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The Little Cornish Cove #2

Escape to Polkerran Point

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Can fake dating turn into something more with a baby on the way? High-flying exec Lauren Kirkham is having a bad week. Unexpectedly pregnant, out of work and – when dumped by her boyfriend – with nowhere to live. She needs a respite, and so goes to visit her friend Anna in Polkerran for a short stay.

Polkerran’s local handyman Daniel Tremayne is busy building his own ‘grand design’ on one of the cove’s cliffs. When TV crews turn up to film, expecting a happily paired up couple, he urgently needs a fake live-in girlfriend, since he's also split with his ex.

Can Lauren and Daniel solve their mutual dilemmas by joining forces, and if so, will their hearts emerge unscathed?

A heartwarming and fun Cornish romance, perfect for fans of Cressida McLaughlin, Jessica Redland and Phillipa Ashley.

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2024

25 people are currently reading
96 people want to read

About the author

Cass Grafton

42 books79 followers
Cass began her writing life in Regency England, enlisted Jane Austen’s help to time-travel between then and the present day and is now happily ensconced in 21st century Cornwall.


Well, in her imagination and soul; her heart and physical presence reside in northern England with her ever-patient husband and Tig and Tag, their cute but exceptionally demanding moggies.


A bit of a nomad, Cass has called three countries home, as well as six different English counties, but her aspiration is to one day reunite with her beloved West Country.


In the meantime, she writes feel-good contemporary romances set in Cornwall and, in doing so, manages to live there vicariously through her characters and settings.


An Ambassador for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, Cass is also a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Jane Austen Society UK and the Society of Authors.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for ☆ jess ☆.
608 reviews52 followers
June 8, 2024
very cute just needed it to be a bit faster and see daniel’s pov
Profile Image for Sams_Fireside.
455 reviews56 followers
November 5, 2024
This week I took a second trip to Polkerran Point and this time I went along with Lauren for the ride. Pregnant, with no job and no home, Lauren seeks the comfort of her best friend Anna, who has already been living in Polkerran Point for a while and welcomes Lauren with open arms.

I loved Lauren; I loved how she really wasn’t sure about Polkerran Point, how she initially missed the hustle and bustle of city life and, most of all, I loved how the beauty of Cornwall grew on her until she almost didn’t want to leave.

Daniel and Lauren were cute, and much more suited to each other than with either of their exes, but boy their lack of communication was frustrating - for heaven’s sake, just tell each other how you feel!

Although this is the second book in the series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone, but don’t. Do yourself a favour and buy both books, or even treat yourselves and buy the third one too which has recently been released!
Profile Image for Annarella.
14.2k reviews163 followers
January 16, 2024
This is the right book to read when you want to relax and escape reality. A well plotted and entertaining story that made me smile and root for the characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
76 reviews
June 21, 2024
Absolutely loved this, in fact I think it is my best read this year and cannot believe I have never heard of Cass Grafton before . Will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author 😀
Profile Image for Jill's Book Cafe.
347 reviews139 followers
February 18, 2024
When I read New Dreams at Polkerran Point last year, I fell in love with the cosy community that the author had created and the mix of characters that lived there. I was also seriously invested in the blossoming romance between Anna and Oliver, which definitely fell into the 'sunshine vs grumpy boss' trope. Though as with all good romances, they were oblivious to that and Anna was focused on her childhood crush which made for a complicated ride. However, as the Bard said 'the course of true love never did run smooth' a lesson we also need to bear in mind for the author's return outing. For anybody else who enjoyed their first visit to Polkerran Point you'll be delighted to know that Anna and Oliver make regular appearances in the new book so we can see how their relationship is developing. The main focus though is on Lauren, Anna's old flatmate and inveterate party girl who is visiting Anna while she comes to terms with her imploding life.

So, my review, well first of all, I don't really want to say much more about the plot than the blurb gives away as the joy of reading a romance is discovering it for yourself without hints and spoilers. What I will say though, without hesitation, is that I loved it. In fact, if I'm being honest, I think I might have loved it even more than the first. That, I suspect, was perhaps down to the whole fake-dating scenario which gets me every time. There's something about all those stolen looks, lingering caresses and near miss kisses that leave both parties not knowing where the deception ends and the truth begins. I love it! What I liked about this 'fake' scenario was that it sat well with me and wasn't one that followed the often unrealistic plotline of duping everyone into believing they were a couple. It worked because the characters were realistically portrayed, well written and the unwitting hero in the book was simply swoonworthy.

Daniel, who we met in Book 1, was of course handsome (goes without saying) and for the most part, an absolute gentleman. I say for the most part as the initial 'meet-cute' was a less than romantic, embarrassing altercation in the cafe where he berates Lauren's parking abilities and she deems him an 'idiot'. After that initial hurdle was crossed he proved to be caring, helpful, supportive, attentive and generally first grade book boyfriend material. I've discovered I'm also a sucker for a man who can involve himself in someone else's pregnancy and is not phased by babies. This came as somewhat of a surprise to me as I don't have a maternal bone in my body but seem to melt at men who are paternal. I blame the Athena poster from the 80's of Man and Baby (apparently called L'Enfant for anyone who might want to Google it) it clearly lives subliminally in my brain. Anyway, needless to say, I was totally invested in wanting a positive romantic outcome for Lauren and Daniel, who were both determined to follow contrary routes. I refer back to the aforementioned Bard.

Outside of any possible romantic complications, I loved the relationship between Lauren and Daniel, they formed an instant friendship and were both wholly supportive of each other. It was lovely to watch their interactions as their friendship grew. A friendship, that even managed to survive the visit from Lauren's mum Linda, who had a tenuous link with what was deemed appropriate. Her visit brought about a farcical, unforeseen forced proximity, only one bed scene that made me giggle.

In addition to the will they-won't they pull of Lauren and Daniel the book brings us up to date with Anna and Oliver who have their own bombshell challenges to contend with and that introduces a character that I'd love to see get their own book. As Oliver asserts that 'the jury is out' for him as far as they're concerned it leaves me hopeful that it might not be the last we see of them. I'm being vague here so as not to spoil things for readers. Happily, we also still get to spend time with the lovely cast of regular characters who seem to drop in daily to Anna's kitchen. They add the local flavour, sense of community and warmth that make Polkerran Point feel like a real place.

So, I think it's clear I really enjoyed this and while for Lauren it's an escape, for me it was a happy return. Polkerran Point and it's cast of characters is a place I'd be happy to live in and the added romantic intrigue is the icing on the cake!

Many thanks to the author/publisher for proving an advanced review copy to enable this review
Profile Image for Anne.
2,178 reviews
March 5, 2024
When your life’s falling apart, there can’t be a lovelier place to find refuge than Polkerran – although Lauren’s first impressions aren’t great when she gets on the wrong side of a grumpy local by parking in his reserved space. Without a job or home, she’s now also without a partner when he proved less than delighted with her unplanned pregnancy – but spending time with best friend Anna at her homely B&B makes everything about her situation look more manageable.

And that grumpy local? Well, that’s Daniel, and he becomes a supportive friend – now the local handyman, having left his financial career behind, he’s in the throes of building a Grand Designs style home on the clifftop. Rather than the short visit she planned, Lauren stays – at first helping Anna out by managing the B&B when she’s away, then moving in to Daniel’s spare room and becoming the fake partner he needs for the forthcoming TV show. Romance to follow perhaps? But he has a rather glamorous on-off girlfriend, disgruntled for now by his obsession with the building work, but certainly not off the scene for good.

There was so much I enjoyed about this book that I don’t know where to start – but Lauren’s emotional journey had a great deal to do with it. At first, she’s perhaps a little self-obsessed – and she certainly has plenty to think about, facing such an uncertain future – and a touch difficult to like, but I really grew to love her as she blossomed and began to embrace the prospect of motherhood and build a relationship with her “bump”. And as she opened up to others too – as well as Anna and Daniel, there’s that wonderful circle of friends, the collection of quirky local characters I’d grown to love in the first book who still treat Anna’s kitchen as their own and aren’t slow to share their views on the developments in everyone’s lives.

We met Daniel in that first book too – nothing to worry about if it’s your first visit, this one’s 100% readable as a standalone – and it was so good to get to know him rather better. And what a thoroughly lovely man he is – yes, just the romantic partner Lauren could do with for her fresh start if it wasn’t for that girlfriend who refuses to disappear, and makes him conflicted about their growing attachment and choosing the right path to follow.

It’s not entirely Lauren and Daniel’s story – there’s a really intriguing thread for Anna too, as she makes discoveries about her past and family, with some nicely handled emotional moments and a few surprises. Again, there’s absolutely no need to have read the first book (although I’d highly recommend you do – but only because I enjoyed it so much!) – all the background you need is there, but gently done and just enough to cover any gaps. And you’re going to just love Polkerran – it’s drawn with real attention to detail, comes to life on the page, and wraps the reader in the warmest of hugs.

The writing is all you could possibly want it to be – such perfect storytelling, well written dialogue, emotions you can feel, laughter you share, a few tears along the way, characters who really feel like friends. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series and my next visit to this wonderful community – but do try this one first, because I’m absolutely sure you’ll enjoy it every bit as much as I did.
Profile Image for Diana Shand.
14 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2024
Cass Grafton's novel Escape to Polkerran Point is the journey of Lauren Kirkham, beginning at a pretty low point in her life, trying to turn things around.
She is trying to cope with the changes pregnancy brings, without a home, as well as being out of a job. Needless to say at times she feels quite overwhelmed.

Lauren goes to visit her best friend, Anna, in Cornwall/Polkerran Point, and by chance is meeting local lad, Daniel Tremayne, who happens to be extremely easy on the eye. No illustrations were needed, my mind was quite capable of filling me in on any images.

Over the course of the novel, Lauren undergoes a definite transformation from carefree, city-life-loving, date-chasing young woman to mature, responsible young adult, even though it's only over the course of 3 seasons. I love that I could see into her mindset and read exactly what she was feeling when she thought out situations. Her thoughts flowed well and moved the book along very quickly.

Lauren's narrative voice is wonderful. She is serious at times, but also very witty, which makes for an engaging read. I especially loved her thoughts in italics/different font writing in-between speeches. It feels absolutely real, as though I'm hearing her thought process. Sometimes I forgot that I was reading a story and not a real-life account. Her emotions and the dialogue are so genuine, and I wanted her to succeed.

I definitely, wholeheartedly and warmly recommend this book to other readers, who love to escape to Cornwall, too. For me the book was a page turner. Found it difficult to wait for work to end, just so I could pick up the book again and read on. The writing is romantic, with many hilarious bits, which do not distract from the romantic storyline.
Having just finished the book, I already have withdrawal symptoms.

Escape to Polkerran Point should be essential reading for those Cornwall fans looking for a romance set in that beautiful part of the world; and I'd give it 6 stars if it werevan option.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for amanda_coffee_books.
666 reviews22 followers
March 5, 2024
A Beautiful love story

I wanted to start off by saying wow. Just like the first book this book didn’t disappoint. This book did take a me a little bit longer to finish. I didn’t want this book to end. I loved being in this world. Just like book one I felt like I was there in this small little town of Polkerran Point. Imagining walking along the beach watching the sunset. I really have a heart for these two books. This author is definitely auto buy for me. Because I had to purchase this book too. I absolutely loved the characters in this book. They are mentioned in book one. So I highly recommend reading book one. Lauren and Daniel my fav characters. But my heart is still with Anna and Oliver.
Kit he is what he is a big pig. But at least he is honest and wanting to take care of his responsibilities. Even if he wasn’t ready for it.
I couldn’t put this book down. When I got chances to read. And enjoy the world and the characters.
I have nothing bad to say about this book. Every page turned there was something that I didn’t expect. Now at times I wanted to scream out what everyone was thinking while reading. I highly recommend this book and the first book. The author does amazing Jon writing and describing the world that she created.
About Book:
Anna has been living with Oliver in the B&B. When her friend Lauren decides she needs a little break. From her career and partying ways. After finding out she is with child. Her baby father Kit isn’t ready to be a father. A trip that is supposed to short. Turns into a longer trip. Lauren trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. And this new joy that she didnt plan on. She meets Anna friend Daniel who is working on fixing up a house. Daniel who is in love with someone. Who really doesn’t value him. Has he values her. This book takes these to knuckle heads on a journey.

I want to thank lovebooktours and the author again for the opportunity to read yet another amaizng book. My favorite book and characters.
Profile Image for Dee Groocock.
1,381 reviews55 followers
January 21, 2024
Lauren Kirkham is a high-flyer who flees to Polkerran Point to see her best friend, Anna, when her partner, Kit, decides he doesn’t want the baby that Lauren is pregnant with!

What starts as a 2 week visit, ends up with Lauren deciding to stay and help Anna with her B&B, while she decides how to process her thoughts and life.

Her thoughts and plans take a turn as she starts to have feelings for Daniel, a close friend of Anna’s and her partner Oliver. Can Lauren decide what is best for her life?

I loved this second book in the Little Cornish Cove series.

The characters are relatable and believable. I adored the friendship between Anna and Lauren, there was a closeness that came across more as sisters than best friends.

I enjoyed seeing how Lauren’s pregnancy progressed throughout and had a soft spot for the baby before it was even born!

The will they, won’t they vibe for any kind of relationship between Lauren and Daniel was great to read. The pair of them have so much baggage between them, it’s hard to see how things could work out for them. However, I was rooting for them both throughout!

The community spirit in the story was wonderful. It reminded me of being a child, when everyone would walk in each other’s houses for a cuppa and chat! The descriptive writing of the area was sublime.

Some great humour that made me giggle now and then, especially the names for the locals.

My thanks to NetGalley and Canelo Romance for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for April.
463 reviews29 followers
April 5, 2024
This is Book 2 of The Little Cornish Cove.

The cover art is absolutely gorgeous with this 6 the Blurb pulled me in.

Having not already read Book 1, I can honestly say that Cass has crafted this book in a way that it is both a continuation of Book 1 (characters) but is also a lovely standalone too so rebels like myself can read out of Order and still understand!

I do love a good romance, and this didn't disappoint, which is becoming a common theme with books published by Canelo.

This is a friends to lover, fake dating, meet-cute kinda book with a dash of only one bed... just to keep things interesting.

Lauren is a strong and professional woman who has been dumped by her ex, following an accidental pregnancy and no longer having a job. She is extremely driven and is a warrior in the face of adversity.

I adore Lauren and Daniel's first meet as it's cute in a way but also quite memorable.

Daniel is lovely, if a little dim to the ways of his girlfriend at the time and from the word go... I was team Lauren and Daniel.

I honestly couldn't understand how Daniel and his ex were a thing as they arw like chalk and cheese - totally different!

Amongst the Lauren drama, there is an additional side drama of Anna's, which I loved. I'm not going to say what it is, etc, but it gives another layer in the novel, so it isn't just a Lauren/Daniel story!

This is an all-around heart-warming and loveable book. Just perfect as a mood pick-me-up or as a lovely book to read in the bath with some snacks.

Absolutely recommend this book to all!
Profile Image for Book Escapes Babs.
641 reviews26 followers
February 18, 2024
This book got off to a flying start as we met Lauren Kirkham. As the synopsis explains, she is newly single and in the early stages of an unplanned pregnancy. She has lost her job along with her home and has turned to her best friend, Anna, for support. Arriving in the Cornish village of Polkerran, she meets the rather caustic Daniel Tremayne and finds herself on the wrong side of his humour by parking in a reserved space.
Lauren is a wonderful character, and I was immediately drawn to her. She is conflicted by her desire to find professional success and her determination to be a good mother to her forthcoming bundle of joy. Without having spent time planning her pregnancy, it was easy to understand her conflict, but I was comforted by her unyielding determination to meet and raise her unborn child.
We also get to know a little more about seemingly grumpy Daniel Tremayne. His experience with building his own Grand Design and navigating his relationship with an incredibly glamorous girlfriend speak volumes about his initial treatment of Lauren. In no time at all, I was definitely on team Daniel and hoping for a romance.
From what I can understand, the first instalment focused on Anna and her husband. Their story continues in this second book, but the storytelling is skilled, so I never felt like I had missed something. I certainly felt invested in their journey, but recognise that my investment may increase as I read the first book.
There’s an ensemble cast, and I enjoyed getting to know them, but wasn’t surprised to see that Lauren would find herself involved when a need for a fake dating scenario became clear. Of course, there are no spoilers from me, simply a reassurance that the happiest of endings is guaranteed.
This is a wonderful book, and I truly hope that the author finds continuing success with this series.
Profile Image for Colin Bell.
1,051 reviews13 followers
February 8, 2024
Lauren suddenly finds herself out of a job, rather than taking the next step up the corporate ladder that she was hoping for, and without a boyfriend - just as she finds out that she's pregnant. She decides to visit her best friend Anna in Polkerran whilst she decides what to do next.
I loved the previous book and this one just reinforces my love of the setting, in a part of Cornwall that I have been visiting since my childhood (a long, long time ago now). It was great to catch up with Anna and Oliver and the other characters , but this can be read as a standalone book. I've never wished to be a high flying executive, so I can't relate to Lauren's point of view there, but can relate to being unemployed, albeit not the pregnancy side of her situation. Her relationship with Daniel is one of those where you want to knock their heads together so that they can properly discuss their mutism attraction, but then it would be a much shorter book....
One big advantage of a series is that you can revisit characters to find out where their story has gone to, so I'm really looking forward to the next one.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
Profile Image for Amy Dora.
442 reviews12 followers
February 28, 2024
📖BOOK REVIEW📖

Escape to Polkerran Point by Cass Grafton
🌟🌟🌟🌟

@cassgrafton
@lovebookstours

Review
Thanks so much to the #LBTCrew at @lovebookstours for providing me with a copy of this book to read on their blog tour in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cosy, heart warming story with the right amount of romance and some very loveable characters. The story follows pregnant Lauren Kirkham, whos life goes from bad to worse when her boyfriend leaves her, she becomes homeless and out of work so decides to go and stay with her friend in Polkerran bay. However she finds herself in a fake dating relationship to help out the local handyman Daniel and ends up with more than she bargained for.

I don't want to ruin the story plot too much for people that haven't read it yet but I absolutely loved this book! I loved how they brought Daniel back (who was in the first book in The Little Cornish Cove Series) and also Anna and Oliver. Daniel is such a loveable, swoon worthy character and I loved how the situation brought him together with Lauren. Cornwall is one of my all time favourite places in the UK and I loved reading this cosy story with all the wonderful cornish descriptions.

I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
2,623 reviews134 followers
March 3, 2024
Well, we didn't have to wait too long for this, book 2 in The Little Cornish Cove Series.
Having read the first book, New Dreams At Polkerran Point a couple of weeks ago, it was really lovely to return to the beautiful Cornish coast and revisit our friends Anna, Dan and Oliver.

Having said that, for this story, we focus more on Lauren.
Recently pregnant, out of work and dumped by her boyfriend, Lauren is in need of some down time.
She escapes to the idyllic Polkerran to reset and plan her future, when she meets Dan, who has an odd request....

Oh, it was lovely to be back in in this world and I quickly became immersed in this story.
Having read book one so recently, it was easy to settle into this book from the first page - and once again be transported into the storyline with the beautifully descriptive writing. It honestly feels as though we've had a little mini break away from all the bustle.

I loved this storyline. It was obvious from the start how this was going to go, but this does not detract from the wonderful journey we take with the characters to get there.

It was great to see Lauren develop, with the help of the whole community in Polkerran. Seeing her adapt, slow down and really take stock of her life and realise what's important.
A lesson to us all really, that we should focus on the things that make us who we are and the things that make us happy.

I liked that we touched on a bit more of Anna's story in this book too, but I'm sure there's more to come and am already really looking forward to seeing what book 3 in this series will hold for us.
Profile Image for Krystina.
262 reviews12 followers
March 2, 2024
I've really loved this book, I really enjoyed watching how Lauren started the book feeling like everything had gone wrong and she was at a massive crossroads with her job and what her dreams for the future were and then she ended it having everything she wanted and needed.
Lauren and Daniels's first encounter made me chuckle, I loved how Lauren came in straight off the bat and called him an idiot and he kinda just took and then just threw some banter back at her. And I so enjoyed how their friendship grew and turned into more and it wasn't just a sudden let's be in a relationship. It felt like a really organic build-up to them being together with added-in fake dating just to help those feelings grow. I'll be honest though one of my favourite parts of the book was watching Lauren grow into her pregnancy, she really wasn't sure to begin with and questioned if this was the right time to be having the baby and about how this was affecting her career etc but her whole outlook changed at around the halfway part of the book, it was a slow change and again i really loved that.
I think Cass Grafton has written this so well and I absolutely loved her writing style, i definitely need to go back and read book one in this series and I'm really hoping we get another book in this series too!
Profile Image for Katie B.
116 reviews4 followers
February 24, 2024
Cass Grafton is back again, with the exceptionally beautiful cover art and equally exceptional writing & story telling. Grafton’s writing is so easy to ready, it flows effortlessly and always feels like I’m wrapping myself in a cosy, warm, soft blanket. Much like the first installment of this series, I couldn’t put this one down.
This time we focus on Lauren, who comes to visit (escape) to Anna after everything in her reality seems to be falling apart and she has big news to share with her friend.
I always know when the main FMC and MMC meet in a fairly uptight situation, with a fake dating trope, it’s going to be a great love story!! It was also so lovely to revisit Anna and Oliver and come back to Polkerran point.

As I got deeper into the story, I found myself experiencing a range of emotions—laughter, empathy, and anticipation—as if I were right there with the Lauren and Daniel. With its cosy feel and well paced storyline, this book is truly a delightful escape into the world of Polkerran Point, offering a comforting respite from the everyday. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary romance seeking a heartfelt journey.
Profile Image for Yvette Garcia.
437 reviews3 followers
March 7, 2024
Escape to Polkerran Point by Cass Grafton is Book 1 in The Little Cornish Cove series. If you like fake dating, friends to lovers, unexpected pregnancy (not between the MC’s) then you will love this book.

Lauren Kirkham is a high flying executive and she has reached a rough spot in her life. She's recently just split from her boyfriend Kit, learned that she is pregnant with his kid and to top it all off she’s lost her job. So she decides to moves in with her best friend Anna who lives in a small seaside town named Polkerran Point.

Daniel Tremayne is the grumpy local handy man in Polkerran. He is working on a grand design on a cliff I think. Lauren agrees to a fake relationship to help him out only to realize that her feelings for him are real.

I loved this sweet story so much. Lauren and Daniel are so adorable together and I loved the banter between them. Cass wrote this story and the characters so well. This is the perfect romantic, easy to read with just the right amount of drama book. Thank you to Cass Grafton and The Love Book Tours for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
Profile Image for Naturalbri (Bri Wignall).
1,371 reviews119 followers
March 13, 2024
Who does not love a chance to settle in for the evening and have an opportunity to read about heartbreak turning heart pounding love? This book gives us that tale we all secretly want to come home to after having the absolute rubbish week. (AI would know, I have just had that week, and this book was the perfect outlet to come home and enjoy.) You find yourself grabbing this beauty, cozying up and really enjoying the pages. 

The author gives us a wonderful world, with the lovely surroundings of Polkerran, and the quaint feel that it is enveloped by, so that we are given a warm feeling during our reading, that feeling of wanting to be there.

I enjoyed the characters and really liked getting to know them. They were lovely and had a great depth to them, which made them feel very real and inviting. It was nice to see the growth in our two main characters, as they played at being in a relationship. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the story the author had to share with us. It was kind and filled you with laughter and joy at how they came together. It is a warming read that invites you to continue to enjoy, and you are left wanting to read more from the author.
Author 2 books12 followers
February 21, 2024
Just delicious! I escaped to Cornwall and lost myself in this uplifting and heart-warming novel. It was wonderful to return to Polkerran Point to catch up with Anna and get to know Lauren better.
Lauren is likeable, fun and capable. She moves from the ‘leaden skies’ if the city to the ‘frothy clouds’ of Cornwall. I enjoyed the way the setting and community wrapped itself around Lauren, forcing her to reflect on her life. A poignant message about the pace of life is integrated into this story.
Lauren is one of those characters who becomes a friend, inspiring the reader to care about her destiny. The narrative voice flows beautifully and is brimming with humour. Characters and relationships are brought to life so well. There is a vivid sense of place in the novel, conveying the beauty and charm of the place. I wanted to book into Anna’s B&B.
A cosy story about the power of friendship, love and the importance of opening one’s heart to possibilities. Though sad to when the story ended, I am excited for the next book in the series so I can visit old friends.
Profile Image for Kirsty (BookBlogger).
1,988 reviews63 followers
September 22, 2024
Escape to Polkerran Point by Cass Grafton

Blurb

Can fake dating turn into something more with a baby on the way? High-flying exec Lauren Kirkham is having a bad week. Unexpectedly pregnant, out of work and – when dumped by her boyfriend – with nowhere to live. She needs a respite, and so goes to visit her friend Anna in Polkerran for a short stay.

Polkerran’s local handyman Daniel Tremayne is busy building his own ‘grand design’ on one of the cove’s cliffs. When TV crews turn up to film, expecting a happily paired up couple, he urgently needs a fake live-in girlfriend, since he's also split with his ex.

Can Lauren and Daniel solve their mutual dilemmas by joining forces, and if so, will their hearts emerge unscathed?

My Opinion

It was lovely to return to Polkerran Point and I enjoyed the way that Cass Grafton has written the fake dating plot. This is ideal for romance lovers and anyone in need of a quick escape. I already have my copy of the next book lined up to read in the near future as I am not ready to leave these characters.

Rating 4/5

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Profile Image for callistoscalling.
937 reviews24 followers
February 22, 2024
Escape to Polkerran Point is a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of reality packaged beautifully between the covers. While this story continues from the first book and is enhanced by reading New Dreams at Polkerran Point, this book is read perfectly as a standalone novel. Lauren seemed to have her life tied together in a beautiful bow until life served her a deluge of curveballs. In the sudden onset of change comes the opportunity to finally carve out the time to visit her best friend, Anna, in the Cornish seaside village of Polkerran. In this healing escape, the powers of the sand and sea combine with an amazingly supportive community to provide reflection and insight for Lauren as she prepares for perhaps the biggest life change imaginable - becoming a mother. Once again, Cass Grafton delivers an absolutely beautifully written tale of personal growth and finding inner strength that allows for love and beauty to flourish.

Profile Image for Hayley.
281 reviews11 followers
February 28, 2024
OMG - I loved this book! I was very worried that after reading the first instalment of New Dreams At Polkerran Point this one would just not be as good! I am SO glad that I was wrong! It was brilliant and I honestly just loved it!

This one focused on Anna's best friend Lauren who is pregnant and has split up with her boyfriend. She's a high flier and headed for a two week break to see her best friend, can't stand the smell of seaweed and is looking forward to being back in the city! You just knew that there was going to be some curveballs within this and I loved reading every word of them!

I think that the way the storyline unfolded was really good and I literally could not put it down as I needed to know what was going to unfold and how, as nothing is ever as easy as it seems at Polkerran Point.

I liked that Anna was still a very main character within this even though the focus was around Lauren, and that Anna also had another part of her story revealed. I do however think that there is still a little more of Anna's story to unfold so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a book 3!!

I think I really want a book 3 as I really like our characters and care about them, I feel very invested in their lives and I think that is down to the wonderful writing of the books by Cass. Again, the descriptions of Cornwall are just beautiful and just enhance the storyline.
Profile Image for Joanna Lambert.
Author 6 books41 followers
February 4, 2024
We're back in Polkerran Point for the second of Cass Grafton's Little Cornish Cove series. On this occasion, the story features Anna's friend Lauren Kirkham, who arrives in the village for a two week stay. Party girl Lauren had finally settled down with high flyer Kit. But sadly there are complications, due to an unexpected pregnancy and Kit's reluctance to become a father. Coming just prior to their planned move to the States to work, it has proved a big problem and she needs the support of her best friend Anna for advice.

Escape to Polkerran Point is every bit as enjoyable as the first book. It's a light, romantic read with drama, humour, and great characters. And one of the best things about it is it's set in Cornwall, one of my favourite holiday destinations.

Recommended

I would like to thank Canelo, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of Escape to Polkerran Point in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Anji.
85 reviews
February 24, 2024
Just finished this second book in Cass Grafton’s The Little Cornish Cove series. If you’ve read the first book under either its original title “The Cottage in a Cornish Cove” or its more recent one “New Dreams at Polkerran Point”, you’ll love this one, too.

Many of the characters from the first book make a reappearance, including Anna and Oliver (her Hot Historian), but the focus in this second book is on Anna’s friend Lauren and Daniel. We met both in the first book. Daniel is definitely someone to drool a little over, even though there are times when you want to slap him around the head! Add in an unexpected pregnancy and a Grand Designs-type build and there’s plenty of chance for turmoil and misunderstandings. I love the local Cornish characters from both stories, especially Mrs. Lovelace and Mrs. Clegg.

Try it. If you love Cass’s writing, you’ll enjoy this too.
Profile Image for Charlotte.
500 reviews21 followers
February 23, 2024
It was so nice to be back for another stay at the B&B, thank you so much to Anna and Oliver for having me. It really was a delight.
If only! But isn't that the magic of a good book, that it can transport you to another place. Cornwall is my absolute favourite place to be, so it was easy to imagine I was really there.

I loved catching up with Anna, Oliver and the gang, as well as getting to know Lauren and Daniel better. Mrs Lovelace and her malapropisms is hysterical. She's just brilliant.

This genre of books is always a little predictable, but that's why I love them. They feel safe and comforting, because even if something bad happens it's always alright in the end. Having said that, there were some big secrets revealed in this one. Wowee.
1,129 reviews23 followers
February 28, 2024
This is a lovely romcom perfect for curling up and escaping with. Romcoms set in Cornwall never fail to hit the mark in my experience, and having already fallen for Polkerran Point in book 1 of this series, I couldn't wait to hear back down the coast and escape to polkerran point!
We had met Lauren and Daniel in book 1, so it was great to explore their characters in a deeper dive. Of course, we can't forget the hilarious group that pounce on the kitchen area of Westerleigh on a regular basis and the comic relief that they provide!
This was the slowest of slow burns, and I do wish we had a little glimpse of the couple properly over the last few chapters instead of how it was done, but that's just my preference.
It's a lovely read, and I hope there's more to come!
Profile Image for Ashley.
567 reviews37 followers
March 1, 2024
A sweet and uplifting small town romance that focuses on a young woman at a cross roads in her life. She's recently found out she's pregnant and separated from her boyfriend that was adamant he did not want to have kids.

Now she's staying with her best friend Anna in the small seaside town of Polkerran Point and realizing that maybe she needs even more changes in her life. Especially now that she's met the towns handyman and all around wonderful guy, Daniel. Their time together is adorable and they match each other in personality and interests perfectly well.

A delightful story about second chances and realizing there's more to life when we slow down and look at the things around us. Sometimes we're all moving too fast to see what's right in front of us.
Profile Image for Nic Harris.
445 reviews15 followers
February 11, 2024
Returning to Polkerran point in this book was such a delight, if anything I think I enjoyed it even more than the first book.

The main characters are a great couple. Completely made for each other. I really liked their friends to lovers story.

As a character, Lauren is refreshingly open about her feelings and quite unapologetic about some of the decisions she’s made which I really enjoyed reading.

There is such a strong community feel in these books and I really enjoyed reading that.

It’s the sort of cosy, easy reading that sometimes you just need in your life. Cass Grafton is a great author for this and I will be reading more from her.
232 reviews3 followers
February 20, 2024
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was a lovely, cozy and sweet romance. Though the writing style and cast of characters were wonderful, the book dragged a bit and was boring at times.

Lauren was originally painted as stiff, set in her ways and almost a bit detached from her pregnancy. Daniel was described as a grump, but nothing in what he said or did showcased anything but a kind and genuine man. Throughout the story, as Lauren grew and developed so did my liking of her - the author really did a great job at developing the characters, describing the setting and tone.
627 reviews2 followers
March 12, 2024
I Felt I was There!

How I love this series. We met Anna in the first book and now her best friend Lauren has come to stay, but Lauren is hiding a secret. She is out of work, pregnant, and her partner Kit, does not want to know. Lauren is only meant to be staying for a short while but is encouraged to stay longer, and as she begins to get to know one of Ann's friends, Daniel she finds herself becoming more and more attracted to him, but Daniel already has a girlfriend. It is not necessary particularly to have read the first book, but I would recommend it as it is so good. I am beyond excited to see there is a third coming later in the year. Can't wait!
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