension that isn't just the romance element.

I would recommend reading this book to be whisked away and carried along on the story, lose yourself for a while!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A cosy read set in the delightful Starshine Cove. A romance, some colourful characters, nothing to taxing just a lovely gentle read. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

This was not a bad book by any means. It was written very well. I just couldn't relate to the FMC. I love single mom trope, I am a mother myself (not a single one though but my mother was and I respect single moms so damn much) but this just lacked depth for me. I truly hope this book is given the praise it deserves, its just a personal preference.

Secrets of Starshine Cove is a beautiful story with a festive sparkle set during the Christmas season. It centres around Cally, a single mum and hairdresser, who is going through a few life changes and not quite sure of her direction. She has taken care of her seventy- two year old mother for a long time but recently things have changed. Her once sad mother has gotten social savvy, met a new man on the internet and has been literally swept away by him to a new location. Now that she has moved, Cally feels a bit lost, even though her eighteen year old son still lives with her. She needs to find a new purpose, create a new routine. Even though Cally is happy for her mother, she’s also a bit concerned over this world wind romance. The only way she can get her mind off what’s happened is to take a trip during the holiday season. Spend Christmas elsewhere—away from the reminders of her mother’s sudden absence.

Cally packs a bag and takes her son to a place she remembers fondly from her childhood. A special getaway where she spent time with her father before he passed. She is trying to recapture some of the security, familiarity, happiness and love she felt as a child. And to rediscover herself by returning to a point in time when she was carefree in a place where she could touch the stars. Of course, we know from the first novel that Starshine Cove has a magical cave of unique beauty where visitors can have an unusual experience and receive a sense of wonder, calm and healing.

Upon arriving in Starshine Cove, Cally meets all the locals and gets caught up in their stories and relationships. She loves the community spirit and how the residents care about and help each other in times of need. Connie (one of its residents) delivers special gifts (in the true Santa Claus spirit) to those who need cheering up. Cally chips in and offers her hairdressing skills doing trims, shampoos and makeovers. For a few of who cannot get out to her mock up salon, she makes visits to their homes. It isn’t long before Cally is knee deep in people’s stories: learning what makes them happy and sad. But during one of the stops, she stumbles across some secrets that have been held in Starcross Cove about her own family. What she hears is not what she remembers and the revelations shock her. Maybe she has been carrying scars hidden from herself?

Amidst the turmoil and confusion, she spends time with Archie— a widower with two girls. He becomes a close friend, shares her burdens, lightens her heart and even ignites some new passions. She learns a lot about herself, her fears, what she needs and what matters most. And ‘what is life without a little bit of danger.’ She steps out of her comfort zone and begins a new journey toward life, love and healing. (And has that much needed chat with her mum that uncovers the truth about their past.)

One of my favourite parts of Starshine Cove is reading about the gorgeous descriptions. The winter scene is stunning… ‘scatterings of snow on the beach, heaped on driftwood and shining white in the rippled furrows of the sand. The moon hanging fat and yellow, casting its reflection on the waves..’ This takes me back to my former home in Canada where I lived on the coast with the beach as my front yard. I can really appreciate the inspiring coastal winter scenes.

And Archie’s comments about the plants (he says he is a plant nerd): ‘There is something new, every season…the whole place is awash with colour…watching it change and grow…seeing the wildflowers. Foxgloves in summer, snowdrops in winter, the celandine that springs up and covers the ground in the woods like a yellow carpet..’ And then there is the description of the caves and how they transform into magical stars, flares of colour, shimmering dazzling gems embedded in the rock. I loved how Cally fell under their spell and spun under the glittering dome. This gesture caused her to feel ‘drunk on both the motion and the unexpected treasure…like being in Aladdin’s Cave, surrounded by precious secrets.’ This is a beautiful scene because she is ‘liberated from all the burdens of adulthood…’ This experience reminds her of good moments with her father in the cave when she was a child (even though those memories will be challenged later on in the story).

There’s a great cast of characters: some from the former novel and some new. I loved how this story shows that the world needs a variety of persons to make it work. Not all can be doctors, lawyers and scientists but we need plumbers and bakers and hairdressers, too. We can agree with Cally that those persons classed as ordinary, actually ‘make it (the world) extraordinary in so many unexpected ways.’

What a great story, filled with heart, depth and meaningful thought. There are lots of intriguing observations about memories and how the mind sometimes chooses to protect itself by burying the bad moments caused by grief, guilt and fear. The novel also shines with the beauty of community life, the power of truth and the need for second chances. I read this book in a day as it would not let me go until I finished it. I was fully engaged, enthralled and amazed. It made me feel a wide range of emotions and even drew out a few tears. And, of course, we cannot forget its dash of Christmas cheer. I highly recommend Secrets of Starshine Cove. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my review copy.

There's something magical about Starshine Cove in Cornwall. Characters in the first book in the Starshine Cove series--Ella, Jake, and Connie--are again part of the plot, but in the second novel, the focus is on Cally, who is at loose ends when her mother, for whom she has cared ever since her father died many years ago, has suddenly decided to move to Scotland to be with her new love. At the same time, the salon where Cally works as a hair stylist experiences a fire and shuts down for more than a month.

But it's Christmas time (even though the title doesn't hint at it), so Cally makes an abrupt decision to go on a road trip to the place where she has fond memories of her father--Starshine Cove (but first she has to find it!). And although the Starshine Inn is full, she is welcomed by the town's residents and lodging is found for her and her 18-year-old son. While Cally comes to enjoy the time she spends in the lovely town with her new friends, she has to come to terms with whether her memories are accurate or whether there are things about her parents that she has never suspected, not to mention what she wants going forward in her life.

I was easily engaged with Cally and equally so with her clothes-obsessed son Sam, currently on a gap year between high school and university and still reeling from a breakup with his ex. I also loved Archie, a former attorney and single parent who is now the town's lead gardener and crafter of the figures of fairies and elves that are scattered all across the town. This is a cozy series, and although it is unfair to call it a palate cleanser after a more serious book because it has plenty of merit on its own, it is definitely something to pick up when you are looking for a heart-warming, uplifting story. I can't wait for the next installment.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

A lovely story about community, grief and starting over. I loved Starshine Cove and it's unique residents as well as Cally and Sam who find themselves there when in need of a change and a second chance. Really enjoyable

I love this type of genre, where you know you’re going to have a cozy read, with a happy ending, especially if the previous book you’ve just read was a bit heavy going. I really took to Cally, who has given so much to everyone around her, but has almost lost her own identity. Christmas comes as a wake up call almost, but it is such a heart warming story, even the cynics like me who don’t really enjoy Christmas any more, can fall in love with the idea of Starshine Cove. The characters were endearing, especially the children. There were tears at certain points but in a good way. Loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Starshine cove is a magical place of friendly faces and caring people. When Cally packs up her car and 18yo son to find the happy place of her childhood memories for a Christmas getaway, she wonders why her mother is so angry about it.

Cally has looked after her mother since her father died when she was a young girl. Between this, bringing up her son and working full time as a hairdresser her days have been so busy. When her mother suddenly moves to Scotland and a disaster at the Salon means Cally has free time, she realises her and son Sam need a change of scenery.

They find Starshine Cove and discover a friendly welcome, and as they get snowed in arrangements are made for them to stay. But Cally soon discovers her memories are not the full picture and she understands why her mother isn’t happy about the trip.

It’s a good story, and I liked the characters, definitely one for the Christmas book list.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!